NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 7
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
Chapter 7: Geared up to the absolute limit.
GateNet, the largest community of Awakened, was abuzz with a hot topic.
–”Who’s buying up all the Necromancer’s Totem Summon skillbooks? Wasn’t that a super unpopular class?”
–”The Brawlers are going crazy too, lol. They’re getting their asses kicked by mobs because there are no Hardening skillbooks for sale, lol.”
–”Just trade directly. You can buy them quickly if you buy them near some Gates.”
–”Haven’t you heard? There’s a monopoly going on at the Gates where they’re buying up all the low-level skills, lol.”
–”Yeah, right? The black suit guys are buying up all the skillbooks in front of the Gates. They’re even buying all the unpopular skills for 400 each.”
–”400? Am I the only one who hears the cries of the unpopular classes? lol”
–”What idiot went to the auction house and sold an unpopular skill for 200? lol!! The guys in suits at the entrance are buying them for twice the price, lol.”
–”And there’s no commission fee, xD.”
–”This is why you need to follow the popular classes. I’m not going to the auction house because the skillbooks are too expensive, lol.”
–”The popular ones are going for at least 700 each? The prices are all going up.”
–”……huh?”
–”This is a big deal for mages.. I need to learn Elemental Mastery, but there are no items for sale, fuck.”
–”You can just learn it by awakening magic at the Academy. This is the perfect time to do Perfect Training, lol.”
–”Are you kidding me? I’d rather just pay for the skillbook and learn it than do that stupid shit, lol.”
–”Breaking news! Swordsmen, you’re next… Sword Mastery items are out of stock!”
There were no F-rank skillbooks for sale.
This didn’t just affect one class.
The users, who were initially joking and laughing at each other, began to realize the seriousness of the situation.
–”This is crazy. The guys in suits are here again today;”
–”Ah; I was going to buy a skillbook, but the guy in the suit kept bidding higher. I blinked and missed it; this is ridiculous……”
–”I’m an Assassin, and I was so pissed off that I got my skill stolen that I used stealth to follow the guys in suits. It seems like it’s related to the Ilsung Group, somehow?”
–”This is messed up.”
–”If they’re buying regardless of class, then isn’t this it? The 9th Inning.”
[TL/N: 9th Inning is a Korean Idiom which is a baseball reference of the last round and here it means a last ditch effort. I can by all means be wrong here and if any kind of information is given further down the line or if I understand that they are talking about the 9th enhancement, I’ll make the required changes]
–”Oh…? Is it… possible?”
–”Are they really going for the 9th inning? Did the chairman smoke a joint with the president? To stimulate the economy?
–”This is some fucking domino effect, lol.”
–”But is there anyone in Ilsung who can play the 9th inning?”
–”I don’t think so. Judging from the fact that they’re buying low-level skills, it’s for rookies… I haven’t heard any news about them recruiting anyone.”
–”I heard something though. That Sword Saint and Kim Minwoo had a duel.”
–”??? What the hell are you talking about?”
–”Summary: Sword Saint and Kim Minwoo had a match. Kim Minwoo fought really well. He pushed Sword Saint back. He awakened afterwards. He was radiating light. His achievement is at least A-rank.”
“I had a feeling too. He was really awesome, but there are no blackbirds who didn’t see this?”
–”…?”
–”Is it real?”
–”Testimonies are coming up from here and there? It seems like something really happened?”
“How is it? Are you feeding the hype well?”
“Yes, team leader. Is it about to blow up?”
“The young master will debut soon, so be careful not to let the hype die down. You know? It has to be natural.”
“Hey. We’re experts at that. But is that… true?”
“What, the duel?”
“Yes. That duel.”
“I don’t know either.”
However, the information team leader of Ilsung was convinced in his heart.
‘It’s probably real.’
That would explain the group’s recent aggressive behavior.
‘They said he was shining brightly. So he must be at least A-rank… and maybe… .’
There are quite a few high-ranking Awakened people.
There are also many rich people.
But there are only a handful of Awakened people in the world who have both of these things.
‘I wonder if a real super rookie is about to be born… .’
The team leader felt excited for the first time in a long time.
***
[Skeleton Summoning (F) +9 has been completed!]
[You have acquired the title, ‘Budding prodigy’!]
“Phew, did I do it?”
Minwoo, who was at the auction house, wiped the sweat from his forehead.
It took him two whole days to collect all the skillbooks in the country.
It was because it had exploded several times since the 7th enhancement.
Even so, the reward for pouring out money was that sweet.
[Skeleton Summon (F) +9]
[Skill enhanced to the limit.]
[Consume 10 mana to summon 2 (1+1) LV1 Skeletons.]
“This is awesome.”
The original effect was to summon one skeleton for 10 mana.
But now it has increased to two.
Twice the efficiency.
An overwhelming gap.
‘And I even got a title for it.’
[Title List]
[1. Promising Rookie]
[Reached growth limit at level 1.]
[Effect: All stats +1]
[2. Potion Slayer]
[Consumed over 1000 potions at level 1.]
[HP +1, MP +1]
[3. Budding Prodigy]
[Created a +9 enhanced skill at level 1.]
[Skill slot +1]
Titles were usually given at monumental moments, such as when you performed a difficult act or did something for the first time.
Titles had various effects, such as permanent stat increases, increased damage to certain monsters, and increased skill slots.
‘I need to collect as many as possible if I want to go to the top.’
This was especially true for the stat increases.
Titles were one of the main factors that could break through the growth limit along with level-ups.
‘Good start. Status window.’
Here is the translation of the text you provided:
[Name: Kim Minwoo (23)]
[Occupation: Necromancer]
[Level: 1]
[Skills Owned (1/6): Death Lord (EX)]
[Mana: 520/520]
[Titles: 3]
[Stats]
[Strength: 51] [Agility: 51] [Vitality: 52] [Mana: 52]
Stats that are unbelievable for a level 1!
His growth was close to explosive.
‘The number of undead I can summon now… .’
With 2 skeletons per 10 mana, he could originally summon up to 104 skeletons.
And if you add Death Lord’s 50% mana reduction effect?
‘Up to 208 skeletons.’
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
That’s an insane amount.
Moreover, these 208 skeletons were not ordinary skeletons.
They were in a state where their stats had increased by 50%!
While ordinary necromancers were just starting to summon one or two skeletons, he was already running away with an overwhelming lead.
‘Oh, this is it.’
And that wasn’t even the end.
Death Lord’s resurrection function once more.
And if you add equipment to that?
Even if skeletons are weaker than adult males because they are early summoners.
‘They won’t be able to stop me at this stage.’
He could guarantee it.
There was not a single Awakened person in the level 1 range who was stronger than him.
‘Now all that’s left is… .’
Kim Minwoo recalled the message he saw last time.
The Call of Death Lord.
‘I don’t know what I’m going to do when I call it, but… .’
It didn’t seem like he would only be laughing and having fun.
Death Lord.
Just looking at it, doesn’t the name look evil?
It goes without saying that he should thoroughly prepare equipment, potions, and consumables.
‘The most important thing is whether or not to level up.’
Sure, here is the translation of the text you provided:
Even without learning the Skeleton Summon skill, hunting inside the Gate was still possible.
His stats are high.
He is also good at using the sword, enough to compete with Sword Saint.
He should be able to sweep through F-rank Gates even without any special skills.
‘Leveling up will be easy. My stats will also go up steadily. The problem is titles… .’
How to easily obtain titles.
The harder the self-imposed hard mode, the better.
For things that anyone can do, there are countless cases where titles with only a rat’s worth of effect are given, or even none at all.
‘There will probably be a few titles from the Call of Death Lord, right?’
It is the effect of an EX-rank skill after all.
If he does well, he might even get a title party.
Moreover, if he enters at the lowest level of 1, the probability of obtaining a title will increase exponentially.
He knew it was dangerous.
But there is no reward without risk.
‘I need to collect at least one more title for the foreign race hunting.’
This was especially true for Kim Minwoo, who had no physical talent.
There would definitely be a moment when he would regret every single stat point of the title.
‘The order has been decided.’
He will receive the Call of Death Lord at level 1. Conquering Gates is after that.
[Searching for equipment.]
[Condition: Equip level 1 or higher.]
Right after he made up his mind.
The items for low-level equipment that were listed on the auction house started to disappear like crazy.
* * *
Normal – Magic – Rare – Unique – Legend – Ancient – Mythical.
There are a total of seven equipment ranks.
What kind of equipment do beginner melee classes aim for among these equipment?
Probably nine out of ten would say the ‘Black Heart Set’.
Also known as the national rule magic set.
The biggest advantage is the Equip level.
Equip level 1.
It is equipment that even a beginner who has just awakened can immediately wear.
Despite its low Equip level, its performance was quite good.
If you look at them one by one, the effects are not that great.
But when the parts come together and the set effect is activated, it was a different story.
That’s when it finally became a luxury item.
After all, it showed a performance that could be used safely up to level 40.
The cost-effectiveness is also good.
It usually costs around 200 million won to complete the full set.
The earnings of the Awakened were a little more generous than those of ordinary people.
It wasn’t so bad that you couldn’t afford it even if you borrowed some money.
Naturally, it is one of the items that is traded very actively.
Even at this very moment, countless melee classes must be dreaming of this equipment and saving up money.
[Would you like to purchase all the Black Heart Set items?]
“Buy everything under 5,000.”
[50.728 billion won has been withdrawn…….]
[10% of the amount is withdrawn as a fee…….]
‘Ugh.’
‘I’m sorry, newbies.’
‘Your equipment, my skeletons have taken over. The skeletons are also newbies, so please understand.’
[Items are being moved to inventory…….]
[The weight is too heavy!]
“Oh, I have a subspace ring.”
[Items are being transferred to the Subspace Ring (Intermediate)!]
Minwoo had prepared a subspace ring in case of this. It wasn’t his own purchase. Chairman Kim had lent him the item for free.
‘Thanks to that, I saved 50 billion won.’
Inventory space was limited.
The capacity increased as the level increased, but it was still not enough. That’s why items like subspace rings were in high demand.
Even if porters were taken to the lower gates, they couldn’t be taken to the upper gates because of the danger.
By that point, even a porter should be an intermediate Awakened, but the daily hiring fee alone was in the thousands.
It was better to buy a subspace ring and save on hiring fees.
‘That’s why it’s one of the most popular items.’
He was a little sad that there were no items in the auction house.
Thanks to his family, he was able to purchase them comfortably.
Minwoo quickly acquired 200 sets of equipment.
He also bought weapons for the skeletons to wear, and just in case, he bought plenty of spares.
On top of that, he bought plenty of top-grade potions and consumables.
To be honest, after all this preparation, could he fail?
‘Well, then you’re telling me not to fail.’
Minwoo began to equip the items one by one.
They were individual rare items, not cost-effective set items like the Black Heart Set.
Thanks to that, his whole body was now colourful, but it was worth it.
Each item was a genuine luxury item that easily cost hundreds of millions.
These were items that only the rich would skip unless they really wanted to level up quickly.
[You have equipped the Raven’s Creepy Skullcap!]
[Strength +5, Mana +5]
[Fearful Gaze (F) is activated!]
[You have equipped the Goblin King’s Elastic Armor!]
[Strength +10]
[Elastic Skin (F) is activated!]
[You have equipped the Purple Goblin Leather Pants!]
[Agility +5, Mana +5]
[Curse of Sadness (F) is activated!]
[You have equipped the Amulet of Mumbling!]
[Mana +8]
[Shield (F) is activated!]
[You have equipped the Minor Witch’s Mana Gloves!]
[Mana +10]
[Ice Ball (F) is activated!]
[You have equipped the Swift Thief’s Shoes!]
[Agility +10]
[Haste (F) is activated!]
‘Ugh.’
Individual items that each had a skill effect that would normally appear when collecting set items.
They were items that gave 2-3 level-up effects per skill, with 4 stats per level.
To be honest, the performance itself wasn’t that great, only worth a few hundred million.
But the Equip level was ridiculous.
The fact that you could use it from level 1.
That merit was much bigger than he thought.
‘Well, the problem is when I sell it.’
Individuals don’t really buy them, and if there is any demand, it’s usually from large groups that buy them occasionally for rental purposes.
‘Even guilds don’t buy them often because of the risk of loss.’
The Gate is a place where accidents can happen at any time.
Losing rented equipment is something that happens more often than you might think.
That’s why the demand wasn’t that great.
‘If it doesn’t sell, I can just leave it in the warehouse, whatever.’
In addition to that.
[You have equipped the Excavator Chief’s Sword!]
[Strength +7, Agility +3]
[Bleeding (F) is activated!]
He equipped the sword instead of the staff.
He might have to participate in the battle himself if necessary.
[Would you like to acquire Skeleton Summon (F)+9?]
The preparations are complete.
Let’s play for a bit.
[Acquiring skill!]
[You have met all the conditions for the first trial of Death Lord!]
[Death Lord starts calling you.]
The scenery before his eyes began to change.
[Translator – Pr?ks]
[Proofreader – Pr?ks]
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