“I need to prepare.”
Sin Hyeok scratched his head as he mulled over the method proposed by Akashic.
[Blue’s Core is required.]
[You must acquire Core fragments with the skills ‘Internal Synthesis,’ ‘Nature Resonance,’ and ‘Regeneration’ extracted.]
[After that, you need only acquire a Spirit Stone.]
“You make it sound so easy.”
[It actually is easy.]
“…….”
‘Why does it lose all its manners the more it upgrades?’
[Etiquette can sometimes hinder smooth communication. Clear expression of intent enables efficient conversation.]
“Yeah. Sure, whatever you say.”
Sin Hyeok moved to prepare the materials for now.
“Blue!”
He went outside the castle walls and shouted with all his might.
Then, a thumping sound came from somewhere.
“Bark bark! I’m here, bark!”
When he looked to the side, he saw Blue.
The sensation gave the illusion that an entire small house was moving.
“You’re enormous.”
He scratched Blue’s neck with his hand.
Blue smiled broadly and sat on the ground.
“Grrr.”
He growled lowly, seemingly in a good mood.
Sin Hyeok observed Blue’s Core carefully.
‘I need to extract it so that only specific skills are contained.’
He stroked Blue’s fluffy fur and then looked into Blue’s eyes.
“Blue.”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t know why it was so creepy when Blue spoke so nonchalantly like a human at times.
“Can I take out your Core for a bit?”
Blue nodded without a moment of hesitation.
“Sure. Bark.”
Blue pushed his head toward Sin Hyeok and rubbed against him.
“Oh, you’re such a good boy. Our Blue.”
‘I’m trash. Trash that calmly extorts things.’
Somehow, he had the illusion that he had become trash.
But his hands were quick.
Swoosh.
When he placed his hand on Blue’s body, it sank in softly.
“Huh.”
His hand couldn’t reach it.
In the end, he stuck in half his body.
“Huff! I can reach it. Just a little more!”
He felt like something irreversible would happen if he put his entire body in, so he stretched only his arm as far as possible.
‘Got it.’
[Partial Transmutation - Extraction]
The moment his hand touched it, the system reacted automatically.
[The Akashic Cabinet intervenes in the system.]
[Displaying the list of extractable items.]
----------------------------
Internal Synthesis (LV.MAX)
Regeneration (LV.MAX)
Proliferation (LV.MAX)
Thousand-Li Eyes (LV.MAX)
Aura (LV.MAX)
Breath (LV.MAX)
Nature Resonance (LV.MAX)
Steel Skin (LV.MAX)
Infernal Dreadflame (LV.MAX)
Poison Flame (LV.MAX)
---------------------------
“Uh, hmm.”
The system had evolved again.
“Nature Resonance, Regeneration, and Internal Synthesis.”
[Selection complete.]
[Extracting the three items above.]
[The target’s stats and level will be consumed to extract part of the Core.]
“Huh?”
Blue’s Core automatically split apart and yielded three grains.
When he pulled his hand out and checked, there were three blue grains that gave off a unique sensation.
[Blue’s Core extraction complete.]
He slipped Blue’s Core into his pocket.
“Thanks.”
“Grr.”
Blue didn’t mind.
Sin Hyeok was about to withdraw his hand and leave when he remembered what the system had said earlier.
“You got a little smaller?”
Its size had definitely shrunk a little.
The feeling of a three-story detached house coming down one floor?
Just in case, he immediately checked Blue’s level.
[Status Window]
Name: Blue Veteran Tiger (LV.400)
Strength: 8967
Agility: 8975
Stamina: 9754
Mana: ——
Traits: Fusion, Predation, Transcendence
[Equipped Skills]
=========================
Fusion (LV.MAX)
Internal Synthesis (LV.95)
Regeneration (LV.95)
Proliferation (LV.MAX)
Thousand-Li Eyes (LV.MAX)
Aura (LV.MAX)
Breath (LV.MAX)
Nature Resonance (LV.95)
Steel Skin (LV.MAX)
Infernal Dreadflame (LV.MAX)
Poison Flame (LV.MAX)
==========================
“It definitely went down.”
Blue shook his body and stood up.
Soon, he gazed intently beyond the perimeter.
“Shall I go hunt?”
“I’ll go and come back.”
Sin Hyeok slipped a World Tree leaf into Blue’s body.
“Don’t go too far.”
“Grr.”
Blue smiled and patted Sin Hyeok once.
“I’ll be back!”
Tap, tap.
After a few light bounds, he tore through the air and was gone.
[Please secure the next material.]
The system interfered without even giving him time to admire the moment.
“Let me watch him go.”
[There is no time.]
“Come on, I know that too.”
[The next material is the Spirit Stone.]
Sin Hyeok let out a hollow laugh at how remarkably easy and fast it proceeded on its own.
“This isn’t even some RPG game. I feel like I’m playing some idle RPG game.”
[It is true that this function was designed with reference to the idle RPG games in the Administrator’s memories.]
“Amazing. Skills evolve on their own. It’s almost like they’re alive.”
It was strange.
‘Are these really skills? An extension of the system given by Yggdrasil?’
A strange doubt arose.
[The Spirit Stone is near the World Tree.]
“It’s close?”
[Spirit Stones are confirmed to be mystical minerals formed naturally when stones or pebbles near the roots of the World Tree absorb its abundant energy.]
[If this is correct, there is a possibility that Spirit Stones also exist near Notdrasil.]
Sin Hyeok followed the Akashic Cabinet’s words and arrived at the World Tree.
“I need to look for it.”
There was one obstacle.
Hong Ichan, glaring with wide eyes.
“Don’t.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“I don’t know what it is, but you’re being very impudent right now.”
As expected of Hong Ichan.
He’s only quick-witted at times like this.
“You’ve got a chronic case of suspicion. Why do you doubt me?”
He secretly activated Mapping.
[Initiating Mapping.]
[Switching to Precision Scan Mode.]
He secretly launched a single probe.
Hong Ichan’s ears perked up.
‘No way?’
He was someone who had been dull and unperceptive until now.
[Spirit Stone detected]
“Eek! Hyung!”
Ichan looked at him with a startled face.
“What did you do! I told you to stop lingering around Father!”
“Hey, I planted this. I made it. I’ve got at least half a share.”
“No! You don’t!”
Sin Hyeok smiled and stealthily reached his hand out.
“What are you trying to do!”
“I’m just taking this!”
[Partial Transmutation - Synthesis and Extraction]
The ground heaved.
It rippled once and then spat something out with a pop.
“Nice.”
He immediately caught the dark, bumpy thing that shot up.
[Spirit Stone secured]
“I’m out.”
“Ah! I was saving that on purpose! We don’t have many Spirit Stones!”
“I’m going to use this for Mister Namgung~”
At those words, Ichan clamped his mouth shut.
“Akashic, so is it all done now?”
[The final synthesis process is required.]
[Automatically proceeding with the simulation.]
[Designing the necessary enchant.]
“Good. That’s how it should be.”
[It is estimated to take 14 hours and 25 minutes until design completion and production.]
[Administrator, please deliver the completed supplementary portion of the Thunder Overlord Divine Art to the target.]
“Got it. Let me see it displayed. I’ve got to write it down and deliver it.”
Acupoints inscribed with formulas and new qi flow routes appeared in the air.
“I don’t understand it even looking at it.”
[It is because the Administrator’s knowledge level is insufficient.]
[A proposal to study is suggested for effective use of the Akashic Cabinet.]
“Tsk. Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
[It is based on fact.]
“Just shut up.”
[…….]
Leaving behind the Akashic Cabinet, which felt more and more human, Sin Hyeok headed toward Namgung Jincheon.
Knock, knock.
Namgung Sohye and Baek Arin turned around.
“How is he?”
Baek Arin gave a bitter smile.
“His consciousness returns intermittently, but...”
The words didn’t continue after that.
One could guess his condition without further words.
Namgung Sohye was staring at Namgung Jincheon without a word.
Sin Hyeok watched Sohye for a moment, then placed a sheet of paper beside her.
“Pass this to the mister when he wakes up. It’s the new formula for the Thunder Overlord Divine Art.”
Sohye glanced at it.
She carefully took the paper placed beside her.
* * *
Stir.
Namgung Jincheon’s consciousness awakened.
He opened his eyes with difficulty.
“My child....”
“Grandfather!”
Sohye hurriedly looked at the sickbed at the sound of his voice calling for her.
Overcome with joy, she approached her grandfather and buried her face in him.
“You can’t go yet.”
“How could I... go anywhere and leave you behind.”
He spoke with difficulty and then reached out toward the paper Sohye was clutching tightly.
“Grandfather, that’s...”
“Did that young warrior leave this?”
Sohye nodded silently.
Namgung Jincheon took the paper and read the carefully written formulas.
“This is good. Excellent. Even more perfect.”
Namgung Jincheon gripped the paper tightly.
‘It refines the thunder qi instead of accepting it as is. Furthermore, it mixes it with other energies to alleviate the burden. However, this is not the Thunder Overlord Divine Art.’
He set the paper down beside him for a moment.
Namgung Jincheon smiled with difficulty and stroked Sohye’s head.
What truly is the path of the Namgung clan?
“This old man isn’t going anywhere. I must survive. I must.”
Repeating those words, Namgung Jincheon took hold of the new formula he had crumpled.
‘I must survive... That is....’
* * *
Sin Hyeok left the room.
Jegal Seyun, who had been lingering nearby, stealthily asked.
“Young Warrior, that thing just now.”
“It’s a formula.”
He made a bitter expression.
“Hyung-nim will have quite a dilemma.”
Jegal Seyun glanced at the room to check Namgung Jincheon’s situation.
“Survival, or the family’s honor.”
Namgung Jincheon stood at that crossroads.
“Did I touch upon a warrior’s honor?”
“It’s not your fault. On the contrary, if it were anyone else, they should be down on their knees bowing.”
Jegal Seyun thought of the lofty honor of the Namgung clan.
“But he is Namgung. The head of all great families, regarded as the heavens themselves.”
[Namgung warriors abhor their clan’s martial arts being interfered with or modified by others.]
Sin Hyeok was dumbfounded by the Akashic Cabinet’s explanation that followed.
‘You knew this and still did it?’
[Yes.]
‘You really are something.’
[There was no other way.]
‘I suppose.’
He held back all his words inside.
“Young Warrior. I’m counting on you.”
“It will work out.”
Sin Hyeok left the castle because it was uncomfortable to stay any longer.
He went outside and slowly made his way to the World Tree.
“It’s burdensome. I really hope it goes well.”
Hong Ichan, who had been beside the World Tree, stealthily opened his eyes and looked up at Sin Hyeok.
“How is the mister?”
“So-so.”
Sin Hyeok plopped down on the ground and leaned his back against the tree.
Ichan glanced behind and spoke.
“I hope no one else dies beneath Father anymore.”
“Me too, punk.”
[6 hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds remaining until the body-mounted artifact is complete.]
“Hurry up. The mister is going to kick the bucket.”
[Proceeding at maximum capacity. Any faster and the Administrator’s head will crack.]
“Well, thanks for that.”
Then, someone came out of the castle in a hurry.
“Mister! Mister!”
Namgung Sohye was running frantically.
Seeing her appearance, Sin Hyeok guessed something.
“Make it faster!”
He sprang up and ran.
[Brain usage accelerating to the limit.]
Whirrr.
An engine-like sound could be heard from his head.
‘Why is there an engine sound coming from my head...!’
Sin Hyeok’s body swayed from dizziness.
Even so, he clutched his knees tightly and quickly ran.
When he arrived, Baek Arin was pouring out a mere trace of internal energy.
“Mister! Give me that quickly!”
Namgung Jincheon lay on the sickbed, emitting powerful sparks from his entire body.
His whole body was burning up with sparks.
Baek Arin was barely holding it back with her internal energy.
[2 hours, 32 minutes, and 34 seconds until completion.]
‘Faster.’
[Life may be endangered.]
[Excessive mental strength usage causes rapid depletion of the soul.]
‘I know!’
[5 minutes until completion.]
[4 minutes 32 seconds]
[1 minute 32 seconds]
The world looked hazy.
Sin Hyeok couldn’t see ahead, and blood flowed from his entire body.
“Damn.”
“Ah, seriously! Why are you like this too, Mister!”
Baek Arin shouted sharply, seemingly truly angry.
[5 seconds.]
[3 seconds.]
[1 second.]
‘It’s done....’
Something was pressed into Sin Hyeok’s hand.
He immediately tossed it toward the sickbed and collapsed on the floor.
“Mister!”
“Th...at... thing.”
Sin Hyeok painfully pointed with his finger at the something thrown toward the sickbed.
“Hold it... against... his dantian.”
He fainted on the spot.
Baek Arin hurriedly placed the black crystal on Namgung Jincheon’s dantian.
Tsss.
The black crystal seeped into Namgung Jincheon’s body, and the sparks intensified even more.
“Ah, hot!”
Baek Arin removed her hand from the sparks.
She could no longer use her hands due to the intense lightning.
“Is this right?”
Baek Arin was puzzled, but there was no one to answer her.
“This is driving me crazy.”
The creator who could explain had fainted.
“Please. I don’t want to deal with a corpse.”
Baek Arin prayed earnestly over and over.