The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy-Chapter 95: Ancient Trial Grounds II (2)
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 95: Ancient Trial Grounds II (2)
[Verifying qualifications.]
[All personnel who have entered the testing ground have passed Ancient Trial Grounds I.]
[You may proceed to the next test.]
"Hyung-nim. The Ancient Trial Grounds... isn't that the one hidden in the Myeong-dong Gate?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"I didn't know there was a sequel to the test."
"That's why it has the number 1 in front of it."
Yoojin replied calmly.
A hidden test prepared by the constellations of the Pantheon to select outstanding hunters.
The difficulty is so high that you have to risk your life to pass it, but the rewards are so exceptional that it is very popular, to the point that large guilds control access.
Even the gate in France, where the [Ancient Trial Grounds I] is located, has been restricted so that only a small number of people can use it.
"I guess you heard about it through the reward for the request."
Kang Minho arbitrarily inferred the source of the information and came to an understanding.
That would be more convincing than future knowledge, right?
Yoojin tacitly agreed with Kang Minho's opinion by remaining silent.
"Hyung, is this why you didn't tell us where we were going?"
"The entry conditions for the Ancient Trial Grounds haven't been revealed yet. You guys keep your mouths shut too."
"Got it!"
Reaching the rooftop of the tallest building in the [Field of Glory].
It's a much simpler condition than gathering the hearts of Frogmen, staining them with the blood of Goblin Shamans, and placing them in designated locations.
Nevertheless.
The reason why the secret of this gate has not been revealed is because of another entry restriction.
"Only those who have passed the Ancient Trial Grounds can enter here."
“Wait a minute, is that why you brought us on this trip, hyung? You knew about this place all along?"
"Come on, be realistic, if I knew about this beforehand, don't you think I would have mentioned it?"
“Hmm. Still seems a bit suspicious..."
Kang Minho murmured, not entirely convinced.
Instead of adding fuel to the sensitive topic, Yoojin looked ahead.
"Be on your guard. It looks like it's starting now."
Click— Clank—
The sound of a mechanism moving.
The long straight passageway shook violently, cracking here and there and spitting out human-sized statues.
[Warrior Statue]
"Uh, hyung..."
"Don't even think about it… I can't raise statues as undead."
"Whoa, how did you know what I was going to ask?"
"It's pretty obvious.”
The passage was filled with warrior statues.
At a glance, there seemed to be hundreds of them.
A red light emanated from the area where the eyeballs were carved.
A creepy feeling made Kang Minyeong unconsciously stroke her arm.
[Welcome to Ancient Trial Grounds II.]
[This test can be taken by a maximum of 5 people.]
[Reach the end of the passage.]
[If you do not wish to challenge, open the door behind you. You can return to the original space.]
"You can back out now."
"Hyung-nim. Trying to persuade us with words you don't even mean is not convincing."
"Was it that obvious?"
"If that were the case, you wouldn't have brought us here in the first place."
Hehe.
Yoojin grinned.
"I'll follow hyung's orders."
"I've brought the scrolls for Grease, Dig, and Ice Field."
The Little Runts team checked their equipment and prepared to fight.
Yoojin also deployed his holy power.
[Using Punishing Spike.]
[Using Giant's Strength.]
He cast buffs on the Little Runts team, excluding [Unholy Blessing].
He used the remaining divine spells, except for Giant's Strength, on Song Myeongseok, whom he had summoned from the Ring of Darkness.
[Alchemy]
[Using Golem Creation.]
He even summoned the Blood Golem, the red monster compressed into a catalyst.
The preparations to face the enemy were complete.
"Kang Minyeong and Lee Seongmin in the rear. The rest take the front."
"What about you, hyung?"
"Both."
Yoojin declared.
"Think of me as a midfielder in football."
With his mastery of the Verdian Basic Spear Technique and his haphazardly-learned Aura ability, he could hold his own against most 3 Star martial artists.
Plus, he had the magic armament [Cursed Fang] for ranged attacks, and his healing and barrier skills were second to none.
“Man, having a lot of abilities is exhausting.”
"True, but you're kind of annoying about it."
"Hey, show some respect to hyung-nim!"
"But seriously though, he's got a point."
“These guys…”
Yoojin muttered under his breath.
‘I helped them become more capable, and now they're completely out of control.’
〔I agree. They seem to have lost all sense of respect.〕
'Hey, would you mind staying out of this?. This is between me and my team.'
〔Arrogance is something everyone should be wary of. Don't forget that.〕
'I'm just stating the facts plainly.'
〔Where has the little human who was talking about humility earlier gone?〕
‘Damn it. He's throwing those words back at me.’
Yoojin clicked his tongue.
「Intruders. Discovered.」
「Objective. Eliminate.」
The statues began to move.
One of the Cursed Fang shot out, wrapped in spirit power.
[Using Bone Spear.]
Crack—
The Cursed Fang sank deep into the head of the [Warrior Statue].
The red glow faded, but the statue continued to charge forward with the magic armament embedded in its head.
"Why didn't it die even though you aimed for the head?"
"It's not a living creature."
Yoojin converted his spirit power into dark magic, creating a jet-black spear, and threw it at the chest of a statue with a bone awl attached to its head.
Thud—
The statue, exhausted from the continuous blows, collapsed.
It shattered into dozens of pieces with a loud sound.
"Hyung, did you hit its core?"
"Statues don't have cores like golems. Instead... when the mana that makes up their body runs out, they become like that."
"So we just need to inflict enough damage to deplete their mana?"
"I'm glad you understand quickly."
It's like HP in a game.
If you accumulate a certain amount of damage, the statue's power will be exhausted and it will collapse.
"The key is how much firepower we can exert."
Kang Minho quickly grasped the core of the [Ancient Trial Grounds II].
"That's right. We also need to consider our endurance."
"I'll trust hyung-nim's command."
"Good."
Yoojin said with a confident smirk.
‘It's not like I haven't handled worse. Remember those rookies from Little Angels?’
He chuckled to himself, remembering their swift defeat.
Focusing on the task at hand, Yoojin assessed the approaching statues and began issuing commands to his team, his voice sharp and decisive.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Field of Glory, a gate located in Nevada.
An owl flew into the testing ground hidden within.
Clang! Clang!
The scraping sound of metal against metal echoed through the passage.
In the midst of the fierce battlefield, with sweat, dust, and blood splattering everywhere, no one noticed the owl's presence.
〔Minerva's Owl gazes down upon the battlefield.〕
Yoojin's party wasn't the only one to visit the 'Ancient Trial Grounds II'.
Just as there was a gate in France that led to the 'Ancient Trial Grounds I', a certain condition could be met in the [Armatus Colosseum] located in Rome, Italy, to enter the 'Ancient Trial Grounds II'.
Therefore, Yoojin's party taking the test through the Las Vegas gate wasn't anything special.
'These kids. They're quite something.'
Athena.
The constellation who governs wisdom in the Olympus cluster observed Yoojin's party and let out an exclamation of admiration.
"Blood Golem, advance three steps. The rest of the vanguard, retreat two steps."
【By your will.】
"Lee Seongmin, deploy Grease and Ice Field. Then prepare Fire Bolt immediately."
"Yes!"
"Kang Minyeong, fire a volley in the four o'clock direction in five seconds. Don't worry about accuracy."
"Got it, hyung!"
The long passage was filled with [Warrior Statues].
Yoojin's party didn't retreat an inch against the endlessly swarming army of statues.
'It's thanks to that boy's command.'
Although Athena's official domain was wisdom, she was also excellent in war and tactics.
It was just that she didn't flaunt that ability because Ares, one of the other twelve Olympian gods, was in charge of 'war'.
Therefore, she could immediately recognize how impressive Yoojin's command ability was.
'He grasps the flow of battle at a glance and makes appropriate judgments.'
Sharp insight and experience that could be seen in renowned generals who dominated their eras.
It was strange to feel such veteran-like composure from Yoojin, who was only in his twenties, but other than that, there was nothing to criticize.
'Their teamwork is also excellent.'
The Little Runts team members who followed Yoojin's instructions were also impressive.
As if they were one body, they took action that matched his intentions as soon as they received his instructions.
If they were even a little late or early, or if they didn't understand the meaning behind Yoojin's words, their formation would have crumbled in an instant.
'If such situations continue, it can no longer be dismissed as coincidence.'
Command ability that perfectly calculated the skills of allies and the level of enemies.
Furthermore, the movements of the Little Runts team members who trusted Yoojin 100% and followed his instructions.
There was nothing to criticize.
'I've seen many outstanding 3 Stars, but this is the first time I've seen such a combination.'
Her heart pounded.
The desire to sponsor these mortals surged within her.
All four were desirable talents, but the one she coveted the most was Yoojin.
Athena poured additional divine power into [Minerva's Owl] to observe Yoojin more closely.
'What's this? This unpleasant energy, he wields power that defies natural order.'
Tsk—
Clicking her tongue, Athena immediately withdrew her interest in Yoojin.
Those who wielded spirit power-based abilities, those who learned necromancy, couldn't be sponsored.
It was an unspoken rule that every constellation in the Pantheon knew.
'But I can also sense holy power from this child.'
Athena frowned.
‘Power that defies natural order, a necromancer, but also a priest?’
It was impossible.
Although it was rare for magic-type hunters to also be priests, there wouldn't be a single constellation in the Pantheon who would accept a necromancer as a devotee.
'Maybe the Tower of Babel side would be possible.'
Athena no longer paid attention to Yoojin.
What was the point of coveting something she couldn't have?
It was better to sponsor the hunter who skillfully used a shield, Kang Minho.
'This child has the talent to maximize the power of my blessing.'
Aegis.
Athena's blessing that grants the concept of protection.
How much stronger could Kang Minho, who possessed the [Moveable Fortress] trait, become if he received 'Aegis'?
'The number of constellations watching the test is increasing, so I need to hurry.'
After finishing her calculations in her head, Athena calmly waited for Yoojin's party to pass the [Ancient Trial Grounds II].
＊ ＊ ＊
[You have passed Ancient Trial Grounds II.]
The party reached the end of the passage.
For hours, they had pushed forward, smashing the swarming statues without a proper rest.
"Pant... Pant..."
"I really thought I was going to die."
"H-Hyung... I don't want to go on a trip like this ever again."
The exhausted Little Runts team collapsed on the floor, catching their ragged breaths.
Even with the maximum support from divine spells, it had been a fierce battle that pushed the party's physical and mental strength to their limits.
「Combat ability reduced by 63%.」
【It was just a lapse in concentration, Master. This won't happen again.】
The Blood Golem, which had led the vanguard, had shrunk to half its size due to excessive blood consumption.
Song Myeongseok's lower body was rolling around on the floor.
'Recommending five people was appropriate.'
Yoojin thought, wiping the sweat from his brow. It had been a close one.
Even with the Blood Golem and Song Myeongseok, they had consumed more power than expected.
〔You managed to pass, though. Barely,〕
'Yeah-Yeah, thrilled to hear it.".'
〔Khahaha! Don't be like that. I was quite entertained.〕
‘Oh, I'm sure you were. Probably stuffing your face with popcorn while narrating my heroic struggle.’
It wasn't like he had only known Kronos for a day or two.
He could picture what Kronos was thinking without even seeing it.
[The Emblem of Valor is engraved.]
⋯⋯⋯
◎ Emblem of Valor
Category: Emblem
Allows you to face combat in the best condition and mindset in any situation.
*Strength, Stamina, Mana increased by 10%.
*Mental Attack Resistance increased by 30%.
⋯⋯⋯
The name of the second emblem acquired after Patience was 'Valor'.
It increased three stats unconditionally by 10%, and greatly increased mental resistance, which was difficult to raise.
'Although it's an option I don't really need.'
He hid a wry smile.
His unique trait [Clear Mind] nullified all mental attacks.
He had to be satisfied with the stat increase.
[You have achieved a feat that transcends several ranks. A verse will be added to your legend.]
[The dignity of the great being you serve will rise.]
〔Khahahaha! Excellent! You did very well!〕
Kronos expressed his satisfaction with hearty laughter.
‘So far, it's going according to plan.’
"Um, hyung-nim."
"Are the constellations sending you messages offering sponsorship?"
"How did you know?"
"The Ancient Trial Grounds were created to find hunters worthy of sponsorship."
"Ah, I see. Then you must be receiving a lot of messages from constellations, hyung-nim."
"I already have a patron."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
‘Besides, Kang Minho, do you really think any constellation would dare try to sponsor someone who already has the title of Saint?’
Yoojin chuckled.
‘Not to mention, they wouldn't be too keen on the whole 'necromancer' thing either.’
Yoojin's goal from the beginning was to raise Kronos's rank by achieving feats.
"Is it the same for you two?"
"That's right, hyung."
"I never knew I was this loved by the constellations!"
Yoojin heard the divine messages of the constellations offering sponsorship to the Little Runts team members.
"Don't accept any sponsorships, you two."
"Why?"
"There aren't any constellations that are a good match for your abilities."
A sponsorship contract, the goal of countless hunters.
It was tempting, but the two immediately gave up on the idea at Yoojin's advice.
"There must be a reason why hyung is saying that."
"There will be other opportunities, right?"
Yoojin smiled softly and looked at Kang Minho.
"Hyung-nim. Then I..."
"Make a contract with Minerva's Owl."
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
"Excuse me, but may I ask for that constellation's true name?"
"Athena."
The constellation who became Kang Minho's patron in the previous regression.
It was a proven combination, and Athena, being one of the twelve Olympian gods, was a powerful constellation.
‘I'm grateful that she took the bait so quickly.’
"A-A-Athena?!!!!"
Kang Minho, belatedly realizing the reality, was startled and let out a scream mixed with shock.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
