Chapter 16 Part5 (1/2)
<chapter 16.=”” a=”” joker=”” is=”” born=”” -=”” 5=””>
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had never leveled up as planned. But this time, he was somehow able to prepare for his level up at his leisure.
His acc.u.mulated stats from both his achievements and the evolution of his skills totaled 1,598; in other words, he was only 2 stats away from a level up, and there were a ton of bones here that he could use to increase his stats.
”Jin, what about you?”
”I'm at 1,574.”
”Good. You should be able to level up too.”
”You want me to increase my stats by 26 all at once...!?”
Jin said in shock, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't listen to him. He was just reacting like that because he was so happy. Even if Jin didn't think that way himself, that's how it was.
The city was extremely vast, and the amount of knights protecting it was considerable. However, due to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, Kratia, as well as the Pauls, not even one skeleton was missed and the city was completely cleared; therefore, with the quant.i.ty of bones they'd gathered in one spot, they could raise their stats by more than 26, and could even go up to 50 if they wanted.
”Pick out the bones level 4 or higher.”
There were about 100 level 4 bones. Most of them were from knights, but there were occasionally some magicians' bones mixed in as well; Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided to invest those magicians' bones into Jin. Aside from his agility, everything else needed work, but Jin especially lacked in the magic department.
”And this too.”
”Ugh...”
Naturally, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo held out the Original Bone Core. He had some cores remaining after using them on the deteriorated Original Bone Core. The cores kept adding up, and soon, he managed to make another one. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who had been prepared to sacrifice the Limited Order Original Bone Core, felt relieved that he wouldn't have to.
'Jin's been avoiding this thing.'
Before joining together with Kratia, they actively cleared out the golems in the outskirts of the Empire and had managed to acc.u.mulate several Original Bone Cores. However, most of those went to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. Not only was Jin afraid of absorbing them, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo also thought that it was urgent he got stronger asap.
”But I really can't get any stats out of these Bone Cores anymore. It's better for you to absorb them, if you consider their efficiency.”
”d.a.m.n it... Fine.”
The same types of bones fundamentally possess a similar karma. There was even a limit on absorbing skeletons' bones, which possessed a special characteristic based on the individual, so there was no way that golems, which were carefully thought out and produced, would be any different.
Through hard work, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had already acquired all the stats he could from the Bone Original Cores, and now it was Jin's turn. It seemed as though Jin realized that he couldn't get out of it this time, and calmly a.s.sented. Since it wasn't his first time experiencing it, he didn't break down.
”Urgh...”
”Tell me when you've got it.”
”Ugh... I got it. I just need to raise my stats by 8 more.”
”8, huh. Ok.”
Yeah, it was fortunate that Jin was headstrong. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded in satisfaction and continuously used the magicians' bones on Jin. Whenever he did so, Jin would flinch, but he managed to bear with it quite well. He maintained his connection with Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, and remembered the days he had endured, which helped him get through it.
”Hoo... Just 3 more stats.”
”Just one more level 5 bone should be enough then.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo examined the level 5 bones he'd collected from the battle. First were the four bones he'd gotten from the Elder Knights. There were four, including the three Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had killed, as well as one that Kratia had killed.
There were two more level 5 bones as well; they were the lord's, the Skeleton Commander's, skull and rib bone. He was lucky to have gotten them through Bone Reinforcement's new option.
”Which one should we go with?”
”It doesn't really matter to me, so just pick one already. I'm ready.”
Jin spoke in a pointlessly grim tone, and stiffly raised his head. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo chuckled and picked the Skeleton Commander's rib bone. Because it was the only one which would increase health.
”And if I'm right, it'll probably...”
”Probably what?”
”You'll know if you experience it firsthand. Bone Reinforcement!”
[Bone Reinforcement is being implemented on Jin Taylor by consuming a Lv5 Skeleton Commander's rib bone. Health has increased by 1. You share a portion of its memories and experiences.]
[A defensive seal? If there comes a time when I have to use that, then my family line will end on that day as well. - Nameless heir]
This time, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo received 1 stat point and only need one more to level up. Of course, Jin obviously got more than 3 points from it. Suddenly, a dreary black light burst from Jin's body; it was an outburst of mana that indicated that he was leveling up.
”Ugh...!”
'Is it because of the contract? I feel a bit strange, too.'
It felt as though Jin's nausea was transmitted to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo in its entirety. He calmly stepped back and observed Jin's level up. Kratia also watched with interest.
”It seems much more intense than a human's level up. Is it because he's leveling up to 5?”
”Is there something special about level 5?”
”Yeah. It's the level where your karma pieces, which are divided into several branches, are made one, and for the first time, your true path is decided. Level 5 is the level where you are considered high rank.”
Kratia added that she became an ice magician at level 5, so she was forced to walk on that path from now on.
After hearing that, when he thought about it, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had acquired the Avenger karma at first, then the Trickster karma, and several other karmas as well, but all of these were gradually sorted out; now, his promotion to a true Joker was right ahead of him, so he thought she wasn't exactly wrong.
”Ah, it's almost over.”
The dreary black light wrapping around Jin gradually disappeared, revealing the vastly changed Jin from within. The first thing he noticed was his frame; it had a metallic sheen to it.
”I was probably really affected by Steel Body. Besides, I don't really have any other active skills.”
No one had asked, yet Jin preemptively explained. The blue blazing goblin fire in his eye sockets had also intensified as well.
”And from the absorbed bone, I got a skill that's like a lifesaver. The moment I get hit by an attack, it creates a magical s.h.i.+eld that nullifies a portion of the damage; it's truly a vague skill.”