Chapter 40 Part7 (2/2)
”I'll erase the flames, so do your best. If you can't, then you have to go back, so keep that in mind.”
”Keuk... I'll try my best!”
”Yeah, keep it up.”
The level 7 monster, the Sun Scorpion. The level 6 paladins and priests had to fight these monsters with their lives on the line. If it weren't for the combination of paladins and priests, (their defensive and healing capabilities were impressive, even when compared to other level 6s) then they wouldn't have stood a chance.
[Kiaaaaaaaah!]
[Kishaaaa!]
But that only applied if the Sun Scorpions were in tip-top shape. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's greatsword had mercilessly stolen the flames they emitted, as well as the flames that made up their bodies, so they were weakened to the extent that they could barely be called level 7s. At least enough that the paladins and priests could take them on.
”It's sucking their flames well.”
'But what are you going to do with the fire? Are you going to use that 'countercurrent' ability? Against them?'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had already told Jin about the greatsword's options, so Jin had asked about it while tilting his head. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo firmly shook his head.
'I have no intention of wasting that energy. I'm going to use the countercurrent ability, but the target's going to be me.'
'...As I thought, you...'
He'd thought this when they had first entered the Corrupted Dryad's domain, which had been filled with trees spewing acid; Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had to be a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t! However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo immediately rejected that notion.
'Training my fire resistance is nice and all, but my main goal is to charge the t.i.tan Bone Core.'
The level 8 t.i.tan Bone Core, which had charged for 2 months, and would enable him to board the t.i.tan Bone Golem for 4 minutes.
The item had evolved, allowing the outside of the golem to endlessly acc.u.mulate heat and charge itself, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wanted to go one step further; the heat should be able to reduce the charge time.
'And if that all goes well.'
He'd come to a dungeon filled with the fire element, hadn't he? Lee s.h.i.+n Woo secretly hoping to improve the golem's performance with the loot he got here.
After all, he would hit level 8 soon. The narrower the gap between his stats and the t.i.tan Bone Golem's, the lower the stats he'd gain from synchronizing with it. That's why he wanted to improve the golem. In the end, he just didn't want to lose out on his investment.
'What about that tailbone?'
'I absorbed and a.n.a.lyzed it, but it's unusable. I can't use something that weak to reinforce the core.'
When he had researched the core with Kratia before, they came to the conclusion that 'this was its limit', but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought differently now. Didn't the Bone Gate evolve too? The t.i.tan Bone Core, as well as the t.i.tan Bone Golem it created, could definitely reach new heights. It should be possible. He hoped.
”We've... successfully hunted them!”
”Ah, just now? Do you need a break?”
”That's... Yes, just a little...”
”Alright. Then let's rest for 5 minutes.”
While Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was ruminating over the t.i.tan Bone Core, the paladins managed to finish up. With their element sealed, the Sun Scorpions were weaker than other normal level 7s, so the paladins were able to win somehow. And with their victory, the paladins and priests had achieved a feat. Their stats must've increased.
”If you want to survive even one second longer in this dungeon, then fight desperately like your life depends on it and grow. I'll watch your backs so you don't die.”
”””Thank you very much!”””
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo collected all of the scorpions' tails and absorbed them, but left the Perium to the paladins. Sealing the scorpions' fire was a huge achievement for him as well. He absorbed all of the fire and as a result, his health increased by 1. It was quite effective, as they weren't even elites.
'I thought you'd tell them all to leave.'
'Yeah, that's what I'd intended to do, but...'
Jin asked, and Lee s.h.i.+n Woo recalled the Evileye General, the level 7 archer. Of course, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was confident that he could overpower her quite easily. Since she was weaker than the Beast General he'd fought before.
But while Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wasn't here, he didn't know what might happen. The Pope was level 7, but the Sun G.o.d religion didn't have any other level 7s! Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had only just realized how little military might the Sun G.o.d religion had. He didn't know how the other religious orders fared, but that wasn't really important right now.
'It's because of my actions that the Sun G.o.d religion has gotten famous enough to attract the attention of the 12 generals. It would be irrelevant if everyone liked them, but there are some who clearly oppose or are wary of the Sun G.o.d religion. If I continue to stay here, then nothing bad should happen, but if I were to disappear, then...'
'Aha, you're trying to nurture the Sun G.o.d religion's elites because you're worried about them.'
'Actually, it's more along the lines of me not wanting my foothold to disappear while I'm gone.'
The Pope didn't think Lee s.h.i.+n Woo would help them grow forever, but they were forced to concentrate entirely on supporting Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and fostering his image, so they had no time to pursue anything else. So, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo would increase their power in their stead.
'They won't be at the level of a hero, but I should be able to get them to level 7.'
'There's no helping that.'
Even if they reached level 7, a hero would far surpa.s.s them in power. But Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wanted to train the Sun G.o.d religion's elites so that they could at least stop one or two of the 12 generals. They had fought just three scorpions and were gasping for breath, so it may be impossible, but...
”Alright, it's been 5 minutes. Let's get a move on.”
”Keuk... Understood!”
Their happy training camp began nonetheless... However, just three days later, after traversing through 30% of the dungeon on foot, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was forced to stop their training.
A level 8 enemy had appeared. It wasn't even the boss.
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