Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 124
Chapter 124: Episode 36. Demon Predator (1)
The Necklace of Highendall.
Highendall was called a prophet and the master of the swords. Just wearing his necklace could enable the user to use powerful swordsmanship. In my previous life, Ariel Diablo had obtained it, and she had been able to advance her skills and conquer her enemies.
But now, it was mine. It was not anyone else’s; it was mine alone.
I wore the moon-shaped necklace around my neck.
At the same time…
[The Necklace of Highendall has been worn.]
[The special swordsmanship “Moonlight Drop (Epic, Passive)” has been learned.]
I could feel a refreshing aura. My whole body was covered in a blue light, and it resembled the shine of the moon. Besides, today was a full moon. It was a great day to experiment with the new swordsmanship.
“So, this is Moonlight Drop.”
What I accepted was not only the aura. The information about the sword technique slowly entered my head. And Highendall was in there.
He had a beast-like body. His hair and beard looked like they hadn’t been cleaned for a long time. He walked forward, holding two swords that were old and worn out.
He was in my head, but soon I could see his techniques with my own eyes. It was a beautiful swordsmanship. Every movement embraced the light of the moon, so anyone who saw this could do nothing but admire it.
“It is so beautiful.”
He was just swinging his sword, but the impression I got was that it was so beautiful. It couldn’t be compared with the sword dance. Every single movement was important. It was beautiful, but it also had a firmness that pierced the heart and head of the enemy.
It was a new experience for me.
“It is a swordsmanship that is way ahead.”
Ha!
In my previous life, the Moonlight Drop that Ariel used was very intense. But it was not beautiful. She had probably adjusted Moonlight Drop to her style.
She knew many swordsmanship. She absorbed everything and turned it into the “Abyss Sword.” For her, even the swordsmanship of Highendall, who was called the master of the swords, was just another enhancement for her own swordsmanship.
“I want to take it as it is.”
However, my thought was different from hers.
I didn’t know any proper swordsmanship. What I knew were real battles. The simple ways to break the enemy’s bones were all I needed. I thought that was enough.
Swordsmanship? I hadn’t felt the need to learn it. But this changed after I saw Highendall demonstrate Moonlight Drop.
This was already complete. There was no reason to change it.
Of course, there would be different interpretations. I thought the sword techniques that I had learned on the battlefield would not be inferior to Moonlight Drop. However, if I mastered Moonlight Drop, I was sure that I would break the “wall” that I had.
In fact, my sword techniques were in gridlock for about 10 years. My abilities rose as I became stronger, but there was no change in the techniques.
So, I wanted to learn. I wanted to absorb it as it was. Ariel changed it but I didn’t want to destroy the “purity” of the original owner. I didn’t want that.
“Highendall, I will have your swordsmanship.”
I stretched out my hand. My hand could not touch the image of Highendall on my retinas. It was just an illusion, not reality. His hands continued to perform Moonlight Drop. It was as if the moonlight from the full-moon was falling onto me heavily.
The prophet.
The master of the swords.
He was strong, and I respected his purity.
Highendall loved the moon, and eventually, he turned into the moon itself. All his emotions were contained in the Moonlight Drop.
If I learned Moonlight Drop, and if I got to know about Highendall, it would help me to grow greatly. I was convinced.
“I am also fond of the full moon in the quiet sky.”
I smiled. I recalled the days on the battlefield. A place of slaughter. A place where I couldn’t even trust my allies.
Still, the moon was the only one on my side. It kept changing itself, but it never betrayed anyone else. I thought I could understand how Highendall felt.
I held Rage in one hand and the Sword of the Emperor in the other.
And I wielded them until dawn.
I could not move without a plan. I needed to come up with a plan, divide the troops, and give them time to adjust to the items that I had purchased from the auction. The Archduke Oculus was my enemy, so even full preparation would not be enough.
“You absolutely cannot be caught. Keep an eye on the dungeons of Oculus and his major demons. Report to me once a day through this crystal ball.”
“I will follow your words, Dungeon Master.”
Scouting was essential before attacking. I mobilized Krathra and a few Dark Elves for that very reason.
Oculus had seen my status window, but he never would have guessed that I knew where his dungeon was located.
“You are arrogant, Oculus. And arrogance brings carelessness.”
My goal was to launch a surprise attack when he began to move. It wouldn’t take long. Now, I had to build my power until the time came.
“Steane. How far has the Dwarking’s work progressed?”
“Sir, he is just amazing! He has already finished seven unique grade weapons. At this rate, the basic preparations will be ready in about 15 days. Once he finished making the huge weapon that Gigantes would use, your power will double instantly,” Steane said proudly.
Indeed, good weapons were created as a skilled blacksmith met superior materials. Thanks to him, the Dwarves were also developing their skills every day.
15 days. I couldn’t waste that valuable time.
After completing some urgent tasks, I practiced Moonlight Drop and took out other items.
The Stigma of the Millennium and the Orb of Thunderstroke were also items for my growth. To be precise, they were items to increase the impact of the “Lightning God.”
“The Orb of Thunderstroke strengthens and restores skills related to electrical properties.”
I used the Mind’s Eye once again to confirm it.
Name – The Orb of Thunderstroke (Ex U)
Description: An orb held in the mouth of a lightning dragon for 100 years.
<ul>
Strengthens under the unique grade skills related to electrical properties. The user’s electrical mana can be restored once a day.
</ul>
** The Spirit who has electrical properties can indwell in this orb.
Lightning God had a higher rank than unique grade, so the strengthening effect would not work. What I aimed was “recovery” and “indwelling” in the secret option.
“Lightning God. Move.”
Lightning God woke up. I tried to move into the Orb of Thunderstroke. I did not just want it to explore the orb, I wanted to move its entire body into it. Lightning God resisted as if it didn’t like that, but it could not disobey my order.
Soon, Lightning God finally started to move into the orb. At that moment, I could feel a strong sense of loss, but I managed to ignore it. It was a task that required concentration, so I should keep focus.
[“Spirit of Electric Power (Epic)” is indwelled in “the Orb of Thunderstroke.”]
[The grade of the Spirit is very high. The effect of the orb will be increased.]
[The name is changed to “the Orb of Thunderstroke (Lightning God).”]
[The efficiency of the Spirit of Electric Power (Epic) has increased. The consumption of materials for its use has been reduced by half.]
Then I pulled out the Stigma of the Millennium.
It looked like a seal and it was an item for some kind of “contract.” I am trying to increase the duration by connecting the Orb of Thunderstroke and myself, since Lightning God could move between the orb and me.
“Humans called something like this a trick.”
I frowned. “Trick” had a negative connotation.
“No, I will call it practical use.”
What I was doing was finding a loophole and taking advantage of it.
Once I confirmed that Lightning God had been completely moved, I placed the seal around my heart.
[The Stigma of the Millennium has been activated. “The Orb of Thunderstroke (Lightning God)” and “the Heart of Hell Lord” have been linked.]
[“Lightning God” will always manifest itself in the future. Even when the skill is not in use, Lightning God is able to use one-tenth of its power by itself.]
[The Stigma of the Millennium has been used and extinguished.]
The stigma was a single-use item. However, the effect was enough.
The Orb of Thunderstroke shined, and soon, a small lightning dragon about the size of a fist appeared. It was Lightning God.
It moved around the orb as if it was surprised to be manifested all of a sudden.
“The power is reduced to one-tenth, but it will be active 24 hours every day. And the power can be recovered when I use the skill.”
So, I got something that could protect me automatically. Originally, Lightning God couldn’t voluntarily exit my body. But now, thanks to the two items, it could now manifest for 24 hours a day.
The small Lightning God moved around above my head. It looked happy as it got some sort of freedom.
It couldn’t be underestimated just because it was the size of a fist. It only had one-tenth of the power, but even high-level monsters would still be in danger from just one blow.
“I look forward to your work.”
Lightning God flew faster.
“Now it is time to open the box.”
The last item from the auction, an “Unknown Box” was waiting for me.
The box was shaped like a coffin.
Krithli stood in front of it and asked, “My Dungeon Master, you want me to open this?”
“That’s right. The item that comes out will belong to you immediately.”
“…Okay. I will open it. Please step aside,” Krithli said as she was aware that nobody knew what would come out.
But I shook my head. “It’s okay. If anything happens, I will take action. That will be much safer.”
“I understand. Then…”
Krithli took a deep breath and moved. She placed her hands on the box, and carefully lifted the lid.
Rumble!
A loud sound rang. It was like someone was roaring.
At the same time, a purple light poured out from the box.
“My Dungeon Master, is this…?” Krithli blinked her eyes and said in an embarrassed tone.
“Indeed. It turned out like this.”
I slightly nodded as I checked the result.
<hr />
The preparations were over. The only thing left was to start moving.
“My Dungeon Master. But the fairy of the dungeon had not returned yet—”
“I know. But we don’t have time to wait for her.”
I cut Krithli off and looked back. All the monsters, except for those who would stay back to defend the dungeon, were gathered behind me.
There were 4,000 intermediate and 100 high-level monsters. There were also three of the highest level of monsters. Tashumal recovered most of her power, so she was about the highest level as well. So, if I added her, it meant I had four highest-level creatures.
It was at a scale that no demon could match. Sweeping away one dungeon would be a piece of cake. This was 80% of the power that I had gathered in three years.
In particular, I had considerably high expectations of the Kur Warriors that I had purchased in the auction this year. They were riding the Infernos, and wearing the equipment made by Dwarking. And since they were a clan, they became stronger when there were more of them together.
“War! The Kur Warriors also like war!”
Their voices were still loud, but it was indeed war. The loud voice would raise morale.
“Our enemy is Archduke Oculus. The longer we take time, the more we will become disadvantageous. We have to quickly cut off his neck. If we miss this opportunity, it will become more difficult. So, you must fight with desperation! We must kill Oculus! Since he crossed another line, we shall have to root him out, before he becomes more annoying.”
Krathra, who had gone for a scout, told me surprising news.
I had wondered why he only sent one demon, and surely there was a reason. He was busy in many ways. He had not only attacked my dungeon; he had attacked many other dungeons at the same time.
Two demons from the other camps had been dragged into Oculus’s dungeon. I put Krathra in there in the face of danger. And… Krathra confirmed that Oculus “ate” the two demons.
He was definitely insane. I knew he was crazy, but now I felt disgusted beyond description. How could he eat other demons!
He broke another taboo.
Demon Predator. That was Oculus’s new title.
