Dungeon Hunter - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Episode 45. A Worthy Death (2)

It was an amazing growth. All my pure and calibrated stats had increased significantly. Above all, my potential limit had increased by 50. It was very important.

Demons basically had a potential of 500 points. Normally, only Dukes or Archdukes managed to reach the limit. But my points exceeded the basic limit as I now had 550. This meant I could grow stronger than them.

Besides, my capabilities already exceeded 500, including my calibrated stats. My capabilities were a total of 527 points.

Reaching 500 was a standard point to become a transcendental being. I had dipped a foot in that realm. It was not lacking compared to the Archdukes’ points when they had been in Devildom.

My total stats were similar to those of the Spirit King of Darkness, Adonis. The difference between us was I had already managed to surpass the limit, and he was still looking for the method to do that. He was stagnant while I continue to grow.

‘The title of a legend grade…,’ I thought.

I was eyeing the ‘Ruler of the Underworld’. To become a ‘Ruler of the Underworld’ was to become a ‘Legend’. Something in the legend grade could be obtained easily. I thought I would not get anything from it. Then again, even if I got something out of it, it would take more than five years.

Visiting the Underworld was totally worth it. Had I not gone there, had I not surpassed my limit, I would not able to win this war even with my past knowledge.

“Thanks to this, my skill grades have also increased,” I stated.

It was due to an option of the title: increased the grade of all skills under epic by 0.5.

The most gratifying thing was that the Mind’s Eye was upgraded to an epic level. Now, when I had to deal with someone like Oculus, my defense would be better.

Sentiment du Fer enhanced the completeness of my sword techniques. The cutting force of the Dark Sword skill had also improved. If I combined the Dark Sword and the Moonlight Drop, I would be able to fight against the Abyss Sword of Ariel Diablo.

I became their ‘opponent’ in every sense of the word. No… I became a real hunter.

The beasts would be afraid of the hunter and creep into the ground.

“Achievement Store,” I muttered, and the Core of the dungeon glowed more intensely.

[Welcome to the Achievement Store.]

[Current achievement points: 29,151]

[You can purchase items in the store by using achievement points.]

[Item names marked with a + are only available for purchase once.]

[Items from the ‘Treasure Warehouse of the Hell Lord’ have been added.]

[Listing completed. Additional items can be found in the ‘Additional Items Related to Achievements.’]

Hell Lord… He had made the Underworld. He had created a ‘system’ that could not be recognized. He had also put his treasure house there.

What was hidden in there? How great were the things hidden?

The treasure led the commanders to betray their lord. As I scanned for more details, a window popped up.

[Additional Items Related to Achievements]

[Egg of Angel: 500]

[Soul Cavalry: 300]

[Soul Archer: 400]

[Soul Infantry: 1,200]

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[+ The Thousand Wings (Epic): 5,000]

[+ Roaring Shield (Epic): 6,800]

[+ Absolute Ice Crystal (Ex Epic): 23,000]

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[+ The Pawn of the Hell Lord: 10,000]

[+ The Mark of the Mountain: 15,000]

[+ Doom Dragon: 60,000]

<hr />

[+ Advanced Training Room (5/5): 8,000]

[+ Utopia (Legend): 99,555]

[+ Orb of Doom (Legend): 99,555]

The list was long. I couldn’t confirm everything just by skimming through. I tried to count only the important things, but there were more than 10.

Originally, the most expensive thing I could purchase from the Achievement Store was Jinma Dragon Ahojin. At present, more expensive things existed.

Doom Dragon, Utopia, and Orb of Doom…

I never heard of them, but they had piqued my interest.

Doom Dragon was the first species I saw. The other two were legend-grade items.

Legend-grade items were very rare even in my previous life. As far as I knew, there had been only three items. Each of them had incredible power and was a game changer. In particular, the human camp’s Celestial Wand made the Archduke, who had exceeded his limit, to draw back.

Of course, the user was one of the 10 strongest humans, but still, the effect was amazing.

I would become strong enough to be called a god if I could get my hands on all of these.

The more I thought about the Hell Lord, the more I realized that he was a very mysterious being. He was only a human, but he entered the transcendent realm. He had failed to become a god, but he had enough power to be one.

He had lost the game even with those items, but I had acquired his power. Well, I could buy it and use it now. I would be able to purchase decent items with my current achievement points.

“Okay. Checking’s done.”

I nodded.

I identified what was possible and what wasn’t with my current points and achievement points.

The budget was sufficient to restore my forces. It was more than enough. With a little more time, I would be able to make my dungeons stronger than ever.

The dungeon was safe despite the damage it sustained. That was enough. The monsters were worthy of praise for holding out so long against the demons.

Now that I was back, I would not let another incident like this to happen. I turned off the inside affair mode. Then I left the top floor and found Krithli.

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Krithli was in serious condition.

She was lying alone in a treehouse. Her face was pale and her eyes were closed. I held Krithli’s wrist and let my mana flowed in her. However, it didn’t work well.

This never happened before. It meant that the body was instinctively blocking external intervention.

Krithli’s condition was not as bad as Krathra’s, but her vitality was not doing well. This was a serious problem because her mana was twisted, too.

“Lyhee, since when Krithli had been in this state?”

Lyhee, who looked at me from the door area, quietly approached and answered, “She has been like this for 58 days, Master. Lyhee remembers it clearly. She was taken by a surprise attack while trying to save the Dwarking.”

Fifty-eight days…

‘That’s dangerous,’ I realized.

There was a big difference between hearing and seeing it directly. If it was just a bodily injury, then it could be healed with an Elixir. But, at this level, I would have to exert extra effort.

Mana was overflowing in her body. She only managed to survive because of the help of her good blood. The pure blood of the Dragon Ahojin and the Dark Elf Hayer tried to restore her body.

However, there were few treatment cases for the overflowing and twisting of mana. The established theory was that death was inevitable.

Usually, mana was not easily twisted. It seemed like it had happened because she had pushed herself to the limit.

It could be considered as some sort of an incurable illness. There were very few cases that succeeded in solving this issue. It could not be resolved by the patient alone.

External help was necessary. Plus, the helper also had to take serious risks. In the meantime, she was likely to die. If she was lucky enough to live, she might be incapacitated for the rest of her life. Interfering with mana wasn’t an easy feat. It was hard work even for me.

“Her mana was twisted for 58 days. It might be too late to do something,” I sighed.

Normally, after the mana was twisted, it would take only seven days until the person died.

Yet she managed to survive for 58 days. It was quite remarkable. But no one could guaranty that cure was possible.

Pandemonium might able to fix it since he was a master of sorcery. He might research the phenomenon of twisted mana.

I had done similar actions before, but I had never actually solved the problem of twisted mana. For example, I had helped Yoo Eunhye. But I just had to correct the flow of electricity in her.

I frowned.

It was true that Krithli had been a great help to me, but she was just one of my many subordinates.

Normally, I would have abandoned her. However…

“Krathra’s death saved you. Thank his worthy death.”

I placed my hand on her wrist and ordered Lyhee, “Never, absolutely never, let anyone enter until I come out. So as you, Lyhee.”

“Yes, Master. Lyhee will stand guard here. Lyhee-hee.”

Lyhee let out a small laugh and flew away. She closed the door carefully and guarded it. All the sounds from outside, including the wind, were cut off.

“Then…”

I took a deep breath.

I stripped off her clothes and firmly grabbed her breasts. I closed my eyes when I felt her heartbeat.

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My mana level already exceeded Krithli’s. The blood of the Dragon Ahojin and the Dark Elf Hayer held strong mana similar to mine. It was a difficult task to get in between the twisted strands to unwind them.

It was like defusing a bomb. A single mistake could lead to an explosion. I would not be safe, and Krithli’s heart would stop, too.

“Your willpower is very important.”

Knock! Knock!

I talked to Krithli through the mana. She didn’t respond at first, but, as I constantly tapped her, a reaction occurred.

However, the reaction was so weak, and it disappeared quickly. It didn’t even last for 0.1 seconds. If I hadn’t entered the realm of transcendence, I probably would not notice it.

I detoured to the place where the mana reacted. Once again, I tried to make contact. I kept doing so several times.

“Wake up.”

The reaction was improving little by little.

Knock! Knock!

I knocked harder.

“Leave everything to me.”

The tangled mana was shaking, and it covered her body. I was not sure if Krithli’s mind had awakened, but I had to believe.

I found one loose strand of mana and identified the overall context. Then, I grabbed one thread and unraveled it carefully.

Krithli’s mana did not interfere with me anymore. I was not sure if her body was instinctively reacting to my actions or if it was Krithli’s will, but I was glad.

There was no reason to hesitate. I kicked off my spurs.

“Wait…”

I just discovered another type of mana.

The King of Death…Ganak!

His essence still remained in her body.

The last time we fought against Oculus, Krithli borrowed Ganak’s strength through his essence. I thought it was a one-shot item, but his power remained inside her, interfering with the mana flow.

“So this was the cause…”

If the essence of Ganak did not interfere with the flow, she would not have suffered this much.

I was faced with a difficult situation. I needed to either remove it or find another way.

But it was already too late to go back. The threads were so badly entangled. I would not be able to survive if I began to search for another way.

‘Getting rid of Ganak’s essence would be a waste,’ I pondered.

Just when I was deeply absorbed in thought, a third option presented itself: dissolve it. I decided to dissolve the essence in her mana.

It would be more difficult than loosening the strands. Ganak’s power wasn’t Krithli’s. But since she had absorbed it and used the power before, dissolving it might be possible.

Of course, the danger would double for both of us. But…

“I will make you stronger.”

Krathra died because he was weak. As his dying wish, he asked me to take care of Krithli.

Krathra’s sacrifice would not be put into waste. His death helped secure the dungeon, and he encouraged me to take a risk for someone else.

“Hold on.”

Boom!

There was an explosion of mana inside Krithli.