The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 59: A New Realm

"Wow. I can see stars even though it's daytime."

Jang Miseon, lying on the ground, muttered deliriously.

10 seconds.

That's how long it took for her to collapse after crossing swords with Fafnir.

【Your thoughts can't keep up with your reflexes.】

"Ah. Is that so?"

【During the spar with Master, you recognized the attack after reacting to it.】

"That's right. It felt like it was flying at me so fast that my body moved before I could even think."

【Don't just swing instinctively, control it with your will.】

"Ah..."

Jang Miseon let out an exclamation as if she had realized something from Fafnir's advice.

It's a wonder she's not angry at being lectured.

'I was surprised by her reaction speed, but Fafnir saw something different.'

The Eyes of a Martial God.

An S-rank ability that analyzes and reads any martial art, phenomenon, or even mana level.

Fafnir had analyzed Jang Miseon's problem just from a glance.

"Hunter Cheon Yoojin. What rank is that familiar of yours?"

"4 Star."

"Wow. You must be loved by your constellation."

It was widely known in the industry that Yoojin was a Priest.

Although no one knew which constellation he served, it was an established fact that he had received Fafnir as a familiar.

〔Khahahaha. To think that they recognize my benevolence. Truly a fine little human.〕

'What does a incompetent constellation know?'

〔If you desire more from me, achieve feats worthy of it.〕

'Is that something I can do just because you tell me to?'

A constellation and a human bound together by fate.

The more Yoojin, the sole believer and Saint of the 〔Heaven-Defying Giant〕, accumulated achievements and feats...

The more Kronos, who appointed him as a Saint, regained his strength.

〔Wouldn't it be beneficial for my contractor if I regained my former glory as soon as possible?〕

Originally, he was the King of the Titans.

After being dethroned by Zeus, he became a fallen constellation and resided in the world of appearances, but...

If he accumulated achievements as a constellation, regaining his former power wasn't just a dream.

'Well, that's true.'

〔So, quickly...〕

'Feats aren't something you can accumulate in a short period of time.'

He had said it before.

The higher the level one reached, the more one needed to establish their own inner image.

The way to form an inner image differed depending on the class, but...

One thing in common was that the difficulty of forming an inner image depended on how strong one's soul was and how many achievements one had accumulated.

'I need to be at least 7 Star to even talk about forming an inner image.'

This meant that for now, it was difficult for Kronos to fully exert his power as a constellation.

So, stop nagging and spit out some useful divine spells.

'I have a lot to worry about, so stop grumbling.'

Right now, there was something more important than divine spells in front of him.

The sensation he felt during the spar just now.

'It wasn't a conscious reaction.'

The moment Jang Miseon accelerated her charge and closed the distance in an instant...

Just by seeing her silhouette and thinking it was dangerous, his body reacted before he could even confirm the direction of the sword with his eyes.

【Do you get the feeling?】

"A little bit. I don't really understand what happened."

【What I have to say to Master is the opposite.】

Fafnir pointed at Jang Miseon, who was lying on the ground.

【Don't think too much and leave it to your instincts.】

"Instincts, huh."

【Master always observes and judges the situation calmly. That makes your body slow.】

"Even martial artists don't just charge forward like wild boars."

【That's a little different.】

"It doesn't really click with me."

Fafnir chuckled softly.

【Don't worry. I'll make sure you understand what it means to move instinctively.】

"That makes me a bit uneasy, Fafnir-nim."

【Hey, the one lying down.】

"Yes, familiar-nim."

【If you spar with my Master, I'll spar with you as much as you want.】

Excuse me.

I'm your Master, why are you deciding things on your own?

【If you're unhappy, find an undead to spar with instead of me.】

Damn it.

Yoojin tried hard to suppress the curse caught in his throat.

＊ ＊ ＊

Huff, huff.

Drenched in sweat, Yoojin let out rough breaths.

"This... damn..."

"Cough. You're not cursing at me, are you?"

"Huuuh. I'm cursing at that damn... familiar."

The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon.

He had been sparring since morning, resting only minimally.

【You've both become somewhat usable.】

"Shit."

【I'll take that as a compliment.】

Ugh.

If it wasn't for what he was going to get from Jang Miseon, he wouldn't have gone through this trouble.

〔Khahahaha! It's a sight to behold.〕

'Go away. I'm tired.'

〔I'm serious. How beautiful it is to see my contractor sweating and learning something.〕

'Has a incompetent constellation ever trained while sweating?'

〔Khaha. A humorous joke. Why would I, who was destined for kingship from birth, engage in such a vulgar act?〕

Damn it.

You were born a god, is that it?

〔Yes. Was it worth sweating for?〕

'...I did improve a bit.'

There were gains.

He had a slight sense of what Fafnir meant by 'instinctive' movement.

Rather than controlling everything, it was about going with the flow.

〔Going with the flow?〕

'It's the opposite of magic.'

Necromancy was also a type of magic.

It controlled spirit power, a branch of mana and the power of the Yin dimension.

It distorted the rules and principles of this world to control the dead.

〔Oh. Since the method of using mana is different, the way to form an inner image is also different.〕

'That's right. You're surprisingly quick-witted for a incompetent constellation.'

〔In my younger days, I sat and observed all of creation. This is nothing.〕

'Yes, incompetent constellation-nim.'

The magic system excluded the unconscious.

On the other hand, the martial arts system had to achieve integration of the unconscious and conscious.

Reconciling the two was like drawing a triangle with the right hand and a square with the left hand simultaneously.

〔If you attempt it haphazardly, even your strengths might fade.〕

'Still, isn't it worth trying?'

〔Do you have a reason for your confidence?〕

'Because someone who has already done it is right in front of me.'

Yoojin's gaze turned to Fafnir.

Starting as a Skeleton Knight and rising to a Death Knight.

He didn't stop there, and in his pursuit of the ultimate in martial arts, he surpassed even the Doom Knight and reached 9 Stars.

〔Didn't my contractor's great warrior have the Martial Artist trait?〕

'If I could become 9 Star just with a trait, then what am I?'

Clear Mind?

Although it was a decent trait, it wasn't S-rank according to the Hunter Association standards.

The same went for the Kang siblings, the Mirror Hunters who made their names as mercenaries.

'Although unique traits are a measure of talent, they're not absolute.'

He didn't need to become a master of martial arts like Fafnir.

Being able to protect himself was enough.

【Do you remember when you concentrated spirit power in your eyes?】

"You mean at the border region?"

He was talking about when he used spirit vision as a shortcut to find the spirit vein.

【Imbuing mana with your will is the first step to Aura.】

"You said it back then. It's just a simple trick."

【Huh-huh. Is that really so?】

Fafnir extended a hand to Yoojin, who was lying on the ground.

"Ugh... I'm exhausted..."

【Now's the perfect time. Your senses are sharpened.】

What is he trying to make me do?

Grumbling inwardly, Yoojin took Fafnir's hand and stood up.

【Try drawing up spirit power like before.】

"Into my eyes?"

【No. Into the spear you're holding.】

Without much thought, Yoojin channeled spirit power into the bone spear as instructed.

A whitish energy flickered around the spear shaft.

"See? Nothing happened."

At that moment.

An overwhelming killing intent surged from Fafnir.

A fist the size of a cauldron filled Yoojin's vision.

[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]

[Sixth Form]

[Full Power Thrust]

He couldn't even utter a protest.

The murderous intent was so intense that every hair on his body stood on end.

The enormous fist loomed before his eyes.

His senses, heightened from the spar with Jang Miseon, instinctively moved his body.

Woooong—!

Yoojin's mind reacted to the killing intent.

The spirit power he had imbued into the spear shaft with his will.

And the Verdian Basic Spear Technique, executed instinctively.

The moment his mind, spirit power, and body became one, the spirit power dwelling in the spear turned jet black.

"Aura?!"

Jang Miseon screamed.

Yoojin belatedly looked at the dark energy coiling around the spear shaft.

"This is..."

【Proof that the flow of mana, will, and body have become one.】

"Aura, no. Is it Dark Aura?"

【Huhuhu. To be precise, it's just an imitation.】

Fafnir's words were accurate.

Even if Yoojin, who hadn't reached 4 Stars, achieved the unity of mind, spirit power, and body, he couldn't generate proper Dark Aura.

It was less than a third of the original's power.

"Wait. This consumes a tremendous amount of spirit power."

Yoojin was startled.

In the blink of an eye, nearly half of his spirit power had been consumed.

The price of peeking into a realm not meant for him.

【But you get the feeling, right?】

"Thanks a damn lot."

He cursed, but the corners of his mouth twitched.

Oh my god.

Dark Aura.

'I wouldn't be able to do it again if you asked me to, but this is still something.'

Just seeing the possibility was enough.

As Yoojin withdrew the spirit power from the bone spear...

"Partner. Is the spar over now?"

An annoyingly high-pitched voice echoed in his ears.

"That sounds like you want us to do more."

"That's not what I meant. You don't think I'd enjoy seeing you rolling on the ground, do you?"

Hey, alchemist.

Saying that while covering your mouth with your hand isn't convincing, you know?

"If you're not interested in other people's suffering, why did you come?"

"Arhan Guild delivered a pile of scrap metal."

The delivery was faster than expected.

They must have held some grudge because of the raid, but they were surprisingly efficient in this regard.

"Give me a low-grade potion if you have one."

"It won't be effective for bruises or the shock absorbed by your bones."

"I'll use it for something else."

Yoojin got up with difficulty and snatched the potion.

His arms and legs ached, and a stinging sensation lingered in his abdomen.

If he left it like this, he would surely suffer.

Gulp!

He swallowed the low-grade potion, and condensed life force flowed into his body.

Yoojin placed his hand on his chest and concentrated his divine power.

[Using Life Drain.]

He snatched the energy of recovery that had just entered his stomach and accumulated it in his dantian.

It was something he had done repeatedly when creating the black spire.

Saaaak—!

He transformed the accumulated life force back into healing power and infused it throughout his body.

"Ah, no way. I drank a low-grade potion, but why are the bruises disappearing?"

"I told you there was a way."

Breathing became much easier.

Yoojin, on a roll, used Life Drain on Jang Miseon, who was sprawled on the ground.

"What you just used. Was that a low-grade healing spell?"

"Probably."

"It seems more effective than the healing the support team from the guild uses."

Thud—!

Jang Miseon kicked off the ground, got up, and swung her arms around.

Even though Fafnir had pounded her like minced meat, she felt almost no pain.

"Would you like to go on a Gate raid with me sometime?"

"No time. Go on."

"We have to spar."

"No time to play. Work just came in."

The [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] sent by Arhan Guild.

It was nothing but useless scrap metal to blacksmiths and alchemists, but...

'To me, it's as precious as bloodstone.'

Keuh-huh.

Yoojin grinned and looked at Shin Joonseok.

"Wh-What is it? That's ominous."

"Let's do some work."

"What are you trying to make me do now?"

"You must be curious about how I'm going to use the scrap metal Arhan delivered."

Shin Joonseok's pupils wavered from side to side.

"If you don't want to, don't do it."

"That's not what I mean... but still..."

"I'm going."

Without a moment's hesitation, he started walking, and Shin Joonseok hurriedly followed.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

【They're gone.】

"They are."

【What are you going to do now?】

"If you don't mind, would you spar with me one more time?"

【Well, Master didn't tell me not to.】

Fafnir laughed cheerfully.

＊ ＊ ＊

A mountain of scrap metal was piled up on one side of the workshop.

It was the spoils of war from the Gate raid, transported by Arhan Guild.

"With 20 tons, we'll have enough for a few years."

"Besides emitting a faint chill, I didn't find anything special about it."

"I guess you had time to analyze it before calling me?"

Ahem.

Yoojin chuckled at Shin Joonseok, who was feigning a cough, and then picked up a piece of scrap metal.

"Have you ever heard of Ghost Iron?"

"It's a mineral needed for making ego artifacts."

"These scraps here are the stage before that."

Ghost Iron.

As the name suggests, it was iron infused with ghosts.

A mineral that had become home to spirits.

It was characterized by its ability to easily link with other infused spirits.

"Isn't Ghost Iron incredibly expensive?"

"I told you, it's the stage before Ghost Iron."

It was merely imbued with the resentment emanating from spirits.

The [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] wasn't yet a vessel capable of holding spirits.

"It might be different if it was aged further."

"Why don't you do it now?"

"No way. That's only possible on a battlefield where at least a thousand people have died."

Ghost Iron was only found in historical sites or Gates where fierce battles had taken place in the past.

How difficult would it be to artificially create those conditions?

"That's incredibly, incredibly inefficient. Let's just say it's impossible."

"That's a shame."

"Making money with potions is enough."

"I'm telling you this because I need more to research."

"You can't use this scrap metal for alchemy, so don't bother."

Shin Joonseok looked at the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] with longing eyes.

Even you, during your time as a Grand Alchemist, researched it and gave up.

It would only be a loss if he got greedy.

'He's not the type to listen even if I try to stop him.'

Yoojin smirked and grasped a piece of scrap metal in his hand.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]