C216
Me and Wiryung returned to Taonier.
For Anything, due to record manipulation by Iselle, it seemed like we had been in the Daily Dungeon. Although there was sufficient reason to be suspicious since we were absent for more than just a day or two, without concrete evidence, nothing notable happened. Anything continued to operate as usual.
With resource collection in the ruins, there were no issues in terms of quantitative improvement.
If I wanted, I could have recruited hundreds of minor heroes. In the hangar, the third airship, Tia, was completed, and the fourth and fifth were currently under construction.
And, when our strength increased to a certain point, Anything sent Group 1 to the 46th floor.
The mission was to bring Priacis, trapped on the floating island, back to the surface. As expected, that was the content of the mission.
I captured an airship from the Cult members who were wandering around the outskirts of the floating island and managed to escape with Priacis to the surface.
Up to this point, everything was as smooth as in other sub-stages.
Although some enemies appeared, they were at an insignificant level that we could overcome without much difficulty.
But the 50th floor would not be like this.
Probably, this will be the biggest mission since I began the tower assault in Taonier.
According to Gugukon, it is likely that named monsters like the Beast King and the Saint, whom I faced on the 45th floor, will all appear together.
Such creatures cannot be defeated just with numbers.
Sending a horde would only lead to annihilation.
We had to face them with elite heroes and take them down.
‘Elite heroes, huh.’
The elite heroes of Taonier were the members of Groups 1 and 2.
They were a total of ten, and their growth rates were clearly superior to heroes of other generations.
Among them, Group 1 stood out.
Including the 4-star Kishasha, the mage Katio, the overwhelmingly talented Jenna, the strong-willed Belkist, and finally, myself; we were all heroes who could be in Group 1 even if transferred to a similarly leveled account.
‘The problem is…’
That the difficulty level of Taonier is not ordinary.
It is designed to be difficult, and the prince who can handle interference has been causing problems.
Although I have become stronger by obtaining the Blood of the Black Dragon, I still feel insufficient by myself.
Of course, with enough time, team members could catch up to me, but we didn't have much leeway.
We needed to increase our strength rapidly.
The easiest way to strengthen a hero in a short time is to raise the level of their Engraving.
“Then…”
<Let’s bring another ancient species.>
In my personal training room on the fourth floor of the Training Field, Gugukon was busy pecking at the feeder.
Kishasha had installed a feeder and waterer because too many pigeons were approaching.
<If you fully controlled my power, there would be no problem, but you are still far from it. Tsk-tsk, lazy. Having such talent, but only able to use level three. If I had used your body, by now… Ahem!>
While clutching his throat, Gugukon cleared his throat.
<Anyway, look at this.>
Gugukon extended what he was holding with his wings.
It was a small object shaped like a scale of a pale gray hue, a cuticle worn out by time.
A hero who went to the Exploration Dungeon had picked it up, and the name of the item was ‘Exuvia of Unknown Identity’. Without a clear description, it was one of several items that Anything had decided to discard.
<This is the scale of that disgusting bastard.>
“That disgusting bastard?”
<The White Dragon, Asynis.>
If it's Asynis, then he is one of the ancestors of the four great families of Taonier.
He was a monster on the same level as the Black Dragon Halgion.
<If we use this as a catalyst, we can summon him through an Advent Ritual.>
“Summoning an S-class Advent monster with just a scale?”
I clicked my tongue.
The reason I could summon that creature was thanks to the power of a high-quality Advent Stone.
Of course, there was no surplus left. The only one I obtained was from the Battle Royale prize.
High-quality Advent Stones are not found in the ruins.
“I don’t have any decent Advent Stones now.”
<We don’t need that troublesome object. Just let me enter the dungeon and I will bring the creature.>
Pecking at the feeder, Gugukon continued talking.
<Have you opened the second Engraving?>
I frowned.
I knew what Gugukon was referring to.
Being four stars, I could only have one Engraving.
To add another inscription slot, I would need to ascend to five stars.
That is, only by reaching five stars could you have two Engravings.
‘Level 55.’
That was the condition to ascend to five stars.
After reaching the 49th floor, if I used synthesis correctly, reaching level 55 would not be that difficult with the current level.
“Do you want me to use the Blood of the White Dragon for my second Engraving?”
<Do you plan to give it to your subordinate?>
“It would be the most efficient.”
If I obtained the Blood of the White Dragon as well.
It would be like wielding weapons in both hands.
Even just using the main Engraving properly, combat efficiency would not decrease.
So it would be better to pass the Blood of the White Dragon to others.
<Do you really think an ordinary human can handle that power? It’s madness. Even with the blessing of the goddess, their capacity is not enough to contain us. Forcing it would only cause an overflow.>
Gugukon stopped pecking at the feeder and looked at me.
<You should use it. Our power is only granted to the transcendental.>
The higher the grade of the Engraving, the greater the difficulty of the Advent Dungeon, and the probability of failure in granting it to a hero also increases.
Failure results in corruption.
Essentially, it is as if the hero dies.
<Don’t worry. You don’t have to argue with that guy like me, talking about tests and such until death.>
“…”
I could lose a hero in the inscription ritual.
Elite heroes are not easy to cultivate, so losing one would be a great loss for the attack team.
‘Using two Engravings at the same time?’
That was difficult too.
The Black Dragon’s Blood wasn’t something that could be mastered in a day or two.
It was a top-tier Engraving that required constant growth until reaching the maximum level of six stars.
And now he suggests adding another one.
It wasn’t impossible.
But it would take a long time to use both simultaneously.
It might end up being ineffective at this stage if he tried to master the White Dragon’s Blood.
“I’ll have to think about it.”
High return, high risk.
Using the White Dragon’s Blood was too risky.
“Excuse me.”
While I was deep in thought, the door suddenly opened.
Gugukon and I turned towards the entrance.
It was Belkist.
He seemed to have just finished training, as he was drenched in sweat.
Belkist walked towards me.
“What’s going on?”
“I was passing by and heard your voice. If I interrupted, I apologize. But…”
“Grr!”
Belkist grabbed Gugukon by the neck and lifted him up.
<How insolent!>
“So this sparrow was the source of your power?”
“…”
“Don’t take me for a fool. I’ve only been pretending not to know.”
<You bastard! Let go of me right now!>
Belkist remained unfazed as Gugukon dangled from his fingers.
<What are you doing, Han? Expel this arrogant bastard now!>
“…”
I watched Belkist in silence.
Although he kept his expression impassive, something flickered in his eyes.
“Belkist.”
“Han!”
“Do you want to become stronger?”
Belkist smiled faintly.
He didn’t need to answer.
‘I see.’
He must have gone over what I said before and understood how things stood.
He had probably been listening from the beginning.
“Something didn’t add up. I thought I was catching up, but it seems he’s getting further away. Using special powers on his own is unfair, isn’t it, Major?”
Belkist mocked himself.
“Even that useless lancer got up, and here I am, not knowing what to do lying down.”
<A human who doesn’t know his place is causing a commotion. The power of the ancestors is not something an ordinary person can handle. It will break if someone unfit handles it!>
Belkist turned to me.
“What is it babbling about?”
“If someone unworthy uses that power, it will break.”
“Ask it to take a look at me. Am I special?”
Gugukon flapped his wings violently.
It seemed there was nothing special about Belkist.
Just a human with outstanding talent.
‘Well…’
It wasn’t something I should decide.
Whether he can handle that power or not is something he has to decide.
“It seems you’re not. What a disappointment.”
“No need to say it again…”
“It goes without saying that it’s dangerous.”
Belkist already had an Engraving.
An Engraving related to Ferocity skill, not high-ranking, but versatile and safe.
If Belkist wanted to obtain the White Dragon’s Blood, he would first have to remove the existing Engraving.
<I can’t guarantee that Asynis will favor this guy. Then he will die!>
Belkist released Gugukon.
The freed pigeon let out a piercing cry as it spread its wings.
<This insolent and arrogant barbarian! I’ll tear you apart when I regain my power!>
“It’s been screeching all this time.”
“Don’t pay attention to it.”
“As you say.”
Let’s see.
I assumed that the White Dragon’s Blood was an S-class Engraving and calculated the probability of clearing the Advent Dungeon and receiving the Engraving, considering Belkist’s current grade and skill.
‘About 2%.’
It might need to be attempted 50 times to succeed once.
It was an unreasonable number that I would never have attempted if I were a master.
It would be the same after succeeding.
A skill that doesn’t match the hero’s level sometimes causes an outburst.
Like when I fell into a state of corruption while using the Black Dragon’s power, though I managed to escape using Gugukon’s power, Belkist might not receive help.
“I know about the state of corruption thanks to the archer. If the corruption stops me, Major, take care of me.”
“…”
“Then, do you think you will allow it?”
<This guy, no way… do you really want to use our great power for a mere human…?>
I placed the feeder in front of the agitated Gugukon.
“Eat a lot today. If you want something more, just say it.”
“Guguguk!”
I buried Gugukon’s beak in the feeder.
And whispered very low, just for Gugukon to hear.
“I think this is the right thing to do.”
<But I can’t guarantee your subordinate’s life.>
“I know. But he insists on doing it, how could I stop him?”
Belkist has been working hard, I know it better than anyone.
Training hard from morning to night, not stopping even when soaked in sweat and blood.
He probably would have been number one and played a leading role if he had been in another account. He’s an exceptional guy. But… he wasn’t lucky.
‘If he has enough talent, effort, and mental strength, then, eventually, he needs a chance.’
I would have rejected this idea in the past.
Because it would be a great loss if he failed.
But my perspective changed after seeing Aaron master Karma.
It may be a vain hope, but I decided to bet on it.
‘I can’t fight alone forever.’
I don’t need a subordinate to clean up my mess.
What I need now is a companion who can fight shoulder to shoulder with me.
<A power that doesn’t suit a criminal.>
“What is that? Just help.”
I released the hand holding Gugukon’s head.
The pigeon pulled its beak out of the feeder and stared at Belkist.
<Hmph, I’ve seen thousands of times how those who have the illusion of becoming stronger easily end up…>
Gugukon closed his beak while looking at Belkist.
<This guy is crazy.>
“…”
<Hmm, I don’t take responsibility for what happens. You handle the situation.>
“You don’t need to say it.”
Gugukon grabbed the White Dragon’s Exuvia with his wings and left.