Pick me Up – Chapter 246 – Demon Person (1)
While I was with Jinho-jjang, it seems that Anything was preparing to face the levels beyond the 50th floor.
Upon returning to the Lobby, the unit's maintenance was nearly complete. The repair of the damaged airships had been perfectly concluded, and the gaps left by the fallen heroes on the 50th floor had been filled.
Now, Taonier could function to some extent even without me.
Especially when I heard that the members of Group 1, including Jenna and Belkist, had been promoted to 5 stars, I felt a rather strange sensation.
The level for the 5-star promotion is 55.
The members of Group 1 seemed to have acquired the necessary experience by repeatedly challenging the 51st floor, a level designed exclusively for leveling up since only monsters appear. I also managed to meet the 5-star promotion requirements by massacring monsters on the 51st floor under Anything’s orders.
Rising to 5 stars doesn’t make you significantly stronger.
Only the limits of your stats, skills, and engravings increase.
Therefore, even if you’ve been promoted, if you don’t maximize your skills, there’s not much difference from a 4-star.
"At the 4-star promotion ceremony, I saw an interesting scene."
However, at this 5-star promotion ceremony, I didn’t obtain any significant clues.
The image that emerged was neither of Taonier before its destruction nor of the past of ‘Han Israt’, who was destined to come here in my place. Instead, an image of me being abandoned by my parents appeared. I thought I had forgotten all that.
The fact that my own past emerged in a promotion ceremony suggests that this boy and I are beginning to merge.
Though it’s a memory from over a decade ago and no longer moves me, it wasn’t a pleasant sensation. I watched the scene unfolding before me indifferently.
[Ba-bam!]
[Congratulations, Master!]
[The hero's forgotten memories awaken.]
[Han (★★★★★), promotion complete! He has become a 5-star hero.]
[The illustration art will be updated.]
[The level and skill limits will increase.]
[The hero’s second inscription slot has been unlocked.]
Thus, I successfully achieved my 5-star promotion.
The most notable aspect was the unlocking of the second inscription slot.
Since I surpassed the 50th floor, Gugukon had been pressuring me several times a day to quickly reach 5 stars. Only by being at least a 5-star hero could I properly wield the power of the Black Dragon's Blood.
“Goo, Gugugu!”
Fourth floor, Training Field, in my personal training room.
Gugukon was pecking at its food.
<Are you prepared?>
Gugukon spoke to me while frantically pecking at its food.
“Prepared for what?”
<To give up being human.>
Pak! Pak! Pak!
With sharp pecks, corn kernels jumped out of the food container.
While pecking, Gugukon spread its wings and looked at me.
‘Prepared?’
Now that he mentions it, this guy did say it.
That the power I’m handling isn’t something a normal human should wield. Gugukon said that if I hadn’t had a special body, I would have already been corrupted. Belkist could also use his power only after receiving a special procedure from the Asynis Family.
<Your talent is exceptional. That a mere human can handle the power of a transcendent is remarkable. I would have tried to seize your body immediately if you had shown even a small flaw, but even I didn’t expect this much from you.>
Gugukon approached me, shaking its chubby rear.
<But it’s not enough. It’s far from it. Every time you fight, you almost die. Can such skill be called power?>
Gugukon closed its beak.
‘Is he referring to Exceed?’
No, I shook my head.
Not only Exceed, which increases output at the cost of damaging my body, but also the derived skill Sword Spirit devours my physique. Additionally, using the Black Dragon’s Blood immediately increases the level of corruption in my body. As this guy says, I’m taking considerable risks every time I fight.
‘I’ve been thinking about it.’
To be stronger than others under the same conditions, I must take risks.
High return, high risk. It’s a common saying in Pick Me Up, but I feel the risk level has become too severe. It’s more likely I’ll self-destruct due to the penalty than be killed by an enemy.
‘Should I reduce the intensity of the skills?’
It’s not that there’s no way.
Though the power would decrease a bit, the safety would increase considerably.
And I wouldn’t need to use skills on the verge of death all the time.
<Reduce power? Even if you become ten times stronger, it would still be insufficient, what are you thinking?>
Gugukon opened its beak.
Sometimes it seems to read my mind and bring up topics that way.
“So what am I supposed to do?”
<Build a body that can handle your power.>
“I’m already doing that.”
I’ve been constantly working to increase my body’s durability since I got Exceed. Only the process has been too slow to keep up with my power.
“I know my condition isn’t normal. Improving it would take at least a month. While I progress through the 50th floor section, I’ll adjust the skill combination…”
<Is that how you plan to kill the prince?>
I frowned.
Touching a sore point.
‘That’s true.’
According to my calculations, the prince will appear as the 80th floor boss.
But the level I saw of the guy on the 50th floor was 354.
Far beyond the level of a typical boss.
‘Damn it.’
Anything will keep climbing the tower.
The problem is… if I can become strong enough to face the prince before reaching the 80th floor.
Even though the difficulty has temporarily decreased, eventually, he will appear as the main obstacle in my tower conquest.
‘I must become stronger, huh?’
“Do you have a method for that?”
“Goo, Gugu!”
Gugukon shook its chubby rear.
Though I made it this way, it would be nice if I could change its appearance a bit.
‘Prepared to give up being human… Simply build a body capable of handling power?’
I looked down at Gugukon.
I think I know what it’s implying.
‘Changing species, huh?’
In Pick Me Up, very rarely, there are events that allow changing a hero’s species value.
Belkist receiving treatment from the Asynis Family during an Exploration Dungeon is an example of this. Of course, the probability of this is much lower than awakening abilities or surpassing limits.
‘Prepared to give up being human.’
I laughed.
This kind of event has so many variables and is so specific that I can’t even investigate it.
“How do we do it? By entering an Exploration Dungeon?”
<No need for that. Just sit there with your eyes closed.>
Gugukon pointed to an iron chair in the corner of the training room.
“Just sit there?”
<That’s right.>
…This smells like quackery.
I headed towards the chair.
I had known for a long time that this guy had some plan with me.
If not, he wouldn’t have tried to take over my body so blatantly.
‘Because he doesn’t want to be trapped?’
That would be unlikely.
It would be too much to consider it that way, given his insistence on me.
I had taken some precautionary measures, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
I took a deep breath and then leaned back in the chair.
<Close your eyes.>
Reluctantly, I closed my eyes.
Darkness fell. Of course, my eyelids were closed.
“What am I supposed to…”
Suddenly,
The world covered by darkness changed.
I opened my eyes.
The scene of the training room with practice tools and dummies had disappeared, replaced by a desolate plain. The air was dry and smelled of fallen leaves, and over the plain, the evening sun shone.
<Thousands of years ago, we made a pact with the Emperor. That when a crisis came to Taonier, we would unite our forces to save this place. Don’t worry about anything, Han. You meet the necessary requirements.>
A man was standing in front of me.
Behind the man wrapped in black flames, three pairs of wings fluttered.
A black lance and jet-black armor. I had seen this figure in the Advent Dungeon.
“…”
Halgion Syraos.
The true form of Gugukon and one of the four ancient transcendents that exist in Taonier.
<You are in a space between dimensions, which is also your mental world. Now that your control over the Black Dragon’s Blood has increased, this is also possible. You will come here often, so observe well.>
“…”
I thought I had gone through many things since I fell into Taonier, but I never imagined a situation like this.
“So, will you make me stronger?”
<I think it’s time to renew the pact, don’t you?>
The man smiled sinisterly.
I sighed.
“What are the conditions?”
<Complete Taonier’s mission to the end.>
“Taonier? That means I can’t leave here.”
<If you change your mind and switch allegiance…>
Halgion’s eyes glowed with a dark light.
<It won’t be a pretty sight.>
“…”
<If you accept the pact, I will embed the dragon’s gene into your body. It seems you can handle it now. Of course, once you accept my power, you can’t return to your previous state.>
‘Can’t the engraving be reversed?’
Even if a more suitable engraving appears for me, I won’t be able to change it.
Moreover, using the engraving will also come with conditions.
‘I’ll be like Wiryung.’
Bound by the Lotus Vow, unable to use his power outside of Mu-ryeon, if I accept this pact, I will also be bound to Taonier.
<It’s your choice, Han. Accepting or not is your freedom.>
The flames enveloping Halgion’s body waved.
This kind of power far exceeds that of a typical Advent Dungeon boss.
I knew it from the beginning. Not even with all the weapons of Niflheim had I been able to scratch him. Probably not inferior to the engravings that Group 1 members of Niflheim have.
‘…It might be even more powerful.’
I increasingly felt that the potential of my Black Dragon’s Blood was immeasurable.
So, Halgion had been waiting for my 5-star promotion…
‘A two-slot engraving.’
I thought of getting a decently usable engraving, but the result was beyond my expectations.
I shrugged and responded.
“Then let’s begin. I need to go back and test it.”
<I thought you would respond that way.>
Halgion twisted his mouth into a smile.
<One last question. Are you sure you won’t regret it? From now on, you won’t be able to escape Taonier. You won’t be able to leave until you see the end.>
“I always had that intention. Don’t come to me with trivialities.”
I clenched my fist.
If I had wanted to escape, I would have gone to Niflheim long ago.
But I had already crossed the 50th floor.
Because of my mistake, I had caused the death of many heroes, including Yvolka and Edith.
Since I had crossed the river, I had to take responsibility.
‘I’m not going to run away.’
Just as El Cid finally conquered Dorado, so would I.
And then I would return.
<I will stamp this on your heart.>
Halgion extended the tip of his lance toward me.
Crack! Crimson lightning erupted and pierced my left chest.
I didn’t feel pain.
<Until you see the end of your destiny, you won’t be able to leave Taonier. Can you make that vow?>
“What is the price?”
<Power.>
This is not just a high return for a high risk.
It would make me extremely powerful in exchange for not being able to leave here.
<If you break the vow, the tip of my lance will pierce your heart. However, if you keep your word, we will grant you the power of the ages.>
I squinted my eyes.
Behind Halgion, on the vast horizon of the plain, enormous shadows emerged.
Perhaps they were other transcendent beings.
I could only discern their outlines; their forms were indistinguishable.
“Aren’t you exaggerating a bit? It almost seems like, if I listen to you, I’ll be invincible.”
<It’s not exactly an exaggeration. If you can make a complete pact with us, that is.>
Eventually make a pact with all of them?
If each engraving occupies two slots and I need three engravings, that means I need at least six slots.
Even with a 6-star promotion, I would only have three slots available. Therefore, to fully utilize the power, I would need to reach the 7-star level, which has no limit on the number of slots.
‘… What well-chosen words.’
I frowned.
Halgion looked at me with an unperturbed gaze.
If I accept his offer, I’ll become a monster. A true monster, powered by one of the four great clans. It would be several times purer than the treatment Belkist received.
That’s the kind of preparation it requires.
Prepared to give up being human.
The only consolation is that if I return to Earth, all my skills and engravings will disappear.
That was confirmed directly by Iselle.
If they remained, what would happen?
I’m not sure.
I smiled faintly and spoke.
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