ocean-life Chapter 7: The Ancient Trial Grounds (1)
Chapter 7: The Ancient Trial Grounds (1)
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 7: The Ancient Trial Grounds (1)
The next day.
Yoojin and the Little Runts team continued hunting in the [Ancient Garden].
"The goblins might have become more violent with the shaman gone."
"Even better."
"Huh?"
"Then they won't run away even if they see the zombies."
Chasing after goblins was such a hassle.
Kang Minho gave an awkward laugh after hearing Yoojin's words.
The forest was quiet, as if a storm had swept through it.
He had hunted every goblin he saw, to the point where they were completely wiped out.
The Little Runts trio were drenched in sweat.
"Huff, huff."
"I'm going to pass out at this rate."
They had to keep up with the tireless zombies.
They had to extract mana stones from the goblin corpses.
In a gate, which was essentially enemy territory, it was important to conserve stamina, but they were exhausted from keeping up with Yoojin's murderous hunting speed.
"Can you keep going?"
"Yoojin-nim, I think this is our limit."
"It's a bit troublesome to back out now."
"Our bags are full."
Kang Minho gave a troubled smile.
Their portable bags were filled with mana stones. Even if they hunted more, they wouldn't be able to carry them.
"Excuses. You guys go back first."
"Are you going to hunt more monsters?"
"These guys are still full of energy. They'll be fine even if we stay up all night."
Grrr.
The Little Runts team shuddered at the rattling sound.
Kang Minho, managing his expression with effort, handed Yoojin a note.
"This is my number."
"I'm not interested in men's contact information."
"You have to give us your account number to receive the payment."
......
Right.
He was such an unnecessarily honest guy.
He had such a good personality that he was worthy of being selected as Slave No. 1.
"I'll contact you as soon as I get out."
"Then we'll go dispose of these."
Yoojin's eyes coldly narrowed as he watched the Little Runts team walk away.
〔You sent them away on purpose.〕
'Was it that obvious?'
〔Well, your intentions were quite transparent.〕
What he had to do now wasn't something to be shown to others.
The knowledge from his past life.
In other words, he was going to use information about the future that would be revealed years later.
It wasn't because of some complicated concept like the butterfly effect.
He simply didn't want to share this opportunity with anyone else.
This was the reason why he continued to make the Little Runts team work even after defeating the Goblin Shaman, the boss monster of the forest.
'The heart of a Frogman and the blood of the Goblin Shaman.'
Yoojin recalled memories from the past.
A few years later...
The unpopular gate, [Ancient Garden], gained popularity due to its hidden elements.
By placing catalysts in designated locations, one could move to a secret space called the [Ancient Trial Grounds].
If you passed the trial, you would be engraved with a 'rune' that granted permanent buffs.
A rare reward, hard to find even after searching through countless gates across the world.
In his past life, hunters known as promising talents flocked to the Ancient Garden.
'Shall we go?'
He moved towards the lakeside with the zombies leading the way.
The northern region of the [Ancient Garden].
Around the lake, Frogmen, amphibious monsters with blue skin, were stationed.
More precisely, they were lurking beneath the lake, waiting for prey.
"Grool."
A zombie, following Yoojin's command, approached the lake.
At that moment...
"Arrgh!"
A bizarre cry, like a bellowing roar, echoed from all directions.
The calm lake surface rippled, and several Frogmen leaped out.
Crack!
A trident pierced the zombie's neck.
"Arrgh!"
"Grool, grooool."
Zombies wouldn't die unless their heads were destroyed. The zombies Yoojin had meticulously crafted had increased defense, so they didn't get destroyed in one hit.
Unfazed even with a trident lodged in its neck, the zombie approached the Frogman.
And bit into it.
The once tranquil lakeside was now filled with the screams of Frogmen, and green blood stained the ground.
[Level up!]
[Current level: 6]
'At this rate, I'll reach my previous realm in no time.'
To punch that bastard, the Mage King, in the face, he had to become stronger as soon as possible.
He couldn't ignore the potential threat of the Seven Great Clans either.
Yoojin suppressed his boiling emotions and continued hunting.
"Arrgh..."
The last Frogman near the lake collapsed with a groan.
The Goblin Zombies vanished.
20 newly created Frogman Zombies, with vacant eyes, stared at Yoojin, awaiting his next command.
〔Are you going to move right away?〕
'I need to rest a bit. I'm human too.'
Yoojin plopped down on the ground and caught his breath.
His head throbbed. The aftereffects of exceeding his Spirit Power limit by a large margin hit him like a storm.
[Life Drain activated.]
He used Midnight Sun to convert Spirit Power and Divine power.
He extracted life force from the relatively intact Frogman corpses and used it for healing.
'If I accumulate spare life force, I can also act as a healer.'
Divine power was the exclusive domain of priests.
When he didn't want to reveal his necromancer abilities, he could use Life Drain to disguise his identity.
Considering only its healing ability, it was far more efficient than basic healing spells.
'I've also collected plenty of hearts.'
It was tedious to extract Frogman hearts and create undead during battle.
It was a delicate task that required a wide field of vision and a perfect understanding of the flow of battle.
If it weren't for Yoojin, it would have been difficult to even attempt.
He got up from his spot only after he had somewhat shaken off the aftereffects of overusing Spirit Power.
'The preparations are complete.'
The constellation's blessing, which he so desperately wanted but couldn't obtain in his past life...
This time, it would be different.
Yoojin's steps were filled with determination.
On the way back to the garden...
Hunters who had entered as a team looked at Yoojin with strange eyes.
"Grrrr."
To be precise, their attention was drawn to the zombies letting out airless groans.
Summoners themselves were rare, which made these zombies and the one controlling them a truly unusual sight.
It was only natural for them to be surprised, as hunters who controlled the undead did not exist in this era.
'I'll have to endure it even if it's a bit bothersome.'
Yoojin glared back at the pouring gazes.
A diamond in the rough.
A being with power always stands out.
It was the same in his past life.
And in this second life, he would become stronger even faster, making it an unavoidable outcome.
The hunters averted their gazes when Yoojin glared at them.
'It's not like it'll be hidden if I try to hide it.'
‘Haha.’
A short laugh escaped him.
Leading the zombies, awkwardly moving their stiff bodies, he arrived at the center of the garden.
The gazes gradually dispersed.
Curiosity about a hunter who controlled undead as summons wouldn't put food on the table, so they left to pursue their original goals.
'It's about time I get ready.'
Yoojin took out one of the Frogman hearts he had wrapped in a bundle.
He dropped a single drop of the Goblin Shaman's blood onto the blue flesh that had long since stopped beating.
Thump-thump-thump!
The Frogman's heart, which had stopped, pulsated and throbbed violently.
〔What are you planning to do this time?〕
'An opportunity that will be revealed in the future.'
〔Indeed. You intend to take advantage of your regression.〕
'Be quiet, I need to concentrate.'
The shaman's blood only temporarily revived the heart.
He had to finish the setup within two minutes.
After reviving the remaining hearts with blood, he placed them in the hands of the zombies.
"Don't drop them, and stand over there."
Yoojin put strength into his voice.
Low-ranking undead, zombies.
Primitive undead with only appetite as their thoughts.
If he loosened his control even for a moment, they would devour the pulsating hearts, driven by their insatiable hunger for life force.
After confirming that nine zombies had reached their designated positions, he dropped a drop of blood onto the last heart.
[You have unlocked the hidden secret of the Ancient Garden.]
[Moving to the Ancient Trial Grounds.]
Flash!
An intense flash of light descended upon the center of the garden.
For a brief moment, less than 0.1 seconds, the light shone brightly.
And with a dazzling flash, Yoojin and the zombies vanished from the Ancient Garden.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]