“……”

That was the reason Arin didn’t respond.

Thud.

But there was another true reason.

Fwoosh!

Sain, once again, started hunting relentlessly in the forest, as if he was going to exterminate all the goblins.

Even though they might be low-level monsters, they could be tough for beginners, but Sain was already living his fourth life.

And he was able to use Aura even before awakening to life.

Fwhoosh!

Goblins and the like.

Even if they got stronger, they were still at that level.

“It’s working.”

Sain confirmed.

His third awakened life.

-The Imperial Prince.

A special life bonus possessed by the Imperial Prince.

A life bonus was a very special ability given along with life itself, which served as the foundation of life, like roots supporting life.

For the rightful heir of the great ancient empire, Archipald.

Thump!

The dragon’s blood flowed.

As he awakened his magic, his pupils dilated like a lizard’s.

Within that…

Pah-ah-ah!

Sain gained explosive power, slaughtering goblins.

“A hundred.”

Finally, when he slaughtered a hundred goblins, Sain’s world began to change.

A dark and mysterious universe.

“Jumadeng.”

It was the second time he had found the Jumadeng.

Featuring the extreme difficulty of Sangchuri

Among the various factors that make Sangchuri’s difficulty challenging, one of the most malicious is the leveling system.

Levels that intuitively allow players to feel stronger.

-Level 30.

The maximum level in Sanctuary is 30.

Among the billions of players, less than 1% have reached the maximum level in at least one lifetime.

It was known that reaching the maximum level in the following two lifetimes was a feat achieved by only a handful.

And among those, reaching the maximum level in all three lifetimes.

“Non-existent.”

This was due to the system of Sanctuary, where the amount of experience points required increased exponentially with each reincarnation.

The last lifetime, which inevitably had the lowest level.

Yet, the reason it could be the most powerful was.

“The Inheritance.”

Precisely, the Inheritance System.

With each of the three level-ups, the Inheritance bestowed the abilities from the previous life.

‘Of course, it’s random.’

But Sein was different.

“The cheats I possess can be chosen.”

The life given, the number of times one could access the Inheritance.

‘Even the special rewards I will acquire.’

The ability to choose everything.

Accessing the Inheritance again was also a process of confirming that.

Woong!

The currently active Stone of the Last Life was that of the Third Life, the Imperial Crown Prince.

In the life of the royal family with the blood of the dragons, Sein had gained the power of the dragons, albeit weak.

“What….”

Sein stood before the Stones of the Last Life.

“It may be limited what I can choose now.”

The already active life of the Imperial Crown Prince.

If he didn’t raise it to a certain level, it would be impossible to activate another past life.

For the time being, he needed to focus on the Third Life, that of the Imperial Crown Prince.

Swoosh.

In Sein’s hand was the Stone of the Third Life.

Woong! Woong! Woooong!

The Stone containing his life resonated loudly, as if recognizing its rightful owner.

Normally, it should be given randomly, not chosen.

“I choose the special rewards of the last life.”

Sein had the cheat of choice.

Images that came to his mind, almost like illusions.

But at this moment, what he needed to inherit was clear.

“Inheritance….”

Roar!

The Third Stone emitted a brilliant light.

“Dragon Heart.”

If one were to obtain the blood of a dragon, it was necessary to have a vessel to contain it.

*

*

*

Even after awakening from the trance, Sain continued to hunt relentlessly.

But there was always a limit.

“Captain….”

The first to show signs of weariness was Derren.

Derren was the one Sain had painstakingly raised in Chichiron.

Though he couldn’t wield magic, he was unmatched in martial and sword skills, a formidable force in the back alleys.

Derren’s role was merely to take down goblins missed by Sain or finish off the ones left alive, yet he quickly reached his limits.

“To groan like that…”

But Derren wasn’t the only one at his limit.

The mark.

A strange sensation, like bugs crawling up your arm.

Long, black scars had grown on the arm he had tried to soothe.

“You said it was your first time venturing outside the territory.”

Arin, who had only observed the hunting, stood up against the tree and spoke.

“Darkness.”

“Darkness?”

“The continent is steeped in darkness, and if not protected by the barrier, it will be consumed by darkness.”

Though a known fact.

“This is darkness.”

A first-hand experience.

“If this state persists, contamination will accelerate.”

“It will eventually turn you into a monster.”

Stories mercenaries had heard.

Nodding.

Arin nodded as if Sain’s words held the answer.

“Facing darkness, the contamination accelerates. It’s only surprising that you’re only contaminated to this extent after hunting so many monsters.”

It was not curiosity but suspicion.

“What about you?”

Sain turned the conversation.

“Despite everything, you don’t seem contaminated.”

Arin wore a black dress unsuitable for such dangerous places.

With bare arms and legs peeking through the torn skirt.

Yet, no black scars like his were visible on her body.

“I have a resistance against the darkness.”

That was a story unheard of in the rural outskirts.

“Resistance?”

“The blessed ones are not consumed by darkness. Well, to some extent at least.”

The words were complex, but the essence was simple.

“Escaping from contamination, right?”

“Yes.”

The sun was setting imperceptibly.

The already dark forest was being engulfed in even deeper darkness.

“There are several ways to escape contamination, but the most effective one is to hide within the boundary of a sanctuary.”

Sain waited.

“Or else…”

Arin must have a method in mind.

Thunk.

Arin plunged the staff she had somehow produced into the ground.

Woooo!

A flow of magic was felt spreading out.

“There’s a way to use a makeshift barrier. You’ll have to pay for it later.”

“As your sponsor, you’re going too far.”

“Just consider this a small favor, Sain Demorus.”

Sain nodded without further complaint and approval.

“Derun, we’ll camp here tonight.”

“Understood, Captain.”

As if anticipating such a situation, Derun took out camping gear from the luggage.

Derun and Sain were skillfully preparing for camping.

“…Isn’t it your first time outside the barrier?”

Arin’s voice resonated with disbelief.

“I didn’t plan on being stuck in the countryside forever. I told you, didn’t I?”

The topic had already shifted sufficiently.

What mattered now was another wedge.

“A prodigy, you say?”

“…”

“A prodigy rotting away in such a rural place is a huge waste for the continent.”

“Disgusting, indeed.”

But Arin moved her hand as if to say enough.

“Done.”

Tent and campfire.

A quite plausible camping site was set up.

“I’m sorry, but you don’t have one. It wasn’t in the plans.”

There was only one tent.

Deren had already anticipated the situation, as if he had laid out his sleeping bag on the ground.

Arin, on the other hand, had no tent.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Arin waved her hand as if it was of no concern.

Thud!

The ground shook.

Revealed within was a tent made of white bones.

“….”

Bigger than Sein’s, and it looked more comfortable.

“Would you consider swapping….”

“No.”

I see!

***

Thud! Swish!

Sein’s dagger had long lost its edge.

If he used magic, even with a dull blade, he could replicate the cutting power of a sharp sword, but Sein chose not to.

It was still unfamiliar handling magic.

“What a waste.”

He decided it was better to use that power to move his body.

Thud! Swish!

That was the source of this eerie sound.

Snatching a goblin’s wooden spear a few times, Sein was now tearing apart the goblins.

“There’s no need to follow any longer.”

Arin spoke to Deren, who, covered in blood, was still trying to stand up.

“…Groan.”

Deren hesitated as if angry.

His body had reached its limit.

“Thanks to the temporary barrier, the spread of contamination has been delayed, quite literally delayed.”

Black scars adorned Deren’s arms and legs, wounds from facing goblins.

“You’ll die if you overdo it.”

“But the leader….”

“You want to go after that?”

Thud!

Up ahead.

“Squeak!”

“…Squeak!”

The cries of terror and laughter of the terrified goblins echoed together.

Hunt.

“That’s a dedication bordering on madness.”

From Noble mtl dot com

Sein kept relentlessly hunting with only minimal breaks.

“I know it’s a strange question to ask, but have you ever harbored any grudge against monsters?”

“….”

“Did you have a bad encounter with goblins?”

“To my knowledge, no such thing has happened.”

Then where does that madness come from?

It was impossible without a clear purpose and determination.

Even with those, it was still not possible.

That was truly madness.

“He’s definitely broken.”

Arin thought as she observed Sein.

“And, it’s escalating.”

Arin’s task was to watch over Sein.

“Now, we have to see how to handle this.”

Deren hadn’t awakened his magic, and Sein was truly going berserk.

But Arin sensed it.

Gooo.

At the heart of the forest.

Movement of foreign magic.

It had been quietly stirring for a while now, heading towards this place.

“Sein Demorus. Your help has run out.”

So now.

Kwaaang!

When one had to break free on their own.

Amidst thick dust.

Grrrr…!! Crash!

Giant trees were collapsing with a roar.

“….Captain!”

“Asela. If you go there this time, you’ll really die.”

Kwaaang!

Far away, along with another thunderous noise, a small shadow was seen shooting towards them.

Thud!

After breaking a few trees, the one who finally stopped was Sein.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like