A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 94

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 94

I hadn’t touched the buff duration, yet no time was displayed.
This was my first time encountering such a thing.

[Active Buffs]
[Manifestation of Hogi (Legendary)]
[Strength +40 Agility +35]
[You gain the ability to manipulate shamanic entities (Hogi).]
[Duration: ?]

‘What on earth is this?’
There was no one who knew the answer anyway.
I had to find the answer myself.
“Ritual Chief, is the Manifestation of Hogi not working properly?”
“Ahem. My apologies. I’m uncertain of the reason, but it seems a proper sparring match will be difficult.”
And the answer lay with me.
I could have kept it hidden, but being honest about this seemed like it would help with my future shamanic training.
Whoosh!
I threw a light punch into the empty air.
At the end of my fist, a peculiar sensation traveled with the strike, amplifying its power.
“Th-this is!”
“This is the Manifestation of Hogi, right? I felt more power behind it.”
“Yes! That’s exactly the Manifestation of Hogi!”
“I think I understand what the golden shamanic force does now. This force—it absorbs the opponent’s shamanic force.”
The status window had already verified that the Manifestation of Hogi was within me.
The effects of the Manifestation of Hogi were still being maintained.

[Active Buffs]
[Manifestation of Hogi (Legendary)]
[Strength +40 Agility +35]
[You gain the ability to manipulate shamanic entities (Hogi).]
[Duration: ?]

“Even when I clench and release my fist, there’s an odd sensation lingering.”
“Is that so? Ritual Chief. Let me see your hand for a moment.”
“Of course.”
The Ritual Chief examined my hand with an expression of disbelief, beginning to detect traces of shamanic power.
The outcome was already determined, so all that remained was acceptance.
“…It’s true. I’m amazed.”
A sensation catching at the tip of my fist.
Could this be the Tiger’s Aura?
It was certainly a sensation far removed from mana.
“Let me run a few more tests.”
First, I decided to try transforming my right hand into a tiger form.
But nothing changed.
It seemed that merely having a shamanic entity resembling a tiger dwelling within me made shape transformation impossible.
Instead, I attempted to transform my entire right arm into a wolf’s limb.
Of course, the scorpion form was purely the transformation with the highest combat power.
But when my arm would shift into scorpion pincers, the sensation strangely connected to my mind in a way that made it not my preferred transformation.
“Yes. Try whatever you wish. This too must be the guidance of fate.”
The Ritual Chief was positive about whatever I did.
I didn’t know what position adventurers held among NPCs, but at least those who had lived long showed a certain degree of respect.
“Hnngh!”
Screeeeeeeech!
This time, instead of clenching my fist, I raked my claws across the bare ground.
The marks of pure violence remained etched into the earth.
These were traces I couldn’t have left before obtaining the Tiger’s Aura, so the difference was unmistakably felt.
“The Tiger’s Aura is truly mine now.”
“Congratulations.”
“Is there perhaps another way to use it?”
But my question about the duration remained unanswered.
Since the duration hadn’t been revealed, it was awkward to convert this buff into a permanent effect.
The question mark contained all manner of variables.
“You mean directly utilizing the shamanic entity itself.”
“Oh? Such a thing exists?”
“Yes. Come this way for a moment.”
Following the Ritual Chief’s guidance, I arrived before a shamanic entity that resembled a hawk.
“This entity is weaker than the previous one, so manifestation is difficult, but borrowing its power is not.”
I thought this entity would grant me a buff like the Tiger’s Aura, but it didn’t.
“Shamanism can also be utilized in the form of projection. This time, do nothing.”
“Understood.”
The Ritual Chief, watching my reaction, quietly summoned his power.
The hawk-like entity settled upon the Ritual Chief’s leg.
“Since there’s no separate skill name, I think it would be best to call it Resonant Strike. Observe the flow of spiritual force.”
Slash!
This time it was a sharp piercing attack.
One that utilized the feet.
Boom!
The power fell short of Spirit Manifestation, but it possessed considerable penetrating force.
And the moment the kick concluded, the shamanic entity was ejected outward.
Shhhhhhh!
Resonant Strike was a technique that stacked two instances of damage from a single attack.
Moreover, the follow-up damage looked quite impressive as well, generating enough heat to create heat shimmer in the surrounding air.
“Let me try as well.”
“Hmm? Right now?”
“Yes. Perhaps because I’m a foreigner, but I grasped the feeling immediately.”
Now it was time to draw out the shamanic entity, the very source of Spirit Manifestation.
Having grasped the flow of spiritual force circulating through my body, I decided to simply replicate it.
‘Circulate the spiritual force, and discharge it through the fist.’
Boom!
My fist, driven with all my strength, tore through the air.
And all the spiritual force flowing through my body began to gather and converge into my fist.
Then came the strike, released like an explosion.

-Craaaaaash!

Success.
Spirit Manifestation erupted with a deafening roar that shook the surroundings.
Along with a sudden draining sensation, Spirit Manifestation revealed itself once more, beginning to swing its massive foreleg.
‘The buff. I need to check the buff.’
I quickly opened the buff window and examined Spirit Manifestation.
The buff had vanished without a trace.
So that was the cause of the draining sensation.
The duration being marked with a question mark meant the duration could end at any moment, or it could continue indefinitely.
‘I can’t just leave it like this.’
Spirit Manifestation was a legendary-grade buff.
Since the Ritual Chief had demonstrated it to show his own uniqueness, my assessment was that other legendary-grade buffs would be difficult to find.
Therefore, I resolved to retrieve Spirit Manifestation once more.
‘Retrieve. Retrieve.’
I also drew out the spiritual force that had been dwelling in my fist.
Then, as the foreleg swung and Spirit Manifestation became translucent, it began to settle back into my fist.
Power surged through me once again.

[Active Buffs]
[Manifestation of Hogi (Legendary)]
[Strength +40 Agility +35]
[You can now handle shamanic entities (Hogi).]
[Duration: ?]

The golden force was the power to embed other shamanic entities within me.
Therefore, my next course of action was already determined.
“Pardon, Golden Sage?”
Next came Eunggyeok’s turn.
Eunggyeok possessed characteristics distinct from the Manifestation of Hogi.
Specifically, it was an attribute.
An attack that radiated enough heat to shimmer the air around it would almost certainly possess some form of attribute, I reasoned.
Recalling my struggles against physical damage immunity in the Twisted Timeline, acquiring Eunggyeok as well seemed like a worthwhile investment.
“…Golden Sage. I wonder why you’re looking at me so intently.”
“There’s a technique the Ritual Chief used. Eunggyeok.”
“Yes.”
“Would it be unreasonable to take just that as well? You understand now, don’t you? The nature of my primary force.”
“…”
I’d intended to let it go, but now that I’d handed the wooden practice sword to Chae-rim, I found myself wanting to acquire more.
“Eunggyeok isn’t necessary. I simply need a shamanic entity with a clear attribute. If I can learn just the Manifestation of Hogi and Eunggyeok, I think that will suffice.”
“Hmm.”
The Ritual Chief fell into contemplation.
Yet his answer came surprisingly quickly.
“It seems I have little choice in the matter. After all, I am the only Shaman here who maintains relations with these entities.”
It appeared that shamanic entities and Shamans shared a certain bond.
I recalled an old classic game where one captured friends, engaged in battles, and went hunting.
“Then I promise to show my sincerity toward Eunggyeok going forward.”
“In any case, I’m now bound to the same boat as you, Kael. Let us proceed that way.”
With those words, the Ritual Chief returned the falcon-like shamanic entity to its original position.
Now came the skill acquisition time conducted with mutual consent.
I approached the shamanic entity and spoke to it.
“It’s good to meet you.”

-You smell delicious.

This shamanic entity could communicate.
Perhaps Hogi was the taciturn type.
“A delicious smell? This?”
I drew out my primary force to gauge the shamanic entity’s taste.
Golden strands of primary force extended outward in streams.

-Yes! This is it! Accept me, human.

“Good. I am Kael.”
My primary force wrapped around the shamanic entity and seeped into it.
Power surged through me, however faintly.
‘Perfect.’

[Active Buffs]
[Echo (Superior)]
[Strength +1 Agility +3]
[You can now use Echo Strike.]
[Echo Strike: A heated shamanic entity is released alongside your kicks.]
[Duration: ?]

Despite being a buff, a skill worthy of a weapon option had been attached.
Shamanism certainly felt awkward to pursue as a main path, but when adopted as a secondary skill, it was an ability that could create tremendous synergy with other powers.
“I’ve succeeded, Ritual Chief.”
“How fortunate. I hope the shamanic arts you’ve newly acquired prove useful.”
The Ritual Chief offered his congratulations graciously and drew the line.
Asking for more shamanic arts would likely produce unfavorable consequences.
I decided to limit my shamanic acquisitions to this.
After all, I would encounter countless ownerless shamanic entities as I ventured forth.
“Thank you. I will repay this kindness for years to come.”
The Ritual Chief smiled warmly.
I had obtained everything I needed—now it was time to descend.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes. I must return to Liam. Next time, I believe I’ll bring the Bureaucrats along as well.”
“Bureaucrats?”
“Yes. If I establish a villa in such a charming village, it will surely be useful for years to come.”
“Oh! Then I should prepare a fine location! Do you have a preferred spot?”
“Somewhere with a good view would be ideal. Ah, and is there any vacant land near the Town Square? I’d like to use that area as a place for merchants to stay.”
“The Highland is always empty, but the issue is the area around the Town Square. Since I’m the Village Chief, I’ll secure a suitable plot for you.”
“Thank you. I’ll trust your judgment entirely.”
I exchanged handshakes and greetings with Parmon and the other Shamans before descending the stairs.
Fortunately, having woken at dawn meant I returned to the Lodging while it was still morning.
“You’re back already? The air here is really clean, isn’t it?”
I encountered Bella in front of the Lodging.
She’d already bathed and completed all her preparations, radiating an even more luminous presence than usual.
“Yes. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. We’ll eat before we leave, right?”
“Of course! I did a quick search in sleep mode for restaurants in Ath Village, and apparently they have something similar to kukbap here. Let’s go eat!”
“Oh, really? I love kukbap. Let’s go right now.”
“Okay! Let’s go! Oh, right. What about the shamanic magic?”
“I learned it. It’s a bit awkward to use here, so I’ll show you once we’re outside.”
I’d already determined how to apply the shamanic magic.
From the moment we boarded the carriage, I planned to keep my power constantly open.
After all, I could absorb as much wild, ownerless shamanic essence as I encountered.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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