The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 159

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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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Episode 159
159
3.
Before Yoo Sung-hyun swept through the Pentagrid Underground Labyrinth.
After completing his preparations to enter the Labyrinth, Yoo Sung-hyun used the skill book he had obtained from the Treasure Vault of Lord’s Castle.
Manipulation of Destiny.
What kind of skill would it be?
I opened it with some anticipation.
『Manipulation of Destiny』
→《Legendary》
→[Lv Max][Complete Form]
[Instant Effect][Active]
[Cooldown 10 minutes]
[Duration 30 seconds]
→Dark Magic exclusive class skill.
→Destiny manipulates variable probabilities.
→Upon activation, you can select and use one of two effects below.
→All probability-based skills applied to you fail.
→All probability-based skills you use succeed.
“Hmm.”
The effect was somewhat subtle.
The effect was certainly incredible.
A skill worthy of Legendary grade, as expected.
However.
‘I don’t have any probability-based skills.’
It was good that I could nullify all probability-based skills enemies used against me.
But even without that, I already had the Lord’s Silence Command, which was far more versatile.
The seemingly better effect was actually the latter.
The real problem was that I didn’t have any probability-based skills.
It could have been an ironic skill.
But rather, I was pleased.
‘Now I should use the ones I’ve been saving.’
The Dark Spear skill book I obtained this time and the Unique grade skill book I got from capturing Kyou.
If I exchange both for the Grimoire of Despair, I might get lucky and a probability-based skill could appear.
Even if it doesn’t, I can get it from the Overlord’s Grimoire.
The Overlord’s Grimoire was a guaranteed draw after all.
In any case.
Since I didn’t know what would come out first, I converted the Dark Spear to an exclusive skill first.
I would acquire a Unique grade exclusive skill.
Yoo Sung-hyun immediately learned the skill by using the skill book.
‘Blade of Darkness in the Shadows’
→《Unique》
→[Lv 1][Growth Type]
[Instant Effect][Active]
[Cooldown 30 seconds]
→Exclusive skill for Dark Mage class jobs.
→Slashes the target with a hidden blade of darkness concealed within dark shadows, dealing 500% damage.
‘Oh?’
A simple yet powerful skill.
With a cooldown of merely 30 seconds and respectable damage output.
To think I’d acquire a single-target attack skill, which was precisely what I lacked during the Carmine battle.
I was fortunate.
‘I’ve obtained a primary skill.’
Going forward, single-target attacks would pose no problem.
Death’s Seal and stack-based skills were excellent too, of course.
But I genuinely needed a main offensive skill like this.
Like the Vengeful Spirits of the Dead or Dark Bullets.
I was thrilled to have acquired such a powerful skill.
However, since no probability-based skills had appeared yet, I decided to exchange the Knights Order skill I’d obtained from Kyou next, converting it into the Codex of Despair.
‘Swamp of Dark Shadows’
→《Unique》
→[Lv Max][Complete Form]
[Persistent Effect][Active]
[Cooldown 1 hour]
[Duration 1 minute]
→Exclusive skill for Dark Mage class jobs.
→Transforms the surrounding area into a swamp of dark shadows.
→While standing in the swamp of dark shadows, the power of all darkness and shadow-type skills increases by 30%, while the power of all other skills decreases by 30%.
‘Hmm.’
This one’s performance is quite substantial as well.
Unusually for a Unique, it carries both a power buff and debuff simultaneously.
It amplifies shadow and darkness-type power by 30% while simultaneously reducing the power of all other skills by 30%.
Since it contains forced effects, the skill’s utility seemed superior despite its Unique grade.
Two shadow-related skills in total.
This could potentially form the foundation of a viable build if utilized properly.
I would have liked to construct an entire shadow-based skill build.
‘But that would mean abandoning Fate Manipulation.’
Unfortunately, the skill I’d obtain from the Overload Codex was already determined to be probability-based.
Still, with my level at 129 now.
Once I level up further, I’ll be able to use the Overload Codex.
I could use it then.
Yoo Sung-hyun unfolded the Overload Grimoire.
“Can you show me a probability-based skill with powerful damage?”
[You can acquire a probability-based skill with powerful damage.]
[Searching for skills that best match your current skill set.]
[Compatible skills have been found.]
[Displaying the list.]
『Mischievous God’s Spear』
『Curse of the Dark Dice』
『Laughing Doll’s Finger』
『Black Orb of Fate』
….
….
(Continued below)
[Will you select one?]
Quite a number of skills had appeared.
Some had strange names, but the skill Yoo Sung-hyun chose was.
[Through the effect of the Overload Job-exclusive Almighty-grade item, 『Overload Grimoire』, you have acquired the Unique-grade skill, 『Black Orb of Fate』.]
The Black Orb of Fate.
Part of the reason was that the name seemed like it would pair well with something.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
It had the highest damage percentage.
『Black Orb of Fate』
→《Unique》
→[Lv Max][Complete Form]
[Instant Effect][Active]
[Cooldown: 30 minutes]
→Dark Magic-series job-exclusive skill.
→Activates with a 15% probability when used.
→Upon activation, summons a Black Orb of Fate around the target.
→The Black Orb of Fate appears above the target’s head, triggers a baptism of darkness, deals 2,000% damage to the target, then disappears.
The percentage effect was nearly on par with Legendary-grade skills.
The activation probability was correspondingly low, but with Fate Manipulation, it would be guaranteed to activate.
‘This is actually really good?’
I could probably build an entire probability-based setup.
While using Fate Manipulation, it would activate with certainty.
In that case, wouldn’t it be better to put the shadow build on hold for now?
‘Probability-based skills all have incredible effects precisely because their activation rates are so difficult.’
With that natural thought in mind,
Yoo Sung-hyun decided that from now on, he would draw probability-based skills using the Overload Grimoire.
Anyway.
Now that I’ve obtained these skills.
There’s something I always do, isn’t there?
Since I need to head to the Labyrinth and sweep up some monsters anyway.
‘Where should I test them out?’
4.
The Labyrinth was less a field and more akin to one colossal dungeon.
You could call it an open-type dungeon.
All users could participate in it.
But that wasn’t necessarily a good advantage.
Though it was called one massive dungeon.
It was officially classified as a field.
Multiple boss monsters existed within it.
Moreover, since these bosses were shared among all users.
Conflicts could easily break out.
Some even lurked in hiding, waiting to ambush and secure the killing blow on the boss.
Since they weren’t targeting other users, the infamy system didn’t mark them as villains.
Yet they were certainly a nuisance to other players.
The Marin Party was exactly such a malicious group.
‘If they had enough damage, they would’ve killed it themselves first.’
That’s what they’d say if anyone complained.
Truly despicable, you could say.
Conversely, the Marin Party found it difficult to solo boss monsters.
So they’d resorted to this tactic.
But that didn’t justify what they were doing.
In any case, as the Marin Party concealed themselves and hid around the boss.
The sound of someone approaching echoed.
“Oh, another one’s coming.”
“Heh heh, let’s get ready.”
“But the numbers seem low?”
“Is it an elite party?”
Listening carefully, there was only one set of footsteps.
For a moment, I found it strange and tilted my head.
But since we were already in hiding, we couldn’t back out, so everyone remained silent.
Then, before the boss where they lay in wait, a single user appeared.
A user clad in a black robe and wearing some sort of mask.
There was nothing particularly unusual about it.
Among mask-type items, some had excellent performance.
So many users wore them.
Besides, it concealed the face and exuded an air of mystery.
It was quite a popular accessory among many.
But what was strange.
‘Why is he alone?’
‘I have no idea.’
‘Did his party get wiped out on the way?’
‘Then wouldn’t he reach the boss?’
He was alone.
To have come all this way alone, moving so freely.
The Marin Party could have thought he was skilled, but they didn’t go that far in their thinking.
In the Labyrinth, no matter how skilled you were, it was natural to form a party and venture forth.
Otherwise, you’d certainly be buried under traps and the sheer numbers of monsters.
They found it odd.
But they didn’t pay much attention to it.
After all, they were trying to steal the boss kill—why bother knowing such details?
The Marin Party stayed silent.
The lone user calmly cast a skill toward the boss.
‘Wow, he’s really fighting alone.’
‘Still, the Blood Bat Gargoyle should be hard to take down solo?’
‘Will he give up? Should he retreat?’
‘Let’s just watch for now.’
Blood Bat Gargoyle.
In other words, the blood-sucking bat statue wasn’t particularly strong as bosses in the Labyrinth went.
But with so much health and sturdy defense, it wasn’t an easy boss either.
Its attack power wasn’t impressive enough to seem formidable.
Rather, it gave the impression of being annoying to defeat due to its massive health pool.
And this user was going to take it on alone?
That wouldn’t be easy.
So the expressions of the Marin Party members darkened.
It seemed clear he wouldn’t be able to defeat it alone.
They decided to wait with the mindset of “if it works out, great; if not, oh well.”
The user cast a skill first toward the Blood Bat Gargoyle.
A black bullet-like energy condensed in the user’s hand.
The Marin Party let out a sigh.
‘Oh, he’s fighting.’
‘Black bullets?’
‘Ah, that guy doesn’t even know its characteristics and is fighting anyway?’
‘There are still ignorant ones left.’
Because the Blood Bat Gargoyle had sturdy defense.
It possessed resistance to projectiles.
Magical projectiles were still projectiles, after all.
It was particularly notorious as an annoying boss due to its resistance.
Still, the rewards were quite generous.
A few users had come, and the Marin Party had been lying in ambush.
But for such small fry to show up.
Today looked like a wasted effort.
The moment everyone thought that.
A black bullet was fired.
Boom—boom—boom—boom—boom—boom—boom—!!!
The black bullet that struck the Blood Bat Gargoyle’s chest erupted in a massive explosion across its body.
The power behind it was tremendous.
The Blood Bat Gargoyle was sent flying several meters, shrieking in agony as it writhed.
“Screeeeeeeee!!!”
The high-pitched sound wave resonated through their skulls.
Everyone in the Marin Party covered their ears.
For such a scream to emerge, it must have taken enormous damage.
Just how powerful was that attack for the creature to shriek like that from a single blow?
‘W-what just happened?’
‘I… I have no idea.’
‘That… that power is that strong?’
‘This is insane…’
The Marin Party was bewildered by what they witnessed.
Soon, Marin, the party leader, spoke up.
‘They must have used their ultimate skill right from the start.’
‘Ah, that makes sense.’
‘Using your strongest skill before combat is common sense, after all.’
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
They spoke like this, their pride wounded by the shock.
The Blood Bat Gargoyle then lunged at the user.
Judging by appearances, that user was a mage.
A Dark Mage, no less.
For the Blood Bat Gargoyle to charge at such a user.
With no summons to block it.
Everyone shook their heads, thinking death was imminent.
Then, centered on that user, the ground began to darken.
Squelch—thud!
The ground stained with surrounding darkness.
Transformed like a swamp.
“Screeeee!”
Its movements weren’t slowed or restricted.
Yet the Blood Bat Gargoyle, sensing an inexplicable dread, came to a halt.
In that instant.
A blade emerged from the shadows steeped in darkness.
Shing——crack!!!
It carved deep into the Blood Bat Gargoyle’s torso.
“Shrieeeeee———!!!”
The Blood Bat Gargoyle convulsed in agony.
Yet the user’s assault was far from over.
A golden aura radiated from the user, and as they extended their hand.
A black sphere suddenly materialized above the Blood Bat Gargoyle’s head.
The ominous black orb unleashed a torrent of darkness toward the Blood Bat Gargoyle.
The darkness resembled the breath of a dragon itself.
Boom———————!!!
“Shriee….”
From head to toe, the Blood Bat Gargoyle was reduced to ash in a single moment and scattered away.
The boss fell before the Marin Party could even step forward.
Without even using several of my skills.
The Marin Party watched the spectacle, their pupils trembling finely as they exchanged glances.
‘S-should we run?’
‘Y-yes, the leader is amazing!’
‘Let’s go quickly.’
‘If he notices us, we might die!’
As they fled in that manner.
The user left alone—no, Yoo Sung-hyun—muttered with a satisfied expression.
“These skills are quite useful.”
I was very pleased with this set of abilities as well.
Come to think of it.
“Why are they running away?”
Yoo Sung-hyun, who had known all along that the Marin Party was hiding, simply shrugged and shook his head.
There really are quite a lot of peculiar people around.

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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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