The Return of the Legendary Golden-Handed Blacksmith - Chapter 186

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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 186
186.
Whoooosh—!
The dark energy enveloping Jin-woo’s entire body was quickly absorbed into him.
-Your Necromaster job level is being recalibrated.
-Your Necromaster job is transforming.
-The power of awakening settles into your body.
Jin-woo felt his body grow suddenly lighter.
Thanks to his high synchronization rate, Jin-woo’s heightened sensitivity let him feel it all the more acutely.
‘It’s changed.’
The very power flowing through his body had transformed.
-You have become a Necromancer-Lord!
-Your First Awakening is complete!
-You have cleared a quest!
-You have obtained the achievement [Awakened One]!
“First Awakening?”
Jin-woo examined the notification window carefully.
“So awakening doesn’t end here, then?”
Since it said “first,” there might very well be a second awakening, perhaps even a third.
“Interesting.”
The moment he awoke, Jin-woo felt a surge of overwhelming power that caught him slightly off guard.
If the first awakening felt this potent, he was quite curious what the second would bring.
‘How many stages of awakening are there, anyway?’
He’d find out as he continued playing New Gene.
“The Awakened One achievement is nice and modest.”
-Achievement [Awakened One]
Effect: All stats increase by +100. You can emit a special aura.
Jin-woo tested out that special aura.
Whoosh.
Star dust fell from above Jin-woo’s head as though a god were bestowing his blessing.
“Hm.”
An exclusive effect available only to the awakened.
This could be called the pinnacle of tier one.
‘It has no other flashy effects.’
While it lacked dramatic additional functions, it had style.
‘An effect only a select few can use—that’s what really hits.’
As the creator, Jin-woo understood these elements quite well.
“Then.”
Now awake, Jin-woo checked his status screen for the first time in a while.
“Status.”
[Jin][Lv 359]
[Job: Necromancer-Lord]
[Runes Equipped: Will of Flame, Touch of Bone, Heart of Bone, Rune of Harmony with Nature, Rune of Eternal Earth]
[Unique Achievement: Golden Hand]
[HP: 15,500/15,500]
[MP: 25,000/25,000]
[Strength: 4,049+5%]
[Endurance: 2,088+5%]
[Agility: 645+5%]
[Intelligence: 527+5%]
<>
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With his level breaking past 300, Jin-woo’s overall specs had climbed considerably.
All his stats had grown evenly, with Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, and Concentration—the ones he used most—standing particularly high.
In particular, his Dexterity stat was the highest among all stats, nearly reaching ten thousand.
‘There was a reason the new weapon’s special skill was so powerful.’
The special skill of the Scythe of Judgment, [Judgment], was affected by the stat with the highest numerical value.
With Dexterity nearly touching ten thousand, it made sense that [Judgment] was amplified to such tremendous power.
Ding—!
An alert chimed.
Jin-woo’s job level, which should have risen earlier, now climbed belatedly as a result of his First Awakening.
-[Necromancer-Lord] job level increased!
-You have learned a new skill!
-You have learned the skill [Soul Harvest]!
“Oh.”
As his level rose, he acquired a new skill at the same time.
Soul Harvest.
“The name alone sounds promising.”
* Soul Harvest
Grade: UR+
Description: Harvest souls to build stacks. Depending on accumulated stacks, you can use them for special skills or stat enhancement. Used souls are consumed.
Effect: Special abilities available depending on stack count
It was an impressive effect.
‘So this is really where the awakening begins properly.’
The defining feature of the Necromaster job was souls.
He had awakened and learned a skill that let him use those souls properly.
“This is exciting.”
The skill’s detailed description didn’t reveal everything—he’d have to use it and learn by doing.
“My soul usage has been pretty limited so far.”
Now there would be more ways to leverage souls.
-You have cleared the tower!
-Tower clearance is being settled!
-Your magnificent deed shakes the continent!
-This is an unprecedented clear!
-Your Virtue Score increases.
-You have obtained the achievement [Master of the Tower of the Abyss in the Underworld]!
-You are registered in the Hall of Fame!
-<>
-Hall of Fame Leaderboard
1. Jin-woo [950 points]
2. NONE
3. NONE
4. NONE
-You receive the first-clear bonus!
Yuroled was both the master of the Underworld and the owner of the tower.
Because of that, in hunting down the tower’s monsters and Yuroled, Jin-woo had ended up clearing the tower at the same time.
“I honestly didn’t expect this.”
Yuroled was a target that needed to be dealt with regardless.
But in dealing with him, the tower had also been cleared in the process—a result Jin-woo found quite satisfying.
“Two birds with one stone.”
-Virtue Score: 7
As his Virtue Score increased, Jin-woo received additional rewards.
Jin-woo grinned and examined them carefully.
“First, the Hall of Fame.”
Since the Underworld itself was a tower, this clear had also been registered in the Hall of Fame.
Naturally, since Jin-woo was the only one to clear it, he ranked first, though the score was quite high.
“Each tower has different point values, so it’s not a low score.”
Next came the tower-clear reward.
-You have obtained the Ancient Monument!
“The Ancient Monument?”
-You have received a quest!
-A monument left behind by Hamelton, the Ancient Blacksmith.
-You can learn a new skill.
“Interesting.”
* Quest: Ancient Monument – Hamelton’s Legacy
Grade: UR+
Content: Hamelton, the ancient blacksmith of the Underworld, never found a successor to pass his knowledge to. He created a monument to leave everything behind. Decipher the monument and acquire Hamelton’s legacy.
Reward: Acquisition of Hamelton’s Skills
“If it’s from an ancient blacksmith, it might prove quite useful.”
A skill left by an ancient blacksmith was sure to be worthwhile.
Ding—!
-Yuroled’s power is sealed in the Ten Thousand Demon Palace!
Originally, Yuroled himself wasn’t the tower’s true owner, but since he had been acting as such, his power was absorbed entirely into Jin-woo’s Ten Thousand Demon Palace.
“With the awakening plus the power of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace, my body feels way too light.”
The sensation in his hands grew even sharper.
‘At this rate, I could really pull it off.’
Jin-woo smiled.
-Main Quest has been updated!
Jin-woo was undertaking a main quest to seal the Evil Incarnations ruling as bosses of various towers in the Ten Thousand Demon Palace and restore peace to the Flam Continent.
-Your tower-clear score has exceeded the threshold.
-Main Quest converts to Unique Main Quest.
“Oh.”
A Unique Main Quest.
In other words, unlike the main quest that countless players progress through in common, this was now a quest only Jin-woo would undertake.
* Quest: Spread of the Evil Incarnation [Unique]
Grade: ???
Content: The Evil Incarnation is not confined to the Flam Continent alone. Traces of its power reach beyond the seas. Head across the sea and find the New Continent. Hunt down the Evil Incarnation stirring on the New Continent.
Reward: Player’s discretion
A ??? grade quest.
And the reward too was determined at the player’s discretion.
‘Being the only one to progress through it has its merits.’
The quest instructed him to find the New Continent.
“The New Continent, huh? This should be interesting.”
It was a quest of considerable intrigue on multiple fronts.
‘But the grade is ???.’
Jin-woo had now reached SSR grade, so he could see all grades of that tier.
‘This is well beyond that.’
Rather than dive straight into the quest, it seemed better to grow more solidly first, then undertake it once the grade became visible.
‘Still, I feel good about this.’
Receiving a Unique Quest itself meant he was being recognized.
“Phew—!”
“We’ve truly brought down the Successor of a new god.”
“Successor. You’re truly incredible. Thank you so much!”
“And we’re so sorry!”
-Skeleton Contract has ended.
-Skeleton Contractors’ loyalty decreases.
Jin-woo’s relationship with the Skeleton Contractors was built on loyalty.
Each time he summoned them, this loyalty would drop, and if it fell below a certain threshold, resummoning became difficult.
But then.
-Skeleton Contractors’ loyalty increases!
The Skeleton Contractors of the Underworld had a strong bond with Jin-woo.
Having dealt with Yuroled, who had ruled the Underworld alongside them, the dropped loyalty surged back up.
‘It bounces back instantly.’
Now he could summon them whenever he needed to.
“Thank you!”
Lerankal and the two Underworld blacksmiths stepped forward and bowed to Jin-woo.
Quest complete.
The Underworld had been firmly reclaimed, and its souls had begun to trust the Master of Soul and Abyss once more.
-The Master of Soul and Abyss bestows blessings upon all souls of the Underworld!
-The Master of Soul and Abyss offers apologies to the souls of the Underworld!
“No, it’s fine. Please don’t worry. We’re the ones who should be sorry!”
“We hope our sins are washed away through this!”
These were souls that had turned to Yuroled’s side during the Master of Soul and Abyss’s absence.
So their desire to make amends now was strong.
“You all did well.”
Jin-woo gestured to his subordinates.
First and Pur.
Both subordinates had fought exceptionally well against Yuroled.
“Growl.”
And the tiger had embodied the concept Jin-woo had envisioned perfectly.
‘The combination of these three is quite solid.’
Especially the tiger—he wanted to craft special equipment just for him.
‘Since this was our first time, the balance wasn’t perfect.’
As they continued fighting, the balance would improve, and the equipment Jin-woo crafted would also grow to suit this trio better.
“You really did great.”
When Jin-woo offered his honest praise, both subordinates lowered their heads slightly.
First showed his emotion with composure, but Pur was already doing a little shoulder shimmy.
Though the pure dragon Bon was said to have considerable ego, in truth his senior was Pur.
“We worked really hard.”
Pur danced rhythmically with obvious joy.
‘Drunk on victory.’
And no wonder—against Boros, he’d suffered a humiliating defeat.
‘Now it’s time to enjoy it.’
After sending them off, Jin-woo turned to what he’d been anticipating most.
Yuroled’s byproducts.
Starting with the golden-gleaming great bone.
-Yuroled’s Soul [SSR]
-Yuroled’s Great Bone [SSR]
-Abyss Crystal [SSR]
-Hammer of Judgment [SSR]
His soul and great bone.
And the Abyss Crystal.
Plus one more item had dropped.
“It was odd, though.”
Until now, Jin-woo had gotten rewards consisting almost entirely of materials.
“A finished item should have appeared by now.”
‘I figured the reward changed based on my job.’
Now that a finished item had appeared, Jin-woo could confirm his suspicion.
“Rewards are allocated by job, then.”
Since Jin-woo’s job was Necromaster, he’d been getting materials primarily.
‘To be fair, if only materials dropped.’
Now a finished item had finally appeared.
Jin-woo picked up the Hammer of Judgment.
“Hm.”
This was equipment the new god had sponsored to Yuroled.
He wondered what it was made of, but handling it gave no clue.
“I’ll have to melt it down to figure it out.”
For Jin-woo, there was no reason to use a finished item as-is.
To him, it was already a mystery box of materials waiting to be melted down and examined.
“But that’s not all.”
Beyond this, the bones and essences he’d gathered from the tower’s monsters were considerable.
‘And there are the souls too.’
Jin-woo carefully stored all the materials in his workshop.
“Now, then.”
It was time to examine the crown jewel of these rewards.
-The Master of Soul and Abyss sends you applause.
-The Master of Soul and Abyss tells you that the Underworld is now a land of souls who revere you!
Whoooosh.
The Master of Soul and Abyss offered endless praise.
Then, releasing an aura of darkness in a straight line before Jin-woo.
-The Master of Soul and Abyss tells you to follow the signpost!
This place was Fragment 15 City.
The signpost formed from darkness aura pointed toward the fragment’s core city, where Yuroled had been.
-The Master of Soul and Abyss tells you to enter his temple there!
* * *
On the path to the temple.
Jin-woo reflected on what he’d learned in this Underworld.
Boros, Yuroled.
Formidable opponents, and the tower.
And the newly granted main quest too.
Then an alert sounded.
-A new god watches you.
-The King of the Dead sends his accolades for your reclamation of the Underworld!
“I was wondering when he’d speak.”
There were no eternal enemies or eternal allies.
Even before the Underworld’s reclamation, the King of the Dead had shown interest in Jin-woo.
‘If it benefits me.’
Jin-woo was more than ready to accept.
-The King of the Dead reveals his true name!
-The god Yama wishes to sponsor you!

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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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