The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 66: 3 Stars

The [Unholy Shock Shield] has two characteristics:

Melee attack – Reflect

Ranged attack – Complete defense

He already tested the complete defense ability during the landing.

‘The main point is how much it reflects when hit with a melee attack.’

The effect was outstanding.

After integrating the Bone Wall with the Unholy Shock Shield and inducing Reriks' attack...

The defensive power strengthened by the territory and the synergy effect combined, and the reflected shock broke their arms.

“Kyaaarrgh!”

“Aaargh!”

Screams erupted from all directions.

The Reriks, who had rushed in with such momentum, faltered in confusion.

‘The Bone Wall also has two forms.’

Defensive and reflective.

The one he deployed this time is reflective; when an impact is applied, the bones protrude, returning the damage to the opponent.

However, it has the disadvantage of consuming the Bone Wall's durability.

‘Adding the Unholy Shock Shield maximizes the advantages of the reflective type.’

Using the Bone Wall alone wouldn't have generated enough power to pierce their arms.

Similarly, if he had only used the Unholy Shock Shield alone, it would have only returned a small amount of damage.

‘The synergy effect is better than I calculated.’

He didn't need the Fafnir.

【Die, you bastards.】

[Fireball]

[Quick Reload]

[Fireball]

…….

The Skeleton Mages' magic attacks were projected relentlessly, using the Bone Wall as a shield.

In particular, Jo Seungchul, after recovering all the mana he had consumed during the landing, once again poured out tremendous firepower.

Crack—!

“Break through one side.”

The Reriks didn't just stand still and take the attacks.

The Bone Wall densely surrounded the black spire.

As wide as the defense range was, there were bound to be shallow areas in the Skeleton Mage's barrage.

The Reriks capable of ranged attacks retreated to the rear of the group.

[Fire Breath]

They spewed fireballs like they did during the landing.

Low accuracy only matters when the target is small or far away.

There was no way they could miss the towering Bone Wall from less than 40 meters away.

[Unholy Shock Shield is destroyed.]

[Unholy Shock Shield…….]

The barrier, hit by dozens of fireballs, vanished.

The Bone Wall couldn't hold out much longer and collapsed on one side.

“Kraack! Charge!”

Reriks swarmed towards the collapsed section.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A giant of red slime blocked the gap in the fallen wall.

“You. Shall not. Pass.”

Transforming both arms into blades, it swung left and right, cutting down the Reriks.

Swish—

The Reriks had a 3rd-grade Sacred Rank.

Although a step below the Troll absorbed earlier, it was the rare blood of a lower dragonkin, further enhancing the Blood Golem's abilities.

“What’s wrong? Something’s not working out?”

[Using Corpse Explosion.]

The power surpassed the Skeleton Mages' magic!

Explosions erupted throughout the battlefield, and the Reriks' arms, legs, and blood droplets scattered through the air.

The Reriks who had retreated to the rear made a hole in the other wall, but...

-Groan.

-Groan.

They didn't have the strength to break through the Armored Zombies that had filled the collapsed area.

Perhaps in a chaotic battle they might have, but the Reriks lacked the power to push through the Armored Zombies dedicated to defense in a confined space.

The synergy of [Bone Wall] and [Unholy Shock Shield].

The resilience of the Armored Zombies and Blood Golem mobilized for defense.

All the elements interlocked like gears, completely neutralizing the Reriks' offensive.

[Using Bone Control.]

[Using Life Drain.]

The situation was relaxed enough to impale an exhausted Rerik with a magic-infused weapon, bring it inside, and drain its life force.

300 Reriks fell in the fog without inflicting any significant damage.

＊ ＊ ＊

The defensive battle around the black spire continued intermittently.

About a day had passed.

The number of Reriks who died in the fog reached a staggering four thousand.

"A war of attrition against a Necromancer."

Yoojin muttered in a dry tone, shoving food into his mouth.

The pungent scent of death stung his nose.

The acrid smell of smoke and blood threatened to numb his senses.

But he paid it no mind, scraping up every last grain of rice from his combat rations.

【I'd say you have an unnecessarily strong stomach.】

Fafnir remarked in a bewildered tone, observing Yoojin's nonchalant demeanor.

‘Don't worry, Great Warrior. Before my return, I'd seen far worse. If I'd been concerned about my stomach or hygiene, I would've died long ago, let alone reach the 9th Rank.’

〔You seem to be struggling quite a bit despite receiving the divine spell I bestowed upon you.〕

Yoojin shrugged at Kronos's taunt.

'This strategy has quite a few variables.'

〔Khahaha! It's the first time I've heard you make excuses. How intriguing.〕

'...There are at least three variant Reriks. And they're monsters presumed to be 5 Star.

〔You haven't seen them yourself, have you? Do you have any basis for that assertion?〕

'The number of commands given to the Reriks.'

Fafnir, who had been sent to the center of the island, couldn't advance further due to the Reriks' offensive and returned to the black spire.

'They blocked the front and back, giving him a hard time.'

Reriks aren't intelligent enough to form a siege.

This means there are at least two variants giving orders.

Considering the group that came via the coast, he concluded there are at least three.

〔Even so, there's no guarantee the variants are 5 Star, is there?〕

'One should always consider the worst-case scenario when making assumptions.'

The more thorough the preparation, the better.

If it's a Rerik capable of judgment, there's a high probability it's at the peak of 4 Star, or has reached 5 Star.

〔Khahahaha! It's a far more unfavorable situation than the spider hunt.〕

'That's right. At least then we were on the defensive.'

Yoojin didn't deny it.

The number of hunters mobilized during the spider hunt was around 100.

The two executives were 5 Star.

'There are at least thousands of Reriks on Yeonpyeong Island. And at least three monsters presumed to be 5 Star.'

〔If you can turn this situation around, it would truly be a feat worthy of a hero.〕

'What do you desire, Constellation?'

〔Isn't it obvious what I desire?〕

Kronos declared.

〔For my contractor to overcome this trial.〕

'I thought so.'

Yoojin gave a short laugh.

But you know what?

They're mistaken about one thing.

They're not the only ones who excel at attrition warfare.

[Current level is 49.]

It seemed like they kept throwing bait to gauge his strength.

Thanks to that, he’s only one step away from his target limit level.

"Fafnir, go clear the coast one more time."

【Aren't you overworking me?】

"I'll be level 50 soon."

【I have no choice. It is the role of a servant to serve his lacking master.】

How much time had passed since Fafnir was sent out?

[Level up!]

[Current level is 50.]

[You have surpassed the limit and reached a new realm.]

[All stats are increased by +20%.]

[Experience required for level up is quadrupled.]

Wooong—!

His level had risen by one step with the system's assistance.

Yoojin smiled faintly at the power that filled him.

〔Now you can unlock the knowledge of a new school.〕

'Well, yeah.'

If he unlocked the poison field, he could link it with the necromancy side by adding poison to corpse explosions or giving poison to undead minions.

The darkness field would allow mid- to long-range attacks for a Necromancer who would otherwise be twiddling his thumbs without a medium (bones or corpses).

Curses would allow him to inflict all sorts of debuffs or control souls at will.

'The stat increase is good, but the higher the level, the wider the range of responses.'

Yoojin was once a hunter who reached the pinnacle of Necromancy.

Step by step.

The higher the level, the more limitless the power he could wield.

'However, there's something else that's important right now.'

〔Oh? That sounds like you have a separate plan to overcome this crisis.〕

'The fact that my level has risen to 3 Star is the key.'

Swoosh—!

A dark aura emanated from Jo Seungchul's body.

The blue flame in his empty pupils deepened.

[The power of Dark Minion (Jo Seungchul) is fully unleashed due to your level up.]

[3 Star → 4 Star]

[Mana increases by 800.]

[Trait - Multi-casting is added]

[Multi-casting]

Rank: B

An ability granted to those who have overcome the 3 Star wall and reached a higher level.

Allows simultaneous rearrangement of mana depending on the user's processing speed.

【My power has increased, Master.】

"Alright. Work even harder."

【I will serve Master with all my loyalty.】

See?

As soon as Yoojin reached 3 Star, Jo Seungchul's rank increased by one level!

〔But, is it really necessary to exclude other fields?〕

'There's a limit to the number of spells I can learn. Right now, I need to focus.'

Poison, curse, and darkness fields are good, but…

Ultimately, the main skills of a Necromancer are necromancy spells that use corpses as a medium.

Skill slots that had been left empty for the moment he reached 3 Star.

He had used two to protect the black spire, but the number increased again as the level was reset, so he could learn a total of four spells.

'I've already decided what to learn.'

[Learns Dead Rise.]

[Learns Analysis.]

[Learns Unholy Command.]

▷Dead Rise

Category: Magic

Rank: C

Creates undead from corpses whose souls have departed.

The quality of the created undead depends on the ability of the base corpse and the user's competence.

▷Analysis

Category: Alchemy

Rank: E

Analyzes the designated target.

▷Unholy Command

Category: Necromancy Magic

Rank: C

Consumes Spirit Power to increase the stats of undead minions under the user's control by 10%, and when they inflict damage, a portion of Spirit Power returns to the user.

Unholy Command's area of effect is 100 meters centered on the user.

"Done."

Kronos expressed doubt at Yoojin's confident appearance.

〔Will this be enough?〕

'Of course. It's a shame I'm short on materials, but it's manageable.'

〔Spells related to necromancy are fine, but why did you learn alchemy?〕

'You'll see.'

Yoojin shouted towards the Rerik's corpse.

"Answer my call."

[Uses Dead Rise.]

The fallen Rerik's corpse sprang to its feet and let out a ghastly scream.

The last cry of the deceased.

The lightless pupils fell to the ground with a thud.

And in the empty sockets, a blue flame began to flicker.

[Returnee created.]

[High degree of completion.]

[All stats increased by 71.4%.]

Low-grade undead Returnee.

Although it's a low-grade like Skeletons or Zombies, its combat power is vastly different.

'Even if they're both low-grade, a Returnee is inherently 3 Star.'

It's only advantage is its sturdy body, but even Armored Zombies & Skeletons are no match for a Returnee in a one-on-one fight.

〔If the variant Rerik's level is 5 Star, wouldn't that be far lacking?〕

'It's not over yet.'

Yoojin approached the corpse lying next to the Revenant.

Mana shimmered in his eyes.

Analysis, the basic skill of alchemy.

[Analyzing the designated material.]

[The material is presumed to be the scales of a lower dragon. Identifying mana pattern.]

[Structure perfectly analyzed.]

He read the grain of the mana with Analysis and peeled off the scales with [Flesh Control] without damaging them.

The Rerik's scales covered the Returnee's body.

Yoojin engraved a reinforcement circuit into the densely packed scales.

'It's fortunate that the monster that occupied Yeonpyeong Island is a Rerik.'

Once again, using [Flesh Control], he separated the tendons one by one from the corpse that had been turned into mush.

Thanks to the help of [Analysis], he was able to perform detailed work remotely.

He snatched the tendons protruding from the flesh, engraved [Reinforcement Circuit] on them, and shoved them all over the Returnee's body.

"Open your eyes once more."

Swoosh—!

The moment he infused Spirit Power into the Returnee.

The tendons implanted throughout its body and the reinforcement circuits engraved on the scales reacted.

The Spirit Power swelled as it rotated and rotated.

-Grooooar!!!

[The subject has perfectly fused with the byproducts of a lower dragon and has been reborn as a new undead, a Revenant.]

[Revenant creation has been added as a sub-skill of Dead Rise.]

[Revenant]

Race: Undead

Rank: ★★★★

◎ Stats

Strength: 570 (+200) / Agility: 398 (+150) / Health: 519 (+180) / Toughness: 534 (+180) / Mana: 304 (+110)

◎ Traits

▷ Immortal Being [C+] / Regeneration [C+] / Immature Guardian (C+)

◎ Skills

▷ Curse Breath [B] / Dark Fighting Aura [B] / Charge [D]

An undead that means "one who has returned from death."

To elaborate, it has a similar meaning to "Returnee," but the difference in combat power between the two is enormous.

〔Dark Fighting Aura?!〕

'It's a 4 Star. That much is basic.'

〔How can a mere deceased exhibit such power?!〕

'That's why it has the Immature trait.'

A trait that Jo Seungchul doesn't have.

It's an unnecessary trait that reduces the power when manifesting Aura (Dark Fighting Aura).

A penalty for being an existence that crossed the wall through an unorthodox method.

'The mental power consumption is also high to control it.'

Although the number that can be controlled doubled when he became a 3 Star.

The Revenant is a powerful being that crossed the wall and a deceased that hates even the living, that is, its master Yoojin, so it consumes 10 control slots.

'It's a penalty that will disappear when I become a 4 Star, but it can't be helped.'

To deal with the variant Reriks of Yeonpyeong Island, he needed one strong one rather than several weaklings.

The number of undead Yoojin can control is 80.

〔Excluding your two servants, you can control 78 more, so up to 7.〕

'Did you forget that Jo Seungchul also has command authority?'

Jo Seungchul, who can control 50.

If a Revenant is placed under his command, it would be all he could do to suppress it from becoming hostile to Yoojin, let alone command it.

'There are many living besides me.'

Is there a need to control the Revenant?

If you just let go of the mad dog's leash, it will rampage on its own.

〔Truly remarkable. It's knowledge not even found in the Ring of Darkness, how could you come up with such an idea?〕

'Do you think I reached the 9th Rank for nothing?'

Yoojin chuckled and boasted.

Now.

I've warmed up my body enough.

And I've expanded my forces.

Let's go for the win before the Hunters arrive.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]