Chapter 93 – Completion (１)

[Mana Handling]

>Grade: Legendary

>Allows the user to manipulate mana to condense energy.

>Proficiency: A

>Magic Attack+200%

>Casting Speed+100%

>MP Consumption -50%

>Skill Range +150%

>Form Transformation

>Combine

[Combine]

-Allows combining separate projectiles into one.

-Skill power increases by 20% per combined skill.

-MP consumption +20%

-Casting time +20%

[Strong Wind]

-Grade: Legendary

-Proficiency: B

-Power Increase+50

-Cutting Power+50

-Booster

>Wind Blade

>High-Speed Rotation

[High-Speed Rotation]

-Rotation Power+50%

-Movement Speed +50%

-Cutting Power +30%

The proficiency of both Mana Handling and Strong Wind climbed at once.

Mana Handling was now Grade A.

Strong Wind, in that same moment, pushed into Grade B.

Merge.

Among them, the new ability grafted onto Mana Handling was Merge.

Exactly as it read—the capacity to combine separate projectiles into one.

Each projectile joined meant a 20% power increase.

Merge ten projectiles, and that meant a 200% boost in force.

Which means…

It meant he could fuse the Strong Winds together too.

And on top of that, Strong Wind itself had grown stronger.

A new option had been added: High-Speed Rotation.

An effect that increased the wind’s own spin and Cutting Power, and boosted its movement speed as well.

In that instant—

CRACKLE-WHOOOOOSH!

The power of Strong Wind surged another notch higher.

What looked like a single Strong Wind was in truth ten separate ones, layered into one.

But the moment the Combination ability kicked in, the Strong Wind became one, amplifying its power.

With the strengthened Strong Wind itself adding to the effect, Gijun’s body felt even lighter, despite the fierce gale the wind dragon was spewing.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Of course, there was no avoiding the entire canyon shaking and churning in an instant.

But that was fine.

Gijun took another step forward.

Then another.

And another…

‘Got it.’

He was closer now.

Gijun drew the Sain-geom.

The talismanic sword blazed with light, vibrating violently.

Kyaaaaaaah!

Before he knew it, Gijun had reached the very nose of the wind dragon.

The beast spewed another torrent of wind at him, but Gijun didn’t retreat.

Because the stronger the wind it blew, the more Mana he poured in to push back against it.

But the core was still up high.

He’d made it right in front of the wind dragon, but the core was still out of reach.

Gijun took a deep breath.

Then he repeated it to himself.

After all, attacking the Wind Dragon was pointless.

Because, as he knew, it wasn’t a living creature to begin with.

But he could stop this wind.

‘All I have to do is pull out the core.’

It had worked last time, when he fought the Wood Monarch’s fragment.

The moment the core left the tree, it withered rapidly.

So this time would be no different.

If he could just get that core out, the wind would die in an instant.

‘I can do this.’

Gijun worked out the method.

A way to draw that core out of the dragon’s body.

The method was simple.

Shoot a blast of wind straight at the core.

Simple — but far from easy.

There wasn’t even a window of opportunity.

‘…One shot.’

He had exactly one chance.

If he missed, or even if he hit and failed to expel the core,

Gijun would be sent flying away from that spot in an instant.

“I have to succeed on the very first try.”

Strong Wind traced its glyph in the air, still spinning.

His plan: condense it into a blade-shaped projectile, then fire it at the wind dragon in one clean shot.

In that moment—

[I’ll lend you my strength.]

Libre’s voice reached him.

“I’m counting on you.”

Instantly, energy surged from Gijun’s chest.

Just a fraction of Libre’s power.

She’d recovered a fair amount already, but she couldn’t afford to pour it all out here.

So she passed him a sliver—barely a whisper of her full might.

But it was enough.

Even that small infusion made Gijun’s Strong Wind coil tighter, its spin accelerating with renewed force.

KWAH-KWAH-KWAH-KWAH-KWAH!

A colossal current of air twisted violently around Gijun, warping the space he stood in.

He lifted his gaze once more.

Toward the core standing motionless at the heart of the vast storm.

…Huuuh.

He drew in a breath.

Then reached out a hand.

Now.

In that instant, every nerve in his body focused on the core.

Gijun’s Strong Wind shot straight toward it, unspooling from his palm like a released arrow.

PAAAAANG!

A thunderous roar tore through the air.

The wind that had been wrapped around Gijun’s body lashed out toward the point he’d aimed at, and—

HWHEEEEEEK!

The moment Strong Wind’s barrier vanished, Gijun’s body launched upward into empty sky.

It was a truly terrifying gale.

Caught in that maelstrom, Gijun hurtled skyward like a mustard seed scattered by the wind, swallowed into the towering heavens in an instant.

Ascending, he twisted his body with difficulty.

And he looked.

To see the result.

…!

Right then.

TAE-AENG!

…Nailed it.

Gijun’s fists clenched, strength flooding his knuckles.

The Strong Wind he’d unleashed had finally grazed the core.

And at the same time, it had succeeded in pulling the core out from the wind dragon’s body.

Saaaaaah—

The wind slowly thinned, fading into stillness.

Gijun’s body plummeted toward the ground at breakneck speed.

But something like that was no problem at all.

KWAAAAH!

As he fell, he cast Strong Wind in the opposite direction of his descent.

The recoil slowed his fall, and he managed to land safely on the ground.

Clang-

At the same time, the core dropped to the floor.

It was a white-hued core.

Gijun brought the Sain-geom to it.

In that instant, a familiar scene unfolded.

A white aura flowed from the sword and wrapped around the white core.

[The Sain-geom has absorbed the Wind of Primordial Beginnings!]

At last—the fourth orb was filled.

My level didn’t go up.

Probably because it wasn’t a monster—no Experience gained.

But it wasn’t a loss.

[You have eliminated the storm of Storm-Starting Hill!]

[You have achieved a great Achievement!]

[Reward granted for Achievement completion!]

He couldn’t level up, but the Achievements had been waiting for Gijun.

[You have learned the Skill ‘Soul of Storm’!]

[Soul of Storm]

-Grade: Unique

-Wind-element magic power +100%

-Wind-element magic range +50%

-Wind-element magic Cutting Power +30%

Not bad.

The reward that appeared was a Skill.

A Skill named Soul of Storm.

Its effect was a massive increase to the power, range, and Cutting Power of wind-element magic.

So it’s like enhancing both Strong Wind and Orca’s Footsteps at once.

Now that Strong Wind had already climbed to B-Grade and grown stronger, this pushed it even further.

The applications are endless now.

And the Merge effect had been added to Mana Handling, hadn’t it?

Gijun cast Strong Wind.

Then he compressed it all into one.

Chwaaaah—!

The Strong Wind, fused into a single mass in Gijun’s grip, roared out a furious gale.

Shape Shift.

Gijun reshaped the Strong Wind.

Into the form of a sword.

…Wind Blade.

This was a Wind Blade.

A 6th-Circle wind-element spell.

Of course, its power already surpassed the level of a 6th-Circle spell.

My combat options are getting more varied.

With this, he could simultaneously harass with Fireball and fight up close with Strong Wind.

Good.

Gijun dispersed the Strong Wind and shifted his gaze.

The gorge, moments ago a storm’s cradle, had become a still canyon without a breath of wind.

Then another message appeared.

[You have discovered a new area.]

[You have achieved a great feat.]

[All Stats have increased by 20!]

Beyond where the Wind Dragon had stood guard.

A new hunting ground lay waiting, one that hadn’t existed before.

No need to go there now.

Gijun felt no strong urge to explore the new hunting ground.

He had more important things to do right now.

Only one thing left.

The last fragment needed to complete the Sain-geom awaited.

Fire attribute.

Now it was time to find the fragment of fire.

Which meant Libre’s fragment.

[…Do not worry.]

Libre spoke then.

[As it happens, a part of me seems to be calling out to me urgently.]

To find the final fragment, Gijun needed neither the Saint guild’s help, nor any Quest, nor any Seeker-exclusive Achievement.

*

“…You are…?”

When Gijun returned from the gorge, players clad in radiant golden armor were waiting for him.

The man standing at the center approached Gijun and extended his hand.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you. I am Klaim, First Knight Commander of the Saint guild.”

“Ah…”

An overwhelming presence radiated from the man.

Gijun clasped his hand in return.

“The players of the Skull guild who tried to attack Master Jun have already been dealt with. If they ever attempt to harm you again, I, Klaim, will stake my honor and crush them without fail. This is the order of our Guild Master, Master Hera.”

“I… see.”

His spine straight as a rod, his expression unyielding, his voice low and steady.

It truly felt like standing before a knight.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Then Horpa approached Gijun.

“Not at all. Thanks to you, there was no trouble.”

“Surely not.”

Horpa gazed at the gorge.

By now, collapsed boulders littered the ravine everywhere.

One didn’t need to see it to know how fierce a battle had raged within.

To emerge from there unscathed like this—that was no feat anyone could pull off.

“Ah, and also—”

Gijun opened his mouth.

“I discovered a new field.”

“…?!”

Horpa’s eyes went wide.

“It looks like there’s something beyond that gorge.”

“You mean…?”

“Yes. I’m not particularly interested anyway, so I’ll transfer all rights to the new field to the Saint guild.”

“!!”

Horpa and Klaim.

Both stared at Gijun with stunned faces.

“Is that…, is it true?”

Their surprise was only natural.

Discovering a new field meant reaping immense benefits.

Hidden quests, boss monsters, and items—all of it.

Even if Gijun hoarded it all for himself right now, it wouldn’t be hard for someone to flip their life upside down with that kind of fortune.

Yet here he was, willingly handing over this new field to the Saint guild without a shred of greed.

Of course, having already discovered the field called Tartaros, he might feel no lingering attachment.

But greed knows no bounds.

Possessing one thing and letting go of another without regret—that was never an easy feat.

“I have things I need to do.”

“Ah…”

Horpa’s lips parted slightly as she let out a sigh of admiration.

Klaim, too, stared at Gijun with wide eyes.

“You’re someone who understands honor.”

Klaim began to feel genuine fondness for Gijun.

That relentless drive to charge endlessly toward a goal.

It was the very creed Klaim lived by.

Not money or power—but an unceasing pursuit of the dream one held within.

“I said it before, but I’ll say it again.”

He looked straight at Gijun as he spoke.

“I, Klaim, swear on my honor: if anyone tries to stand in your way, I will never forgive them.”

He pressed his right hand over his own heart.

“…!!”

Gijun’s eyes widened.

Because he knew what Klaim’s gesture signified.

That’s the mark of the oath, isn’t it?

It was the proud oath of the Saint guild’s Knight Order.

Simply put, it was a token that he would prioritize protecting Gijun from any attacker, at any time.

Not bad.

Gijun thought.

From now on, practically speaking, there’d be no more interference like this.

“You hear that?”

“Whoa, no way!”

“Crazy… I’m so jealous!”

The Players and ViewTubers who’d come to watch Gijun’s Raid.

All of them were watching.

The Players had erupted into chaos in an instant.

And they must have felt it clearly.

That from now on, they absolutely must not touch Gijun.

‘He knew that too—that’s why he put on a show like this here.’

By flaunting such an exaggerated performance before so many people, he was nipping any future annoyance in the bud.

“I look forward to working with you from now on.”

Help like this—even if it came with a burden—was always welcome.

“Because from here on, things are only going to get harder.”

He was right.

Once he got his hands on that last remaining fragment…

‘The real fight begins.’

Because he’d have to return to Tartaros and start the battle all over again.