Chapter 87

Drip—

Thick blood oozed out.

As the Necromancer Undertaker’s body, impaled against the wall, slowly slumped, a stark, dark bloodstain remained emblazoned on the stone.

Kang Yuseong gazed at his fallen form.

This was the end.

He had extracted everything he could from him.

‘Hmm…’

The world of necromancy was far more dangerous and powerful than he had imagined.

The three abilities he had plundered…

Ghost Spear, Soul Collapse, and Ghost Wall.

Ghost Spear summoned a massive spear crafted from the bones of corpses, and its power, as Kang Yuseong had already experienced, was terrifying.

**[Soul Collapse]**

Rapidly shatters the soul of an opponent with a powerful physique.

An enemy whose soul has collapsed temporarily enters a state of vital incapacitation.

As the level increases, Soul Collapse exerts even greater power.

Success Rate: 3%

Success rate decreases if the opponent has magic resistance.

Karma Power Required for Level 1 Soul Collapse Cast: 3,000

Level 1 Soul Collapse Duration: 3 seconds

Level 1 Soul Collapse Cooldown: 144 hours.

Link: Forced Soul Transfer.

The second ability was Soul Collapse.

As the description stated, it was a technique that shattered an enemy’s soul.

It seemed to be an ability that immobilized an opponent, but its direct effect on the soul itself was unique.

However, as Kang Yuseong read the description for Soul Collapse, he noticed a peculiar detail.

‘A linked skill?’

The description mentioned a mysterious ability, Forced Soul Transfer, as a link.

Kang Yuseong pondered its meaning, then frowned.

If his suspicion was correct…

‘Could it be?’

Connecting the characteristics and techniques of a Necromancer, he could deduce one thing.

As Soul Collapse increased in level, didn’t it imply the ability to seize the original owner’s body and implant another soul in its place?

‘Terrifying…’

Wasn’t this truly a heinous technique?

The ultimate technique, preventing even death from being an escape.

However, the cost was exorbitant.

It required a staggering 3,000 Karma Power.

The next ability was Ghost Wall.

**[Ghost Wall]**

Summons a ghost to erect a sturdy wall around the caster.

Ghost Wall reduces physical damage, absorbs magic damage, and dissipates once its duration ends.

Cannot be used simultaneously with Ghost Spear.

Ghost Wall:

Physical Damage: 15% absorbed, 20% reduced

Magic Damage: 5% absorbed, 30% reduced

Absorbed damage strengthens the Ghost Wall’s durability.

The Ghost Wall’s durability decreases in proportion to the damage mitigated.

Level 1 Ghost Wall Durability: 5,000

Level 1 Ghost Wall Duration: 300 seconds

Level 1 Ghost Wall Cooldown: 24 hours.

‘Hmm…’

If Ghost Spear was an offensive ability, Ghost Wall was a defensive one.

But Ghost Wall was just as formidable a defensive technique as Ghost Spear.

A durability of 5,000 was, by any measure, a considerable defensive power.

The Crydesicle sword Kang Yuseong currently wielded had an attack power of just over 100, meaning a simple calculation showed it could withstand 50 attacks.

Both Ghost Spear and Ghost Wall were undeniably appealing skills.

Kang Yuseong turned away from the fallen Necromancer Undertaker’s corpse.

He had come here and acquired formidable power.

How he chose to use it was now up to Kang Yuseong.

Developing skills and gaining abilities through countless battles depended entirely on his approach.

“Let’s go.”

Kang Yuseong took a large step forward and spoke.

“Blood.”

Following his resolute strides, Blood silently fell in behind him.

*** * * * *

The D-666 Dungeon.

Standing before it once more, Kang Yuseong cast a brief glance at the entrance before turning away.

Now, no exploration team that entered this place would die.

And in the distant future, countless Hunters would not fall victim to the Necromancer Undertaker.

He had, in effect, changed the future with his own hands, but Kang Yuseong decided not to dwell on it.

For him, this was the present reality.

To be faithful to the present.

That was all he would consider.

Kang Yuseong silently resumed his steps.

In an unnamed valley in Gangwon Province, only the faint whisper of the wind could be heard.

*** * * * *

“…”

In the small meeting room where the attack unit usually gathered to discuss raid strategies and formulate tactics, an unusual silence hung in the air, unlike any other time.

Some scratched the backs of their heads, while others idly tapped the innocent table. Whatever their individual reactions, they shared one common thread:

‘Bewilderment.’

“Uh… Captain.”

Among them, Jwa Myeong-hoon, whose eyes were wide with surprise, opened his mouth as he alternated glances between Captain Kang Yuseong and the figure behind him.

He pointed behind Kang Yuseong and continued,

“What… is that? It’s a little *too* realistic…”

Jwa Myeong-hoon had softened his words, unable to bring himself to utter ‘hideous’ or ‘horrifying.’

The ‘thing’ standing behind Kang Yuseong had been glaring at the Hunters with an incredibly eerie gaze ever since it appeared.

It wore a wooden helmet stained black with blood on its head, and a wooden breastplate scarred with countless blade marks on its body. Through the gaps in the armor, rotten flesh and bones were visible…

And beneath the helmet, a putrid, decaying skull.

Everyone knew Kang Yuseong was unique, but what stood behind him now was simply beyond description.

If zombies truly existed, would they look like this?

Yet, unlike the zombies in movies, its aura was so genuinely menacing that even the most seasoned Hunters flinched.

Kang Yuseong let out a small chuckle and said,

“Allow me to introduce him. This is Blood, who has become my subordinate. It’s probably best not to provoke him. He considers everyone but me an enemy.”

After forming a contract with Blood, Kang Yuseong experienced a peculiar phenomenon.

He could read its thoughts.

Its instincts, its judgments…

Everything surfaced in his mind in real-time.

– I want to kill! I want to slaughter!

As expected of a being born from dark power, its mind was filled with the instinct to simply kill everything.

It couldn’t distinguish friend from foe; it intended to attack everyone except Kang Yuseong.

But what controlled it was Kang Yuseong’s single command.

– Do not draw your sword unless I permit it.

As the command of an absolute master, it suppressed its seething bloodlust.

‘Like a dog collar.’

Could this be what a dog collar was like, wrapped around the neck of a ferocious fighting dog to control it?

And the flinching reactions of the Hunters facing Blood were quite amusing, prompting Kang Yuseong to let out a chuckle.

“Blood.”

As Kang Yuseong called its name, Blood, which had been glaring at the attack unit with crimson light blazing from its eyes, slowly adopted a stance.

“Y-yes, Lord.”

Kang Yuseong smiled gently and said,

“These are the people who will be your comrades from now on. Familiarize yourself with their faces. Don’t attack them needlessly.”

Crimson light flared in Blood’s eyes.

Its decaying snout twitched.

It seemed displeased, its attitude sullen, but it soon lowered its head.

“Yes… Lord.”

Kang Yuseong gave a wry smile.

‘Just bear with it a little longer. Your time to shine will come soon enough.’

The Second Shock.

It wasn’t far off now.

On the day that colossal impact once again engulfed Earth, everything would change anew.

And that immense chaos would become the perfect battlefield for Blood to grow.

A place dominated by blood and fear.

For that was precisely the kind of battlefield Blood loved most.

*** * * * *

Kang Yuseong prepared a dwelling for Blood in the basement of his house.

Strictly speaking, it was an undead.

Yet, it seemed to have developed an immunity to sunlight, as it showed no fear of light.

However, after about an hour, its skin was observed to melt, so Kang Yuseong created a place for Blood in the darkest possible area.

Blood also needed to eat, and its primary diet consisted of mice.

It particularly relished plump mice with vigorously beating hearts.

Its satisfied expression as it tasted fresh blood and savored the chewiness of flesh once again reminded Kang Yuseong that it was a creature of death.

However, it didn’t seem to possess the same predilection for human blood and flesh as described in legends or horror stories.

Well, he didn’t know what might happen in the future, but for now, it was quite an unusual and intriguing being.

With his consciousness shared with Blood, Kang Yuseong could move it with sheer will.

Beyond that, it could quickly grasp Kang Yuseong’s intentions and move on its own.

Kang Yuseong was satisfied with Blood’s remarkably intelligent nature and keen senses.

It was undoubtedly a being of exceptional skill even in its former life.

Kang Yuseong left Blood in the basement and departed from his house.

Since their consciousnesses were shared, leaving it alone was not an issue.

His destination was the nearby Star Pharmaceutical Company.

The very pharmaceutical company where he was the CEO.

Upon entering the company, he immediately headed for the research lab.

Today was the day.

Gil Ji-yeon’s last day.

Arriving at the research lab, he found Gil Hyeok-jun already waiting.

The man who had never once shown nervousness or wavered in the face of any monster was now pacing fretfully.

Kang Yuseong gave him a slight nod upon seeing him.

It was a gesture to reassure him.

Though Dr. Park Hyun-jong, in charge of manufacturing Gil Ji-yeon’s medicine, hadn’t yet contacted them, there was no more time to wait.

If today passed, Gil Ji-yeon would suffer irreversible after-effects forever.

Knock, knock.

After briefly calming Gil Hyeok-jun, Kang Yuseong knocked on the research lab door.

Through the large window, the interior of the lab was clearly visible.

Everyone inside was moving with frantic urgency.

The time was eight-thirty in the evening.

Gil Ji-yeon had been moved to a hospital near the pharmaceutical company.

They intended to rush there as soon as the potion was ready.

Kang Yuseong knocked, then entered the room.

“Hey, hurry up! Confirm the C-009 sample, now!”

“Bring the bodily fluid sample here!”

The research lab was a veritable battlefield.

Not only was fighting monsters in dungeons a war, but a silent war was also constantly unfolding here.

Among them, Dr. Park Hyun-jong stood with his arms crossed, gravely staring at a monitor set up in a corner of the lab. Kang Yuseong walked over and stood beside him.

“How is it coming along?”

Dr. Park Hyun-jong turned to Kang Yuseong.

He hadn’t slept a wink in days, and extreme fatigue was etched onto his face.

Yet, through that exhaustion, a faint light seemed to emanate.

A smile.

It was a smile.

“Would you like to see?”

Dr. Park Hyun-jong gestured towards the monitor.

On it, researchers in sterile suits could be seen moving quickly.

And nestled among them was…

Kang Yuseong slightly furrowed his brow.

“Is that…?”

A small vial containing a red liquid.

Dr. Park Hyun-jong replied,

“It’s the potion you requested, CEO. We’ve named it Kys-I Potion, after your initials.”

Kang Yuseong chuckled softly.

“Kys… huh?”

That was the potion that would cure Gil Ji-yeon’s illness.

The bustling researchers were seen exiting the sterile room, carrying the vial.

“Doctor.”

One of them, with a tense expression, offered the vial.

Dr. Park Hyun-jong carefully took the vial.

He meticulously examined it, then nodded and extended it to Kang Yuseong.

“Here it is. The finished product.”

Kang Yuseong accepted the potion.

This was it.

With this single item, he would gain Gil Hyeok-jun’s loyalty and cure his daughter.

“You’ve all worked hard. Thank you.”

Kang Yuseong offered a brief word of thanks and exited the lab.

Gil Hyeok-jun was standing there.

Noticing that his hands were trembling slightly, Kang Yuseong smiled at him.

“Let’s go.”

Thump.

“To cure Gil Ji-yeon, your daughter.”