〈 Preparation for War (3) 〉
Unique skill “Avatar”.
An ability that allows you to create and operate an alter ego identical to yourself.
It was the beginning and end of Han Seong-hyun’s ability that made me who I am today.
‘What would have happened if my unique skill had been different… It’s dizzying to think about it now.’
If that were the case, then of course there would not have been the explosive karma points gained in the beginning, and the person would have been thrown defenselessly into another world without being able to properly control his mind due to the trauma.
Perhaps he died alone, shivering, unable to leave the forest, let alone reach the village that was the den of warlocks.
‘I never thought I would end up like this.’
Thinking about that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
A coward who was afraid of the outside world can now not only go out as he pleases, but has also become the nucleus of a storm that attracts worldwide attention.
No, when I thought about it, even that was a humble expression.
In another dimension, Outerica, didn’t he become a huge tycoon who could control the world according to his will?
‘And that’s while I’m locked in a safe place.’
I shrugged, taking a cool drink straight out of the refrigerator.
Actually, that part was the biggest point.
I am confident that no matter what I have done so far and no matter what accidents happen in the future, Han Seong-hyun will be absolutely safe.
That was the source of my confidence, which has not changed much from the beginning until now.
‘It helped me a lot in making a cool-headed judgment on the situation I was facing.’
Because I had that advantage, I was able to push through any difficulties without flinching and achieve the results I wanted.
Even if an unmanageable crisis came, there was always a last resort left, so there was no need to be afraid of anything.
“Whoa, I’m getting sentimental for no reason.”
That skill is now about to grow to another level.
Due to excessive growth, strengthening was blocked for a while, but the growth of Heinz II may have been an opportunity.
In any case, it was a good news that came at the right moment for me, who was about to face a big fight.
“Let’s see then…”
After calming down, I sat down on the massage chair and opened the system window as usual.
Then, the items I had become accustomed to seeing every day began to unfold before my eyes again.
『Karma Store Ver.2』
『Unique Skill Enhancement (1500000)』
『Other Skill Enhancement – View Details』
『Status Enhancement – View Details』
『Purchase Items – View Details』
『VIP Market – View Details』
『Dimension Barrier Relief (6000000) )』
『Holding Karma – 4691326』
Among the many phrases, the first thing I checked was, of course, ‘Holding Karma’.
Before we know it, the number has already surpassed 4 million and is approaching 5 million.
I nodded in satisfaction, feeling full just by looking at the ample balance that filled my heart with abundance.
‘I can’t believe it’s already this much, even though a considerable amount continues to escape periodically.’
After confirming the effectiveness of 『Elixir of Growth (7 Days) (200000)』, which can be purchased from the VIP Market, the cost to purchase it has already become a fixed expense for a long time.
Moreover, what more can I say since it is now often used not only by latecomers such as Hesperon and Howard Horus, but also by proven strong players such as Heinz II and Heinrich.
‘In addition, acquiring rare materials that are not easily available also contributed to the expenses, albeit in a small way.’
Nevertheless, the karma that was constantly being sucked in was steadily increasing the balance, as if it had been worthwhile to stick straws all over Outerica.
When I captured the revolutionary giant in Tarak, I received nearly 2 million points at once.
It was literally a strong vegetable garden itself.
‘…Yes, we can’t let that bastard ruin this bonanza.’
When I faced that shame, my motivation surged like wildfire again.
Even if all of Outerica’s power was mobilized in the process of responding to the bastard, this side would have no choice but to step forward in the end, so the karma points that could strengthen oneself had to be military funds more than anything else.
‘There’s no need to hesitate after coming this far. First, let’s start with strengthening the unique skills we’ve been waiting for.’
The points needed for that are 1.5 million.
But to me now, it was just a minor thing.
Zing—
As I selected the item without hesitation, my nerves became sharp along with a familiar headache, and my cognitive field began to expand.
“Hmm.”
After the pain that even “Mind Herb” could not filter out passed.
I took a deep breath, gathered my senses that were different from before, and checked the message that appeared before my eyes.
《The effect of abilities derived from unique skills further increases and the area where an avatar can be summoned expands.》
《Unique skills grow and possibilities bloom. Acquire the special skill “Individual Gathering.”
The first was strengthening existing abilities.
Starting with 「Mind Herb」 and 「Soul Firewall」, the efficiency of all additional skills obtained by strengthening unique skills has been improved and performance has increased.
In addition, the range of remote summoning that was obtained not long ago has doubled from a radius of about 30 kilometers to about 60 kilometers.
‘…not bad. Now, not only the center of Seoul but also Incheon International Airport and most of Gyeonggi Province will be within range.’
But that was just a small beginning.
The real thing was “Individual Gathering,” a new skill created with reinforcement.
As expected, it evolves in the direction that users need, and it has the performance to excellently meet the expectations I had in mind.
‘I couldn’t believe it, but it’s really Assemble!’
A skill that brings together other clones around a specific entity.
For me, it was a simple but extremely effective ability.
With this skill, there was no need to waste time and effort moving the avatars using all kinds of means.
Even if there is only one entity on the scene, the magic of turning a 1-to-1 situation into a 1-to-many situation occurs in the blink of an eye!
‘…This is the ability most needed in the current situation. With this, you can now operate your avatar more freely. It still takes a bit of cooldown time, but…’
That was a problem that could be solved as long as you accumulated proficiency.
If you wanted to save time, there were other ways.
Soon, as I was contemplating how best to use “Individual Gathering,” my eyes turned to “Other Skill Strengthening.”
‘Because you can strengthen other skills with that.’
Starting with “Mind Herb,” I was able to strengthen avatar-based skills such as “Object Gathering,” which I just obtained, as well as general skills such as “Super Recovery” and “Xenogloss.”
‘The skills that each individual possessed were not applicable, so I had only tasted them little by little until now…’
Now was not the time to save karma.
This is a situation where you have to do everything you can to increase your chances of winning even a little.
There were still 3.2 million points left, so no matter where or how you invested, you would see significant results.
‘It’s not a bad choice to further strengthen the status… huh?’
But while I was looking through the system window like that.
My eyes naturally frowned as I faced a change that I couldn’t just ignore for a moment.
『Unique Skill Enhancement (2000000)』
The figure for that item, which had been steadily increasing by 100,000 units, suddenly increased by 500,000.
What was 1.5 million just a little while ago now jumps to 2 million at once?
‘Are you doing business just because it sells well?’
What kind of explosion is this, such inflation all of a sudden?
I couldn’t use it right away because of the strengthening restrictions again, but I couldn’t help but feel sick when I saw the price rise so sharply.
‘…Tsk, I can’t help it. But that doesn’t mean I can do anything.’
After glaring at it for a moment, I eventually shook my head and forced myself to look away.
There were still several ways to use the remaining points.
Strengthening your status, strengthening other skills, purchasing ultra-expensive items, or…
『Random guitar skill acquisition (500000)』
There might be a way to try your luck.
“…Let’s try it again this time.”
Unlike what I regretted immediately after acquiring the “Xenoglossy” I obtained through that, it was a more useful ability than I thought.
If I didn’t have that skill, I would have faced many limitations while working.
As expected, drawing that lottery that day must have been prescient.
‘So one more time!’
So, with faith and trust, I chose the item without hesitation and—.
《Force random possibilities to bloom. Acquire the skill “Strongness.”
Immediately afterwards, I closed my eyes and sank as the window appeared.
‘Now that I think about it…’
After the Karma Store was upgraded to Ver.2.
There was something that came to mind before using that random draw for the first time.
Since multiple avatars share skills, the actual price is less than 50,000, and even if a skill like “Strongness” appears, it will be okay because it will be helpful in some way as long as you have it.
And right after that, after picking up “Xenoglossy,” I promised myself that I would never touch gambling again.
‘…Is this a double-track recovery?’
I opened my eyes again, feeling that several avatars who had shared “strongness” were completely absorbing it.
It wasn’t a bad thing since it was nourishment for avatars who already had higher abilities that increased the durability of their bodies, but…
‘It’s a strange feeling.’
The remaining points are approximately 2.7 million.
As expected, it would be a good idea to invest in strengthening status and other skills.
‘Something doesn’t seem right today. Let’s try this again next time. Next time…’
It was sad, but I couldn’t say I wouldn’t do it again, even with empty words.
Once you start, you have to get your money back.
***
Bucharest, Romania.
A private room that was originally decorated in an old-fashioned way, but has now become a mess with all kinds of junk in just a few days.
“Hmmmm~ It looks like they absorbed Gomorrah without killing the beast this time. Just like during the previous tyrant. “This is very interesting!”
There, the doctor who had just finished reading the report shook his messy beard and tilted his head.
The duke did not take the other person seriously, but as a researcher, he was sensitive to even minor variables and had been receiving and analyzing information in real time since the Phantom appeared in Europe.
Since this incident did not go as he expected from beginning to end, he had no choice but to react more sensitively.
“Of course, there are degrees of things that go beyond expectations… They came all the way to Europe and didn’t even enjoy the dinner they prepared for them. They were just playing power games. Besides, I don’t know what they were thinking when following the Phantom.”
Normally, I would have enjoyed feasting to my heart’s content by now and come here on my own.
As someone who did not know about Heinz II’s “purified blood purification” and “mixed blood evolution,” he could not help but understand his actions and their results.
“Ugh? aha! Actually, the reason he was selected as a test subject in the first place was because of his specialness! If everything had gone as planned, it wouldn’t have been worth the experiment! “Me too, wow!”
The doctor mumbles to himself like that, then slaps his forehead and bursts into laughter.
As he said, this is a phantom… No, it was an operation planned immediately after receiving information that a vampire named Heinz was fine even after preying on his own kind.
In order to minimize variables, they even went to the trouble of luring the target to Europe, out of the reach of Hahoetal, who was a hindrance at every turn.
“But if I had gotten more blood from the duke back then, I could have done it more reliably! “Wow, it seems like a bit of a bitch.”
At that moment, the doctor suddenly stopped laughing and this time pouted his lips in dissatisfaction.
He was able to do this thanks to the slight concessions made by the Duke, whose blood was power itself, but such circumstances were none of his business to him, who was the embodiment of selfishness full of greed.
“Ah, I hope you come quickly! “I’ve prepared a lot of surprise gifts! When are you coming? Come quickly!”
Now, he is a middle-aged man with gray-brown hair who has started whining like a young child.
Surprisingly, this dirty and crazy man was one of the highest commanding officers of the Buncheon Society, the largest secret organization on Earth.
But did his wish reach the sky?
Inside the plane that had just entered Romanian airspace.
There was one person stowaway inside without anyone knowing.
The very next day after taking over Gomorrah, an Italian vampire clan.
Heinz II—Phantom enters Romania.