Kang-jun asked her,
Does the strengthening of my wings hurt you that much?
Bah! My stomach hurts! What are you looking at?
That’s what I wanted to ask you.
Heksia blew smoke out and looked at Kang-jun.
Yes. Honestly, it hurts.
I didn’t fail once but twice, so why are you hurting?
I failed more than 20 times. It took me precisely 24 times to successfully strengthen it to Stage 4.
……!
Kang-jun thought he heard wrongly. She took 24 tries to successfully reach Stage 4.
Then that means you failed 23 times?
Of course, I am a rare case. Usually, most people successfully reach Stage 4 on the 10th attempt. It is very rare for someone to be as unlucky as me. Yet you said that it only took you three times?
Heksia made an extremely hateful expression but Kang-jun just shrugged. Heksia stared at Kang-jun.
Change your position and think about it. What if you had barely succeeded in 24 attempts while I only took three tries?
I would burst.
Yes and I don’t have the Wings of Chaos like you. I have the Wings of Enchantment. I can only fill the power of the wings with the Essence of Enchantment. The Essence of Enchantment is difficult to obtain because the dimensional merchants don’t deal with large quantities.
Just listening made him feel bleak. Not only did the Essence of Enchantment not appear often, but he would want to rip off his wings if he failed 23 times.
Kang-jun might have really done that if he was in this situation. Heksia seemed to be having a mental breakdown as she held the cigarette.
She then spoke with a sulky expression.
But Stage 5 is worse. So far, I have tried it 36 times and still failed.
36 times!
Kang-jun’s mouth dropped open. Heksia laughed bitterly.
I’ve virtually given up. I’ve filled up the power of the wings again but I haven’t attempted to upgrade it. That is why I want a heart.
Why do you want a heart?
A heart will strengthen the odds of an upgrade succeeding.
A lord’s heart had such a purpose?
Is that really the case?
I’ve been hearing this for a long time but I didn’t actually believe it. However, one of the army commanders I know just recently succeeded in strengthening it to Stage 5. I heard he used one heart and 1,000 moonstones before strengthening.
The heart and moonstones were used as sacrifices.
Yes. I’ve collected the moonstones so I just need a heart.
Heksia seemed to believe it. Kang-jun made a confused sound.
‘Does it really work?’
In a game, there would be all sorts of buffs and potions that could be used. It was strengthen the probability of an upgrade succeeding.
However, it might only be a misunderstanding and have nothing to do with the wings upgrade succeeding.
It might just be due to luck.
Still, he decided to keep his eyes open.
If Heksia’s words were true, then he would have to collect more moonstones in the future.
Heksia stared at Kang-jun.
Lucan! Perhaps you are lucky enough to get a heart. If you bring it to me, I will seriously consider your offer.
Really?
It must be a pure heart that has never been mounted to a skill. That is the only way it will work.
Heksia said with a serious voice.
Kang-jun’s eyes widened with surprise.
According to Heksia’s words, if he brought her a heart, she would join his household members.
However, it needed to be a pure heart that hadn’t been mounted on a skill.
Of course, he didn’t want to remove a heart that was already attached to his skill.
It was because the power of his enhanced skills would be greatly reduced when the hearts were removed.
It was silly when he needed to go to the Bloody Battlefield.
Heksia, I will get you a heart. Don’t forget your promise.
Of course.
Heksia flicked her hair and laughed. She still had the cigarette in her mouth but her face was brighter than before.
Chuuuot!
Then the magic circle shone and someone appeared.
It was Commander Grania from the 438th Army. She turned to Kang-jun and shook his hands.
You’re here, Lucan.
The last time, she had left after Kang-jun offended her. However, now it seemed like her attitude had returned to normal.
Kang-jun smiled at her.
I thought you didn’t want to see my face for a while but it is good.
Did you come to see me?
Of course. I am interested in you.
Grania scoffed at Kang-jun.
Bah! What? Are you talking about that again? You still haven’t given up.
I won’t give up.
Okay, then win against me.
Huh?
Kang-jun stared at Grania with amazement.
I don’t want a lord weaker than I am.
Lucan, if you defeat me, I will consider your offer seriously.
If he won the duel, she would become his household member.
Okay. Then shall we move to the training room?
Kang-jun nodded easily.
Of course, he wasn’t sure that he could defeat her.
He just had to see the results once.
If he defeated her, she would join him. If he lost, he could see how lacking he was compared to her.
He would raise his level on the Bloody Battlefield and keep on challenging until he won.
However, Grania’s eyes widened with surprise when Kang-jun wanted to fight immediately. She thought that Kang-jun would avoid a duel.
Heh, I like that attitude. However, I am a little busy today, so we will duel next time. Heksia, please come help me. I need your help because the battle is a little heated.
Yes.
Heksia nodded.
So, I will defeat you next time, Lucan!
Don’t forget the heart.
They entered the magic circle and disappeared.
Kang-jun smiled.
‘Good.’
Heksia would join him if he brought her a heart and with Grania, he needed to defeat her in a duel.
He just wasn’t sure if he would win in a duel with Grania.
There was no guarantee of victory, so he needed to raise his level as much as possible.
He stopped at the Defense Army’s headquarters and headed for the Bloody Battlefield.
After a few moments, he arrived on the Bloody Battlefield.
When Kang-jun appeared at the magic circle that signified the safety zone, Andras and Agnus approached him. They instantly welcomed Lucan.
Lucan! You did well. Would you like to move in a party with us?
Agnus was the one who offered. She had created a party with Andras, Damas and Fade.
Kang-jun shook his head.
I’m sorry but I’m more comfortable alone.
Then it can’t be helped.
Agnus was disappointed but she didn’t offer twice.
Then we’ll be going first.
Be careful.
You too.
Agnus and the others spread their wings open and soared up.
‘They still haven’t given up.’
Kang-jun thought that Agnus and the others wouldn’t come back here.
However, they showed up today.
The rewards were too attractive so they couldn’t give up.
‘Then shall I go as well?’
Kang-jun flew upwards immediately.
The Bloody Battlefield was an autonomous battle system.
Sometimes the top 12 army commanders would cooperate if there was an operation, but most times it required facing the enemy alone.
Of course, it might be a good idea to move in a team. However, Kang-jun was more comfortable alone.
Hwiiik!
As he drifted on the winds for a while, he could see Agnus, Andras and the others fighting a group of monsters.
Other army commanders and soldiers were in the area, so it was a fairly safe place.
If the need arose, they could then retreat from the monsters.
However, Kang-jun flew further away from them.
He stopped when there didn’t seem to be any allies in the area.
‘I will stop here today.’
He couldn’t go too deeply into enemy territory just yet.
It was too dangerous.
His greed would be in vain if he was surrounded by enemies and killed.
Kang-jun looked at the forest below him. There was a shining hole between the monsters.
It was one of the Aoks that he saw yesterday.
‘That’s great. I’ll have to get rid of the monsters to open the Aok.’
He was glad that there weren’t any lord level monsters nearby, just middle-sized ones.
As soon as Kang-jun descended towards the forest, the monsters headed towards him.
Kikikiki!
Kukukuk!
Monsters with body armour!
Bones could be seen through the armour!
‘They are skeletons.’
The bones were surrounded by a bloody aura.
They weren’t the usual undead, but skeleton warriors with a very strong combat power.
However, they fell down helplessly when Kang-jun swung his sword.
Pak!
Papak!
One by one, they collapsed. There was no need to use a skill as dozens of skeletons were turned into dust.
His damage had increased significantly due to his wings reaching Stage 4.
In no time at all, he could no longer see any skeletons in the vicinity.
‘It was so simple.’
It was the feeling of a high level person massacring low level monsters.
The experience wasn’t very good but he was glad when one achievement point was received.
[Will you open the Aok? Yes/No]
‘Yes!’
Kang-jun opened the Aok and entered.
Unlike the place where Sud was, this prison was quite large.
It was an open space. There was a well in the centre and a hut-like house on one side.
However, the well had dried up.
There was also nothing when he looked inside the house.
There were just unknown letters written on the dirty floor.
(Lord, the one in here is dead.)
The demon Sud spoke. He was also searching the Aok from Kang-jun’s shadows.
Dead?
(Yes, I can tell by looking at the Aok prison. They were unable to stand the loneliness and killed themselves. The remains are so completely destroyed that even the ashes don’t remain. It isn’t uncommon in Aoks.)
I see.
Kang-jun nodded.
He had already heard it from Keirun.
There were many cases where an Aok might be empty.
It can’t be helped. We have to go.
It was at that moment…
(Lord, wait a minute. There seems to be something buried under the ground.)
Sud exclaimed hurriedly.
Then search for it slowly.
It was like when he had found the Essence of Darkness. Kang-jun didn’t leave and waited.
Then a message emerged immediately.
[Sud has discovered a Dimensional Piece in the Aok.]
‘Dimensional Piece?’
This was what he used to create the Dimensional Shelter.
It was the gem stuck in the ring that Naga Queen Melinad had been wearing.
He didn’t think such a rare item would be found here.
(Lord! A Dimensional Piece. It was hidden but it looks like my senses aren’t rusty.)
Well done. Thanks for the trouble.
Kang-jun was in a good mood. Entering this Aok hadn’t been a waste.
However, there was a 10-meter tall monster waiting for Kang-jun after he exited the Aok.
Kukukuku!
Those blazing eyes. Bloody bones were visible through the flashing black armour.
‘Skeleton?’
He was clearly the lord of the skeletons from earlier.
Kukuku! I heard that someone had boldly entered my realm alone.
The skeleton lord’s hands were holding a giant shield and sword.
Swiik!
Sswik!
The sword was at least four meters long and aimed at him. Kang-jun avoided it lightly and attacked the skeleton lord’s body.
‘Heavenly Cut!’
Flash – Paak!
Nevertheless, the breastplate of the skeleton lord wasn’t even dented.
Kukuku! It is no use. Nothing can penetrate my magic armour.
The skeleton lord laughed and moved his shield.
Bam!
Ugh!
The shield moved at a tremendous speed but Kang-jun blocked it with his sword.
Kang-jun was pushed back.
However, he flew forward like the wind and swung his sword.
‘Heavenly Cut!’
Flash!
The skeleton lord blocked it with his shield.
Kakakaang!
Kang-jun aimed the skill at a gap in the skeleton lord’s torso.
Paak!
However, it only left a little bit of imperfection in the skeleton lord’s breastplate.
‘Damn!’
It was impossible to win against the skeleton lord even if he aimed precisely at the gap.
‘Okay. Then I should try it once.’
An intense light shone in Kang-jun’s eyes.
‘Will to Fight!’
It was the skill that awakened when Wings of Chao reached Stage 4 and it had the effect of ignoring the opponent’s defense.
Kang-jun avoided the skeleton lord’s sword and once again used a skill.
‘Heavenly Cut!’
Flash!
Kwaang!
At that moment, a loud sound rang in his eardrums. The skeleton lord was pushed backwards and fell down.
