Chapter 195: Trait Enhancement

Episode 195

A notification window had popped up while Kim Jinsung was busy slaughtering Guardians after entering the Tower of Trials.

The first trait he tried to enhance was ‘All-Seeing Eye’.

▷ All-Seeing Eye: Consumes the user’s lifespan to recover from status ailments and increase physical stats.

The ultimate cheat trait he had acquired by killing Shin Woong during the third round of the Colosseum preliminaries.

If he could enhance this trait and eliminate the fatal risk of consuming his lifespan, he would become practically invincible.

However…

▶ This trait is in its final form and cannot be enhanced.

Unfortunately, that was the notification he received.

‘Tsk. So there are traits that can’t be enhanced.’

He clicked his tongue in disappointment and thought about the next trait to enhance: ‘Additional Skill Slot’.

‘Ten slots are definitely not enough at this point.’

If he were still in Korea, he could have managed with ten slots, either by enhancing or combining skills. Ten slots were more than enough to conquer Korea.

But now that he was in the New Continent, where countless hunters were stronger than him, he needed more skills.

▶ You can enhance the ‘Additional Skill Slot’ trait.

▶ Enhancement will increase the number of skill slots from 10 to 25.

▶ Enhancing this trait will consume 50,000 Beast Karma Points. Would you like to proceed?

Fortunately, ‘Additional Skill Slot’ could be enhanced.

He didn’t hesitate and immediately increased his skill slots.

‘Thanks to that, I was able to use ‘Bulletproof Shield’ and other skills I acquired from killing Chano right away.’

He hadn’t been able to use those skills immediately because his skill slots were full. But with 25 slots, he now had plenty of space, and new skills were automatically added to empty slots.

It was the same now.

▶ You have defeated an evil being.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s composite trait ‘Follower of Light’.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s skill ‘Gigantification’.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s composite trait ‘Ghost Form’.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s skill ‘Genocide Arrow’.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s skill…

Countless notification windows flooded his vision.

And there wasn’t a single notification asking him to delete an existing skill to make space for a new one.

They were all being added to empty skill slots.

‘I understand most of these, but I need to check the composite traits right away.’

He already knew who had which skills from his experience in the second round.

But ‘composite traits’ could include both skills and traits, so he needed to read the descriptions carefully to understand their effects.

He opened the descriptions of the two composite traits, ‘Follower of Light’ and ‘Ghost Form’, and started reading quickly.

“This isn’t the end.”

Dumont spoke to him.

“I’ve confirmed your willingness to sever ties with the Triunfo Clan. But the most important thing is to show your loyalty to me.”

“…Should I kneel and perform the three bows and nine prostrations?”

Kim Jinsung multitasked, reading the composite trait descriptions while responding to Dumont.

Dumont shook his head.

“You don’t have to go that far. Just get a ‘Subordination Mark’ engraved on your skin.”

Subordination Mark? It was a term Kim Jinsung had never heard before.

Dumont explained,

“Those who have the ‘Subordination Mark’ engraved on their skin must obey the caster’s commands for the rest of their lives. Otherwise, the caster can kill them at will.”

“……!”

“Simply put, the caster gains control over their life. If you’ve sworn to follow me, you should be willing to do this, right?”

Dumont smiled slyly.

“Now, take off your shirt. I’ll engrave the mark in a place where it won’t be visible, so it won’t affect your public activities.”

“……”

“What are you waiting for? Take it off.”

He urged Kim Jinsung, who was standing still, unresponsive.

After a long silence, Kim Jinsung finally spoke,

“…No, I’m good.”

He closed all the notification windows.

Dumont raised an eyebrow.

“Are you refusing to get the mark? Then you’ll die here.”

“I actually thought about it.”

Kim Jinsung answered honestly.

“I had a way to remove the mark even if you engraved it.”

“…What?”

Dumont looked at him in disbelief.

The only way to remove a ‘Subordination Mark’, as far as he knew, was for the caster to retrieve it. There was no way for the victim to remove it themselves.

But Kim Jinsung wasn’t lying.

‘I can either use Nullification to remove it, or just cut off the part of my body where it’s engraved.’

Even if the mark was engraved on his heart or brain, it didn’t matter. He had the ‘Living Zombie’ trait from Karen, which made him immune to fatal injuries.

“But I found a better way.”

He stretched out his hands and gathered all his Mana.

‘I’m not sure if this will work…’

He channeled different types of Mana into each hand, feeling a bit apprehensive.

The Mana started to form spheres in his palms, and

‘Success!’

His face brightened as he saw the colors of the Mana in his palms.

His attempt to combine different types of Mana had succeeded.

Dumont’s eyes widened as he saw the colors of the Mana in Kim Jinsung’s palms.

“…Don’t tell me!”

A thought flashed through his mind.

He reacted instantly.

“Everyone, run!”

He shouted at his subordinates, but it was too late.

**Boooom!**

A powerful explosion erupted, centered around Kim Jinsung.

The force of the explosion was immense.

The thick, sturdy dungeon walls crumbled, unable to withstand the blast.

Dumont’s roots, which had been embedded in the walls, turned to ash.

The ceiling collapsed, revealing the sky.

The explosion, which had practically demolished the entire building, finally subsided.

“Wow…”

Kim Jinsung, who had caused the explosion, looked around in awe.

Most of his clones and the FCC Clan members were gone, not even their bodies remaining. The explosion had been that powerful.

“…Ugh…”

Victor, the Team 2 leader, was the only one who seemed to have survived, lying on the ground, covered in blood, unable to move.

“I knew the explosion would be strong, but I didn’t expect it to be this powerful.”

He muttered to himself and looked down.

The thick, sturdy dungeon floor was caved in, as if a giant meteor had struck it.

The core, where Dumont’s main body was located, was exposed.

“…Cough! Ugh…!”

Dumont, inside the core, was bleeding from every orifice.

He looked up at Kim Jinsung with difficulty and gasped,

“H-how…?”

“You’re asking how I created the Incrucio phenomenon?”

Kim Jinsung answered honestly.

“I witnessed it once before. The Demonic Energy from a demon world dungeon clashed with the Heavenly Energy from the Tower of Trials, creating a massive explosion.”

He still vividly remembered the giant ‘Incrucio’ phenomenon that had engulfed more than half of Cascara Island, where the Colosseum finals had been held.

“I tried to replicate it. But I didn’t expect it to be this powerful.”

“What do you… mean…?”

Dumont stammered, his face contorted with disbelief.

He knew about the Incrucio phenomenon. That was why he had ordered his subordinates to flee when he sensed danger.

But the Incrucio phenomenon only occurred when Heavenly Energy and Demonic Energy clashed, right?

Then, could it be…

“You… Demonic Energy…?”

“That’s enough.”

Kim Jinsung cut him off and started gathering Mana in his palms again.

Demonic Energy in his right hand, and Heavenly Energy, the ability he had acquired from Juan, in his left hand.

“Thank you. I’ll put your ability to good use.”

He combined the Mana in his palms.

“Wait…!”

Dumont shouted desperately, but it was too late.

**Boooom!**

* * *

▶ You have defeated an evil being.

▶ Acquired 580 Beast Karma Points.

▶ Acquired the opponent’s composite trait ‘Creep Router’.

▷ Creep Router: Grants the following traits and permanently stored skills:

Creeping: Burrow into the designated ground and take root inside a core covered in a hard shell. Roots rapidly spread from the core, covering the surrounding area.

The ‘Creeping’ area allows for unlimited Mana usage and doubles the effectiveness of all plant-related abilities. The following attacks are also available:

1. Clone Creation: Summon clones with the same abilities as yourself within the ‘Creeping’ area. Clones rapidly decay and disappear upon death.

2. Creep Spike: Extend roots and vines within the ‘Creeping’ area to launch physical attacks.

3. Pollen Dispersion: Disperse the following status ailment pollen within the ‘Creeping’ area:

※ Blinding Pollen

※ Sleeping Pollen

※ Poison Pollen

※ Petrifying Pollen

4. Solar Beam: Gather the power of all plants within the ‘Creeping’ area and fire a powerful laser beam. Deals over 1500% damage to enemies. 5-minute cooldown.

‘…That’s a long description.’

He finished reading and closed the notification window.

‘This ability is all about choosing the right location.’

As Dumont had said, the destructive power of this ability varied greatly depending on where he ‘Creeped’.

‘It’ll be incredibly powerful if I choose the right location.’

The fact that it allowed for unlimited Mana usage alone made it a valuable ability.

And considering that clan battles usually took place in predetermined locations, the weakness of ‘Creep Router’ might not be that significant.

‘Anyway, I need to escape now…’

He looked towards the temple where Melahel, the final boss, was located.

The building had completely collapsed, so he had a clear view of the temple.

He saw a small white portal forming behind Melahel.

He watched the portal grow larger and realized,

‘Someone is creating the exit portal.’

—