Chapter 42: Power Enhancement (1)

Two weeks after the incident ended.

Life had been quite smooth during that time.

The survivors at Kangil Girls’ High School began hunting zombies and steadily expanded their safe zone.

The same was true for Ha-eun’s group.

Contrary to initial concerns, there had been no conflicts between the two groups.

‘Well, it could be because their areas of activity are different to begin with.’

In any case, it’s good that there are no disputes.

Han-seong then looked at the map.

Now a 1km radius around the officetel had become a perfect safe zone. After all, not a single zombie existed there.

But this also created a problem.

The effective range of his skills was starting to become barely sufficient.

‘For efficient hunting…’

Setting up temporary bases as much as possible and expanding the range of activity would be the best option. Apart from this, the overall situation was favorable.

However, there was a separate concern.

The speed of leveling up had noticeably slowed down after level 40.

Han-seong sighed and moved his lips.

“Status.”

[Name]: Kang Han-seong

Job: Remote Support Mage

[Tier]: 3rd Tier (32.15%)

Han-seong was currently level 43.

Until level 40, he had leveled up at least once a day at the very least. After all, the number of zombies he hunted daily reached several thousand.

‘On the other hand, now…’

He leveled up about once every three or four days.

One might think he was hunting fewer zombies, but that wasn’t the case. In fact, the number he eliminated had increased significantly.

When he set up a temporary base in the densely populated Gangnam area, there were times when he hunted over 10,000 zombies in a day.

‘Moreover, the experience from the zombies hunted by the Collector is also fully transferred to me.’

Considering this, it could be said that the speed of accumulating experience had definitely slowed down compared to before.

And one more thing.

A new concern had arisen.

[You are approaching the level limit.]

[Maximum limit: Level 45]

[Grade promotion is required.]

A notification that suddenly appeared this morning.

It meant that level 45 was the maximum with the current grade, and promotion was needed to level up beyond that.

Han-seong was quite taken aback, not expecting there to be a restriction on level achievement.

“…Did I level up too quickly?”

To be honest, it did feel that way.

From what he had gathered, the average level of the survivors at Kangil Girls’ High School was 15. The highest level among them was 20.

Not even half of Han-seong’s level.

And among all the surrounding survivors, the one with the highest level after Han-seong was Seo Ha-eun, but even she was only level 23.

‘But I can’t just stop.’

First, I need to find a way to promote.

That would remove the level limit and also expand the observation range of Open Map.

As Han-seong pondered, he entered the Information Strategy Board of the auction house to look for related posts.

‘Let’s see.’

As nearly two months had passed since the Upheaval, quite a few survivors had reached 3-star rank. Thanks to this, many posts were being uploaded.

While scrolling through various posts, he found one that caught his interest. It was a post about the average level Han-seong had just been thinking about.

[Title]: What level is everyone at now?

Author: Gold Rush

Residence: South Africa

▷There are no survivors around here except me, so I don’t know what level everyone else is. If you see this post, please leave a comment. I’m asking for a favor.

What kind of job is Miner?

It doesn’t seem to be a combat-related class. Is it a production class like Alchemist? With such curiosity, he looked at the comments.

To check the average level worldwide.

↳ I’m also level 19. My job is Hunter.

↳ I’m level 20.

↳ Still level 17. Might level up tomorrow?

↳ I’m level 5.

↳ Level 5? lolololol

↳ Are you living in some mountain valley?

After examining all the hundreds of comments, he could see that the levels of survivors were generally around level 18.

For survivors actively hunting zombies, it was over level 20, and the highest level among them was 25.

‘There’s not a single person above level 40.’

Not even level 30 was visible.

Of course, some might not have left comments or deliberately lied about their levels, but judging from the reactions, the average seemed to be around level 18.

After examining all the comments, he returned to the post list. To find posts related to promotion, which was his original purpose.

Some time later.

‘Found it.’

Someone with the same concerns as him.

Han-seong touched the post.

[Title]: Rank Experience Issue After 3-Star Rank

Job: Crow Shaman

▷Since reaching 3-star rank, the speed of accumulating Rank Experience has decreased to about 1/10. Is everyone in a similar situation?

↳ Yeah. It’s the same for everyone.

↳ Seems to accumulate about 1% per day lol

↳ Real-life shitty game level;;

↳ But what kind of job is Crow Shaman?

He thoroughly examined the post and comments but couldn’t find anything helpful. Everyone just complained about Rank Experience not accumulating.

‘Is there really no way?’

Is accumulating experience like this the best option?

A sigh escaped involuntarily due to the frustrating feeling.

No, come to think of it, it’s not that there’s absolutely no way. There is one place left where he could pin his hopes.

‘The Mage’s Tower.’

The qualification to enter the Mage’s Tower given as a reward for clearing the job quest. The Mage’s Tower mentioned here is truly an unknown realm.

Because we don’t know what’s inside the tower, we can finally have hope. Maybe we’ll really find clues about promotion.

‘…Just one more.’

If he subjugates one more elite monster, the quest completion conditions will be met. As Han-seong’s eyes were burning with motivation,

-Mage-nim, the hunt is over.

Suddenly, Jihye’s whisper was heard.

Currently, she was out hunting zombies with the Collector in the direction of Gangnam.

Jihye started hunting ten days ago. The reason was that it was more efficient than accumulating experience through potion crafting.

-I’ve also gathered plenty of zombie corpses, so I’ll be returning to the officetel soon.

Jihye was not only hunting zombies but also tasked with transporting corpses into the Collector’s pouch.

The reason was only one.

To use the rotten blood of zombie corpses as food for the Vampire Tree. Han-seong stared intently at the flowerpot placed in the corner of the room.

[Name]: Vampire Tree Sapling

[Current Stage]: 9/9 stages

‘It took a little longer than expected.’

The amount of blood required, which was only 300 liters at stage 5, suddenly jumped to thousands from stage 7.

The amount of blood in an adult is about 7-8% of their total body weight. Of course, this only applies to people who are perfectly alive.

The zombies seemed to have less blood than expected, perhaps because time had passed since they died. So much more corpses were needed than simple calculations suggested.

‘Moreover, zombies killed by my skills can’t be drained of blood…’

Han-seong’s skills are generally very powerful.

The only skills that can recover corpses intact are Magic Arrow and Wind Cutter. The rest damage the corpses beyond recognition.

In the end, corpses that could be drained of blood could only be obtained through Jihye and the Collector.

‘Anyway, the hard work is over now.’

Since we’re on the verge of achieving the goal.

As he was smiling with anticipation,

“Mage-nim. I’m coming in.”

Jihye had arrived.

Opening the door and entering, she immediately pointed at the Vampire Tree sapling.

“Should I move that outside?”

“Yes, please.”

It’s just a 2-meter sapling now, but we don’t know how it will change when the growth conditions are completed.

There was a possibility that something like the Vampire Tree pillar in Ttukseom Park might grow, so he wanted to move the flowerpot outside the officetel.

After completing her task, Jihye returned.

“Then let’s begin.”

“Yes, Mage-nim.”

Jihye answered with a tense face.

Han-seong controlled the Collector to squeeze zombie corpses and collect the rotten blood. Then he poured this onto the Vampire Tree sapling several times.

How much time had passed like that?

The awaited notification appeared.

[All conditions have been satisfied.]

[The Vampire Tree will transform into an adult.]

Crack! Crunch!

Simultaneously, the flowerpot broke.

Thick roots spreading in all directions.

It drove its roots into the ground within a hundred-meter radius around the officetel. Then it began to grow at an unbelievable speed.

Creak! Crackle!

It was the moment Han-seong’s prediction came true.

The growing Vampire Tree became larger than the officetel. The fortunate thing was that it only grew slightly larger than the officetel.

‘This size is just right.’

If it had grown any larger, it would have been unmanageable.

In the worst case, the officetel might have collapsed. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Meanwhile, the Vampire Tree, having completed its growth, pulled out vines and wrapped them tightly around the officetel. Some of them came right up to Han-seong’s face through the window.

Then a new notification appeared.

[The Vampire Tree and Blood Imprint resonate.]

[Do you want to proceed with synchronization?]

‘Synchronization means…’

Isn’t this the process we went through when Jihye turned into a vampire? Then I’ll probably need to give blood like last time.

“Jihye. Do you happen to have a knife or something?”

“Huh? Why suddenly…?”

“It’s not for anything else…”

Han-seong explained the situation.

A moment later, Jihye nodded as if understanding the situation. Then she suddenly opened her mouth and tapped her sharp canine teeth.

“Couldn’t we use this?”

“Oh, that’s…”

After pondering, Han-seong held out his forearm.

It was also time to give blood to Jihye anyway. Rolling up his sleeve and revealing his pale bare skin, he smiled awkwardly.

“Please be gentle.”

“Yes, just trust me!”

After giving an enthusiastic answer.

Jihye opened her mouth and bit into his forearm.

‘Oh? Surprisingly…’

It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought?

If I had to describe the pain, it’s similar to being pricked by a blood donation needle.

Meanwhile, Jihye sucked out her share of blood and swallowed one gulp. Then she sucked out blood for the Vampire Tree and spat it into Han-seong’s palm.

“Is this amount enough?”

“Yes, it should be sufficient.”

Fortunately, the bleeding stopped quickly.

According to Jihye’s explanation, vampire saliva has the ability to heal wounds.

Putting aside this newly learned fact, Han-seong dropped the blood onto the Vampire Tree’s vine.

Drip! Drop!

As a few drops of blood wet the vine.

Synchronization began immediately.

[Synchronization with the Vampire Tree begins.]

[Time remaining until completion]: 9 minutes 59 seconds

▷Synchronization is only performed once initially.

▷Once synchronization begins, the vassal cannot move their body until it is complete.

A familiar message he had seen before.

Since the Vampire Tree is also a vampire race, it should be possible to make it a vassal using Blood Imprint.

But there was one question.

‘The cooldown.’

Blood Imprint has a cooldown of 180 days. The problem is that it hasn’t even been a month since Jihye was made a vassal.

So what happens in this case?

Han-seong waited for the synchronization to end with curious eyes. And after a while.

[Synchronization is complete.]

[Blood Imprint: Activated]

[Remaining cooldown: 160 days]

-Due to the influence of the cooldown, a temporary vassal contract is made, and it will be promoted to a formal vassal when the cooldown resets.

▷Blood Master: [Kang Han-seong]

▶Temporary Vassal: [Vampire Tree]

‘Ah, so there’s such a thing as a temporary vassal.’

Well, as long as I can use it as a subordinate, it’s welcome. Han-seong approved the temporary vassal contract with the Vampire Tree. Then soon, along with the contract completion notification, its status was revealed.

[Temporary Vassal: Vampire Tree (Lv.30)]

▷Grade: Champion

▷Status: Very Hungry

▶Owned Skills: Mana Detection, Vampiric Thorns, Ambush, Independence, Proliferation, Division, Skill Analysis

▶Locked Skills: Parasitic Sporeworm, Emergency Muster, Myriad Flower Rain, Colony Management

The Vampire Tree’s level was the same as when Han-seong had faced it in the past. One peculiar thing was that some of the skills were in a locked state.

‘Is it because it’s a temporary vassal?’

Then it should be resolved when the cooldown on Blood Imprint resets. Han-seong decided not to worry too much about it.

‘It’s a bit different from Replica.’

Unlike the Collector, which can be divided into automatic and manual modes and can be directly controlled by Han-seong, the Vampire Tree couldn’t be operated in manual mode.

Probably because it’s in the same vassal position as Jihye. Then how should he order skill activation? Just say it?

After pondering, Han-seong opened his mouth.

“Would you like to use the Independence skill?”

No sooner had his words ended.

One of the Vampire Tree’s roots that had taken root near the officetel separated.

A moving root.

Its appearance was identical to the main body of the Vampire Tree that had fought fiercely with Han-seong in the past.

“Ugh, it feels a bit creepy somehow…”

Jihye frowned at the sight.

It must be because it reminded her of the battle with the Vampire Tree in the past. Han-seong patted Jihye’s shoulder and then ordered it again.

“This time, try using the Division skill.”

As soon as the order ended, the Vampire Tree blurred for a moment and then split into nine entities.

The appearance was so identical that it was difficult to determine which was the main body. When instructed to return to its original state, the nine roots merged into one.

‘Ah, so that’s how it works.’

Han-seong nodded, recalling his battle with the Vampire Tree. It was as if he now understood situations that hadn’t made sense at the time.

“Next, I’d like to see the Ambush skill.”

The Vampire Tree looked around.

It approached the Collector and then slipped into its pouch, hiding its appearance. Surprisingly, no presence could be felt at all.

And the moment he saw this sight.

‘Oh? Wait a minute, if this is possible…’

Couldn’t I send it out with the Collector for external missions and have it fight? As he was pondering, Han-seong asked the Vampire Tree a question.

“Is it possible to move those vines while using the Independence skill?”

What he pointed to were the Vampire Tree’s vines wrapped around the officetel. It seemed to understand Han-seong’s meaning and moved the vines wildly.

It was the moment speculation turned into certainty.

‘This is perfect.’

Han-seong smiled with satisfaction.

Then during normal times, he could leave the defense of the base to the Vampire Tree’s trunk and vines, and dispatch the Vampire Tree’s main body along with the Collector.

By the way, how powerful is the Vampire Tree now that it has become a temporary vassal? Well, since some of its skills are in a locked state, it probably won’t be as strong as before.

‘Shall we test it out?’

To see how strong the Vampire Tree is.

Han-seong scanned the red dots on the map, looking for a suitable test subject. He wanted to dispatch the Collector and Vampire Tree to a place with a decent number of zombies.

At that moment.

He discovered something particularly eye-catching.

“That’s…”

A square red dot marked on the map.

It was an elite monster.