While raiding the Ruins of the Serpent, a lot of Coinol had been used.
Out of the 100,000 Coins, Han Yoosung first returned the 10,000 Coins he had borrowed for betting, then fed the remaining Coins to Kakasha.He personally disliked using the word "fed."
[Mmm, mmgh... I feel the power returning! Still weak for now, but it's coming back!]
Kakasha cheered as he felt his power being restored.How many Coins had been fed to this creature so far? At this point, it should be about time for a proper result to come from all that feeding.A result like being granted the title of "Apostle."
"You're quite good at self-deprecation. So, can I be named an Apostle now?"
[Of course. Watch closely, O Sworn One. I shall now name you!]
From the battlefield of war, a fierce sense of destruction surged forth.It was a destructive energy on a completely different level from anything he'd felt before.That energy seeped into Han Yoosung and triggered a transformation within him.
[The Warlord 'Kakasha' wishes to appoint you as an 'Apostle'.][Do you accept?]
"I accept."
There was no reason to refuse.The destructive energy spread throughout Han Yoosung's entire body. Then, moments later, it gathered in his heart and firmly took root.Han Yoosung exhaled a fiery breath.
He could feel a powerful connection forming between himself and Kakasha.
[You are now an Apostle of the Warlord.][The Warlord places great trust in you. That is why she has gladly transferred to you the authority to make this choice.][The Warlord has accumulated enough power.][Choose your blessing!]
With that message, a system window appeared before his eyes.
[1. All Stats +5 (Lv.1)][2. Unlock Apostle-exclusive Skill: 'Prominence'][3. +10% Increase in Fire Attribute Damage (Lv.1)][4. +3% Additional Experience Gain for the Sworn One (Lv.1)][5. +5% Attack Power Boost (Lv.1)][The Warlord currently allows the selection of two blessings.]
In games, there's usually something like a Guild System.And among them, some systems grant bonus stats depending on the guild's level when you join.The blessings given by the Warlord to her Apostles were similar—bonuses that provide permanent benefits once chosen.
[Do you realize just how great the authority I've given you is? It reflects how sincerely I consider you my partner in fate—]
"Quiet, bark dog."
[Grrr... silence...]
Kakasha fell silent.
Which blessings should he choose?
Truthfully, he didn't have to think about it for long.He had already made his decision the moment he saw the options.
[Blessings have been selected.][Apostle-exclusive skill 'Prominence' has been unlocked.][Sworn Ones' fire attribute damage has increased by +10%.]
Prominence, and increased fire attribute damage.
Originally, he had planned to choose the general stat boost instead of the latter.But the moment he saw the details of the Prominence skill, he changed his mind.
[Prominence]· Type: Active· Requirement: Apostle of War· The crimson flames of war dwell within you.· For a set duration, intense blue flames erupt from your body, increasing all stats by +15%. Your physical speed is also accelerated.· Fire attribute skill damage and casting speed +20%.· Buff effects can be amplified up to 2x based on the Destruction of War level.
You could call it a kind of buff skill.Currently, Han Yoosung didn't have any practical, general-purpose buffs he could rely on.That's why Prominence felt especially welcome.
The fire damage increase synergized well with Prominence.That's why he chose it instead of the raw stat boost.
[Well? Sworn One—are you satisfied? That Apostle-exclusive skill, Prominence, is a gift from me! Now, go on—praise me! At once!]"You're talking big when all the blessing levels are still at level 1."[Ack! Oof... ggrrrhh...]
The moment he saw the blessing levels, a sigh escaped him.
They clearly hadn't been like this from the start.Before Kakasha was defeated by Makiros, the blessings had probably been at decent levels.But as she lost her power, the blessing levels must've dropped as well.
[C-Coins... If only I had more Coins, the blessing levels could also...!]"How much more do you plan to devour like a hippo when it comes to Coins?"[I am not some hippo-like creature…!]
Han Yoosung clicked his tongue.
Honestly, it didn't really matter.He had already expected things to turn out like this when he decided to form a pact with a fallen Warlord.He was fully prepared to rebuild everything from the ground up, step by step.Not that he planned on telling Kakasha that.
"If anyone's going to be an Apostle... it might as well be me."
He couldn't help but let out a dry laugh at the thought.The position of Apostle to a Warlord was the farthest thing from who Han Yoosung used to be.
In his previous life, he had deliberately avoided getting involved with Lords, distrusting them to the end.He didn't particularly trust them in this life either.Kakasha was only a little different because she had him by the throat—figuratively and perhaps even literally.
"The position of Apostle... one that every capable Sworn One covets."
That's what the title of Apostle truly was.The Lords of the Stars were organizations that transcended nations—some even beyond dimensions.An Apostle was someone trusted enough to act within those circles.
And with that trust came power—and authority.
"If you're the Apostle of a well-known Lord, you're treated like a VIP wherever you go."
Even governments with vast power, or conglomerate CEOs with immeasurable wealth, couldn't treat a Lord's Apostle lightly.Even Lee Sooho had been after the title of Apostle to the Lord of Justice.
In his previous life, that guy had made exceptional use of the Apostle title.Whether he'd become an Apostle again in this life was still unclear…
"Well, now that the Coin feeding is done…"
Han Yoosung checked the FlameMirror community on his smartphone.There, the news he had been looking for was already posted.
[The Lord of the Dead opens a "War Dilemma."][The opponent is the Lord of Shadows, who was accused of trespassing on her territory... The War Dilemma was opened under the condition that no further inquiries be made about the territorial dispute, regardless of who wins.][The Lord of Shadows is currently recruiting mercenaries.]
It was news that a War Dilemma had been triggered.A Dilemma opened to resolve the conflict between the Lord of Shadows and the Lord of the Dead.Below the post were comments from other players:
[Seriously, they're really going at it lol][From the looks of it, the Lord of Shadows didn't even do anything? I heard a reward dungeon popped up in Yeoju City, but no Sworn One even got the loot.][Looks like even the Lord of the Dead realized she got it wrong, no?][She's infamous for her pride—probably too stubborn to apologize even if she knew.][If you're a Sworn One under the Lord of the Dead, you're stupidly strong in War Dilemmas. She probably knows she'll win and just wants compensation to smooth it over.]
After reading the comments, Han Yoosung let out a sigh.
"Dispute, huh. Honestly, calling this a dispute is a stretch."
"It's more like one side just randomly picked a fight."
[Mm... The Lord of the Dead—that woman's temperament is no joke. She probably kept scratching at the Lord of Shadows until she snapped.]
Kakasha shuddered as if she genuinely disliked the topic.
[Even if she realized later that she was in the wrong, she's not the type to apologize or back down.]
"Yeah, sounds about right. Looks like things are about to get annoying."
[Even I didn't expect it would turn out like this…]
The Lord of the Dead attacking the Lord of Shadows—Honestly, it wasn't something Han Yoosung needed to concern himself with directly.But in case he ever revealed his identity, it wouldn't hurt to get things sorted out in advance.
He had already crossed the point of no return with the Lord of the Dead anyway.
'No reason to make an enemy of the Lord of Shadows too.'
In fact, if he played his cards right, he might even be able to gain her support someday—especially when the time came to face off against the Lord of the Dead.
On top of that, in a War Dilemma, mercenaries are rewarded based on their performance.If he stood out, he could earn some decent rewards.
[You've grown quite adept at using that eerie shadow magic. If you can earn a reward tied to it, it would certainly be beneficial.]
"Exactly what I was thinking."
Another trial would likely be triggered soon.Until then, he didn't have much else to do.Participating in the War Dilemma to prepare and build strength wasn't a bad move at all.
"War Dilemma, huh. It's been a while."
What is a War Dilemma, exactly?
There's actually a simple way to explain it:
"AOS."(Arena of Strife)
If there's a difference, it's that it has no concept of "lanes."
It's a large-scale battle that takes place on a vast battlefield.On the east and west ends, massive statues appear—each called a Warlord's Colossus.
Around each Colossus, towers appear to attack approaching enemies, and walls created by those towers serve as defensive barriers—all of it working together to protect the Colossus.
Winning this Dilemma is simple.
"Destroying the enemy's Colossus."
Each Lord can deploy a set number of Sworn Ones into the Dilemma, and those Sworn Ones fight for the victory of the Lord they serve.
But what happens if their Lord loses the war?
"In the worst-case scenario, they die. If not that, they may be forcibly converted into Sworn Ones of the opposing Lord.And if even that's not acceptable to the opposing Lord... they're reduced to slaves."
On top of that, the defeated Lord must pay the promised reparations.They lose not only elite Sworn Ones but also a significant portion of their wealth.
[War is delightful. I enjoyed it greatly—until I was defeated by that mangy cur, the Lord of Justice, Makiros!]"You still enjoyed it after losing?"[Fool! Of course not! Do you hear yourself speak?]
Kakasha flatly denied it.Winning is what makes it fun—there's nothing enjoyable about losing repeatedly.
"Well, whatever."
Crack.Han Yoosung tilted his neck left and right, loosening up.He'd been taking it easy while Kakasha was digesting all the Coins.His body had been feeling a little sluggish anyway, so this came at a good time.
"Let's go do that thing you love so much—go to war."[War! War with victory is always a delight!]
Han Yoosung left his small studio apartment.
Portals appeared in cities across multiple nations.They emerged in buildings affiliated with the Lord of the Dead, and they were opened to recruit mercenaries willing to join her war effort.Her Sworn Ones were now screening applicants at each portal.Even the portal that appeared in Korea had gathered a significant number of mercenaries.
[Dilemma: Colossus Assault (Dead vs. Shadow)][A War Dilemma opened to resolve the conflict. It is structured to be fair and balanced, and its neutrality has been verified by a third-party Lord. The Lord who destroys the opposing Colossus, located deep within their territory, will claim victory.][A random battlefield gimmick will be applied upon entering the Dilemma.][Rule: Sworn Ones do not die in this Dilemma. Upon death, they are transferred to a separate space and must wait there until the Dilemma ends.][Entry Restrictions: Sworn Ones of the Dead or Shadow Lords, or registered mercenaries only.][Level Cap: 80. Those above the cap will have their power scaled down.][Max Participants: 700 Sworn Ones and 500 Mercenaries per side.]
Among them, Han Yoosung stood in front of the system window, reading the details of the upcoming War Dilemma.
[Hmph, only 700 Sworn Ones? How modest. Honestly, the Lord of the Dead could've easily filled all 1,200 slots with just her own.]"It's probably a condition set by the Lord of Shadows."[Indeed. That wretched woman, the Lord of the Dead, would never impose such a limit herself. This likely came from the Lord of Shadows as a prerequisite for agreeing to the Dilemma.]
This War Dilemma wasn't meant to escalate the conflict.Its purpose was to end the dispute—A mutual agreement: whoever wins, the matter is settled here and now, with no further questions or fallout.
In Dilemmas like this, Lords often agree upon specific rules and limitations beforehand.
[Had it been 1,200 of the Dead Lord's Sworn Ones, it would've been a nightmare to deal with.]
Hence the limit of 700 Sworn Ones, with the remaining 500 slots left open for mercenaries.That must have been the condition proposed by the Lord of Shadows.
As the Lord of the Dead, there's no particular reason to refuse.They probably think I'll decline anyway.
"Because the Lord of the Dead is that strong in war challenges."
The reason is extremely simple:
[Because I can fully utilize the undead as military force.]
The minions summoned in Colossus (the game/event) aren't that powerful.The number of oath-bound participants allowed in the war challenge is limited.The available power is restricted.However, those who have sworn to the Lord of the Dead can summon undead and use them as part of their fighting force.It's even possible to wage massive battles using sheer numbers that way.
"If someone can summon high-level undead too, it becomes even more troublesome,"
Even elite members of the Shadow faction won't have it easy.That's why the Lord of Shadows imposed a limit on the number of oath-bound, while the Lord of the Dead didn't care and accepted it gladly.Thanks to that, a mercenary slot opened up, which worked in Han Yuseong's favor.Now, only one issue remains:
"How do I, a level 45 player, get accepted as a mercenary?"
The level cap for this challenge is 80.Ideally, they'll want to recruit mercenaries around that level too.Whatever the case, there's no reason to accept someone like Han Yuseong, who is only level 45.But that doesn't mean there's no way.
[We are recruiting mercenaries to fight alongside us on the battlefield.][We are the Oathbound of Shadow. We seek 500 mercenaries who are confident in their skills and possess bold courage. Rewards will be generously provided based on achievements in battle.][For more details…]
It was a mercenary recruitment notice put out by the Oathbound of Shadow.They sought those confident in their abilities and who had bold courage.That was the angle to aim for.
"Next."
Han Yuseong stood before one of the Oathbound of Shadow.She was a woman with a sharp, striking appearance. Just like her looks, her cold eyes scanned Han Yuseong's entire body as if to dissect him.
"Name and level.""Han Yuseong. Level 45.""…Did you say level 45?"
The woman's face turned noticeably colder.Level 45—barely over half the challenge's level cap.They were recruiting competent mercenaries, and 45 was far too low.Was he here to make a joke? That thought even crossed her mind.
"Your level is too low. At that level, you cannot participate in the battlefield.""Didn't you say you were recruiting mercenaries confident in their skills?""Yes, but at level 45…"
There was no need to look further.She was about to sigh and dismiss him when her movement stopped.
And it had to—Because right in front of her, a powerful aura had begun to rise.
"Then why don't you test me? See for yourself whether I deserve to join or not."
It was a presence far too overwhelming to believe he was only level 45.