Chapter 31

Chapter 31

◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (31)

After dealing with one, Flame Ghosts began to appear more frequently. According to Lucy, these ghosts are clusters of flame magic. Does their abundance indicate the spirit's immense power?

"Contractor, there's more appearing behind us!"

"Hostage, hide quickly! Wait, are these things actually appearing in real time?"

"Be careful!"

Whether by luck or thanks to KiJun's provocation skill, the ghosts, seemingly ignoring the boy, focused on attacking KiJun.

"Be careful not to kill them in one hit!"

It would have been a good hunting ground if KiJun's race rank was lower, but regrettably, the Flame Ghosts were only of uncommon rank.

Fighting them felt increasingly foolish to KiJun. He had to carefully control his power, meticulously cutting them to leave only the core intact.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

"Does it really have to be this way? Can't I just extract the core directly from the body?"

Having figured it out, KiJun adjusted his shield for attack.

Before mastering shield combat, KiJun used his shield in a straightforward manner, blocking attacks easily and striking directly or from above. However, after learning offensive techniques, he held his shield with the sharp end towards the opponent, deflecting attacks and immediately counterattacking.

When he activated his skill, it seemed as though giant claws grew from his hand.

KiJun secretly referred to this as "Zergling form."

"Look at this."

KiJun, steadying his breath, aimed at the core of a fluttering Flame Ghost and swiftly thrust his shield forward like firing a shell.

The cruel, blood-tinged claws pierced the ghost's core. Despite the ghost's horrifying scream and twisting body, KiJun skillfully twisted and extracted it.

Encased in his shield was a flawless red orb.

"Success!"

—The Butchery (R) skill level is now 2!

KiJun, like scooping ice cream, used his shield, wrapped in light, to precisely scoop out the core from the ghosts.

It seemed less like battle or hunting and more like scooping ice cream.

—Level 2 achieved. Dexterity (L), Light Magic (L), and Spirit Power (L) increased by 1.

As he progressed through the dungeon, his level finally increased by 1, a welcome boost to his legendary stats.

However, this dungeon didn't quite provide the thrilling exploration experience KiJun expected.

A straight line with no traps.

The Flame Ghosts relentlessly attacked from the front, devoid of tactics.

The interior heat increased deeper in, and without his unique mana circulation technique, Salutaris, maintaining Adamant would have been challenging.

"I hoped for a more exciting adventure when I discovered this dungeon."

—Maybe, Contractor, this might be thrilling in a different sense.

Lucy said with a pained expression.

KiJun, too, had a hunch and frowned.

"Should we turn back?"

—Leaving won't be pleasant either. Better to see for ourselves.

Their eyes simultaneously turned to the boy quietly following them. He tensely licked his lips.

"You right there, wait."

"It tried to grow by consuming the consciousness of other ghosts. A convoluted but certain way to fully ripen the offering's consciousness."

KiJun felt a headache coming on.

So, the villagers afraid of the spirit, the boy offered as a sacrifice, the flames attacking the boy, and the spirit ordering them were all ghosts. The real spirit was unconscious, wounded, while the ghosts staged a well-crafted play.

"Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?"

As KiJun sighed, the beast screamed out its resentment.

"You ruined my chance to eat it and become a spirit! You've made me wait years!"

"Can't you eat it now?"

"In our master's domain, how can we attack each other? You ruined it!"

KiJun finally understood the quest's entire story.

Had he met the boy without knowing the dungeon, without spirit power, he might have failed to kill the beast, allowing it to consume the offering and become a spirit or a terrible boss monster. Killing it would have released the villagers from its control, slowly realizing their identity and returning to the spirit.

What a hopeless situation.

He was lucky to have discovered the dungeon and uncovered its true nature.

"But you made a foolish choice by entering our master's sanctuary!"

The beast, focusing on Lucy's radiant light, roared.

"Maybe if I consume a spirit, I can become one! I can't consume the master, but other spirits should be fine!"

—Pitiful, self-destructive talk.

Lucy's voice carried a mix of pity and sadness.

—Contractor, once it harbored ill will towards the spirit, nature, it could no longer become a spirit... Finish it quickly.

"I can become a spirit! I will live eternally like my master—"

The beast charged at KiJun, who, spotting its core glowing within, swiftly caught it with the King of the Well, now imbued with his spirit power and light magic.

"Ah, my eternal life..."

No need to listen to its nonsense anymore. KiJun was well beyond the dungeon's level.

—Rare boss monster Semifáctus defeated. Gained experience. Received 500 points for defeating the dungeon boss!

—Level 3 achieved. Strength (U) 1, Dexterity (L) 1, Spirit Power (L) 1 increased.

—Butchery (R) skill reached level 3, Moonlight Blood Fangs (L) reached level 2.

KiJun stored the rare-grade core in his inventory and approached the real spirit. The Flame Ghosts, including the boy, blocked his way.

"I'm sorry, but you can't go any further."

With a flick of his finger, chains of light sprung from the ground, walls, and ceiling, immobilizing the ghosts. His unique spirit magic, now named after his contract spirit, Lucy, had that much power.

"I'll handle this."

As the ghosts struggled in vain, KiJun passed them and placed his hand on the small, wounded cat's forehead.

—Can you do it, Contractor?

"Absolutely."

KiJun extended his spirit power towards the Flame Spirit, initiating a communion.

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