[Han Junghwa: (Photo of her using Aura Blade)]
[Han Junghwa: Heh.]
[Han Junghwa: Heh.]
[Han Junghwa: Heh.]
[Han Junghwa: Impressive, right?]
[Choi Kangjoong: Congrats.]
Choi Kangjoong thought about showing her the Death Blade but decided against it, fearing he would seem socially inept, so he only sent a congratulatory message.
[Han Junghwa: Finally checking your messages, I see.]
[Choi Kangjoong: I was far away.]
[Han Junghwa: I heard you caught a dragon?]
[Choi Kangjoong: Choi Yunseo?]
[Han Junghwa: Yeah.]
[Han Junghwa: That’s amazing. I’ve only just reached the same level as a dragon.]
[Han Junghwa: And here you are, hunting them left and right.]
[Han Junghwa: Come visit Gangnam. It’s on me.]
[Choi Kangjoong: What about Marsala?]
[Han Junghwa: I’m the one being indebted to you there.]
[Han Junghwa: I want to buy you a meal out of gratitude.]
[Choi Kangjoong: Got it.]
Choi Kangjoong, who had agreed to meet with Choi Yunseo this weekend, entered the Evolution Chamber to apply the Evolution Codes he had been putting off.
‘I obtained the Giant Eagle and Human Evolution Codes.’
The Giant Eagle’s Evolution Code was High-Altitude Flight. It allowed for efficient flight at high altitudes.
‘I should combine this with Distortion Flight. And the Human Evolution Code was Environmental Adaptation.’
Environmental Adaptation was an ability that allowed one to better withstand environments that were too cold or had low humidity. Since the Apocalid were close to poikilotherms and lacked the ability to maintain body temperature—which required a lot of energy—they also required less food.
Instead, their movements became sluggish in low temperatures, and they could even faint if they didn’t consume enough nutrients to maintain their body heat. Until now, this weakness hadn’t been exposed because they had fought in dimensions without polar regions or in the Dimensional Sea.
‘I’m glad I got this in advance. Let’s apply Environmental Adaptation to everyone. Synthesize Distortion Flight and High-Altitude Flight.’
[Consuming 10,000,000 Evolution Points to synthesize Distortion Flight and High-Altitude Flight.]
[Extracting Inertia Distortion and Mana Resistance Distortion from Distortion Flight.]
[Extracting Mana Emission and Heat Utilization from High-Altitude Flight.]
[Psionic Combat Nerve is intervening in the Evolution Code synthesis.]
[Source Energy is infused into the new Evolution Code.]
[Distortion Flight and High-Altitude Flight have been synthesized into High-Altitude Flight of the Origin.]
‘Now I can fly well even at high altitudes.’
Mana clustered on the ground by the gravity of a dimension created a repulsive force once it reached a certain density. Because of this, a layer sparse in mana formed at high altitudes, and the larger the dimension, the wider this layer became.
In these mana-sparse layers, flight capability would decrease unless the entity had its own power source like a Golem, but now the Apocalid possessed such an ability. Since they could use Source Energy as flight fuel, their flight capability below those layers improved as well. The speed of the Air Scouts increased by 30%.
‘The Hydra is at 16%, and the Drake is at 12%. It really is hard to collect them starting from A-class Monsters.’
Even in Dimension War, obtaining Evolution Codes for A-class Monsters was usually only possible in the later stages.
‘I’ll get them eventually as I fight.’
Since the Dimensional Sea was vast, there were dimensions where Hydras or Drakes lived in colonies. At the center of such places, there would be S-class or transcendent-level bosses, but to an Apocalid, they were nothing more than good nutrients and Evolution Points.
‘By the way, what is Ladespina doing?’
Skree!
Kai showed him Ladespina’s lair. Ladespina was still curled up in her lair, emitting mana waves. Only the last remaining dragon, who had not left, moved busily under her instructions.
‘I don’t know what she’s up to. I’ll find out when I go there.’
Using the nutrients obtained by absorbing the dimension that was originally the dragon’s territory, Kuongi grew rapidly. Actually, having only a Hive Class alone was bad for balance. Being large had many advantages, but it also had disadvantages like attracting attention, being easy to discover, and having a large hit area.
To compensate for that, a corresponding escort fleet was necessary. Even Iselin’s Divine Arrow never traveled alone.
‘Still, a Hive Class is the dream.’
A massive Bio-Dimensional Ship ranging from 10 kilometers to dozens of kilometers. Choi Kangjoong couldn’t contain his excitement at the thought of soon obtaining something so magnificent.
While Choi Kangjoong waited for Kuongi’s growth, a major shift was occurring in South Korea. Originally, the Dawn Guild, Carrier Guild, and Edge Guild maintained a balance, each possessing one S-class Hunter.
However, since Han Junghwa had been promoted and Choi Yunseo showed signs of rising soon, the Dawn Guild’s solo dominance was expected. The Carrier Guild and Edge Guild, feeling the heat, moved quickly.
They used every means possible, such as strengthening recruitment conditions, increasing promotional budgets, and conducting various activities to capture Hunter Academy graduates. Among these, the most certain and effective method the two guilds could take was clear.
It was the recruitment of Choi Kangjoong. If they could secure him, who had remained unaffiliated until now, they could overturn the unfavorable situation in one go. They even formed a Choi Kangjoong scouting team.
The team deconstructed Choi Kangjoong’s life, searching for the conditions he would be most tempted by. Similar movements were happening in Marsala as well.
The Derael family was growing stronger and more successful by the day. And the person identified as the background for that was the Outer Mind, Choi Kangjoong. Families belonging to the Elf Great Council were desperate to lure him in.
They weren’t unaware of the strong bond between the two who met at the Kraken Sea, but since they weren’t married and were of different races, they believed there was an opening. Choi Kangjoong’s phone rang. He thought it would be another advertisement, but it was a message from Joo Eun-jong.
[Joo Eun-jong: Captain! Could you please come out in front of your house for a moment?]
‘What is it?’
Choi Kangjoong threw on some clothes and went outside. A car was parked in front of the gate. It was a brand-new car with the plastic still on it.
“Captain!”
Joo Eun-jong got out of the driver’s seat.
“How is this car?”
“It looks cool. Is it new?”
“Of course. This is a guy I specifically ordered that came in by plane. I drove it from the airport myself so no one else would touch it.”
“Did you come here to brag about your car?”
“Hey, why would I brag about a car in front of you?”
Joo Eun-jong handed over the car keys.
“I brought it for you, Captain. I chose a modest one on purpose since I know you don’t like standing out.”
“Why a car all of a sudden?”
“You gave me the dragon scales. Since I received them, it’s only natural I give you something back.”
“I don’t drive that often.”
“Even so, having it there will make you want to drive it. I was like that too. Want to give it a try?”
Choi Kangjoong sat in the driver’s seat. The seats that wrapped around his body and the design were exceptionally luxurious. The interior stirred a man’s instinct to control something.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s better than I thought.”
Choi Kangjoong took Joo Eun-jong in the passenger seat and drove around the neighborhood. Machines definitely had their own charm. He wondered what it would feel like to pilot the Dimension Ship Serad was making.
‘Come to think of it, putting Metra’s Mana Missiles on Kuongi’s back would be useful.’
Serad was busy stabilizing M2721, so he decided to contact him later. After returning home, Choi Kangjoong parked the car, avoiding the Central Stealth Scout sleeping in the corner of the garage.
“Since you’re here, have a meal before you go.”
“I skipped my Magic training to come here. See this?”
Joo Eun-jong held up his phone. It was filled with messages from Director Son Myung-gyu.
“But Captain, you have no intention of joining a guild, right?”
“Why? Are you asking me to join the Carrier Guild?”
“It would be great for me if you did. The guild is pestering me to bridge the gap between us.”
“I have no intention of joining one.”
“I figured. I also hate bothering you, so I’ve been blocking them, but you might get a call from the guild directly. That is absolutely not my doing! Do you want me to show you how hard I’ve been fighting to protect your quiet life?”
“Forget it.”
“Ah, I wanted to show you my hard work. Oh, and you know Im Mi-rae, right?”
Choi Kangjoong searched his memory for a while before remembering who Im Mi-rae was. She was the possessive woman he had met on the elemental-class cruise ship and the daughter of the Edge Guild’s leader.
“I know her face.”
“She’s begging me to give her your number. Can I give it to her?”
“No. She’ll just be a nuisance.”
“Exactly. She’s like a leech. Heheh.”
Joo Eun-jong bowed and got out of the car. Choi Kangjoong saw him out to the gate. He was worried about how he would get back, but there was a car with a chauffeur parked near the house. Joo Eun-jong left in that car.
‘Another one.’
As Choi Kangjoong headed back inside, a mailbox full of letters caught his eye. Invitations to some party, some VIP gathering, and various other events. He was about to toss them into the recycling bin without looking when a few peculiar ones caught his eye.
“This one is from the Elves.”
At a glance, he could tell it was from Marsala by the style, which was different from human designs. Upon opening it, the letter invited him to attend an important event held by the Elf Great Council under the name of their family. They were all sent by families belonging to the Great Council.
These were invitations that any human or Elf would consider a great honor and be overjoyed to receive. Choi Kangjoong indifferently tossed them into the paper recycling bin.
“There are too many decorations. Is it okay to put this in with the paper?”
To save the waste disposal company some trouble, Choi Kangjoong took the invitations to his bedroom and gave them to Lutal.
Crunch, crunch.
Lutal used the paper as nutrients and melted the gold and jewels to accumulate them in its Chitin Gauntlet. To an Apocalid that swallowed anything, paper wasn’t a bad meal.
Tap, tap.
Choi Kangjoong patted the head of the eating Lutal. Then, he noticed the word ‘Derael’ written on one of the letters. In a flash, Lutal swallowed it and melted it with digestive fluid.
‘Should I ask for a new one?’
Choi Kangjoong opened a Gate and moved to Iselin’s office.
“It’s been a while.”
Iselin had become very accustomed to Choi Kangjoong’s unannounced appearances.
“The event invitation from Derael… I accidentally fed it to this guy.”
Purr.
Lutal was perched on Choi Kangjoong’s shoulder.
“You must mean the Spirit Tree party.”
“What’s that for?”
“It’s a party where High Elves gather to birth a new Spirit Tree and then socialize. Only members of the Great Council and those they invite can attend.”
Arthil served refreshments. Lutal hopped down immediately. Without suppressing its predatory instincts for food left out to be eaten, it devoured everything. Once the plate was empty, Arthil refilled it. Lutal clattered as it finished it all, and Arthil set down more cookies and fruit.
Iselin and Arthil found the Lutal cute. The being that had once struck fear into even dragons now looked like a gluttonous puppy as its Scythe Claws clinked against the dishes while it ate.
“I must attend. Birthing a Spirit Tree is the duty of a High Elf. I would like you to come and bring honor to the Derael family, Outer Mind.”
Iselin handed over a new invitation she received from Arthil.
“It’s one month away.”
“It’s one of the most prominent events in the Great Council, so the schedule is announced early.”
“If I go there, will I be able to see Eleanor in person?”
“Of course. As the eldest son of Ardecon, there’s no way he won’t be there.”
Choi Kangjoong stroked his chin. He was reluctant because it was a party, but he also wanted to see Eleanor once.
“I’ll go if nothing comes up.”
It was a vague answer. The Spirit Tree party was a politically vital event for Iselin. It was a good opportunity to flaunt her power and suppress rival families by having a distinguished person attend under her family’s name.
However, knowing how much Choi Kangjoong loved his room, Iselin didn’t push further. After all, the family closest to him was Derael, and he wouldn’t accept invitations from other families anyway.
Choi Kangjoong, holding the invitation, returned to his room. Not long after, Kuongi finally evolved into a Hive Class.