Chapter 95: Evan D. Sherden, Cursed (5)
Evan D. Sherden, Cursed (5)
“How is this even possible…?” Evan muttered, touching the body of the Blood Goblin lying dead on the floor.
“It can’t be so simple to defeat him…”
“Let me just…” Shine approached the monster nonchalantly. Meanwhile, Evan was staring blankly at the body and murmuring stupidly to himself. Upon reaching it, Shine stabbed the monster’s neck with a scimitar.
All the blood remaining in the corpse was absorbed neatly into the blade, and the corpse disappeared, leaving behind five colorful gemstones on the floor. The scimitar shone brightly as it sucked the blood of the hidden boss.
“Why did it die with just a single Battle Bead?”
“Didn’t that happen on the first floor too, Master? The Blood Goblin seemed to be even weaker than the other monsters.”
“Was it really even a Blood Goblin that we just fought? Or was it some other beast entirely?”
“None of your reasoning is valid. It’s just that you’re very strong, Master.”
“Then I guess I really got a little more powerful. My dungeon level also went up. Has the physical strength training which I’ve been doing so far proven to be this effective?”
If only Evan was able to accept his growth for once. Shine wearily thought about how many more times Evan would repeat this questioning before he could fully accept his own strength. He picked up a gemstone from the floor and handed it to Evan.
“Master Evan, we’re going to use this as a sacrifice, am I right?”
“You’re sharp, Shine. Although we won’t be sacrificing it immediately. With this, we will finally be able to go down the next floor of the dungeon. Until then, this is proof that we fought and killed the Blood Goblin. However, this gemstone is a bit bigger and brighter than the Goblin Warrior’s.”
Of course, there may still be petty people who would doubt their strength even if Evan showed the gemstone as proof. However, Evan and his party had completely cleared the dungeon’s 5th floor by now, so there was no need to try to prove it to anyone. It would already be clearly revealed to everyone once they exit the dungeon with their buffed up abilities and skills.
“We should move on, Master… ”
“It’s really over, Master Evan.”
“Alright, if anyone doesn’t have any trouble proceeding, then let’s go back to the landing.”
The hidden boss battle room had the same structure as that of the standard Floor Master battle room. First of all, you enter a huge room to start the battle, and right after defeating the boss, the door located beyond it opened, and you could proceed to the next stairway.
“Oh, wow! This is new!”
A narrow room with a staircase leading to the 6th floor was located beyond the battle room. As the party arrived at the reward room, they found a small, black stone statue positioned right in front of the stairs. Its visibility only became apparent to those who cleared the hidden boss.
It was a statue carved out of crude stone, but everyone could sense strange and fascinating energy radiating from it. Above all, there was a stunning sculpture at the top. It seemed to be holding everyone’s attention with all its glamor.
“I’ve never seen this god in any of the portraits. Does Master Evan know what kind of god it is?”
“That drunkard…” Evan’s resolute response made Raihan dumbfounded. It was the god believed to have created monsters and demons and was said to be the enemy of all mankind.
“Why is it here!?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said to Lua earlier? If you want to start explaining the dungeon, you can only try. That is because all of its elements are too complicated to be defined so simply… After all, it’s best to experience everything for yourself. Of course, I can only show you the things you need for you to start comprehending the reality of the dungeon.”
“…Okay, Master. I understand now.”
“But hyung, be careful not to be deprived of your faith.”
“It is not a sin to believe in multiple gods at once, Master Evan.”
When everyone in the group, including Belois, had entered the room and confirmed the stair’s existence, a divine message came to them immediately.
[You have evolved to level 6.]
In an instant, Evan realized that he had been called again to the place of blinding light where he was first summoned when he cleared the first floor. A ball of flashing light appeared in front of him.
[This was the first time anyone was able to defeat the six gatekeepers, and you were also able to acquire some really great achievements … In fact, we have been observing you so far, and we were expecting you to do quite well.]
The conversation started differently than the last time. Evan felt bizarre while feeling his body evolve to level 6.
[We have been thinking a lot about how to treat you. But one thing is certain: You are not our enemy.]
“Absolutely. That is, unless you try to kill me.”
[That is why we are willing to accept you. You are now like our dear son. Due to your actions, a miracle fragment has been created which did not exist in the future before. So naturally, we want you to live. We want to give you the ability of the ‘outsider’.]
Evan screamed in refusal to whichever god spoke to him. However, as if the god knew about his reaction in advance, he did not punish him for his disrespect.
[You are currently walking on a path that is different from the one we designed and planned for you. So no other ability would suit you better than this.]
“But I thought I was going to acquire a class!”
[You have no limits. You are walking on the wrong path. Since you are wandering far from the commandment, this could be considered as treason. Nevertheless, the reasons we are allowing you to continue is that, firstly, we cannot stop you, and secondly, we do not feel the need to stop you.]
It was very plausible, but in the end, was this really the explanation they would give him?!
[It will have a positive effect on you when you do something unrelated to your destiny (skill).]
Evan found it harder to control his rising anger, but the god carried on. Until now, it was about the kind of abilities he was acquiring, but from now on, it would be about the effectiveness of the abilities that would be affected by his class.
“How will I even get a positive effect from this…?”
[It would be better to explain to you directly. In the manifestation of all abilities and all actions contrary to your destiny, the effectiveness of each ability will increase by about 20%. Do you understand?]
“20%!?” Evan shouted in astonishment.
[Yes, that’s right.]
20%! The Sword of the Faint Light was said to be the best among all of the abilities you could acquire at this stage, but it could increase the ability’s efficacy by 30% for swordsmanship only… A 20% increase in the effect of all abilities was overwhelmingly good when it came to versatility.
‘It’s almost as if I’ve won the whole game! It’s like I’ve hit the jackpot or won the lottery! It’s like I’ve won first place among millions and millions of players!’
Evan nervously opened and closed his mouth several times. He was still weighing the details of the ability he was just granted. However, he soon became concerned about something. He leaned forward slightly and asked,
“Then what was the fate originally intended for me? Death?”
[Haha, that is the inevitable fate of all humans. If you can avoid it, you won’t be called human.]
The big chunk of light in front of Evan’s eyes made a coughing sound.
[Fate refers to the already laid down path that would lead to your ultimate destiny. As you may already know, people have innate aptitudes, so no matter how much they turn away from that path, they will eventually revert to it. For example, the child named Raihan was destined to become a knight from the very beginning.]
“That’s right. Then that means…?”
[You will become a wizard.]
“But my magical aptitude is useless! How am I supposed to become a wizard!?” Evan screamed again. Was it because of the production staff who were responsible for turning Evan into a damn wizard!?
[You were meant to be a wizard all along. That much has been decided. There was absolutely no future for you other than that. Nevertheless, it will be dangerous for you if you try to go against that fate. You are destined to become a great wizard.]
Evan wasn’t of the Archmage (physical) class as he had expected. However, as he continued to listen to the god, he found himself getting excited.
“Anyway, this means that the effect of all other skills other than just magic will increase by 20%, right?”
[That’s correct. Please be aware that the effects of the artifacts and magic tools that you wield do not increase.]
“The only thing that I need a boost for is my morale right now.”
Evan was somehow able to acquire the perfect class for himself! He was surprised to find out about it, but he wasn’t really unhappy to obtain the increased effects in his aptitude for magic. For Evan, who mainly used his alchemy, fighting, and throwing skills, this class was certainly the best. It was excellent, all except for the name!
“It’s all good, but can’t I just change the class name to my will…?”
[Cannot be done. You are not allowed to do so.]
“Okay, okay, I won’t do it!” Evan shouted as his body twisted like a demon who was being exorcised. Perhaps he was just imagining it, but it seemed as if the light was looking at him with satisfaction.
[This is not the end of your journey. There are so many skills that can be improved with this ability, so it was particularly difficult to choose the one most suitable for you…]
“And please, can you choose something else for me instead of the Heavens Press?”
[We shall see about that. However, your Cheonjung can be improved.]
Although Evan had never used the Heavens Press in the dungeon, it certainly was a fairly powerful skill. Evan’s face filled with color.
[We will strengthen another technique of yours. Of course, we will be able to improve it further only if you can accomplish such great achievements again in the future.]
“Oh!”
[Your Cheonjung has now evolved to ‘Cheonjung 2.’]
Evan sensed the knowledge and intense power flowing into his body. Cheonjung was a high-level skill in fighting, and because the body could be strengthened just by learning that skill, Evan’s body was even more buffed up as his skill improved.
The difference after the transformation was clear. The improvement in his fighting arts was remarkable. Evan could now attack by transmitting the power to his fists at approximately 50 meters far in every direction.
Only
Evan was convinced that he could possibly attack further if he practiced. It was definitely a good ability, unlike Heavens Press.
“The ability is so good, but why did you name it like that? Useless skills such as Heaven Press are named so well, so why the hell is this-!?”
[Go on now. In the future, we shall continue to support you. Please remember, my name is #######…]
“Wait a minute! At least change the class and the improved skill’s name first, please!”
It was already too late. Evan had already returned to reality. As they had done on the first floor, the party was staring at him blankly.
“…Were you called again by the gods, Master?”
“Yeah,” Evan replied to Raihan’s question.
He looked so furious that it seemed like he would kill anyone who asked another question. As such, the party decided not to ask what happened. They were his companions, and they all thought it best to just move on.