The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 77: Sacred Relic

“Haaap!”

Kang Minho braced his shield against his shoulder, putting all his strength into it.

A shockwave erupted with a blue flash, pressing against Song Myeongseok's entire body.

【Slow.】

A sword made from Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession.

It was merely shaped like a sword, but in his hand, it exuded the chilling aura of a masterfully crafted blade.

[Spectral Sword]

[Fifth Form – Bloodlight Sword]

Even without channeling yin energy, the aura was sharp enough to prickle the skin.

Song Myeongseok, resurrected as a Skeleton Knight, sliced through the center of the shockwave, dividing its force.

He advanced through the gap created.

“Who said I'd just stand still?!”

An arrow plummeted towards the crown of his head.

With [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis], the strings of the crossbows floating in the air were drawn simultaneously.

They fired at angles impossible for normal archers, aiming to restrict Song Myeongseok's movements.

【This is why they are mediocre. What do they hope to achieve with such trivial attacks?】

Clang—!

Song Myeongseok effortlessly deflected all three arrows with a single strike, speaking in an annoyed tone.

Kang Minyeong let out a chuckle.

“Thanks for caring about the trivial stuff.”

[Space – Liberation]

[Blaze x 3]

The moment the blue aura followed the trajectory of the arrows, a series of flames erupted from the subspace created at close range.

“Eat this!”

A 2 Star fire spell.

Lee Seongmin had purchased this new spell from the Hunter Market and stored it in subspace beforehand, releasing it the moment Song Myeongseok revealed an opening.

An attack that risked getting close to designating the release location.

【That's why I said it. The thoughts of the mediocre are predictable.】

[Dual Guard]

[Spectral Sword – Fourth Form Emerald Sword]

[Dual Blade]

His left hand moved with the speed of light.

Without even needing to look down, he cut down the flames rushing towards his side.

Even though he didn't imbue the sword with yin energy.

He cut down the magic with minimal movement, reading the intricacies and power contained in the sword strike, as well as the flow of the flames.

Thud—!

As Song Myeongseok closed the distance by kicking off the ground, Kang Minho once again raised his shield, trying to keep it close to his shoulder.

A mocking smile flickered in Song Myeongseok's blue aura.

【You're slow.】

The blade dug in just before Kang Minho could put his strength into it.

Without much resistance, it pushed the shield down and then, with more force, drove the sword up to his throat.

It was the moment that separated victor from vanquished.

【I've seen your level. I understand now.】

“....”

【It's so pathetic, it makes me want to die.】

Despite submitting to Yoojin, Song Myeongseok's arrogant nature remained unchanged.

Rather, being revived as an undead had allowed him to cast off the mask he had worn and reveal his true nature without reservation.

But hey.

Didn't Fafnir say that "it's so pathetic, it makes me want to die" first?

“How much of your power did you use?”

【40%, Master.】

“Bullshit. You didn't use just 40%.”

【H-How did you know?!】

“Do I look that gullible to you?”

At Yoojin's grumbling, the blue aura flickered from side to side like a swaying wind.

【That's not true, Master!】

“Can I really trust what you just said?”

【My apologies, I seem to have miscalculated. I used 60% of my power.】

“A 4 Star like you, using more than half your power against three 2 Stars, and then acting all high and mighty?”

【....】

“Use only 30% in the next spar.”

【If I do that, I might have to taste the bitter cup of defeat!】

“Oh. If you don't like it, you can be disciplined.”

He positioned his thumb and middle finger together, putting strength into his fingers as if to snap them.

【I have committed a grave sin!】

Spreading his thoughts with a sense of urgency, he knelt on one knee.

A gesture of submission typical of Skeleton Knights.

“But why do you talk like that?”

【It seems to be the influence of the martial arts dramas I enjoyed in my childhood.】

“An unconscious habit, huh?”

He used honorifics so well when he was alive, I never knew there would be such a gap after death.

This is the true Song Myeongseok... though he seems to have a bit of a chuunibyou vibe.

'As long as he's capable, that's all that matters.'

Yoojin thought positively.

“Keep it at 30%. If you use more than 30% like you did just now, I won't let you off easy.”

【I'll keep that in mind.】

While Song Myeongseok and the Little Runts team were sparring,

Yoojin reached into his pocket.

He felt a small crystal.

Holding the spiraling red crystal, he let out a short sigh with a troubled expression.

〔Isn't that the core of the Double Dungeon?〕

‘To be precise, it's a catalyst containing the extracted Gate core.’

〔I thought it was destroyed, yet you managed to escape the Gate with it intact.〕

‘I couldn't destroy something this precious.’

〔Come to think of it, I feel something familiar from the crystal.〕

‘That's because it's made with divine power.’

At Yoojin's nonchalant reply, Kronos was startled.

〔Did you just say divine power?〕

‘Yeah. I used rune letters to bind divine power and create this.’

The constellation who first established the concept of magic.

If you look closely inside the red crystal, you can see Odin's runes.

The ability to steal the core of a Gate and even control monsters.

A power closer to a miracle than magic.

‘The Romanov clan called this a Keystone.’

〔Keystone?〕

‘I heard they named it that because it means "extracting the foundation of the Gate".’

〔It makes sense in its own way, as it has the function of extracting the core and gaining control of the Gate.〕

‘Well, the origin of the name doesn't matter to me.’

Yoojin frowned.

Just thinking about the Romanov clan made his anger surge.

〔Then what are you contemplating?〕

‘Where can I use the Keystone to make a name for myself?’

〔If you don't have any particular plans, how about giving it to me?〕

‘What would you use it for?’

〔Now that my dwelling has been built, all that remains is to create a symbol.〕

The symbol of a constellation.

Kronos was referring to the creation of a sacred relic.

Yoojin blinked.

‘But it's a different system from yours.’

〔Hahahaha. Do you take me for a fool? I have a plan.〕

If he's this confident, there must be a reason.

Still dubious, Yoojin reluctantly nodded.

‘What do I need to do?’

〔Let's see. Considering the domain I preside over, it would be good to use bones as the main material.〕

‘How about this?’

The first rare item he obtained after returning.

When he took out the Staff of Resentment, Kronos laughed heartily.

〔This staff possesses remarkable power, particularly the potent essence residing within it.〕

An energy permeated the Keystone and the Staff of Resentment.

It was a wave similar to the 〔Aura〕 that had surrounded Dmitri's entire body.

‘What's the next step?’

〔Try to imagine a form befitting a divine name.〕

‘An image that suits the Heaven-Defying Giant.’

Wait a minute.

For someone who's supposedly making a sacred relic, you haven't even thought about its appearance?

‘It has to suit your taste. What's the point of me worrying about it?’

〔Hahahaha. Nothing comes to mind for me either.〕

‘Don't say it so proudly. Worry about it with me.’

〔I've set the table; it's the contractor's job to eat.〕

‘That's just shifting responsibility!’

Pressing his temples with his right hand, he thought about the task Kronos had given him.

The timing was unexpected, but that was all.

Creating a sacred relic was a tremendous opportunity in itself.

‘Building a temple and crafting a sacred relic. Kronos said that completing these two would establish him as a full-fledged constellation.’n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

If that happened, receiving the constellation's blessing would also be just around the corner.

The power he had longed for since his previous life.

It was a fang that could reach the Seven Great Clans, including the Romanovs, and he could obtain the final piece he had been missing.

‘And I can't ignore the power of the sacred relic itself.’

He didn't expect it to cause miracles like Kronos's pocket watch.

The strength of a sacred relic was related to the constellation's achievements.

Although it was ranked higher than [Unique] in the classification table, not all sacred relics were as powerful as transcendent or unique artifacts.

It would be the same even if he created Kronos's sacred relic this time.

‘Now, the problem is the form of the sacred relic.’

Back to the main issue.

A symbol that represents the Heaven-Defying Giant.

At the same time, a practical artifact that would be helpful to him.

Something that satisfies both conditions...

〔Remember, it must be a symbol that satisfies both my nature and the domain I govern.〕

‘Just do it roughly. How long are you going to worry about this?’

〔Contractor! What are you thinking?!〕

‘Just assist me. I don't intend to waste time.’

An idea flashed through his mind.

In his right hand, he held the Keystone.

In his left hand, he held the [Staff of Resentment].

Just as the horrified Kronos tried to stop Yoojin's audacious actions, he swiftly envisioned the form of the sacred relic and forcefully clashed the two objects together.

＊ ＊ ＊

The Staff of Resentment collided with the Keystone.

Although a loud crash should have erupted, there was no sound, only a rippling sensation.

The red crystal sank into the bone staff without resistance.

[The material is transforming into the form envisioned by the user.]

The skull attached to the end of the Staff of Resentment became malleable, stretching out.

The elongated bone curved into an arc, forming a sharp blade.

The Keystone took its place where the skull had been.

[The Heaven-Defying Giant is interfering with the Keystone.]

[The divine power dwelling within the Keystone is related to the giant's bloodline. The Heaven-Defying Giant can also interfere with the divine power.]

‘Ah, Odin was also a descendant of giants, wasn't he?’

A constellation who was a descendant of the primordial giant Ymir, yet massacred the previous giants and founded Asgard.

Did he utilize the concept of giants flowing in his blood?

Kronos was the king of the Titans, who became synonymous with "giants" today.

Even if his magical talent was inferior to Odin's, he surpassed him in terms of their giant origins.

‘No wonder he was so confident about the Keystone.’

〔Hahahahaha! Now you finally realize my greatness... No, wait, what exactly did you create?〕

‘When you think of death, it's gotta be a scythe, right?’

What comes to mind when you think of the typical grim reaper image in the West?

A black robe and a skull.

And a scythe.

‘A tool for harvesting wheat or barley. Therefore, it signifies reaping human lives as well.’

The domain Kronos governs is defying death.

It goes against the natural order, but at the same time, it's a later concept formed from the accumulated wishes and grudges of those who are dying, yearning to "live."

Then.

While defying death, it should also be seen as two sides of the same coin, inseparable from death.

‘This is the enlightenment I gained when I reached 9 Stars.’

Necromancers did not create the power to defy death.

They merely advocated a systematic way to handle the power of souls, the spirit power, that already existed in the world.

〔So you're going to use the symbol that comes to mind when you think of death as my sacred relic?〕

‘How is it? Isn't it impressive?’

〔Hahahahaha! Magnificent! Truly, you possess insight worthy of being my contractor!!〕

Kronos burst into laughter.

Seeming pleased with Yoojin's solution, he laughed for a long while.

〔But you know what?〕

‘Just give me the topic, and I'll decide whether I know or not.’

〔Originally, I had one more sacred relic.〕

A scythe made of adamantium. Scyte.

Kronos had reaped countless lives with that scythe, and on the other hand, he also helped mortals with their harvests.

〔It's no match for Scyte, but it suits my origins, so isn't it quite splendid?〕

‘I'm glad you're satisfied. Let's see how well it's made by checking its performance.’

Yoojin held the bone scythe in his hand and checked its stats.

[Scythe of the Reaper – ■■■]

Rank: Sacred Relic

Classification: Weapon

Durability: 444/444

This is the sacred relic of the constellation Heaven-Defying Giant.

It was created based on the divine power of another constellation, and it is in an incomplete state due to a lack of accumulated achievements or legends.

The power of the sacred relic will become complete when it is given its true name.

*Undead command ability + 30%. This effect is applied just by possessing the sacred relic.

*Ability to command undead + 20%. This effect is applied just by possessing the sacred relic.

*Effect and duration of divine spells bestowed by 〔Heaven-Defying Giant〕 increased by 20%.

“Insane.”

A word of high praise slipped from his lips.

A permanent buff that applies even without directly holding and using the sacred relic?!

Even if its specs were lower than the staff with the Fragment of the Void, it wasn't a big problem.

‘How much better will it be when the sacred relic exhibits its true performance?’

Khehehe.

Yoojin laughed out loud.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]