387. Looting the Demon God’s Warehouse
It’s not uncommon for buildings to be recognized as items.
There aren’t many Architects [players specializing in building and construction], but once a building is completed, it’s not unusual for it to receive a grade.
However, Se-un’s idea wasn’t just to have this tower graded as a regular item.
“I’m going to get this tower recognized as part of the 55th floor trial itself.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean, the system will recognize this tower as part of the 55th floor trial. Maybe it will even recognize the entire group of guys worshiping the tower down there as one faction.”
“Wow! Great! I definitely like it! I’m all for it!”
Having a building recognized as part of a trial was something Se-un had only heard rumors about before his regression [reincarnation or time travel].
The trial system doesn’t like change.
So, it’s resistant to recognizing a player’s building as part of the trial, as it creates variables in the trial’s content.
However, Se-un had definitely heard of it happening.
‘The Black Cross. Those psychos definitely had a temple they built in the trial recognized as an official building of the trial.’
The Black Cross.
The guild where Pelches, whom he had seen at the auction house not long ago, was the guild master.
The Black Cross guild, which showed a particularly cult-like tendency compared to other guilds, built their temples not only in the rest area but also within the trials, befitting their nature.
Perhaps because of their obsession, the fact that the trial recognized the temple was quite a hot topic at the time.
Se-un was trying to recreate that situation now.
“But how do we do it?”
“It’s not just about building it high. This height is enough.”
“Hehe, it is a bit high, isn’t it?”
“From now on, we need to focus more on ‘meaning’ than height.”
“Meaning?”
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ is listening to your words.
Se-un calmly recalled the rumors from the past.
At the time, Se-un was receiving requests from Pelches of the Black Cross, so he was able to hear in detail about the rumors they proudly spread.
‘In the first place, the name of the recognized building was also the Black Cross Temple, and the meaning was about the god the Black Cross followed.’
Even with that simple rumor, he could think of several methods.
Even if it’s not a temple, even if it’s not about following a god, if it’s a meaningful building that can play a role in the trial, the possibility of it being recognized increases.
However, he didn’t want to waste these few opportunities on experiments.
First, start with something certain.
“We’re going to make this place a symbol of Halphas.”
“Wow!”
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ nods, saying it’s a matter of course.
– The Constellation, ‘Crow Who Bows His Head,’ is a little disappointed.
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ spreads its wings, saying that this ‘Black Beak’ is a tower built by its contractor worshiping it and can never be conceded.
Mamon seemed disappointed, but this was a tower that Han-a-reum was building without Se-un’s help in the first place.
So, if they were to serve a god, it would naturally have to be Halphas.
“But how?”
“That’s…”
Se-un recalled the appearance of the Black Cross Temple he had visited once.
The temple, painted in black, had Black Cross patterns engraved everywhere, and above all, a huge Black Cross sculpture was erected at the top and in the center of the temple.
In addition to that, the place was plastered with the Black Cross symbol, making it undeniably the Black Cross Temple to anyone who saw it.
So, they had to engrave Halphas’s symbol on this tower as well.
“Ah, I have a good idea! Just a moment.”
Han-a-reum took out a piece of paper.
It seemed to be a blueprint rather than ordinary paper, and she started drawing something on the back.
“Tada! How about engraving this on the tower? And statues too!”
“Not bad.”
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ is very satisfied with the symbol its contractor drew.
What she had completed was a drawing of a black beak, which could be said to be Halphas’s symbol.
Even though it was just a hastily drawn sketch, it highlighted the sharpness unique to Halphas very well.
“Can you do it? To engrave something like this, you would have had to design it from the beginning.”
“Of course! What do you take me for! I’ll be right back! I have to make statues too!”
Han-a-reum jumped up and down excitedly with the sketch, then went down to the bottom of the tower using something like a rope.
She was probably trying to engrave Halphas’s symbol in various places on the design tower.
Of course, Se-un wasn’t just standing still.
Se-un had his own things to do.
‘I didn’t come here to volunteer either.’
He was helping Han-a-reum, but Se-un had no intention of returning empty-handed.
“Turik.”
– Yes. Is there anything I can do?
“Of course. I’m going to squeeze out all the remaining power here.”
– Okay. I want to do that too.
“Thanks.”
Se-un drew Durendal [his powerful sword].
Then, he grabbed the sword upside down with both hands and slammed it down on the floor.
Clang!
A scratch appeared on the ceiling of the tower, which was made of an unknown material.
No matter how hard it was, Se-un’s sword was the ‘Rock-Splitting Sword, Durendal.’ As long as the user’s strength supported it, it could split any hard mineral.
However, Se-un didn’t want to destroy the tower.
Se-un started moving the sword while applying force to the handle.
Ggrinding-
A sword mark was engraved on the ceiling of the tower, making a painful noise.
The sword mark drew a smooth curve, turning around once to engrave a circle shape all over the ceiling.
In that state, complex sword marks were engraved inside the circle as well.
Letters that looked like runes, various formulas, models, etc. Complex patterns intertwined to create a magic circle.
– Master. What is this?
“A magic circle. To be exact, it’s an enchantment magic circle.”
– Enchantment?
“Originally, it’s for enchanting magic. If you enchant a shield magic, a shield will appear when the tower is attacked, and if you engrave a flame magic, flames will rise.”
– Why is that?
Se-un had been deeply involved in enchantment even before his regression.
That skill had continued, and now that he had reached the 7th Circle [a high level of magical proficiency], he could draw even stronger magic more delicately than before.
However, what he was going to infuse into this enchantment magic circle now was not magic.
“I’m going to infuse the power of fear here.”
– My power?
“Yes. Can you do it?”
– I’ll try.
Turik spread her wings wide.
Soon, the purple aura poured out as always.
The aura imbued with the power of fear permeated the magic circle that Se-un had drawn.
At the same time, Se-un sent mana to activate the magic circle.
It was by no means easy to infuse something other than magic into the enchantment magic circle, but his past mastery and current knowledge of reaching the 7th Circle made it possible.
Wooong-
The magic circle soon absorbed the power of fear, dyed purple, and emitted its unique aura.
Completed by inserting mana stones, which he had bought a lot of in Zeheton, in the center of the magic circle.
It was a magic circle engraved with the power of fear, different from the black tower’s fear magic, created by combining the power of the spirit of fear, Turik, and Se-un’s stigmata [a unique mark or ability].
“Turik, how much more can you do?”
– I’m still fine. I want to do more.
“Good. Let’s do our best.”
– Yes!
Se-un began to engrave magic circles not only on the top of the tower but also on the walls of the tower.
* * *
Han-a-reum’s tower was completely different from what it had looked like at first.
In the first place, the purpose of her building the tower was to win the height-stacking competition with Han Da-un.
Because she only cared about the height, it didn’t have any functions or decorations except for the basic attack and defense facilities on the lower floors.
But not now.
“Wow, did you do all this, Oppa [term of endearment for older brother or male friend]? It’s really cool!”
“You’re amazing too. To engrave Halphas’s symbol and even make statues, considering the artistry in such a short time.”
“I always do this! But that magic circle really has a vibe. The tower is black, but the purple magic circle continues, so it’s very atmospheric, wouldn’t you say?”
Basically, the tower was built of black stone.
The magic circle that Se-un drew on the surface using Durendal was connected from the first floor to the top, shimmering in purple.
The complex formulas unique to the enchantment magic circle and the smooth yet irregular patterns of the tower created a mysterious atmosphere.
What about the symbol of Halphas that Han-a-reum engraved?
Starting from the first floor, she engraved the symbol in moderation in places that were easily visible in the middle of the tower.
She placed black bird statues in spaces that could look bland, and erected a huge black beak statue above the magic circle that Se-un had drawn on the ceiling.
Both had a level of completion that was hard to imagine they had completed in this short amount of time.
“Is it over now? Nothing’s popping up?”
“That can’t be.”
All that was left was to wait.
Players or monsters had to look at this tower, realize the creator’s intention, and acknowledge the building.
If that happened, the trial system would also nod and acknowledge the existence of the building.
However, the completion of the tower was not over yet.
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ is greatly satisfied with the completed ‘Black Beak.’
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ says that it will still put the finishing touch and raises its beak.
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ recognizes the building as one of the strongholds of the ‘City of Death.’
Being recognized as a stronghold of the City of Death, which was a castle directly built by Halphas.
It was an absolute City of Death, known to lead to death not only for intruders but also for those who dared to presumptuously look up at the castle, was by no means a light matter.
As if to prove that it was not just words, Halphas’s divinity poured out through Han-a-reum and began to flow into the tower.
Kkwaaa-!!
The energy of death flowed out of the tower.
The symbols of Halphas that Han-a-reum had drawn wriggled as if they were alive, and the statues opened their eyes and revealed red pupils.
The magic circle that Se-un had drawn also emitted an even darker purple light and shimmered.
When the energy of death flowing out of the tower was mixed with the energy of fear that Se-un had given, the surrounding air was so thick that it felt like power was overflowing.
And finally.
– Player Han-a-reum’s building, ‘Black Beak,’ is recognized as part of the trial.
– The City of Death and Fear. Halphas’s ‘Black Beak’ is designated as a hidden piece on the 55th floor.
– Monsters that do not worship ‘Black Beak’ are eroded by the energy of death and fear as they approach the tower.
– Monsters that worship ‘Black Beak’ gain a weak energy of death and fear.
– You have completed an exquisite building in the 55th floor trial. Contribution points are awarded according to contribution.
…
So many messages popped up at the same time that it was hard to read them all at once.
He hadn’t read them all yet, but after looking at the detailed information, he realized that a building more outstanding than Se-un had thought had been completed.
To the extent that Halphas’s status would increase just by this building standing there.
At this rate, it would have returned to a figure that was incomparable to the divinity that Halphas had bestowed on the tower.
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ summons a giant bird.
– The Constellation, ‘Black Bird,’ spreads its wings wide and boasts that the gap between itself and the giant bird has widened even further.
– The Constellation, ‘Giant Bird,’ sincerely congratulates Black Bird.
– The Constellation, ‘Crow Who Bows His Head,’ quietly calls you out and whispers that it will help you, asking if you have any thoughts on learning consecration [dedication to a sacred purpose].
The rewards were bigger than expected, and the constellations’ reactions were also great, but this was not what Se-un wanted.
As expected, before long, changes began to occur in Turik’s body.
What is a spirit?
There are various meanings to the name, but it generally refers to the soul residing in a certain life, phenomenon, or object.
As such, their method of growth is similar to that of gods.
The stronger the attribute they preside over, or the greater the influence they exert on that attribute, the stronger they grow.
Since he had put the power of fear into the tower imbued with the power of God, it was only natural that Turik’s power would also increase.
In front of Turik, who had a surprised look on her face.
– The Spirit of Fear, Turik, grows.
– The mental spirit, Turik, is recognized as a higher spirit in the spirit realm.
– The realm of fear spreads in the spirit realm.
Messages acknowledging her growth appeared.