I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

Chapter 151: The King Of Shadows (4)

Gu poison.

The act known as witchcraft or the creation of gu poison was an extremely brutal practice.

Placing poisonous insects in a jar, making them fight each other, and the last remaining insect consumed the poison of the others, becoming even more venomous.

This process was repeated.

Then, the final surviving insect possessed a poison that was difficult for anyone to detoxify.

That was what gu poison was.

An utterly cruel method.

However, the special stat, Shadow, superior to ordinary stats, was also the best way to utilize gu poison.

Creating soldiers of shadow, making them devour each other, these personality-less shadow soldiers evolved through this process from soldiers to knights, and ultimately into the highest beings.

But it’s not recommended.

Because the entity that was cultivated to that point was devoured by the shadow gu poison.

Gu poison started with identity-less shadow soldiers, but as they devoured each other, gained knight classes, and aimed higher, they started to develop an ego.

It would be very strong if one were to reach transcendence, but there’s a risk of being devoured.

I scanned the pit.

One shadow soldier remained. It had devoured the other shadow soldiers and had become the sole, stronger soldier.

-A unique method indeed. And a power that can only be used with the power of shadows.

-Perhaps it’s a method that can be used because they are ego-less dolls.

Eternal Heaven showed interest in the shadow soldier, her eyes gleaming.

“What is this…?”

“This is gu poison. It involves releasing ego-less shadow soldiers, making them kill and devour each other, leaving only the last one standing.”

I taught Seolhwa Ryeon how to use the special stat Shadow.

“It’s a terrifying power.”

“Do you know where shadow soldiers come from?”

“Bodies… right?”

“More precisely, from those I’ve killed, I can create shadow soldiers.”

Special stats were called such because they could evolve regular stats.

This stat was a bit tricky. It’s certainly better than regular stats in some respects, but not in others. The special stat I first obtained, Nyeom, focused on enhancing mental strength.

When combined with other powers, its effect cpi;d be multiplied or even squared, but on its own, it’s incredibly weak.

The same applied for the shadow stat.

Shadow could only be activated by using those you’ve killed.

No matter the method, you could raise them from corpses. In this world, invaded by Mine, their deaths turn to ash, but the shadow stat could temporarily ‘tie’ them to this world.

I was about to explain this but stopped.

“I’ll teach you how to make shadow soldiers.”

I stepped forward. There were entities disturbing my sensory realm.

“Wow, there really is a dungeon?”

“I told you. Coming to such a secluded place with a few armed people means looking for a dungeon.”

“Hey, that was my line. You said they came because those two are exhibitionists trying to do it secretly.”

Annoying noises were heard.

Those caught in my sensory realm were mostly enveloped in magic. Meaning, they were Mine.

I drew the Sword of Spring.

The fresh scent of grass tickled my nose.

The Sword of Spring was a Sword of Life.

Overflowing with vitality, this sword was used for healing but also for attacks.

I released the Black Flash Sword Technique. I charged at the Mine with a speed akin to lightning.

“Still, I was the one who…”

The Mine didn’t notice me until I was right beside it. Before anyone else could react, I stabbed its arm with the Sword of Spring, wrapped in alchemical power.

“Huh?”

Mine showed little reaction.

But a second later, the stabbed area swelled significantly.

“What, what is this!”

Two seconds later.

The stabbed arm had grown larger than its torso. Excessive life force had been injected into its arm, inflating it enormously. But that was not the end.

“Shit, don’t just watch, help me!”

Three seconds later.

The life force moved into its body. Now, the Mine’s body had swelled almost four times. It looked like a balloon about to burst.

“Save… me!”

Four seconds.

Pop! The Mine’s body burst. The Sword of Spring was a Sword of Life. However, its offensive power was extraordinarily vicious. There was no blood splatter or organs spilling out, as the enemy was a Mine. It turned into ash.

Whirling.

I released the Black Wing. The unilateral wing that had grown from my right shoulder bound two Mines. I reached out towards the ash-transformed Mine. The shadow began to move with a whoosh.

The scattering ashes stopped. The shadow engulfed them. The shadow that had turned to ash soon formed a single figure.

Shadow Soldier.

“Doesn’t transforming them from Mines lessen the guilt?”

“That’s true…!”

Seolhwa Ryeon’s eyes sparkled as if she had found a clever solution.

No, it seemed she had lost her sense of guilt altogether.

“Will you handle it?”

“Please leave it to me.”

There was no need to ask her to take over. They were bound by my Black Wing, their faces pale.

“Please, save us! We didn’t become Mines willingly, we were forced by other Mines!”

“Please, spare us just this once, we’ll live righteously!”

The Mines made impossible pleas.

Seolhwa Ryeon grinned and said,

“You’ve undergone the ritual to become a Mine, right? You think I’d save those who have already offered human sacrifices?”

As Seolhwa Ryeon said.

There’s only one way to become a Mine. Create an altar and make a human sacrifice on it.

‘Mines shouldn’t be saved.’

Their sins were different from those of villains who aimed to destroy society to create their utopia.

Even if villains had the potential for enlightenment, Mines were not seen that way.

From the moment one became a Mine, the nature of their sins changed. Unless it was a world where the Nazi Empire had won World War II, ordinary people wouldn’t be forced to become Mines by someone else.

Seolhwa Ryeon drew her swords—a longsword and a shortsword. She stabbed a Mine’s throat with the shortsword and decapitated it with the longsword. Her skills were clean and efficient.

Seolhwa Ryeon focused on the ash-transformed Mines. She reached out her hand, and the shadow enveloped the ashes. However, the mass was minuscule. As Seolhwa Ryeon concentrated further, the shadow swallowed the ashes.

Ssssss──.

The shadow took the form of a soldier. The first shadow soldier I created was human-sized, but the one Seolhwa Ryeon made looked like an SD character, a diminutive soldier.

“This is my soldier…”

Seolhwa Ryeon looked at the soldier.

I watched the scene and contemplated teaching Seolhwa Ryeon a different method.

Seolhwa Ryeon, though dependent on me and calling me “elder,” inherently likes cute things, much like a girl who adores such styles.

Thus, even such a soldier could be loved…

“Go ahead and try killing each other quickly.”

Seolhwa Ryeon said this cheerfully, truly living up to her nickname, the Mine Head Killer, as she smiled while cutting off a Mine’s head.

I checked my remaining points.

[550,157p]

There were still plenty of points left.

I turned my attention from buying another talent or skill to trying my luck with a draw.

‘It’s definitely time for a draw.’

I had gained a lot. To become stronger in the current situation, I would need to earn at least 2,000,000 points. It might be better to take a chance with a lucky draw instead.

‘Let’s just spin it 10 times.’

Each draw costs 10,000 points, so that should be fine.

Just as I was about to open the draw window and spin, a notification caught my eye.

[Lucky Chance! A draw for talents and skills with a 10 times higher chance of obtaining superior talents than regular draws! 1 draw costs 100,000p.]

“……”

I hesitated for a moment. A 10x probability wasn’t bad, but it would use up all my current points.

‘Can’t eat but it’s worth the try.’

[You have acquired the talent, Magic Genius (B).]

[You have acquired the talent, Curse Genius (B).]

[You have acquired the talent, Spirit Genius (B).]

[You have acquired the talent, Illusionary Flame (A).]

[The talents Magic Genius (B), Curse Genius (B), Spirit Genius (B), and Illusionary Flame (A) are compatible. These four talents combine to form a superior talent, Flame Demon (S-).]

“Wow.”

The talents combined to create Flame Demon (S-), thanks to Illusionary Flame. The Black Flame of the Divine Spirit, with its fiery nature, matched well with Flame Demon (S-).

As a result, I acquired an S- grade talent that suited me perfectly.

‘If it’s going this well, the last one will come out even better.’

Filled with anticipation, I spun the last draw.

[You have acquired the skill, Room Control Technique (A).]

“……”

I fainted.