“Guahhh!”
Screams erupted as a Thunder Strike detonated inside a pit where hybrid creatures had been meticulously—perhaps even artistically(?)—stacked.
The electrocuted hybrids tangled together and tore at one another, triggering a chain reaction of shocks.
These creatures were already in a state neither fully alive nor truly dead, their bodies riddled with rot.
For such beings, continuous electrocution was a nightmare, bursting and incinerating their weaker body parts.
A nauseating stench surged from the pit, but Kang-hoo’s expression remained unchanged.
He was immune to most foul odors. The metallic scent of blood was almost pleasant to him, if he exaggerated a little.
【Flames of Death】
Kang-hoo added fuel to the fire—literally—by unleashing a dark flame, engulfing the pit in eerie black fire.
The hybrids, ensnared in the inextinguishable flames, melted away while still alive.【Annihilation】
An added bonus.
Explosions erupted from all sides, shredding the hybrid creatures to pieces.
With so many of them crammed into such a tight space, the explosions were exceptionally efficient.
When one hybrid exploded, those nearby suffered the same fate.
【Blood Flower】
A final touch.
There were always a few stubborn survivors. But he had no intention of letting even a single one escape.
Boom…! Boom! Boom!
And with that, it was over.
Not a single hybrid remained after the electrification, flames, and successive explosions.
【This… This is true strategy and tactics! My judgment wasn’t wrong after all. Spectacular, Contractor!】
The voice of the Strategist of the Wasteland rang out, filled with exhilaration.
From the initial baiting to the flawless massacre, every step had been executed without waste.
【You’re a one-man army. I have no idea who you take after to be this versatile.】
Then came the voice of the Dimension Plunderer, slipping in effortlessly.
A one-man army—it was an accurate description.
He had played the role of an aggro tank by luring in monsters, an AoE mage by unleashing electric blasts, and a dark sorcerer with specialized magic damage.
By using these three tactics, he had wiped out the entire group of hybrids.
Just in case, he surveyed the pit again—but there wasn’t a single survivor.
His level had shot up to 263, likely thanks to the sheer amount of experience earned from the massacre.
He hadn’t noticed it before, but it seemed he had leveled up twice in quick succession.
And then—
【The Angel of the Battlefield watches your madness with pity.】
‘Finally!’
His target had reacted.
This entire northern expedition had been a journey solely to lure out the celestial being known as the Angel of the Battlefield.
But only an amateur would wag their tail in excitement at this moment. Kang-hoo simply nodded silently.
Until the Angel extended a hand first, offering a contract, he would not make the first move.
Tap. Tap.
Right on cue, a Swarm Queen emerged.
With the Angel watching, this was the perfect stage to make his appeal.
This time, he had no hesitation about using the Awakening Pill.
If consuming one pill meant securing the Angel of the Battlefield, it was an absolute bargain.
There was no reason to hold back.
And then—
【Acceleration】
Tatadadat!
Kang-hoo activated acceleration, sprinting toward the Swarm Queen while biting down on the Awakening Pill.
The bleak, dreary world around him transformed into a golden paradise, overlaid with vibrant hues of beauty.
Time slowed to the point where every moment could be broken down into infinitesimal fragments.
Meanwhile, his thought process accelerated exponentially, stacking layer upon layer.
The battle against the Swarm Queen, enhanced by the Awakening Pill, didn’t take as long as expected.
Some time later.
Kang-hoo stored the bile extracted from the Swarm Queen’s corpse in a container.
With the added boost from the Awakening Pill, maintaining the upper hand in the fight was easier than the first time he faced a Swarm Queen.
Despite the rapid exchange of countless attacks within a short timeframe, the result was his victory.
“As expected, resistance is building up. My guess was right.”
Kang-hoo frowned slightly.
The first time he combined Mad Solarkium with the Awakening Pill, he hadn’t suffered any side effects even after its effects wore off.
It had been such a dramatic change that he suspected repeated use of the same combination would build resistance.
And he was right.
The backlash was coming.
Compared to not using the Awakening Pill at all, the side effects were mild, but a fatigue he hadn’t experienced before was creeping in.
【Life Absorption】
【Absorbs vitality from monsters or hunters to restore health or enhance combat power.】
To replenish his stamina, Kang-hoo activated Life Absorption over the Swarm Queen’s corpse.
Life Absorption—
A power he had stolen from the celestial being Ruthless Devourer after killing Jeon Jong-du, the former leader of the Osho Mercenary Corps.
Most battles ended before he ever needed to restore his stamina, so he had never used this ability before.
Though he had obtained it a long time ago, this was practically his first time using it—and the efficiency was excellent.
Kang-hoo’s stamina surged instantly, a rush of energy spreading through his body like he had just taken a powerful tonic.
‘Unlike a typical healing skill, I can feel an unrefined, murky energy entering me, but it’s still effective.’
The energy’s nature was different, but the mechanism of stamina recovery remained the same.
At that moment—
【The Constellation ‘Frenzied Murderer’ grants you 48 selectable stat points for achieving a special condition.】
【However, the ‘Magic Resistance’ and ‘Endurance’ stats receive 24 points, while hidden stats receive 16 points.】
“Do hybrids count as humans? This question keeps popping up from time to time. I’ve stolen so many Constellations that I might forget a few if I don’t stay focused.”
He let out a small laugh at the absurdity of his situation.
There were indeed many Constellations under his belt.
Excluding his main Constellations, the ones he had outright stolen numbered over forty.
He still remembered his first theft—the Skilled Empathizer from Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
He had come a long way since then.
In sheer numbers alone, he had more Constellations than Chae Gwanhyeong.
If he included his main Constellations, his collection was close to that of Jang Si-hwan.
Of course, the quality and synergy of Constellations mattered far more than quantity.
But considering how well he had utilized Dimension Plunderer, Kang-hoo felt a strong sense of pride.
“Since my goal is to reach 1,000 in Endurance, I should put the points there. With 24 more, it’ll reach 834.”
He immediately selected Endurance, boosting his stats.
It felt like a bonus that popped up when he least expected it—almost like free money.
After recovering his stamina, Kang-hoo silently continued hunting hybrids.
He avoided direct confrontation with the Swarm Queens, targeting only the hybrids.
By luring them into narrow paths and picking them off individually, then finishing with AoE attacks, he gained significant experience—his level climbing to the verge of 265.
And finally, the long-awaited response arrived.
【The Angel of the Battlefield takes a deep interest in you, who grants eternal rest to the hybrids.】
【Believing that true peace in battle is born from the death of the unworthy, the Angel watches you intently.】
【The Angel of the Battlefield is deeply impressed by your dedication to exterminating hybrids and formally offers you a contract.】
“They’re really hyping me up, huh?”
His lips curled into a smirk.
Simply killing hybrids wasn’t enough to draw the Angel of the Battlefield.
The method mattered. Skill usage had to be efficient, and above all, one had to demonstrate exceptional survival instincts.
He had orchestrated everything: deliberately getting surrounded, escaping at the last moment using Wings of Corruption.
Every detail was a meticulously planned performance. The direction, the script, the acting—it was all Shin Kang-hoo’s show.
【What is this nonsense? Showing up out of nowhere and demanding to sit at my table?】
Once again, Dimension Plunderer’s sharp voice cut in.
At first, Kang-hoo had wondered if she was genuinely displeased.
But by now, he understood.
If she truly opposed the contract, she would have outright told him not to accept.
Yet, she had never done so.
She always grumbled, but ultimately, the final decision was his to make.
Kang-hoo saw this as her way of expressing her opinion while still respecting his authority.
Though, if he were being honest, he wouldn’t mind hearing a kind word from her once in a while.
But knowing her personality, that was unlikely.
Especially considering how she frequently hurled insults at Seeker of the Abyss and Strategist of the Wasteland—he wasn’t holding his breath.
Regardless, once he finalized the contract with the Angel of the Battlefield, he could fully commit to spiritual training.
There was no other Constellation specializing in holy power that he wanted.
As long as he had Angel of the Battlefield, he wouldn’t lack in that department.
“I accept the contract.”
【The Angel of the Battlefield is genuinely delighted.】
【The Grand Cathedral urges an emergency approval of the contract. The contract is immediately proceeding.】
“You’re in quite the hurry.”
Having experienced Dimension Plunderer’s fiery resistance, Kang-hoo found the Angel of the Battlefield’s eagerness amusing.
The Angel seemed worried that if they delayed, Kang-hoo might cancel, or the Dimension Plunderer might change his mind.
In a way, the Dimension Plunderer had inadvertently helped speed up the contract.
Had she… planned this all along?
Thus, the contract with a main Constellation was finalized.
Kang-hoo immediately checked the activated perks granted by the Angel of the Battlefield.
【First: You are instantly granted 100 Holy Power stat points. The divine energy fully harmonizes with all your abilities.】
“Hah, a hidden stat that’s supposedly incompatible coexisting like water and oil. But there’s no conflict.”
This first perk meant that Kang-hoo could wield Holy Power freely.
Ordinarily, Dark Energy and Holy Power were polar opposites, fundamentally opposed in nature.
But the Angel of the Battlefield was ensuring they coexisted without interference.
【Second: You gain the ability to regenerate 1 Holy Power per minute.】
Just like the Seeker of the Abyss, he had been granted an auto-recovery ability for his hidden stat.
This was invaluable.
For most Hunters, obtaining a hidden stat was one thing, but recovering it was another.
Many had hidden stats but no way to replenish them—or at least, not efficiently.
It was like having a car with an empty gas tank—a glorified decoration.
【Third: When slaying designated dark-energy monsters marked by the Hall of Radiance, you can select one of the following rewards:
Increase in Holy Power.
Deposit a skill into the Hall of Radiance and receive a Holy Skill in return.
Obtain Absolute Radiance.】
“This… is the real prize.”
Kang-hoo’s eyes gleamed as he reviewed the three reward options.
No matter which he picked, he would benefit immensely.
This third perk was precisely why he had set his sights on the Angel of the Battlefield in the first place.