Chapter 157

The white storm energy caused my heart to pound and my body changed into an engine .

[The exclusive skill ‘Electrification’ Lv . 11 (+1) has been activated . ]

Due to the increase in my status, the skill level reached 11 .

In essence, all skill levels were restricted to level 10 . After that, people had to learn better skills or use ‘transcendence’ like the returnees . Yet this skill was level 11 .

Now my Electrification had exceeded the limits of the system . It wasn’t as hard to use Electrification as usual .

The returnee Kyrgios had a strength comparable to a powerful narrative-grade constellation . He was a strong figure whose depth couldn’t be measured . Now I could get a glimpse of how much strength Kyrgios had . If Kyrgios had reached a realm that could never be reached, I got a glimpse of where he had gone .

Tentacio was terrified beyond his surprise . “A constellation with a returnee’s ability? What on earth are you?”

I wanted to say my name but then my grumpiness got to me . “…What? I am Yoo Jonghyuk . ”

Tentacio’s body was torn in two by the explosive power of Electrification and the Blade of Faith .

The electric current around the sword blew off his arms and legs before his head rolled across the ground . He couldn’t even scream . My level 90 magic power was instantly exhausted and fatigue pulled in . Still, my level was clear .

“Uh… Yoo Jonghyuk…” Shit, I was scared to death . The fallen head was talking . “Incarnation… do you know… what it means… to be a constellation?”

What nonsense was he suddenly saying?

“You will regret… giving me… your name . ”

“What?”

[Demon Earl Tentacio has used ‘Death Scream . ]

[Demon Earl Tentacio has spread the name ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ through Dark Castle . ]

[The Dark Castle rankers will remember the name ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ . ]

…I hadn’t expected this .

[The Dark Castle rankers are baring their teeth towards the incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ .

I felt a bit sorry . I really hadn’t intended for this to happen . However, Yoo Jonghyuk should also suffer a bit .

[You have hunted ‘Demon Earl Tentacio’!]

[A 3rd grade demon has been killed for the fifth time and 30,000 coins have been acquired . ]

Transparent strings started to appear around Tentacio’s corpse . From the Dark Castle scenario onwards, we could kill those who had stories and take them away . I stretched out my hand and grabbed the string .

[The history-grade story ‘Bug Slaughter’ has been acquired . ]

[Bug Slaughter] .

This story would be enough to hatch the 41st regression Shin Yoosung .

…By the way, could I feed her the story of a demon? Would her mentality get worse if I fed it to her?

[You have completed the bounty scenario!]

[The constellation ‘Lady of the Brocade Sleep’ feels deep appreciation towards you . ]

[You are now able to receive the protection of the Silla constellations . ]

The protection of the Silla constellations . They might seem insignificant but they were also ‘constellations’ . If I built up a relationship with them, there would surely be a day when they could help me, just like the Absolute Throne situation .

[The history-grade story ‘Silla Allied Forces’ has been received . ]

…Silla Allied Forces?

[The constellation ‘Lady of the Brocade Sleep’ is laughing heartily . ]

Well, she said she would give me a history-grade story, not that it would be a good one . It didn’t matter since I could feed it to Shin Yoosung .

My party members recovered their spirits and approached me .

“Shit, Kim Dokja is crazy…”

“Dokja-ssi, how strong are you?”

I grinned at them . Lee Hyunsung looked down at his shoulders that had been bitten by Tentacio . “…Are there many enemies like him on the second floor?”

“There are some but it is uncommon . This guy’s ranking is probably…”

A message finally popped up in the air .

[50,000 coins have been acquired as a main scenario reward!]

[The main scenario content has been updated!]

[You have won a place in Dark Castle . ]

[You have hunted the 10th place demon on the Dark Castle Rankings, Tentacio . ]

[Ranking will be in proportion to the hunting contribution . ]

“…10th place . There are at least nine existences stronger than this guy . There are more similar guys . ”

“Ah…” Lee Hyunsung’s expression was complicated . He was relieved that the demon earl was in the top 10 but at the same time, he was discouraged . “Dokja-ssi is strong enough to fight these guys . ”

“Hyunsung-ssi can do it if you follow your story . I also can’t guarantee that I can hunt demons higher ranked than him . ”

In my current state, I could deal with an earl-grade demon without opening a story . It wouldn’t have been as easy if Bug Slaughter wasn’t his story .

Han Sooyoung’s pride also seemed hurt . “Sheesh, pretending to be modest . Aren’t you deceiving people?”

“You might’ve done it if you had fought with all your power . Didn’t the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon hand you a story?”

“I haven’t succeeded them yet because the contents of the story are crazy . Why didn’t you warn me when I said I would choose him? Were you fucking with me?”

‘The Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’s story was…’

I couldn’t remember well but considering the fact that the original contractor was Delusional Demon Kim Namwoon, Han Sooyoung’s reaction was understandable . It would be a shameful story that would annihilate the soul just by inheriting it .

[The Dark Castle Rankings in proportion to the hunting contribution will be announced!]

Finally, the rankings were determined . A ranking number was sent to the status window in front of all of us .

[The incarnation Kim Dokja’s ranking in Dark Castle is 11th place . ]

11th place . It wasn’t bad . The rest of my party members had terrible expressions, as if they were receiving their CSAT scores . (TL: Korean university exams)

Han Sooyoung quickly ran to my side and glanced at my ranking window .

“Hey, you are quite high…” Han Sooyoung’s expression hardened when she saw the number ’11 . ’

There was a big difference in contribution . Han Sooyoung and the others were probably in the hundreds . She wondered, “Will I be 11th place if I kill you now?”

“Do you think you can win?”

“I don’t know . In any case, I am better than that Ahjussi . ”

Han Sooyoung pointed out he passed out Kim Yongpal .

[The incarnation Kim Yongpal’s ranking in Dark Castle is number 101,123 . ]

The 102,123th ranked Kim Yongpal slept without knowing the world .

Lee Jihye and Lee Gilyoung, who had been unconscious since the beginning, received the ranks of 98,761 and 87,541 respectively . This was strange . Why was this ahjussi’s rank lower than people who had been unconscious from the beginning .

“What about Lee Hyunsung-ssi?”

“636th place . ”

Lee Hyunsung’s voice was gloomy . I hesitated to speak words of comfort but Lee Hyunsung opened his mouth first . “…It’s fine . I received many reports like this during my school days . I’m somehow more motivated . ”

It seemed there was no need for me to worry . Lee Hyunsung was the type to become more devoted if he had a specific goal .

Shin Yoosung, who was standing beside me, shook when my eyes met hers . “D-Don’t look!”

She was like an elementary school student hiding a report card from her parents . I was a bit worried about this child .

“It doesn’t matter what ranking you are right now . There will be many chances to rise up after going to the second floor . It depends on how hard Yoosung works . ”

…Damn, I shouldn’t say such lame things . Not everything would work out if you tried hard .

Still, Shin Yoosung seemed to sincerely accept my advice . “…Can I become strong enough Ahjussi?”

“Of course . You’re stronger than me . ”

I spoke sincerely . In fact, Shin Yoosung had more potential than anyone else here .

[Your stigma is about to blossom . ]

[Screening the story of your stigma . ]

Shin Yoosung would grow explosively once she received a stigma . No, even without a stigma, Shin Yoosung was essential for the second floor of Dark Castle . It was a stage where the children could be active .

“However, I don’t know why this ranking was suddenly given . If it merely for a competition… perhaps the person who reaches the top will receive a medal . ”

It was Lee Hyunsung who spoke . His words weren’t wrong . I’m sure this was the purpose . There was an even more fundamental reason for the Dark Castle Rankings .

The moment I opened my mouth .

[The demon king ‘Asmodeus’ is interested in your presence . ]

[The demon king ‘Astaroth’ is watching you . ]

[The demon king ‘Orobas’ is hungry for your story . ]

It wasn’t just me . The other party members also received the message . The messages were much more disturbing than those sent by the constellations . The messages alone caused everyone to shake .

In particular, Han Sooyoung was completely frightened since she previously received the curse of the demon king .

A demon king . Among them, a few had a ‘status’ that could compare to the constellation . At the end of this scenario, we would fight a demon king .

***

“Kuaaaack!”

The blade curved in a beautiful manner and cut off the head of a demon species .

‘…He was one without a story . ’

Yoo Jonghyuk had climbed up to the second floor and launched his full-scale plan to raise his ranking . As always, plans for the future were crammed in his head like training routines .

‘In order to get to the third floor, I need to seek the four heavenly kings . ’

‘The top rankers should be in the same section . ’

‘One of the 10 Evils is on the second floor . It is better not to bump into him . ’

‘If I keep collecting stories like this, perhaps in four days…’

Then a message appeared in the air .

[Someone has spread your name with ‘Death Scream . ’

[The Dark Castle rankers will remember your name . ]

[The Dark Castle rankers are watching for you . ]

[The Dark Castle rankers will aim for your story . ]

Yoo Jonghyuk frowned at the message .

‘My name was suddenly spoken?’

It was strange .

‘Death Scream is a demon curse . I haven’t killed one yet who used that ability . ’

Yoo Mia’s cheeks puffed up from beside him and she asked, “What is it Oppa?”

“It’s nothing . ” Yoo Jonghyuk hesitated for a moment before adding, “…It seems that guy is doing something bothersome again . ”

“That guy?”

“There is such a person . ”

Yoo Mia watched her brother, who had spoken in a cold voice . There was a nuance different from usual in his voice . It was a small change, like a grain of rice, but Yoo Mia was able to perceive the change . It was because Yoo Jonghyuk was her older brother .

“Are you referring to that ugly Ahjussi?”

“…”

“Oppa looks happy when talking about that Ahjussi . ”

Yoo Jonghyuk was embarrassed when he saw his smiling sister and he replied sharply . “You are mistaken . ”

“Is that so?”

Yoo Mia laughed at Yoo Jonghyuk . Yoo Jonghyuk scowled and wanted to say something to her .

The next moment, a bloody aura rose from Yoo Jonghyuk’s body . Yoo Mia thought he was really angry but Yoo Jonghyuk opened his mouth first . “Stop eavesdropping and come out . Otherwise I will kill you . ”

One part of the air seemed rigid and a heavenly doll appeared from a crack in the air . It was a woman wearing a cloak .

“I’m sorry . It wasn’t on purpose . ”

“Who are you?”

“It’s me, Yoo Jonghyuk . ”

The cloak was removed, revealing a surprising figure . Yoo Jonghyuk knew this face . Not long ago, he had rescued her .

“…Yoo Sangah?”

It was Yoo Sangah, who was the incarnation of the nebula Olympus .