Chapter 396
With the new Mythical-tier Beads of Omniscience—forged using the Seeker’s left arm—Se-Hoon threw himself even deeper into the forging process of his exclusive equipment.
Swish, Boom!
Pulling out an assortment of monster byproducts and materials from Ludwig and Wurgen’s vaults, he selected only what was necessary and assembled them like pieces of a puzzle.
However, there were thousands of different materials just by type alone. And when considering that those also changed forms based on the environment they were in, the number of combinations reached tens of thousands.
The countless variables, combined with a devilishly complex design, drastically increased the difficulty of the forging process. It was an undertaking so massive that even an advanced research institute working around the clock would struggle to manage it.
And yet...
“Wow... You’re making this look easy.”
“You’re telling me.”
It wasn’t too much of a struggle for Se-Hoon, who had the help of the Seeker.
“What do you think about converting the outer core of the Colossus into a Flame Pillar? It might make it easier to control the Sacred Flames.”
“Hmm... In terms of mana efficiency, that would improve it by about twelve percent, but it would weaken the structure, making it a net loss overall. If you're really set on changing it, reinforce another part instead. Here’s a list of recommendations...”
With the Seeker, what would take a team of hundreds of researchers several days of non-stop analysis was processed in mere seconds. And with Se-Hoon, who could quickly grasp the core details from the summaries she gave to make efficient decisions on the next steps, the entire forging process progressed at an astounding pace.
As expected of a Perfect One’s power, its performance is insane.
This guy... He’s definitely not new to this kind of work.
Both of them were impressed by the efficiency of the other as the experimenting continued seamlessly. And since the work was flowing so smoothly, they naturally started discussing ways to further enhance the equipment.
“Why not take this opportunity to gain another type of elemental mana?”
“Hmm... Another elemental mana, huh...”
Back when he just regressed, gaining another elemental mana would have been a risky choice due to the strain on his body. But having grown to the level of an S-rank, the strain was no longer an issue. Moreover, with access to Ludwig and Wurgen’s vaults, materials weren’t an issue either.
He had everything, so it wasn’t a bad option, but...
“That’s going to be tough.”
Se-Hoon shook his head with a slightly regretful expression.
“Huh? Why not? We’ve got plenty of materials at our hands, and it’s not like you can’t do it.”
“I can... but it would slow down the current process.”
“What do you mean...?”
Instead of answering, Se-Hoon activated Soul Honing to construct a temporary mana circuit within his body.
Clang!
His body, previously structured with three mana circuits, was forcibly reorganized into four. And upon seeing the change that would occur if he gained another elemental mana, the Seeker immediately inspected the internal structure.
“Hmm... I had a feeling from the start, but... you’re completely insane, aren’t you?”
Even three mana circuits were too much for most to handle for long. From what she saw when another circuit was added on top of those, it was practically a death sentence. The instability caused by the additional mana circuit completely outweighed any potential benefits, essentially being a straight path to self-destruction.
Realizing that, the Seeker finally understood why Se-Hoon had rejected the idea.
“You’re afraid that there will be way too many variables to adjust, which would extend the crafting period significantly. Okay, we should just stick with the current plan.”
“Let’s do that.”
Normally, he would have done anything to perfect the equipment even if it took more time, but at the moment, his priority was the Silent Volcano mission. To prepare for that, reinforcing other aspects instead of acquiring another elemental mana was the best choice.
Convinced, Se-Hoon and the Seeker resumed their work.
“Delivery!”
A package arrived as they were working, sent by Li Kenxie.
Seeing the two pieces of a blue crystalline orb inside—fragments of the Jade Crescent Mirror—Se-Hoon blinked in surprise.
Even though Li Kenxie said he would ask for the Five Element Equipment through Caden, he had assumed nothing would come of it. Yet, here they were, the two missing pieces of the Jade Crescent Mirror.
He definitely knows I have the last piece.... What’s his game?
Wondering if there was some kind of hidden trap, he even brought forth his powers to inspect the items meticulously, but there were no suspicious traces. From what he could tell, Caden had truly handed over the Jade Crescent Mirror with no strings attached.
Frowning slightly, Se-Hoon turned his attention to the letter included with the package.
To Lee Se-Hoon,
Greetings. I am Caden Miller from MT Industries. By order of my master, Li Kenxie, I am delivering the Five Element Equipment in my possession to you.
Inside is the Jade Crescent Mirror, which is split into three fragments. But unfortunately, we only had two of them.
I sincerely hope that you will find the remaining piece and restore the mirror.
Sincerely, Caden Miller
Nothing suspicious here either...
The fact it was explicitly mentioned that there were only three pieces, along with the straightforward nature of the letter, suggested no ulterior motives. If anything, it seemed like they were simply making sure they weren’t suspected of anything.
But if that was their goal, sending just one piece would have sufficed as well—so why both?
“Wow, they’re being ridiculously polite. Anyone would think you did them a favor or something.”
“...Ah.”
While, officially, he had offered Offering nothing in return, thanks to the Seeker’s words, he remembered something significant he had recently handed over through Meirin.
So that’s what this is about...
It was Offering’s modus operandi to reciprocate whenever they received something. But them upholding that policy even for him—their enemy—was surprising.
I already received compensation for it, though.
Meirin had given them Defiant Ember, and in return, acquired Offering’s technology. She then shared them with him, though most of it was knowledge he already possessed.
Thanks to the few new hidden techniques that slipped through, though, the current production of his exclusive equipment had become easier. And on top of that, they even allowed him to discover weaknesses of Offering, gaining him a major advantage.
Now they were giving him the Jade Crescent Mirror as well.
Well, they must have some other reason for doing this.
Regardless of their intentions, it was a gain for him, so Se-Hoon pondered it no more and turned his gaze to the fragments.
“We can try adding water mana into the equipment.”
“Huh? You sure about that?”
“The issue before was that we lacked a stable base material.”
By incorporating the Jade Crescent Mirror into the equipment they were forging, the potential instability would be significantly reduced, allowing him to endure the added burden of a new type of elemental mana.
It was indeed an opportunity, so Se-Hoon quickly adjusted his plans, recalling the water mana he had used before regressing.
Moon Submerging Sea... Well, that should be solid enough.
It didn’t have any particularly outstanding strengths compared to other attributes, but at S-rank—and with his post-regression capabilities—it would certainly prove useful.
However, just as Se-Hoon was about to dig through Ludwig’s vault for those materials, the Seeker suddenly remembered something.
“Ah. Then how about acquiring the mana I used?”
“...Your mana?”
Se-Hoon frowned at the suggestion.
That eerie, invasive mana that constantly tried to corrode his body? Using it temporarily was one thing, but permanently implanting it in his body? That was far from appealing.
“No, no, not that one. I mean the mana I used to have.” Noticing his skepticism, the Seeker quickly elaborated. “Before I conquered the Tower of Heroes, the elemental mana I used the most was water mana. It doesn’t clash with other elemental mana, and it’s quite practical, so I thought I’d recommend it.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yes! Why do you always doubt me whenever I say something...? I might just die of heartbreak all over again...”
Ignoring the Seeker’s exaggerated whining, Se-Hoon mulled over the proposal.
Water mana from when she was at S-rank...
There had always been rumors that the Seeker wielded more than three types of elemental mana in her lifetime. However, it was the first time Se-Hoon had heard that water mana was her primary one.
The revelation left him feeling slightly uneasy, but at the same time, it piqued his curiosity.
It might even blend well with the power of Omniscience.
Though unintentional, every type of elemental mana he acquired so far had been influenced by the powers of Perfect Ones, and the benefits had been substantial. If his water mana could also be integrated into the power of Omniscience, it would be a valuable asset.
“Alright, let’s give it a shot.”
“...For real?”
“I’ve already been using the multiple powers of the Perfect Ones for quite some time. What’s one more type of mana?”
He had even turned his own left arm into a weapon—what was there to fear?
With Se-Hoon’s agreement, the Seeker’s previously dejected voice brightened with excitement. “Hehehe... Great! Then let’s loot our dear sponsors’ vaults, shall we?”
The Seeker listed off the materials needed, and Se-Hoon retrieved them from Ludwig and Wurgen’s vaults.
Fwoosh! Clang!
Some materials were tossed out of the spatial rift carelessly, while others were carefully carried out by skeletons. Three of them were Legendary tier with many others being Hero tier—an almost excessive amount for a single elemental mana.
“All of these... are for acquiring water mana?”
“Of course! You think I used any kind of mana in my hero days? If it was something you could obtain with just a handful of materials, I wouldn’t have even recommended it.”
It still felt like a waste, but Se-Hoon quickly shrugged off the thought.
It’s not like it’s my money, anyway.
Besides, regret would only come if he failed. As long as he succeeded, there was no issue.
With that in mind, Se-Hoon started arranging the materials as the Seeker instructed.
Woong-
Those on the floor were arranged into a swirling vortex, while the materials in the air formed a constellation-like pattern. As the formation took shape, the surrounding water mana naturally began flowing into the empty area in between. The shimmering blue light looked as if it was filling an invisible container.
“Alright, time to dive in.”
“Dive in...?”
Stepping into the magic array made of water mana, Se-Hoon began slowly drawing in the surrounding mana.
Swish-
Like water trickling into a basin, the mana seeped into him at a steady pace. At first, it felt refreshing, like stepping into cool water on a hot day.
Rumble-!
But even if it was all water mana, the sources all carried unique properties. The energies from the dozens of different materials started clashing inside his body, just as they did outside.
Like a raging storm over the ocean, the mana circuit forming within him was being violently battered by waves of mana.
“Hph...”
“Don’t let your guard down! Try to keep your head up there, or you’ll drown right away! And then I’ll take over your body!”
It was hard to tell whether the Seeker was warning or cursing him, but Se-Hoon ignored it all the same and focused on taming the wild mana inside him.
Forget controlling it for now... can I even absorb all of this?
Just the mana he had already taken in felt enough to qualify as S-rank, yet there was still several times that amount flooding his surroundings.
How did the Seeker even manage to contain all this?
As if answering his unspoken question, a strange phenomenon unfolded within the swirling mana at that moment.
Woong-
This is...
Tiny glowing clusters formed where the mana collided. They flickered briefly before scattering, resembling bubbles bursting in water—yet, for some reason, Se-Hoon had the thought that they looked like stars reflected on a night sea.
Stars...
And the moment that synesthetic mindscape surfaced in his mind, the raging mana inside him settled. Then, like the newfound stability was a cue, the mana in the air flooded in all at once. Gone was the hesitance to enter that it once had.
Swoosh-
The incoming mana seamlessly mixed with the settled mana within, sinking deep into his mana circuit without clashing. It was as if a vast ocean was forming within him.
How much would I be able to contain? That thought stuck Se-Hoon.
A normal sea would eventually reach its limits. But if it was an ocean vast enough to hold countless stars, then perhaps... it would be limitless.
As the image of an infinite ocean that reflected the stars above and embraced them all within took root deep inside his body—
Clang-!
He struck his consciousness with a hammer formed in his synesthetic mindscape.
Fwoosh-
Then, the surrounding materials crumbled into dust and scattered, having been expended of their mana.
“Phew...”
Se-Hoon slowly opened his eyes.
Within the deep breath that he let out, dense water mana swirled. It intrigued him, making him look down at his body.
Now I know why she used this one the most.
With the mana circuit structure he was observing, it was clear why it didn’t conflict with other elemental manas. Satisfied, Se-Hoon was about to inspect further—
[The effect of ‘Soul Honing’ significantly boosts all stats.]
[Elemental Mana ‘Silver River (S+)’ has been developed.]
“Huh?”
The abrupt notification messages made Se-Hoon’s eyes widened. He immediately checked his own status message.
[Lee Se-Hoon]
[Strength - S (301) Stamina - S (308)
Mana - S+ (355) Agility - S (310)]
[Silver River]『S+』
[Boundless water mana that reflects infinite worlds.
It specializes in absorbing external powers, with the ability to assimilate their properties to amplify the user’s strength.]
His mana stat had skyrocketed past S-rank, reaching S+. In addition, all his other stats had finally reached S-rank.
But what stood out the most was the unprecedented grade of his new elemental mana.
S+... I’ve never seen that before.
Until now, S-rank had always been considered the highest possible grade. Even before regressing—and despite mastering an abundance of elemental mana types and skills—he had never encountered S+ before.
No wonder she was the one who conquered the Tower of Heroes after Ludwig.
With newfound respect for the Seeker, Se-Hoon looked at the Beads of Omniscience that was analyzing his body.
“So? What do you think?”
“...That’s not the water mana I used to possess.”
“...Huh? Then what the hell is this?”
If the S+ grade elemental mana wasn’t the Seeker’s, then what was it?
“I... don’t know.... It’s terrifying...”
For once, the Seeker sounded genuinely unnerved.