Chapter 11
Toward the Border Area (1)
Even though he had completed the magical weapon, there was still work left to do.
“Adjust the melting solution ratio.”
“You’re still pouring that onto the corpse?”
“It needs one more day to mature.”
“You really are putting a lot of effort into this. It must not be an ordinary one.”
“If I want to use mana melting solution as a catalyst for spell activation, it needs to be fully saturated.”
The core of creating an Eldritch Dragon was preserving the essence of a dragonkin without any loss.
That was why he had immediately stored it in the Black Abyss Ring after defeating it—to prevent its power from leaking away.
‘With my current abilities, even building the spell structure is difficult.’
Normally, an Eldritch Dragon is created when a living dragon separates its soul and body and seals its essence into a vessel on its own.
The method Yujin was attempting was an irregular one—processing the dragonkin’s essence and body, then binding another soul into it.
The success rate was extremely low, and the infrastructure was also poor.
〔Can you really complete it with your level?〕
‘Everything is going according to plan.’
Because Shin Joon-seok, a capable alchemist, was helping him, the Draconian corpse remained in perfect condition.
The rest was up to Yujin.
After letting it mature for another day, he placed his hand on the Draconian corpse.
He glanced at Shin Joon-seok, who was nervously shifting behind him.
“Don’t just stand there and watch. It’s distracting.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Nothing gets worn down just because someone is looking.”
“Isn’t a secret art supposed to be hidden from others?”
“You couldn’t replicate it even if you tried.”
Only necromancers could handle spiritual energy.
Even beyond that—
‘Soon we’ll be business partners anyway. I can afford a little service.’
Suppressing a faint smile, Yujin observed the Draconian corpse.
Bones, muscles, even every cell.
The mana melting solution had fully soaked in, giving it a lifelike aura.
‘Condition is perfect.’
Sssssk—
Power from the Black Abyss Ring seeped into Yujin’s eyes.
A gaze that saw beyond matter itself.
The Spirit Eye (靈眼).
A necromancer ability that allows one to see and interfere with the essence of death and souls.
‘It’s not a proper skill yet. Just a temporary workaround.’
His eyes burned painfully.
Vision blurred.
This was power beyond what his current body could handle.
‘I can’t use it for long.’
Even with full effort, he could only maintain it for about 60 seconds.
Yujin focused his gaze on the Draconian’s chest.
The heart had stopped.
Inside it resided the dragonkin’s essence, which he controlled through Spirit Eye.
[Curse Spell – Soul Gain]
A curse that binds the essence of a soul within a dead body.
Originally, it was used to bind spirits to objects or locations.
Now it was being inscribed onto dragon essence itself.
‘I can carve the circuit even without a skill.’
As someone who once stood at the peak of necromancy, such curse patterns could be drawn with closed eyes.
The spell completed in an instant.
The mana melting solution absorbed over the past three days reacted and fed energy into the formation.
Mana that had spread through the body flowed toward the chest.
Thump— thump—
The heart that should have been dead began to beat again.
“Hiiik!”
Shin Joon-seok staggered backward in shock.
“It’s just a normal corpse. Why are you so scared?”
“It’s beating! How is that a corpse?!”
“It’s just… a special one.”
A simplified Eldritch Dragon.
Compared to a true immortal dragon, it was nothing more than an imitation.
But with a strong enough soul to control it—and Yujin’s mastery of necromancy—it would reach a level worthy of the name “immortal dragon.”
“Haa… this is exhausting.”
Yujin collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily.
Mana depletion and Spirit Eye backlash had taken their toll.
Blood vessels around his eyes burst, and blood slowly ran down his face.
Well.
So this is what bleeding from the eyes feels like.
〔Contractor. Are your eyes alright?〕
‘No. Not at all.’
〔Then it seems you’re still alive.〕
‘At least I can tell whether this is the living world or the afterlife.’
If he had known this would happen, he would’ve used Life Drain in advance to recover mana.
While he clicked his tongue at the delayed realization, Shin Joon-seok handed him a towel.
“Wipe your face.”
“You see blood coming out of someone’s eyes and you’re calm?”
“A little blood doesn’t kill people. More importantly, I had a lot to think about.”
Shin Joon-seok sat down beside him.
“I’ve decided to accept your proposal from the first day.”
Now?
While blood was still flowing from his eyes?
“I know it might seem sudden, but please understand. I became convinced after seeing your skills.”
Right.
A genius obsessed only with alchemy.
It made sense for Shin Joon-seok.
Yujin immediately brought up the profit split again.
“6 to 4. Does that work?”
“It’s large, but acceptable.”
“Oh? You’re generous.”
“People who run conglomerates say this. Time can be bought with money.”
Holding the intermediate potion he had completed three days ago, Shin Joon-seok continued confidently.
“If working with you lets me buy time, isn’t it worth it?”
“You won’t regret that decision.”
Now he had a dedicated alchemist.
All that remained was finding a soul worthy of anchoring the Eldritch Dragon.
〔That man is not ordinary either.〕
‘A freak—but talented.’
〔You’re calling others freaks now?〕
Ignoring Chronos’s complaint, Yujin picked up his phone.
[Baby-faced Kang Minho]
Beep— beep—
As soon as the call connected, Yujin spoke immediately.
“Interested in taking on another job?”
Shin Joon-seok frowned.
“Who are these people?”
After Yujin, more visitors had arrived at the Paju workshop.
“My friends. They’ll be staying here for a while.”
“Hehe. Nice to meet you.”
After scanning the so-called “Baby-faced Team,” Shin Joon-seok suddenly shouted,
“This is a workshop! Not a guesthouse!!!”
His voice shook with frustration.
Really, young people these days…
“There are empty rooms.”
“That’s true, but still…”
“They won’t interfere with work. They’ll just sleep.”
“Then why did they come to Paju? Sightseeing in a border area?”
“Oh. Correct. Alchemists are all so perceptive.”
Sigh—
Shin Joon-seok sighed deeply.
The border area.
A dangerous region once known as the DMZ dividing the Korean Peninsula.
“You understand how dangerous that place is?”
“Don’t worry. We won’t do anything reckless.”
“I can see your friends are pale already.”
“They’re just weak.”
“If they die horribly, don’t blame me. If you die, I’ll take all potion profits.”
He grumbled and returned to the workshop.
Honestly, what an honest guy.
“Pack up and we move. We’ll stay for about three days.”
“Hyung… why the border area…?”
“To pay respects.”
“Huh?”
Kang Minho asked in confusion.
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Yujin didn’t explain further.
About 5 km north of the workshop, a blocked checkpoint appeared.
Barbed wire lined both sides of the road.
To enter the border zone, they had to pass through.
“There are a lot of hunters here too.”
“Monsters exist everywhere.”
“That’s true, but still.”
“This place isn’t dangerous enough to worry about.”
Yujin walked ahead.
“Are you hunters?”
“Yes. Our team plus one more…”
“They’re with us.”
Yujin quickly corrected Kang Minho.
After checking the list, the soldier nodded.
“Confirmed. One additional member.”
The metal gate opened slowly.
“Good luck.”
Yujin stepped through without hesitation.
Land abandoned to monsters.
Toward the border zone.
Dense overgrown forest.
They moved slowly along a narrow path through alien plants.
The Baby-faced Team stayed tense, scanning their surroundings.
“Think of it as a big gate.”
“Still… I can’t relax.”
“My old workplace looked like this too, so I’m even more nervous.”
“I didn’t mean relax completely…”
Yujin chuckled at their reactions.
This entry zone was relatively safe because military hunters and government agents regularly cleared monsters.
‘It should be around here.’
As he recalled the map in his head, Yujin suddenly stepped off the path into the bushes.
Rustle— rustle—
Less than a minute later, footsteps not belonging to their group were heard.
[Activating Control.]
Whoosh!
One of the Cursed Bones at his waist shot into the air and sliced through the bushes.
Faster than ordinary bone by several times.
Enhanced throwing speed made it far more lethal.
“Grrrk!”
A muscular green creature emerged from the bushes.
“O-orc!!” Kang Min-young screamed.
“A 2-star monster! This is dangerous!”
“Hyung, even if we all fight it, it might be equal!”
These guys…
They really lacked trust.
If they were scared of an orc, they wouldn’t even be here.
Yujin smirked and controlled the weapon.
“Grrk! Grrk!”
The orc’s arms bulged.
Thick muscles like steel ropes.
It swung its weapon, aiming to block the incoming bone spike—
But—
‘Not happening.’
Swoosh!
The trajectory shifted slightly.
Even after being launched, he still controlled it.
With minimal mana and focus, he adjusted its path mid-flight.
The orc lost its timing.
Thud!
The Cursed Bone pierced through its flesh and tore deep into muscle.
Green blood dripped to the ground.
“An orc… taken down in one hit!”
“Incredible!”
Yujin shook his head.
“I aimed for the heart. Not bad.”
The orc had twisted its body at the last moment.
Its racial trait—Battle Continuation—activated, ignoring pain and charging forward.
“Grrrk!”
It sprinted toward Yujin again.
“Hyung, I’ll hold it. Follow up!”
Kang Minho stepped forward with his shield.
He braced himself firmly.
‘So even when weaker, he was always bold.’
That matched what he remembered from his past life.
Sssssk—
Four more cursed bones rose into the air.
The orc’s face darkened as it charged through pain.
“Not working out?”
The green beast, already heavily injured, was being shredded mid-charge.
A species ability is meaningless unless you’re still alive.
At the limit of endurance, only undead could keep moving.
Yes.
A being that defies death.
An undead.
“Answer my call.”
[Raise Undead activated.]
The heavily wounded orc slowly rose again.
Its bleeding stopped quickly.
Though injuries remained, its combat power did not drop significantly.
[Zombie quality is extremely high.]
[All stats increased by 100%.]
“W-what…”
The half-twisted orc zombie staggered forward.
Right.
He forgot to drain its life with Life Drain.
“Well, there are plenty of orcs anyway.”
Yujin muttered casually.
Kang Minho panicked.
“Hyung… weren’t we here to pay respects?”
“Yes. But the one I’m paying respects to lives in an orc settlement.”
“…”
A hollow laugh escaped them.
Yujin smiled at them.
“You guys will like it too.”
Isn’t it better if we earn a lot of money?
Right?
