The Curse of Imperfection – The Numbers That Mocked Him
Markus opened his status window again, scanning the sheer power he had accumulated.
His army was vast.
His mana was deep and self-sustaining.
His skills had evolved into something far beyond what he imagined.
And yet… those damned uneven numbers.
Strength: 184
Agility: 167
Endurance: 276
Intelligence: 548
Wisdom: 441
Luck: 118
"These numbers are going to kill me," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
It was irrational. Utterly meaningless in combat.
It didn't affect his damage.
It didn't make him weaker.
But it looked… wrong.
The unspent stat points taunted him.
50 free points just sitting there, mocking him.
A simple adjustment could fix everything.
But he refused to spend them yet.
"One day, I'll correct you. But not yet."
For now, he focused on something actually important, evolution.
Evolving His Undead Dominion
[Abyssal March has reached Level 10. Would you like to evolve this ability?]
[YES]
A wave of dark energy pulsed outward, Markus' connection to his undead deepening.
[Abyssal March has evolved into Abyssal Dominion (Lv. 1).]
Summon Limit Increased → Now controls 500 undead.
New Undead Types Available → Stronger, more specialized creatures.
Greater Coordination → The undead now react to Markus' will instinctively.
New Undead Types Unlocked:
Bone Reapers (☠️) – Elite skeletal warriors wielding enchanted scythes.
Doom Knights (⚔️) – Heavy-armored cavalry, resistant to magic.
Wraith Lords (👁️) – More intelligent wraiths, capable of commanding lesser ghosts.
Lich Generals (🧙♂️) – Superior necromancers that control battlefield-wide undead deployment.
This wasn't just an undead army anymore. This was a dominion.
Evolving Ritual of the Forsaken – The Cycle of the Undying
[Ritual of the Forsaken has reached Level 10. Would you like to evolve this ability?]
[YES]
A deeper darkness seeped into his connection with the undead, something more primal, more unyielding.
[Ritual of the Forsaken has evolved into Eternal March (Lv. 1).]
Undead Now Respawn Automatically → When slain, units reassemble using Markus' mana.
Resurrection Cost → Uses MP instead of needing rituals or corpses.
Respawn Time → Takes 10 seconds to return to battle after destruction.
Persistent Forces → As long as Markus has mana, his army never stays dead.
"So… my mana is no longer just for spells. It's their lifeblood now."
Expanding His Undead Legion – The New Summons
With his mana issues handled, Markus turned to his next task, expanding his army.
Bone Reapers (☠️ x20) – Elite skeletal warriors wielding enchanted scythes.
Doom Knights (⚔️ x20) – Heavy-armored undead cavalry, resistant to magic.
Wraith Lords (👁️ x30) – Command lesser wraiths, more intelligent spectral entities.
Lich Generals (🧙♂️ x30) – Commanders of necromantic forces, capable of large-scale summoning.
100 slots in his inventory were now permanently reserved for undead storage.
Stored Units (Inventory):
Bone Reapers (☠️ x20) – Elite skeletal warriors wielding enchanted scythes.
Doom Knights (⚔️ x20) – Heavy-armored undead cavalry, resistant to magic.
Wraith Lords (👁️ x30) – Command lesser wraiths, more intelligent spectral entities.
Lich Generals (🧙♂️ x30) – Commanders of necromantic forces, capable of large-scale summoning.
Now, his army wasn't just massive. It was properly managed.
The Road Ahead – Looking Back at the Days Passed
Markus paused, looking up at the early morning sky.
How many days had it been since he awoke in this world?
Since he left his old life, discarded his past, and arrived in Korea under different identities?
Since he started at zero and built himself into what he was now?
"This world is funny," he mused.
People always waited for someone else to save them.
Governments relied on heroes who were either weak or self-righteous fools.
Fantasy worlds always seemed to follow the same pattern.
"At least this isn't a Chinese young master world."
If it were, he doubted he'd last a single day without being forced to slaughter at least two clans.
"And Jinwoo... at least he isn't a pure idiot."
He wasn't a self-righteous fool who believed in mercy when it wasn't warranted.
He wasn't a hero willing to sacrifice himself for nothing.
He knew when to kill, and Markus could respect that.
Then there were the women of this world.
Jin-Ah, youthful, energetic, and full of potential.
That blonde sword-wielding girl, strong-willed, disciplined, beautiful.
The healer with the large… assets, kind yet loyal, someone worth keeping.
Markus smirked.
Power was satisfying. But power and pleasure? That was real dominance.
And now that he had power, he would make sure to enjoy the finer things this world had to offer.
Markus sat on the edge of a rooftop, watching the faint glow of dawn creep over the horizon.
His power had grown, beyond what most Hunters could even comprehend.
His army was undying.
His magic had evolved into something monstrous.
His abilities surpassed even Korea's strongest Hunters.
But one thing remained the same, he was still an illegal entity.
No official records. No Hunter license.
Every dungeon he raided had been unauthorized.
The Korean Hunter Association (KHA) had yet to notice, but they would, soon.
"I don't need to wait for them to catch up."
A ghost could only remain a ghost for so long.
It was time to become something more.
The Only Logical Path – Becoming a Legal Hunter. If Markus wanted to move freely, he needed legitimacy.
Hiding in the shadows forever was inefficient.
A legal Hunter license would allow him unrestricted access to Gates.
He could enter and exit dungeons openly, without needing stealth every time.
But Korea wasn't an option.
Their system was too centralized, registering now would trigger an investigation.
The only place he could register without immediate suspicion? The U.S.
"If I become a licensed Mage-class Hunter in the U.S., I can return here untouchable."
No more sneaking around.
No more unnecessary cover-ups.
He would operate in plain sight, with no one able to stop him.
The Risk – The U.S. Wouldn't Let Him Register Quietly
Markus knew the moment he stepped into the U.S. Hunter Association (USHA), alarms would go off.
His past aliases would surface.
Over 144 linked assassinations, missing persons, and forged identities.
They wouldn't let someone with his profile just walk in.
"They'll try to interrogate me. They'll assume I'm a rogue operative, an assassin." He smiled, they would be right.
That was fine. Let them think what they wanted.
The only real identity they'd find was the one he created for them.
They would break before he ever did.
"I'll play the game, let them chase ghosts, and walk out exactly how I planned."
After all, the best way to deceive the system… is to be a part of it.
Before heading to the U.S., Markus had one last goal, complete his elemental arsenal.
Fire and Ice were already his.
Now, he needed Water, Earth, and Air.
His system would handle the rest.
Four high-tier dungeons. Four elemental bosses. Four days of absolute destruction.
🔥 Tomorrow, the final hunt in Korea would begin.
Markus had one final objective before leaving Korea, complete his elemental mastery.
Fire and Ice were already his.
Now, he needed Water, Earth, and Air.
Only high-tier dungeons could provide the power he wanted.
Four days. Four dungeon raids. Three A/B-Class Gates, one S-Class.
Stealth raids. No witnesses. No traces.
By the time the Korean Hunter Association (KHA) noticed, he would be long gone.
Day 1: Leviathan's Abyss (B-Class Water Dungeon)
Target: Leviathan Lord – An ancient sea beast, ruler of deep-water magic.
Location: A submerged coastal Gate under the East Sea.
Dungeon Composition:
Endless water corridors, submerged ruins, and abyssal monsters. Home to lesser water elementals and deep-sea horrors.
The Strategy:
Abyssal Dominion → Sent his undead army into the depths, clearing the path.
Wraith Lords → Moved through the water like silent assassins.
Doom Knights → Engaged monstrous sea serpents, cutting through them.
The Kill:
Void Blink → Teleported inside the Leviathan's weak point.
Death's Grasp → Crippled its regeneration, preventing it from healing.
Blazing Execution → Superheated the surrounding water, boiling it from the inside out.
Loot & Skills Gained:
Water Manipulation (From Leviathan Lord).
Abyssal Core (Dungeon Reward).
Massive Stat Boost (From absorbing Leviathan's essence).
Results:
Markus can now freely control water, flow, pressure, condensation, and movement.
Dungeon looted, completely erased.
Day 2: Tempest Tower (B-Class Wind Dungeon)
Target: Thunder Roc – A colossal sky beast infused with the power of storms.
Location: A floating island dungeon, hovering over Seoul's skyline.
Dungeon Composition:
Open-air platforms, requiring aerial combat. Constant storms, violent winds, and shockwave attacks from flying beasts.
The Strategy:
Void Blink → Used short-range teleportation mid-air to counter gravity.
Wraith Lords → Hunted lesser aerial monsters, weakening the dungeon's defenses.
Arcane Perception → Detected air currents, allowing perfect wind manipulation.
The Kill:
Void Blink + Death Coil → Teleported mid-air, draining its energy instantly.
Blazing Execution → Superheated the wind around it, turning gusts into cutting blades.
Water Manipulation → Compressed storm clouds, drowning the beast mid-flight.
Loot & Skills Gained:
Wind Manipulation (From Thunder Roc).
Storm Gem (Dungeon Reward).
Enhanced Agility & Reflexes (From absorbing Roc's speed traits).
Results:
Now capable of controlling wind currents, increasing movement speed.
Dungeon erased, falling from the sky like a forgotten ruin.
Day 3: Infernal Catacombs (A-Class Fire Dungeon)
Target: Hellfire Drake – A dragon wreathed in eternal flames.
Location: A subterranean volcanic fortress deep in Hallasan Mountain.
Dungeon Composition:
Rivers of lava, heat-resistant monsters, and explosive terrain.The dungeon itself was a living furnace, meant to burn invaders alive.
The Strategy:
Arcane Aegis → Passively negated 70% of the magical heat.
Lich Generals → Summoned heat-immune undead to storm the lava pools.
Abyssal Dominion → Deployed an overwhelming force to burn the drake down.
The Kill:
Piercing Frost → Encased its wings in ice, grounding it instantly.
Earth Manipulation → Created stone pillars to crush its movements.
Blazing Execution → Unleashed pure, concentrated fire, overpowering even its own flames.
Loot & Skills Gained:
Fire Manipulation (From Hellfire Drake).
Dragon Core (Dungeon Reward).
Enhanced Fire Resistance (From absorbing Drake's traits).
Results:
Fire magic is now fully under his control.
Dungeon reduced to nothing but molten rock.
Day 4: Titan's Grave (S-Class Earth Dungeon)
Target: Earth Titan – A behemoth of living stone, wielding seismic power.
Location: A subterranean labyrinth hidden beneath the Taebaek Mountains.
Dungeon Composition:
A vast underground canyon, filled with living rock creatures. Natural traps, collapsing tunnels, shifting walls, endless mazes.
The Strategy:
Silent Phantom → Moved undetected through collapsing caverns.
Lich Generals → Raised fallen golems as undead stone warriors.
Doom Knights → Shattered enemy defenses with overwhelming brute force.
The Kill:
Piercing Frost → Froze the Titan's joints solid.
Blazing Execution → Superheated the frozen stone, causing catastrophic fractures.
Death Coil → Ripped the lingering life essence from its core.
Loot & Skills Gained:
Earth Manipulation (From Earth Titan).
Titan Core (Dungeon Reward).
Enhanced Physical Resistance (From absorbing Titan's traits).
Results:
Now capable of shaping, hardening, and controlling terrain.
Dungeon looted, completely collapsed behind him.
After obtaining all four primary elements, Markus' system activated.
[System Alert: Four Primary Elements Acquired. Optimizing Combat Efficiency…]
Elements are now merged into a single control ability.
Markus no longer needs separate attack skills for each element.
He can freely manifest, combine, and wield Fire, Water, Earth, and Air at will.
[Elemental Dominion (Lv. 1) – Primary Elemental Mastery]
Allows unrestricted control over:
Fire, Water, Earth, Air.
Enables fast projectile casting.
Elemental fusion possible for more advanced abilities in the future.
Now Markus can freely create elemental attacks, adjusting their effects mid-battle.
With his final power boost complete, it was time to move.
No one in Korea could stop him anymore.
The Korean Hunter Association (KHA) would soon investigate, but they'd find nothing.
Now, he had a legal Hunter license to obtain.
The Korean Hunter Association (KHA) Reacts – A Crisis Without Explanation
Seoul, KHA Headquarters – Early Morning
A tense silence filled the high-level meeting room inside the Korean Hunter Association (KHA).
Four high-tier dungeons had collapsed without warning.
No Hunter teams were recorded entering any of them.
No survivors, no bodies, no traces left behind.
It was a logistical impossibility.
A-Class and S-Class Gates didn't just disappear overnight.
Even elite teams struggled to clear them, yet, they were gone.
The Guilds who had purchased raid rights were furious.
Theories Spread Like Wildfire:
An unknown rogue Hunter? (Impossible)
A new, unidentified Guild? (Highly unlikely, Korea's Guilds were too well-tracked.)
Monster Breakout? (No, there were no traces of escaping monsters.)
A foreign Hunter operating illegally? (The most plausible theory.)
Director-General Woo Jin-Chul slammed his fist on the table.
"Four high class dungeons in four days. No one saw anything? Are you all idiots?"
The other officials remained silent. They had no explanation.
"Whoever did this isn't just strong, they're untouchable. We need to find them before this happens again."
Investigations were launched.
The dungeon sites were scanned.
They would find… absolutely nothing.
By the time the KHA reacted, Markus was already preparing to leave Korea.
Markus' Gains – Stats, Skill Level Ups & Evolution
After four days of relentless dungeon raids, Markus sat back and reviewed his progress.
Each boss kill granted him a 30% stat increase from absorption (3 copied skills per boss).
His magic had improved beyond standard attack skills.
His control over elemental forces had become instinctual.
Total Bosses Absorbed: 4 (Leviathan Lord, Thunder Roc, Hellfire Drake, Earth Titan)
120% Total Stat Increase from Boss Copies.
Updated Core Stats After Boss Absorption
🚀 New Physical & Magical Stats:
Strength: 322
Agility: 299
Endurance: 493
Intelligence: 1,112
Wisdom: 891
Luck: 202
New MP Pool After Intelligence Gains:
MP: 15,000+ (After system optimization).
Markus' magic and endurance had skyrocketed, his undead army could now sustain itself indefinitely.
Skill Level Ups & Evolutions
Elemental Mastery Fully Upgraded
All elements merged into 🔥 Elemental Dominion (Lv. 1)
Arcane Mastery & Detection
Arcane Perception (Lv. 6) → Detects deeper mana fluctuations, expands range to 200m.
Necromantic Army Control
Abyssal Dominion (Lv. 5) → Undead limit increased from 500 → 650.
Eternal March (Lv. 3) → Faster undead respawn time (10 sec → 6 sec).
Newly Acquired Passive Enhancements
Natural Fire & Heat Resistance (From Hellfire Drake).
Enhanced Reflexes & Speed (From Thunder Roc).
Physical Durability Increase (From Earth Titan).
Markus didn't just evolve, he had transcended beyond standard Hunters.
The Final Reflection – Time to Leave Korea
With his final power boost complete, it was time to move.
No one in Korea could stop him anymore.
The Korean Hunter Association (KHA) would investigate, but they'd find nothing.
Now, he had a legal Hunter license to obtain.
The U.S. awaited him.