The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage

Chapter 17

3.

‘He dodged that? A beginner, no less?’

The player who had fired the bone arrow at Seonghyeon couldn’t believe it.

He had aimed during a precise moment, confident it would hit the target.

Yet, Seonghyeon dodged it?

The player’s name was Vegron, a seasoned user who had discovered Garik’s hidden piece before anyone else. He was a high-level player, standing at level 30 in Persville.

That made it even harder to believe.

How had someone dodged the attack of a level 30 player?

Especially when they seemed like just a beginner?

‘Did I miss my aim?’

No! That was impossible.

Vegron was an objectively skilled player.

Most players would leave the first town as soon as they reached level 20. So why was he still here?

Was it because he lacked talent?

No.

There was only one reason.

The hidden piece.

The story of a hut in the Maze Forest had been circulating for a long time.

However, no one had met the conditions to enter it.

That included Vegron.

But he couldn’t bring himself to leave that hut, which seemed so obviously tied to a hidden piece.

Most players were too busy leaving the beginner’s town and leveling up.

Spending time on the hut was seen as impractical.

While some players were willing to gamble, no one had managed to find it yet.

Vegron was different.

He thought it was worth it to delay his progress in exchange for the certainty of obtaining the hidden piece.

After extensive investigation and significant effort, he finally uncovered the truth.

‘It’s Garik’s hut!’

Through countless library visits and completing numerous quests to gain the favor of the townsfolk, Vegron obtained a crucial piece of information:

Garik frequently visited the Maze Forest.

Moreover, it was said that the secrets of a Dark Mage were hidden in that hut.

For Vegron, a Dark Mage himself, this was a treasure only he could acquire.

It was an achievement born from sheer determination.

He was ahead of everyone else.

In fact, no one even knew about the existence of this hidden piece.

Or so he thought.

So how was it that someone had arrived before him?

‘What is going on here?’

Vegron was certain no one had found this place before him.

The gravekeeper’s lodgings, used by Garik, showed no signs of prior entry.

Vegron had been the first to set foot here.

Yet now, this was happening.

Initially, when Seonghyeon dodged his attack, Vegron misunderstood.

Was this another high-level user, like himself, who had come to Persville late?

But no.

This was clearly a beginner.

Their gear looked decent, but it was obvious they were inexperienced.

Equipment alone didn’t matter. Vegron’s experienced eyes couldn’t be fooled.

In Persville and other first towns, there was a distinctive bracelet players obtained upon reaching level 10 and completing mandatory training at the Job Training Center.

However, Seonghyeon’s wrists were bare.

‘Below level 10.’

Not wearing that bracelet meant the player wasn’t level 10 or above.

In fact, Seonghyeon had not only already changed his class but had yet to reach level 10, choosing instead to pursue Garik’s hidden piece first.

Vegron’s assessment was accurate.

Even the scouts had recognized Seonghyeon as a beginner based on this method.

This was a common distinction in Persville and similar towns.

‘Was it just a coincidence?’

Even if Seonghyeon wasn’t a beginner, any Persville player would’ve been hit by that attack without fail.

But Seonghyeon dodged it.

That fact alone irritated Vegron deeply.

“Hmph.”

And then there was that calm voice.

Seonghyeon turned his head slightly, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

As if to ask, Why are you attacking me?

Was he really unaware of the reason?

Vegron’s nerves were on edge.

He had stayed in Persville, enduring ridicule from his friends, all for this hidden piece.

If he could claim it, it would more than compensate for his delayed leveling.

No! He would surpass all of them in one stroke.

This was why he shouted,

“This is my hidden piece! Get out!”

Seonghyeon looked at Vegron with an odd expression and replied.

“Huh? I was here first.”

The response left Vegron speechless.

He couldn’t come up with a rebuttal.

But it didn’t matter.

“…It doesn’t matter. It’s mine!!”

Ignoring the flood of warning messages appearing before him, Vegron dismissed them.

He only needed to kill Seonghyeon.

What was so wrong about taking what was his?

Seonghyeon frowned at Vegron’s absurd behavior.

Before encountering Vegron, he had felt a tinge of guilt.

After all, it was undeniable that Vegron had worked hard to reach the hidden piece, whereas Seonghyeon had reaped the benefits of a ghost’s help.

If Vegron had approached him for a conversation instead of attacking, Seonghyeon might have been willing to yield.

But an attack?

That didn’t sit well with Seonghyeon.

‘You attack just because you’re in a hurry?’

That wouldn’t do.

Seonghyeon’s eyes darkened.

It was a look he wore when angered.

Still, getting angry wouldn’t solve anything.

What did Seonghyeon need most right now?

His opponent was clearly much higher in level.

The system messages from the attack had revealed the truth.

[User ‘Vegron – Lv.30’ has attacked you.]
[You are now in full combat mode.]
[The user has a notorious reputation.]

[Attacking them will not increase your notoriety.]

Level 30.

Although Seonghyeon had killed a few skeletons, all he gained was experience, not levels.

Even with the Supernova title boosting experience gain, leveling up remained challenging.

Overcoming a gap of nearly 30 levels wasn’t going to be easy.

Seonghyeon’s deep, contemplative gaze surveyed the situation.

Things didn’t look good.

‘This won’t be easy in any way.’

Although Seonghyeon’s stats far exceeded that of a typical level 1 player—around the level of a 13—factoring in the effects of his titles and items placed him roughly at level 20.

Still, there was a 10-level gap.

Could he manage it using his accumulated knowledge and experiences?

With the memories and expertise of Helena, the one once called the Demon King, he had an edge.

At the very least, he wouldn’t lose helplessly.

Moreover, the opponent appeared to be a Dark Mage, which gave him a potential advantage.

“Die!!! Open Morgue!!!”

The Morgue.

One of the skills Dark Mages could learn around level 30.

Its effect was simple, just as the name suggested.

It was a pocket-dimension-type skill used to store the undead one created.

In other words, Vegron was now summoning the undead he had stored.

Two zombies and five skeletons emerged.

It was not a small number by any means.

While five skeletons might still be manageable…

‘The two zombies are the problem.’

A typical zombie’s level was usually around 10.

However, the zombies summoned by Vegron were…

“Graaaagh…”

“Gwoooaaaargh…”

[Lv.23 Zombie]
[Lv.23 Zombie]

Level 23.

Even the skeletons, unlike the ones Seonghyeon had dealt with earlier (level 2 or 3), were all level 15 each.

Though lower than Vegron’s level, they were still no easy foes.

In fact, these undead might be even more troublesome.

Would it be best to engage them with melee attacks?

No, that would only allow Vegron to bombard him with spells from a distance.

After all, Vegron had already shown his capability with bone arrows and likely possessed other Dark Mage attack spells.

“Gwooooargh!”

Clatter! Clatter!

“Graaaagh!”

The zombies and skeletons began to charge slowly.

Seonghyeon bit his lip as he observed them.

‘Aura of Death? No, that won’t work.’

The Aura of Death only inflicted damage-over-time effects on the living.

It was said to devour the souls and flesh of the dead, but what did that truly mean?

As Seonghyeon tried to recall Helena’s memories…

“Need some help?”

A woman’s voice echoed—one he’d heard before.

There shouldn’t have been any ghosts in this place besides Garik’s.

‘What the…?’

When Seonghyeon turned his head, he saw a small figure.

No, more accurately, a ghost resembling a small woman.

It was a ghost he already knew.

A woman in a black dress with a black bonnet like those worn by women in medieval times. Her luxurious red hair peeked through a delicate black silk veil, fluttering as she smiled seductively at Seonghyeon while holding a black parasol.

Even though he knew she was a ghost, her alluring presence was almost captivating.

But Seonghyeon quickly snapped out of it when one of the zombies swung its arm at him.

With a light step, he dodged it.

Whoosh!

“Graaaagh!”

Instead of dwelling on the ghostly figure, Seonghyeon focused on the fight.

Helena, without much explanation, adjusted her black veil attached to her bonnet, and her dark eyes began to glow turquoise.

“The Aura of Death isn’t limited to the living.”

“Ah.”

With those simple words and her turquoise gaze, Seonghyeon realized something.

He recalled a hidden effect of the Aura of Death that he hadn’t been able to fully access before.

This was a skill he would eventually wield in its entirety.

As realization dawned, his own eyes began to glow turquoise.

Vegron, watching this unfold, smirked.

Dodging the first bone arrow had been pure luck.

Though Seonghyeon was evading the attacks of the two zombies and the skeletons for now, it was only a matter of time before they caught up to him.

When that happened, it would be over.

Perhaps it was time to speed things along.

While the earlier dodge was coincidental, there would be no escaping this time.

“Bone Arr—”

As Vegron began to chant the skill, something strange occurred.

Seonghyeon’s turquoise eyes glowed even brighter, and a similar hue emanated from behind him.

What was that?

Vegron couldn’t understand or believe what he was seeing.

It seemed like a Dark Mage skill, but how could a beginner under level 10 wield it?

It didn’t make sense.

Job changes happened at level 10, and if Seonghyeon had undergone one, he should’ve had a bracelet.

But there was no denying that the skill resembled one from the Dark Mage class.

Vegron could feel it.

Behind Seonghyeon, the turquoise aura condensed, forming the shape of a heart.

A heart so vivid it seemed alive.

Vegron’s eyes trembled violently as the heart resembled an artifact he’d seen before in educational materials.

Was it an incredibly powerful skill?

A pang of fear shot through him.

‘N-no. That’s impossible!’

He shook the thought away.

It must just be a flashy effect.

There was no way a mere beginner could possess such a powerful skill.

At least, that was what he told himself.

But then…

Thump.

As the heart pulsed, the surrounding area became cloaked in the ominous turquoise aura.

The mist didn’t obscure vision but spread across a wide area.

And then, as it touched the surroundings…

[You have been exposed to an irresistible force.]
[Your health will decrease continuously.]

Irresistible force?

Here, in Persville, a level 30 like him?

No, that couldn’t be.

It had to be a curse. He needed to dispel it.

As a Dark Mage, dealing with curses was second nature.

“Dispel!”

[Your skill rank is too low.]
[This is an irresistible force.]
[The normal skill ‘Dispel’ does not work.]

“Huh?”

Vegron blinked in disbelief, rubbing his eyes as if to clear his vision.

What was going on?

Was he, a level 30, truly unable to dispel this?

Too low in rank?

The messages made no sense.

At the same time, he felt the damage accumulating.

It wasn’t enough to take him down yet, but it was more substantial than expected.

If this continued, he could be in trouble.

But he calmed himself.

‘He just got lucky and acquired a high-grade skill.’

Even so, his undead were still standing strong.

No matter how powerful the curse, it would only strengthen the undead.

With two zombies and five skeletons, he would crush this opponent!

But then…

“Graaaagh?!”

“Gwaaah?!”

Clatter, clatter!

The undead let out strange cries.

They stopped attacking and stood still.

“What… what are you doing? Attack! I said, attack!”

Vegron screamed in desperation, but the undead ignored him.

Instead, they raised their heads to the sky, their mouths wide open.

From their gaping jaws, the turquoise mist that filled the air began to flow out.

The undead weren’t supposed to be affected by curses!

What was this?!

Vegron’s trembling hands began to chant another Bone Arrow spell, driven by a near-instinctual need to act.

He aimed it at Seonghyeon.

“Bone Arrow!”

The bone arrow shot forward at high speed.

But then…

Clunk!

A black shadowy arm intercepted it mid-flight.

The arm was pitch black, with faint turquoise mist leaking through its cracks.

Its owner was one of the zombies Vegron had summoned.

[Due to overwhelming power, your undead, ‘Zombie1,’ has been taken.]
[Due to overwhelming power, your undead, ‘Zombie2,’ has been taken.]
[Due to overwhelming power, your undead, ‘Skeleton1,’ has been taken.]
…
…
[Due to overwhelming power, your undead, ‘Skeleton5,’ has been taken.]

“Huh?”

Now, not only had he lost the hidden piece, but even his undead were taken from him.

What the heck?!

Give me back my undead!