The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage

0.

The guild system in Eternal World offered a variety of benefits: guild bases, exclusive shops, guild-only skills, and more.

While there were plenty of solo players who preferred going it alone, the game’s structure inherently favored guilds.

Sure, solo players had their perks, but they were always at a disadvantage compared to the massive benefits provided to large guilds.

As a result, even solo-inclined players gradually started joining guilds, and guild leaders worked tirelessly to grow their ranks.

It wasn’t just about the perks, though.

In modern society, games were an excellent source of entertainment, but there was something even more important than that.

Money!

Large guilds could rake in profits rivaling those of mid-sized companies.

Even without factoring in the revenue from streaming tickets for top-ranking guilds, the sheer in-game wealth they generated was enormous.

It was no surprise that Eternal World was often called “a world within a world.”

Guilds didn’t hire professional scouts and pay them salaries out of sheer generosity.

Recruiting one outstanding rookie could easily generate enough revenue to cover the cost of hiring ten scouts.

What could possibly be more important than money in a capitalist society?

Money was king.

The Scout’s Struggles

Lee Seong-yeong was one such professional scout.

”Ugh, no promising rookies lately,” he muttered.

To be precise, there were plenty of decent candidates, but no real prodigies.

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Lee Seong-yeong reflected on how his high standards played a role, but more than that, it was because of the guild he worked for.

Rank 12: Sick Brothers Guild.

A laughable name that translated to something like “Ill Brothers” or “Ailing Siblings,” but its ranking was no joke.

As one of the top-tier guilds, it stood among the elite in the rankings.

Founded by a group of men driven by American machismo, the guild was deeply committed to a meritocratic philosophy.

Their leadership was notorious for statements like, “If you’ve got skills, you’re macho, no matter your gender!”

It went without saying how absurd their ideals were.

”This job just makes our lives harder,” Seong-yeong sighed.

The guild’s meritocracy extended to its staff, hiring people purely based on their abilities without regard for personality, race, or gender.

This resulted in scouts being pushed to their limits, and Seong-yeong was no exception.

”If I don’t deliver results this month, I’ll be in trouble.”

He wouldn’t be fired, thanks to his previous accomplishments, but avoiding the guild master’s lectures was a different matter.

And the last thing he wanted was to endure over an hour of machismo philosophy.

Driven by desperation, he started scouring for information.

A Lead Emerges

The Sick Brothers Guild was a hub for tips, often sent by scouts from rival guilds or informants looking to earn a quick buck.

Just as he opened his inbox, he noticed a freshly arrived email from a regular informant.

This informant’s behavior was often questionable, but their information was always reliable.

Curious, he opened the email.

Subject: ”Strange undead spotted in Persville.”

Message:

”Unidentified undead encountered. Multiple witnesses but no direct contact.”

”...?”

That’s it?

The only details were that it happened in Persville and involved strange undead.

Still, if the informant sent it, there had to be something worth investigating.

The note about “multiple witnesses” caught his attention.

”I’d better check the internet.”

Where there were witnesses, there were bound to be posts online.

After a quick search through Eternal World forums and other sites, he found a few relevant threads.

[Did anyone else see undead at the Persville Cemetery?]

[New special rank sighting in Persville!]

”Special rank? What’s that about?”

Apparently, a user had recently cleared a special-tier training center in Persville.

On the same day, strange undead appeared.

Something was definitely going on.

Scrolling through the posts, he couldn’t find any screenshots, as capturing images without consent was restricted.

The comments, however, were more revealing:

[Persville Elder]: “Undead? Even if they are, they’re probably low-tier. Or maybe mid-tier if they cleared the highest level.”

└ [DarkBald]: “Nah, it’s at least top-tier, judging by how people are talking.”

└ [MudPoor]: “I saw it too! It wasn’t like any normal undead—it looked like a boss monster!”

”A strange undead... so it’s real.”

Though the post’s title didn’t draw much attention, the comments suggested there were more witnesses than expected.

There was even one comment from a user named Bezimil that seemed fueled by spite, but that was irrelevant for now.

The connection between the strange undead and the special-tier training center piqued his interest.

[MongSqueal]: “Wow, a special-tier free pass? So jealous.”

[Pay2Play]: “Right? Apparently, there’s a hidden piece that grants you a recommendation letter for the special-tier center.”

└ [HypeGirl]: “Seriously? Isn’t that cheating? So if you’re lucky, you just get in?”

└ [HongdaeFreak]: “Lol, as if those are common.”

[Line30]: “I was waiting for my advanced exam when I saw it. Even the guards treated them like royalty. Must be a hidden piece, for sure.”

”The timing is too close to be a coincidence.”

Special-tier necromancer skills wouldn’t explain such an undead.

If the user received a recommendation, it had to be at least an Epic-tier job change.

As a scout for the 12th-ranked Sick Brothers Guild, Seong-yeong had access to insider information about such cases.

This only confirmed his suspicion:

”It’s at least an Epic-tier advancement.”

His eyes sparkled.

”This might be my chance to shine.”

Wasting no time, Seong-yeong logged into the game using his scout account and set his destination: Persville.

If the user had only recently entered the special-tier training center, they would still be in class.

1.

“Hohoho! Farewell, my friend! You are destined to become a truly great dark mage!”

The elderly Urden waved enthusiastically, his booming voice echoing through the room.

How does he have so much energy at his age?

Seong felt embarrassed but still bowed politely before leaving.

After finishing all the lessons, he had received several essential items and even the certification bracelet signifying his completion of the training center.

This officially marked his graduation from being a novice.

Of course, Yeon wasn’t there to see him off.

During Seong’s last lesson, when he had mastered the skill Lesser Undead Creation, she had been trembling with frustration and openly crying.

There was no way she’d come out to meet him now. ℯ

Leaving Yeon behind without a second thought, Seong walked away.

What should have taken several days of classes had been completed in less than 30 minutes.

It had been an awkward and somewhat burdensome experience, but he had walked away with five rare-grade skills.

Well, technically four, since Lesser Undead Creation had been absorbed into Legion of the Dead.

Still, it was a highly significant achievement.

Checking the Skills

‘Let’s take a look.’

Though he already knew what the skills were thanks to Helena’s memories, seeing them displayed in the system always felt different.

He opened the list of skills:

『Bone Arrow』

Grade: RareLevel: 1 (Growth-Type)Effect: Instant, ActiveCooldown: 10 secondsDescription: A dark magic-exclusive skill.Creates an arrow made of bone and shoots it at the target.『Curse of Sensation』

Grade: RareLevel: 1 (Growth-Type)Effect: Sustained, ActiveCooldown: 1 minuteDuration: 10 secondsDescription: A dark magic-exclusive skill.Inflicts a curse that causes pain. The curse does not deal damage but induces a sharp sensation of pain.Cannot be used on targets that cannot feel pain.『Blood Veil』

Grade: RareLevel: 1 (Growth-Type)Effect: Instant, ActiveCooldown: 30 secondsDescription: A dark magic-exclusive skill.Creates a veil of blood to block attacks and curses.The strength of the barrier depends on the mana consumed.『Poison: Numbing Pain』

Grade: RareLevel: 1 (Growth-Type)Effect: Sustained, ActiveCooldown: 3 minutesDuration: 1 minuteDescription: A dark magic-exclusive skill.Injects poison that numbs the target’s sense of pain, preventing interruption from external stimuli.Even Seong, who possessed both Almighty-grade and Legendary-grade skills, was momentarily impressed.

Thanks to Helena, he had acquired extraordinary skills, but upgrading the foundational skills of a dark mage to rare grade held a special meaning.

They might seem insignificant compared to Legion of the Dead, a Unique skill that could multiply minions.

But over time, their value would grow exponentially.

‘This is fantastic.’

“See? These are great spells, aren’t they? Yaaawn...”Even Helena acknowledged their quality.

Seong glanced at Helena, who let out a long yawn.

She didn’t show it outwardly, but she looked exhausted.

Did she overexert herself?

‘Are you tired?’

“Mmm, a little.”‘Take it easy. Rest for now.’

There were many things Seong wanted to ask her:

What was the ultimate goal of the Overlord’s Path that Helena longed for?

What were her thoughts on Hindel’s legacy, given that Seong had seen memories of her meeting Hindel as a child?

How had Helena come to reside within Seong’s body?

And how did she know so much about his abilities?

But now that they were bound together, Seong figured there would be plenty of time to ask.

Perhaps sensing Seong’s warmth, Helena smiled gracefully and nodded.

“Thank you. I probably won’t be able to appear for a while. I’ve used up a lot of energy.”‘Alright, rest well.’

With those words, Helena disappeared back into Seong’s body.

Seong resolved to ask his questions when the time came.

For now, it was time to test the new skills he had acquired.

While most skills could be tested on any type of monster, Curse of Sensation couldn’t be used on undead, as they were immune to the sensation of pain.

Fortunately, Persville had plenty of hunting grounds.

The only question was where to go.

Choosing the Next Target

Seong thought back to his previous encounters in Persville, starting with the cemetery he had visited upon arriving.

‘There were a lot of people there.’

Everywhere Seong went, he seemed to attract attention.

In real life, he had rarely been in the spotlight, but in the game, it was a different story.

It wasn’t just an adjustment period—it was also a bit embarrassing.

While compliments and admiration were nice, they came with drawbacks.

Take Yeon, for instance.

Her jealousy and hostility toward Seong were perfect examples of how too much attention could breed unnecessary enemies.

To avoid such situations, Seong decided it would be better to head somewhere quieter.

After thinking about the hunting grounds he had researched beforehand, one place came to mind.

‘Wasn’t it called the Persville Plains?’

The name sounded right.

Seong pulled out the map he had received from the training center.

The detailed map of Persville confirmed his memory.

Persville Plains.

It was a vast area teeming with diverse monsters.

Because of its size, players were naturally spread out, making it less likely to encounter others.

It was the perfect spot for Seong.

‘Let’s head there.’

Here, he could use his skills freely without worrying about prying eyes.

Not that he had ever cared much for others’ opinions, but it was still a relief to have some privacy.

Once the decision was made, Seong wasted no time.

With light steps, he quickly reached the largest and most distant hunting ground in Persville.

Arrival at the Plains

Whooosh!

The tall grass, which reached up to Seong’s ankles, swayed like waves in the wind.

The air was filled with the earthy scent of vegetation, and birds chirped as they flew across the vibrant sky.

Chirp, chirp!

It was the kind of scene one might expect to find in a European meadow.

The expansive view and the clear blue sky, now tinged with the orange hues of a setting sun, painted an awe-inspiring picture.

It was hard to believe this was a game.

Momentarily lost in the beauty of his surroundings, Seong snapped back to reality and checked his condition.

His body felt well-adjusted and limber, and his movements were smooth.

‘I don’t need to allocate my bonus stats just yet.’

Status Window

『Seong』

『Level 10』

『Class』: Overlord

『Titles』: Monarch (Legendary) ...and 13 others.

『Stats』:

Strength: 15 (13 + 2)Agility: 17 (15 + 2)Stamina: 12 (10 + 2)Intelligence: 23 (20 + 3)Wisdom: 23 (20 + 3)Spirit: 23 (20 + 3)Dexterity: 7 (6 + 1)

『Unallocated Stat Points』: 45Reaching level 10 without spending his bonus stat points had left him with 45 unallocated points.

For now, his base stats were already above average for his level, so he saw no immediate need to use them.

A Sudden Attack

Whoosh!

The sound of something small cutting through the wind reached Seong’s ears.

Sensing the incoming threat, he decided this was the perfect opportunity to test a skill.

He channeled mana, and dark crimson blood scattered in the air, forming a wide, protective barrier.

Shaaah!

The Blood Veil spread out like a sheet, intercepting the incoming projectile.

The thin-looking veil held firm, deflecting the object with ease.

Thud!

“Gek!?”

“Kergh!?”

“Gak-gak!”

Three green-skinned dwarfs cried out in surprise as their ambush failed.

The creatures were goblins, familiar monsters in any fantasy game or story.

With their green skin and unkempt patches of green hair, they blended into the grass almost seamlessly.

They wielded crude weapons and were about the size of five-year-old children—hardly intimidating.

Still, they were repulsive.

‘Disgusting little things.’

Seong smirked at the startled goblins, preparing to counterattack.

For a moment, he considered activating Aura of Death but shook his head.

No need to waste a sledgehammer on a fly.

Even Wrath of the Damned would have been overkill.

In this case, Bone Arrow was more than enough.

Ssshhh!

As the goblins hesitated, still startled, bone arrows materialized in the air.

The white, gleaming arrows shot forward, striking their targets.

“Grahk?!”

“Gehh?!”

“Guh—?!”

The final arrow struck the third goblin squarely between the eyes.

Thwack!

[Critical Hit!]

[The effect of 『One Strike!』 has been activated!]

[Experience points gained.]

The goblin fell instantly, its life extinguished.

“Oho?”

Seong nodded in satisfaction.

The skill was more effective than he had anticipated.

Now, what to test next?

As Seong’s lips curled into a faint smile, the remaining goblins shivered with dread.

They had clearly picked the wrong target.