Chapter 96

Chapter 96
## Chapter 96: Completion of the Baal Helmet

That makes two.

The moment the armor is gathered, the entire Baal set will finally be finished.

I exhaled slowly, focusing my attention on the properties of the talisman.

—

**【Baal Talisman (Ultimate Mythic)】**

* An ancient relic imbued with the essence of ‘Baal,’ one of the ‘Four Evils’ that once cast a shadow of terror over the world.
* Enhances the capabilities of the Baal helmet or armor when applied.
* **Curse Reflection:** 25%
* **Curse Duration Extension on Target:** 25%
* **Curse Penetration:** 10%
* **Bind on Pickup**
* **Requirement (1):** Possessor of the ‘Myth Completer’ title or higher.
* **Requirement (2):** All attributes at 90 or above.
* **Set Item (2/3)**
* Stat boost active when equipped with Baal Armor.
* Stat boost active when the Baal Talisman is utilized.

—

I couldn’t help but nod in approval.

It was formidable. Truly as robust as it gets.

Beyond just buffing the helmet’s base stats, it was loaded with overwhelming curse-centric utility.

‘Incredible.’

The specs were enough to leave anyone speechless.

At a glance, the percentages might seem modest, but the combination of reflection, duration extension, and penetration created a balance that was nearly impossible to counter.

‘If an enemy hits me with a curse, a quarter of it snaps back at them. That reflected portion lasts 25% longer, and thanks to the penetration, it carves through their resistances to deal direct damage.’

It was the ultimate nightmare for any curse-wielding warlock.

‘And it has Penetration.’

That specific attribute, ‘Penetration,’ was a rarity even among unique-grade gear. In the world of Pangeniar, ‘absolute immunity’ is a myth; there are always cracks to be found, and penetration is the most effective—and coveted—tool for bypassing defenses.

It even ignores hidden passives. It’s the kind of stat everyone hunts for but almost no one actually finds.

Regardless.

‘I need to see what this does to the helmet.’

The curiosity was eating at me. Without further delay, I activated the item.

—

**《’Baal Talisman’ has been infused into ‘Baal Helmet.’》**
**《The ‘Baal Helmet’ has been significantly upgraded.》**

—

**【Baal Helmet (Ultimate Mythic) ●】**

* The headpiece belonging to ‘Baal,’ one of the ‘Four Evils’ of legend.
* ‘Baal Talisman’ effect active.
* **’Limit Break’:** Maximum level for all curse-based skills increased by 5.
* **’Transcendent Curse’:** A single curse skill undergoes transcendental evolution.
* **’Inheritor Complete’:** Permanent Mana +10.
* **’Master of the Shadows’:** Proficiency gain rate increased by 100%.
* **Permanent passive effect while equipped.**
* **Bind on Pickup**
* **Requirement (1):** ‘Myth Completer’ title or higher.
* **Requirement (2):** All attributes at 90 or above.
* **Set Item (1/3)**
* Stat boost active when equipped with Baal Armor.
* Stat boost active when the Baal Talisman is utilized.

—

“…This is madness.”

My jaw dropped as I scanned the revised details. This wasn’t just a marginal improvement; the power scaling had leaped into a different dimension.

‘Skill cap +5.’

Standard enhancements usually only grant a +1 bonus, which is how I managed to push Advanced Corpse Crow Summoning to level 11. But this talisman had quintupled that potential. Now, I could push curse techniques to level 15 even before considering transcendence. The sheer value of raising a level cap like that is impossible to overstate.

But that was only the beginning.

‘Transcendent evolution.’

Previously, at ultimate enhancement, my corpse crows could mirror my own skills. Now, the skill itself was being elevated to a higher plane of existence.

‘Ancient Corpse Crow Summoning has transcended its original form.’

It seemed Advanced Corpse Crow Summoning wasn’t the final stage after all.

‘A flat +10 to mana with no strings attached.’

What used to be a temporary buff triggered by casting has been converted into a permanent stat increase. It was a massive win.

However, the crowning jewel was the final trait.

‘Proficiency gains are doubled!’

With the Baal Helmet at 2x, my Dexterity at 2x, and the Constraint bonus at 1.5x—on top of the base 100% rate—the multiplier skyrocketed to a staggering 700%!

My previous total of 550% had vanished, replaced by an elite 700% growth rate in a heartbeat. Every single option was top-tier.

I swallowed hard. If just two pieces of the set provided this much power, I couldn’t even fathom the strength of the completed three-piece set. The whispers that the Baal set could challenge—or even exceed—unique-grade equipment were clearly not exaggerations.

Furthermore.

**《’Cursed Ether Stone (1)’ destroyed. The temple’s inner sanctum is revealed.》**
**《Eliminate ‘Cursed Ether Stone (2)’ to unlock the subsequent gate.》**

The real grind for proficiency was just starting.

—

At the base of the mountain, a terrifying force had assembled.

An army ten thousand strong, comprised of diverse and monstrous entities, stood in perfect formation. At the heart of this legion stood Raktusha, the legendary orc great warrior, his fingers tightened around the hilt of his massive blade.

“The moment has arrived!”

Orcs were naturally gifted with weaponry, but Raktusha was the pinnacle of their martial prowess. He took a steadying breath.

‘The mountain belongs to the one with the highest mastery.’

His long-standing preparations were all for this single goal: to seize control of the Practitioners’ Mountain. By taking the summit, he would force the practitioners and the daughter of the White King to their knees.

‘Raktusha alone is worthy of this peak.’

He felt no doubt. He was certain his weapon proficiency was unmatched. He was a Swordmaster—one who had attained true awakening and shattered the boundaries of mortal realms.

‘Enlightenment is mine. No one can stand in my way.’

Having recently touched upon a new level of understanding, he was confident that no rivals remained. Moreover, he felt a deep sense of debt.

‘I will honor the Black King’s gift.’

He had reached a level of power that defied logic. Imbued with the Black King’s overwhelming curse, Raktusha had evolved far beyond his orcish roots. He felt powerful enough to challenge even the star-tier strength of Kramdel.

The White King’s daughter was heralded as a once-in-a-century prodigy, but to him, she was still an unrefined youth. Only he possessed the right to rule this mountain and subjugate her. Among all those chosen by the Black King, his excellence stood apart. If he could force the mountain’s practitioners into the Black King’s service, his standing would be absolute.

Raktusha thrust his greatsword toward the clouds.

“Move out! Seize the mountain! For the glory of the Black King!”

A screeching sound echoed as a pillar of dark, malevolent sword intent erupted from his weapon, piercing the sky.

—

High above in the Heavenly Realm, the residents of Practitioners’ Mountain gathered in a tense assembly.

“The Swordmaster Raktusha is attacking?”

“A direct subordinate of the Black King is here? Why?”

“It has to be because of Lady Aria.”

The practitioners were visibly shaken. This place had always been a neutral sanctuary, free from such blatant hostility.

“Raktusha is making his ascent.”

“Are we really going to let him just walk up here?”

“There haven’t been any deaths yet. Without a violation of peace, we have no legal right to step in.”

Raktusha climbed with absolute confidence, effectively sealing the mountain as he moved. He prevented anyone from leaving, claiming territory as he went. His approach was calculated; by avoiding unnecessary slaughter, he denied the practitioners a reason to intervene.

“Is he aiming for the summit?”

“Does he intend to become the Mountain Lord?”

“But Lady Aria currently holds that title…”

By tradition, the one who reaches the deepest level of training through the trials becomes the Lord, and the practitioners are bound to protect them. If Raktusha attacked Aria directly, they would fight. But if he won the title through the trials?

All eyes moved toward Aria.

“…”

Raktusha wasn’t just looking to kidnap her. He intended to pass the trials, usurp the Lord’s seat, and legally demand her submission. If Aria fled, she would be branded a coward who shrunk from a challenge.

‘Not that fleeing is an option for her.’

Aria stood up. The path to becoming the Mountain Lord consisted of three trials, the final being a direct duel with the incumbent. She had no choice but to face him.

As the seals were released, Raktusha finally stepped into the Heavenly Realm.

“How tedious.”

His journey had been bloodless. He had climbed without a single person daring to obstruct his path.

“I expected at least one person with some backbone.”

He clicked his tongue in mockery. Despite the mountain’s reputation for harboring masters, it seemed none had the courage to face him. It was predictable, though—the oppressive black aura radiating from his soul was enough to make most people physically ill. The gap in their power was so vast that just standing near him was suffocating.

“…Well now.”

He paused. There was one exception.

A human was slowly making his way up the mountain, a spear in his hand. The stranger’s posture, his stride, and the way he balanced his weight suggested a high level of discipline.

Raktusha delivered a casual horizontal slash with his greatsword.

*Kwarung!*

With a sound like rolling thunder, a jagged wave of sword intent surged toward the spearman.

—

The Ancient Corpse Crows.

Since undergoing skill transcendence, their appearance had shifted dramatically from their previous forms. They were now the size of children, with unsettlingly heavy, fleshy bodies. When they unfurled their wings, hundreds of smaller crows could be seen swarming within their massive torsos.

“They’re like living hives.”

There were over a thousand of them now, enough to clog the temple corridors. It wasn’t just their numbers that had improved, though. Their behavior was far more organized. While the previous versions acted on instinct, these ancient variants functioned like commanders, leading their swarms with tactical precision while they awaited my word.

“Clear out those cursed ether stones as fast as possible.”

The ancient crows opened their beaks in response.

‘Wait, what?’

Instead of attacking the stones, they turned and fired waves of curse energy directly at me. For a split second, I thought the summon had glitched.

—

**《Ancient Corpse Crow activates ‘Curse Wave.’》**
**《’Curse Reflection (25%)’ triggered.》**
**《’Curse Duration Extension (25%)’ triggered.》**
**《Reflected curse imbued with Penetration (10%).》**
**《Ancient Corpse Crow activates ‘Curse Amplification.’》**

—

I realized their strategy instantly. They were intentionally hitting me so that the Baal Helmet would reflect and buff the curse, which they then amplified further with their own abilities. It was a loop of infinite power scaling.

They directed this massive, looped energy toward the ‘cursed ether stone.’

*Crack!*

The stone, which usually required millions of strikes to even chip, began to fracture in less than a minute.

‘They’re utilizing the helmet’s penetration effect.’

It was fixed damage. By amplifying the curse, they maximized that 10% penetration. The stones were immune to almost everything, but penetration was the one thing they couldn’t stop.

‘Impressive.’

They were actually exploiting my own gear’s mechanics to fulfill the order of “efficiency.” While it was a bit jarring to be the target of my own summons’ attacks, the results were undeniable.

‘It’s a bit painful to soak up those amplified curses, but this is fast.’

At this pace, the entire temple would be cleared in a day or two. There were over a hundred stones here—a staggering amount for a place built by Baal himself.

‘Something is definitely hidden beneath this temple.’

You don’t put a hundred layers of near-impenetrable security on something unless you never want it to see the light of day. I couldn’t even begin to guess what kind of entity required that level of containment.