The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 142: Like a Scene from a Movie (1)

Kai was currently at level 249, and Yoo Ha-Rin, the world’s top-ranked player, was at level 262. In other words, Kai had now become a ranker among the top-tier players.

More importantly, no one had discovered the connection between Kai and Unknown.

"Even so, I can’t believe they’re accusing me of using a bug just because I’m doing well... It should bother me, but... it doesn't?"

That was a natural reaction, after all. If he saw someone else gain nearly 90 levels in just two weeks, especially from the mid-100s and not from level 1, he would have written a long complaint to Pegasus Corporation himself.

"Stats window."

[Kai]

Class: Solaris Cleric

Level: 249

Title: Envoy of God

HP: 44,800

Holy Power: 101,100

Stats

Strength: 910 Stamina: 448

Intelligence: 340 Agility: 308

Holiness: 1,011 Dignity: 270

Benevolence: 183

Poison Resistance +30

Magic Resistance +40%

Nature Affinity +200

Damage to Demons/Undead +50%

Kai had gained 430 stat points from leveling up. After distributing those stats, his Strength entered into the 900s, and his Holy Power, crucial for a Cleric, had exceeded 1,000.

Although some stats had decreased after he switched from the Tyrant of the Sea gear to the holy relics series, the increased attributes far outweighed the losses.

Moreover, Kai received an unexpected gift in addition to his visible power boost.

[King of Leveling Up]

Rank: Special

Description: A title given to the king of leveling up.

Effect: +10 to all stats, +10% XP gain rate (This effect remains even when title is unequipped.)

The King of Leveling Up! Even the system acknowledged Kai’s absurd leveling speed.

However, despite what should have been a happy moment, Kai sighed.

Sigh. I assumed that reaching level 200 would naturally allow me to converse with the thoughts of Shimizu and Cherantia, but...

That assumption was thoroughly shattered, and he was only given a hint about what to do next about it.

[To communicate with their thoughts, you must clear the Trial of Hanox.]

He never imagined that not defeating the statues of knights at the Trial of Hanox would come back to haunt him like this. As a result, Kai gave up on reaching level 250 for the time being and revisited the Trial of Hanox. He figured there wouldn’t be enough time to pursue both tasks simultaneously.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

As Kai entered the dome-shaped dungeon, a familiar statue greeted him.

[Apprentice Knight Statue. LV.130]

"I used to be terrified of that thing.”

Of course, back then, he was only around level 60, so it was understandable.

He trudged forward and drew his Ironwill Longsword.

Then, a blue aura flared up around the statue!

[Apprentice Knight Statue has awoken from its slumber.]

[Apprentice Knight Statue is evaluating the challenger.]

[Evaluating...]

[Challenger’s job confirmed to be Solaric Cleric.]

[Challenger granted highest level of access.]

[All gates have been unlocked.]

They were the same messages as last time!

Even back then, he was a Solaric Cleric, so he had avoided the battle and gone straight to conversing with Patrick. Of course, taking such a sneaky route was the reason for his current troubles!

Back then, I was afraid of this thing. But now...

As Kai stepped into the battle, his gaze turned cold. The moment his foot pushed off the ground, the sword in his hand pierced through the chest of the knight statue.

His speed was truly astonishing!

[Apprentice Knight Statue has been destroyed.]

[Challenger is requested to proceed to the next room.]

“It’s gotten this easy.”

Kai said nothing more and calmly moved on to the next room.

[Proficient Knight Statue. LV.170]

The second statue fell just as easily with a single swing of his sword, but this easy approach only worked up to the third room.

[Hanox's War Commander Statue. LV.250]

The opponent in the fourth room was too strong to be taken down with a single strike, and it wasn’t until Kai saw the statue that he remembered his past experience.

Ah, come to think of it... This trial’s last room had a statue at level 300, didn’t it?

It was a fresh reminder of just how absurd his class was and how ridiculously he had acquired it!

“There’s no need to waste time here. Blizzard, Mimic.”

His lovely pets, summoned in an instant, looked different from before. Blizzard, now at level 197, looked imposing enough to be mistaken for a chieftain of a tribe.

As for Mimic...

“Go, Mimic!”

Mimic began imitating the form of a desert anaconda!

Even while grinding levels like a madman, Kai had continuously made Mimic mimic various monsters.

As a result, I’ve collected three types of monsters from the desert.

The level difference was too great in the early stages of hunting, so Mimic failed frequently, but as Mimic’s level increased, its success rate gradually improved.

Now at level 146, Mimic was a formidable-looking desert anaconda to anyone who saw it!

As Mimic swiftly coiled around Hanox's War Commander Statue, Kai and Blizzard charged forward. Then, a one-sided beatdown followed!

[Hanox's War Commander Statue has been destroyed.]

[Challenger is requested to proceed to the final room.]

The statue in the last room could be considered the boss of this dungeon.

[Hanox's Ruler Statue. LV.300]

“Phew, even I find this a bit nerve-wracking.”

The statue’s level was 300.

It was a spine-chilling number Kai had never encountered in his seven months of playing the game!

However, he had to face that monstrous entity.

Then, the statue's eyes glowed with a red light.

***

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[Acquired 15 stat points.]

“I never thought I'd surpass level 250 here.”

Kai had given up on leveling up and came to the Trial of Hanox, yet his level increased even more!

At the same time, he recalled a forgotten part of his past.

Ding!

[The quest to clear the Trial of Hanox has been completed.]

[All stats increased by +1.]

[Level increased.]

[Acquired 5 stat points.]

[As a dungeon clear reward, you can now communicate with the thoughts of the apostles infused in the holy relics.]

“Dang.”

It was a quest he had completely forgotten about! It was the quest given by Huey, the master of the Training Grounds of the Dawn.

Oh, right. The reward was an increase of 1 in all stats and a level up.

It was a totally unexpected bonus, and felt like finding a money bill while cleaning his room!

“Now then...”

It was time to have the long-postponed conversation with his seniors.

“Communicate with the thoughts.”

[You can converse with the thoughts of Cherantia.]

[You can converse with the thoughts of Shimizu.]

Looking at the message windows that popped up, Kai smiled and said, “I choose both.”

***

“Why has my friend still not arrived?”

Sitting crouched down in Elania's palm, Luteria looked up at the queen with a gloomy expression.

“So cute... I mean, please don’t worry too much, World Tree. He is the most genuine human I’ve ever seen. He will never abandon us.”

“I do not fear his abandonment. It's just... at this rate, time is...”

As Luteria murmured its frequent complaints, an elf scout ran up with a beaming face.

“The apostle has arrived!”

“Oh! My friend!” Luteria wiggled its arms and legs, urging Elania, “Take me to him! Hurry!”

“Yes, Mother.”

The elf queen hurriedly accompanied Luteria to find Kai. When they found him, she was taken aback.

He’s changed... in such a short time.

Kai had certainly been a strong human before. But at that time, his strength was such that she could easily defeat him if she fought with all her might.

But now...

Elania gazed intently into Kai's eyes. She couldn’t perceive his depth.

“Oh my.”

In other words, his achievements over the past two weeks were extraordinary!

The elf queen gracefully bowed her head. “It seems you've had some kind of enlightenment. Congratulations.”

“Enlightenment? Not really...” Kai shrugged, wearing a slightly bothered expression. “I just met two troublesome people, that's all.”

Ignoring Elania, who tilted her head in befuddlement Kai said to Luteria, “Luteria, I am ready.”

“I’ve been waiting for those words, my friend.” Standing proudly on Elania’s palm, Luteria raised its voice. “My children! Follow this man! Be his spear and shield, sweep away the cruel Church of Muldine, and reclaim peace for this land and the future of our people!”

“Yes!”

Their obedience was without a hint of dissent!

“I cannot easily leave the forest. I entrust the children and the future of the forest to you. I wish you good fortune,” Luteria said to Kai.

“Leave it to me.” Smiling, Kai looked at the seven hundred elves lined up before him. “Let us advance.”

“Kai, where is our target?”

At Elduin's question, Kai responded with a look that asked why he asked such an obvious thing, “First, let’s drive out the illegal aliens in the forest.”

***

Today, the MID Online community was peaceful, when all of a sudden a video was uploaded out of the blue.

-Huh? It’s Unknown.

-Is this the footage from their war with the Black Bees?

-Oh, if it is, this should be good.

Excited players, filled with anticipation, clicked play on the video.

However, within a few seconds, they found themselves tilting their heads in confusion.

-... What is this?

-First-person view...?

-Is this some kind of documentary?

-Why is he suddenly doing something so different?

Unknown's videos were known for their impressive visuals and stories. But for some reason, this video had no special effects at all.

However, it had such a gripping sense of immersion that viewers couldn’t bring themselves to click away.

-Wow, I don’t know about the rest, but...

-Even without the CGI, the first-person perspective is super immersive.

-But isn’t this the Elven Forest...? What is he doing alone?

└ How do you know he’s alone?

└ You can tell by the sound of the footsteps. Try listening with a good headset.

Unknown walked quietly through the forest alone. With each step he took, the only sound was the crunch of leaves underfoot. It was a silent forest, in which not even the birds chirped.

Then suddenly, he stopped. As he turned his head, the screen shifted, and there appeared a man. It was a man with three yellow stripes painted under his eyes, and pointed ears. What those features indicated was clear.

The players immediately started typing on their keyboards.

-What the! It’s an elf!

-Unknown found an elf!

-No way... Did he record his discovery of the Elven Village?

-Nobody’s ever done this before, right?

-As expected of Unknown! He never disappoints!

-Who is that elf oppa? He’s so handsome ??

The players’ excitement surged in an instant!

However, Unknown didn’t explain with words, and showed with his actions that what they should be amazed by wasn’t now, but what came next.

—Sweep them away.

It was the first time Unknown’s voice was heard in the video. His voice was as strong as steel and as cold as a winter lake.

-Sweep? Sweep what?

-Is this some kind of quest to clean up the Elven Village?

-Unknown’s voice is pretty good.

As their curiosity peaked, hundreds of figures began passing by Unknown’s side. They were all elves.

The overwhelming numbers left the players speechless!

—Heup!

In the next moment, Unknown started running, and the screen shook violently. Then, dark elves began appearing one after another before him!

Slash! Slash!

Unknown’s sword had no eyes and thus had no mercy. The dark elves running at him turned into polygons.

The battle footage was only about twenty minutes long, which was very short.

When the intense battle video, so gripping that players could hardly breathe, finally ended, Unknown stylishly swung his sword and flicked off the blood from the blade. At the same time, he sheathed his sword and turned his back.

—Elves.

As his voice echoed through the forest, one by one, the elves knelt down. Hundreds of elves awaited Unknown’s command in a posture of submission!

In the scene, which seemed like one from a movie, Unknown slowly said with a voice filled with authority,

—Let’s go. It’s time for war.