The Shadow Organization Members Raised Through Pay-To-Win Are Too Strong

[Due to the Leader’s orders, Black Raven members have hunted 5 dark mages.]

[Synchronization progress has reached 25%.]

[You can now absorb the abilities of dark mages hunted by members.]

As the synchronization progress reached 25%, a new system opened.

‘This wasn’t in the game?’

Originally, in the game “World Conqueror,” the Leader wasn’t an entity that needed separate development.

‘Because they were the player.’

Since the Leader was the player who just collected characters, developed them, and used them to conquer the continent, they didn’t need separate power.

Is it because this is my reality now?

Come to think of it, it was the same when synchronization progress reached 20%.

The system that opened then allowed checking the list of Phantoms close to me.

This too was a system that didn’t exist in the game.

‘Still, this newly opened system benefits me.’

Until now, I had to rely on Black Raven because I lacked power.

‘Being able to absorb the abilities of dark mages hunted by members…’

Though members needed to hunt dark mages, fundamentally, it was an element that made me stronger.

‘But when did they hunt 5 dark mages?’

And it said this happened due to my orders.

‘Well, one must be the dark mage from the mine.’

When I was still a slave in the underground mine, a dark mage suddenly appeared.

Though Celestia’s hounds eventually dealt with the dark mage, I had no idea where the other 4 were hunted.

‘Ah, maybe there were dark mages in other mines too?’

That possibility was high.

I closed my eyes and sank into thought.

‘Dark mages…’

I wasn’t sure why it was limited to dark mages.

Even in the game settings, it only said dark magic was forbidden, but hunting dark mages wasn’t the main objective.

But this system that appeared to me now seemed to urge hunting dark mages, didn’t it?

“Hmm…”

Still, the deliberation wasn’t long.

In any case, when members hunted dark mages, I could absorb their abilities.

Right now, figuring out how to absorb abilities is the priority.

I looked at the status window before me.

I confirmed there was new text below the message that had appeared earlier.

[You can absorb abilities from the 5 recently hunted dark mages.

[Among abilities, ‘Magic’ will be displayed converted as ‘Skills’.]

‘Could I possibly absorb all five?’

The list of dark mages hunted by members unfolded below.

[Please select one of dark mage “Mordor’s” abilities.]

– Trait’ Mana Affinity’
– Skill ‘Puppet of the Wraith’
– Stat ‘Mana’

‘If it’s Puppet of the Wraith, it must be the one that appeared in my mine.’

Puppet of the Wraith was a skill that raised corpses as undead.

There was a dark mage who killed the supervisor in my mine and raised him as undead.

Though the skill seemed very useful just looking at it, the reality wasn’t so.

‘They’re literally puppet creatures.’

Undead no different from puppets that only move when the skill caster gives each command.

Therefore, it was hard to demonstrate great power.

‘Not that I was planning to learn it anyway.’

Even if I learned Puppet of the Wraith, what meaning would it have if I couldn’t use it?

Dark magic was forbidden in the continent of Eluncia.

If I raised corpses, the Holy Kingdom would say “Aha!” and dispatch Inquisitors to Hartwell territory again.

Maybe being limited to dark mages isn’t the best.

And I could only choose one from here.

It didn’t take much deliberation.

Mana Affinity.

Then, blue light began enveloping my body.

“…”

When I took a deep breath, a refreshing sensation seeped into every corner of my body, as if I were breathing clean air.

‘This is amazing.’

I looked at my palm.

As if a mist was forming, blue mana swirled above my skin.

With each movement of my fingers, thin streams of mana followed.

The mana energy detected from the surroundings had become much denser.

Just minutes ago, I had to concentrate to sense mana.

Even though my affinity was good and my talent was worthy of tutor Aaron’s praise, it wasn’t like this.

‘This is no joke.’

Now, I naturally absorbed mana dissolved in the air like breathing.

It was too early for amazement.

I could absorb abilities from five dark mages in total.

I had only absorbed one’s ability so far.

‘Shall we continue looking?’

[Please select one of dark mage “Velasco’s” abilities.]

– Skill ‘Dark Curtain’
– Stat ‘Health’

However, the next dark mage’s abilities only showed two options.

‘So it’s not always three choices.’

Here, too, what I could select was predetermined.

When I selected health, it felt like vitality filled my body.

Fatigue disappeared as if washed away, and even breathing seemed easier.

‘This isn’t bad either.’

For now, it seemed good to focus on selecting traits and stats.

[Please select one of dark mage “Janok’s” abilities.]

– Trait ‘Aura of Fear’

‘Is this one a dud?’

The options decreased even more than the second dark mage.

Moreover, even though it was a trait, I couldn’t select Aura of Fear.

Aura of Fear emits dark energy around the caster.

Though it breaks enemy morale, naturally, I didn’t need it.

‘The moment I select Aura of Fear, I’d be advertising myself as a dark mage.’

Though hunting dark mages wasn’t the main objective in the game, elimination requests existed.

The experience points were so good that there was a time when I only took dark mage elimination requests.

From that experience, I learned about the traits and skills of most dark mages.

‘Let’s skip this one and look at the next one?’

[Please select one of dark mage “Raven’s” abilities.]

– Stat ‘Strength’

Though there was only one option this time too, fortunately, it was something I can use.

When I selected strength, power surged throughout my body.

It felt like my muscles were swelling.

It was a similar yet different feeling from selecting health.

‘But why do only these come up?’

Aren’t dark mages still mages?

Even for stats, I thought mainly magic or mana related ones would appear, but mana only appeared once.

The rest were just health and strength.

‘Is it just luck?’

Maybe the first dark mage was just lucky.

Though disappointing, ability absorption was like a bonus concept.

It would definitely be beneficial if I could gradually become stronger like this rather than having nothing.

‘Now for the last one.’

At last, only the fifth dark mage remained.

I moved to the next message without hesitation.

‘Oh!’

I marveled at seeing the next dark mage’s abilities.

This time, the options weren’t limited to three.

[Please select one of dark mage “Simon’s” abilities.]

– Trait ‘Madness’
– Trait’ Elemental Affinity’
– Skill ‘Dark Arrow’
– Stat ‘Agility’

This time, there were 4 total options.

Of course, what I could select was fixed, but I discovered the options could exceed three.

‘Elemental Affinity is best here.’

It was similar to mana affinity, increasing affinity for all elemental magic.

Naturally, elemental affinity was far more valuable than mana affinity.

‘Lucky!’

Magic also has suitable attributes for oneself.

One could discover that and specialize in that attribute to strengthen its power.

Of course, learning fire-attribute magic didn’t mean you couldn’t learn water-attribute magic.

However, when trying to learn magic of other attributes that don’t match yourself, the drawback is significantly reduced understanding and power.

It wasn’t for nothing that they were divided into Fire Tower, Water Tower, and so on.

That’s why I couldn’t understand that dark mage.

‘Simon was the name?’

With such traits, they would have been valued at any magic tower.

I don’t know their reasons for choosing dark magic, but it was ultimately their choice.

I immediately selected the elemental affinity trait.

Though there wasn’t the refreshing feeling when selecting mana affinity, it didn’t matter.

What mattered now was that my potential had increased.

* * *

Mist’s underground prison was hell itself.

Blood stains streamed down pure white walls, the smell of rotting flesh, and endless screams of agony filled the air.

Torturers in white robes moved like grim reapers, tearing apart prisoners’ bodies and minds.

Their cruel laughter mixed with prisoners’ screams to create a nightmare symphony.

Among them, the deepest room was shrouded in silence.

The one who broke that stillness was Kazas.

He was the director of the prison.

“Well, this is surprising.”

But his voice rang cold as a sharp blade.

His wrinkled face was twisted with anger, and blood still beaded on his hands.

He muttered while wiping his blood-stained hands.

“To think they placed a restriction. They got us good.”

Kazas laughed as if deranged.

He had been busy for a week, dedicating all his time to interrogating the dark mage caught by the Eighth Elder.

The dark mage’s name was Simon.

They were quite capable – would have made a name for themselves if they had worked as a mage.

But now Simon had become a cold corpse before Kazas.

It wasn’t Kazas who killed them.

Though he tortured them, seeing a living dark mage was rare.

Since he needed to extract as much information as possible, Kazas continued interrogation while torturing Simon just short of death.

Though Simon kept their mouth shut at first, they eventually broke under torture and spoke.

– I… I just follow the will of those above!

That they were just following orders.

The problem was Simon’s next words made Kazas unpleasant.

– Ravens. They call themselves Ravens…

The moment they said that far, Simon’s head exploded.

Someone had intentionally placed a restriction.

Blood and brain matter sprayed everywhere, splattering on Kazas’s face too.

He slowly raised his hand to wipe the blood from his face.

“How dare… How dare they impersonate Black Raven!”

Kazas’s voice sounded like a roar.

His face transformed like an evil spirit, making the surrounding torturers tremble in fear.

Ravens.

The ravens Simon mentioned were another name meaning Black Raven.

They were widely known to the world as Ravens, and someone impersonating them was unforgivable.

That’s how great Kazas’s loyalty to Black Raven was.

But problems aren’t solved by just getting angry.

Kazas closed his eyes while calming his mind.

He was Mist’s director.

It was a place for imprisoning and interrogating beings that threatened Black Raven.

Yet someone fearlessly impersonating Black Raven appeared?

As Mist’s director, this wasn’t an issue he could overlook.

“Number One!”

When Kazas shouted, a nearby torturer quickly approached and bowed.

“Yes, Director. Please give your orders.”

Already, Vice Leader Ariel had greatly increased Mist’s authority.

The content of the orders was to find those behind interfering with the Leader’s plans.

And amid this, beings impersonating Black Raven appeared.

Could they perhaps be the ones behind interfering with the Leader’s plans?

He wanted to use all of Mist’s forces to find them immediately.

Unfortunately, this matter was too large for Kazas to handle alone.

“I’ll go to the Supreme Council.”

The Supreme Council needed to move.