Trait Hoarder – Chapter 122

The Vanished Phoenix — Part 2

“Blood… blood?”

“Yes. Just think of it as a blood donation and give me 400cc.”

I handed him a 400cc blood donation pack and a vein syringe.

Kim Mabeob stared at me for a moment before tying the medical rubber strap around his own arm.

It seemed the trust we had built so far was enough for him to comply with such an absurd request without question.

Soon, red blood began to slowly fill the donation pack.

I crouched beside him.

‘Crafting and potion-making alone aren’t enough.’

The item I was about to create required higher-level traits.

While I had gathered most of the material traits, there was still one missing.

I reached out toward the worldsteel, pure silver, and solar copper.

‘This is going to take a while.’

Well, no helping it.

I might as well get started now.

Fwoosh!

I lit the magical furnace.

First, I melted the worldsteel into molten metal, transferred it to the cooling unit, and rapidly cooled it.

Then, I equipped traits like [Magic Resistance], [Fire Resistance], and [Black Flame] before handling the steel, clumsily shaping it into wire.

“Black Tiger Swordmaster? I’ve drawn all 400cc…”

“Just leave it anywhere. It’s protected by preservation magic, so it’ll be fine.”

“Uh… okay, got it.”

I twisted and bent the rough, scribble-like wire.

As I melted the pure silver and solar copper, I began shaping the wire into a bird.

Well… “bird” was a stretch. What came out was a strange, crude wire sculpture.

After a moment of silence, I unbent the wires and started over, twisting and shaping them repeatedly.

Snap!

I broke the wire several times, having used too much force.

Luckily, I had plenty of worldsteel.

Dozens of attempts later—shaping and reshaping the wire into the form of a bird—I finally felt like I was getting somewhere.

As the crimson sunset bathed the world, my hands, now moving with an almost instinctive fluidity, completed a wire-frame Phoenix.

I couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.

Acquired the trait: [Crafting].

I immediately equipped it.

With this, I now had the key traits from my early days: [Crafting], [Potion Making], and [Repair], all obtained while working tirelessly with enchanted fabric in my first house.

Added to that was [Synthesis], acquired during my early days of grinding as a Warrior, and [Modification], unlocked later.

And now, with the addition of [Crafting], I had reached a perfect state for this task.

Together, these traits culminated in the higher-level trait: [Artisan].

Traits like [Alchemist], [Tinkerer], or [Blacksmith] might also have been useful, but [Artisan] suited me best.

I wasn’t planning to dive too deeply into any specific crafting field.

It was better to excel at a variety of things.

If I needed something more specialized later, I could always create it then.

There was no reason to wait any longer.

I moved my hands like lightning.

I fed all the remaining worldsteel into the furnace, melted it, and transferred it to the cooling unit to create steel plates.

Then, using Mjolnir, I hammered away at the steel plates.

I shaped the worldsteel into bird-shaped plates, lightly coated them with pure silver, and etched leaf-vein patterns into the surface using solar copper.

It was amateur craftsmanship at best.

But the [Artisan] trait and the traits I cycled through as needed supported my efforts.

Thanks to that, the finished product looked decent on the outside.

Bubble, bubble.

I boiled Kim Mabeob’s blood, adding pre-prepared ingredients to the mixture. Finally, I added a Level 3 mana core.

The blood simmered down and was absorbed into the mana core, which began emitting an eerie orange glow.

Kim Mabeob, his eyes brimming with curiosity, stared at the glowing mana core.

“Where did you learn to do this?”

“Twenty years of scraping by at the bottom will teach you, whether you like it or not.”

“That’s not true… Most people I’ve seen at the bottom just learn how to curse and trash-talk.”

“Do I look like ‘most people’ to you?”

“Well… no, but still.”

I retrieved the mana core from the mixture.

I pressed it firmly into the alloy Phoenix I had just made.

At the same time, I activated [Synthesis].

The [Synthesis] trait wasn’t limited to mana core fusion.

When the right recipe was followed, it could even merge dissimilar materials or objects.

Of course, if done carelessly, the materials could evaporate entirely, which is why it wasn’t commonly used for this purpose.

Flash!

The mana core emitted a blinding light.

It quickly liquefied, melting into the alloy Phoenix.

The surface of the alloy Phoenix began to glow.

It emitted a fiery light—the same hue as the flames of a living Phoenix.

“Whoa!”

“Is that a magical spirit?”

“No, it’s a Phoenix! He’s created an artificial Phoenix!”

“A Warrior pulled off something even we mages couldn’t do?”

“Did you record all of that?”

“Of course! If we follow the exact steps, we can make our own artificial Phoenixes too!”

Did I show them too much?

Well, if they take too much, I’ll just have to take it back later.

I threw the alloy Phoenix into the air with all my might.

It shot up like a paper plane before leveling out.

Then it began flying.

Heading northeast.

Guided by its innate homing instinct, buried deep in its blood and DNA.

Flying toward its “mother.”

In other words, toward wherever the real Phoenix Valley might be hidden.

“Kim Mabeob. Get in.”

I naturally took the controls of the Red Cougar.

Kim Mabeob smacked his lips and climbed into the passenger seat.

“Can’t I drive this time?”

“No.”

“Just once?”

“No.”

Following the alloy Phoenix required delicate, precise driving.

And he wanted to turn it into some extreme sport?

Absolutely not.

I lightly pulled back on the controls.

Guided by my [Driving] and [Riding] traits, the Red Cougar moved as though it were an extension of my own body.

Silent as a ghost, it rose into the air and followed the alloy Phoenix.

Under the darkness that had now fallen, the alloy Phoenix shone like a beacon.

Slow and steady, the alloy Phoenix.

The Red Cougar followed it at a perfect distance of 10 meters.

“Isn’t this too slow?”

“It is. It’s not a real Phoenix, just a makeshift model I cobbled together.”

“So this will really lead us to Phoenix Valley? I didn’t realize there were Phoenix experts in the back alleys.”

“Does anyone not have a story to tell? My guess is they were probably a Phoenix researcher.”

“Can you introduce me to them?”

“They’re not in this world.”

“Oh…”

Since he was a game designer, of course, he’s not in this world.

Time dragged on endlessly.

Kim Mabeob yawned widely before eventually falling asleep.

How much time passed?

By the time night had passed and dawn began to break, the alloy Phoenix started descending.

This was where things could get dangerous.

I quickly rolled down the window and threw Mjolnir.

Bang!

The alloy Phoenix burst apart on impact.

“Gah! W-what just happened?”

Kim Mabeob, who had been sleeping soundly, woke up with a start, clearly alarmed.

Ignoring him, I pushed the control stick forward.

The Red Cougar descended slowly, carefully avoiding any sudden or provocative movements.

I sharpened my focus as much as I could.

With traits like [Sixth Sense], [Insight], and [Sensitivity] equipped, all of my attention was locked on the area below, where the alloy Phoenix had been descending.

‘It doesn’t seem like it’s noticed us yet.’

The Divine Beast Phoenix is a Level 9 creature.

Its detection range is nothing short of transcendent.

If I didn’t want to provoke it and die a miserable death, I needed to be exceedingly cautious.

“We’ve arrived.”

“We’ve arrived? Where? I don’t see anything.”

“Now’s the time to start looking.”

Phoenix Barriers aren’t something you can find by conventional means.

But if you know their general location, pinpointing them is easy.

I focused all my sensory traits.

If there was a barrier, there would undoubtedly be a slight sense of distortion.

Sure enough, I felt it.

Although I was descending in a straight line, my instincts and insight told me otherwise.

They whispered that the path had curved slightly, as if avoiding a certain space.

‘Bingo.’

I didn’t pull the control stick any further.

Since the alloy Phoenix had flown here, it was likely that the Divine Beast Phoenix was within the Phoenix Valley.

And barging in while a Divine Beast Phoenix was guarding it? That was nothing short of begging to be killed.

“I’ve found it.”

“Where? I don’t see anything.”

“It’s right in front of us. You just can’t see it because of the barrier.”

“Oh… Then let’s go in!”

“We can’t. The Divine Beast Phoenix is inside.”

“Ah…”

Kim Mabeob and I exchanged glances.

We couldn’t just charge in recklessly, nor could we sit around hoping for the Divine Beast Phoenix to leave on its own.

I presented the obvious solution.

“We’ll ask the Tower Master to help.”

“My grandfather?”

“He’s the only one who can help. This is beyond my abilities. If he can draw its attention, I’ll infiltrate during the distraction. If he decides to wait until the Divine Beast Phoenix leaves on its own, I’ll just regroup later.”

My time is valuable.

Finding the second Phoenix Valley and demonstrating how to locate one was enough to fulfill my obligations.

Kim Mabeob called the Tower Master.

After a brief conversation, the Tower Master arrived via spatial transfer.

“Ho!”

He immediately let out an exclamation of admiration upon arriving.

“This is indeed Phoenix Valley. I heard about it from the dispatched mages. They mentioned you crafted some sort of special object to find it?”

“Yes. It’s something I learned a long time ago. I didn’t think I’d ever actually get to use it like this.”

“You truly are a fascinating individual. At first, I thought you were just a promising Warrior. But now I see you have the heart of a Warrior, the adaptability of a Reinforced, the intellect of a Mage, and the resolve of a Priest! How can a person possess all of that? Are you even human? You’re not some kind of avatar, are you?”

“Haha. No, of course not. I’m human, though I can’t say much about my parents.”

“Hm, yes, that’s true. You don’t know your parents.”

That’s how the backstory goes.

According to the setting, Warrior Kim is an orphan.

The Tower Master gave me a scrutinizing look, his expression turning serious.

“Hm… It’s possible your parents had an ancient bloodline. I’ve heard that the Heavenly Demon displayed a similar level of versatility and extraordinary talent. Could you perhaps be descended from such a lineage?”

The Heavenly Demon?

I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

The idea that the Heavenly Demon, who was supposed to be in seclusion training, had somehow traveled to Korea and fathered a child was laughable.

Unfortunately, there was absolutely no resemblance between the Heavenly Demon and me.

But hey, let him think what he wants.

My abilities come solely from trait swapping.

I simply shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.

“Who knows? Even I’m aware I’m not an ordinary person.”

“Hmm, your value just keeps climbing higher and higher. Still, a bet’s a bet. You know what happens if you lose, right?”

“You should be more prepared to grant my wish, Tower Master.”

“Haha! Bold words. I like it. Fine! I’ll grant you anything—except the position of Tower Master, of course!”

The Tower Master reached out his hand.

The space around him warped, and a golden handgun materialized in his grip.

It wasn’t just any handgun—it was studded with magical jewels, and a large mana core, shaped like a rod, was embedded in the barrel.

A magic handgun, serving as both a weapon and a staff.

The Tower Master, dressed sharply in his suit, spun the handgun around his finger.

“I’ll lure out the Phoenix. I’ll take a lap around the planet while I’m at it, so make sure to figure out what’s going on here. Uncover the truth.”

“Be careful.”

“Grandfather! If it looks dangerous, run away, okay?”

“Bah, don’t worry. This old man has seen his fair share of battles. I even helped Merlin take down a Divine Beast once. Just sit tight and watch from afar.”

With a flash of light, the Tower Master vanished.

Moments later, in the far west, a massive sun erupted into view.

Sunfire.

Without hesitation, it slammed into the presumed location of Phoenix Valley.

A translucent, orange-tinted barrier shimmered into existence, blocking the Sunfire.

“Kwaaaaarrrgh!”

An enraged roar filled the air.

Flames erupted, rising like a massive mountain.

At the center of it all, a pure, fiery essence took the form of a majestic bird as it soared into the sky.

At that moment, the Tower Master began flying westward.

He easily surpassed supersonic speed.

But the Divine Beast Phoenix was faster.

“Kwaaaaargh!”

The Phoenix let out another deafening cry and flapped its wings. In an instant, it caught up to the Tower Master.

Kim Mabeob turned pale and shouted in panic.

“G-grandfather!”

It was too early to worry.

With a burst of light, the Tower Master vanished from sight.

Spatial transfer, most likely.

“Kwaaaaargh!”

The Divine Beast Phoenix hesitated for a moment, then fixed its gaze northwest.

Even after what must have been a spatial transfer spanning at least several dozen kilometers, it had detected the Tower Master’s presence.

Without delay, the Phoenix spread its wings and disappeared from view in a flash.

“Will… will he be okay?”

“He should be fine. He’s got the Cloak of Concealment, doesn’t he?”

“Huh? Oh, yes! He does!”

“Then put it on. We’re going in.”

A familiar scene unfolded before us.

Though it had only been a few days since the Phoenixes had relocated their nesting grounds, the new Phoenix Valley was already complete.

A kaleidoscope of vibrant colors stretched before my eyes, a paradise that seemed out of this world.

The dazzling display tempted my senses, but I kept my focus entirely on the Phoenixes.

[Sixth Sense], [Sensitivity], [Bright Eyes]
[Insight], [Detection], [Focus]

With all these traits equipped, I quickly noticed something unusual.

Many of the Phoenixes were staggering.

Outwardly, they appeared similar to the others, but their mana wavelengths told a different story.

Compared to Phoenixes of similar age, they were noticeably weaker.

Bang!

I raised my Dasan Rifle and fired.

The infused attribute: [Stun].

The sudden gunshot caused the Phoenixes to screech and scatter in all directions.

“Gah! Black Tiger Swordmaster! You scared me! Why did you shoot a Phoenix?”

“I didn’t kill it. I knocked it out to examine it.”

I approached the unconscious Phoenix and began my investigation.

My primary focus was on its heart, mana veins, and nervous system—critical components for the Phoenix’s flame magic.

If what I suspected about human interference was true, there would definitely be traces left behind here.

Kim Mabeob examined the Phoenix as well, tilting his head in confusion.

“This is strange.”

“What is?”

“This one is clearly over 20 years old, but it’s weaker than a 10-year-old Phoenix. I don’t understand why it’s so frail.”

“You noticed it too, didn’t you?”

It was easier to let Kim Mabeob come to the conclusion himself rather than me explaining it.

Even though I already knew the answer, I patiently waited as Kim Mabeob poked and prodded the Phoenix.

After a while, he began infusing his own mana into the creature to get a more accurate reading of its mana state.

Crimson flames swept over the Phoenix, from its head to its tail, as Kim Mabeob conducted his analysis.

When he finally finished, his eyes narrowed.

“This is…”

“Did you figure something out?”

“It didn’t weaken for no reason. This Phoenix… its mana was drained.”

“Drained? How?”

“Yes. Its heart and mana veins are completely dried up—completely desiccated. There aren’t many things that can leave behind traces like this. And for it to happen with a fire attribute…”

Ah, exactly.

That’s it.

Say it, Kim Mabeob. You should know.

Even if you’re not a mage, as the direct grandson of the Tower Master, you should be able to figure it out.

A moment later, Kim Mabeob’s expression hardened.

“Don’t tell me… the Solar Eclipse faction?”

Bingo.

The Solar Eclipse faction.

One of the several factions that made up the Sun Mage Tower.

Its leader was Elder Jo, the master of the Mage-Warrior I had killed.

–TL Notes–
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