by Park Saenal
Morpheus explained to the confused Lim Cheolho.
[Kraugel was incomplete. The cooldown time of an important skill hadn’t recovered yet, and his equipment was damaged, so he didn’t wear all of them against Grid. As a result, Grid’s odds increased from 21.13% to 54.98%.]
“Grid’s odds were so high from the beginning?”
[I analyzed the skill tree, items possessed and accumulated battle data of both people, but I can’t be sure it is accurate. Kraugel has made my analysis meaningless 185 times and Grid 13 times.]
That was why they were called miraculous beings. A smile appeared on Lim Cheolho’s face and he laughed loudly.
‘Today is chicken and beer.’
Lim Cheolho decided to have chicken and beer while watching footage of the match between Kraugel and Grid. He was the one with the most assets in the world.
***
[You have entered the tenth island.]
It was a room rather than an island. The floor, walls, and ceiling were painted white, and the size of the empty room couldn’t be measured. It was hard to get a sense of the distance. Grid frowned as he looked around.
“What’s this?”
There were white pointed pillars rising from the ground. They were thin metal poles around 5cm wide and 2m long.
“There are hundreds… No, thousands?”
What was the identity of this pillars? A notification window popped up in front of Grid.
[A mission will be created.]
[Tenth Island]
Avoid the lightning that will pour down like rain!
The lightning can’t be defended against by any means. You can only evade.
Mission Success Conditions: Reach the gate for the eleventh island.
First Clear Reward: 30 Challenger Points.
* You will instantly die if hit by a lightning strike.
[The mission will start 30 minutes from now.]
[The ceiling is opened.]
Kurururung.
Then a roar was heard from above. He looked up and saw the sky that was revealed by the opened ceiling. It was a sky full of dark clouds.
‘A lightning storm that can’t be defended against.’
The lightning storm that would cause instant death would come pouring down. Considering the speed of the lightning, it was a mission that couldn’t be cleared. Only people with excellent control abilities could. For example, people like Kraugel, Regas, and Faker.
“The difficulty is growing.”
Grid finally became nervous. As he was worrying about what to do, he became interested in the pillars that appeared everywhere.
‘They wouldn’t be here for no reason.’
Identifying the use of the pillars was a priority. Grid approached the pillar closest to him and used a skill.
“Legendary Blacksmith’s Appraisal.”
[The Legendary Blacksmith’s Appraisal skill has been used.]
[The blacksmith who became a legend can appraise items with an excellent discerning eye. If a hidden feature exists in the target item, it will be found.]
Ttiring~
[Lightning Rod]
Durability: 1/20
A metal rod with a pointed end that attracts and absorbs lightning.
The durability is weak because it is severely damaged. It will immediately turn to ashes from one lightning strike.
Weight: 3
[A hidden function doesn’t exist.]
[Your understanding of the Lightning Rod is now 100%.]
[The ‘Lightning Rod’ production method has been acquired.]
“Ah, a lightning rod. I have to use this to avoid the lightning.”
Grid grasped the identity of the rods and looked more closely. The distance between lightning rods was around 15m on average. People had to properly utilize their dashing skills to use the lightning rod and avoid the lightning.
‘Can I do it?’
Grid wasn’t in a position to do it with his control skills. He worried for a while before coming up with an idea.
‘It’s really good that I made this.’
The item that Grid took from his inventory was the Portable Furnace that he created.
***
The number of players who had challenged the Behen Archipelago was exactly 990 so far. More than half of them were high rankers who dropped out at the first and second islands. Only 392 people reached the tenth island.
Of those 392 people, only 65 passed the tenth island. The degree of difficulty of the tenth island was incomparable.
“Heok… Heok…”
Sweat flowed down Sticks’ jaw as he sat on the ground. The burden on his heart was very painful. He took a deep breath and turned his gaze towards the magic ball again.
“He really won’t pass here.”
This person stimulated his bad heart, so Sticks couldn’t help giving him a bad evaluation. Sticks could clearly see that the black haired man had a strange ability, but the tenth island was a place where only people with divine control skills could pass.
‘It means he can no longer depend on artifacts.’
Could that man move 2,000 meters while avoiding lightning that fell three or four times per second? Sticks believed it was impossible. It wasn’t a baseless idea. Unfortunately, that black haired man didn’t seem to be able to perfectly control his excellent body.
“Ordinary movements will never… Huh?”
Sticks murmured with confusion. In the middle of the magic space, the man pulled out a portable furnace and started lighting it with the bellows?
“What is it this time?”
There was no ‘portable blast furnace’ in Sticks’ wisdom. A furnace couldn’t be easily handled unless the person was a blacksmith.
“In the first place…”
Why bring out a furnace in this situation?
‘Is he crazy?’
No, it was a problem because he wasn’t crazy. Sticks’ confusion increased as the black haired man raised the temperature of the furnace and started to smelt the iron ore.
“…Eh?”
Sticks had a large amount of knowledge as a sage. So he was forced to feel astonished.
“What? That smelting skill?”
The black haired man exerted a tremendous smelting skill that completely destroyed the concept of ‘smelting’ that existed in Sticks’ knowledge. The iron was instantly melted and purified.
“A legendary blacksmith…!”
He seemed like a magician when shooting magic, a warrior when wielding the sword, a person with a lot of artifacts, and a thief who could easily open solid locks. Now he was also like a blacksmith.
“What’s your identity?”
A question mark appeared over Sticks’ head.
Ttang! Ttang!
The mysterious man finished smelting the iron and started hammering it. Soon after that…
“Lightning rod?”
That’s right. A metal rod, similar to the lightning rods rising from the ground of the tenth island, was born in the hands of the black haired man. However, the size was significant. It was a huge 7m in length.
“…”
Sticks was no longer surprised. No, he tried not to be surprised. He was afraid that his heart pain would occur again.
Kururung! Kurururung.
Suddenly, a heavy rain of lightning started. The black haired man was safe. It was thanks to the floating golden hands that carried the large lightning rod. The man moved like a noble covered by the umbrella his retinue was holding as he moved through the island.
“Uh… Urghh…”
In the end, Sticks was surprised and he grabbed his chest as he collapsed. It didn’t match the appearance of the imposing Grid.
Chapter 360
Chapter 360
The 31 year old Kim Doohyun.
Korea’s top star had an outstanding appearance and a proven performance in Hollywood. Despite his busy schedule, he steadily played Satisfy and finally arrived at the desert city of Reidan.
&n
bsp; “How exciting.”
Kim Doohyun, who only just reached level 197, ‘Nyangmong’ was deeply moved. It was hard to cross the scorching desert that contained powerful monsters.
‘If I was a normal class user, I would’ve never been able to make it through the desert.’
Nyangmong was a pet master. As a unique class, he possessed useful skills and it couldn’t be denied that he was a master of solo play.
An average person could have three pets, but he could have nine. He could even temporarily make monsters friendly, so the monsters in the desert might be strong, but they couldn’t block his way.
However, they were nothing in front of some farmers.
‘It is immensely large.’
Outside Reidan. Vast rice fields stretched out from the outer walls into the horizon.
‘Grid is the owner of this big city. A duke’s authority is beyond my imagination.’
Indeed, there was something admirable about someone who was the best in their field. He could feel how great Grid truly was.
‘He must’ve worked hard in order to climb up to his present place.’
Nyangmong had also undergone countless trials in order to become a top star. Therefore, he had a shallow idea of Grid’s life. Grid might be younger than him, but it was respectable, regardless of age.
Step, step.
His footsteps were light as he walked through the rice fields. He hummed as he thought about soon being able to meet Noe. A farmer blocked his cheerful humming.
“Who are you?”
“…?”
Nyangmong was just walking along. He couldn’t think of anything in his behavior that would’ve caused wariness. Then why was this person blocking the road? Nyangmong was confused by the farmer’s question.
“I am called Nyangmong…”
The farmer closely observed Nyangmong. To be precise, he looked at the nine pets following Nyangmong. It was surprising that the various pets were showing absolute loyalty and affection towards Nyangmong.
“I covet your talent. The giant oaks can be used for farming.”
“…?”
Farming? It was strange that a farmer would say that to someone passing by. That’s right. Nyangmong didn’t know about the crazy farmer of Reidan. He had a busy schedule and played Satisy whenever he was free, so he couldn’t watch TV.
“I’m not a farmer. Please open the path. I have to go to Reidan.”
“You aren’t permitted to enter Reidan without my permission.”
“Why? Are you the owner of this land?”
“The owner of this land is Duke Grid.”
“Then why should I get your permission?”
“It’s my heart.”
‘Is he crazy?’
Nyangmong seriously felt doubts. He felt like there was nothing good about the farmer in front of him. The farmer caught up to him while he was trying to run away.
After a while. Nyangmong and his lovely nine pets were brutally destroyed by the farmer. From Nyangmong’s standpoint, it was truly absurd and unreasonable.
–G-Grid, I finally arrived in Reidan. But I was caught by a mad farmer and forced to become a serf. Help me…
[The other person is in a place where they can’t receive whispers.]
–Ruby, help me…
[The other person isn’t connected to the game.]
“…”
“Follow me.”
It was the day when the professional cattle man was born in Reidan. As a unique class, his abilities were excellent. Reidan’s agriculture was becoming stronger day by day. Nyangmong also became stronger. He was still inadequate to join Overgeared, but he grew rapidly thanks to the ‘★Hidden Quest★ Fun and Exciting Training!’
***
[You have entered the 11th island.]
He disabled the lightning storm by making a huge lightning rod. Grid broke through the notorious tenth island in a smart manner, but he was still restless.
‘Other blacksmiths could’ve come up with the same idea as me.’
He wasn’t special. He repeated that painful truth many times. But it was also encouraging. He had managed to think about a way to break through compared to the old days when he couldn’t think of ideas by himself.
‘Yes, let’s grow slowly.’
Grid’s eyes filled with an emotion he didn’t have in the past. It was a phenomenon where he became aware of his lack of talent and tried to become wiser.
‘Somehow, my head is clear.’
It was the moment when his way of thinking started to expand. Now Grid was evolving. It wasn’t a cataclysmic thing. It was the fruit of his steady progress over the past two years as Pagma’s Descendant.
Was this impossible? No, it was possible. Grid wasn’t dull-witted. Every human was able to broaden their thoughts and knowledge through learning, experience, and self-reflection. Grid was the same.
“That reminds me.”
Was it because his thinking ability was higher than before? Grid had a new question.
‘What’s on the last island?’
The reason why Grid visited the Behen Archipelago was to meet Sage Sticks, but the ultimate content of the archipelago wasn’t Sticks. Sticks was located on the 25~29th islands. Not the last island.
In other words, what was on the 66th island and why did the Behen Archipelago called them ‘challengers?’ With the benefit of hindsight, he noticed the name ‘Challenger Point.’
“It’s a question that can be resolved when I meet Sticks.”
It was foolish to waste his thoughts on meaningless things that he couldn’t figure out alone. Once he met Sticks, he would obtain the way to the East Continent was well as figure out what was on the 66th island. He should directly ask Sticks any questions he had.
A notification window popped up in front of Grid.
[A mission will be created.]
[11th Island]
Defeat the lizardwoman!
First Clear Reward: 36 Challenger Points.
[The mission will start 30 minutes from now.]
Lizardwoman. The lizardwoman was the boss monster that lizardmen served, and her value was quite high. The reason was that she dropped the Pink Leather necessary for making the finest leather armor.
“Hrmm.”
Grid had a chance to raid the lizardwoman, which was difficult to see easily, but he didn’t show much inspiration. Was it because he didn’t know the value of pink leather? No, that wasn’t it. Grid also knew about the value of the pink leather. He’d even dealt with it directly. Every time Faker asked Grid to make him an item, pink leather was needed.
The reason why Grid didn’t show any inspiration was because based on previous experience, the monsters of the Behen Archipelago didn’t drop any items. That’s right. The monsters that emerged on the Behen Archipelago was merely a collection of experience.
It was disappointing, but Grid didn’t mind. The reason he first visited the Behen Archipelago wasn’t to obtain items, but to meet Sticks. He just had to move forward.
Grid used Fly and observed the location of the lizardmen village from the sky. It was a large village with 207 huts that could accommodate a few lizardmen at once. Grid was able to roughly guess the number of lizardmen, and he continued to observe the village to point out the important areas.
‘There are three ponds.’
He calculated all the variables involved in hunting a powerful lizardwoman and a large number of lizardmen.
Ttang! Ttang! Ttang!
Grid moved hastily to take advantage of his 30 minute preparation time, taking out his blast furnace and smelting iron. He made a large iron plate that was over 20m in diameter. An ordinary blacksmith would need several hours to spread the iron so much. But Grid was a legendary blacksmith. He even had the four God Hands.
Ttang! Ttang!
Grid and the God Hands hammered at the iron plate. After a while, he completed three iron plates and moved to the lizardman’s village again. His timing was perfect as the noti
fication window popped up.
[The mission has started!]
At the same time, lizardmen popped out of the 297 huts. There was close to 1,000 of them. Grid witnessed the sight and shouted.
“Noe, Randy! Help the God Hands cover the pond with these plates! I will cover you!”
“I understand, Grid.”
“Nyahahat! Master, believe in me!” Nyang!”
Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Transcend flew towards the lizardmen on the path towards the pond. Some of the lizardmen hurriedly raised their shields to save their lives, but others were sliced apart.
Kieek!
Kyaack!
The screams of the lizardmen filled the village as blood splattered. But there were too many lizardmen. Grid didn’t rest as he wielded his two greatswords, but the number of enemies didn’t decrease.
Chaaeng!
The lizardmen narrowed the distance to Grid, who kept attacking.
Huuuuuuong!
The God Hands, Noe, and Randy finally blocked the three ponds with the iron plates.
Kik?
The lizardmen were amazed by the sound of iron plates falling. The ponds that amplified their strengths were hidden. That’s right. The lizardmen were monsters who received stat bonuses from water.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship.”
Grid was reminded of this trait when observing the village, and covered all the ponds in the village with the iron plates.
“Transcended Link!”
Kyaack!
Kieeeek!
The level of the lizardmen warriors living in the same village as the lizardwoman was quite high at 230. But they didn’t receive any stat bonuses, making it hard to endure Grid’s attacks. Their shields were also useless. Grid used his most powerful skills with the +8 Grid’s Greatsword, before handing it to the God Hands.
Then he took out Iyarugt and cut at the lizardmen with Noe and Randy.
Kyaaaak!
The lizardwoman grasped the situation and came out with a roar. She was quite strong as a level 300 field boss, but it was lacking compared to Hell Gao and Elfin Stone, and Grid was stronger than ever.
