Ark the Legend 1-12

by Yoo Seong

  “We fought for many years!”

  Barakin emphasized in a serious voice.

  “For dozens of years we fought to take back the temple from the Myutal. However we never succeeded. We only sacrificed countless brave warriors. Meanwhile the oasis supplying our water gradually turned to a small puddle. And this is the remaining Kusan village. There are only 50 warriors left.”

  “Are the Myutal that strong?”

  Ark who had been listening silently asked with a serious look. The Kusan were a dying clan after the pyramid was taken away by aliens that suddenly appeared. Ark was also involved in this problem. Ark made it clear that the reason he visited Rakunka was to find the Divine Artefact that Xanax hid. And Ark knew that the most likely location of the Divine Artefact was the temple. The Kusan couldn’t take back the temple. It meant Ark couldn’t enter the pyramid.

  ‘Rakunka is a planet where science hasn’t developed yet. But Ellain’s skills were at a considerably high standard. The other Kusan warriors can’t be weak either. If those warriors couldn’t recapture the shrine after fighting for decades……’

  The red substance covering the pyramid flashed through Ark’s mind. Countless rays of light had attacked the Silver Star. He didn’t know what the light was but it clearly came from the Myutal. If it wasn’t for the lights then he could simply handle the monsters on the ground with the Silver Star’s weapons. However it was even more difficult to approach from the air. He had to enter from the ground yet the Kusan had been trying that for decades. How could Ark penetrate through the Myutal’s nest? While Ark was busy thinking.

  “The Kusan aren’t worried about the Myutal.”

  “Huh? But……”

  “The Myutal invaded and they’re currently occupying an area hundreds of kilometres wide. But they aren’t a match for the Kusan warriors no matter their numbers. The Kusan had reached the front of the pyramid many times throughout the last decades. The reason we failed to enter the temple was because some other creatures called the Umu helped them.”

  “Umu? What’s that?”

  “We don’t know their identity. The only thing we know is that those guys are controlling the Myutal. And our weapons just pass through them. Those guys are like ghosts so our weapons can’t even touch them. It is because of them that we’ve failed to enter the temple.”

  To make matters worse! It became even more difficult to enter the pyramid. But then Barakin suddenly raised his head and said.

  “Now we have a way to compete with the Umu.”

  “You know how to fight them? How?”

  “God’s messenger!”

  Barakin bowed again and said.

  “The technique you learnt from Asuldan! It was designed to destroy evil presences. If this technique is used then we will be able to cut the Umu. But the warriors that knew this technique were wiped out from the first Myutal attack. The Kusan had been trying to reproduce this technique but no one has succeeded. But now God’s messenger used that technique! It is the will of God! God’s messenger, this Barakin is begging you! Please teach us how to use this technique!”

  Barakin lowered his head to the ground and yelled.

  -You have received a request from the chief of the Kusan on Rakunka to teach them a technique.

  In Galaxian there is a system where users can teach NPC techniques. Of course, learning these techniques depends on the level, special qualities and occupation of the NPC.

  In addition, the user needs knowledge to teach the skill so it has to be at least intermediate level. If you succeed in teaching the skill then your degree of proficiency will increase.

  ‘Teaching a technique?’

  Ark looked dumbly at the information window. He knew that users could learn skills from NPCs but he never heard that users could teach NPCs. Therefore he never thought about it. But it wasn’t impossible when he thought about it. Once again, in Galaxian NPCs could also grow like users. Their level as well as skills. The Royal Guards had learnt new skills from training with the Silver Hand. That meant NPCs could learn from other NPCs. Then users should also be able to teach NPCs. And when he thought about it, Ark already had experience with it although he hadn’t noticed at the time.

  ‘Yes, I taught the Royal Guards how to dig.’

  It was a rediscovering of the NPC training system that he never imagined! This was one more way to increase the growth of the Royal Guards. But first he had to teach Sonic Sword t the Kusan warriors. He knew Sonic Sword but trying to enter a pyramid occupied by Myutal was too risky to do alone. And there was no reason for him to go in alone. Didn’t Ark have 50 subordinates as the God’s messenger?

  ‘The problem is time!’

  Right now he only had 3 days left to join the investigation team. When taking into account the travel time, he only had 2 days to find the Divine Artefact. He had to taught Sonic Sword as well as retake the pyramid in that time! Ark came up with a crazy idea and jumped up.

  “Please be prepared. My training will be tough.”

  There was no time!

  ————————————————————————————-

  ‘Pant pant pant, this is……’

  Ark grasped his sword with trembling hands.

  -You have agreed to the technique initiation.

  A relevant information window will be created. If all the training challenged in the information window is completed then the NPC will have a chance to learn the skill.

  A few hours ago.

  He accepted and an information window with training menus flashed. The process of teaching Sonic Sword was indeed terrifying. The first challenge was to swing the sword 5,000 times! There were 10 different training menus for raising the basic strength. Normally it would take a week to complete the training menu.

  ‘But this needs to be finished in a day!’

  Ark made up his mind and started pushing the Kusan warriors. However there were no strong arguments against it.

  “The existence of the clan is at stake!”

  “God’s messenger is teaching us directly!”

  The warriors desired to learn the technique so they could recapture the pyramid! And God’s messenger was teaching them the skill directly. The Kusan warriors were literally desperate and threw themselves into the training menu. It was good up to there……

  ‘Eh? Why aren’t they receiving the skill despite all the training?’

  Ark was puzzled after they had already been training for 12 hours.

  -The training to raise the basic strength has been completed.

  Now it is time for the full-fledge technical training. In technical training you will have to demonstrate the technique directly.

  Demonstrate Sonic Sword 10,000 times to your disciples.

  This exercise can be repeated infinitely. If the skill isn’t generated after the training is repeated then repeating it will increase the probability of learning the skill. But if it is repeated dozens of times and the skill isn’t generated then please give up.

  The NPC doesn’t have a talent for the skill.

  Ark’s mouth gaped open as the message appeared. Finally all part of the user→NPC technique initiation was revealed! It wasn’t just hard for the NPC. The user had to be strong as well. But he had no other choice. He swung the sword 10,000 times in the heat of the desert And that wasn’t all. Ark sweated for 3 hours and completed the 10,000 demonstrations. However the ‘!’ only appeared on top of Ellain and 5 other warriors’ heads. This meant the rest didn’t understand the technique!

  “I-I have to do this again?”

  His hands had become number after wielding the sword for 3 hours. But the Kusan warriors had completed a week’s training menu in only 8 hours. That was the power of faith! The Kusan warriors’ eyes were burning with determination despite their tattered bodies. Ark couldn’t give up in front of them. So he started again. He swung the sword 10,000 times in the heat of the desert!

  ‘Dammit! The reason for the skill proficiency
rising…..it is well-founded. Of course it would increase when the same behaviour is repeated thousands of times!’

  Space 8

  Temple

  “Phew……”

  Ark wiped his sweat and sighed. NPC technique initiation. This system really caught out a person. He could understand demonstrating a skill movement in order to teach it. But he needed to do it 10,000 times. In addition, the technique initiation wasn’t 100% completed even when he finished the demonstration. The acquisition system depended on the NPC’s qualities and attributes. Fortunately Ark only needed to do it 3 times. He had to repeat the same behaviour 30,000 times under the scorching heat. He also obtained something.

  -You have received enlightenment in [Sonic Sword] and the skill proficiency has reached Advanced (Lv. 3).

  Sonic Sword has reached the advanced level! But originally Sonic Sword had already passed 90% of the intermediate stage. He swung the sword 30,000 times and the proficiency only increased by 10%. He couldn’t really call it compensation. However he hadn’t done the training in order to raise the skill level. It was to teach the Kusan warriors Sonic Sword! And it was possible to teach 40 Kusan warriors after his efforts.

  ‘If possible I would like all the warriors to learn Sonic Sword but……’

  There was no time. The basic fitness training had taken 12 hours. Ark had demonstrated it 3 times so that was another 12 hours. It had already been a day. He needed to join the investigation team in 2 days. If he took into account the time required to reach Istana, Ark actually only had 16 hours left.

  ‘It is impossible to battle in this state!’

  They had been training for 24 hours so the warriors didn’t even have strength left to lift their swords. It was suicide to lead the warriors when they were in that state.

  ‘My mind is in a rush but I can’t charge in blindly. There is only one chance to enter the pyramid with the Kusan warriors. They need rest in order to be in their best condition.’

  Thus they slept for the recommended 8 hours…..

  “God’s messenger-nim, please. The 50 people here are the remaining warriors of the Kusan clan. If we fail to enter the temple this time than the rest of the Kusan will be destroyed. The lives of thousands of people are people entrusted to God’s messenger-nim!”

 

  You have met Chief Barakin, the leader of the Kusan clan that is native to Rakunka. Decades ago, the space monsters called Myutal appeared along with a fallen meteorite and drove the Kusan to extinction after capturing the pyramid. You have decided to help them retake the pyramid.

  Difficulty: B+

  A quest was registered after Barakin’s words! The 50 Kusan warriors crossed the desert until they reached the beginning of the red earth that was the habitat of the Myutal. But Ark was still tired. It wasn’t from training for a day but because of the heat. Rakunka didn’t have a sun. However the nebula gas surrounding it meant the temperature on Rakunka steadily rose. The Murat pyramid had intercepted the heat for a long time but it hadn’t been working for decades so now the heat was no joke. It was to the extent that even the Kusan found it difficult.

  “Messenger-nim, are you alright?”

  “I’m okay. Are all the preparations finished?”

  “Yes, you can give the command at any time.”

  Ellain nodded and replied. Behind him were the Kusan warriors riding camels. They crossed the desert that was sizzling like an oven but the though Kusan warriors showed no signs of it! They looked dependable but the exact number of enemies was unknown. It was clear that the Myutal hiding in the earth would be dozens of times their number.

  ‘I have to reduce the burden as much as possible.’

  “Tori, are you ready?”

  -Yes, Hyung-nim.

  “Okay. Then let’s get started!”

  Ark raised his head and exclaimed.

  Wuuuuong! Wiiiiii!

  There was a warrior and a huge object rose up from behind the warriors. The object reflecting light in all directions was the Silver Star! The Silver Star rose 10 metres before flying towards the red earth. At the same time, red lights shot up from all over the ground. It was the Myutal’s weapons that had attacked Ark as soon as he entered Rakunka. Tori stuck close to the ground but was still hit several times by the light. As expected, it was impossible to reach the pyramid from the sky. It would be shot down before the ship could even land.

  ‘The Kusan fought the Myutal dozens of times and never saw the red light being shot out. That means it must be an anti-aircraft weapon. It is fortunate that the monsters aren’t carrying anti-aircraft guns themselves.’

  Despite that, the reason why he had the Silver Star head to the red earth……

  ‘It came out! The Myutal!’

  Monsters were rising from the ground near the Silver Star.

  ‘This place is closest to the pyramid but there is still a distance of 80 kilometres. It doesn’t matter how weak the opponent is. Having 50 Kusan warriors killing hundreds of monsters for 80 kilometres will be tough. The success or failure of this mission will depend on how long the troops survive. I can’t afford to lose even one of them!’

  That as the purpose of the Silver Star. To ease the burden of Ark and the Kusan warriors.

  Kwa kwa kwa kwa! Kwa kwa kwa kwa!

  Particle shells poured out from the Silver Star towards the Myutal. The Myutal’s body shattered once it was hit.

  “That is God’s ship, the Silver Star!”

  “God’s messenger! He truly is the Murat’s Elim!”

  Ellain and the warriors looked at the Silver Star with worshipful gazes. Pioneers might’ve visited Rakunka but that was more than 100 years ago. Barakin was the oldest and he had never seen a ship before. The grandeur of the Silver Star really made it seem like God’s ship in their eyes. Although it was correct that the Silver Star was a Murat ship.

  “Now!”

  Ark looked back at the Kusan warriors and yelled.

  “Now while they’re all concentrated on the Silver Star! Plunge into the red earth! Kusan warriors, raise you swords! Now is the time to reclaim the temple and repay your ancestors’ deaths. For the future of the Kusan!”

  “For the future of the Kusan!”

  “God’s messenger is leading us!”

  “For the honour and future of the Kusan!”

  Ellain and the warriors pulled out their swords as they cried in unison. At the same time, Ark raised his lightsaber above his head.

  “Charge!”

  “Waaahhhhhhhh!”

  Ark dashed forward on his air board. 50 Kusan warriors riding camels followed behind him as they entered the red earth. However the Myutal didn’t attack them. The Myutal were chasing the Silver Star that was flying around and attacking. There were remnants of Myutal destroyed by the Silver Star scattered around. In some cases the Myutal were still breathing……

  Ku ku ku ku! Snap! Snap!

  They were crushed by a camel’s foot. Ark and the Kusan warriors steadily advanced. It was no different from crossing a wasteland. The situation changed once they crossed 30 kilometres. They could relax because of the Silver Star. However there were more red lights the deeper they entered so it would eventually be shot down. The Silver Star’s support only lasted up to there.

  –Hyung-nim, the Silver Star’s shield only has 20% durability left.

  “Leave before it is too late!”

  –Yes!

  Kuwaaaang!

  Tori replied and the Silver Star flew upwards. The lights from the crater stopped once the ship left the atmosphere. Now there was only Ark and the Kusan warriors left.

  Kikikiki! Kikikiki! Kikikiki!

  Ark’s group had proceeded through the centre while the Myutal had been lured away. Now the Silver Star had disappeared so the Myutal were heading towards them.

  “Prepare for a collision!”

  Ark shouted while moving his hand in a complicated pattern. The last day he spent in the Kusan village had bee
n really tough. However the Kusan warriors weren’t the only ones to grow during that time. Ark had also obtained something. He wasn’t talking about Sonic Sword’s 10% proficiency. Ark had obtained two things from the village. One of them was the greeting of the Kusan. Barakin had made some strange hand motions when he first recognized Ark as God’s messenger. Since then Ark had seen the Kusan repeat the action many times. He was curious so he asked Barakin for the answer.

  “They are hand gestures meant for blessings. The Murat handed it down to us and sometimes exhausted people would jump up energized after receiving the blessing. Since then the Kusan uses it as a gesture of respect for the opponent as well as a greeting.”

  Ark had a sudden thought.

  “Does it have a name? Is there a name for this behaviour?”

  “We call it Kuon.”

  “Kuon……”

  Then Ark started learning the hand motions. Of course he didn’t want to use it as a greeting. The Murat was the ones who passed down that hand motion. And Ark’s guess turned into certainty when he made the gesture. The reason for Ark’s behaviour.

  “Come out, Shire!”

  He added the Shire to the hand motion! When he moved his hand in the complicated gesture taught to him, a character was engraved in the light. Once the character as completed, it was crushed into fine pieces like sand and absorbed in the bodies of the Kusan warriors. That’s right. The gesture used for blessing was a Murat rune!

  “The character carved is called Kuon!”

  -A new skill (Common Occupation ☆☆☆☆☆) has been learnt.

  Rune Carving- Kuon (User, Passive): the runes used by the Murat have the ability to extract the potential of the photon life form Shire. Therefore the Shire can store the memory of the runes. The Shire rune Kuon is the symbol of Isis who was worshipped as the goddess of life. If the Kuon rune is used then a strong vitality and willpower will be imparted to nearby allies.

 

  Mana consumption: 150

  This was the effort of the Kuon rune! It was a buff that increased health and defense by 20%. The buff showed significant effects when granted to allies. But this wasn’t the only effect on the Kusan.