Chapter 172: Naless - (3)
At that mont.
[System-wide Notification]
[Player 'Shin Sanghyun' has successfully cleared the infamous 'Blood Tower' quest!]
[This ssage will be delivered to all players connected to the network through the system!]
[There are still 32 quests that remain uncleared. Players wishing to challenge them... (omitted)]
"As expected, Sanghyun Oppa did it again!"
Kim Miso, drenched in sweat and deeply imrsed in training, checked the ssage and bead brightly.
The sa went for the Arican fellow players who were training with her.
"Shin Sanghyun. Miso, isn’t that the guy you’re always talking about?"
"That’s right. That’s him. I’m more excited about how much more he’ll grow from here than how much he already has."
"Amazing. That Blood Tower quest is the one where seventeen players died in the U.S. too."
"Looks like he cleared it alone?"
"A solo clear? That’s even more surprising! How skilled is he? I’m getting curious!"
As Kim Miso spoke, the reactions from her teammates began to rise in excitent.
In truth, there were still many promising players around the world, so not everyone knew Sanghyun well.
All they had heard was sothing like: “There’s a player in Korea with interesting abilities and skills.”
But this notification beca a turning point that clearly engraved Sanghyun’s na into the minds of all players.
The system doesn’t send out global ssages recklessly. It only does so when it’s truly warranted.
In other words, the current situation was the system officially recognizing that Sanghyun had displayed exceptional skill that surpassed limits.
It was no different than publicly announcing that he had accomplished sothing nearly impossible.
Hadn’t the system itself acknowledged that the quest was infamous?
That was its design from the beginning. It was created not to be cleared, but to take the challengers’ lives.
"If you hear this, it'll be easier to grasp just how skilled he is. It’s been less than two months since he started unleashing his true power."
"T-Two months?"
"Not two years?"
"Yeah, two months. Surprising, right? Before that, he was just a porter."
She wore a proud expression.
She enjoyed seeing soone she knew so well getting attention from other players.
At the sa ti, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of self-reproach, wondering why she hadn’t grown as much herself.
But that feeling only lasted a mont, and her joy at Sanghyun’s rapid growth was far greater.
It was likely because she believed in and admired Sanghyun, who was always humble, passionate, and full of determination.
"Miso, the person you ntioned before—soone who constantly stimulates you and makes you want to grow—is that him?"
"Yeah. He’s one of the reasons I ca all the way here and am burning my face with you guys."
"Hahaha. Miso, your face actually looks healthier now than before. It's got that bronze glow."
Kim Miso, now naturally mingling with her foreign teammates, was clearly different from how she used to be.
She had once been quite shy around strangers.
She could be incredibly close to those she got familiar with, but she kept a fair distance from those she hadn’t ward up to.
But after enduring tough training and spending ti with teammates, her personality naturally began to change.
How should one put it?
Now, there was no ti to care about things like distance or shyness. All she could think about was becoming stronger.
‘Oppa. When I return, I hope to be much stronger than I am now. Because you’re soone who can make that possible.’
Smiling, Kim Miso picked up her bow and quiver, which she had placed on the ground.
The short break was over.
Having received the uplifting news from across the sea in Korea, it was ti to focus on training once more.
It had been a hectic day.
From the mont he stepped out of the Quest Area after completing the quest, Sanghyun had to face the cheers of a massive crowd.
That was to be expected, since the Player Union had already been laying the groundwork in case Sanghyun succeeded.
Of course, although it was confidential, they had also prepared a eulogy in case Sanghyun failed and died.
Since it ended in a happy ending, that preparation naturally disappeared as if it had never existed.
In any case, he had been overwheld all the way until night.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t anticipated people’s intense reactions.
After all, a Korean player had, for the first ti, cleared an infamous quest.
Sure, back in the early days, famous players like Do Kyungsoo and So Hyeongjun had achieved remarkable feats.
But that was already two years ago.
Since then, there had been no news of notable achievents by Korean players—until Sanghyun brought that montum back.
Sanghyun decided to enjoy the attention as well.
He waved back at the cheering crowd.
He also took full advantage of the interview opportunity set up in advance by the Player Union.
The person who was happiest of all was Han Hyunjeong.
Because the popularity of Hyunjeong Corporation, which had signed a sponsorship contract with Sanghyun, soared alongside him.
Reporters who had covered Sanghyun scrambled to make her their next interview target.
They asked how she had recognized Sanghyun’s potential and planned such a large investnt early on.
And how she managed to secure Sanghyun with a “bargain” deal of 105 billion won for three months.
It had truly been a dizzying day.
So much so that Sanghyun forgot all about the rewards and outcos he had earned from Blood Tower.
Only when he returned ho just before midnight could he finally catch his breath and review the results.
"So damn tired."
His whole body felt heavy and worn out, as if he'd been pounded with a hamr.
The wounds from the battle with Naless were mostly healing well.
That was thanks to dousing himself in expensive healing potions with help from the Association.
On top of that, he had also received focused healing from Lee Gah Hee, who had arrived early at the scene to wait for him.
"……."
Suddenly, Naless’s final expression ca to mind. The man had been smiling even at the brink of death.
As if he knew it would end this way. As if he didn’t regret a thing.
Naless’s gaze wasn’t the usual simple look you’d see from a typical dungeon monster.
Even though Thousand-Ard Avalokiteshvara was intelligent, it still felt like just a chunk of data within the system. Naless felt different.
"It was like he was really alive. Like he had been dragged from sowhere and locked up."
It might have been a delusion, a misjudgnt. Maybe just pointless emotional projection.
But Sanghyun didn’t want to deny that the thought had crossed his mind. There had been depth in Naless’s eyes.
"I’ve gained a chance I never expected. I figured the reward would be huge, but not this huge."
Sanghyun looked at the sword lying side by side with the Frenzied True Demon Sword in the center of his spacious living room.
It was the Artifact sword he obtained from Naless.
「The Sword of the Naless One」
■ Artifact Grade: Legendary
■ Artifact Description: A sword containing the joys and sorrows of a man who cherished and loved swords.
……(Omitted)
It was a Legendary-grade Artifact.
The detailed stats were similar to the Frenzied True Demon Sword he already had. It boosted all stats evenly.
Just obtaining a Legendary-grade Artifact alone would be surprising and joyous.
But Sanghyun was deeply imrsed in thoughts of a special opportunity only he could enjoy.
That was the Artifact Fusion, the fifth privilege granted by the Goddess of Luck as his Constellation.
So far, Sanghyun had only fused two Epic-grade Artifacts.
He had never once fused two Legendary-grade items.
That’s why he had tried to acquire a Legendary-grade sword through Han Hyunjeong.
But now that he had gotten the necessary material from Naless, there was no need to waste money.
"Saved a fortune."
Just getting that greatsword from Naless ant he no longer had to carry out a plan that would’ve cost at least 600 billion won.
That alone showed how valuable the Artifact Naless left behind truly was.
And even more so—
Hadn’t he gotten tons of stats and skills as rewards throughout the quest?
It would take forever to go through and calculate them all one by one!
"Let’s fuse them. No need to hesitate."
Sanghyun glanced back and forth between the Frenzied True Demon Sword and the Sword of the Naless One—nicknad Naless Sword.
The chance to acquire an Almighty-grade Artifact doesn’t co easily.
No—99.9999% of players wouldn’t get one even after decades. That’s how rare and precious they are.
"I'm seriously shaking."
In both this life and his past life, this was the first ti his hands trembled like this.
He had never once imagined he’d get his hands on an Almighty-grade Artifact.
It didn’t feel real.
It was like an average joe waking up one day as a billionaire. More bewildering than anything.
For a player, having their main weapon’s grade increase ant a great deal.
Equipping an Epic, Legendary, or Almighty-grade Artifact—
That’s why players called it their first job change, or second job change.
It ca with massive skill upgrades, stat boosts, and a slew of new skill options.
The sa would apply to Sanghyun.
If he could wield a greatsword of Almighty-grade?
The future waiting for him would be on a whole other level compared to now.
Just like how Valentin had skyrocketed after clearing Blood Tower in his past life.
Sanghyun imdiately began the fusion.
He had no reason to delay it—there was no other weapon he planned to use later anyway.
[The sacred ritual to receive the blessing of your contracted Constellation, the ‘Goddess of Luck’, is being held.]
[Two Legendary-grade Artifacts will be fused to create one Almighty-grade Artifact.]
[After this, the option to fuse Legendary-grade Artifacts will disappear. Other grades remain available at any ti.]
“Whew.”
A deep sigh filled with mixed emotions.
[The Goddess of Luck clasps her hands together and prays that the Artifact born will have the best possible options.]
[The owner of Misfortune can’t hide his nervousness, twisting his beard and swallowing dryly.]
[The God of Storms begins observing you and the changes around you with great interest. He is intrigued.]
The reactions of the Constellations were similar.
Even the Celestial Thrones seed interested in the great changes about to happen to Sanghyun.
Almighty.
The final tier in Artifact grading.
The ceiling of the sky—beyond which nothing higher exists. Now was the ti to reach that ceiling.
No matter what form the new Artifact would take, one thing was certain: a new world would open.
And then—
Shaaaaa!
The fusion began.
A new sword would be born from the union of the ‘Frenzied True Demon Sword’ and the ‘Sword of the Naless One’.
A dazzling light flashed endlessly as the differing natures of the two swords were fused into one.
The dark soul held in the True Demon Sword and the white soul sealed in Naless’s sword intertwined.
It was a change seeking balance, like the harmony of yin and yang, black and white, night and day.
Sanghyun closed his eyes, feeling the fierce energy flowing from the sword wash over his entire body.
Now that the fusion was nearly complete, the mont he would hold an Almighty-grade greatsword was near!
The first chapter of Act Two in his life as a player was about to begin.
And the first steps of that second act—he planned to begin them not in Korea, but overseas.
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