Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.
---
Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.
---
Gathering their strength to repel the Four Fiends when they attack designated cities is the way to minimize damage.
However, most of the city rulers were skeptical of this statement.
"There's no guarantee that the Four Fiends will become 'the very embodiment of the Abyss.'"
"Hmm. The other masters of the Abyss might also restrain the Four Fiends."
"They might not invade at all."
"Exactly. Isn't your suggestion, Jeraf, too pessimistic?"
Rumble!
Jeraf trembled all over.
'These bastards!'
They don't understand.
The meeting was convened from the start with the intention of causing trouble.
Some agreement is needed to sever the warp connections of already linked cities.
"If we sever the warp, it doesn't mean there's no way to harm your cities."
One of the neutral city rulers, who had been silent, spoke up.
A bald monk dressed in orange robes.
He continued in a calm tone.
"Just connect to the warps of ownerless regions that don't require permission. Even if the Four Fiends don't become 'the very embodiment of the Abyss,' providing them with a platform to infinitely expand isn't a problem, right?"
"Are you suggesting we all die?"
"If we do that, the city won't be safe!"
The monk laughed softly.
"Whether we die this way or that, we are already dead. If you act selfishly, I will also act selfishly."
He was saying that if they unilaterally severed ties, he would become a water ghost.
If they really wanted to be safe, they could sever all warps and sink into the Abyss.
Then, instead of the Four Fiends, other masters of the Abyss would welcome them.
"Hmm."
"This is quite..."
In the end, the meeting returned to square one.
Non-stop negotiations continued, trying to reach a compromise that seemed impossible.
*
"Are you prepared to make an excuse, Onyx?"
The Master, who had personally attacked Onyx's hideout, frowned.
It was because Onyx had received 50 million gold and then clammed up.
"That... I didn't expect the Four Fiends to appear suddenly... I didn't know..."
Onyx, who was about to go into hiding, twisted his body.
"So you didn't provide any information about Phantom or kidnap the daughter of the White King?"
"Ahahaha."
"I'm not joking, Onyx."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
The killing intent in the Master's eyes.
Onyx swallowed hard.
"It's not that I didn't get anything. Information about the Black King and the Four Fiends can be sold for a high price, right?"
"Go on."
"Raktusha, a direct subordinate of the Black King, fought the Four Fiends directly."
"Raktusha... the Swordmaster Raktusha, the orc great warrior?"
"Yes! And here's the more surprising part: the orc suddenly giantified. Based on the information I've gathered, it seems the Black King can grant 'hidden traits' to his direct subordinates?"
The Master stroked his chin.
The giant trait must refer to 'giant's anti-magic resistance.'
If the Black King can grant hidden traits, this might be the reason he confidently targets the White King.
'Up to now, seven hidden traits have been discovered. The Black King might know more.'
Discovering hidden traits alone makes contacting the Black King worthwhile.
If we can find out the types of hidden traits and the talents linked to them, it would be worth a fortune.
The Master had spent years discovering only seven hidden traits.
- Nihilism
- Dexterity
- Weapon Master
- Beast Lord
- Giant's Anti-Magic Resistance
- Grace of Gold
- Glutton
There were likely other hidden traits.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't discover them.
If the Black King knows the rest, it's worth making contact, no matter the cost.
"The problem is that Raktusha still lost to the Four Fiends, despite being level 13."
"Is the Four Fiends above that level?"
"Yes. A level 14 or higher existence. How can we stop a monster on par with the White King or the Black King? Unless the Holy Church's 'Holy Grail Knights' intervene."
This was quite useful information.
Knowing the Four Fiends are level 14 or higher could be quite handy.
He could sell this information to cities connected to the Practitioner's Mountain.
However, it's still not worth 50 million gold.
Sensing the ominous signs, Onyx quickly spoke up.
"Also, Phantom seems to no longer be in the Practitioner's Mountain."
"Why do you think so?"
"If he was there, I would have known or he would have been killed by now, right?"
At the entrance of the mountain, Onyx had many spies. In the center, there was a monster army, and at the top, Raktusha and the Four Fiends.
If Phantom was there, he would have been discovered in some way.
Is that really the case?
'The maximum level for proficiency is limited...'
The Sword Saint Gracia was level 24, in first place.
The Master himself was level 22, in third place.
It's not easy to level up beyond that in the mountain.
It's more efficient to level up moderately and prepare for the next quest.
"Besides, the Practitioner's Mountain has sunk. It's probably impossible to level up further in the limited time."
This is also true.
The time spent and proficiency level are proportional.
No matter how talented one is, with the mountain sunk, there's not enough time to train.
'So, did he really come down from the Hall of Fame without any ambition, just to reach level 15?'
Randolph, who had been leading the Main Quest 6 overwhelmingly.
Did Randolph suddenly compromise at 7?
It's puzzling, but logically, it makes sense.
If Randolph really didn't participate in the Abyss Labyrinth, his training time in the Practitioner's Mountain would have been at most a month.
It's impossible to reach level 24 in that time.
No matter how overwhelming his talent and class, it's the same.
'Yes, that's it...'
It's strangely reassuring.
Onyx's confidence made the Master feel even more at ease.
Yes.
Even the great Phantom has limits.
No matter how unconventional his bug-like playstyle, Phantom can't have everything.
Phantom is human.
Some people regard Phantom as a god, but Phantom is not a god.
'Phantom is human.'
If he's human, he can be competed with.
If he's human, he can be defeated.
The Master had momentarily lost sight due to the overwhelming score and damage.
Finally!
...The moment the inhuman being was confirmed to be human.
The Master's empire can't be destroyed by just a human.
Just knowing this is worth 50 million gold.
He had planned to eat Onyx and then kill him, but decided to spare him out of magnanimity.
'Ah! I'm saved!'
Onyx felt relieved when he saw the Master's eyes.
The information he provided seemed quite useful.
The Master smiled at the corner of his mouth.
Onyx also smiled.
*The Hall of Fame rankings have been updated.*
"..."
"..."
*The Main Quest 7 Hall of Fame ranking has changed from 3rd to 4th.*
"..."
"??"
*1st â Randolph (500)*
*2nd â Gracia (420)*
*3rd â MintChocolateTastesGood (410)*
*4th â Master (400)*
"..."
"???"
Onyx was flustered.
Rough thoughts, anxious eyes.
'Ah, wait a moment.'
The Master, who watched this, seemed to have come from the depths of hell.
Perhaps because it was achieved through sword proficiency, all the rewards were swords.
Moreover, all five swords were of a level that would make one's eyes pop.
'...These are swords that can raise the maximum level of sword proficiency.'
Sometimes, the maximum level of proficiency can be raised by class, stars, and very rarely, weapons.
Especially, it's even rarer for non-unique weapons to raise the maximum proficiency level.
However, all five swords now presented had the option to raise the maximum proficiency level of swords.
'They all have almost predetermined uses. I need to choose carefully.'
Additionally, they were specialized swords.
They are powerful on their own but even more potent under specific conditions.
I stroked my chin.
However, a smile naturally formed at the corner of my mouth.
'I can extend it further.'
This wasn't all.
*Refusing the reward for the Hidden Quest (6).*
*Challenging a higher proficiency level!*
*Achieved the achievement 'The Challenger Writing the Myth of Proficiency Levels!'*
*Reputation increased by 300.*
The hidden quest set by the mountain's owner!
Achieving Sword Proficiency Level 30, the reward was upgraded six times, but if I can raise the maximum level further, it's a different story.
The achievement means that achieving this and more will complete my own 'myth.'
'This is where the real challenge begins.'
I can't even imagine what I'll get for surpassing level 31.
Just like overcoming all trials in the Mythical Chamber and obtaining out-of-standard mysteries, completing my own myth means at least a unique-level reward!
Letter from the Empire
When I received the survival reward for clearing the Abyss Labyrinth.
After summoning the soul of Sword Saint Raeli through the Radiant Throne of Light and using over a thousand hours of the Golden Ratio to achieve seventeen Holy Seats!
I was more tense than when I chose the Baal Helmet and the Ouroboros Mark.
*Massacre*, a sword with the effect of a cutting strike.
In the concept of Panginea, the difference between a strike and a cutting strike is 'depth.'
A strike is a shallow attack, while a cutting strike is a deep, fatal attack.
*Massacre* grants a 5% 'piercing' effect to strikes with a sword.
It also leaves non-regenerating damage on piercing attacks.
Piercing is an option that must be taken whenever possible.
*Dragon Slayer*, powerful piercing effect against dragon-type enemies.
However, *Dragon Slayer* has a 10% piercing option against dragon-type enemies.
It's twice as effective as *Massacre* against dragons.
Dragons are all powerful, so it will be useful for a long time.
There are inevitably some dragons I will encounter in the future, such as the 'Glory Dragon Einhasar' in Main Quest 10.
*Bonecrusher*, a blunt greatsword. It adds an additional effect to sword energy.
Despite its name, it's a weapon used by the greatest warriors of the giant race.
It's a greatsword larger than my body, but it can also be used as a blunt weapon.
Only those who can handle sword energy can use it lightly, and it has an additional effect of increasing the damage of sword energy.
*Lu-*, a combination holy sword. It will be useful if combined.
*Lu-* is an incomplete holy sword, as its name suggests.
As a holy sword, it is naturally related to divine power.
When used by a Holy Knight class, it has a crazy performance of increasing 'divine effects' by 50%.
When combined with other swords, it provides additional effects, but the problem is that I am a class unrelated to Holy Knights or divine power.
However, depending on the sword *Lu-* combines with, I can use it.
To complete *Lu-*, a sword with a '-' prefix is needed.
Like *-Ra* or *-Aie*.
Even if not immediately, choosing it now will clearly show its performance once completed.
*Finally, *Transcendent Sword*, a growth-type sword.*
A growth-type sword.
After growing and reaching a certain level, it automatically strengthens to possess the effects of 'Ultimate, True, Annihilation, and Cutting.'
And after achieving all four enhancements, it becomes a completed sword with a fifth transcendent effect.
'...One of these.'
All are swords with clear characteristics.
I can only choose one.
I need to look at the path I will take in the future and choose the most effective sword.
My immediate destination is set.
'The Empire.'
When I go to the Empire to obtain the Baal Armor, a battle might break out.
There is a high possibility that I will have to face the Empire's soldiers and knights.
Even if I obtain the Baal Armor, I must consider the possibility of battling the Four Fiends or similar monsters.
A sword that can perform reliably in all variables.
'Growth-type and combination-type swords should be excluded.'
I need to become strong immediately.
I have never deviated from this premise.
If I could choose two, I would prepare for the future with one, but since I can only choose one sword, I need a weapon that will make me strong immediately.
*Lu-* and *Transcendent Sword* do not meet the prerequisite.
It's a bit disappointing, but I will have the chance to meet them again someday.
*Massacre*, which is versatile, *Dragon Slayer*, which has a significant effect against dragons, and *Bonecrusher*, a giant's weapon.
The remaining candidates are these three.
It's not easy to choose.
After much deliberation, I made my decision.
*Chose 'Bonecrusher'!*
*
The player chat was flooded with discussions about Phantom.
- 600 points...?
- 180 points difference with second place, is this real?
- What am I seeing right now?
All players who participated in Main Quest 7 witnessed the moment the rankings changed.
The Hall of Fame, which compiles the achievement scores of players participating in the Main Quest.