And whenever I saw something like this, my decision was always the same.
*Accept the hidden quest.*
*Achievement ‘Adventurer aspiring to become a god of proficiency’ unlocked.*
*The new thrones of the ‘People’s Hall’ have begun to watch you.*
Unparalleled genius.
"Captain, let's go back?"
Archer Malibu said to Joaquin.
To stay here for another 30 days.
Even if you had ten lives, it wouldn't be enough to find the entrance again.
In other words, it was the same as being told to die.
"No matter how important money is, this doesn't seem right."
Spiritualist Sean also chimed in.
How many times had we nearly died just getting here?
"How many people can casually come up with 1.1 million gold?"
But Joaquin thought differently.
That man, he's not ordinary.
Apart from the sheer amount of money, his demeanor was extraordinary.
The woman who accompanied him also possessed divine power that rivaled a saint.
'She didn't show any signs of surprise when the monsters attacked.'
Looking back, the man's attitude was calm from the start.
When you usually encounter a horde of hideous beasts, even the bravest would be terrified.
But he didn't flinch at all.
His eyes didn't waver.
In short, he's not an ordinary person.
Rather, he's beyond that. In terms of being extraordinary, he was in the realm of a genius.
"Besides, he's not just a rich kid. He's at least from a noble knight family."
"Like the Darcane family, the famous swordsmen of the empire?"
Sean's question made Joaquin nod.
Spiritualist Sean and Joaquin had personally met the young masters of the Darcane family.
"Darcane... Yes, that's the feeling. So this might not just be about 1 million gold."
If they split 3 million gold, each would get 1 million.
It's enough to live comfortably in a decent city, but 1 million gold won't completely change your life.
But if there's a value that transcends the money?
*Make your own judgment.*
The words kept echoing in his ears.
The word 'judgment' kept lingering in his mind.
If Joaquin's guess was right.
"That man is giving us an opportunity. An opportunity to rise higher."
This could be a chance to escape the tiresome cartel.
But the members' reactions were still negative.
"Captain, we don't have much food left. Let's come back after 30 days?"
"You're right. It's practically impossible to survive here for another 30 days. Besides, no one will know if we go back to the city and return."
Let's go back, prepare properly, and then find the entrance.
In any case, no one would know.
The most practical option, but Joaquin shook his head.
"I have a feeling that enduring itself is a test. Those who want to leave can go."
"Captain, that's hurtful."
"Yeah, just a thought. You've saved us so many times, Captain."
Still, they were comrades bound by the same mercenary unit.
They were clearly different from Maxim and his mercenary group, who were like trash.
'He's not ordinary. Even more so than the young masters of the Darcane family.'
He didn't say it out loud, but the aura he sensed from that man was beyond the young masters of the Darcane family.
Of course, it could be a delusion.
But Joaquin had been a mercenary rolling through battlefields since childhood.
The average lifespan of a mercenary is around 10 years.
Most don't have a good end.
Surviving this long and still being active means he has a good sense.
Joaquin absolutely trusted his instincts.
This time was no different.
*
After the Abyss Labyrinth was cleared.
When the erosion rate exceeded 15%, anomalies began to occur worldwide.
"The frequency of monsters appearing through warps is increasing."
"The types of monsters are becoming more diverse and stronger."
"Where are the Warriors?"
People were trembling with fear.
Only Dimension Warriors can kill the monsters.
But their appearances started to decrease at some point.
"Sir, a 'Vampire' has appeared at the Gangwon warp. The city is requesting support."
"A 'Death Horn Shark' at the Busan Haeundae beach..."
Continuous reports of invasions.
The leader frowned.
"Damn. We don't have enough fragments. Is there anyone who can go out for support now?"
"It's the limit."
"Shouldn't we first secure the fragments of the Broken Golden Rule?"
The Hero Union of Korea was also in a headache.
They had spent a considerable amount of time on the fragments to enter the Abyss Labyrinth.
The leader, frowning, said,
"How?"
"Push the main quest further..."
"Can't we get them by clearing a Transcender-level dungeon?"
It's a valid point.
But the main quest has already been pushed to its limit.
Challenging it further is too risky.
The same goes for clearing dungeons.
Transcender level. Clearing dungeons of level 11 and above can yield a large amount of Broken Golden Rule fragments.
But the effort required doesn't match the yield.
When we cleared the level 11 'Sky Whale Dungeon,' it took 40 hours in total. Each of the 20 union members got about 2 hours' worth of fragments.
Considering the month it took to prepare and clear, it wasn't very efficient.
If we don't prepare thoroughly, there will be a large number of casualties.
So, this method isn't practical either.
"Short-term ways to secure fragments... Nothing comes to mind except PK. Damn."
Player Kill.
Finding a player with a large amount of fragments and hunting them.
It doesn't align with the Hero Union's principles.
Then a guild member suggested,
"Does Phantom know?"
"Do you know where Phantom is?"
"He's on the Mountain of Practitioners, of course."
"Is there anyone in our union who can climb it?"
"...... Not right now?"
A mountain you can climb only once when you reach level 7.
Most players have already climbed it once.
Everyone knows Phantom is on the Mountain of Practitioners, but no one can confirm it.
"We have a friend who's still at level 6. What if we force him to level up and climb?"
"Push him to level 7 and send him to the Mountain of Practitioners? Even if he finds Phantom, will Phantom tell him anything?"
"Phantom would have set the restriction to the maximum. He won't die if he goes in without restrictions, right?"
"Maximum restriction? Who in their right mind would do that?"
The Mountain of Practitioners is well-documented because most players climb it.
Setting the restriction to the maximum is insane.
No one would do it unless they wanted to commit suicide.
Also, even if you increase the proficiency rate by a few dozen percent, it's negative if the restriction is too high.
If your body can't keep up, a high proficiency rate is useless.
Phantom would know that much.
Most importantly, forcing contact would only cause trouble.
"Is there really no other way?"
Another union member raised their hand.
"The new thrones that appeared in the People's Hall."
"The thrones that suddenly changed?"
"Yes. One of them actually offered me an 'Apostle Contract.' They said they would give me some fragments."
"What? What are the contract terms?"
"In exchange for 10 hours' worth of fragments and a skill related to my class, I have to offer 30% of all future fragments."
"...... 30% is like a slave contract, isn't it?"
"But the skill is quite useful."
It was the first time the thrones of the People's Hall had offered an Apostle Contract.
The newly changed thrones seemed to have a different nature from the previous ones.
30% is a bit high, but it's a bargain.
If you need fragments immediately and get an additional class-related skill, it's not bad.
"Ah, if you offer a 'Complete Golden Rule,' you don't have to pay 30%."
"Complete Golden Rule?"
It was the first time they heard of it.
Not fragments of the Broken Golden Rule, but a Complete Golden Rule.
"I don't know what it is either. But if we make the Apostle Contract, we can put out the urgent fire, right?"
"Can just anyone do it?"
At that moment,
*The 'Tide Throne' highly evaluates you.*
*The 'Tide Throne' offers you an 'Apostle Contract.'*
*If you make the contract, you can obtain 20 hours' worth of Broken Golden Rule fragments and the 'Wave Spear' skill.*
*However, you must offer 28% of all future 'Broken Golden Rule' fragments to the throne.*
*Offering a 'Complete Golden Rule' will remove the offering restriction.*
*
...... My vision is blurry.
My body feels like it's weighed down by lead, making it incredibly heavy.
All restrictions set to the maximum.
It's a setting that challenges the limits of human endurance.
All senses, including sight, smell, and touch, are 99% paralyzed.
They're almost useless.
Right now, I can see outlines and hear subtle sounds, but as time passes, even this will become impossible.
"Maximum restrictions? It's been a while since a suicide hopeful came in."
I hear voices around me.
They must be practitioners performing ascetic practices on the Mountain of Practitioners.
They are a kind of helper NPC who helps practitioners and has settled here.
Practitioners can check the restriction settings of those who climb the mountain, so this reaction is natural.
Maximum restrictions.
All stats decrease by -99%, and the five senses disappear.
With almost all stats approaching 1, it's naturally difficult to move.
The practitioner said,
"Hey, leave while I'm being nice. You'll die if you climb the mountain in that state."
I can't leave even if I want to, now that I've accepted the hidden quest.
I move my heavy body and pull out a sword from the armory.
"Ha...... Do as you please. I won't be responsible if you die."
The practitioner shook his head.
"In that state, it's hard to move, let alone swing a sword. Try swinging it once. You might change your mind after hitting the 'Practitioner Dummy.'"
"Seo-a."
"Yes~"
Seo-a blessed me.
*The Saint's Blessing reduces restrictions by 5%.*
All stats increased from 1 to 5.
It's still far from enough, but it's enough to move around.
I slowly swing the sword and approach the 'Practitioner Dummy.'
It's just a wooden dummy.
The first thing those who climb the Mountain of Practitioners face.
Those with restrictions check their body condition by hitting this dummy.
"...... To reduce restrictions with a blessing. You must have had some confidence."
The practitioner opened his mouth in disbelief.
To counteract the restrictions with a blessing to this extent. It's something only a saint-level healer could do.
So, is that woman a saint?
But no saint has ever climbed the Mountain of Practitioners.
'Even so......'
The practitioner shook his head.
Even so, this level of counteraction is negligible.
He will die if he climbs the mountain.
This place is not an easy place.
'Sure enough, it's beyond imagination.'
The sword is as heavy as my body.
It feels like holding a 100kg steel bar.
But I'm determined.
I slowly swing the sword.
Thud!
*Your sword proficiency has increased to level 7.*
Thud thud!
*Your sword proficiency has increased to level 8.*
I reached level 8 after just a few swings.
Indeed, a 450% proficiency rate.
Combined with the base proficiency rate, it's nearly 550%, making the speed of leveling up an insurmountable wall.
Not only that.
'Sure enough, the experience of Sword Saint Ralili is significant.'
I've already summoned the soul of Sword Saint Ralili and have 26 levels of sword proficiency.
It means that the experience is qualitatively different from the memories inherited from Wilhelm.
That's why, even with the proficiency rate, the speed of leveling up feels faster.
Huff. Huff.
The problem is that it's that much harder.
The fatigue is no joke. All muscles and cells are screaming.
I raise my right hand.
"I'll heal you~"
Whoosh!
Light envelops my body, and the fatigue disappears.
Indeed, the healing shuttle.
Good. In this state, it's manageable.
I continue to swing the sword.
"...... What is this......"
The practitioner's pupils wavered at the sight.
He has seen many practitioners over a long time, but this is the first time he's seen such a practitioner.
A healer at the level of a saint and a practitioner with all restrictions set to the maximum.
Moreover, the speed of proficiency level increase is noticeably faster.
Swinging the sword is becoming more natural at an alarming rate.
'If he keeps pushing himself like this, his mind will break.'
But even if he uses healing to heal his body, the human mind has its limits. Receiving too much healing in a short time will eventually break the mind.
There are people who have climbed the mountain with healers.
Those who climbed the mountain with high restrictions.
But most of them eventually gave up.
The mind doesn't recover just because the body does.
On the contrary, it wears out faster and reaches its limit.