If I just collect the armor, the Baal set will be complete.
I took a deep breath and checked the options of the talisman.
【Baal Talisman (Ultimate Myth)】
- A talisman containing the essence of 'Baal,' one of the 'Four Fiends' who once made the world tremble with fear.
- When applied to the Baal Helmet or Armor, the performance of the equipment is enhanced.
- Curse Reflection: 25%
- Increased Curse Duration: 25%
- Curse Penetration: 10%
- Bound
- Application Limit (1): Possess the title 'Completer of Myth' or higher
- Application Limit (2): All stats 90 or higher
- Set Equipment (2/3)
- Performance is enhanced when worn with the Baal Armor.
- Performance is enhanced when the Baal Talisman is applied.
I couldn't help but nod.
...It's solid.
It can't get any better than this.
Not only does it enhance the helmet's performance, but it also contains incredible functions related to curses.
‘It’s insane.’
The options are so insane that the words come out naturally.
It might seem like nothing, but the combination of curse reflection, increased curse duration, and curse penetration is incredibly difficult to balance.
‘If someone curses me, 25% of that curse is reflected, and the reflected 25% of the curse has its duration increased by 25%, and it even penetrates curse immunity.’
It's an option that would make a curse caster bang their head in despair.
‘Penetration, huh.’
Especially the last 'penetration' option is a name that's hard to find even among unique items.
Penetration can pierce through immunity.
While it might seem impossible to pierce through immunity, in Pangea, there is no such thing as 'absolute immunity.'
There are ways to pierce or bypass it, and penetration is the most basic and top-tier method among them.
This penetration can even pierce through hidden traits.
Therefore, if it can be obtained, it must be obtained, and it's something that can't be obtained even if one wants to.
Anyway.
‘I wonder what will change when applied to the helmet.’
I can't stand being curious.
I immediately used the talisman.
《'Baal Talisman' has been applied to 'Baal Helmet.'》
《'Baal Helmet' performance has been enhanced.》
【Baal Helmet (Ultimate Myth) ●】
- A helmet worn by 'Baal,' one of the 'Four Fiends' who once made the world tremble with fear.
- 'Baal Talisman' has been applied.
- 'Limit Break': The maximum level of curse-related skills increases by 5.
- 'Transcendent Curse': Transcendentally enhances one of the curse-related skills.
- 'Completed Inheritance': +10 Magic Power
- 'Master of the Hidden Side': All skill proficiencies increase by 100% faster.
- Permanent application when worn.
- Bound
- Wear Limit (1): Possess the title 'Completer of Myth' or higher
- Wear Limit (2): All stats 90 or higher
- Set Equipment (1/3)
- Performance is enhanced when worn with the Baal Armor.
- Performance is enhanced when the Baal Talisman is applied.
“...Insane.”
Seeing the changed options of the helmet, my mouth opened involuntarily.
It's not just a simple doubling.
Some of them have changed to a level that is incomparable.
‘Maximum level increase by 5.’
Simple enhancement increases the maximum level by 1.
That's why I could max out the Advanced Corpse Crow Summoning at level 11.
But when the talisman was applied, the range increased fivefold.
Now, I can max out curse-related skills up to level 15 without transcending.
The rarity of an item that increases the maximum level is self-evident.
This alone is amazing, but it's just the beginning.
‘Transcendent Enhancement.’
When it was at the ultimate enhancement, the corpse crows followed my skills.
But with transcendent enhancement, the skill itself transcended.
‘The Ancient Corpse Crow Summoning skill itself transcended.’
It seems that the Advanced Corpse Crow Summoning was not the end.
‘+10 Magic Power without any conditions. It applies even without transformation.’
The option that temporarily increased magic power by 10 when using curse skills has now become a permanent option.
Excellent.
It's insanely excellent.
But the best part is the last one.
‘Proficiency increase up to 2 times!’
With the Baal Helmet at 2 times, Dexterity at 2 times, the cap at 1.5 times, and the base proficiency at 100%, it totals 700%!
The proficiency increase rate, which was 550% in total, instantly reached 700%.
There's not a single option that can be discarded.
Swallow!
If two items can be this good, I can't even imagine what will happen when all three are collected and completed.
The rumor that the Baal set can rival unique items when completed seems to be true.
It might even be better than most unique items.
Moreover.
《'Cursed Geomancy Stone (1)' has been destroyed, revealing the interior of the temple.》
《'Cursed Geomancy Stone (2)' must be destroyed to proceed to the next gate.》
The proficiency work is just beginning.
*
At the entrance of the mountain, countless monsters gathered.
An army of about ten thousand.
Monsters of various forms stood in orderly rows.
And at the center was the orc 'Laktusha,' a great warrior known for wielding a greatsword.
"Now is the time!"
Orcs, with their innate talent for handling weapons, took a deep breath.
‘The one with the highest weapon proficiency level becomes the master of the mountain.’
One of the reasons for the preparation so far was to conquer the mountain.
To reach the summit of the Practitioner's Mountain.
Only by fully controlling the mountain can the practitioners and the daughter of the White King be made to kneel.
‘Only I, Laktusha, can conquer this mountain.’
He wasn't worried.
There couldn't be anyone with a higher weapon proficiency level than himself.
Swordmaster!
A master who has fully mastered the sword and transcended the limits, which was himself.
‘I have made enlightenment my own. There is no reason to hesitate now.’
He was confident that he had no equal after achieving enlightenment recently.
Not only that.
‘I must repay the grace of the Black King.’
He had become as strong as he could be.
The grace of the Black King, combined with the overwhelming curse, made Laktusha transcend his race.
He was no longer an equal, and he didn't think he would lose even to the forces of Kramdel.
The daughter of the White King might be a prodigy, but she was still a novice.
Only he could conquer the Practitioner's Mountain and make the daughter of the White King kneel.
It was a task that only he, the most outstanding among those favored by the Black King, could accomplish.
If he could also bring the mountain's practitioners into the Black King's fold, he would receive even greater favor.
Laktusha raised his greatsword high into the sky.
"Ascend the mountain! Conquer the mountain! For the honorable Black King!"
Ziiii!
A sinister black sword aura shot up from Laktusha's greatsword.
*
All the practitioners in the Practitioner's Mountain gathered in the celestial realm.
"Is it true that Swordmaster Laktusha is invading the mountain?"
"Isn't Laktusha one of the Black King's direct subordinates?"
"Why would a direct subordinate of the Black King come to the Practitioner's Mountain?"
"Well, it must be for Lady Aria, right?"
The practitioners were flustered by the aggressive invasion.
It was a neutral land open to all races.
Until now, no one had ever attacked with malice.
"Laktusha is ascending the mountain."
"Will we just stand by and let Laktusha reach here?"
"There are no casualties yet, so we have no reason to stop him."
Laktusha is confidently ascending the mountain.
He is blocking the mountain.
He is detaining everyone so no one can leave and is conquering the entire mountain.
The problem is Laktusha's attitude.
If he were to indiscriminately kill, it would give the practitioners a reason to act, but Laktusha is quietly ascending the mountain.
What does this mean?
"Does it mean he intends to challenge the summit?"
"Could he be ascending to become the master of the mountain?"
"But the current master is Lady Aria..."
The one who has trained the most deeply becomes the master of the mountain after passing the trials.
The practitioners have the duty to protect the master of the mountain.
Therefore, if Laktusha targets Aria, the practitioners must fight.
But what if the master of the mountain changes to Laktusha?
All the practitioners' gazes turned to Aria.
"..."
It's not just a simple attempt to kidnap her by force.
Laktusha's intention is to conquer the summit of the mountain, pass the trials, and completely subdue Aria.
If she backs down here, she will be seen as a coward who fears the challenge.
‘But there’s no way to avoid it.’
Aria stood up from her seat.
There are three trials to become the master of the mountain.
The last trial is a pure duel with the previous master.
Therefore, she has no choice but to accept Laktusha's challenge.
Seal Release
Finally, Laktusha reached the celestial realm.
"Pathetic."
Bloodless entry.
He ascended without spilling a single drop of blood.
There was not a single practitioner who tried to stop Laktusha.
"I thought there would be at least one with some spirit."
Tsk tsk.
Laktusha clicked his tongue in disappointment.
He had heard that there were many skilled practitioners on this mountain.
But there was no one brave enough to stand in his way.
Of course, it was to be expected.
No one would stand against the black sword aura radiating from his entire body.
The difference in level was obvious without even needing to experience it.
Just being near him would make one feel suffocated and repulsed.
"..."
But, there was one.
A human who did not run.
A spearman was slowly ascending the mountain.
The stance of holding the spear and the length of the steps. The balance of movement showed that he was quite skilled.
Laktusha raised his greatsword and swung it once.
Krrr!
A sharp sword aura, like a thunderclap, enveloped the spearman.
*
Ancient Corpse Crows.
The crows that had transcended through the skill transformation appeared in a completely different form from the Advanced Corpse Crows.
Waddle! Waddle!
First, the size is different.
A body as big as a child, with a plump build.
When they spread their wings, a hundred more corpse crows appeared from the plump body.
Caw! Caw!
Caw!
"..."
A walking nest.
A number exceeding a thousand.
The number had increased exponentially, enough to fill the temple.
Of course, it's not just the number that has increased.
Caw!
Caw!
They are much more orderly.
While the Advanced Corpse Crows flew around chaotically, the Ancient Corpse Crows controlled the crows they carried like generals.
They stared blankly, waiting for my command.
"Efficiently destroy the cursed geomancy stones, caw!"
Caw!
As I gave the command, the Ancient Corpse Crows opened their mouths.
"Hmm?"
Then they shot a wave of curses at me.
Attacking their master?
I thought they had gone mad for a moment, but.
《The Ancient Corpse Crow uses 'Wave of Curses.'》
《'Curse Reflection (25%)' is applied.》
《'Increased Curse Duration (25%)' is applied.》
《The reflected curse is given a penetration effect (10%).》
《The Ancient Corpse Crow uses the 'Amplify Curse' skill.》
I immediately understood what they were trying to do.
They are shooting a wave of curses at me, amplifying it once with the Baal Helmet, and then amplifying it again with their own skill.
In short, it's infinite amplification.
By pouring the infinitely amplified wave of curses back onto the 'cursed geomancy stones.'
Crack!
Even without hitting, cracks appeared on the geomancy stones.
Something that would normally take millions of hits.
Something that would take half a day with the crows is done in just over a minute.
‘...They are using the penetration effect of the Baal Helmet.’
Fixed damage from penetration!
By amplifying the curse and maximizing the 10% penetration effect.
The cursed geomancy stones defend against all damage almost like immunity, but they cannot block the fixed damage from penetration.
‘They are smart.’
These crows, to think they would use the effects of the Baal Helmet I possess.
It was the perfect action to take for the command to destroy them efficiently.
At first, I was a bit surprised, but this is a great corps of corpse crows.
‘Receiving the amplified curse with the bare body is not easy, though.’
Still, at this rate, I think I can destroy all the cursed geomancy stones in the temple in a day or two.
‘There are over a hundred cursed geomancy stones in this temple alone.’
Why did they prepare so many cursed geomancy stones?
A temple built by Baal.
There must be a reason.
‘It feels like something is sealed in the temple.’
Laying over a hundred cursed geomancy stones in the temple, which would take a long time to destroy.