Chapter 85: 15th Floor. Heaven-Endowed Blacksmith (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85: 15th Floor. Heaven-Endowed Blacksmith (6)
[Ink-Black Armor]
[Type: Top]
• Rank: High-Rank
• Strength +4
• Speed +6
• Defense +20
• Description: Armor crafted by the Heaven-Endowed Blacksmith with his full effort. Under his touch, meager materials have taken a magnificent form.
"Hah."
An exclamation escaped Kang Jun-hyeok’s lips before he could stop it.
The performance was staggering. It was a high-rank piece of defensive gear, and the stats were absurd. Every value was more than double that of the Robe of the True Ancestor he had been wearing.
It was, quite literally, in a different league.
A typical player would have to pass at least the 45th floor to obtain equipment of this caliber. Yet, the blacksmith himself looked dissatisfied.
"Hmph. I ran short on materials while enhancing the Master of All Weapons. More than anything, it’s been a long time since I’ve worked with my full strength, so there are many flaws. I don’t like it."
"You... don't like this equipment?"
Kang Jun-hyeok, on the other hand, couldn't hide his awe.
Next was the Master of All Weapons. Kang Jun-hyeok picked up the gauntlet.
[Master of All Weapons +1]
[Type: Weapon]
• Rank: Unique
• Attack Power +? +4
• Effect: Can store ten thousand weapons.
• Requirement: Only those who are qualified may wield it.
"And this is..."
A "+1" had been appended to the name of the Master of All Weapons.
It was a notation he had never seen before, seemingly signifying a successful enhancement. As a result, a flat +4 had been added to the attack power. The blacksmith still wore a sour expression.
"It was my first time enhancing equipment from the Tower. I had to be cautious, so I couldn't draw out its full potential."
"...Is that so?"
But once again, Kang Jun-hyeok was stunned.
The Master of All Weapons now had +4 attack power. Objectively speaking, it wasn't a high number. The sword Kang Jun-hyeok currently used had an attack power of 35. Compared to the precious materials consumed, the increase seemed marginal.
However, the context changed entirely because it was the Master of All Weapons.
The Master of All Weapons could store ten thousand weapons. This meant that an additional 4 attack power would be permanently applied to every single weapon Kang Jun-hyeok wielded.
If he threw a series of spears that had a base attack power of 4, their power would effectively double to 8. He was essentially doubling his damage output for lower-tier projectiles.
And this was only a +1 enhancement. Considering he could enhance it further in the future, its potential value was impossible to calculate.
"Hmm. For now, be satisfied with this."
"I'm more than satisfied; it's overwhelming. Thank you."
Kang Jun-hyeok offered his sincere thanks. The blacksmith gave a small smirk, seemingly not hating the gratitude.
"I am a blacksmith. I am closer to an NPC of the Tower. You can visit this place whenever you wish. Bring more materials next time. I'll make you something proper then."
"I understand."
A primary destination for the materials obtained while climbing the Tower—the blacksmith was now one of them. He would likely visit here as often as he visited the Shop.
The world began to crumble. Just before he returned to Earth, he heard the blacksmith mutter to himself.
"I won't be bored for a while."
* * *
[15th Floor Quest Cleared.]
[Rewards will be determined based on your performance.]
• Calculating achievement rate...
• Calculation complete.
• Achievement Rate: 100%
[Perfect Clear. Congratulations! Additional rewards will be granted.]
[Equipment crafting is now available through the Blacksmith.]
• The effect of the Title: Perfect Player has been added.
• 5,214 Gold has been rewarded.
[Perfect Clear Reward: You have obtained [Top: Ink-Black Armor].]
[Perfect Clear Reward: You have obtained [Master of All Weapons +1].]
[Perfect Clear Reward: Equipment enhancement is now available through the Blacksmith.]
[Perfect Clear Reward: Equipment modification is now available through the Blacksmith.]
[Players who have Perfect Cleared the 15th floor: 1]
• You are the only one!
[Universal Announcement]
• Please celebrate, citizens of the universe! A Perfect Player of the 15th floor has appeared. This is a feat that no one has achieved until now!
[Feat +10]
"Whew."
Back on Earth, Kang Jun-hyeok exhaled deeply.
He thought back on the Perfect Clear of the 15th floor. Because he already knew the strategy for the Frost Jade and Red Flame Jade used by the Golem he faced at the end, it hadn't been as difficult as he expected. After catching his breath for a moment, he spoke.
"Pixie."
Shwaaa!
Space split open, and the fairy with deep dark circles under her eyes appeared, her gaze sparkling with anticipation.
[You're back? Well? Well? How did it go? Show me, quick!]
Kang Jun-hyeok held out his hand. Pixie quickly grabbed it. The memories of clearing the 15th floor flowed into her.
[Mmm!]
Pixie let out a groan of admiration. When she let go a moment later, her eyes were shining brighter than ever.
[Ha, haha! You succeeded again! You went beyond that arrogant Heaven-Endowed Blacksmith's sincerity and got him to give his full effort! And what? You even knew the counter-strategy for the Frost Jade and Red Flame Jade? Where did you get that? No, no. That's not what's important.]
Pixie continued speaking rapidly, unable to contain her excitement.
[My Treasure Intuition... you used it very well, didn't you? How did you know it would be needed on the 15th floor? Do you have some kind of precognition? It doesn't seem like it. Is it pure intuition?]
He simply smiled instead of answering. At his expression, which seemed to tell her to figure it out herself, Pixie looked delighted.
[Hahahaha! You really are interesting! I can't figure you out at all!]
Pixie shook her hands vigorously.
[Here! Take it!]
[430 Starlight.]
"Oh."
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a soft exclamation. It was more than he had expected. The total Starlight he possessed now was 750. He could buy simple skills or materials.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok suppressed the urge to spend. The most valuable item Pixie sold was Pixie's Wings. That skill required 1,000 Starlight. While he had needed Treasure Intuition to clear the 15th floor, there was nothing urgent right now, so he planned to wait.
"I'll hold off for now."
[Then what about the Gold?]
"I'll use that. I'll buy two low-rank active skills."
[Hm? Really?]
Pixie looked surprised.
[I thought you'd save up until you could buy a mid-rank active skill.]
"I'd like to do that, but I need to prepare."
He might save his Starlight, but he didn't have the luxury of hoarding Gold.
[...Ah. Ahh. It's almost time for that, isn't it?]
Pixie nodded understandingly and waved her hand.
[Here. Take them.]
Receiving the boxes, Kang Jun-hyeok checked the skills.
[Active Skill: Earth Shake]
• Rank: Low-Rank
• Proficiency: F
• Cooldown: 30 minutes
• Description: Shakes the surrounding earth. The intensity of the shaking is proportional to the Strength stat.
[Active Skill: Charge]
• Rank: Low-Rank
• Proficiency: F
• Cooldown: 30 minutes
• Description: Charges powerfully toward an opponent. Influenced by Strength and Speed stats.
Earth Shake and Charge. Earth Shake had niche value, but Charge was a highly versatile skill. He nodded.
"Thanks."
[Don't mention it. I'm the one who's grateful. So... is it tomorrow?]
"Yes."
Pixie grinned.
[It won't be easy this time.]
"It's not like it was easy before."
[True, but it'll be even more so this time. I'll be rooting for your safe return.]
Pixie waved and vanished. Kang Jun-hyeok lay down on his bed. He spent the time meditating with his eyes closed. Time ticked away.
And the next day.
"It's about time."
Kang Jun-hyeok opened his eyes. At that moment, a system window appeared.
[Hello, everyone!]
• Thank you for waiting! Have you been climbing the Tower diligently in the meantime? You certainly should have!
He stood up. The text scrolling up was incredibly cheerful.
[Now then, everyone! The Second Test begins!]
And then, the world shifted. His body left Earth and was transported to a separate location.
He landed on the ground. He raised his head and looked around. He saw a vast plain stretching beyond the horizon, its end nowhere in sight. And he wasn't alone.
"W-Waaaaah!"
"Wh-what's going on?"
People were looking around in a panic. There were so many of them. At a glance, there had to be tens of thousands. The murmuring grew louder and louder.
As he calmly observed them, a familiar voice rang out.
"Ah! Mr. Kang Jun-hyeok!"
"You were here!"
Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan hurriedly approached him. Kang Jun-hyeok greeted them.
"Good to see you. Have you been well?"
"Yes, yes!"
"I saw the announcement! You Perfect Cleared all the way to the 15th floor. That's incredible!"
Baekdusan marveled with great fanfare. Kang Jun-hyeok gave a small smile and asked.
"And what floor have you two reached?"
Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan hesitated.
"...I'm on the 35th floor."
"I'm on the 36th..."
"You haven't climbed as much as I thought."
"Well, we had things to do."
The two trailed off as if embarrassed. Kang Jun-hyeok could guess why. They must have focused on leading and caring for other players. Because of that, they wouldn't have had enough time to climb the Tower.
"Well, it was your choice. It's not my place to interfere."
"I suppose so..."
When Kang Jun-hyeok didn't show much of a reaction, the two felt even more uneasy. They looked like children who had done something wrong but hadn't been scolded.
"Anyway... there are so many people."
Kim Tae-yeon looked around. Countless people filled the vast plain. Even at a rough estimate, the number reached into the tens of thousands. Kang Jun-hyeok replied.
"These are likely all the players in Korea who passed the First Test."
"...When you put it that way, it seems like a very small number."
Baekdusan muttered bitterly. It meant that even if you gathered everyone in Korea, there were only tens of thousands left.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok's thoughts were the opposite.
There are more than I thought.
Compared to the memories of his past life, the number had increased by nearly 20%.
"Then are the rest of the people passing the Temporary Test?"
"That's highly likely."
As they watched, the commotion gradually died down. Kim Tae-yeon muttered with a puzzled face.
"But... why isn't anything happening?"
The First Test had told them exactly what to do as soon as it started. But now, it was perfectly quiet. Kang Jun-hyeok looked up at the sky.
"It's coming soon."
"Pardon?"
At that moment, the sky split open. People screamed and ducked. A white hand thrust out from the rift in the sky, tearing and expanding the space.
Riiip!
And then, it revealed itself. A young girl with long, flowing black hair.
The Administrator of Earth greeted them with a bright smile.
"Hi!"