Heritage Object #2
- What exactly does a quest item do?
Is it an item hunters can actually use?
I know it gives special quests or conditions,
but in the end, for guys like us, all that matters is how useful it is for clearing the stage.
↳ ArmchairSage
It's not equipment.
↳ OP
Ah, so you just have to carry it around?
↳ ArmchairSage
One of my teammates was clearing a different theme,
and they said it felt more like a key to solve the next gimmick rather than usable gear.
Like opening a locked door or finding a hidden space.
↳ OP
Ah, I see.
That actually sounds way better than just beating up monsters lol
- The hidden pieces you can get are extremely limited, and the rewards are fixed,
so I've seen parties disband or even kill each other to hog the rewards.
↳ Anonymous
That's brutal;
↳ CintamaniDragon
But that AoE Lord started solo, so he won't have to worry about that.
↳ Anonymous
Hogging all the rewards, damn...
↳ OP
True, now that you mention it.
Eating it all clean by himself without any trouble... I'm kind of jealous.
↳ FrostBeast
If you knew what he's going through alone, you wouldn't be saying that.
...
Lisha, the Beastkin woman, knew.
The terror of that day—when the Goblin Champion had appeared.
She knew the life-crushing pressure of the Apocalyptic difficulty.
This time too.
That man would be walking through that hell all by himself.
Since he was in a difficulty on a completely different level, the number of monsters would be even more atrocious.
Rustle.
Thinking of him, she tightly hugged her tail, which had instinctively curled up.
“Grrr...!”
“Fuck! These disgusting bastards!”
“Holy power! Is there anyone with holy power?! These undead bastards just won't die!”
“...Sigh.”
Watching the pathetic struggles of the other hunters, she decided to join the battle as well.
Predator's Domain (Lv.3)
Whoosh...!
Feeling the energy of the domain expanding in a circle, I looked at the horde of Lesser Ghouls that were getting faster in real-time.
Perhaps they retained some intelligence, because instead of mindlessly charging...
“Kieek! Kieeeek!”
“Grrr...!”
Even in this chaotic situation, they agilely found the optimal path to approach me.
“Whew...”
Catching my breath before the party started,
I cast my gaze toward a spot in the distance that was faintly glowing.
—A Heritage Object.
One of the conditions for the hidden piece quest, and the key to clearing the floor.
I was highly interested in that treasure protected by these disgusting monsters.
My reward.
The goal was to clear the quest.
Recalling the information I had gathered from the community—
Crunch!
I locked eyes with the creature stomping violently toward me.
Its ferocious aura was reminiscent of a wild beast.
It had been a long time since I reached the point where I could just shrug off large numbers of enemies.
This is really disappointing.
Now, swarming me with numbers is just a default passive?
For someone clearing the stage alone, there was nothing more bleak and hopeless than this.
And so,
Shadow Slash
Trusting my physical condition, which was in peak form thanks to the experience I had accumulated,
I charged forward, activating the domain mode I always relied on.
*Whoosh.*
Receiving the movement speed buff from the Shadow Boots, I brushed past the one at the very front—
and slipped right by.
...?!
The ghoul, who had run past me at full speed, turned around in confusion.
“Just keep going, buddy.”
I gave its back a satisfying smack! and faced the crowd following behind it.
*Swoosh.*
The horde entered the domain's range almost simultaneously.
If I stand still, I die.
Now that my mobility and durability had gone up a level, tension naturally accompanied my next movements.
Since I wouldn't die in a single hit, I moved with the intention of slowly shaving down their health using the domain.
Splaaaaash!
Showered in rotting flesh and blood that fell like rain,
I narrowly dodged a claw that almost grazed me.
“Holy shit, that scared me.”
As expected of the undead, they tried to land a desperate final blow even with their dying breath.
I glared resentfully at the Lesser Ghoul that had just breathed its last, then kept moving.
..
...
....
“Kieek...”
Only after confirming that the last one had stopped breathing did I slowly catch my breath.
“They're tough bastards.”
Would it be easier if I had that 'holy power' I heard about in the community?
Since the theme ruling this floor was undead, being able to wield even a small amount of it would make clearing it so much easier.
“Now then...”
I turned my gaze to the spot I had been eyeing earlier.
An area shrouded in a bleak atmosphere, where a faint purple light was rising.
I didn't know if the Lesser Ghouls did it,
but there was a crude pile of stones, so I kicked them away to clear the path.
What was revealed beneath was...
“A coffin?”
It was a worn wooden coffin, looking as if it held someone's corpse.
“Whew...”
It was true that I was starved for rewards, but I wasn't crazy enough to ignore the possibility of a trap.
Whoosh...
A coffin that looked ominous at a glance, with a sinister purple energy rising from it.
Well, I can't leave if I don't open it anyway.
Actually, this might not even be the object the community and I were looking for.
“...Then do I have to go look for another pile of ghouls?”
...Please, no.
Brushing aside the dizzying thought, I placed my hand on the coffin buried in the pile of stones.
Tring!
You have discovered a Heritage Object.
“Nice.”
Fortunately, the status window I wanted popped up.
I pried open the coffin lid with an excited heart.
Creaaak...!
The coffin lid slowly opened, letting out a weak groan.
What lay inside was...
...
A pure white skeleton, lying dead while clutching an unidentified long object in its arms.
Perhaps they were someone extraordinary in life, as the skeleton wore white garments that looked anything but ordinary.
“You're not going to suddenly jump up, right?”
I hovered my hand near my skill window and reached for the 'object' it was holding.
*Click.*
The arms and hands, reduced to mere brittle bones, could not stop the looting of a healthy adult male.
As I pulled out the dust-covered object, only a very lonely-looking skeleton remained in the coffin.
Should I just smash it?
If I smashed the coffin entirely, wouldn't that completely eliminate any potential variables?
“...Nah, have I gone crazy from staying in the Tower too long?”
Feeling a prick of conscience, I simply took the item and stepped out of the stone pile.
*Rustle.*
As I carefully unwrapped the bandages, the identity of the 'object' guarded by the skeleton was revealed.
“...Oh.”
It was in the shape of a sword, though its exact form was hard to discern due to the passage of time.
A holy sword once used by a saint to subjugate the Eld Lich that overthrew the kingdom. When held, attacks are imbued with weak holy power.
Holy power.
According to the information I had gathered, the undead were extremely vulnerable to this holy power.
“...Holy power.”
If holy power is imbued into my attacks, could it be applied to my skills as well?
✔ Explore the 2nd Floor (Complete)
✔ Acquire a Heritage Object (Complete)
You can now claim your rewards.
“It was worth the trouble.”
I was already disappointed by the lackluster rewards on the 1st floor, so this felt like a solid payoff.
- Got something called a Faded Holy Sword
It says I can use holy power with this
Gonna slaughter all the undead now fr;
↳ ArmchairSage
Faded Holy Sword... I guess it really is Apocalyptic difficulty.
The objects showing up are pretty serious.
↳ FrostBeast
What do you mean by that?
↳ ArmchairSage
Most objects are related to things that let you deduce the 'story' dominating that theme.
From someone's notes, diaries, and clothing, to various other items that provided fragmentary information.
Challengers used these to find ways to avoid the Floor Master, and enjoyed various rewards and benefits in the process.
“But this... is way too obviously a hero's path, isn't it?”
Did it say the owner of the coffin was a saint?
I didn't know what on earth had happened on this floor, but I understood clearly that the narrative embedded in the object I acquired was extraordinary.
Alright then.
Now I just need to climb up to the next floors and reach the Waiting Room.
Next, it was finally time to open the rewards I had been saving.
Would you like to claim your rewards?
“Of course.”
Due to the 'Solo Clear Bonus', the rewards have been enhanced.
“Hell yeah.”
What long-awaited news this was.
You can now control the domain with greater ease.
On top of that, there was an additional benefit.
“This is why I climb.”
If my proficiency increased, the probability of manifesting a new skill, just like when I trained with Seah, would rise.
With a swelling heart,
I scanned the rewards for this hidden piece achievement.
Due to achieving the 'Hidden Piece' conditions, you receive special rewards.
The clothing of a pure woman who once assisted the saint in his quest. Equipping it allows entry into the 'Main Story'.
“...Excuse me?”
As I scanned the list, my brain came to a screeching halt.
This clothing can only be equipped by a 'female'.
“Scared me to death. I thought it was telling me to wear it.”
Now this is a sane world.
Looking at the Companion Summon Ticket with satisfaction,
my eyes naturally drifted toward the familiar usernames in the community.