The One Who Flies Above the Runner (5)
As Hyun-soo entered the Snowy Blessing Zone, another notification rang in his ears.
To reach the Sage's Tower, you must hunt all monsters in the Snowy Blessing Zone.
The location of the Sage's Tower changed every two weeks.
That meant the trials Hyun-soo had to face while climbing the mountain also shifted, consuming time accordingly.
But Dun had completely spared him that effort.
'All the monsters around were levels far above mine.'
Minimum level 330 monsters.
Users gained more experience from hunting monsters higher level than themselves.
Moreover, once reaching level 300, the total experience required for level-ups increased exponentially.
At such times, this triple experience gain was like a gift from the heavens.
Before arriving at the zone, the monsters Hyun-soo had hunted gave average experience like this.
You acquired 8,862 experience.
But now, each one yielded over 24,000.
3x Experience and 3x Drop Rate Applied.
Due to high experience gain, monster experience is consolidated.
You acquired 1,310,010 experience.
Due to high gold gain, monster gold is consolidated.
You acquired 331,689 gold.
On top of that, miscellaneous drops from the mobs.
These were tripled too, pouring in from over 60 monsters at once.
The junk items alone were valuable.
Over 3.4 million won in gold, and the junk probably worth another 5 million.
Of course, Hyun-soo awaited something else.
Players and NPCs judged as villains dropped experience and gold.
In other words, their karma value turned into money and experience for him.
Higher karma meant more drops—sometimes 20% more, sometimes multiples.
You vanquished Won.
His karma is at its worst.
You vanquished Bon.
His karma is at its worst.
You acquired 293,013 experience.
You acquired 467,310 gold.
You vanquished Burns...
Hyun-soo gained 5 levels.
An absurd amount in the 300s.
Plus 1.4 million gold just from them, and they dropped all their equipped gear.
'Epic, epic, unique, epic...'
All top-tier stuff.
HP: Under 3%
Hard to move your body.
Kneeling Dun knew what his comrades had dropped.
'The most important things...'
From 20 million won cheap to 100 million pricey.
They played the game for those.
Dun's artifacts, as leader and highest level, were the best.
What terrified Dun more was this.
Opening the friend list showed registered friends' levels.
His comrades' levels had dropped 12 to 18 from moments ago.
A 10+ level drop was rare.
Nearly impossible.
It stemmed from their kill count.
Pointless player kills bloated their karma.
Ares could be fair.
Immoral gains led to immoral losses.
"P-please, spare me just once!"
Dun begged sincerely.
"I'll drop 20 levels if I die. You know how hard raising 20 levels from mine is..."
He looked ready to clutch Hyun-soo's pant leg.
"Losing gear here too..."
"Not too selfish?"
Hyun-soo said flatly.
"You've only picked winnable fights, like them worrying about their exp and drop rates before dying. They felt worse—killed for no reason."
Slash—
Hyun-soo severed his neck without hesitation.
No more talk; it hurt his jaw.
Dun's karma is at its worst.
You acquired 502,301 experience.
You acquired 735,203 gold.
◈ Closest to Legend...
Hyun-soo hit 6 levels total here, netting valuable artifacts.
Especially the Yeti King's Ring—more impressive than expected.
'Closest to legend...'
Then.
You are climbing the Beres Mountains faster than anyone.
"...?"
Hyun-soo frowned in confusion.
'Faster than any first entrant?'
Thanks to Dun, he'd taken a shortcut straight to the tower's view.
'Alone, three days might've been tight.'
The Beres Mountains stretched long, harsh, monster-infested.
Hyun-soo sensed foreboding.
'Notifications like this don't come without reason.'
Soon, he saw it.
Rumble—
The blizzard intensified, massive gusts howling.
Whoosh—
Snow blinded vision completely.
A new story begins.
Hyun-soo's teeth chattered at the ominous tone.
A blizzard once every century rages.
Temperature drops sharply.
Body shrinks, frostbite risk on hands and feet.
All stats -20%.
Blizzard Breakthrough
📍 Rank: S
📍 Restriction: Triggered new story
🎁 Reward: Something left by an even greater God of Blacksmithing
📍 Penalty on Failure: Never meet Sage Arte
You drew closest to the Sage's Tower first, tied to the God of Blacksmithing's legacy. Reach it no matter what.
Those who trigger new stories get superior rewards.
Hyun-soo realized.
'Faster, even through this adversity.'
It was a test.
Screech—
"Urk!"
A sudden gust hurled Hyun-soo into snowdrifts.
He shuddered at the icy bite, buried deep.
Hyun-soo rose.
'I must go.'
The God of Blacksmithing's legacy.
He needed it.
Soon, crowds would flock to his improving forge.
To protect himself and his followers, he needed power.
Hyun-soo slipped on the Yeti King's Ring.
A warm energy settles in your body.
In blinding blizzard.
'I'll reach the Sage's Tower, no matter what.'
The blacksmith who never learned defeat trudged on.
Screech—
Rumble—
At the Sage's Tower.
Absolute Shield Peya and Grand Mage Ruwon watched the blizzard battering windows.
Suddenly, Ruwon asked.
"Peya, could anyone survive half a day out there?"
"..."
Peya said nothing.
Superhuman body or not, disasters were different.
Fierce snow and flakes would shatter minds; freezing limbs made steps impossible.
Even the strong faltered against nature.
Ruwon sipped warm tea.
"He's dead already. Didn't climb halfway."
Both looked relieved.
"A mere handyman surviving? Impossible."
Peya smirked.
"When I sought legend, I climbed these mountains."
Most legend aspirants had.
To meet enduring Sage Arte.
"Took me exactly two days. Brutal terrain."
Ruwon reminisced.
"Two days for me. Tried flying with Fly; gusts slammed me down."
Long ago, as rising stars.
Now, they'd reach instantly—stronger.
"Freezing in half a day? Pity."
They chuckled softly.
"Let's go. No need waiting. Tell them we're leaving."
They exited together.
Near entrance, audience chamber.
Sage Arte, Sword King Barad, Spear Heaven Ben sat spaced.
Rumble—
Tower shook from winds.
Before leaving, Ruwon spoke.
"Arte, the trial's over."
Silence; no one spoke.
"We meet in two days? No need. Peya and I will head back..."
Then.
"...It's not over yet."
Arte's words puzzled them.
Then Ruwon and Peya's heads snapped around.
'Something's coming?'
Their senses were acute.
Something pierced the blizzard.
Ruwon's especially sharp.
His eyes pierced walls outside.
Snow whipped sunset.
A man pushed through waist-deep drifts.
Ruwon nearly gasped.
Bit it back.
Soon, he knew.
The figure halted.
'Dying...?'
Yes, dying.
Unconscious, unmoving.
'Impressive, but he'll die like this...'
Then.
"...!?"
Ruwon saw it stir.
One step, two, several.
Life fading fast.
Fell again, but soon.
'What...'
Rose again.
A tiny flame in vast snow.
Ruwon couldn't believe.
The dying form reached the door.
Ruwon's pupils trembled.
'Why? He should've died.'
Creeak—
Footsteps drew eyes.
A man appeared.
Pale lips, ashen face. Snow-caked body. Deathly fragile.
HP: Under 1%
Yet keen eyes shone undimmed.
He brushed snow, swept wet hair back.
Absorbed the legends slowly, then spoke.
"Master Craftsman Hyun. I greet Sage Arte."
You arrived at the Sage's Tower.
Hidden Divine Recognition unlocks.
Facing legends, Hyun-soo knew.
Development, negotiations, hatch rates—he'd seen them.
Higher % maximized gains.
Unknown Divine Recognition.
Invisible trial climbing.
And quest's "even greater God of Blacksmithing's legacy."
You reached the Sage's Tower faster than any past legend.
Acquire 44% Recognition.
Lowest starting level among past legends climbing.
Acquire 25% Recognition.
Broke through century blizzard.
Acquire Recognition...
Showed resilient spirit overcoming death repeatedly.
Acquire Recognition...
Amid endless notifications.
The final one thrilled Hyun-soo's heart.
Rewards maximized.