Atlas Territory (5)
Ares Church's Papal Court.
Pope Karsel, the 11th, wielded power greater than most kings.
One special thing about Pope Karsel was that he wasn't bound by the server restrictions.
This meant he transcended the continent itself.
The Ares Church spanned the entire continent, connected through temples everywhere, allowing only the permitted to meet Karsel at the Papal Court.
Karsel marveled at the report he'd heard.
"So that's how it is. He's truly ascended to one of the Continent's 10 Legends."
His admiration stemmed from a brash young visitor who'd come here just half a year ago.
Soon, Saintess Aria from the garden met with Pope Karsel.
"I couldn't understand why you'd bestowed the Saint's Favor on him back then, but now it makes sense."
The Saint's Favor could be granted to only one outsider in a lifetime.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason it was special.
Aria gave a small smile.
"When he saved me, he seemed to overlap with that figure from the legends."
That figure from the legends.
Karsel knew of him too.
The only one who'd ever interacted with the Ares Church.
"Legends say the Saint saved the Ares Church in its hour of crisis."
Aria smiled faintly.
Karsel looked intrigued.
"So, does that mean he's forging his own legend?"
Aria shook her head.
"Saving me doesn't mean he saved the Ares Church. It's just that he's making the Saint's Favor—the token of friendship he received and the power of that ancient figure—shine even brighter."
"Shine brighter, you say?"
"Through the Calamities, and through the demon Grout."
Karsel had to agree.
He was crafting his story bit by bit, just like one of the greatest legends of old.
"Someday, if a true crisis befalls us, perhaps that ancient tale could come true once more."
Karsel nodded deeply.
"If that happens..."
"Yes, exactly."
The two shared a look of mutual understanding.
"A mere noble from one kingdom will carry us on his back."
The Saint's Favor had brought Hyun-soo countless benefits so far.
Normally, outside priest or holy knight classes, gaining holy power in Ares was nearly impossible.
Holy power was that sacred and profound a force.
Yet through the Saint's Favor, Hyun-soo had gained 250 holy power.
This allowed him, not a church blacksmith, to craft artifacts infused with holy power.
And more.
'The power that saved me when I was on the verge of corruption.'
Hyun-soo had collected Calamity artifacts, enabling him to create Calamities.
But power rivaling legends stemmed from pure evil.
Holding it had nearly tainted his alignment with evil.
The Saint's aura flowing in his body had protected him then.
And today, he'd learned a shocking truth.
The Saint's Favor wasn't a one-time power.
'It's a favor tied to a story.'
Proof was unfolding before his eyes.
The Saint's aura flows within you.
Hidden Piece: Walker of the Saint's Path completed.
Hyun-soo understood.
Those who received the Saint's Favor—uncover the Saint's story, and it becomes your reward.
But the reward wasn't automatic.
You may receive a reward.
However, it must be closely tied to the Saint's Path.
You walked the path of worsening Calamities by collecting four evil-tainted artifacts.
You walked the path of slaying evil-worshipping Calamities.
The Saint's Favor shines most brilliantly.
Hyun-soo knew why the Saint's Favor shone so brightly.
By slaying the pure evil Blood Demon Grout, you have illuminated the world.
Demon Grout was a being that would one day threaten humanity.
Your path as the Saint was great and wondrous.
You acquire 350 Holy Power.
You acquire 200 Charisma.
This revealed one key fact to Hyun-soo.
With the Hidden Piece unlocked, further proofs on the Saint's Path grant additional rewards.
The Saint's Favor would empower Hyun-soo in the long term.
'Not even a church servant, and my holy power's already at 600...'
The holy power stat held greater power than expected.
First, with more holy power, his future holy-infused artifacts would improve.
Second, against pure evils, higher holy power meant bonus attack and defense.
Hyun-soo felt great about the unexpected gain.
Then another alert shocked him.
Dual Class: Saint information unlocked.
'Dual class...?'
Hyun-soo was stunned.
Dual class.
Meaning one user holding two classes.
Hyun-soo knew dual classes well.
It tied to why people speculated he wasn't blacksmith Hyun.
Crazy Rookie's level was low then.
Yet that low-level player crafted great artifacts and wielded immense power, defying common sense.
Some claimed dual class.
But it was dismissed.
'Dual classes are the domain of high-level players.'
Not just talk—finding one was like a needle in a haystack.
Chills ran down Hyun-soo's spine.
'Wait, don't tell me...'
Ares's massive server integration update loomed.
To lead jaded users through new content, they needed power.
'More dual classes will be released than before?'
Ares dripped minor updates before official announcements.
But most users missed them.
Proof was here.
Hyun-soo now knew of the legendary Saint class.
It must've existed before.
But most users didn't know—Ares tightly controlled it.
Through NPCs, Ares could release it.
'So I've grabbed pre-update info as if it were post-update.'
Plus, knowing the dual class Saint first gave him an edge.
'In Ares's second chapter, I'm one step ahead.'
One step ahead.
Immensely significant.
No further alerts came.
'Of course...'
If he'd met dual class conditions, it'd say "Achieved."
This said "information unlocked."
The dual class Saint existed, but earning it was up to him.
And Hyun-soo realized something.
'Maybe this Atlas Territory isn't ordinary...?'
Karn knew no more details.
He led Hyun-soo onward.
"There's a ritual every lord has performed."
"...In rotation?"
"Ahem, anyway, it exists."
Karn looked reverent, as if speaking of something holy.
"This territory has a legend—the Saint left part of his power here before departing."
Hyun-soo's hunch was right; his heart raced.
"Complete the ritual to learn what he left. You'll gain more on the Saint—and his holy relic."
Holy relic.
A territory's signature treasure.
Usually symbolic, crafted by marquess-level territories.
Hyun-soo followed to a spot.
He hadn't expected such a place in this rundown territory.
Beyond white iron gates, a sword was embedded in the ground.
"The Saint's Sword. Astonishingly, it has just one function—consumable, yet it proves the Saint's greatness."
"What function?"
"Recovery beyond common sense."
"Beyond common sense?"
"Yes, solely that—but transcendent. It continuously heals wounds."
An incredible sword just from the description.
But Hyun-soo focused elsewhere.
'Pull it, and learn part of the territory's truth. What the Saint left.'
It might empower his desperate forge.
Before pulling, he appraised it.
'How much recovery? 40%? 50%? Cooldown?'
A recovery artifact's worth: HP percentage healed, reuse time.
Banhel's Ring (5-min cooldown) healed ~20% HP—priceless in Ares.
Appraising it, Hyun-soo was speechless.
'...What?'
He doubted his eyes.
Had to.
Gripping the hilt triggered an alert and the sword's info.
This is a sword that cannot be drawn.
Purely symbolic.
The info left him awestruck beyond admiration.
Grade: Legend
Durability: 910/5,000
Attack: 101
Restrictions: Lord of Atlas Territory
Special Ability:
· Active Skill: Saint's Blessing
Description: The holy relic designated by the founding lord, the Saint, for Atlas. Legends say something special happens if drawn, but it's set to be impossible. However, it triggers territory-related quests.
Frankly, the Saint's Sword was trash for a Legend grade.
'Total durability only 5,000, remaining in the 900s. Attack 101, and aside from Saint's Blessing, no abilities...'
But its active skill overshadowed everything.
Active Skill
Mana Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Uses Available: 200/200
Description: On activation, restores 100% HP.
This artifact defied logic.
'No cooldown, 100% HP—and 200 uses?'
With this sword, Hyun-soo would be invincible.
"This is straight-up balance-breaking..."
No place for this in Ares.
Proof: the "cannot be drawn" alert.
Purely for show.
But one question remained.
'Among undrawable display artifacts, nothing this broken existed.'
Hyun-soo reached a conclusion.
"This feels like a bug?"
Wang Team Leader, craning his neck like a turtle, panicked.
-This feels like a bug?
He agreed.
Soon, the reason emerged.
"The one who set the Saint's Sword was Team Leader Jincho."
"Jincho? The Reward Settings Team Leader who got fired recently?"
"Yes, Jincho was Reward Settings Team Leader. Originally, Saint's Blessing was 50 uses. He set it to 200, tested, but should've reverted before leaving."
Wang's face twisted, then relaxed.
"Can't draw it anyway."
The Saint's Sword was purely decorative.
Set to be undrawable; failure triggered quests.
"Good thing. Server integration soon—patch it then."
Wang sighed in relief.
'Nearly had a bug-not-bug.'
Ares boasted perfection.
Then, hearing Hyun-soo on the monitor, Wang was shocked.
'What?'
Impossible by common sense.
Hyun-soo surely knew it was undrawable.
Yet on the monitor, Hyun-soo said:
-Think I can pull this?