Babylon (9)

Many around the world had said it.

That Hyun-soo could no longer produce something like the Twin Dragon Swords, a Transcendent-grade item.

There were several reasons for this.

First, envy and jealousy.

Those who had always basked in the spotlight felt inferior when all eyes turned to Hyun-soo in a single year.

The second reason.

Hyun-soo was simply too unparalleled.

Countless rankers had believed that a new grade of artifact would only emerge after the second chapter of Ares opened, more than half a year after the first.

But Hyun-soo had shattered those expectations right in the first chapter, creating the new grade of Transcendent—and in front of over a billion viewers, no less.

Thus, they deemed it impossible, or at best something that might happen years later, for Hyun-soo to ring another world message after such an extraordinary feat.

But today, all predictions and judgments were proven wrong.

Kalli, world rank 2 and America's rank 1.

He was still deep in the highest-difficulty dungeon on the Korean server, sent by Kabel.

His primary reason for seeking Hyun-soo after server integration was the artifacts he crafted.

'As the first Master Craftsman to create a Transcendent item, he must be able to produce many Legends. And that power would greatly aid me.'

Whether by subjugation or negotiation, Hyun-soo's strength was essential.

Then, a shocking alert rang out.

Kalli fell into immense shock.

He too had thought Hyun-soo wouldn't be the star of a world message for years.

World messages themselves were extraordinarily rare and difficult achievements.

Even Kalli had triggered only three in his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠career.

'Transcendent above Transcendent...?'

His heart raced.

He felt an even stronger urge to meet Hyun-soo.

The current Hyun-soo was the one who had achieved the world's most valuable and remarkable feat.

And so were the countless apex players from other servers who had come to the Korean server.

Vietnam's Mio.

"...He's already surpassed that realm? My reason to commission from Hyun-soo just got even bigger. Hurry."

Russia's Cassandra.

"Insane. I must claim Hyun-soo first and make him my exclusive blacksmith, no matter what."

And Japan's Musashi.

He was shocked twice over right now.

First, because he and his thirty elites had been forced logged out by a mysterious man.

Second, because of the message from the very Hyun-soo he sought.

'Impressive in every way...'

Musashi had planned to return with more elites to fight the mysterious man after being logged out.

But his thoughts shifted.

'Don't lose sight of the essence.'

He needed to find Hyun-soo first.

The rage and humiliation toward the mysterious man paled compared to his desire to meet the unparalleled Hyun-soo.

Shrr—

Bahala watched Musashi scatter away.

His own HP had dropped below 60%, leaving him as stunned as Musashi.

The power of this alert transcended common sense.

It silenced all the world's claims.

Bahala, in particular, was the most shocked.

'Babylon was Transcendent-grade too...'

Though it was a restoration, the essence was the same.

Bahala felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

He recalled how, just moments ago, he had bluntly called Hyun-soo weak.

And now, there was a reason he had to be weak.

'Isn't it too much if he's this outstanding as a blacksmith and strong in combat?'

Yes.

Bahala hoped Hyun-soo wouldn't grow stronger.

Proof that he now saw Hyun-soo as a benevolent rival.

Unfortunately, Bahala's wish couldn't come true.

These were the alerts Hyun-soo heard after crafting his greatest masterpiece ever.

Just the all-stats +20 and Overwhelm +200 made him over 5% stronger than before.

The reason Hyun-soo crafted the Desire Dagger?

To create a foundation that would make Bahala watch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his back—and it needed to be special.

And that special element was filled by a special reward.

(Artifact Skill Absorption)

Active Skill

Level: None

Penalty: None

Mana Cost: 4,500

Effect:

• 3% chance of success; absorbs one effect from the target artifact and stores it in the Desire Dagger.

• On the first attempt, 100% absorption success.

• The Desire Dagger can store up to 3 absorbed skills total.

• Storage slots available: 3/3

'The success rate is only 3%, but storing three makes it like having four skills in one accessory artifact.'

Even two skills in a typical accessory artifact was remarkable.

But this Desire Dagger could hold far more.

He immediately absorbed Absolute Domination.

Now Hyun-soo could activate Absolute Domination through the Desire Dagger.

Hyun-soo gazed at the Desire Dagger.

It wasn't just for storing traits.

His countless passives.

The % boost to their activation chances made him absurdly strong.

'Even a 20% boost across all would be amazing.'

Lord's Grace.

Ultimate.

Nine Slashes.

And countless others—all probabilistically enhanced.

Hyun-soo checked the Desire Dagger.

(Trait Storage)

Active Skill

Mana Cost: 3,000

Cooldown: 48 hours

Effect:

• Store someone's trait in the Desire Dagger for use.

• On death, 10% success chance (20% if 100+ levels higher).

• Stab non-dying target once: 5% success (10% if 100+ levels higher).

• Stored traits manifest at up to 60% original power.

• Up to 4 storages; deletable.

• Each stored trait usable 3 times total.

(Emergency Storage)

Passive Skill

Mana Cost: None

Cooldown: None

Effect:

• 3% chance to store and return enemy's used trait.

• 70% of enemy's trait effect.

'A whopping 45%.'

Hyun-soo marveled.

He'd thought 20% across all passives would be great.

Now, every passive's probability rose by 45%.

Thus, Trait Storage on a dead target jumped from 10% to 16% success.

'By making the Desire Dagger, I've grown over 10% stronger.'

Passives rivaled actives in impact.

'Storing key traits could make me 30%+ stronger.'

The key was whose traits to store.

Depending on that, it could multiply his power several times over.

That was the Desire Dagger's might.

And what thrilled Hyun-soo most was Emergency Storage.

'I put in the idea, but didn't expect it to stick.'

Trait Storage with 45% boost.

Plus, the Desire Dagger—an accessory—had 132 attack.

When he equipped the necklace:

The Desire Dagger's attack applied to all equipped weapons.

With these incredible features came Emergency Storage.

'I'll face many crises battling named-grade monster NPCs.'

But he believed this 3%—now ~4.5% with the boost—Emergency Storage would save him often.

And Hyun-soo sensed it.

'I've probably drawn even more people to me now.'

His value had skyrocketed astronomically.

Proving the Transcendent above Transcendent wasn't luck.

Making Atlas even harder to defend.

"No regrets."

Should he avoid the pot for fear of maggots?

It was foolish not to do what scared them.

Besides, Hyun-soo had one hope.

That hope's alert had come while crafting the Desire Dagger.

He had maxed the quest's blessing gauge with Bahala's handshake long ago.

Yet inexplicably, it hadn't completed.

The 100% reward was the power Bearer of Saga.

So he'd waited, and mid-craft:

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Hyun-soo had planned to visit the Royal Shop anyway.

Thinking it might hold ways to protect precarious Atlas.

But one mystery remained.

'Why did the completion alert come so late?'

At least there was good news: despite exceeding 100% blessing, one more blessing chance remained.

Setting aside questions, Hyun-soo headed to the Royal Shop.

Territory Shops exist in all territories since the second Ares chapter.

Accessed via the "Territory Shop" in the central square.

Standing before Atlas's Royal Territory Shop, Hyun-soo felt certain.

'It might yield something even better than Bearer of Saga.'

As he clicked the Royal Shop with that expectation:

In other words, Grant Me Your Blessing was a lesser version, a test.

'Does this mean I'll learn of the true Pledge Your Loyalty to Me? Or gain the real one?'

Soon, the true version appeared, and just reading it revealed its power.

An endless shiver ran through him.