Chapter 218
Chapter 218
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: A Mythic Drop!?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"神话 dropped!?"
I quickly scanned the items. Then I spotted one emitting a pitch-black glow.
I laughed.
"Haha!"
A mythic item had dropped. And seven of them were legendary grade!
Of course, they weren't exactly [Legendary] grade. In the game ShimGon belonged to, [The Darkest Despair], item grades classified legendary as [Relic] grade and mythic as [Cosmic] grade.
'The Pioneer's Mask... is something like this, huh.'
Items in The Darkest Despair differed from Revenge in many ways. It wasn't a game centered on a single protagonist.
The Darkest Despair was a roguelike where you controlled multiple mercenaries to clear dungeons.
As such, mercenaries could only equip two [Accessories] each.
And given the game's concept, every single one had bizarre effects.
'Insanely overpowered effects... but the drawbacks are way too severe.'
Like speed increasing by 50% at the cost of halving defense, or defense doubling but rendering you unable to receive healing.
Unlike games where you could sacrifice certain aspects based on role and position, reality rarely allowed for equipment as cheat-like as the Pioneer's Mask.
'But what about mythic... no, cosmic grade?'
I immediately checked the item description.
[Duke of Massacre's Pipe (Cosmic)]
30% chance on attack to strike a random target.
-2% Stress on enemy kill.
50% damage reflection when HP is 75% or higher.
100% damage reflection when HP is 100% or higher.
It was a 15cm-long antique pipe about 15cm in length. Made of unidentified wood with gold trim around the body, it looked quite luxurious.
'Ah... this is ambiguous. Stress reduction, huh. And random target attack—doesn't this bypass accuracy or evasion?'
The 150% reflection tempted me somewhat, but I didn't fight by taking hits in the first place.
My body could tank with a perfected Extreme Intent Body, but why take hits when I had combat foresight?
"Ah... it's been ages since my last mythic, and it's a dud."
For my third mythic gear, which I'd been thrilled about, it was underwhelming. Compared to mythic items like Hyperion or Space Gauntlets, anyone could see how mediocre this was.
'In a roguelike where stress management matters, it'd be busted... no helping it. If it's useless, feed it to Zero Sum later.'
I stowed the pipe in my inventory and turned my head.
"How far do I need to escort you?"
Prince, who had been helped out of the cave by Seril, answered my question.
"Just off this damn planet. I don't know what force it is, but... warping is impossible within this planet."
"Warping impossible, huh."
I turned to look at Cheda, who was watching us from afar.
"Cheda."
Pop!
He crossed space to appear beside me.
"Cheda, warp gate."
At my words, Cheda's eyes glowed blue.
-Magic Store cart opens.
-3... 2... 1... Loading failed. Spell composition failed. Error code SB332211...
"Blink works, but warp doesn't, got it..."
That made sense. We hadn't been completely out of time, and with the Archdemon holding them off, if they couldn't escape, there had to be a reason.
"But even warping wouldn't let you escape?"
Even an archmage couldn't open an interstellar warp gate alone.
'You'd need something massive like a Stargate.'
As expected, Seril spoke up.
"We just need to get into space. We have a small spaceship equipped with an Astral Drive."
"A puny ship with an Astral Drive?"
It sounded absurd, but there was no reason to lie in this situation.
'Just need to reach space, huh...'
Then the remaining mission wasn't as risky as I'd thought.
Swoosh.
I took off the suit I was wearing. The suit from Flower folded neatly and went into the Mercenary Management Badge's inventory.
It had ultimate enchantments layered on, perfect for fighting in, but... for [full power], I needed functional gear.
"Eek!? W-Why are you stripping!?"
Seril's shrill scream left me dumbfounded as I stared at her.
'What the hell is this T-Rex saying?'
No point responding, so I opened my inventory in my underwear.
'Main weapon: Hyperion.'
Fixed choice. Hyperion, obtained by defeating the Magic Sword King, was cheat-tier even for mythic grade. Especially the five-stacked Golden Wave socketed in it massively boosted legendary item drops from mythic monsters over heroics.
Top performance and farming gear—no other weapon could compete. Even with multiple mythic classes, I stuck to Swordmaster because of Hyperion.
'Gauntlets... finally time.'
I opened my chakra.
"Ardenia. Heavenly Gate. Open."
I focused on my inner cosmos. With eight flame points occupied and chakra at the ninth layer, no item was beyond my summon.
"Summon. Space Gauntlets."
Pop!
The plate gauntlets appeared like magic—my new mythic defense gear. With [Free Interval], [Transcendent-Preemptive Strike], and [Range Increase (Ultimate)(Passive)], it blurred the line between weapon and armor.
"Summon. Draconic Helmet."
Legendary +9 item. Like most defense gear, high defense and skill damage amps, but the key was the +9 special effect.
[Special Effect: Guard Break (Supreme)]
Additional strike on shields from normal attacks and skills. Shield destroyed by this prevents same effect use for 15 seconds.
'Even transcendents rarely tank barehanded.'
It worked on body-hardening auras too—already confirmed. Foes blocking my attacks with shields would suffer one-sidedly.
"Summon."
I summoned and donned the Black Sun top and bottom. Both legendary +9 with [Guard Break (Supreme)], naturally.
Swoosh, clank clank!
I equipped everything methodically. All plate armor, of course. With overflowing strength, no need for leather or cloth.
"Summon."
Finally, Deathgod Boots.
Legendary +9 with supreme blink. Short 5m range, but no-cast spatial jumps were invaluable in combat.
"Um, Mercenary sir?"
Seril waved with a nervous face.
'Mercenary sir... come to think of it, she has no idea who I am?'
A Game God's Apostle and transcendent was only famous on 34th Earth. No way someone from a completely different culture like the Leonhardt Empire would know.
"Yes, Researcher Seril."
"Um, shouldn't we get moving soon?"
I followed her gaze upward.
Rumble!
Lightning flashed through thunderclouds, revealing a bird of lightning within.
Rumble...
Far off, a tsunami surged in. ShimGon was half-submerged at its center.
Both were distant, but I felt their stares fixed here.
'ShimGon's a catch I'd like to bag, but these burdens...'
Grumbling inwardly, I reopened my chakra.
[Asura's Bracelet (Legendary) +9] [Gold Dragon's Bracelet (Legendary) +9]
[Lethal Decapitation Ring (Legendary) +9] [Lethal Strangulation Ring (Legendary) +9]
[Lethal Giant's Belt (Legendary) +9]
[Lethal Decapitation Earrings (Legendary) +9] [Lethal Strangulation Earrings (Legendary) +9]
Bracelets on, rings equipped, earrings in.
Concept: [Critical Damage].
As a Swordmaster, crit play was mandatory—nothing beat crit damage efficiency.
"Perfect."
Fully geared, I finally bit down on the pipe.
"...Oh."
Transcendent senses detected something. The pipe's effect was applying.
"Good. Fingers are ten, but rings limited to two."
Seemed exempt from Revenge or Blade & Magic's [Item Equip Limits]. Maybe because it had no inherent stats.
'Revival items auto-applied too, after all.'
I nodded, then turned to fidgeting Seril.
"Can you fight?"
"Prince is just recovering, and I've been spamming spells without rest..."
Neither at full strength. But after the rice cakes, injuries were healed—not the worst.
"Replie."
Whoosh!
A massive phantom dragon materialized with a gust.
"...A monster!?"
Seril panicked, but Prince narrowed his eyes.
"Similar... but different vibe. The power feels a tier... no, two tiers lower. Taming authority from slaying monsters?"
"Amusing guess. Hop on regardless."
At my words, Seril hoisted Prince onto Replie's back. Despite her chirpy voice, she was 4m tall, 8 tons of dinosaur.
Carrying human-sized Prince was effortless.
'Worry is if they're too heavy for flight.'
But that underestimated Replie.
[Hehe. Cute little miss.]
"Ah, hello. I'm Seril."
[Cute name too.]
A 4m, 8-ton T-Rex was monstrous to humans.
But to Replie, hundreds of meters long, she was puppy- or kitten-sized.
"Cut the chit-chat. Go."
[On it.]
Whoosh!
Replie's wings spread, her massive body rocketing skyward.
Not special boss level, but as a 9th-circle archmage, Replie ascended at absurd speed despite her size.
"Let's see."
Standing at the spot, I watched Replie soar and the thunderbird flashing beyond.
Monsters fixated on the Grotesque Prince. Thunderbird in sky, ShimGon in sea—both eyed him, not transcendent me.
"Fine by me if they ignore me."
Screee...
I crouched. Air quivered around me from that alone.
[Kree?]
[Aura!]
Thunderbird blocking Replie's path and roaring ShimGon both startled, heads snapping my way.
They sensed threat—no ambushing Replie now.
'Whatever.'
Screeeee!
Crouched deeper. Muscles twisted, bulged. Ground shook, air hummed taut.
"Log in."
Shifted to Ardenia.
"Great Heal!"
"Great Heal!"
"Great Heal!"
"Recovery!"
Healing shower and meal. Then meditated on guild tower roof.
Deep, vast ocean.
I stimulated every martial art swimming within. Fish frenzied, churning waters.
Storm hit the calm sea.
Rooooar----!
Infinite Storehouse's inner energy rampaged wildly.
'This feeling... qi deviation.'
If ordinary, rampaging energy would've burst meridians or body.
Proving it, mana storm whipped wildly on the guild tower roof where I sat.
'But irrelevant.'
Owner of Extreme Intent Body.
Survived condensed sword auras. Aimless mana couldn't injure, let alone destroy.
Hum! Humm---!
Boom!
"Whoa. Thunder in clear sky..."
"His Majesty's cultivating qi on that roof."
"What kinda cultivation shakes the city's entire mana?"
"Huff... sensing mana chokes me..."
I meditated over thirty hours seated. Didn't suppress the rampage—just directed the vast energy.
As it settled.
[Critical!]
[Critical!]
[Critical!]
Exited city, crit-stacking on every monster in sight.
"Log out."
Back to reality.
Thud.
Leaped.
[Heavenly Sword-Moon-Piercing Fang] & [Sword that Cleaves Heaven and Earth]
Great Vessel Late Bloom. Heaven-Shattering Extreme Light.
Flash--!
No sonic boom. Thunderbird's transcendent reflexes dodged and defended simultaneously, but my speed matched...
[Free Interval] blocked evasion, [Guard Break] shattered plasma shield.
Plus [Transcendent-Preemptive Strike]: 500% extra damage if foe's energy 99%+.
[Kiyaaaaak---!]
Rending scream, colossal lightning storm raged. Devouring thunderclouds vanished, revealing clear sky.
Sizzle!
Steam rose from my body as I landed on Replie's back, sighing.
"Ah."
Heart ached.
"Even this doesn't one-shot."
"......"
"What... the..."
Grotesque Prince and dinosaur woman gawked at me in shock.