The Black Knight’s Inheritance

“I knew it was possible! Ha! Guys, I told you! I told you there was something here. Do you have any idea how many years of RPG experience I have? This kind of thing is a piece of cake!”

I crawl into the pit with a bright smile. I could clearly see a faint light flickering inside. It had only been a brief glimmer, but it had definitely caught my eye. That meant there was a 100% chance of something being in there. My instincts were telling me so. The intuition I’d honed while playing fantasy virtual reality games was screaming it.

“Haha, right? This is the joy of playing an RPG. I feel sorry for you guys who don't know the true taste of it.”

I struggle as I crawl into the pit and look around. It was an empty hollow. To be precise, there was a statue standing in the center. I couldn't tell what it looked like in detail because it was facing away from me. All I could tell was that it was black and had something sparkling stuck to its surface.

“Oh, the atmosphere is killer, isn't it?” I chuckle as I look at the chat, which is now saying I was right. *This time?* My instincts are right more often than not. Anyway, I crawl into the hollow. It’s a bit of a drop, but… I think I can land safely if I use a roll.

“Hah!” I drop down and land on the floor. *Thud!* “Ugh.” I rolled, but the height was significant, so I couldn't help but feel the pain. Still, I was satisfied that I’d made it inside. Now, I just needed to find the secret in this suspicious space. I brush the dust off my body and slowly look around the hollow. There were stone walls and glowing moss on the floor. It seemed that the light I’d seen was this glowing moss.

“Doesn't look like anything suspicious here. Is it that?”

If so, there was only one answer. The statue standing in the very center of the hollow. I had intentionally left it for last.

“Hmm. Shall I guess what it is? Maybe it's an item? It’s not like there’s a job or anything.”

“Tch, fine.” I glare at the screen because of the viewer’s donation, then slowly move in front of the statue. *Thump, thump.* I look at the statue with anticipation. It was a knight with a giant sword stuck into the ground. There was something written in front of the knight statue, which was wearing sharp, angular-looking armor.

“Oh, let's see.” Satisfied with the statue’s standard appearance, I read the inscription. “The challenger who has come this far is not the first, nor will they be the last. Death will find you? What on earth does this mean?”

I scratch my head at the incomprehensible phrase, trying to interpret its meaning. A "challenger" probably meant someone who came to find this hidden spot, and "death will find you" probably referred to a monster. But there were no monsters here, and nothing to challenge.

“Hmm, is this unfinished? Or maybe it was scrapped? I knew it was too easy to be true.”

Feeling disappointed, I wipe the moss off the statue’s sword while reading the chat. It was a shame, just as the chat said, but I was satisfied because I’d enjoyed the time spent looking for it. I thought I’d have to go look for another hidden spot now, but then...

“Huh?! Eek!” I throw my body to the side, dodging the sword that comes crashing down, and quickly assess the situation. The statue, which had been still until a moment ago, had pulled out its sword and attacked. I must have triggered the gimmick that makes the statue move.

“Was wiping the moss the method?! More importantly, thank you, chat! If you hadn't told me the statue moved, I wouldn't have been able to dodge that!”

I was so grateful for the chat. I was able to dodge because I read the chat while thinking about something else. If not for that, I would have been skewered by the statue’s sword and sent back to the spawn point.

“Phew! Well, at least I’m glad! I wasn't wrong, was I?” I pull out the dagger from my waist and stare at the statue. It didn't look particularly fast, but its momentum was no joke. Honestly, it looked like it would be a tough fight with just the dagger I had.

“Well, what the hell, let's give it a try!”

It wasn't that I lacked confidence. I’d done solo raids and even finished difficult games with only starting items. It was definitely doable. Besides, how hard could it be?

I charge at the statue. Shall I start by checking its patterns?

“O… Wow, she really went in.”

“The fight has started. What do you think her win rate is?”

“Hmm, I don't know Ha-yun’s skills well enough to say for sure, but… honestly, isn't it impossible?”

Even if I were being generous, I thought she’d reach the second phase at best before failing. Phase 1 was something even I could clear easily. It was easy to dodge the slow movements of that huge bulk. Watching the broadcast, I was a bit impressed by how she dodged the statue’s attacks with her light body and squeezed in her own attacks.

“Wow. How is she attacking like that?”

“She seems pretty focused.”

“She’s going to clear Phase 1 faster than I thought.”

There were three patterns in Phase 1: sword strike, foot stomp, and circular slash. They were easy patterns to get used to. Since each move was large, they were easy to dodge, but watching her squeeze in attacks in the gaps was fascinating. It was quite fun to see the play I’d only thought about in my head being performed in front of my eyes.

She dodged the downward sword strike by turning her body, narrowly missing it, then plunged her dagger into the joint of the arm, and jumped to avoid the tremor caused by the foot stomp. She dodged the wide circular slash by stepping back just in time and then dashing in to stab. It was truly amazing play.

“Ah, already Phase 2… She’s doing this well with a basic dagger. But isn't it impossible now?”

“Why? If she keeps going like this, I think she’ll clear it.”

“Because Phase 2 and Phase 1 are definitely different.”

After continuous strikes, visible cracks appeared on the statue’s armor, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after accumulating a certain amount of damage, it reached Phase 2. I thought the visual of it tearing off its own cracked stone armor to reveal its true form was a nice touch. Seeing it transform from a stone statue into a Black Knight wearing black iron armor and pressing the attack with speed, I thought it was the end.

“Still, this should give people some anticipation… Eh?”

“Oh, that’s incredible.”

It was an unbelievable sight. Even if the Black Knight’s weapon was a heavy stone sword, to dodge all those faster attacks and squeeze in attacks in between... I wondered if that was even human skill. Is she using hacks? If she really keeps this up… is she actually going to take it?

I swallow hard and focus on the broadcast. I can’t even monitor other broadcasts; I’m glued to Ha-yun’s. Something about it… makes me want to cheer for her success!

“Phew! Phew! It’s been a while since I felt like this!”

My body is getting tired, and my hands and feet are cramping. I feel my extremely tense body stiffening little by little, dodging the Black Knight’s sword and plunging my dagger into the exposed gap. It’s fun! I don't think I’ve had a battle this fun in virtual reality in a long time. Recent games have had combat that was too easy. The auto-correction was so strong that I never felt any difficulty, but this was different. It felt like every single cell in my body was alive.

The Black Knight’s sword grazes my side, and I feel the pain. A slight graze meant a critical wound for me, but I had to deal even more damage to the knight. It wasn't easy to adapt to the attacks centered on speed, which were different from Phase 1. I was terrified when it dropped its sword and threw a sudden punch, or when it jumped in using the sword as a stake in the ground.

Still, I could feel that this was the end. I could instinctively feel that the Black Knight’s health was at its limit. I focus on the Black Knight’s sword as it lifts it high, as if to mark the end, and then approaches while scraping the ground. If I get hit, it’s over, and if I dodge, it’s not easy to avoid the follow-up attacks. So, I charge in instead.

I smile as I see the sword rising higher and higher, and I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slide. Feeling the Black Knight’s sword pass narrowly over my face, I quickly get up and plunge my dagger into the exposed neck.

*Crunch!*

“Phew… Phew.”

*Thump, thump.* My heart is beating wildly, but I could feel it instinctively. I won. I knew I had defeated that Black Knight. I smile brightly as it slowly collapses and kneels, and I raise my dagger to the sky.

“Ha! I told you! I told you I could do it!”

Satisfied with the joy of victory, I read the viewers’ praise. It was almost sycophantic, but I liked it right now. I look at the Black Knight, wondering if I should collect the loot, but… something was strange. I definitely won, so why isn't it despawning? Shouldn't it drop items or something when it despawns?

I wonder about the viewer’s donation. I’ve already used up all my mana for sword energy, so if Phase 3 pops out, I honestly don't have the confidence to win. No, if the fight had been continuous, maybe, but now that the flow was broken, it was truly impossible.

“Hey, no way…” I swallow hard as I watch it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stand up again and tap its stone sword. Is it for real? Ah… I’ve come this far, am I going to lose it right in front of my eyes? The disappointment of not being able to get the hidden item washes over me. I wanted to show off to others by getting it on the first day, but I guess that’s impossible now.

Before I know it, the Black Knight is holding a black double-edged sword after tapping all the stone off the stone sword, and I chuckle. Still, I can't give up like this. Challenging until the end is the mark of a gamer!

“Alright guys. It’s not over yet! I’ll win again, so look forward to it!”

I wait for the Black Knight to attack first. I’ll read the turn and conquer it!

…… I wait for the attack, but I tilt my head as it just stands there, staring at me. What is it? Why isn't it attacking? Not understanding, I slowly approach to attack first. As I approach, the Black Knight stabs its sword into the ground and kneels on one knee.

“Ah?… This means I cleared it! Wow! You scared me!”

I feel that I’ve cleared it at the message window that pops up. “Of course I’ll inherit the will! Accept!”

As I accept, I feel the fatigue that had built up in my body vanish, and I see several message windows popping up.

I feel a thrill at the global message that appeared the moment I accepted. The first! I was the first to find and acquire a hidden item in the content. Filled with joy, I check the rewards I received.

“Let’s see what the rewards are. Hmm… Oh, oh?!”

My eyes widen at the incredible rewards. They give this much?