Quantum Jump (2)
The guild chat exploded with a dazzling list of items, leaving everyone stunned. They scrolled through the specs in a trance, speechless.
Legendary gear, especially weapons, fetched hundreds of millions of won on the market. But beyond the longsword Tu Mertus's Fang and the jewel Tu Mertus's Eye, a Divine longsword had dropped too. Even for a highly anticipated raid, this was way beyond expectations.
Divine, One-Handed Weapon
Attack Power: 2280
Strength +150, Agility +150
Physical damage to all large monsters +2280
Physical and magic damage to all dragon-type monsters +2280
Longsword skill levels +1
Longsword skill cooldown reduced by 50%
Additional damage +10% per attack on the same target (stacks up to 100%)
This item is one of a kind.
Commissioned by Gaira Empire's late emperor, Pellen Gairux, this Dragon Slayer Sword was forged to fell the green dragon Tu Mertus.
"We must slay it before it fully matures into an elder dragon. Delay, and it will become humanity's calamity, inflicting irreparable damage on our glorious millennial empire." — Gaira Empire's 23rd Elder Council Chairman, Geturic Bentons
Like the guild members, I couldn't tear my eyes from its insane stats. If the divine sword Rune Paytona was a perfectly balanced blade, the Dragon Slayer Sword Shark Tu Mertus was pure offense incarnate. It shone especially against dragon-types—and large monsters in general.
Wait... aren't Titans treated as large monsters too?
Come to think of it, I'd felt it fighting Levendas in that dungeon. Titans counted as large monsters! Which made this sword a natural counter to them, not just dragons.
Its base damage was a bit lower than the divine sword, but the options doubled output against large foes. And the stacking damage up to 100% on repeated hits? Against high-HP Titans, that was basically guaranteed.
But I couldn't take it. Something else had captured my heart more, and grabbing both would be greedy.
Divine, Material Item
Usable in weapon/armor crafting or alchemy.
Imparts lethal poison attributes when crafting.
Can serve as a Titan power source.
Permanently increases max mana on first consumption.
Instantly restores 100% mana on use; skills cost no mana for 10 seconds. (Cooldown: 15 days)
The first Divine-grade material in Tayen history. In novels and games, "dragon hearts" were always the source of draconic power, ultimate treasures. Here too—unlike other drops, this heart was Divine.
Consumable... so dragon hearts are elixirs like other monster hearts.
Gear made from this? Obviously Divine-tier. The Titan it could power? Top user-crafted grade for sure.
But no Divine gear would outshine Rune Paytona, and no Titan would hit the ultra-rare Lord grade (only seven exist). This was non-negotiable.
Sucks, but Hyunjung with a Divine sword isn't bad.
Characters get one elixir shot lifetime. Auction house had stat/HP boosters like Mandrake Root or Basilisk Heart at huge prices. Or trade achievement points at arenas/temples. I'd ignored them—Unique-grade at best, too wasteful for my one chance. Worst case, snag a Phoenix Heart from the arena.
But a Divine elixir? No-brainer pick.
No Legendary elixirs out yet... if I'm the first to claim a Divine one?
Cheats and hacks shine brightest when solo and early.
"Everyone decide what you want?"
"You've all had time to think, so Dro—you first. Spill it, no holding back. What do you need?"
"Hm... since Chuk Bing hyung insists, straight to it: I'll take Tu Mertus's Heart and pass on the rest."
"Pass? What pass? The Dragon Slayer's yours by right—take the heart too."
"...Pardon?"
"Right, bro. Factor the sword as yours from the start."
"Heart screams MP booster—smart pick. Think we'd build a Titan with it? If we need one, you snag another."
I'd preempted heart claimants by offering to yield everything else. But they laughed off my worries, shoving both Divines my way.
"Only you can solo-field with Divines. Who else here could? And dual-wielders? Me and you—but you think I'd carry a Divine sword with my Divine shield?"
"I've got Rune Paytona already."
"So? Plenty dual-wield in Tayen."
Even sword-using Hyunjung refused—couldn't say no anymore.
"Got it. If you're all insisting, I'll take the Dragon Slayer too."
"Sweet—shred some Titans with it!"
"Dual Divine swords? Attack king born!"
Thus, I burned my hoarded skill points sooner than planned—on the common skill Dual Wield Mastery.
"Item split done? That was a haul."
"Not yet, hyung. One quest item left—no share, so unID'd."
From the ancient mage era.
Seek your job class master.
True to a dragon—and first kill—Tu Mertus dropped specials. But one quest item baffled: unclear use. Bosses sometimes drop quests with wildly varying solves/rewards.
"Oho? Name screams plot hook, right Chuk-gul?"
"Incomplete skillbook... yeah. Tayen won't flood legend skills like other games. But if it's what we think? Skill trees revolutionized again."
"So Dro takes it. Our broken guild master's better suited than us normies."
"Yup. Quests annoy me—no quest items for me. All aye on Dro?"
"Yessum!"
"No need to ask!"
They steamrolled me into it—embarrassing to even protest.
"Guys, seriously? Keep this up, I might hesitate inviting you next time."
"Duh, feel the pressure! We joined to crush Taesung and Darius—zero burden so far? Infinite support incoming—deal with it!"
"Heh, yeah. Pressure fuels effort. Go get 'em, Dro!"
No swaying them. Somehow, the drop's crown jewel—quest item—landed in my hands too.
* * *
Not morning people, apparently—they logged off exhausted post-split. Even Hyunjung crashed, proof of full-day raid grind.
Hyunjung snagged Tu Mertus's Fang—its brush meant massive poison DoT.
Solo mage? Tu Mertus's Eye to Blessed Pabol noona, naturally.
Her glee lingered; others bounced too. No finished gear, but most crafting mats yielded to them.
Ra Chan could craft two Legendary bows from dragon bone/sinew. Chuk Bing expected heal-amp staff from World Tree branch...
Whole guild now rocked Legendary weapons. Those two got zero finished weapons but snagged Tayen's first Cloak of Stealth too. Low 1-star speed/penalties, but enabled thief-only stealth. Undetectable in small PvP sans detectors, or high-level mobs—versatile.
Dragon scales split for personal armor; I dumped mine on Hyunjung. Grateful for the Divine sword yield, and mana-less armor didn't suit me.
Truth: post-me, Hyunjung earned most. Raid owed everyone, but his tanking merited it—sole tanker needs gear.
[Arrived at the Imperial Capital of the Gaira Empire, Ostarg.]
Post-wrap, solo to Ostarg—for Kaiser quest Dragon Slayer reward. Near-impossible challenge, so unique first-in-Tayen reward.
Palace-bound, I reviewed new skills. Skill points near-spent from levels, but zero regrets.
(Passive) Equip two one-handed weapons.
Attack power and accuracy -10%.
Guard success +27%.
"Dragon Slayer options let me max longswords at 9-star—broken. Dual wield with just -10% penalty...? Balance? Gear trumps all!"