Time Attack (2)

Arriving at the promised fountain, Hyunjung was already there waiting.

"You beat me here?"

"Yeah. We've got this mage sis in the guild called Blessed Pabol who's a close friend. I borrowed her entire kit for 30 minutes. That should be plenty, right?"

"More than plenty. But she just handed over gear this pricey without a second thought? You two dating or something?"

"You bastard, don't jinx me like that! After gaming together for 10 years through thick and thin, this is nothing! I swapped my gear for hers too."

"No need to get so defensive if it's innocent. Anyway, thanks, Hyunjung. I'll put this to good use and get it back to you quick."

The items he handed over totaled 12 pieces, excluding weapons—all Unique-grade at high enhancements.

"Whoa, three pieces at +8 Unique or higher? You sure it's okay to snag gear like this with your own setup? Looks worth at least twice what you've got."

"Hey, hey! You think our guild's that stingy? After over 10 years, my rep's worth a fortune. Plus, we're invite-only with all long-timers, basically real-life buddies. See? Solid as rock. Still no interest in joining?"

"Hyunjung. You forget already? That's exactly why I can't join—everyone treating it like real life. Right now, the only one who should know my deets is you. Why do you keep forgetting?"

"Oh... Sucks. Would've been fun having you. And carrying you would've been a nice ego boost."

Truth be told, back when they first invited me, my specs were too low for my pride. But now that they're plenty good enough, I still can't join. Guess guild life just isn't for me.

"Anyway, gotta return this in 30, so get going. Gotta squeeze out that extra EXP to have even a snowball's chance of catching up to your big bro here, right?"

"Dude! You think I'm gunning for number one to chase a scrub like you? You're not even on my radar. Two months tops—nah, one-month cutoff! Heh heh heh."

"Whatever, just go already. Need anything else?"

"Nah, I'm good. Surf the net here or whatever. I'll be back soon—don't wander off!"

With that, I parted ways with Hyunjung and pulled the Holy Sword from storage for the first time in ages. Even though it had only been days since I last equipped it, seeing it as Sandro for the first time had my heart racing.

"Finally... the name Sandro debuts to the world!"

Divine-grade weapon. Unique-grade-or-better armor and accessories. And the 'special' skill tree combo making its Tayen debut!

All that remained was etching an unbreakable record into Tayen history.

The imperial capital, Ostarg. Heart of the Tayen mainland and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seat of the Gaira Empire's dominance.

In its northern sector loomed the massive imperial palace, home to the Imperial Knights' headquarters—my destination.

Famous for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠its swarm of NPCs, it drew hordes of players for the quests and events. Add in the top-ranked tourist draw of its colossal, opulent architecture, and spectators piled on, turning the place into perpetual chaos.

But the real kicker? Unlike other castles players could siege, this palace was a safe zone by lore—only conquerable in full-scale nation wars.

So unless empires clashed, the whole grounds stayed neutral. That's how I could stroll in at level 99 packing the Holy Sword.

Heading to the knights' training ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grounds for the quest, I double-checked my specs.

Even barebones with just Rune Paytona, top ranks were a lock. The sword alone boosted all stats by 108—mid-200s levels on a 99 cap.

Layer on Hyunjung's mage sis's armor and accessories? HP/MP surges and stat bumps pushed me near 300-level specs.

Maybe borrowing this was overkill?

No. The Holy Sword dropped out of nowhere—same could happen with the other 7 Divine Weapons. Someone could level down with one and challenge. Better set a record that'll hold for 5, no, 10 years.

My goal wasn't just first place. It was an untouchable gap no one would dare challenge.

That way, when I hit rank 1 later, I'd pull away and stay there. Sure, the leaderboard would spotlight me early, but ditching a permanent 20% EXP bonus? No contest.

Once I grew per plan, everyone would know me anyway. No biggie.

I scanned my skills next.

19 skill points up to 99—all in. Over half (10) maxed Shield and Mana Shield to 5 stars each. First in Tayen to hit 8-star Mana Shield: insane 75% mitigation.

With MP quadrupling effective HP? Roughly 50k tankiness. Nearly 10x a normal same-level scrub.

Top-tier gear caveat, sure. But sub-100 tank like this? Even I can't guess what I'll be at ranker levels.

5 points already spent on Continuous Slash, Magic Missile, Shadow Step. Remaining 4 squeezed into Quick Movement, Weak Point Capture, Weapon Throw.

Weak Point Capture and Quick Movement: thief DPS ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kings. Especially Weak Point—greedy backstabs get thieves killed, earning healer hate.

Weapon Throw for distant aggro: early pick. Pros save points for bows, but Holy Sword mandates meant I specced it anyway.

Final checks done. Perfect.

Another top-gear player might challenge. But without my exact tree? Unbreakable.

Perfect no-hit movement? Optimal pathing? Meaningless with my gear/tank. Pure time sinks.

Simplest is best. Today's mantra.

Hit and Run! Tank every hit, straight-line shred to clear. My strat.

Replaying the shortest path in my head, I arrived at the Imperial Knights' training grounds.

"Gotta crack top 100 no matter what today!"

"If I flop again, I'm done—time to level."

Murmurs everywhere. As crowded as yesterday.

No sign on the poster, so I quizzed an NPC soldier on yesterday's run.

Took forever scoping mob layouts meticulously. Last challenge was 2 years back—simple structure, foggy details.

Top 1 and 100 unchanged?

Records plateaued long ago—top to 100 barely 10 seconds apart.

Scanned for known rankers: zilch. Current elites nonstop-leveled 3 years straight; too early for them to stick.

Wait, that ID—her?

-79th: Yeon Woo (2 min 39 sec 79)

Unexpected familiar name amid the list. The shield knight who cleared Bernstein Castle's main gate for me back then.

Still top 100? Must've been top 10 originally. Shield trees suck for time attacks—later run? She basically handed me the Holy Sword letting me in. Wonder how she's been.

A debt for life, totally spaced. Gotta repay her somehow.

Suddenly, the crowd buzzed.

"Yo, that's Phoenix's Hidden Card, right? Holy Knight rank 1!"

"Oh yeah! That Red Drake armor set—barely any out. Damn, looks sick up close."

"What's a ranker doing here?"

Poster-side kept us from the quest NPC, but a celeb had shown: Phoenix's vice GM. Flashy armor made him stand out like a sore thumb.

"That's the cheat key."

"Last Chance rocks a Phoenix mark too. Weeks of grinding, now pulls the cheat."

Huh? Cheat key? This game has cheats?