Equipment Farming (4)
Soon enough, he planned to make use of his Titan, so Sandro had never intended to hide the fact that he was Magnum for long. But he never imagined his identity would be exposed quite this quickly.
Denying it here wouldn't make the guy back off with a simple "I see." If that were the case, they wouldn't have swarmed him and struck first like this.
'This bastard's 100% sure.'
After a moment's thought, Sandro straightforwardly admitted his identity.
Unsure of the guy's angle, Sandro hesitated to summon his Titan. Then Last Chance broke the silence and addressed his comrades.
"Ah, looks like we got the wrong guy. Hyungnim must've mixed it up. Turns out this guy's from Atlantis. Just confirmed via whisper with their execs. He's one of ours—let's pull back!"
"What? I was about to level up, and we drop hunting for this? You sure? Shouldn't we check with the vice-guildmaster?"
"I'll whisper hyungnim myself. I'm the busiest with leveling, but I came to verify. It's legit—pack it up! Sandro-nim, sorry about the charge earlier."
"Uh, yeah... could happen. Glad it's cleared up."
Last Chance bowed politely to Sandro. He must've had more pull than expected—the dozen or so who'd rushed in dispersed without complaint.
A few second- and third-string guildmates lingered, so they formed a quick party and ducked into the instance to talk privately.
"Phew, hope I don't get chewed out later for deciding this solo. Feels right, though. Tsk."
"Chance-nim, just us now—what's going on?"
"Right, yeah. To the point: Magnum-nim, I want to form an official alliance with you."
"Alliance?"
The explanation following the out-of-left-field proposal was surprisingly unexpected.
Last Chance had been pissed when Sandro shattered his time-attack record, assuming bugs. But unlike him, Hidden Card had immediately suspected Sandro was Magnum03 with a new ID.
"My top record was insane, but shaving off another 30 seconds? Had to be possible somehow. Hyungnim figured a debut divine-grade weapon might do it."
"And he caught one more thing: you and Magnum share the 'Thief' class. Spotted your subtly faster steps from the nimble passive."
Hidden Card indeed—top-rank Taitonic material with sharp insight and eagle eyes. Sandro had only chatted briefly, yet he'd clocked the class in that instant. The gear made Sandro look like a mage, but the movement speed gave it away.
Sandro could do the same at a glance—class, skill stars, the works.
'Taitonic's full of talent.' He'd overlooked it lately, too hyped.
"No way Phoenix recruits some no-name lowbie without vetting—betrayal's the biggest taboo here."
Something had felt off back then. They'd rejected him, but today they mobilized fast after he showed. Last Chance explained.
"So you tailed me to snag the Holy Sword? Why no Hidden Card? And why scrap the plan now?"
"Told you—alliance. Hyungnim couldn't come, so he tasked me. Only I knew the sword from your time-attack, and no guarantee you'd return. Guild didn't even know why I called 'em—thought spy or target. Top secret."
Sandro had pegged Hidden Card as just polite and friendly. Shocking he'd been lurking for a shot at the sword all along.
'I've been treating this game too lightly. Too naive. Someone had a blade at my throat... Could've been done for.'
Luck saved him. If the instance weren't the central hall, no Titan summon—he'd be toast.
"Anyway, alliance... Means Hidden Card—or Phoenix? Or just you? Seemed like your call."
"Both. I defied hyungnim's order to defuse solo, but for the guild too."
"How so?"
"Hyungnim overlooked it, but you're no pushover. That snap reflexes snagging the sword, siege boldness, combat sense... Luck alone? Nah."
"You're too kind."
"No flattery—it's clear. No way you'd waltz into our home turf defenseless. I came per orders but thought killing you was nuts."
Last Chance wasn't some hothead either—calculated, like apologizing for the charge. If Sandro had been knocked back, no summon, straight to stun-lock death.
'If I were him... Same move?' Probably. Trap or not, it was a shot at a divine sword.
'And Taeseong's still too much—can't afford Phoenix as foes too.' Ditching this hunt spot? His loss. He skipped mentioning their first strike.
"Strict secret, but Taeseong VGM DonkeyHote slipped the Holy Sword can't trade. Darius peeked specs. You swap IDs, reroll, time-attack? Puts it together—your goal's clear."
No dumb pros in Taitonic. Seemed emotional at first, but cool-headed.
"You chose to wield it yourself—new char and all. Means solo vs. Taeseong. Boom—alliance idea. Better ally than enemy."
It clicked. Odds of sword-drop low even if they killed him. Fail? They make a powerhouse foe guaranteed. Smart: leverage early ID on him, flip to ally.
His solo call, but spot-on.
"You're making me blush."
"I scrapped my 330 and grinded time-attack hard—borrowed hyungnim's gear, ace move, barely 5 seconds better. You? 31 more. Not impressive?"
"Ahem, sword plus tech tree. Ace move—what?"
"Key new tree info—can't spill. Hint: Taitonic's first Berserker line."
Berserker. Tempting, but not now.
"Hate backstabs most. Alliance? Need to think. Better cautious than flashy with strangers."
"Makes sense—solo life's clear now."
"But your goodwill? Friendly start. Hate ditching this instance, honestly."
"Thanks, Sandro-nim. Wasn't pushing—just glad we salvaged this. Here's to crushing Taeseong someday."
"Yeah, looking forward to your show."
Pathetic level 152, yet Phoenix proposed alliance—big-league treatment. First official nod from power players.
The life, the goal he'd dreamed of. Felt closer.
Two weeks hunting Dumein Castle's instance. Started with scattered underground jail mobs, resetting often. Soon sewer packs too—fast levels.
Better efficiency: accuracy up, but new skills biggest.
"Kraaa! Ahhhh, such injustice!"
Vampire Baron 'Dumein'—now mob-like—crumpled. Mana Shield tanked hits, piled damage. Skipped bat phase lately.
250-level 6-man boss. Others'd freak; Sandro? Boring grind.
Soloing since 210, now nearing 250. Week of boss resets.
"Ugh, lost count. Quit at 100 ages ago! Mana Absorption Ring zilch? Cursed!"
Legendary lived up. 6-man? Thousands without turn. Instance drops worse than field, but this?
"Ah... trash again?"
Instances keep corpses for fair loot. Exciting first, now meh after hundreds.
"Huh?"
This Dumein dropped different—first Unique beyond one, now shiny other.
Legendary / Ring
"Yes! Finally! Wait—what? Not Sapphire... Ruby?"
Target: MP-suck Sapphire. This Ruby? HP-suck.
"Hold up—this is a jackpot! HP drain is better, and it’s usually more expensive!"
You need physical hits for lifesteal to work. Mages? Only those ‘Strength Mage’ freaks could use it. Paladins or magic swordsmen can use MP drain, sure—but HP drain is way better.
Phoenix hoards—momentary confusion, but Ruby huge win.
Straight whisper to Last Chance.