Power That Shakes the Continent (2)
Structure Analysis on S-Rank Memory Cube successful.
Structure Analysis skill proficiency has skyrocketed.
Stat bonuses contained in the Memory Cube have been inherited.
Level cap increased by 7. Acquired skill Fire's Incarnation Lv 1.
Leveled up to 80 using stockpiled experience.
All stats +10. Magic power +700.
Connected to Rekras's memories—increased stat gains from Dragonization Lv MAX.
A sigh of regret escaped Yeong-sik's lips as he stared at the message windows floating before his eyes.
It wasn't because he was dissatisfied with the rewards from analyzing the Memory Cube.
His level had jumped by a whopping 7, granting him Fire's Incarnation—a powerful skill etched vividly in his memories. On top of that, all his stats rose by 10, and even his notoriously stubborn magic power had increased. It was an achievement so massive that calling it a jackpot a dozen times over wouldn't do it justice.
Yet despite all that, the unintended sigh slipped out for a simple reason.
"Structure Analysis didn't level up..."
Yeong-sik muttered softly, gazing at the skill that remained stubbornly at level 6.
As the core of his abilities, he'd hoped it would rise this time around, but no such luck.
"Ugh. With my Manufacture skill so low, nothing I make now even budges the proficiency..."
He smacked his lips regretfully, eyes lingering on the skill window. But there was no forcing it.
'Nothing to be done about it.'
Dwelling on it wouldn't help when there was no shortcut to proficiency. All he could do was wait for Han-seong to bring back the minerals.
Yeong-sik shifted his gaze to his other skills. Several lower-level ones caught his eye—far behind Structure Analysis.
With Black Cubes in finite supply, focusing on them now was the smart play.
'Manufacture has insane potential anyway.'
His eyes sharpened as he recalled the explosive level-ups from the drones he'd made with it.
"If I pour everything into raising Manufacture, maybe I can level Structure Analysis before the dungeon."
The ideal scenario: boost Structure Analysis before tackling the Forgotten Ones' Tomb, unlocking another security level. Then he'd dive in with new weapons, higher level, and beefier stats.
'Best case for my current suit limitations...'
Shaking off the lingering regret, Yeong-sik stood. Pondering wouldn't solve anything right now.
Until the minerals arrived, testing his new skill and grinding proficiency was far more productive.
'Fire's Incarnation, huh...'
He pulled up the details on his shiny new acquisition.
Fire's Incarnation Lv 1
Awakens the latent fire power within dragon blood.
Rapidly consumes HP; adds fire attribute to all attacks.
Flames manifesting around you, controllable at will, scale with magic power.
"Hm... This'd suit Yuna way more than me."
Yeong-sik murmured as he read the description. Her flame-wielding class would get even more mileage out of it.
'Can't transfer it anyway.'
Even if he could, Fire's Incarnation awakened the fire in dragon blood. No other summoner but him—who'd consumed it—could use it.
'Gotta test it out.'
With that thought, Yeong-sik stepped out of the room. Murmurs reached his ears immediately.
He headed toward the noise.
"Ah, Yeong-sik. Perfect timing—I was just about to call you."
Tiriya von Erman spotted him and beamed, holding a pot of stew wafting savory aromas.
"Dinner time?"
"Hee-hee. Yep. I went all out to celebrate your win today."
The table before her groaned under a feast of mouthwatering dishes. Even Yeong-sik, with his negligible appetite, swallowed involuntarily.
"You didn't have to go this far..."
"We got this great place thanks to you. And a worry-free year ahead? All because of you. Hee-hee."
She set the stew down, grinning ear to ear, clearly thrilled by his victory.
"Whoa! Smells amazing!"
"...Tiriya-unnie, you went to rest, and this whole time you were cooking?"
Yuna and Lee Chae-rin appeared, drawn by the scent. Yuna flinched at Yeong-sik but cleared her throat and looked away.
"Hee-hee. It's a great day. Chae-rin-ah, round up the others."
"Got it!"
Chae-rin dashed upstairs with a bright smile. Yeong-sik watched her go, swallowing a thoughtful hum.
'Guess I'll eat first, then test the skill.'
He helped Tiriya set the table. With no other plans beyond watching his bout with Cheon Tae-hwang, the guildmates trickled in soon enough.
Last came Bae Han-seong, fresh from Park Sia and Hong Jeong. Tiriya raised her wine glass with a cheerful voice.
"Alright! A toast to Yeong-sik's victory!"
Clink.
The meal began amid lively clashes of glasses. The guild buzzed with heated debates over his fight with Cheon Tae-hwang, laughter echoing.
Yeong-sik felt a rare peace settle in, soaking in their joy. A sharp clarity spread through him.
"Ah, Yeong-sik. The minerals you requested? Arriving right here in three days."
"Three days? That fast?"
Mid-bite on his steak, Yeong-sik's eyes lit up at Han-seong.
Han-seong nodded slowly.
"They've got ties to Goldrun Guild, top merchants in the East. Spoke via crystal orb—they'll deliver the full amount on time."
"Nice. Great news."
Yeong-sik grinned, satisfied. With little else on his plate, it was music to his ears.
The familiar name perked up Yuna from her food frenzy.
"Goldrun? Weren't they based in Ixys Kingdom?"
"Yes. But they've expanded big lately—now all over the East."
"Hm. Heard they play dirty."
"Name a mega-guild that doesn't."
Han-seong shrugged. Yuna nodded with a wry smile, unable to argue.
Back in Korea terms, no major guild was spotless. Couldn't shun them over rumors alone.
"So... minerals come, you level Manufacture?"
Yuna's eyes sparkled at Yeong-sik. He nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Could crank out something drone-level."
"Hee-hee. Hope it's a better massager type."
"...Not lending my arm."
"Eek?! So stingy!"
Yuna whined dramatically. Yeong-sik ignored her, resuming his meal.
'...But yeah, machines only I can use is a problem.'
What was a machine's biggest edge? Simple, convenient use by anyone.
His creations fell short there.
'Can't build modern infrastructure like electricity grids.'
Power plants, poles across the continent, wiring every home? Even with the tech, it'd demand insane capital and time.
Impossible for Salvatore's dozen elites.
"Wish there was a fix..."
Yeong-sik muttered thoughtfully. Tiriya noticed his pause, concern creasing her brow.
"Food not to your taste, Yeong-sik?"
"Hm...? Oh, no—it's delicious."
He turned with a light smile. Relieved, she patted her chest.
"Hee-hee. Good. You must be beat—eat up and rest well."
"...Thanks."
A soft smile touched his lips as he ate on. Creak.
Meal done, Yeong-sik stepped out into the annex. Cool night breeze brushed his cheek.
"Quick stroll?"
Kim Gil-su and Seo A-ra approached.
Yeong-sik chuckled and shook his head.
"Nah. Testing the new skill."
"...Rest first. You fought hard today."
A-ra sat beside him. Gil-su chimed in supportively.
"Haven't seen you relax lately. Machines feel less fatigue, sure—but push too hard, and you'll break down. Take it easy."
"Yeah... alright. Not urgent anyway."
He smirked at their worry.
"Feels rare, just us three."
"Haha, yeah. Nonstop since the Judas raid."
A-ra eyed Yeong-sik's easy smile. Short time, but so much had changed. From fellow newbie to the guild master's trusted core member.
His bout with Cheon Tae-hwang flashed in her mind. Two summoners from the same era, wielding unbelievable power. Even sitting right there, he felt worlds away.
"...Yeong-sik."
"Yeah?"
"...N-never mind. Uh, this staff—you said it was for me?"
She pulled out the fist-sized blue crystal staff. Yeong-sik nodded with a grin.
"Yep. Perfect fit for you."
"...I'll treasure it. Thanks."
"Gil-su-ssi, any progress on that... job scroll?"
Yeong-sik recalled the shield-emblazoned tome from the palace report.
It radiated power—a rare job scroll for the hidden class Guardian.
After much debate on its immense value, he'd insisted Gil-su take it.
'Guild averages are high—Gil-su needs the boost most.'
Salvatore's elites skewed high-level; Gil-su lagged badly. Job changes often raised level caps too, making it ideal for him.
"Ugh. Still can't grasp the shield arts inside. All that magic talk, but every try fails."
Gil-su sighed, shaking his head. Rough going.
"Plenty of time till the dungeon. Take it slow."
"Keh-heh. Got it. Hm...? A-ra-yang's face is darkening. Better scram before I catch hell."
"A-Ah-jussi! What're you saying?!"
A-ra shot up, flustered. Gil-su's hearty laugh rang out.
Yeong-sik chuckled at them. A brief moment of respite passed.
"W-Wow..."
Three days later. Yuna's gasp echoed as she stepped outside. The other guildmates stared at the mountain of ore piled before the annex, faces slack with awe.
"Iron ingots 5,000 tons, orichalcum 300 tons. Mithril 5 tons. All accounted for."
Yeong-sik's eyes gleamed sharply at the heap.
Rest was over. Time to move nonstop.