Berka's Legacy (Part 2)
5th Hierarchy magic marked the pinnacle of what humans could achieve.
Labyrinth Lord Sia was a prime example.
Beyond that lay the realm of Transcendence, but updates had stalled there.
In any case, as a 5th Hierarchy power, its presence was formidable.
Simply reaching the required level wasn't enough to wield it.
Promotion Quest
The Promotion Quest.
An essential event to advance from level 79 to 80, tied to Hierarchy promotion.
These quests were notoriously tricky, leading to a thriving market of paid helpers—known as "carries."
The carriers were those who'd already reached the 5th Hierarchy.
No matter how tough the quest, it was mere kindling before 5th Hierarchy magic.
With their help, players cleared paths and breezed through.
So.
◈ Berka's Incomplete Hierarchy Ritual
◈ Skips one Hierarchy level for a limited time.
Current Hierarchy: 4th Hierarchy → 5th Hierarchy (Incomplete)
Remaining Duration: 30 minutes
Shall we begin the ritual? Used duration will recover gradually.
He reread the completed set effect once more.
It skipped one Hierarchy level.
That meant he could use 5th Hierarchy magic without the Promotion Quest.
Of course, he'd still need to do the quest when he hit level 80 later...
But by then, with 5th Hierarchy magic already at his fingertips, it wouldn't be so bad.
The catch was the 30-minute limit—after that, he'd drop back to 4th Hierarchy.
Combat wouldn't take long with 5th Hierarchy spells, but learning them might be tight on time.
Mastering 5th Hierarchy magic would take a while anyway.
Even so.
"Satisfying enough."
The original Berka's Legacy Set only boosted 3rd Hierarchy magic, so this upgraded effect suited him much better.
Of course, it only mattered if you had 5th Hierarchy spells to begin with...
"And I do."
He opened his inventory and pulled out the carefully stored spellbook.
Some pages cannot be read due to low Hierarchy.
Berka, the primordial Transcendent.
This was her memoir, chronicling her life.
With her innate magical genius, what started as a simple recounting gained the power of a spellbook.
He'd read halfway before, unlocking the 3rd Hierarchy Inferno spell.
The unread pages remained.
"...Should I dive in now?"
He glanced around.
This was a hidden treasure room on the 4th floor of the Hidden Labyrinth.
The boss was freshly slain, so it wouldn't respawn for at least a week—and even then, only on the regular 4th floor.
As long as no one found this spot, he had two weeks of safety.
No need to head back to the mansion; he could learn here.
He opened his status window.
Shall we begin the ritual?
Remaining Duration: 30 minutes
With a confirmation, the three Berka relics he wore—necklace and rings—burst into radiant light.
Paah-!
The brilliant glow enveloped him, and his mind began to shift.
His consciousness expanded, swelling to fill the space around him.
His senses sharpened one by one, awakening fully.
Things unseen became visible; unheard sounds rang clear in his certainty.
Mana and soul echoes tickled his nose; reaching out, he touched what had been intangible.
Your perception has risen one step.
Status: Incomplete Promotion
4th Hierarchy → 5th Hierarchy (Incomplete)
Remaining Duration: 29:59
Reaching the 5th Hierarchy activated every sense organ anew.
As he savored it, he spotted the ticking timer.
He quickly opened the memoir.
The first page recapped what he'd read before.
Unlike true spellbooks that vanished after one read, this retained its content—but only granted spells to the first reader.
He skipped to the unread section.
"The flames I conjured devoured everything without exception. They say magic is the manifestation of will. Does that mean mine wills only blind destruction?"
Berka's first spell had been 3rd Hierarchy, a testament to her prodigious talent.
Even young, she'd wrestled with deep doubts.
Sizzle—
Blood dripped from his eyelids as he read.
It burned to smoke before hitting the floor.
Mental exhaustion, as before—but his mind felt serene.
He read faster.
"My magic needed principles, yet they couldn't bind it. It must reflect my will alone."
She'd spent the most time distinguishing friend from foe before casting.
Once done, her spells never harmed allies.
Her talent matured swiftly.
"My magic finally defied nature's laws. It banishes the dark night, rising as a brilliant phenomenon."
Her second spell complete.
5th Hierarchy: White Night
Grade: Mythic
A scorching sun rises.
White Night.
Named for the endless daylight phenomenon—a 5th Hierarchy spell.
Simple description: one line.
Her magic was domineering; this was no exception.
It simply incinerated all touched by the sun's light.
But he could limit targets—like burning only perceived enemies.
Similar to Labyrinth Lord Wirgon's rain-summoning spell, which could specify targets.
In battle, distinguishing allies might seem tricky—but at 5th Hierarchy, senses evolved, making it effortless.
With acquisition complete, he read to the end.
"I've reached a clear end. Yet why do I sense a realm beyond?"
5th Hierarchy was humanity's limit.
Beyond it, the body strained; pushing further meant shedding humanity.
Thus, Transcendent Berka was born.
He knew this part.
"...Next page?"
One more page lingered.
He turned it.
"I shall twist vessel and soul to pass through. Thus, I'll find answers—from those gazing down upon me."
Vessel and soul: body and spirit.
Twisting through: the dungeon.
Transcendence.
But...
"Gazing down?"
Post-update content? Cryptic.
As he pondered—
"...Huh?"
His lips felt warm. Blood-soaked.
No wounds—just blood pouring from every orifice.
Pulsating Life heals.
Now the status message registered.
Mental strain during learning—but no internal damage this time.
Just a lot of blood.
With the memoir fully read, he closed it.
Then—
5th Hierarchy (Incomplete) → 4th Hierarchy
Remaining Duration: 0 minutes
Used duration will recover gradually.
Thirty minutes up; the ritual ended.
His expanded senses quieted, consciousness shrinking to his body.
Sensations vanished like a switched-off power source.
"...Time to head back."
His robe was bloodied, fatigue settling in.
The duration would recover over time; he'd check later.
He stood and exited the Hidden Labyrinth.
He considered descending deeper... but changed his mind.
He'd just entered; leaving without hunting felt wasteful.
He headed to the 7th floor.
"Still got work to do."
Levels came from diligence, after all.