Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Reinforcement Stone Dungeon (2)
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Before the first visit bonus ran out completely, Rokan had only stopped by one other place.
“Rune Book use, to Taimura.”
Rokan headed to the blacksmith Hammer and Anvil after arriving in Taimura. The reason was simple.
To reinforce his gear!
To enable even faster hunting!
“Mystic Shard, use.”
[You have acquired a Glowing Stone.]
“Use.”
[You have acquired a Curious Invention.]
“Use.”
[You have acquired Mystic Powder...]
To do that, he first needed to acquire reinforcement stones.
He began mechanically cracking open the piles of Mystic Shards stacked in his inventory.
[You have acquired a Reinforcement Stone.]
[You have acquired an Advanced Reinforcement Stone.]
[You have acquired a Reinforcement Stone...]
As probabilistic items, there were plenty of duds, but with the sheer number he had stockpiled, Reinforcement Stones and Advanced Reinforcement Stones appeared quite frequently.
Moreover, Mystic Essence yielded Reinforcement Stones and Advanced Reinforcement Stones at far higher rates than from regular monsters, so by the time he was done shouting himself hoarse, hundreds of them had piled up on one side.
It almost felt like he might end up cracking Mystic Shards until the first visit bonus expired.
Of course, that was just how it felt—actual time passed quickly.
And the moment he felt he had gathered enough Reinforcement Stones, he wrapped up the grind and entered the blacksmith.
“Advanced reinforcement, please.”
Rokan started reinforcing all his equipped gear to +6 or higher, where Reinforcement Stones were required.
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
For now, he reinforced everything up to +7, where there was no risk of destruction.
Dozens of failures cost him Reinforcement Stones and fees along the way, but it wasn't a burden for Rokan.
‘Even if I blow all my saved money, it's still a profit.’
Even spending every coin he had would be worth it if he could hit +8 or higher. That's where the tier truly changed.
And it seemed plenty feasible.
“There, all done.”
“One more time, please.”
Once he succeeded in getting everything to +7, he got greedy for one more step.
But there was one thing to watch out for now. Using regular Reinforcement Stones for +8 or higher meant guaranteed destruction on failure.
Advanced Reinforcement Stones were different, though. Failing with them preserved the gear down to +6, losing only the stone.
Even for +9, using Advanced ones meant only a chance of destruction.
Sure, bad luck could still shatter the gear even with Advanced stones, but it greatly reduced the risk of failure.
‘Ugh, should I go for it or not... A real man would...’
Clang, clang, clang.
Amid the dwarf's iron-hard muscles twitching and the reinforcement success or failure effects flashing, Rokan faced his biggest dilemma since restarting The Lord.
To challenge +9 or not.
“There, all finished. Want to go further?”
“N-No, stop!”
The rusher instinct every gamer has stirred, but reason barely suppressed it.
If he had a decent sub-weapon to replace the Twin Head Ogre's Battle Axe, he might have gone for it impulsively.
“Fine, if you're stopping, why yell? Here, take this.”
In the end, Rokan took his trembling hands and equipped the gear, looking quite impressive. The item effects from +8 onward were now visible.
A subtle blue aura enveloped all his reinforced equipment, and every step left blue light footprints lingering for about a second.
Plus, all his gear was a set custom-made at this Hammer and Anvil! No set bonuses, but the unified look gave it serious style.
“Effect settings. Disable equipment effects.”
But Rokan quickly turned it off, finding it annoying.
Others might applaud such reinforcement effects like seals clapping, but they fizzled out like water on embers.
Unless it was flashy enough to distract enemies, effects that just drew attention without utility weren't his taste.
“Rune Book use, to the Mine.”
He then returned to the secret dungeon to squeeze every last bit from the first visit bonus.
[The first entry bonus for the secret dungeon 'Cave Where Mystery Sleeps' has ended.]
When he finally finished enjoying the last bonus with hollow eyes, he casually checked the homepage and stumbled on shocking news.
The emergence of the first guild to set foot on the Central Continent.
Rokan's face twisted into a demon's scowl upon seeing their name.
“Those Hellhound bastards...”
History had changed.
Whether they leveled up while others attempted the Central Continent, succeeded through endless challenges, or just got insanely lucky, the guild called Hellhound had beaten out the original first arrivals, the 'Ragnarok Team', and left the first footprint.
They wouldn't get the official first title since Rokan hadn't leaked info yet, but records stood as such for now.
“Right, it was you bastards.”
Hellhound, also known as the hunting dogs.
In his past life, they were a top-tier guild known for PK and other dirty tricks whenever it suited their interests, earning them the nickname 'fixers.'
Trash who even blackmailed clients afterward for more profit.
Surprisingly, people still hired them thanks to solid hunting skills and levels, keeping them stable unlike Blood Chasers.
They avoided unprofitable fights, clashing with Rokan only once.
But that once was the problem.
“Time to give them a welcome.”
The sole reason Rokan reacted so sharply to their name.
In his past life's final moments, the ones herding him into a corner were Hellhound.
When he died repeatedly, losing levels and dropping items, they volunteered to deliver the killing bite.
‘I paid them back then, but it wasn't enough.’
He extracted some payback, killing each at least once or twice.
Yet they kept coming, meaning bigger rewards were promised.
Regardless of reasons or backers, they had a hand in his downfall, so fury sparked in Rokan's eyes.
“If they took the ferry, they're at 'that place' by now.”
Rokan's mind raced.
He used the sea tunnel to reach Taimura instantly, but ferry users had predictable routes and destinations.
Different third cities had varied starts, but all ferries docked at one spot.
And to reach Taimura from there, they had to pass through a certain area.
Easy once adapted to the Central Continent, but hell for the uninformed.
“First things first.”
Eyes gleaming coldly, Rokan logged out immediately, booted his computer, and uploaded a pre-edited video file to YouTube.
[The Lord Central Continent Major City (4th City) First Reveal]
Edited days ago but held back, fearing it would spark another Central Continent rush.
‘But it's meaningless now. Well, meaningful for one group.’
With Hellhound's entry public, no reason to hold back. It would even satisfy Rokan's urge to screw them over a bit.
The moment it uploaded, all spotlight on Hellhound would shift to him.
‘Between a city tour and floundering newbies at the dock, who's first is obvious.’
A quick check showed Hellhound's official YouTube had no Central Continent videos.
They prioritized claiming first for bigger gains over ad revenue.
That revenue would dry up now anyway.
‘Who'd watch your videos if I upload first?’
Rokan had even filmed a reverse trip from the city to the dock.
He'd hide the攻略 for 'that place,' the biggest Taimura entry barrier, but reveal Hellhound's struggles, the dock scenery they'd hide, and rough directions.
It might speed up later arrivals, but he didn't care.
“As long as I mess with those bastards.”
Big middle finger to Hellhound? Worth it.
Gauging their position via search, Rokan uploaded a few city district clips and logged back into The Lord.
“Rune Book use, to Taimura.”
He reorganized in Taimura, preparing to hunt them down.
“Hmm, guess I spent too freely here.”
Buying a few more items, his inventory funds were running low.
He'd loaded the vending machine heavily, and lately, too busy to restock shops properly for extra income.
Some went to territory funds like Predator dung, so scraping bottom was expected.
“After this, time to collect.”
No worries. Just hadn't yet, but branded gear, reinforced items, and 'trash' to him but dream gear to others sold like hotcakes.
Lately, selling small batches of level 200 items brought in big money too.
He considered level 190 pranks like in second cities but skipped to level 200 to slow Central progress.
Ready for immediate use at 200.
‘Penalties allow early use, but performance matches top 190s at best.’
Hacks existed for level-restricted gear, but with hefty penalties slashing damage/defense to prevent exploits.
That's why he sold 'barebones' option-poor gear. Penalties often preserved options, so to prevent abuse.
His strategy worked; level 200 weapons sold out fast after brief listings.
Whoosh!
Finishing his thoughts, Rokan summoned his black horse and rode upstream toward the dock.
To greet Hellhound.
With a very warm welcome.
“Hyah!”
After galloping past ostrich-like flying monsters' habitat, a thick fog engulfed him, visibility near zero.
Easy to crash blindly.
Night vision failed, but Rokan's horsemanship remained steady.
He'd marked the spot with Mark for Rune Book, then plunged in.
Dodging lunging threats via Sixth Sense, charging forward.
Groooar.
Behind him, beings rose, following. Undead monsters spawning endlessly to noise.
Remnants of a massive past battle slumbered here.
Like chicks trailing their mother, they pursued Rokan.