Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Sky Island (3)
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The sales price differed from the first day, but the beauty potions continued to sell out. Even at nearly double the price, they flew off the shelves, yet Rokan kept the quantity limited.
Creating lines and scarcity alone commanded a hefty premium.
Thanks to that, rumors spread of even higher premiums in underground deals, but the actual number of beauty potions circulating remained low. Everyone was too busy buying them for themselves.
Even if all hundred went to black market trades, Rokan had no losses, so he had no intention of stopping it.
‘Time to get moving.’
A hundred units sold out in the blink of an eye each day. So what to do with the remaining time?
It had been tough before, but now with reputation at Friendly, his options had widened.
[Stockpile Ingredients][Quest]
He asked the Red Beak Tavern to request as much meat as possible for their side dishes.
Bring him sky rat meat.
-Completion Reward: 500 coins per sky rat meat, moderate experience
A quest right away.
He could already use the shop, and he had plenty of coins for it, but instead of heading straight to the heavens, Rokan took the quest.
Rather than rushing to the unknown heavens, he planned to grind levels with easy quests on Sky Island first.
Compared to ground errands, it was a very low-tier quest, but it suited his current needs perfectly.
[Sky Rat][Lv 351]
Easy to dismiss as mere vermin, but all monsters on Sky Island were level 350, high master-class threats.
For Rokan, who had just reached high master without real combat experience, they were ideal prey.
‘And the experience is insane.’
Best of all, even these trash mobs gave massive experience unlike on the ground.
Level 350 high master-appropriate EXP—worlds apart from scraping by in master-tier hunting grounds.
Spoils on top made it a win-win.
“Rat swarms could be dicey... but I’ll manage.”
After taking quests from the Join tribe, Rokan headed straight to the hunting ground.
It was little more than abandoned land swarming with filthy rats, but he tensed up more than ever.
Even as a high master who could unleash the Lion King gear’s full power, a rat den with dozens—maybe hundreds—of high master monsters charging at once was no joke.
Squeak?
The moment he entered the den, hundreds of crimson mad eyes fixed on him.
Not vermin eyes, but those of predators sizing up prey.
“Rampaging Chariot!”
Backing down wasn’t Rokan’s style. He activated his charge and plunged into their midst.
Sky rats the size of children spat blood and burst on impact.
Even sealed, the Lion King gear boosted charge and attack by 50%, but now at 100%, it was inevitable.
Set effects added extra hits to every attack.
[Lion’s Flame] ignited, crimson blaze erupting wherever he struck, slashed, or crashed.
The stench of charred rat meat filled the air.
“Whirlwind!”
Once in the thick of it, Rokan had one job.
Whirlwind!
A savage spinning force swept the area, slashing and smashing. It crushed skulls and shattered bones.
Squeak!
But they were high master-class too. Dozens died caught off guard, but the rest scattered nimbly, dodging the Whirlwind.
No matter how fast the spin, it was one attack per rotation.
The agile sky rats weaved around it masterfully, then leaped as one.
Master skill Lightning Flash!
Zigzagging to build speed, they bared fangs at Rokan.
“Landmine Formation!”
Boom!
Rokan suddenly withdrew his battle axe and slammed the ground.
Rage Berserker’s high master common skill activated.
A massive shockwave and pulse radiated from him, devastation amplified by 80% attack power plus Lion’s Flame.
Incoming sky rats convulsed and tumbled.
But some clever ones struck a beat late.
The latecomers exposed red fangs with another master skill, biting at Rokan.
Or trying to.
“Gale Deity!”
Crack!
Rokan transformed into his giant form for the first time in ages.
His body swelled massively, boosting all attack, defense, and health.
But not just that this time.
The sky rats biting him gaped wide—then their jaws tore apart before they could react. Fangs still embedded, their maws ripped open, killing them instantly.
“Hmph!”
He had them figured out.
Checking his brief health drop, Rokan confirmed he could tank red fangs without immortality and without mercy now.
High master monsters, sure, but not enough to take him down.
Pathetic vermin; their master skills hit like wet noodles.
“No need to drag this out!”
Gazing indifferently at the now-insect-sized sky rats—thanks to his bulk—Rokan unleashed his power.
The massacre began.
“No way, this many?”
Thanks to Rokan nearly wiping the den, sky rat meat piled up in his inventory.
They were mangled beyond butchery, but auto-looted meat alone exceeded hundreds.
Even the Red Beak Tavern owner was stunned.
Could any Join tribe warrior gather this much so fast?
Seeing Rokan anew, the owner recognized him as a true warrior.
He offered higher quests.
[Sky Boar Hunt][Quest]
[Sky Cow Hunt][Quest]
Similar levels, but trickier prey this time.
Rokan tackled them, stumbling at first but adapting quickly to complete them.
Huge, but forms close to ground versions, so hunting techniques came easy.
Tough in base form maybe, but with Gale Deity, they were pushovers.
“Never get to use it much.”
On the flip side, it was prime time to practice his new high master common skills.
He’d touched this realm and skills in his past life, but specs differed now.
He spent time gauging damage output and optimal use.
Still, chances to use his second new master skill were rare.
Whole Body Invincibility.
Sustainable, stackable with Gale Deity, and mana drain fixed by infinite mana—his ultimate trump card.
But using it made fights too easy.
Current damage was already overkill; adding that killed practice.
Regret was short-lived.
Soon, opportunity knocked.
[Natural Enemy Hunt][Quest]
The Join tribe, trusting your prowess, asks you to hunt their natural enemy.
Hunt the Naga tribe.
-Success Condition: Hunt Naga tribe members
-Success Reward: Massive experience, Join tribe trust, 100,000 coins per Naga hunted
-Accept: Naga tribe affinity drops
-Decline: Join tribe affinity plummets
Naga tribe hunt!
Sky Island belonged to the Join tribe, but they had predators too: the Naga, another heavenly race with serpentine lower bodies.
“Naga tribe, huh...”
Setting aside difficulty, Rokan had to think.
His destination was the heavens, home to Naga too.
Jumping the gun on bad blood with unknown heavenly power balance was risky.
Declining soured things with the Join tribe, dropping near-trust reputation to Friendly or worse.
They’d still buy potions, so no rock bottom, but caution was key.
“Screw it, what’s to agonize over? Dive in.”
[Accepted Quest: Natural Enemy Hunt.]
[Unbelievable feat! Gained Join tribe trust.]
[Acquired title ‘Friend of the Join Tribe.’]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Unique][First][Friend of the Join Tribe]
You are the first human to earn not just recognition, but trust from the Join tribe. They’ll aid you with everything they have.
[Effects]
-[Blessing of the Sky Race]: Flight speed +10%
-[Blessing of the Sky Race]: [Evasive Maneuver] usable
-[Blessing of the Sky Race]: Combat power +10% in aerial battles
“Oh?”
Rokan’s decision yielded unexpected gains. Promising to hunt their nemesis built trust and a new Unique title.
Flight effects were honey—rare as hen’s teeth.
“Way better than Naga.”
Assuming the Naga he knew, their trust effects were predictable.
Heart extraction resistance or poison immunity.
Naga traits: ripping out hearts to hibernate in cold, snake-like poison mastery.
Both, one, or something else—but poor synergy for him.
Heart removal fixed one Berserk weakness but nullified heart-pounding power amps for health and strength.
Poison resistance? Meaningless post-black dragon Poison Breath; he had All Poisons Immunity title.
Grinning in satisfaction, Rokan headed to the opposite side of Sky Island, toward the Naga den.