Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Crossroads (1)
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“Whew, that was close to death.”
He knew the train wouldn’t derail or crash. But that didn’t mean bungee jumping or roller coasters weren’t scary just because they were safe. Rokan prided himself on handling roller coasters pretty well, but this was different. If a roller coaster was a highway, this was off-roading.
Thanks to that, he arrived at Crossroads with time to spare before the login limit. But if he had to ride it again, he was ready to say he’d take the regular train next login and come slowly.
[You have discovered Crossroads.]
[An incredible achievement! You are the first to discover a new city.]
[You have acquired the title ‘Crossroads’ First Visitor.’]
[Crossroads’ First Visitor][Rare]
A title given to the first visitor to Crossroads.
-All stats +5% within the Crossroads region
“Hoo.”
Visitor titles were only given to the first hundred to enter new regions. But apparently, there was a first-place bonus here too.
It was a unique title, so there was no separate ‘first’ label, but Rokan knew. Places second to ninety-ninth only got a measly 2% stat boost.
Even so, it applied anytime you stayed in the region, making it fiercely competitive.
“A good start.”
This confirmed he was the first to achieve class user status and reach a third-tier city.
Of course, there were multiple third-tier cities besides this one, but if he was first for class users, it was easy to infer no one had reached the others yet.
“But arriving isn’t everything.”
Rokan knew arriving first at Crossroads was important, but the real key was something else. And that among all races gathering here, humans were the most disadvantaged.
It might even seem absurd that humans reached Crossroads first, but greater hurdles awaited.
“What’s this, a human?”
“A human got here first among the visitors?”
“He must’ve pulled some shady trick!”
It was prejudice and perception. The moment Rokan entered Crossroads—a hub for all races in the Golden Lion Alliance of humans, half-elves, gnomes, and dwarves—he heard blatant whispers.
‘Even with the title effect, it’s like this...’
With Nothing is Impossible! starting his reputation at [Friendly], this was their attitude.
Normal users starting at [Neutral] would face vicious disdain. Just like he had in his previous life.
‘No, it was better back then.’
By then, early arrivals had built some foundation. Other race NPCs were starting to accept human adventurers, and quest strategies were somewhat known.
But the earliest entrants had to clash bare-handed with no help or info. And for that, they had to do the grind called ‘reputation work’ first.
“Luck’s on my side this time.”
Rokan smirked even amid the whispers. Skipping boring reputation work was a win. Being ignored was inevitable until proving worth with special quests or hunting named monsters of a certain level. It stuck to all races.
Humans got ignored just for being human, while others got called ‘rookies’ and treated similarly. Fair trade.
“I need to do the recognition quests... but timing’s off. Guess I’ll make combo skills first today.”
To be recognized as a proper warrior and adventurer, he needed to take and complete quests from each race’s representatives in Crossroads. Success granted ‘recognition,’ allowing proper treatment and relationship-building.
Until then, you could raise city reputation to friendly or amiable, but not individual NPC intimacy. Do the recognition quests too late, and you’d miss intimacy-requiring quests, forced to move on.
Rokan planned to prioritize them, but login limit loomed. He might squeeze in one race’s recognition, but failure meant time ticking away. Recognition quests were basically ‘time attacks.’
“Time attacks in a game with login limits? That’s harsh.”
Initial intimacy and reputation depended on completion speed.
Even logging out didn’t pause the timer, so starting at new login times to avoid mid-quest logouts was key. If timing felt off, better to do other stuff and start fresh next login.
Knowing this, Rokan changed plans. Without the express train, he’d have arrived perfectly for logout, but with time left, he’d use it well.
“Start with the easy ones.”
Combo skill creation decided, Rokan left the village immediately. You could make them inside, but they needed user motions, so he stepped outside the fence for comfort.
He started with the simplest first combo skill.
“Create combo skill.”
[Please designate action clips or skill books for the desired skill combination.]
“Force, War Cry.”
He placed the Force skill book and War Cry skill book on the appeared window. A clean combo with no extras, but its utility was immense.
[Combination possible.]
[Watch the projected skill use and press complete combination.]
[On completion, skill books vanish, and you auto-learn the combo skill.]
The translucent window turned video-like. Rokan inside screamed like a madman, all exposed enemies trembling like prey. Some staggered weakly, others fainted outright.
“Perfect. Complete combination!”
Exactly as imagined.
[Name the combo skill.]
“Roar of Madness.”
Skill names were crucial in combos. They embodied the concept and empowered via incantation. Same combo, different names meant slight power variances.
Naming an attack ‘Strike of Power’ vs. ‘Swift Strike’ made clear differences.
Finding cool combos mattered, but understanding and naming your skills accurately was vital too.
Thus, ‘Roar of Madness’ suited a berserker’s madness trait well.
[Roar of Madness][Combo Skill]
Unleash a madness-infused roar to plunge enemies into fear. Voice carries mana, affecting minds.
-If lower level than user: All stats down
-If much lower: Random short stun
-If higher: Still partial effect
-Reduces negative effects on user
-Berserk state: All effects 1.5x amplified
Not much different from War Cry, but far more efficient. Best part: amplified in Berserk.
Add Lion King’s Sealed Helmet effect, and voice alone could subdue foes.
“Next ones quick. Create combo skill.”
Satisfied with the first, Rokan tried the next.
[Please designate action clips or skill books for the desired skill combination.]
“Create action clip.”
[Creating action clip. Say ‘start,’ perform motions. Say ‘end’ to finish.]
Not just skill books this time. For precise motions, he created reference action clips. Record body movements, use as skeleton or link parts skill-like.
Thus, Rokan repeated motions many times.
His target skill could be skill books alone, but he wanted seamless single motion, so dozens of tries to register the clip.
“Whew. This should do. Register action clip. Next... Force, Charge, Dash, Strike.”
[Combination possible.]
[Watch the projected skill use and press complete combination.]
[On completion, skill books vanish, and you auto-learn the combo skill.]
The finished skill was simple. No Leap Attack needed: Rokan dashed in instantly, delivering a Force-charged strike. Multiple skills linked, but essentially one motion.
Most combos were registered ‘combos’ or power-packed multis, so this was overly simple.
“Complete combination!”
But Rokan registered it satisfied. In real fights, flashiness mattered less than utility. Anytime use, short cooldown, surprise speed, and power made the best combo.
His Berserker path left him skill-short too, but even with Leaf Attack, Force, Strike for ultimate damage, he skipped them.
[Name the combo skill.]
“Lethal Strike.”
Emphasized the name instead. Clear intent infused it.
[Lethal Strike][Combo Skill]
Deliver a surprise strike to fluster foes.
-Movement speed 250% for duration
-400% speed within 3m of enemy
-Attack power 200% once
-Critical hit chance +50% once
-Critical hit damage 200% once
Acceleration strike: Charge once, Dash twice. Post-use stiffness low, as power focused on crits.
“Excellent.”
50% chance seemed luck-based, but Rokan using it changed everything.
Title: 20%, items: 20%. Consecutive kills: up to +10%! 80-100% crit chance.
Insane base attack doubled, plus crit damage: up to 8x power.
Spammable like that? Ultimate skill worthy.
‘Berserk makes it 16x?’
Mana drain notable, but Berserk doubled stats and infinite mana negated it.
Perfect for him and berserkers.
One combo left. Repeat clips and books, and desired skill emerged.
[Charge of Destruction][Combo Skill]
Crushing charge demolishing all in path.
-Movement speed 200% for duration
-Defense 200% for duration
-Strength 200%
-Progressive power amp until self-cancel or blocked
-Extra damage proportional to charge momentum
-Extra damage inverse to enemy toughness
Force, tough body, Charge, Dash, Shoulder Charge: another charge skill.
No duration limit, power grew over time.
Mana-heavy, but short bursts potent. Versatile, even close-range like Shoulder Charge.
Thus, Rokan’s prized three combo skills complete.
“Today’s enough.”
Login limit blinked warning perfectly timed.
He had a rare fourth slot others lacked, but hasty combos were worse than none. Needed thought.
Rokan logged out with a satisfied smile.
Reality had grown quite noisy.