Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Bombardment (1)
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Rokan repeatedly cleared the mage dungeon for the three days until the first discovery bonus expired.
Since it was an instanced dungeon anyway, he hunted from start to finish each time, manipulated the escape stone that appeared in the boss room, and looped back outside.
He had to endure the hassle of tanking log traps with his body since he couldn't chop them down, but he scored various valuable magic items in the process, so it was worth it.
Even if it meant taking a financial loss, he would have stuck around for the experience points.
'Business is picking up nicely here too.'
He sorted through the acquired items and stocked his shop's second floor.
The first floor vending machines still drew the biggest crowds, but the second floor—selling various magic items and enhancement gear—was now attracting a decent number of customers.
On the other hand, the third floor, home to his top-performing crafted items, had fewer visitors than expected.
It was set up like a showroom visible to everyone, with new crafted items added daily for plenty to see, but the prices were so far beyond what average players could dream of that they would stop by once, stare in awe, then give up and leave.
'Still, the revenue's high.'
Of course, not everyone was just window-shopping or walking away empty-handed. The third floor sales were massive in reality.
It seemed like one representative from each group was slipping in to buy discreetly, not wanting competitors to know they were purchasing.
The sky-high prices didn't mean everything sold out instantly, but counting them up, already over a third had been snapped up.
'Feels like I'm scraping together every coin in Crossroads.'
Of course, that was nothing compared to the fact that there were hundreds of cities like Crossroads.
Plus, the full map wasn't revealed yet—head southwest from Crossroads, and you'd hit another third-tier city. North led to the Black Dragon Legion's third-tier city.
He might monopolize money and items, but for now, it was just regional dominance.
Reminding himself of that, Rokan steadied his resolve and proceeded to the next step methodically.
"Delete combo skill."
[Please specify the combo skill to delete.]
"Destruction Charge."
What Rokan sought was the Berserker guild.
Surprisingly, his action was to delete a combo skill. He ditched Destruction Charge, one he'd profited from quite a bit.
It remained an excellent combo that boosted both defense and attack simultaneously, but he felt it wasn't quite worth occupying a combo slot.
You could approximate similar effects by chaining Charge, Force, Guard, Shoulder Charge, and so on—without matching the original power—and it overcame the straight-line limitation of the skill.
[Please specify an action clip or skill book for your desired skill combo.]
So, what to put in the empty slot?
The Berserker's sparse skill set had no other obvious combos, but Damage Change from the mage dungeon was the wildcard.
It offered surprise in combat and, if combined right, filled the Berserker's gaps while setting up honey-pot opportunities.
Rokan used it to perfect a combo he'd only realized late in his previous life.
"Force, Dash, Strike, Throwing, Damage Change."
[Combo possible.]
[View the projected usage preview and press the complete combo button.]
[Completing the combo will consume the skill book and auto-acquire the combo skill.]
A skill combo based on Force for hurling your weapon with full power and energy. But adding Damage Change dramatically altered the effect.
"Complete combo!"
[Please name the combo skill.]
"Bombardment!"
All of Rokan's power and energy converted to magic damage, exploding on impact—a true bombardment!
The moment the top-tier melee Berserker gained a ranged attack rivaling a mage's.
"Okay. Cooldown's acceptable at this length."
The downside was a roughly 5-second cooldown, but mixed with normal throws, it seemed plenty to rattle enemies. The skill's concept was powerful single shots over rapid fire anyway.
For a more polished combo, a cooldown reduction skill would be ideal, but no Berserker skills offered that.
If he acquired one later via skill book, it might be worth revisiting.
'No monster drops a cooldown skill book for sure, I think.'
Rokan felt a twinge of regret but was satisfied overall.
All that remained was to milk it for honey!
"With ranged attacks, it's gotta be there."
He knew just the hunting spot to make full use of it.
"Inventory won't have any room left."
Grinning with satisfaction, Rokan left the Berserker guild and headed straight for the weapon shop to stock up on throwing hand axes.
Hand axes weren't commonly used, so stock was limited, but that wasn't an issue now. He was the only buyer.
Players favored javelins for throws or bows and guns usable without archery skills, ignoring heavy, tricky ones like hand axes.
"Uh, it's good, but isn't it a bit pricey?"
"Nah, the visitor shop's even pricier."
"But those have killer options!"
"True. Still, without guild backing, we can't drop cash like the guild master. Gotta grind shop gear, swap to drops, or save up for upgrades."
As Rokan filled his inventory to the brim, chatter from nearby players drifted over.
They'd finished reputation grinds and were knocking out recognition quests one by one.
Completing all three recognition quests unlocked full functions and citizenship, but even one done opened some shops.
'Already this far?'
Using the weapon shop meant they'd cleared the dwarf recognition quest as a guild, though they didn't look that strong—likely focused on guild completion, skipping extra rewards.
'If they're not chasing bonuses, top tiers are probably tackling or finishing second or third recognition quests by now. Gnome ones are repeatable anyway.'
Same for other third-tier cities.
'Time to hustle.'
Finish recognition quests, and it's back to the level grind. Without main or episode quests like Rokan, players took quests and leveled via 'Daksa'—the core content.
But one obstacle loomed.
"Key will be how much we can trip each other up."
Faction opposition.
Clashes started as early as half-elf recognition quests against Black Dragon Legion.
Factions were funny—even if you could pass without fighting, a red name tag meant diving in.
Many got hooked on PvP, sidelining levels.
Titles from faction kills existed, but unless massacring or beating much higher levels, effects were negligible.
"Guess I'll head out too."
Rokan packed consumables, hit the integrated auction house for a third gear set, summoned his mount outside the city, and galloped west.
* * *
[You have entered Iron Response Outpost.]
Rokan arrived without rest at a dispute zone.
Tekalona Forest north of Crossroads and areas above counted as dispute zones with overlapping quest paths, but Iron Response Outpost was a true frontline outpost in the heart of conflict.
Venture out a bit, and you'd run into enemy faction NPCs and players often; monsters were sparse, designed for PvP brawls.
Level range kept players away for now, though.
"Usually a spot for near level 150, but..."
Rokan strode confidently to the village center and found an NPC.
The "March Officer."
Handled war quests in dispute zones and settled rewards.
"I want to register as a free mercenary."
"Free mercenary, hmm. Not sure you measure up. Eh, whatever."
At level 120s, the NPC was icy, but it didn't matter. Free mercenary—the prerequisite to rank up—was open to anyone, if hard to advance.
[Acquired Free Mercenary status.]
[Gain ranks through military achievements.]
[Build Achievements][Quest]
You have enlisted as a free mercenary in the Golden Lion faction. Slay enemy faction foes, rack up achievements, and prove your strength and honor.
-Achieve merits by killing enemy faction members
-Gain merit points based on achievements
-Gain ranks based on achievements
With what he wanted secured, Rokan bowed briefly and left the village.
As a fragile outpost, it was small and ramshackle—hardly suited for resupply beyond repairs.
He marked it, then dashed to his reserved spot.
"Dash, Charge."
Even as a dispute zone near an outpost, the map was vast.
Multiple outposts existed, linked by supply defense quests and enemy sabotage raids—a grand-scale battlefield.
Petty compared to The Lord's full scope ahead, though.
'Deep Canyon.'
Rokan targeted an outer enemy supply route.
Under sheer cliffs where enemy supply lines passed.
Constantly patrolled by guards, sometimes with wagons.
'Stealth.'
Rokan moved avoiding fights, stealthed only upon arrival.
Enemies here were at least level 140-150 powerhouses, rarely solo—burdensome even for him now.
Varied combos and combat power outstripped same-level monsters.
He circled stealthily to the cliff top.
Tang. Tang. Tang.
Atop the cliff, Rokan's unexpected move: hammering thick stakes into the edge, tying sturdy rope to himself, then rappelling down backward.
Loose or snapped rope meant fatal fall damage—or death by patrolling enemies below—but he descended boldly.
"This should do."
At a spot, he secured the rope tight, drew his weapon.
Not his beloved battle axe.
A massive hammer thick enough to smash sturdy buildings.
Not for killing, so he'd grabbed one from shop stock.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Crumble.
Repeated slams hollowed a hole in the cliff face.
"Strike!"
No need to muffle—no one expected anyone here.
Skill-boosted hammering turned hole to pit, pit to cave.
Tight, but enough for one to squeeze through.
"Mark."
Rokan stopped, slipped inside, activated rune book.
Location save.
Framework set for infinite farming from village.
"Time to get started."
Heh.
With a wicked grin, Rokan aimed magic-alloy hand axes at wriggling targets below the cliff.
"Bombardment!"
The one-sided barrage began.