Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Nothing is Impossible! (2)
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While Rokan holed up in the training grounds, relentlessly pounding the scarecrows, time flew by.
One day, two days, three days, four days… In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
‘Time sure flies.’
Before he knew it, strategies for "Entrust the Squirrel" had spread, and players achieving level 10 and escaping Pocket City were popping up one after another.
Thanks to the insatiable word of mouth, new users kept pouring in, but the game company had separated the tutorial village into Pocket City instances, preventing login issues or overcrowding that could hinder progress.
Pocket City functioned like an instanced dungeon in itself—everyone gathered in separated spaces like channels, not a single location. Even players starting together rarely met inside Pocket City.
That was why everyone had to conquer Pocket City through solo play and cross over to the main continent on their own.
Even so, across all Pocket Cities, a few stood out. Those showing exceptional adaptability from the start and racing ahead, and one person who hadn’t budged in over half a month.
Rokan.
Starting late without any info, he was one of the few not wiped out in the training grounds that had annihilated nearly everyone else. He was still there, pounding scarecrows just like day one.
People mocked him as an idiot, pointing fingers, but he didn’t stop.
Even when someone picked a fight, he ignored them. This was a safety zone, after all—flexing recklessly would get you dragged off by guards for a rough time.
In the meantime, his stats rose steadily and evenly.
[Endurance has increased by 1.]
[Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Endurance have reached their maximum training limits. You can no longer raise stats in the training grounds.]
[Unbelievable achievement! Applause for your relentless, tireless torment of the scarecrows.]
[Acquired title ‘Super Hard Worker.’]
[Amazing achievement! Breaking a scarecrow in under a minute? You’re the village’s undisputed champion.]
[Acquired title ‘Local Champion.’]
[Super Hard Worker][Unique]
You overcame the impossible through superhuman effort! Your challenges know no bounds.
[Effects]
-Level up required EXP -10%.
[Local Champion][Rare]
You snap scarecrows like twigs—you’re the village’s greatest champion.
[Effects]
-Strength +5
Finally, his stats had maxed out everything the training grounds could offer.
It wasn’t as easy as people thought. At just level 5, he could now shatter a scarecrow in a minute.
People figured it was because he’d leveled up while hitting them, but Rokan hadn’t invested a single spare stat point. Investing them makes further gains harder.
Thanks to that, Rokan finally claimed the title he’d aimed for.
Not a first-clear bonus type, but its effect was stellar on its own.
The title ‘Super Hard Worker,’ slashing level-up EXP by a whopping 10%. In his past life, a player who got it made waves, sparking a training ground craze a few years after The Lord launched.
A late bloomer without pro-gaming prospects, he faded into mediocrity, but Rokan had teamed up with him, impressed by his growth and similar fighting style.
He’d heard this secret right before the guy quit over his wife’s backbiting.
No, there was one more secret.
“I’d like to use the advanced training grounds.”
With nothing left to gain from the regular ones, Rokan handed the advanced training ground pass to the NPC who’d been watching him.
Without the pass from the mystery box, he’d have needed three more days of scarecrow-bashing plus quests. This saved him the hassle.
“Follow me.”
The NPC feigned surprise at the sudden pass but quickly composed himself, leading Rokan to the hidden secret training area as programmed.
“You have this, so you know the rules. Once you leave, it’s over.”
Creaaaaak… Boom!
The NPC shoved Rokan in and slammed the heavy iron door, sealing him inside. Knock three times to exit, but that ended everything—no more pass, no more advanced grounds.
Already knowing this, Rokan checked his status first.
‘Food’s plentiful.’
The food box and coin pouch from the mystery box were a godsend. He’d stocked up on the best value bread, filling his inventory.
He’d lasted ten days already—this should hold twice as long.
New scarecrows appeared before him.
“So this is it.”
The so-called moving scarecrows. Outside, they were stationary; now, these moved and counterattacked.
They hit hard too—one slip and you’re dead. Die, and you lose advanced access just like that.
But Rokan wasn’t worried. He hoped they’d keep him on his toes.
“Please hold out for a while at least.”
Pummeling unbeatable scarecrows for titles and extra stats had dulled his senses.
He’d restarted The Lord to feel that combat thrill—stronger foes were no issue.
“Come at me, you toys!”
After a light warm-up, Rokan charged the moving scarecrows like a beast.
* * *
One month. In that short time, the world turned upside down.
The cause? Just one.
Other VR games existed, but The Lord—touted as “the real deal, the first”—was on another level. A generational game had arrived.
At first, high account fees limited it to curious elites, but play videos went viral, exploding new user numbers.
Dedicated login pods sold out instantly, supply unable to meet demand.
Top-tier models cost 15 million won, yet the rich bombarded the company: more stock, they’d buy multiples.
This swept the globe—The Lord launched worldwide simultaneously.
Yet amazingly, no one had met foreigners. The company just said, “You’ll meet when the time comes,” fueling rumors atop speculation.
But that didn’t matter. Online buzz was all about who led the pack, who was strongest.
Humans love rankings. No official ladder yet, but communities crowned top players by their metrics.
Top levelers hovered around 50. Mostly Koreans, the battle-gaming nation shining again.
Plenty pursued odd paths too. With insane freedom, many chased non-combat content.
Among them, the infamous “Training Maniac” reemerged after 20 days gone.
Rokan.
“Whew! That was close.”
He’d extracted everything from the advanced grounds and emerged.
Beat-up appearance from weeks of rolling around, but his face beamed.
Level 10 achieved.
He’d met the final condition and been booted out.
Luckily, he’d maxed spare stats in a clutch moment.
Spare stat gains are pure RNG—pure charging won’t cut it. Plus, his titles made it harder unintentionally.
His trick? “Curse.” He used the magic scroll from the mystery box on himself: Curse of Weakness.
It drops all stats—a nightmare in normal fights. But mid-stat training, it let spares rise easier. He barely hit max.
Thus, Rokan claimed everything the advanced grounds offered.
Besides spares, just one thing.
Like Super Hard Worker from maxing basics, he nabbed another title.
Even he didn’t know what—his past-life acquaintance never finished advanced.
Surprisingly, it was familiar.
[First][Unyielding Will][Epic]
You possess an unyielding will that never gives up!
No one can break your resolve in any situation.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-Resist all negative mental effects.
-When HP drops below 5%, all stats +50%
‘Unyielding Will’!
In his past life, it was Rokan’s signature.
His was lower Unique grade, but paired perfectly with his skills for peak efficiency.
He earned the name King of Violence after getting it.
“Didn’t expect this here. No more suffering for it.”
Past life, brutal grind: HP near zero, delaying death specially, slaying stronger foes till it dropped.
Even then, just Unique—now Epic from the start. Massive win.
‘Am I a luckbuild this time?’
First time feeling true anticipation after years of gaming.
Then, a quest window popped up. Even Rokan, knowing most quests, hadn’t seen this.
‘This…’
[Seek the Traces of the Stormwind][Quest]
You have found a trace of the Stormwind that scourged the world long ago. Find the remaining traces and carry on the Stormwind’s legacy.
-Completed Advanced Training Ground. (Complete)
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‘Jackpot.’
He knew instantly how huge this was, rewards blank and all.
First condition: Advanced Training Ground completion?
Unclear if it demanded max stats like him or just entering/exiting, but a quest giving Epic titles as prereqs? Rewards would be insane.
Grrrrrrowl!
Then, mood-killer: stomach growling. Hunger at zero.
‘Right, forgot.’
Inventory empty. All coins spent on bread—gone. Gearless pauper, but Rokan wasn’t worried.
Level 10 achieved.
No starving on his watch.
“I want to venture into the wider world.”
Soon, before Pocket City’s village chief, he spoke the line.
Pre-10, ignored; at 10, chief lets you leave.
“You’ll do fine. Take care.”
First meeting, but [Friendly] rep earned trusting eyes.
With that, control vanished like tutorial. Instead, a cutscene played.
His character hitching a ride on a merchant’s cart, heading out.
Farewell Pocket City—main game begins.