Grokion's Trial
I never imagined we'd find the hidden spot midway up the mountain.
In fact, I'd been thinking of giving the peak one last sweep on the way down, convinced it wouldn't turn up anywhere.
But to discover it under that massive boulder...
Come to think of it, locating the boulder itself was no easy feat.
It was tucked away in a remote nook, far from any established path through the mountains.
And when you're trekking unmarked trails, every spot starts looking the same—here becomes there, and there becomes here.
If Mu-hyuk hadn't marked each search area meticulously, even he might have overlooked it.
Finding it was one thing. Moving the damn thing was another. It would've taken at least twenty users pooling their strength.
Without his summons and Sung Min-woo's spirit, Mu-hyuk couldn't have budged it either.
"This the one?"
Sung Min-woo's question earned a nod.
"Yeah."
"Man, that was brutal. I was sweating we'd come up empty."
"Tell me about it."
"Hey, I got a quest pop too?"
"Really? Hang on."
He checked the quest first.
Grokion's Heirloom
Grokion's heirloom slumbers within. Only the permitted may find the path. The unpermitted, prove thyself. The unproven shall lose the way forever.
Reward: ? | Failure: ?
The wording sent a chill down his spine.
The unproven shall lose the way forever? It couldn't mean literally getting lost and wandering, right?
A quick suicide would respawn you at the nearest village or kingdom temple.
So it had to mean something else—something harder to pin down.
"Hmm. Shall we head in together?"
"Me too?"
"Yeah. This thing here's kinda iffy to leave behind."
Sung Min-woo hesitated, no doubt spooked by the ominous text.
"Guess so?"
Still, going in together was the safest bet. Sending him down the mountain alone was risky, and a death meant a 24-hour logout ban.
"I'll go first."
"Roger."
He stepped into the dark void.
Cool?
The first sensation was crisp, cold air.
"Brr, chilly."
"Feels refreshing to me."
"Darker than pitch, though."
"Give it a sec."
Soon, his eyes adjusted, and shapes emerged from the gloom.
"There."
"Yeah, an iron door."
Only then did they spot the small iron door at the far wall.
Heading over, they exchanged a glance before reaching out together.
The permitted shall find the way.
The unpermitted, prove thyself.
Whoosh.
A burst of light enveloped them both.
*
Mu-hyuk opened his eyes to find Sung Min-woo gone. Just as the inscription foretold—they'd been separated.
With two Grokion items already in his possession, this couldn't be the real test.
He must have entered the permitted one's chamber.
Sung Min-woo, unpermitted, was off on his proof-of-worth journey.
He'll do fine.
Sung Min-woo wasn't weak. Compared to same-level users, he was exceptionally strong.
Right, then...
Mu-hyuk resolved to find the path ahead.
Step.
He scanned the narrow passage as he advanced.
Monsters? Traps? Another hidden spot?
Mulling possibilities, he pressed on.
If nothing at the end, that meant another secret area.
Then he'd search thoroughly. His face soured mid-plan.
A fork in the path.
Ah, so that's it?
Simple enough.
Literally find the path.
Which way?
His eyes caught a faint glow.
No illusion. A pure white light flickered at the left path's end, beckoning.
He recalled the quest: find the way.
Maybe follow the light?
Decision made quick—the glow was fading.
He hurried left. The light vanished as he entered.
He paused, shrugged, and continued.
Another fork soon appeared, the light teasing from the right.
Having followed once, he took right without hesitation.
Next: left.
Left again.
Right.
After the seventh fork...
A chest at the end.
Thump.
His heart raced.
What item?
Eager, he opened it.
Quest 'Grokion's Heirloom' cleared.
Quest continues as 'Grokion's Trial'.
The messages came with a shift to a new area.
He checked the quest.
Grokion's Trial
Bearer of Grokion's possessions, undergo the trial to unseal.
Success: Belt unsealed. Hint on Grokion heirlooms. | Failure: Seal permanent. No retry.
As expected.
He looked ahead.
An arena.
Three statues atop it.
Three this time?
Beat the three statues—that was the trial.
Pass, and the seal lifts; claim the true heirloom.
But...
Could he take all three?
A belated message caught his eye.
All items and skills restricted.
Grokion items and set effects remain active.
He'd anticipated the restrictions.
"Oh ho?"
The second was new.
Set effects intact—meaning Wind Step worked. That made three statues manageable.
Then it clicked: "find the way" hinted at Wind Step.
He stepped into the arena.
'Grokion's Trial Grounds' discovered.
Trial eligibility verified.
'Grokion's Belt' reacts.
Light poured from the belt, enveloping the central statues. Their eyes snapped open, glaring fiercely.
Bearer of Grokion's heirloom.
A eerie voice echoed.
I shall test thy worth. Dost thou accept?
"I accept."
Light erupted from Mu-hyuk, wrapping the statues.
Your level (71) confirmed.
Statues adjusted to matching level.
Plain sword and shield granted. No special abilities.
The three statues advanced.
Prove thy worth.
The trio charged simultaneously—intimidating on their own. But Mu-hyuk smirked.
He was certain.
Whoosh.
Staring down the incoming greatsword, he activated the skill.
Wind Step
The world slowed.
The falling greatsword crawled.
Mu-hyuk moved deliberately. His body creaked, unaccustomed to the altered time.
Still, dodging was effortless. He circled behind the tallest statue, swinging the plain sword.
Clang!
Cutting power boosted, but not enough for one-shot destruction.
Tough bastard.
MP wasn't infinite—speed mattered.
Evading the movers, he struck the damaged spot again.
Sparks flew as stone met steel. Another swing, then retreat.
Target the same spot.
One lunged.
Left.
Wind Step guided him smoothly.
Tall one in sight.
Eyes on the dent, he passed by.
Crack!
Different sound.
Strike again.
Grind.
Sword lodged.
Yank free, swing anew.
Finally, one leg shattered. Mu-hyuk backed off, ending Wind Step, and watched.
The one-legged statue rose, wobbled, collapsed. Repeat.
Good, one down.
The impaired tall one could wait. Time for the other two's legs.
Wind Step.
Skill on, close in.
Crack, clang!
Same method, subduing them.
Moments later.
All three down, struggling futilely to rise.
"Whew."
Relief. MP: 119.
A bit longer, and it'd been dicey.
Slow approach. Hack the remaining leg.
It tried rising—he retreated. Fell—advance, strike.
A few swings, last leg gone. Torso flailing.
-110 HP
-111 HP
A few more hits to arms, back, head.
Crush.
Body to dust—statue gone.
One down.
Next. Legs, then everywhere. Same for the last.
Trial passed.
'Grokion's Belt' seal released.
Trial over.
Mu-hyuk smiled, satisfied. Light swallowed the area.
Flash.
Eyes open: Yabbe Mountains, mid-slope.
"Back?"
"Huh?"
Sung Min-woo grinned, pulling something out.
"Scored big."
"Necklace?"
"Yeah. Options are killer."
Mu-hyuk touched it.
Options check. Hologram up.
Attack +13
Defense +7
Strength +6
HP Recovery +20
Durability 100/100
Restriction: Passed Akan's Trial
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened.
"Akan's Necklace..?"
"Right? Insane."
"Great options, but how?"
Sung Min-woo explained.
"Passed the trial, but no qual for Grokion's heirloom. Got Akan's instead—Grokion's old friend."
"Grokion's friend?"
"Yeah. This was his."
"Ahh..."
"You?"
"Got mine too."
"Whatcha get?"
Mu-hyuk produced the belt.
"This?"
"Yeah. Wanna see?"
"Duh."
Sung Min-woo touched it.
Me too.
Mu-hyuk checked.
Wisdom +7
Strength +5
Stamina +5
MP Recovery +35
Durability 120/120
Restriction: Passed Grokion's Trial
Beyond expectations.
Wisdom +7, MP recovery +35. Strength and stamina +5 each.
Way better than rings or bracelets.
Truly satisfying.
"Holy..."
Sung Min-woo gawked.
"Options are nuts."
"Your ring's beast too."
"Heh, yeah. Total jackpot. I just came to help..."
"Your luck. And there might be more heirlooms."
"Got a map hinting at the next one."
"Nice?"
"Yeah. We'll hunt 'em slow."
Grokion skills guzzled MP, so items boosted recovery heavily.
Akan's necklace screamed melee class.
"Find the rest, get set effects."
"Jackpot!"
Mu-hyuk chuckled at his cheer.
Time to equip.
Belt cinched.
'Set Effect (3)' activated.
'Grokion's Ring' evolves.
'Grokion's Bracelet' evolves.
'Grokion's Belt' evolves.
What effect now?
How much growth?
Anticipation high, he checked.