Ma Sword Penetration Mirror
Ding.
8-Star Skill Card - Ma Sword Penetration Mirror
Attacks the enemy's interior for massive damage. Also disrupts their meridians, reducing resistance.
Lv. 1: Ignores 15% of target's defense on hit. Reduces physical and magic defense by 15% for 5 seconds.
Lv. 2: Ignores 18% of target's defense on hit. Reduces physical and magic defense by 18% for 5 seconds.
...
Lv. 10 (Master): Ignores 50% of target's defense on hit. Reduces physical and magic defense by 50% for 5 seconds. Additionally reduces elemental defense by 30%.
"Huh? Penetration Mirror? A physical skill?"
-Whoa. That's a pretty rare one. Can't even call this a shit game anymore.
"Just reading the description makes it look pretty good."
A skill with defense-ignoring damage and a defense debuff to boot!
In any game, regardless of genre, skills with defense reduction were always ridiculously overpowered.
-Plus, the cooldown isn't that long, so you can chain it. That's a huge advantage.
Of course, it guzzled MP like crazy, but that wasn't a big penalty for Carpe.
As the top hidden class for mages, he had MP to spare.
-It's not really a skill a mage would learn, but you can handle it.
"Right? Technically, I'm not a pure mage—I'm a Fist Demon Lord."
It was a perfect skill.
He'd grown used to magic now, but deep down, Carpe was a close-range brawler at heart.
Magic had flashy effects, but it lacked that satisfying hand feel he'd always craved. With this, he had solid melee and ranged options covered.
"Learn it right now! ...But first, let's check the other four cards."
What if one of the remaining four was an even better 8-star skill?
Carpe was the thorough type who never dismissed even slim possibilities.
-...
Ignoring Cheonma's silent "What kind of guy is this?" stare, Carpe checked the other four cards.
"...Whoa."
-Scary. RaSe is insane. Someone else needs to know about this.
The remaining four? All 2-stars. 2222.
It was such a vicious gacha design that even Carpe, pickled in pulls, got chills.
Would you like to acquire the 8-star skill Ma Sword Penetration Mirror by consuming 1 skill point?
"Acquire."
After picking up Penetration Mirror, Carpe dumped skill points into it, maxing it out.
Then he headed toward the palace.
His goal: Persuade Gillian.
* * *
Carpe's routine hadn't changed much since his second job change.
"Huff. Huff. Huuuuuh."
"Hmhmhm! The hits are landing more often now. Almost got me there. You've definitely gotten stronger since your second advancement!"
"Huuuuh. You look way too relaxed for someone taking hits like that."
"My level's no joke! Still, you landed a direct hit this time. That Blue Dragon Step is more useful than it looks. Hone it some more."
Gillian chuckled, rubbing his belly.
A black scorch mark on his leather armor.
Trace of a direct Fireball from Carpe.
"Hahaha! This is fun. Don't slack off—get up. Time to level up!"
"...I'm all for it, but aren't you tired?"
"My days are numbered. If I want to close my eyes without regrets, I gotta hustle while I can. Up you get!"
Gillian urged the exhausted Carpe on.
They warped to that familiar hill via scroll.
Boom! Slash!
A massive greatsword cleaved the air, sending a sausk's head flying.
"Kieeeek?!"
"Kaaaaak!!!"
"Hohoho! Come on, you lot! Try harder!"
Gillian's booming laughter and the sausks' pitiful screams filled the hill.
Sparring sessions, followed by Gillian's express bus service.
Regardless of Ramark's unrest, Carpe's free ride continued.
"Ah, leveled. 56 now."
-...Unbelievable. That old man's not usually like this. What's so special about you? I worked you like a dog!
"Live as long as Gillian has, and you see through people. He saw right through the greatest demon lord, the Cheonma's true nature."
-...
"Though yeah, even I think he's going overboard."
Just because he's the successor to the previous emperor?
Even Cheonma only helped because "you gotta clear the game for my regression to end."
Curious, Carpe asked Gillian directly after a sausk massacre.
"Hoho. Quite the unique question. Weird to treat you well? Hmm... Treat you well, eh."
Gillian stroked his beard, lost in thought.
He didn't seem consciously favoritistic.
"Hmm. I tend to be kind to promising youths."
-...Is this geezer senile? That's what he calls kind?!
"But yeah, I pay extra attention to you. Need a reason? I just like you. That's my take."
Gillian sat, a gentle breeze tousling his white hair.
"I'm over 160 now. Not ancient like elves or other races, but I've seen plenty."
He'd been a soldier since youth, crossing death's door countless times.
Moments where survival seemed impossible—over and over.
"But I survived. Living another century made me think..."
Just breathing was a massive blessing.
Marriage, kids, watching them grow—gifts from the world.
"Sounds like a monk. Attained enlightenment or something?"
"Hohoho! Maybe! Age bends your thoughts that way. Point is, I've received so much from the world."
So he figured: Give back what the world gave him.
"That's why. I help young folks. As someone who's come before, I want to aid the next generation's potential. Something like that."
"...I see."
"Too lofty? Haha! I just feel like it. Don't overthink."
"No. Thank you."
Carpe bowed deeply.
Unfamiliar in his harsh modern life, but the world had selfless kindness too.
He was a good man.
"Hmm. You're comfy now, so idle thoughts creep in! Can't have that. Starting tomorrow, I'll tank—you finish 'em. Gotta prep a meat shield overnight. Hohoho!"
"..."
-...
Good man aside, dad jokes were tough to stomach.
* * *
But Gillian got swamped after.
"Hunting and sparring time's shrinking. Things are getting fishy."
Suspicious Gilliant Empire movements near the border fortress.
He spent more time there than the palace.
"I can warp fine, but a top commander absent too long hits morale. Sorry."
"No. You've given plenty."
"Oh, and His Majesty's persuasion—I'll handle it. Worst case, I'll knock out that Sergail punk myself!"
"...You'd get arrested for treason."
"Just talk! It'll take time, but trust me."
Gillian boasted, but Carpe doubted it'd work. The Revolution quest proved it.
While Gillian worked, Carpe tackled quests.
"Successor, scout for us. Any pass over the mountains is ideal."
"Oh? Learned blacksmithing too! Mind crafting for the revolution? Gear's lacking—mostly civilians."
Mostly internal revolution quests.
Mythic job scenario quests gave killer EXP; Carpe leveled again.
"Scoured the mountains—no paths. Too many monster nests."
"Got it. Fortress assault it is. Good work."
'Mountain Recon' quest completed.
During quests, Carpe hung with Gillian, biding time to sway him.
"Lad. Got time? Let's grab a drink."
The chance came.
The ever-jovial Gillian looked weary, offering booze.
Clink.
"Here. Not top-shelf, but decent."
"Thanks. Cheers."
They toasted lightly; Carpe sipped.
Gillian downplayed it, but the aroma screamed fine liquor.
"Hear my gripes today. Ramark's off."
"Gilliant Empire movements, right?"
"Not just that. Domestic unrest too. Could blow any second."
"..."
Gulp.
Did he sense the revolution?
Carpe swallowed reflexively.
"I've got eyes and ears. People's gripes about the king? Obvious. How'd it come to this? Ten years ago, it wasn't like this."
Gillian sighed deeply.
"No people, no nation. Lost the people's hearts—fit to be called king?"
Huh? This might...
The soldierly image had held Carpe back, but booze loosened his tongue.
Now's the time.
Carpe downed his drink.
"Then why not act as the people wish?"