The Hero Sword Awakens
“...What? Gah?!”
Jeonghun didn't even have time to react.
The pure white egg in his left hand suddenly trembled violently before bouncing right out of his grasp.
Crack!
A crack began to spiderweb across the egg's surface, and it soon started shattering outright. Jeonghun's face went sheet-white, while Cheonma let out an admiring grunt.
“Isn't this bad luck?! My divine beast!”
“Where's the low-level in this!”
Gray smoke began seeping from the egg, soon morphing into the shape of a monster.
The sudden alert had appeared less than 10 seconds ago. And now, a single monster stood before Jeonghun's eyes.
A humanoid monster with green skin and slit eyes that left a strong impression.
A goblin.
The poster child for low-level monsters—and the very ones Jeonghun had been massacring until moments ago. But Cheonma just shook his head.
This wasn't some watered-down tutorial goblin. It was on another level entirely.
<Goblin Warrior of the Blood Sunset Tribe>
Those words floated above the goblin's head as it gripped a sharp kukri in one hand.
“...What the hell kind of terrifying prefix is that for a goblin?”
“Any death penalty if I die?”
“Hmm.”
Jeonghun glanced at the goblin warrior. It seemed to sense he was a total beginner, grinning wickedly like a cat eyeing a tiny mouse.
But.
“Gotta at least try. Can't just roll over and die, right?”
Thud!
Jeonghun kicked off the ground with all his might, charging the goblin. His movements were impossibly smooth for someone who'd just started the game today.
“Hah!”
With a hearty shout, his fist sliced through the air toward the goblin's head.
Caught off guard by the mouse turning predator, the goblin warrior flinched visibly and ducked.
Thwack!
It couldn't dodge completely—Jeonghun's fist smashed straight into its forehead.
“Got... huh?!”
But that was it.
The goblin warrior's eyes bulged as it swung its kukri at Jeonghun.
“Graaaah!!!”
“Wh-what?! Why no effect!”
Bonus stats made it flinch at least—if not for that, the recoil would've chipped his own HP.
“What do I do then?!”
“No options means no options! You're a 10-year vet!”
Less than 10 seconds since landing that punch, and Jeonghun was already bleeding from shallow cuts where the kukri grazed him. His status showed HP halved—without a single direct hit!
“I wanna kill it!”
Jeonghun yelled, pulling a sword from inventory and slashing at the goblin's neck. Startled by the sudden weapon, it hesitated a beat.
Stab!
The blade tip sank perfectly into the goblin's throat! Jeonghun's face lit with joy—
“Grk?”
“Say that sooner!”
The startled goblin tilted its head, then went berserk with savage fury.
“I'm dead for real! No way out?!”
“Hey, 10-year vet!!!”
“That's bullshit!”
“Eh, whatever.”
In resignation, Jeonghun swung desperately at the goblin one last time, eyes squeezed shut in anticipation of death.
But even a 10+ year regressor like Cheonma had overlooked one fact.
Jeonghun possessed a cheat that hadn't existed even once in those 10 years. An irregularity worthy of the "rigged scam" label.
Flash!
A brilliant light erupted from Jeonghun's swinging sword. Rust flaked away, revealing a crimson blade beneath.
10-star skill 'Unlock' has activated.
Appraises unappraised item. Perfectly appraises all items Legendary grade or below.
Additional option discovered.
Additional option discovered.
Additional option discovered.
3 additional options discovered in total. Item grade increased by one step.
Slash.
Jeonghun's strike sliced cleanly through the goblin's arm.
“...Huh?”
The impossible feat left Jeonghun—and even Cheonma—stunned speechless.
The goblin writhed on the ground, howling with its arm severed, but the shock drowned it out.
What the hell just happened?
“S-status window.”
[Green Skin Slayer]
[Grade: Hero]
[Level Limit: 10]
[Bind on Pickup Item]
[Physical Attack: 170~190]
- Strength +2
- Agility +2
- Dexterity +3
- Attack Speed +5%
- Movement Speed +3%
[A light, sturdy one-handed shortsword imbued with faint wind magic, boosting user speed.]
- Additional Option 1: Agility +4
- Additional Option 2: Item Level Limit -10
- Additional Option 3 (Hidden): Low chance for 300% damage boost vs green-skinned monsters.
*Item name and grade changed due to hidden additional option.
“Whoa.”
Even amid the chaos, Jeonghun knew one thing for sure.
“This is insane.”
He was experiencing something no normal player ever would.
But more important than a surprise Hero-grade weapon from the tutorial...
They'd grasped the true nature of his 10-star skill!
Cheonma's voice brimmed with unprecedented excitement.
“I get you're hyped, but let's put out the fire first.”
Instead of answering, Jeonghun gripped the Green Skin Slayer tight. At the end of his gaze, the goblin warrior rolled on the ground, bleeding.
“Gotta finish what I started. That's XP and loot.”
“Praise?”
The goblin had lost the will to fight, its combat power plummeting with one arm gone.
The 300% bonus had procced perfectly.
Its HP probably wasn't much.
No threats left.
Except.
Teleporting to Leisin in 5 seconds.
The long tutorial wouldn't wait any longer.
“Nooo! One minute... no, 30 seconds!”
Jeonghun poured every ounce of strength into a final leap, thrusting his sword.
Shunk!
The blade sank into flesh, the sensation traveling up the hilt.
Flash!
A new landscape unfolded before his eyes.
* * *
In the central square of the starter city Leisin, players materialized one after another in brief flashes of light.
Those who'd finished the tutorial and stepped onto the continent proper.
“This the starter village?”
“Whoa, check those building graphics. This ain't a game—it's a real isekai!”
“Yo! Mobs first!”
“Quests! Quests!”
A pack of noobs rushed by, but the other players ignored them. It was everyday scenery in Leisin.
“...Haa.”
Jeonghun—now Carpe—slumping in the square's center with a sigh wasn't unusual either.
“That guy got wrecked hard.”
“Tutorial mobs are brutal.”
“Unless you're pro-gamer tier, it's insta-wipe. Insta-wipe.”
“Game ain't easy-mode.”
Noobs who thought they were gaming gods getting schooled in tutorial? Par for the course.
“Haa. Ten more seconds...”
Of course, none of it applied to Carpe.
Name: Carpe | Level: 2 | HP: 165/165 | MP: 31/31
Bonus Stats Available: 5 | Bonus Skill Points: 2
Titles (5): First 10-Star Skill • First 0-Star Patron Spirit • Two Firsts • Tutorial Total Conquest • Leveled Up in Tutorial!
Patron Spirit: 0-Star – Cheonma Jijon (Irregular)
Skills: 10-Star - Unlock Lv. 2
Thankfully, that final charge succeeded. Level 2 was proof positive!
Bonus stats and skill points generated too.
“And +2 to all stats means...”
Likely from the new title. Carpe tapped it.
[Leveled Up in Tutorial!]
Leveled up in a tutorial zone where EXP is normally impossible. An incredible feat.
All stats +2
“Kuh.”
Perfect. Flawless. No tutorial could've ended better.
“Hah, ten more seconds and it'd been perfect.”
Or 99% perfect, to be precise.
“What if the goblin dropped lord-tier gear? Ah, couldn't check drops. Ten more seconds!”
“Ah! My lord-tier junk!”
“Jokes aside.”
Carpe eyed Cheonma curiously.
“How're you still here, hyung? Patron spirits get scarce post-tutorial, right?”
The strategy guides stated that Patron Spirits faced heavy restrictions from creator-god types, limiting their activity. They conserved their power by minimizing contact...
So why was his hanging around like it was nothing?
“'Cause you're irregular? Ignoring game rules and systems?”
“Then?”
“Title? Oh!”
Right—the draw gave patron spirit titles. Carpe checked again.
[First 0-Star Patron Spirit]
One patron spirit restriction removed.
“Bingo.”
“Yeah. Gotta milk that 10-year guide. Still half-believing it, though.”
Cheonma grinned.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw