‘Isn't He Going to Use Dragon Fear Soon?’

"Hmph. That's still too much for you. You can't even properly digest Dragon Eye yet—Dragon Peer? As if."

"Huh? 'Still'? So it means I can do it later?"

"If you properly build up your presence, maybe. But... "

"Eheheheheh! Anyway, that means it's possible. Good enough for me."

Vulcan, who had been harboring some fanciful expectations for a moment, grinned even wider at Tud's snide remark. It wasn't possible right now, but if he raised his presence enough, he could use it—that was the gist of it. He had no clue what level that might take, but it was certainly worth looking forward to. After all, he was the incarnation of Tud, a dragon, so he'd surely master it faster than matching a full dragon's presence.

"In that case, no need to drag things out. I thought we'd have to jump straight into the hunting contest since they only gave us a day to prepare."

Having tamed the warhorse in one shot thanks to Dragon Eye's power, Vulcan realized there was no more time to waste. There was still a full day until the hunting contest, and levels could skyrocket starting tomorrow anyway. Preparing something useful for the hunt would be a way better investment.

"Guess I should grab my rewards first."

But before that, Radin Temple. Bishop Shairun had promised ample compensation, so securing that was top priority. Crafting items for the contest was fine, but this was the easiest path to a solid power-up.

"You've already tamed the warhorse the count bestowed?"

Shairun showed a flicker of surprise at Vulcan knowing it was a warhorse, but knowing Vulcan's extraordinary nature, he didn't pry further. Nodding, he led Vulcan to his private chamber in the temple and ordered a senior priest to prepare something.

"Take this first."

The first reward was the Divine Mark. Simple options, but befitting a god of immense power, the effects were extraordinary. Stats were one thing, but amplifying all skill power by a whopping 10%? Incredible.

"Come here."

Next, he offered something Vulcan knew well—the item he'd once slaved away at menial tasks to obtain.

The Sun Sword. Its base attack was excellent—enough to overpower most monsters outright, and the all-stats boost made it versatile for any situation. No fancy special effects, but it didn't need them; it stood on its own. Plus, the recovery reduction was better than it seemed. It didn't just affect natural regen like trolls'; it applied to potions and healing spells too. Perfect against monsters that healed up at death's door, and especially shine in PvP against players.

Knowing this, Vulcan swallowed hard at the sight of the Sun Sword Shairun offered.

"Here, take it. Considering your deeds, I wouldn't mind giving more, but your contribution falls just short for higher divine artifacts."

As Shairun said, superior rewards existed: Sun Knight Sword for High Temple Knights, Sun Guardian Sword for elite ones, and even the Epic-grade Sun God Sword. But those were reserved for Radin faithful. No amount of temple contributions would grant them without joining the order.

Vulcan knew this and was content. Or so he thought.

"...?!"

But as Vulcan reached for the Sun Sword, an unexpected message appeared.

'Not a blessing—straight to apostle?'

Radin wanted to make him an apostle. Tud had said it'd start with a blessing, then an offer later. This was immediate?

"What's wrong? Take it."

Vulcan froze in bewilderment, and Shairun looked puzzled. But his tone suggested he was clueless about the alert—Radin directly designating Vulcan as apostle.

Radin's attempt persisted relentlessly, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without a word of warning.

'Am I crazy?'

It was just an Epic class. No matter Radin's status as one of the mightiest deities, Vulcan wouldn't accept. He refused, but the next message was absurd.

"?!"

Ignoring the refusal, Radin forced it with his divinity. Was Vulcan about to become his slave? As the divine light beam stabbed down from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the void, Tud, coiled atop Vulcan's head, erupted in fury.

Tud's translucent form radiated overwhelming presence.

- This thick-headed bastard!!

Charrarang—!!

The light shattered. The beam that nearly engulfed Vulcan collided with Tud's aura and scattered like glittering pollen.

"Ahh...!"

"It's His light!"

"Bestowing a blessing upon him?!"

"Such pure, vivid divine power! Astonishing, truly astonishing!"

In truth, it was Radin's divinity blocked by Tud and spilling outward, but to the clueless priests, it looked like a grand blessing. As if Radin personally favored Vulcan.

- Always such bad luck. Dare touch what's mine?! Want me to cripple you like before? Huh?!

Beneath the surface, Tud snarled savagely while Radin vented rage via system messages.

'Did it work?'

Thanks to Tud, Radin's attempt failed. Vulcan worried the arrogant god might retaliate, but something he'd overlooked happened.

Radin was as obsessive as he was arrogant.

Determined to leave a mark, Radin gathered the dispersed divinity and blessed Vulcan. He didn't stop there, infusing the rest into the Sun Sword.

'This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crazy bastard?'

Peak clinginess. Failing direct forced class change, he'd crammed blessing and a class-change trap into the sword.

"Seems He cherishes you. Take it—it's your sword now."

Did Shairun not know? He'd noticed the change but handed over the Blessed Sun Sword. Refusing might be seen as defying Radin, flipping his attitude.

'What do I do?'

- Hmph. Forgot who you are? Doesn't matter. Take it.

Vulcan, in a bind, asked the still-fuming Tud, but his response was surprisingly cool. Take it—no issue.

'Options-wise, yeah...'

He hesitated but trusted Tud. No choice. He accepted.

As expected, no forced change. The equip-triggered Apostle class was nullified by Vulcan's Item Master. He could wield it fully—an Epic weapon with no level restriction, all options intact.

'Insane.'

He already had the stellar Serpent of Despair, making the original Sun Sword a solid switch-in. Dual-wield for options or joker card. But this outclassed it in attack and options.

'Serpent of Despair as sub-weapon now?'

No reason to ditch it—Serpent specialized in effects over raw power. Main with Blessed Sun Sword, swap for bursts, sub it for effects. Conditional pain, stun, instant-kill combo? Perfect for tormenting foes.

"For any shortfall in rewards, ask for what you want anytime."

Vulcan secured the rewards, topping up the shortfall with contributions. Normally, even the original Sun Sword would've drained his total, but Radin's intervention upped its value.

'Stalker much...'

Vulcan welcomed it. Radin clung till the end, but it was pure gain for now. If he persisted, Tud would handle it. No low-level means against a god—trust Tud.

"See you tomorrow."

Now, prep for tomorrow's hunting contest. Leaving the divinely stirred Radin Temple, Vulcan rented a forge.

Some condition management needed, but prepping to loot the big event thoroughly was essential.

Clang— Clang—

The forge rang till dawn. Satisfied, Vulcan was ready for his hunting contest.