The Former Ranker Levels Up with Gear Power! - Chapter 87 (87/231): Unbreakable Warrior's Conviction
◈ A shield for warriors with unbreakable conviction that cannot be pierced by anything.
◈ For the warrior with flexible yet resilient will.
◈ As long as you maintain flexible thinking and unyielding resolve, no attack can bring you down.
◈ Defense: 533
◈ Magic Defense: 312
◈ Durability: 3,000 / 3,000
◈ [Telekinesis] Spell usable
◈ Immune to all critical hits
◈ Reflects 10% of all incoming damage
◈ Reduces all direct damage by 50%
"Heh heh heh heh heh!"
You have completed Unbreakable Warrior's Conviction (Epic).
You have successfully crafted Epic-grade equipment.
Fame has increased by 300.
All stats have increased by 5.
Vulcan's mouth refused to close as he held the finished product in his hands. And why wouldn't it? This was an Epic-grade item, after all.
He'd made the Artisan's Origin before, but that hadn't been for combat. It was a shame it wasn't a weapon, but since this gear offered even greater utility, completing an Epic-grade shield held tremendous significance for Vulcan.
"Critical hit immunity, damage reflection, 50% damage reduction... this is insane."
The defense and magic defense were on the lower side for Epic grade due to the concept, comparable to Rare items at the same level or lower-end Uniques. But the other options were beyond words.
This was straight-up cheat gear, wasn't it? No wonder people obsessed over high-grade items.
This would be viable not just in the 200s but even in the 300s. With smart use, it could be considered graduation gear.
On top of that, it allowed telekinesis spells, and its size was compact enough to wear on the wrist without hassle, so no need to change his combat style.
He'd need some practice to fight exactly as planned, but once mastered, it would be top-tier equipment.
You have completed the class quest 'Rise as an Artisan'.
Class skill 'Symbol F' acquired.
Legendary Item Creation skill rank has increased.
Legendary Item Repair skill rank has increased.
Legendary Item Creation skill rank has increased...
But that wasn't all. Completing Tud's deliberately generous class quest had leveled him up, granted Symbol skill, and ranked up all blacksmithing-related skills.
Class skill 'Shatter F' acquired.
Class skill 'Focused Strike F' acquired.
Class skill 'Combat Prep F' acquired.
Class skill 'Continuous Throw F' acquired.
Class skill 'Blueprint Creation F' acquired.
"Ah!"
Just as he was about to bask in satisfaction, a flood of new alert windows popped up before his eyes.
Level 150. Breaking through the hell-level barrier had unlocked several more skills.
Experience requirements kept rising steadily even after 150, but that was why 150 was the hell-level threshold—the skills acquired here made it all worthwhile.
Though EXP needs increased, monster yields rose too, and above all, new skills let you wield far greater power, making leveling easier instead.
"Wait, the reason the skill ranks went up...?"
- What about it? So what.
Of course, as a producer class, Vulcan's weren't identical to combat classes, but the level 150 skills were surely meaningful.
That made him suspicious of why Tud had dangled skill rank-ups as quest rewards like some generous gift.
Because the ranks rose first, the new skills stayed at F rank. Good timing would have ranked up some of the new ones for free if he'd hit 150 after the quest.
Regret filled him, but it couldn't be helped. For now, he sorted his new powers.
"Combat skills, huh."
Surprisingly, most new skills were for combat. He'd already covered production needs, so combat skills were timely.
But true to artisan style, they were uniquely odd.
[Shatter] [Legendary]
Shatters an item you own, dealing damage to surroundings with its fragments.
◈ Damage proportional to item's level and grade
◈ Destroys item regardless of durability
◈ Applies additional damage/effects from destroyed item's properties
◈ Rank: F
[Focused Strike] [Legendary]
Strikes the same spot with artisan focus to amplify damage.
◈ Next strike after use: +30% damage (stacks up to 10 times)
◈ Next strike after use: +30% attack speed (stacks up to 10 times)
◈ Resets on first strike miss or different spot
◈ Rank: F
[Combat Prep] [Legendary]
Sharpens blades and polishes armor for perfect pre-battle readiness.
◈ +10% weapon attack power for 10 minutes
◈ +10% defense for 10 minutes
◈ Rank: F
[Continuous Throw] [Legendary]
Focuses mind to throw relentlessly in one breath.
◈ +100% throw speed
◈ Continuous throws without delay
◈ Rank: F
[Blueprint Creation] [Legendary]
Pre-creates blueprints for items or structures to boost production speed and quality.
◈ Greatly increases production speed for blueprint items/structures
◈ Enables organic collaboration via blueprint sharing
◈ Reveals expected info for blueprint items
◈ Rank: F
Aside from Blueprint Creation, all were combat skills. Meager and vague compared to pure combat classes, but Vulcan was satisfied—they could yield solid results with clever use.
Raw power was low at F rank, but the effects promised exciting growth on rank-up.
"Guess I'll submit it first."
He'd ponder applications later, but these meshed well with an idea he'd had, so he committed them to memory without complaint.
Time to submit for preliminaries. Contest entries were returned post-event, so he approached the desk lightly.
He submitted Unbreakable Warrior's Conviction, took a short break awaiting results. Epic grade? Preliminaries were a given.
"No way!! Me, 5th place? Something's wrong. This can't be!!"
Preliminaries judging lasted just two days—short because not all monthly artisan contestants submitted top works. They quickly culled the unworthy, then ranked the rest, aided by expert judges.
But many skilled artisans entered without knowing rivals' works, turning the results board at reception into a marketplace frenzy.
"Vulcan? Who's Vulcan?"
"Never heard of him."
"A newbie took 1st? How long's it been?"
"Damn. Why'd this guy show up now? I was so confident!!"
"Hmph. Even without him, you think you'd place? I'm not on it either!"
Artisans anxiously scanned for names. Some despaired, others content, a few grumbled about rigging.
Works weren't revealed until finals, fueling denial.
As expected.
Vulcan's name topped the list, naturally. Even among elites, Epic items were rare. Only 30 advanced, but Rares were common in top ranks—high grades were tough.
Thus, skilled artisans got respect, and the event drew attention. Building fame here put your name on players' and NPCs' lips.
Finals tomorrow? Schedule lines up perfectly.
Vulcan checked ranks and headed back to the forge without delay. Finals theme revealed on-site, no prep needed—but he had experiments in mind.
He'd been game-focused lately, but reality beckoned too. Without class reset and incarnation, he'd have prepped more for that big event.
Luckily, three days away, avoiding finals/practical overlap. Overlap might've rushed him.
After final checks and tests, Vulcan headed to the venue next day, relaxed.
"Mr. Vulcan? Please wait in this lounge."
On time, a guide NPC led him. Odd to gather 30 rivals together, but they solemnly prepped, glancing at top prelim winner Vulcan without much chit-chat.
Six players including me? Quite a few.
But Vulcan had Dragon Eye. He discerned players from NPCs, names, traits effortlessly.
A huge edge in contest. Knowing states hinted at their gear directions.
With practical eval last, reflecting that could secure advantage.
They hid info to avoid exploitation—same reason.
Doesn't matter to me.
Pointless for Vulcan. Countering advantages? Petty trick for equals.
Others prepped long, levels 190+, but Vulcan was confident.
His planned combo would win regardless of foes or their works.
No standout genius—just even mediocrity. Wrong focus might mismatch others, so he stuck to plan.
"The main contest will begin soon. Artisans, please enter the venue."
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!!"
Soon, the finals curtain rose.
Thirty pre-lit braziers filled the hall with sweltering heat, but no smiths sweated or faltered—fire-hardened pros unpacking tools, awaiting theme.
"All prepared? Then, reveal the theme~!"
Emcee's shout kicked off clanging metal echoes as a massive scroll unfurled mid-air, unveiling the theme to all.
Weapon that Can Pierce Anything
As Vulcan predicted, prelim-paired theme for finals.
"Begin crafting!!"
Some hesitated at the reveal, but most—expecting it—dove in, melting ores per recipes.
Vulcan too. But unlike them, his movements oozed leisure.
Live rules allowed pre-made self-crafted items. No rush—he focused on infusing story into his creation.
"Huh? Huh?? Contestant Vulcan, what's that? The theme is clearly... No, it doesn't violate, but... are you really making that?!"
Emcee and artisan crowd buzzed wildly.
Prelims blocked "shield" with nails; finals' broad "weapon" allowed leeway—but what emerged from his hands was utterly unforeseen.