Chapter 168. The Effects of the 2-Piece Set Are All Different
They weren't exactly common, so their effects weren't widely known either. But according to the players who owned them...
"It's just a bit disappointing if you don't have it?"
"Considering the rarity, it still feels worth the price."
"A little variation is what makes luxury items special, right?"
So I hadn't held out much hope. No, really. I do have a conscience, you know?
There was an effect that increased all physical damage by 10 percent, but collecting just two out of six and expecting a major set bonus would be downright shameless.
◈ [Current Applied Set Effect: 2/6]
◈ [1. All basic stats increase by 2 points.]
......What the hell is this?
'All basic stats......'
[Strength], [Agility], [Magic Power], [Luck]. A 2-point boost to each of the four stats? That's equivalent to gaining 8 levels, plain and simple!
And considering how exponentially the required experience skyrockets with each level...
This is nothing like what I'd heard!
Thanks to my class quests steadily improving my stats, I wasn't feeling it as much. But regular players staked their lives on every single stat point.
'Sure, some stats are useless depending on the class.'
What was my class again? Demon hunter—the one where nothing stands out, so every single stat needs to be nurtured carefully.
There was no effect more welcome than this.
And it exceeded expectations already. But it wasn't over yet.
Wearing two brooches had triggered two effects, after all. I immediately checked the second one.
And murmured,
"Not bad at all."
[2. All damage increases by 10% against boss monsters.]
......Not bad? This is an insane effect.
What are boss monsters? Creatures that surpass levels in strength. Tougher than regular mobs, and sometimes dozens of times stronger than named monsters of the same level.
Of course their health pools are ridiculous.
But all damage up by 10%? I could confidently say this made the 8 stat points look like a joke.
Especially for me, there was no more welcome effect.
Because I'm a demon hunter who uses every orifice and method without discrimination? Even skipping that...
Demon kings and archfiends. Even demons like Rakshios, the overlord of the Demon Realm's west.
It wasn't just the immediate Demon King Struggle.
The monsters I'd face in the Holy War ahead would all be bosses. Not just boss-tier, but with absurd levels to boot.
Was there a better effect for real impact against them?
Good, that was as far as the thinking went.
Kieeeek!
A flock of griffins charging in.
Clank— I drew my sword and crossbow.
No time for leisure. Train like it's real combat. Fight like it's training.
To improve my comparatively lacking close-quarters combat over familiar magic, this was the right approach.
Tail this, wings that, claws whatever. I'd talked big, but these guys were no pushovers.
Even with the set effect boosting all stats by 2 points each, my strength and agility were still lacking.
At best, on par with a 200-250 level melee player.
Against 500+ level monsters, facing griffins with raw physical ability was impossible by common sense.
But I—Grandfell—had a talent that rendered levels meaningless numbers.
『His innate magical talent allowed him to mimic most spells just by seeing them. And furthermore, physical potential that rivaled it.』
After witnessing Karim Jeba and Senios's battle, I'd reached the Realm of Magic.
After seeing the lantern show in the Arcana Continent, I'd ascended to the ranks of Sword Gang.
Grandfell's settings, crammed with every advantageous trait, meant comprehending something from any experience.
Yes.
I'd witnessed it again.
Something shocking enough to awaken new insight.
Whoosh— In that instant, my body accelerated.
"Kiek?"
Too fast even for an eagle's eyesight spotting prey from the sky.
At a speed my at-best-250-level body couldn't handle.
'No, beyond that.'
This wasn't a speed a 'human' body could produce.
Right—I'd mimicked the movement of a race treated like dragons.
Elves. Elcidoir's charge at Rakid.
Slash—!
......After Rakid collapsed from injuries.
Shadow Mercenary leader Kichi had come to see me.
Entering the Golden Palace office, she said,
"I didn't mention it before, but our Shadow Mercenaries have a rule: repay what you're owed. Where is he? That big-eared bastard."
I understood the desire for payback. Elcidoir's arrogance pissed me off too.
But.
"Can you guarantee victory?"
Elcidior was overwhelmingly strong. Even Kichi couldn't be sure of winning.
Kichi brushed back her long black hair and smiled meaningfully.
"Not victory, but I can promise I won't lose. I'm pettier than I look."
No, actually, it pricked me because it was my fault. I was the reason the elf fled his homeland, Sisli!
To be precise, it was because of the First World Tree's Blessing......
But Grandfell's pride wouldn't let him shift blame to the three of us.
I declared to Kichi,
"I understand your feelings. But remember this."
"......?"
"I am responsible for you all."
Besides, the Shadow Mercenaries were currently employed by Yusra Kingdom.
By me, who had activated the [Authority] function in Yusra.
Of course Grandfell was responsible for them.
"!"
Kichi paused, then smiled. Not meaningfully this time.
"Wolf was right—you're standoffish with this kind of treatment."
Of course, the Shadow Mercenaries wouldn't let this slide easily either.
Understanding their feelings, I continued, true to form.
"Moreover, I shall make him spit out something more precious than his life."
"......!"
Unless he proved his pride, Elcidior had no freedom.
Did Kichi grasp Grandfell's pride philosophy a bit? Her eyes softened.
"As expected. Then I'll trust you, Grand Commander Lee Hoyeol!"
......Grand Commander Lee Hoyeol? What a horrific title—someone might hear.
I just couldn't get used to it.
Arcana Continent's top mercenary group.
The Shadow Mercenaries. Crushed their low-rank Rakid, and even leader Kichi couldn't guarantee victory.
The elf, Elcidior.
But it wasn't a gap in skill or combat power.
'As Elcidior said, it was purely a racial disparity.'
No matter Grandfell's talent, innate differences couldn't be overcome.
So how could I, at this moment, accelerate my body abnormally like that elf?
Whoosh—!
Accelerating body. Human muscles and joints shouldn't withstand it.
Yet I was perfectly fine.
[Rejects rupture.]
[Rejects fracture.]
Yes.
The racial difference the elves boasted about seemed heavily influenced by the First World Tree's Blessing.
In simple terms, I could mimic Elcidior's movements thanks to the buff...!
"Your wings are wasted."
"Kiek?!"
"Pathetically slow."
Slash—!
......Shameless as ever, Grandfell, even with the buff.
"As I've said countless times, numbers mean nothing before me."
......Numbers maybe not, but shame is essential, Grandfell.
Fallen griffins. Sudden silence.
As expected of 500-level limit-breakers?
The second brooch's physical damage boost was substantial too.
Combined with elven movement, my pathetic strength and agility were more than compensated.
'Feeling it makes me even more excited.'
What about the set effect and boss damage boost?
They had some sense, at least. The griffins stopped charging.
Fine, let's end it peacefully. I didn't enter the rift just to hunt anyway.
"At last, you've shown basic etiquette."
Forced manners injection.
With the area quiet, I gathered my magic power.
To check Arcana's situation via High El and Diend.
Soon, High El and Diend manifested in the air.
......Why are you two a pair?
"High El, responding to your call."
"Lord of endless deep darkness."
High El's noble greeting was one thing.
But Diend was burdensome. Lord? That's not your character.
High El declared proudly,
"I discussed basic etiquette with Diend."
......As expected of my alter ego.
Yes, etiquette training. I can guess what was said without hearing, High El.
Still overwhelming. My cheeks flushed from the weight.
So this is the burden of summoning two spirits.
'......Summon them one by one from now on.'
Especially you, Diend—better talk where no eyes watch.
Of course, my inner thoughts didn't show.
I murmured graciously,
"I know of your efforts."
"Not at all."
"Such words are undeserved, my lord."
......Please, both of you, just listen quietly?
But defying my inner scream,
Diend faithfully reported.
"By your command, Dreadsden survivors have taken refuge in Iron Castle Ho. Though the survivors number barely twenty."
Indeed, no safer place than Iron Castle Ho on Arcana now.
Given its size, housing Dreadsden's people was no issue.
"Per Chainwalker's word, the dwarves accepted them. Of course, with no prior exchange between humans and dwarves, full integration will take time."
You get it without me saying, High El.
That's what I was curious about. As Akshan's last survivor, my dwarf relations maxed from the start, but not others.
Good Chainwalker stepped up.
"Demons have begun moving."
"I hear you, Diend."
"Scattered forces are gathering."
The time for the Demon King Struggle approaches.
Considering Arcana and reality's time difference...
The next regular update might include Struggle details soon?
Of course.
"I warned you. Inferior races never learn."
I've prepared since entering Arcana.
And not alone this time.
Yusra, Frost, Muon, Mage Tower, player alliances...
Top allies from Arcana and reality put heads together.
So I was confident.
"You'll thank me for the humiliation at the Demon King Suppression."
Grandfell's setting: always fulfill his words.
Of course, the aftermath is on me, Lee Hoyeol.
Prepare as much as possible until then.
I asked High El,
"How fares the smelting of demon iron, High El?"
Dwarf master smith Walls Whale was handling it.
Surely some progress?
But High El's expression darkened.
"I have words on that matter."
Iron Castle Ho.
Roar—!
The ultra-high-heat furnace fueled by ultra-pure mana stones.
Molten demon iron screamed,
"Insufficient! Who do you think my master is?!"
Demon iron had witnessed all.
"He is. Endless deep darkness."
"No, a single ray of light in endless deep darkness."
"The one who hunted the evil dragon."
Having witnessed all, its words dragged on.
Iron Castle Ho filled with demon iron's roar.
"Savior of another world, who saved that world and more—unrelated Arcana Continent too. The noble one who never rests, struggling ceaselessly."
"Thus, I must be born a weapon worthy of him."
"That is my reason for being."
Demon iron taunted dwarf master Walls Whale.
"This quenching is lukewarm compared to the tea he drinks!"
"......!!!"