Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 170
>Chapter Title: Ten Dazzling Cards
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>Ten cards rose amid the eye-dazzling light.
"Ah...."
Dohyun let out a sigh upon confirming them.
There was no brilliant golden hue he had hoped for.
Instead, there were three shit-brown cards, four silver ones, and three yellow ones.
If it had been before, he would have been thrilled to get three yellow cards, but that was human nature for you.
Once you'd pulled a legend, yellows just didn't cut it anymore.
'They said the odds go up as your level increases.'
Not all random skill draw tickets were created equal.
The one given at level 10 and the one at level 50 had vastly different grade probabilities.
It was designed so higher grades appeared more as you leveled up.
That was why low-level players almost never had legend-grade skills.
'Hidden pieces or quest rewards give the real good ones.... But there's no way those exist at low levels.'
That made it all the more disappointing.
The odds should've been even better than at level 50.
With Eyes of Truth, he had good reason to hope.
'No helping it.'
He couldn't resent the tactless legend card for staying quiet.
At least two hero-grade ones had shown up, so that was a relief. It made choosing easier this time.
Two were side by side on the left.
He picked the one further left, and yellow light burst forth.
*Ding-*
[You have acquired the hero skill 'Fierce Strike Slash.']
'Huh? A swordsman skill?'
But what was this?
He hadn't expected much from yellow, yet it gave him a swordsman skill.
Sword Aura was his bread-and-butter, but Fierce Strike Slash was one he used often too.
In terms of usage frequency, Fierce Strike Slash might even edge it out.
That made sense, of course.
[Fierce Strike Slash]
-Grade: Hero
-Restriction: Swordsman class
-Description: The technique of a swordsman who charged through thousands of enemy troops on a blood-soaked battlefield to rescue an ally.
No one can stop the ferocious strike of a swordsman unleashing unyielding resolve.
-Effect: Perform a slashing attack while sliding forward.
The power and travel distance increase with each consecutive slash. It continues as long as attacks connect and mana remains.
-Cooldown: 40 seconds
Fierce Strike Slash.
A skill that ferociously advanced while cleaving enemies, just like the name.
Like a demolition chariot, it had endless utility as a mobility or attack tool.
It was especially useful against groups. A spec-boosted swordsman activating Fierce Strike Slash was terrifying.
'No wonder it's called the siege war's demolition chariot.'
Some tanks even built their skill trees around it.
Dohyun and the Sword Emperor focused more on versatility, but Bora Uncle always licked his chops at that.
-I wouldn't have used it like that if I were a swordsman.... What a waste on a swordsman.
-Wouldn't that break balance if Uncle had it? No control needed.
-Exactly. Easy mode in moderation, dude.
-Easy mode my ass, your talents are the real easy mode. Us common folk gotta brute-force with raw specs, right? Ah, that's perfect....
A skill even Bora Uncle coveted, so its performance was proven.
He was glad to get it.
But good things in life often came with bad.
[No skill slots available. Cannot equip.]
[Please unequip a skill.]
'Ah, already full?'
RPGs had skill slots, and Godose had 13 fixed ones.
Most players barely filled them after graduating Pratel Citadel....
Dohyun was only level 60, yet his were already screaming.
No surprise, given how many skill cards he'd hoarded.
He'd monopolized hidden pieces for them, after all.
'No choice. It'll loosen up later....'
Dohyun clicked his tongue and unequipped one.
A perfect candidate was handy.
[Unequipping common skill 'Charge Slash.']
[Equipping 'Fierce Strike Slash' in skill slot.]
Charge Slash was the perfect inferior version of Fierce Strike Slash.
Even in his Demolock days, it was a temporary throwaway until Fierce Strike Slash.
Most common skills were like that.
Later on, slots filled with rares at minimum, then heroes and legends.
Commons were made for newbies to use briefly then discard.
'Well then....'
Quest claimed, slots sorted.
'Time to taste Fierce Strike Slash again after so long?'
You had to use a new skill.
Dohyun glanced at the winding-down Lantern Festival and dashed to the field before the crowds thinned.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Hero Guild office.
BAM!
Berze slammed the desk as usual, and people hastily scattered.
Even the director giving a report snuck glances before fleeing.
Soon, Berze was alone.
The atmosphere was far different from before.
Guild members peeked through the window and whispered.
"...Guild master seems more hot-tempered lately, doesn't he?"
"Yeah.... He used to be so composed."
"He's been sensitive since losing the Brión 1st place. Foams at the mouth whenever Kaiser comes up."
"Yeah, forums always compare them. Otome game this, that.... *Ahem.*"
"Hey, don't laugh. Careful, you'll get fired if he hears."
They glanced around warily and slipped away.
They were right. Hero Guild's prestige had fallen.
The only guild to top the top 100 rankings.
Heroes saving the tormented from villains.
One of Godose's top 5 handsome men.
One of the few challenging the Top 10 Guilds.
"...Damn it."
All those glorious titles shook because of one Kaiser.
He was called "otome game boy" more often now, turning into a meme.
This couldn't go on.
The Hero Guild master, who lived off the hero image, couldn't win hearts as an otome game boy.
"Again, Kaiser? You bastard."
Crunch.
He'd worked tirelessly to restore his image.
But no matter what Berze did, the tags stuck: 'Kaiser did it,' 'Berze's no match for Kaiser,' 'Berze? Otome game boy?'
Memes spread faster than recovery.
It took over a year to build that fortress; it crumbled in seconds.
"Hoo.... Damn communities."
Berze felt wronged.
He'd just stayed quiet, so why the sudden mockery?
Blame SNS development.
But not entirely.
-Ah, Hero Guild's been cringy forever, sick of it. Serves them right.
-Fr real lol. Always controlling bosses, mass executions, manipulating opinion. Mind-blowing how people simped.
└Only victims know. Hero Guild's total scum. Low-class thugs.
-Still, villain hunts felt good. And he's hot.
-Yeah, otome game gay boy~
-No lol otome meme won't die. Saw Berze otome comic on forums.
└Yeah lol it was hilarious trash. Gonna get sued?
└Fr, even if Berze reports, no defense.
Those who'd long resented Hero Guild pounced now.
They hadn't dared before due to status.
Now public hate turned courage to amusement.
Karma for Berze's shameless deeds to claim his spot.
'Was he lucky? How'd he find it first?'
With Kaiser blocking the way again, Berze's anger boiled.
No Slayer trait, yet he snagged the field boss.
This field boss control cost Berze dearly.
He knew reckless control hurt his image now, yet he had to kill Troll King 200 times.
'It'll delay another day.'
A week more would've finished it; now delayed.
Why Berze clung so hard?
One reason.
"...It's me. How's the Luidra quest progressing?"
-Yes, Guild Master. As ordered, secretly with elites only, no help from affiliates or members. Should wrap in a week, then start recruiting.
Luidra quest.
A hidden piece found by sheer luck.
Berze invested 6 months to unlock the first hidden quest.
One condition: the title 'Bearer of the King's Grudge,' from killing the same field boss 200 times.
That's why he'd endured the hate, controlling bosses and info.
Now, time for fruition.
"Good. No mistakes. Much rides on this
-Yes. But.... Really open recruitment to 'anyone'?
"No issue. Hero Guild team enters Luidra raid anyway. They're just to fill required numbers."
-Ah....
And more.
They'd spread the word too.
About Hero Guild conquering Luidra.
'Cover controversy with controversy. Bury sensational news with more sensational.'
Basic opinion control.
Berze's meme thrived from lack of distraction.
Luidra was perfect bait.
And more.
Gratitude for joining key quest could build good image.
People think 'not that bad' after one good deed post a hundred bad.
'Pratel's Luidra, then that Empire thing....'
Chain them, and no more top 100 limits.
Ready to soar higher.
That day made current humiliation bearable.
"Go on, yap away. Soon you won't dare."
Perfect. No hitches.
Just wait.
Berze smiled for the first time in ages, anticipating the moment.