Chapter 238
Chapter 238
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 238
>Chapter Title: The Crystal of Resolve
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
From the stat increases due to the title, to Adventure's Book, and even the swordsmanship proficiency message.
'It's been a while. My swordsmanship proficiency went up.'
Swordsmanship proficiency hadn't budged since hitting level 28, but it jumped two whole levels at once.
And it wasn't just swordsmanship that rose.
Do-hyun's lips curved up as he eyed the various proficiencies that had climbed.
His other weapon proficiencies had risen to levels like 22 and 24.
Among them, the assassin's dagger he'd favored since the early days hit 26, while the scythe he'd used most recently reached 16.
'I've been swinging the sword a lot lately. Gotta level up the rest to match.'
That way, he could wield any weapon with equal mastery, truly living up to the title of Weapon Master.
'Why'd the unbelievable achievement pop up? I didn't hit a ranking or change a quest.'
It was odd.
Unlike everything before, he'd just followed the script this time.
'Whatever. It was that tough, and it's good for me.'
Do-hyun finally lowered his sword, dismissing the dizzying messages.
'That was seriously brutal.'
He'd practically died and come back.
The warning that his health was below 10% was proof enough.
With the Song of the White Lion he wielded, he couldn't handle the Guardian's swordsmanship at its supreme realm.
So instinctively, he'd woven in the first form of the Reverse Heaven Art, Shi.
'And that was the right call.'
He'd skipped what should've taken at least a month, unlocking the next form.
It was akin to a fateful encounter, but not mere luck.
[An overwhelming difference in power.]
[You press forward through grueling adversity, opening the path to the next form.]
[You have glimpsed the realm of the next form.]
[Acquired the Second Form, Pa.]
The messages that appeared when Do-hyun mixed footwork into the Song of the White Lion.
'Signature sword arts have training methods tailored to their schools.'
From brute-force swinging to build proficiency, to arts that rose with mastery of technique.
'So many methods out there, and I was curious about Reverse Heaven's. Didn't expect this.'
The Reverse Heaven Art was swordsmanship for forging ahead through any calamity.
True to its origin tale, proficiency rose by overcoming adversity.
In other words, this fight had been an absurd gap worthy of such a trial.
[Fine swordsmanship. I see the will behind your blade. I can trust you with this.]
Do-hyun looked up at the Guardian's pleased voice.
The Guardian, now meeting his eyes, exuded a gentle air unlike before.
But Do-hyun, staring back, wore a sullen expression.
'Had he not stopped that final swing, I'd be the one on the ground.'
The moment he'd pierced the sword gale and stepped forward.
The instant he'd awakened the second form on the brink of death and unleashed its power.
Breaking through the fierce blizzard, he'd felt an unstoppable momentum graze his throat.
A chilling sensation. Undeniably death.
He'd sensed defeat instinctively, yet the Guardian held back the follow-up.
'It was just a test, after all.'
Thanks to that, no death penalty wasted a precious day on the World Quest. A huge relief.
Still, it soured his mood.
But Do-hyun didn't know.
The Guardian was struggling to suppress his shock.
'For a split second, I nearly struck for real without thinking.'
Truth be told, from the moment the kid unleashed his unique style, he'd been half-serious.
Even weakened by age, a supreme realm knight shouldn't show such to a growing apostle.
He'd sensed something hidden in the boy and tested him at full gauge.
Yet the boy surpassed it.
'Did I feel threatened...? Me...?'
For that brief instant, he'd been overwhelmed.
It felt like he'd be devoured by fangs that pierced anything. The unfamiliar swordsmanship sent chills down his spine.
Embarrassingly, he'd nearly erred.
A feeling he hadn't known since reaching supremacy.
'To feel that from some greenhorn...'
Gazing at the ravaged space, the Guardian grinned.
Half of it was that man's doing.
'Interesting.'
But contrary to the sentiment, the smile on the Guardian's face faded.
Regret.
'Had you come a bit later...'
Too early for such a talent brimming with potential.
Three years... no, even one year later.
'Perhaps I could've quelled it then.'
Regret lingered, but the Guardian shook it off.
Wanting that much was greed.
He was the Guardian now. Time to let go of mortal regrets.
'As long as no one touches the seal.'
Clearing his mind, the Guardian stepped closer to Do-hyun.
To give the promised reward.
[I am the Guardian. I've lost all treasures of my living days. This is all I can offer.]
He extended his hand, and a strand of light flickered from his fingertips.
The light spread instantly, coursing through heart and brain before surging upward.
Do-hyun shed his sullen look, eyes alight with curiosity.
Wondering what treasure it would be.
Flash-
The light grew, then shrank to a dot.
Do-hyun's eyes widened in surprise.
The tiny light shot forward, landing on his palm and forming a small vial.
Then the messages appeared.
[Acquired the Guardian's treasure as reward.]
[Acquired 'Crystal of Resolve,' the potion born from the Guardian's unyielding conviction and unbreakable will.]
[Unique acquisition reward for the first to earn the Guardian's acknowledgment.]
[The Guardian's treasure is eternally bound to Kaiser upon acquisition.]
'...What?'
Unique Legendary?
Stunned briefly, Do-hyun hurriedly checked the info.
[Crystal of Resolve]
-Rank: Legendary (Unique)
-Description: A potion infused with the conviction of a great king who never gave up.
-Effect: Consumed upon use, absorbing the king's conviction to grant partial use of the power of resolve.
'It's really a Unique Legendary?'
He'd gotten the White Lion's Saga Sword today, too.
Two Unique Legendaries in one day. Do-hyun swallowed hard, eyes gleaming with excitement.
He looked like a kid with an unexpected gift.
'Your nostrils are flaring big time. Good stuff, Master?'
'Riza?'
'Obviously! It's Unique Legendary!'
'Riza.'
No wonder. He'd already savored Unique Legendary with the White Lion's Saga Sword.
A second one appearing? How could he not be thrilled?
'But isn't that a consumable? You said gear beats consumables last time, right?'
'Riza?'
'Well, one-shots are stronger, but mostly one-time use...'
Do-hyun trailed off, rechecked the info, and grinned.
'Consuming it grants partial use of resolve's power... Basically a trait, huh?'
That changed things for consumables like this.
Not vanishing after one use—it granted permanent ability.
Do-hyun popped the lid without hesitation and downed it.
[Consumed Crystal of Resolve, gaining partial power of resolve.]
[When showing unyielding resolve, power activates, temporarily surpassing physical limits.]
'Check this out. Feels just like a trait.'
Conditional, sure, but near-passive. As trait-like as it got.
Not quite a true trait, of course.
Traits were transcendent. Transcended and non-transcended were worlds apart.
Take Berze's Flame Sword: originally just fire-attuned sword energy.
Like Do-hyun's Darkness Cloak on his blade.
Post-transcendence? Horrific power.
'Not all transcendents are busted, though. Foot Eater's transcendence turns the user's feet into the eaten animal's—trash.'
Hilariously, most skills get sealed after.
Ruled half-monster, unusable except a few.
Trash trait from start to finish.
'Anyway.'
Snapping from thought, Do-hyun focused on resolve.
At a glance, its effect seemed vague.
Conditional, and "surpassing limits" undefined.
But Do-hyun wasn't disappointed. He smiled.
'Details come with use, but even if meh, I'll take it.'
A passive without filling skill or gear slots? No complaints.
No cooldown either.
The gap would widen over time.
For maxed users, tiny edges decided wins.
'Worth the Unique Legendary and more.'
Satisfied with the reward, then—
[Acquired treasure, triggering linked special event.]
[Special Event: Truth of the Forgotten Tomb occurs.]
As the message popped, the Guardian spoke slowly.
[My conviction is fully passed on. One duty as Guardian lifted.]
"Ah."
[You inherit my conviction. You deserve to know why this place exists, what's buried here.]
The Guardian's eyes grew infinitely heavy.
Eyes of one weathered by storms. By pains untold.
A chill ran down Do-hyun's spine, sensing fragments of that life.
[Do you know why this is called the Forgotten Tomb?]
The Guardian spoke.
Do-hyun answered without much thought.
"...Because it's where a forgotten king is buried?"
That was the World Quest: save the buried king.
But the Guardian shook his head.
[No. This is no tomb for a king.]
"Then..."
[In my prime... Not a fragmented conviction like me, but my true self at its most radiant. Even that supreme self couldn't overcome one catastrophe.]
Do-hyun froze. Familiar words.
Recall hit quick: the Lion King's spirit.
[Too powerful—even supreme allies couldn't win. We chose mutual destruction.]
"...No way?"
[Ho, you know already? Fitting, since another era's me acknowledged you.]
The abyss-born worst fiend.
A horrific being devouring existence itself.
The one that self-destructed with him, plummeting to ruin.
[The Devourer of Existence. This is its sealed tomb.]
Long ago, the abyss that nearly doomed a great empire sleeps here.
That was the Forgotten Tomb's truth.