- The Black Knight: You will never be able to defeat me, king!
- That was like playing spot the difference.
- So, which one of them was the real Karuna?
- Sir, the Karuna that you brought is a fake.
- No way! It was a gift, though?!
Seol sat down on a chair in the corner of the smithy, restlessly gathering his hands.
“Are you praying or something?”
“Praying? No, my hands just felt stiff.”
"I suppose that makes sense... I doubt there's any god out there you would wholeheartedly believe in."
Jamad could tell Seol’s experience in the heavens wasn’t something that he could openly talk about.Jamad glanced at his Mountain Fists, then at the biometal that was exploring it.
“You don’t have to be worried. It doesn’t weaken its effects or damage it in any way.”
“If you say so, then I believe you. I don’t doubt you. I was… just thinking that a lot of time has passed.”
“...A lot of time has passed?”
"Tancreed's scales were considered inherently holy within our tribe. They represented the guiding light of the Pointy Mountains, serving as the beacon of hope for our race."
“......”
There was a slight somber tone in Jamad’s voice.
"But... Why dwell on the past? Those forging ahead always seek a new path."
“Everything’s bound to change after all.”
“That’s that, but… I've heard of a metal like this existing before, yet even though I'm seeing it with my own eyes, I still can't believe it."
"It's because it's an extremely rare material. First, you have to process the Armor Rat's biometal without killing it. Then, you have to kill the Armor Rat instantly so the biometal thinks it's still attached to its host, even after it's been turned into an ingot."
“And after that?”
"You have to melt the ingot and then bring it back to room temperature. When you do that, the biometal realizes it's in danger and instinctively looks for a new host. In this case, the Mountain Fists."
Jamad had a worried look on his face.
“And what you said about it not damaging it in any way…”
"Biometal is the complete opposite of something that would do that. It simply wants a safe place to stay, a home. And given its property of enhancing their homes, the chances of causing damage are extremely low."
“Is this the only item with those effects?”
"Nope, consider how many strange things exist in Pandea. Other metals and non-metals exist that have similar effects. Obviously, though, they're just as rare as biometal."
“How do you know all this when I, a resident of Pandea, don’t…”
- That’s our question too.
- Is this what job applications mean by ‘Native speaker’?
- He’s more than just a native here, though LMFAO
The Mountain Fists lay on the worktable, but for some reason, they appeared even larger than usual.
Rumble…
Crack!
A crack formed on the Mountain Fists.
“...No!”
“What’s going on? What happened?”
[Biometal is unable to be in harmony with ‘Mountain Fists’.]
[Biometal is unable to adapt.]
[Biometal is destroyed.]
Crumble…
Break…
The expression on Seol’s face contorted like a sculptor who painstakingly carved a statue to only see it shatter into pieces.
- Fuck! Fuck biometal!
- Hamun! Where’s Hamun?!
- Janet! Where’s my refund?! This one’s fucked!
- Forget damaging it! I doubt it’s going to do anything at all LMFAO!
“...Was there something you forgot to explain to me?”
“...Yeah. Oftentimes, biometal fails to adapt to its host.”
“Like what percent?”
“Roughly… Twenty five percent…”
“If it’s that low, then—”
“...chance of success.”
“God damn it. How many ingots do we have?”
“We have four left now.”
“I thought our lack of time was the biggest issue, but I guess not.”
Seol wasn’t sure of the exact statistics, but the failure rate for the biometal ingot was definitely high.
The simplest explanation for the biometal ingot would be comparing it to a low-rank enchantment stone.
Equipment upgrades, except for imbuing spells and the temporary measure of sharpening it with a whetstone, were all accomplished through enchantment stones.
And biometal ingots were classified in the low-rank category.
It wasn't because biometal ingots were of low quality, but because they could only improve weapons to the 1st or 2nd level.
To strengthen a weapon even further, other materials and methods were necessary.
The enchantment process was quite mysterious, so it often didn't work on Peerless-quality items. However, it could still be applied to items of any quality below that, including Treasure, Holy Relic, Abomination, Divine Relic, and other qualities, regardless of their unique effects.
Because Peerless items were difficult to upgrade unless one melted them down and recrafted them, some players even only used Treasure-quality items, putting as many enchantment stones into them as possible.
Obviously, though, both methods were extremely costly.
The first method was dangerous because melting down a Peerless-quality item didn’t guarantee another Peerless-quality weapon. The second method was risky because enchantment stones were exceedingly rare.
“Are you going to keep going? Wouldn’t it be better to…”
“This is the only method if we want to gain enough damage to quickly break through Hope Devourer,. Even if we can somehow deal with Agony, it’s all for nothing unless we can break through Hope Devourer.”
A few moments later, Seol poured hot metal onto the Mountain Fists again.
Pour…
[Biometal shows interest in ‘Mountain Fists’.]
[Biometal explores ‘Mountain Fists’.]
“...And the best tool to break an iron fortress like that is a large battering ram."
Knock… Knock…
The drizzle gradually ceased.
“Snowman?”
Knock knock knock!
“I heard he was in here, though…”
Creak…
The door slowly opened.
Chameli peered her head in, looking inside.
Glooow…
“...Huh?”
A strange light emanated from the building, originating from the gloves Seol was holding.
The Mountain Fists glowed with a reddish hue, casting reflections in Seol's eyes.
[[Divine Relic: Mountain Fists]
Quality: Divine Relic (Modification - Overhaul)
Recommended Level: N/A
Damage: 43(+4 per level)(Current Additional Damage: 76)
Durability: 50/50
Weight: 5.0kg x 2
Divine Relic of the Rock Molar Tribe bestowed by Tancreed. Because it has a strong frame, it can continue to awaken. It has received Yzmokan’s blessing.
Basic Effect: All stats +3, Core Stats +5
Bonus Effect: +5 MP regeneration per second, the damage and range of shamanic spells is increased by 50%. Attribute Awakening (Level 2: Volcano), 20% additional light damage on hit, using a support skill will also apply it to another ally. Damaged areas will be automatically restored(Biometal).]
‘...It was a success.’
This was the result of using all five of the biometal ingots Seol purchased, perfectly supplementing the low damage of the Mountain Fists.
Seol then helped Jamad equip the Mountain Fists.
Jamad flinched, as the gloves emitting a red energy, wrapped around his hands.
- Will you marry me?
- He’s not proposing you idiots, LMFAOOO. Stop adding weird subtitles.
- I like it, though.
- ???
“It’s nice, I can feel power surging from it. With this…”
“Yeah, we’ll be able to defeat him next time. Hm…?”
It was only then that Seol realized Chameli was looking at him. Quickly, Chameli spoke up after seeing Seol turn around.
“Sister Filia, who left earlier, sent us a message.”
“Is it good news?”
"It's... It's hard to say whether it's good or bad."
“You could tell me.”
"She mentioned that the Black Knight hadn't gone too far. That if we leave now, we should be able to catch up to him as long as we move quickly."
“It makes me a little nervous that you’re starting with the good news…”
Chameli had a worried look on her face.
“Apparently, the Black Knight… is moving toward Illia.”
“...Shit.”
"We're not late yet. Plus, considering the Black Knight's slow pace, we might even catch up to him before he reaches Illia if we leave promptly!"
“...Have you notified Earl Brispin yet?”
"Sister Filia and the black pilgrims accompanying her have already set off for Illia. I'm certain he's heard the news by now, but..."
“He’ll likely ignore the warning.”
“Yes…”
Fwirl!
Seol returned Jamad into his shadow and left the smithy. As soon as he stepped outside, he turned around to face Chameli, his expression filled with shock.
“These horses…”
"There was a horse trader nearby who owned a large ranch. The pilgrims went through the pouring rain and paid a considerable sum for these horses. Ah, do you happen to know how to..."
Fwip!
Seol skillfully mounted the horse, grabbing the reins with ease.
“So you do…”
“I can’t believe you were able to buy all of these horses… I can feel the power of your parish, vicar.”
"Even so... it's woefully inadequate to subdue the Black Knight."
“Don’t worry. It will be different this time,” said Seol, looking down the mountain.
* * *
A moment to relax.
The Black Knight had wholly forgotten that such a thing even existed.
The Black Knight never had a chance to look back on the path that he had taken. He had neither the reason nor luxury to do so.
He simply, solemnly, killed his own fragments and absorbed them.
Even when confronted with fragments stronger than himself, he utilized every method at his disposal to eventually overcome them.
That was how he inevitably acquired Agony and Hope Devourer.
[Let’s kill! More lives! I want more! More blood! It’s near here! There’s more around here!]
“Stop… Please stop.”
[But you promised me! I’m hungry!]
The Black Knight had suffered so much from Agony that he yearned to block his own ears. Agony continued to eat away at his mind.
However, it wasn’t just Agony doing that.
In fact, the Black Knight's mind had been scarred long before encountering Agony, through the countless battles he had endured.
Only now did he manage to look back,
To reflect upon the path he had traversed thus far.
The path of a murderous ghost, ensnared by vengeance and blood.
- You’re… not the Karuna that I know. Karuna is kind and warm. You’re… You’re just a monster.
It wasn’t Agony’s sinister whispers that plagued him now. It was the words of Karen, his sister, whose survival he had never anticipated.
Her words were like a dagger straight to his heart.
And the reason he turned to look back on the path he had taken wasn't because he suddenly had the luxury to do so.
Regret.
Like a piece of paper splattered with paint, there was no more room to sketch on the muddled surface.
A piece of paper stained almost entirely black.
That was the Black Knight.
“For what reason did I… I… I’m not a fake…”
[You’re a fake! A fake! Hahahahaha!]
“Shut up!”
[You messed up! Give me blood! Blood! Hehehe.]
There was no way a deranged sword like this could mend his broken heart. The only thing he could do now was to make it shut up.
Slide…
The Black Knight spotted a magnificent building shrouded in the darkness of the night in Illia. He planned to sate Agony there.
Normally, he would never do something risky.
However, he didn’t care about it right now.
“I’ll feed you until you’re full, so…”
Fffffft!
Something tore through the air.
Slide!
Agony unsheathed itself and deflected the arrow hurtling toward the Black Knight from behind.
Shake…
However, the sword also trembled, indicating it wasn't an ordinary arrow.
[I blocked it! I blocked it!]
An individual emerged from the darkness of the night.
“It’s… It’s you again.”
It was Seol, the moonlight casting a reflective glow upon him.
“Where are you trying to go in such a hurry?”
"I suppose I don't need to go far. I'll kill you and retrieve Karen.”
“And then what?”
“......”
“Drag her along into your never-ending fight?”
“...I’ll shut you up.”
“That might be a little harder this time.”
Glooow…
[The Black Knight has entered the 1st Stage of Soaring Moonlight, Crescent Moon.]
Fwooooosh!
[The Black Knight’s Agony used Meteor Point.]
[The Black Knight’s Agony pierces through a designated path.]
[All enemies in Agony’s path are dealt 170% of the weapon’s damage.]
[Those struck by Agony are afflicted with the Corrupted Wounds status.]
[Kill him! I’ll kill him!]
Seol watched Agony fly straight toward him.
Hum…
He crouched low before swiftly twisting his body and delivering an uppercut.
BAAAAAAAAM!
[Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!]
Agony let out an ear-piercing scream.
Seol used that opening to close the distance between him and the Black Knight.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The Black Knight wasn't to be underestimated simply because his hands lacked Agony.
Baaaaam!
He perfectly landed a blow on Seol’s face.
Seol threw a counterpunch simultaneously, targeting the Black Knight's abdomen.
“It’s pointle—”
BAAAAAAAM!
“Urgh…”
The Black Knight's body trembled upon being struck by Seol's fist.
[Insight activates.]
[Hope Devourer consumes the impact.]
[Hope Devourer is slightly full.]
[Hope Devourer digests a portion of the impact.]
“No way…”
- Diamond hands never fail!
- Nope! It’s just the power of money!
- Who cares! He’s stronger!
- The enhancements were enough to make him as strong as Flare, LMFAO
- Janet! We’ll let you flirt with Snowman! Janet! We’ll let you flirt with Snowman!
- This is capitalism, baby!
Seol rose to his feet again after being knocked down during the exchange of blows with the Black Knight.
Fwirll!
He poured black energy out of his hands, summoning the Twin Knights. The two warriors bore solemn expressions as they raised their swords against the Black Knight.
Clang.
Their fighting spirit had significantly shifted from before, burning brightly and poised for action.
Seol grinned ear to ear, flashing his teeth.
“I told you it would be harder this time.”
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