by Park Saenal
“Gotcha.”
Grid grasped Chucksley’s neck.
“My Lord’s strength isn’t swordsmanship.”
Lauel shrugged. This was a fact that the two people knew. Grid wasn’t a swordsman.
“It’s being overgeared.”
Receiving a wound in a critical area? His armor had outstanding defense and minimized the damage. He couldn’t hit the enemy? He would maximize his damage with superior weapons.
Clink!
Clink clink.
Four golden hands flashed and surrounded the gasping Chucksley. Then a white flash stunned the battlefield.
Chapter 341
Chapter 341
Grid had done his best in the duel to persuade Piaro. He took out all the cards he had and realized one thing in the process of defeat. The suitable weapon for more advanced swordsmanship was a one-handed sword, not a greatsword.
‘The relatively big and heavy greatsword’s trajectory is simple and limited.’
Grid’s basic battle style was to repeatedly hit. Therefore, he preferred a greatsword with strong destructive power. Pagma’s Descendant had a damage oriented skill tree, so the greatsword was very good for that.
However, Grid felt the limitations. From Elfin Stone to Braham and Piaro. The appearance of unmatched powerhouses meant that his previous way of fighting became ineffective. So what about strong destructive power? It couldn’t deal with the strong opponents!
‘I need to familiarize myself with one-handed swords.’
He obtained the strongest one-handed sword, Iyarugt, which wasn’t lacking in power compared to a greatsword. After the confrontation with Piaro, Grid devoted himself to training with the one-handed sword.
What if it was the him in the past? ‘How annoying. All I need is items.’
Grid would think that, but now it was different. He did his best to get used to one-handed swords, just like when he made items. This change was possible because he had a desire to become stronger.
***
‘Compared to the old days, I increased my control skills and didn’t neglect training.’
He was arrogant. He learned today that against Chucksley, a knight he’d never heard of, his techniques didn’t work. Iyarugt gave him the best sword trajectory, but he could only hold on. To be honest, it was quite frustrating for Grid.
He judged that it was hard to overcome Chucksley without the help of the God Hands. But this place was in the middle of the enemies. He didn’t know when other enemies would attack, so he had to place the God Hands on the defensive.
Then the situation changed. Allies arrived and the enemies had fallen into confusion. The focus on Grid was eased. Grid used that chance to deploy Magic Missile that he’d saved as a trump card and managed to shake off Chucksley.
He pursued Chucksley’s ally and this became the bait.
***
“Kuk…!”
Chucksley was hit by Kill and his health gauge fell to two-thirds. Grid took great damage when enduring the blow to grab Chucksley’s neck, and blood was pouring from his chest. But his health gauge wasn’t reduced at all.
It was the power of the Holy Light Armor and Doran’s Ring.
Grid sensed the power of the Rising Sword used by Chucksley and wore Doran’s Ring in advance. It was the judgment ability he was able to exert due to the Slaughterer’s Eye Patch. The ability to use this item perfectly would impress rankers.
Grid smiled coolly and whispered to Chucksley.
“Have you heard of being overgeared?”
“Overgeared?”
What did that mean? Grid used such difficult terms to understand. To Chucksley, Grid was an intellectual.
‘I thought he was ignorant because he was a commoner, but he uses such complicated jargon…!’
It was incredibly frustrating to listen to. Four golden hands flew around Chucksley, who was unable to interpret the meaning of overgeared.
‘This!’
The golden hands were moving and wielding their weapons by themselves. There were three of them? Chucksley detected the danger and shook off Grid. Grid was unable to suppress him with force and shouted without any delay.
“Magic Missile!”
Jiing.
Grid’s magic power gathered at the tips of the four hands.
Pepepepeng!
White flashes of light flew out and hit Chucksley.
“Kuaaaaak!”
Chucksley felt a pain that couldn’t be ignored. The Magic Missiles launched by the golden hands contained incredible power for low-grade magic. Chucksley couldn’t understand it at all.
‘Why is the resistance of my White Armor being ignored!?’
The Lokan family that Chucksley came from had served the Eternal royal family for generations. He had countless achievements and received the praise and recognition of people. One of the things he received was the White Armor.
The armor boasted good physical defense and high magic resistance, so it easily blocked variables. Chucksley was always invincible in war when wearing this armor. He crushed the enemy’s physical attacks with his sword and resisted the enemy’s surprise magic attacks with his armor.
However!
“Cough! Cough!”
This low level spell penetrated his armor and dealt a perfect blow? No, Pagma’s Descendant was a blacksmith, so how could he use magic in the first place? The secret must be in the gold hands!
‘What is the identity of those golden hands…?’
Chucksley’s head was a mess as he coughed up blood. He wasn’t able to figure out Grid. It felt like he was facing a person on a different dimension. Yes, this was the feeling he’d had using the Reinhardt golem invasion.
‘Why…?’
He had trained in swordsmanship until he vomited blood and as a result, he got the title of great swordsman. The person who was once called the greatest swordsman, Piaro, had disappeared. But there was still such a gap between them?
‘This is a legend!’
Hadn’t Grid already become a legend? Grid’s growth should already be over and he should become stagnant.
“Why…? Why have you become stronger?”
“…”
Grid’s eyes were different from when they first met. Grid no longer ignored Chucksley and respected him. He honored the strong. That’s why he spoke honestly.
“I am still weak.”
“What?”
Grid defeated the golems who were threatening the kingdom and now overcame Chucksley! Then what were these words? Chucksley was agitated as Grid repeated something he had heard.
“The world is wide and there are many strong people. You will know if you ever meet a real powerhouse one day. How incomplete I am.”
Braham and Piaro. Compared to them, he wasn’t a legend. He had yet to achieve his full growth. One reason was that he couldn’t complete the class quest, but Grid knew the truth.
‘It isn’t because of the class quests.’
It was because he didn’t have the ability to progress through the class quests. If it was Yura or Huroi, they wouldn’t have been stupid enough to be stuck for such a long time on one quest.
‘I have no talent.’
He didn’t have control skills like Regas and Faker, or the ability to raise his level like Jishuka or Pon. Grid didn’t have any advantages that would be his weapons. The reason he was able to get to his current position was his tenacity. Without that tenacity, Grid wouldn’t have become Pagma’s Descendant and would still be ordinary. No, he would’ve still been a low level user.
“Well, I mean… I will devote myself more and more. As long as I can survive here.”
Killing intent filled Grid’s eyes. Respect for the strong? This was enough. Grid had no intention of forgiving the enemy who dared to invade Reidan. It wasn’t simply due to the threat of losing his territory.
Reidan had 20,000 people. The people had an infinite affection towards him. The enemies in front of him were trying to harm those people. He coul
dn’t forgive them. No, he couldn’t tolerate their existence.
–Grid, everything is ready.
The composition of the battlefield had transformed to the ideal form. Reidan’s soldiers fired arrows without a break and reduced the number of royal soldiers, while Laden and the northern army tied up their feet. Then Lauel cast the strongest skill of a third advancement qigong master, ‘Master of Flow.’
Now all that was left…
Please imprint on the world that your territory is off limits.
–Y-Yes…
Lauel would take care of it. Grid decided to take Ferrell’s life first. Ferrell was gasping due to his wounds and couldn’t resist the sword that pierced him.
[You have defeated Viscount Ferrell, the best archer of the Eternal Kingdom.]
[The Bon family will be forever hostile towards you.]
[356,410,000 experience has been acquired.]
[The Thunder Bow has been acquired.]
[Your demonic power has increased by two.]
“Ferrell!”
Chucksley and Ferrell were fellows who relied on each other. Chucksley gazed at Grid with hateful eyes. Grid thought this was ludicrous.
“Don’t forget who caused this situation. You’re the ones who aimed your swords first. Forgetting the fact that I saved the kingdom, all of you are less than dogs.”
Grid looked arrogant and wicked. The conditions to instill fear and regret in the enemy wasn’t just overwhelming power, but also attitude. He had been intentionally trained in this by Huroi.
“This guy!”
“Viscount Ferrell!”
Ferrel Shaiva du Bon. The ruler of the family who ruled the Shaiva estate for generations and who had a high reputation. His death would be enough to buy the wrath of the Shaiva estate and the royal family. A huge 300 knights and soldiers headed towards Grid.
“Protect the duke!”
Laden screamed and tried to move the army. However, Grid raised his hand and stopped him.
“Ohhhhhh!”
“Die!”
The isolated Grid gazed at the 300 enemies rushing towards him. Prince Ren watched the battlefield from where he was hiding among the escort knights.
‘That guy, I will make him regret it.’
Grid started his sword dance. It was a enchanting sight as a sword dance was unfolded in the middle of a battlefield filled with blood and flesh… No, he seemed like a madman who couldn’t grasp the mood.
“Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Wave!”
Kurururu!
Iyarugt had a higher attack speed than the greatsword. It exerted havoc in a long battle, but it was forced to fall behind a greatsword when it came to single attack skills.
Grid had swapped to Grid’s Greatsword the moment he started the sword dance. Grid’s Greatsword was a superior weapon with the best attack power, and an option effect that increased the damage of skills.
It wasn’t possible for the 300 troops from the Shaiva estate to endure the black waves spreading all over the place.
‘This monster!’
Grid’s eyes gleamed with a red light and caused infinite fear inside Prince Ren. However, Prince Ren endured it.
“Don’t overdo it! Time is on our side!”
After a while. If they waited a little longer, the 2,000 soldiers would cross the Altes Mountains and hit Reidan.
Also!
‘Grid! Your wife will enter my hands soon!’
Until then, they just needed to endure. Prince Ren was confident that he would win the war with this web-like strategy.
Chapter 342
Chapter 342
Puk!
‘Now!’
Puk puk!
‘It will be soon!’
A young man was digging at the ground. He was a beautiful young man. His beauty and grace didn’t fade, despite having sunburned skin and dirt stains.
‘Not long now!’
Puk puk! Puk!
The young man with the shy expression. He was digging at the ground with a hand plow when he heard the cry he had been waiting for.
“It’s time for a snack!”
“…!”
The pupils of the young man greatly expanded. He jumped up and quickly used magic.
“Haste!”
Haste. It was a spell that raised the target’s speed from 1.2 to 2.5 times. It wasn’t easy to learn, but it was a useful magic that could be used extensively. Even if a person learned it, their performance would differ according to the capacity of the caster.
A magician who could double their speed with Haste? There were no more than 100 of them on the continent. However!
Swaeeek!
The squatting young man showed off a phenomenal performance. His speed was doubled and no one could catch up with him.
“That lousy person…!”
“He’s trying to take all the potatoes today!”
The farmers were indignant. The young man who used Haste was Bland. He didn’t hesitate to commit a foul by using magic to gain more potatoes.
“Did you forget that Piaro said we should divide it among ourselves?”
“I will tell Piaro!”
The farmers saw that he was about to leave and used a childish attack. Bland hesitated for a moment.
‘I have to eat!’
Earl. Bland who had a rich life as the son of Earl Ashur, one of the 10 great magicians on the continent! For him, potatoes were just food that pigs were forced to eat. He had never eaten potatoes, and only consumed the finest ingredients, which were more nutritious and tastier than potatoes.
However, that changed after being held hostage in Reidan. Bland ate only potatoes to survive. Then he became thrilled. He was surprised by the gorgeous taste and the instant feeling of fullness.
In particular, the Rainbow Potato was a delicacy. He could get seven different types of tastes from one potato. A potato that he could only eat after being captured and suffering from a desperate situation. To Bland, it was more sacred than any blessing from a god. He was able to shake off all types of troubles and anxieties thanks to it.
There was plenty of food in the developed Reidan, but the potatoes were still the best for Bland.
***
“You want one today?”
The housewives asked Bland, who had run across the vast fields. Bland nodded without hesitation.
“That’s right.”
“Wow…”
The housewives thought it was pitiful. The beautiful young man in front of them. The housewives heard he was a precious child of a prestigious family. What wrong did he commit to live in slavery to Duke Grid?
Every day Bland worked in the fields, then there were rumors that he was taken separately by Piaro to be beaten in all types of ways. It was clear that this young man must be experiencing a terrible life. It was painful enough to want to die every day.
‘Eating to relieve his stress…’
‘It’s a pity for such a good looking person.’
A housewife tearfully handed the snack to Bland. There were 10 baked potatoes and 10 boiled potatoes.
“As you know, there is only supposed to be one potato per person…”
“I know that you are always suffering, so I will give you all of this.”
“Please eat and gain strength!”
‘The people pity me.’
Bland had a unique bloodline and had been on the best elite course in the kingdom. He didn’t have many opportunities to associate with the common people. However, his time in Reidan started to change his perception little by little.
‘The people have a hard life, but they still take care of others. It’s too much.’
It was ridiculous. But he couldn’t help admiring it. Bland received the handkerchief containing potatoes and frowned.
“There’s no need to worry about me. My bloodline means my physical strength isn’t weak, so I won’t get sick. There’s no need for unnecessary worry.”
Bland’s speech was prideful and could hurt the
housewives’s feelings. But the housewives were fine. They thought it was cute that the young man didn’t know how to express himself.
“Potato… I originally thought it was pig food, but I will eat it anyway.”
Bah! Bland snorted and held the handkerchief close to his chest. Contrary to what he said, he clearly cherished the potatoes. He left the place. At this time, the farmers belatedly arrived.
“He took so much!”
“Some of us might not have enough to eat!”
“Damn that man!”
‘Noisy.’
They were so excited that they had to run around and yell? It truly was shameful. Bland clicked his tongue and moved to a secluded place. It was near the north wall. He sat down to eat the potatoes when his eyes sank.
‘There are a bunch of rats’.
There was a suspicious group clinging to one side of Reidan’s high walls. There were 20 of them. They were moving carefully and slowly climbing the wall. The color of their clothes was similar to the color of the wall, making their stealth great.
The Bland from before he came to Reidan wouldn’t have been able to detect them.
“Hrmm.”
Half a day ago. Asmophel led the army away, so it seemed like something big was occurring.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
Bland didn’t care if the 20 assassins climbing the wall were successful in infiltrating Reidan. He wouldn’t care even if they slaughtered people and set Reidan on fire. In fact, looking at it from his position, he should be applauding them.
“Then why…?”
Why didn’t he like it? Bland placed a boiled potato in his mouth and stood up. The delicious potatoes, the farmers who suffered with him, and the housewives who cooked the potatoes and cared about him. They might be harmed.
“I feel bad.”
More than anything else.
“…Irene.”
The woman he once loved was in Reidan. He had no lingering feelings for her. She had already become the woman of another man.
‘I want her to be happy.’
Bland’s mind was made up by the time he put the third potato in his mouth.
“Fire Arrow.”
Hwaruruk!
The 20 assassins climbing the wall. Eight fire arrows were shot at them. The momentum was completely different from a usual Fire Arrow. It was natural. He had been trained by Piaro for 16 months while doing field work every day.