Overgeared

by Park Saenal

“Believe in me.”

  Grid confidently said as he stepped into the gate for the 30th island.

  At that moment.

  [You have entered the 30th island.]

  [Your level has dropped to level 1.]

  “… Eh?”

  Grid’s eyes widened.

  “This is the reason why I couldn’t break through here.”

  Sticks belatedly sighed.

  “There is a very powerful curse. I can’t draw out all my strength.”

  “…”

  Grid frowned.

  Chapter 364

  Chapter 364

  According to Sticks, the Behen Archipelago was a beautiful and holy place until 200 years ago. It was praised as a sanctuary where former legends passed on their power to current legends. But that was a story of the past.

  Now the Behen Archipelago was transformed into a field of trials with all types of dangers. Who caused this? Sticks didn’t know, despite his age. He vaguely guessed that he would find the answer if he reached the last island.

  “I must find the answer. If the succession doesn’t function properly, the legends of the current day won’t be able to exercise their full strength.”

  “What does that have to do with you?”

  Sticks wasn’t a legend. He wouldn’t lose anything if the Hall of Fame failed to function.

  “I don’t know why you sacrificed 97 years because you want to purify this place. But I am thankful from my position.”

  Sticks smiled gently and explained his reason.

  “The legends need their strength to protect the order of this world.”

  “The order of this world?”

  It was cloudy, but Grid got a rough feeling.

  “You’re doing this for everyone?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s a noble mission.”

  It wasn’t a mockery. His son Lord, his beloved Irene, Khan, Piaro, Jude, Rabbit, and everyone else. Grid was aware of the precious world they lived in. He didn’t know the specifics, but Sticks was sacrificing himself to protect the world.

  “I will repay you for your hard work. Believe in me.”

  Grid confidently said as he stepped into the gate for the 30th island. Then he was shocked.

  [You have entered the 30th island.]

  [Your level has dropped to level 1.]

  “E-Eh?”

  Grid doubted his eyes. His level had dropped to one? His cognitive ability couldn’t figure this out.

  ‘What is this?’

  Sticks sighed and said to the confused Grid.

  “Has your body changed? This is the reason why I couldn’t break through here. There is a very powerful curse, so I can’t draw out all my strength.”

  “…”

  No, wasn’t it too much for a curse to bring him back to level one? Sticks explained to Grid.

  “It reproduces the nightmare of the challenger.”

  The 30th island, Nightmare.

  “This island reproduces the greatest trial that the challenger has already experienced. In my case, I was confronted with Reiders in front of the world tree. My power was suppressed to what it used to be and I couldn’t run away from Reiders. I can never break through the 30th island. I hope that the trials you experienced in the past aren’t too heavy.”

  “…?”

  A question mark appeared above Grid’s head as he listened to Sticks.

  ‘Wasn’t the greatest trial when I was looking for Pagma’s Rare Book?’

  His level and situation at that time should be reproduced, so why was he level one? What big ordeal could he experience at level one?

  “…Ah.”

  Grid looked around at the scenery of the island and frowned. The scene reproduced by the 30th island. He belatedly realized that it was the beginner area around the fortified city of Patrian.

  ‘I was killed dozens of times by the rabbits and bears.’

  It was the moment when the black history he sealed off for his self-defense emerged again.

  ***

  “Piaro intervened.”

  The showdown between the 1st ranked Kraugel and legendary class Grid. Chairman Lim Cheolho watched the recorded video from beginning to end and was convinced by the results.

  “But surely… I didn’t know that Kraugel would challenge Piaro.”

  Kraugel’s pride and challenging spirit was higher than predicted, as he chose the hard way by challenging the strongest. Lim Cheolho emptied a beer can and laughed.

  “I never imagined that Piaro would grow to that extent.”

  It wasn’t enough to create a new legendary class, which was different from the nine legendary classes that were inherited. Piaro’s current appearance was contradictory to the original plan. ‘Originally, he was a key character prepared for the Empress Marie, Episode 3 storyline, as well as the people’s alliance storyline.

  Grid was amazing, finding a character filled with hatred and vengeance and making him walk a new path.

  ‘Making an NPC his subordinate and actively utilizing him…’

  Satisfy was a game with a large degree of freedom. He didn’t know if Grid did this on purpose from beginning to end.

  “Um.”

  Chairman Lim Cheolho emptied his third can of beer and rose from his seat. It was to get a new can of beer out of the fridge. At that moment.

  [Quest SH100B7 has been triggered.]

  “…!”

  Chairman Lim Cheolho’s eyes widened as he heard Morpheus’ words.

  “By whom?”

  In fact, it was a nonsensical question. Quest SH100B7. It was a quest activated when a legendary class user reached the 25th island of the Contaminated Heben Archipelago. At this point, there were only two legendary classes.

  Grid and Yura. But Yura’s level was still too low.

  [Grid.]

  “Kuooh, of course.”

  Lim Cheolho was sad. Grid’s current self couldn’t clear the Contaminated Behen Archipelago quest.

  “It is relatively easy to reach the 25th island using items…”

  But from the 30th island, a higher level of control was required. Most of the items wouldn’t be applied, so Grid was at a disadvantage.

  “It might be possible if Grid maintains his current growth and challenges it again in half a year. At present, isn’t the quest clearance rate close to zero?”

  Morpheus replied with an answer that surprised Lim Cheolho.

  [Grid has a 88.19% of clearing the SH100B7 quest. The difficulty of his trials is very low.]

  “…”

  Lim Cheolho ordered one more chicken. He was planning to monitor Grid in real time.

  ***

  [30th Island]

  The place and situation where you had the most deaths is 100% recreated.

  Overcome the trial and jump past your previous self!

  Mission Clear Condition: Gain three levels.

  First Clear Reward: 500 Challenger Points.

  [The mission will start 30 minutes from now.]

  ‘The space where I suffered the most deaths…’

  Thus, the space reproduced was the novice area of Patrian. It was a reminder of how incompetent Grid was when he first started playing the virtual reality game.

  Hop hop.

  Bark bark. Bark bark bark!

  There were rabbits in the forest, deer at the lake shore, and dogs playing with children. Sticks nervously observed the scenery of the peaceful forest and tilted his head.

  “Why was this chosen as a trial?”

  Grid was too embarrassed to explain to Sticks. It was too unfortunate to see that these rabbits and deer were comparable to a terrible dragon like Reiders. Therefore, Grid remained silent as he opened his status window.

  Name: Grid

  Class: Beginner

  Health: 123 Mana: 15

  Strength: 6 Stamina: 7

  Agility: 4 Intelligence: 5

  Skills Possessed: None

  “…”

  The situation was recreat
ed 100%, so even his class and titles were reset. He was armed with equipment for beginners. Most of his hard earned items were disabled.

  Sticks kept making a fuss.

  “Where is this place? It’s so common that it’s difficult to tell. Is there a huge monster at the end of this forest? An ordeal given to Pagma’s Descendant… Heok, don’t tell me you met a dragon? This… It’s said that the difficulty of the 30th island has increased in proportion to the challenger’s ability.”

  “…”

  Grid didn’t say anything. He ignored Sticks, walking out towards the rabbits grazing.

  ‘I will get revenge.’

  He hadn’t been able to adapt to virtual reality games yet. He couldn’t move his fingers or toes at all, and his arms and legs moved separately from what he wanted.

  ‘The white rabbit who killed me with its front teeth, the black rabbit who slapped me with its hind legs, the grey rabbit that headbutted me to death!’

  He would completely wash away his disgrace and write a new history!

  Buuong~

  Grid firmed up his heart and wielded his sword. The wooden sword flew at a very slow speed. It was a level that the hopping rabbits could avoid.

  “Kuk.”

  Just a few minutes ago, Grid had 2,800 strength and 1,800 agility. It was difficult to adapt after it decreased to 6 and 4 points respectively. It was like regressing from a healthy adult to a newborn baby.

  Grid was embarrassed by the slow attack as the rabbit ran up to him. In the past, the grey rabbit had given Grid hell by hitting him a few times. But now its strikes couldn’t hit Grid.

  Deftly.

  Grid used the footwork of Pagma’s Swordsmanship, Link, to move to the left and evade the grey rabbit. They were skilled movements that an ordinary level 1 user wouldn’t be able to show. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that it was like a level 60 user. It was enough to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records for movements that a level 1 beginner could show.

  “Okay!”

  Grid marvelled at his own ability. However, there was no time to rest. The rabbit started to realize that its attack was in vain and called its kin for a pincer attack.

  “This…!”

  Grid’s face tensed for the first time. In the past, he would’ve allowed the rabbits’ pincer attack. But now Grid was different.

  “I…!”

  Teong!

  Grid showed the highest concentration as he blocked the white rabbit’s long, pointed front teeth with a wooden sword. At the same time, he aimed his fist.

  Peeok!

  The white rabbit was in tears after being hit hard. The eyes of the black rabbit shone. The black rabbit’s kick aimed at Grid’s chest, who avoided it.

  ‘This ridiculous guy.’

  Grid scoffed and aimed his wooden sword.

  Ppak!

  Jjik!

  The black rabbit’s head was hit hard and it collapsed. Grid kicked it and roared.

  “I am a legend!!!”

  Currently, Grid’s performance was higher than his stats.

  In no time, he had fully adapted to his 6 strength and 4 agility, and could freely manipulate his body to strike at the rabbit with the wooden sword.

  He was the legend who killed several strong bosses, such as the Yatan Servants, Pope Drevigo, the Great Demon Hell Gao, Vampire Earl Elfin Stone, and who had experience fighting the legendary Piaro and 1st ranked Kraugel.

  Peeok! Peok peok! Peeeeok!

  [You have defeated a white rabbit.]

  [5 experience has been acquired.]

  [You have defeated a black rabbit.]

  [5 experience has been acquired.]

  …

  …

  Grid’s fighting style became more sophisticated the more he fought. He beat the rabbits with a skill that was hard to believe for a level 1 user. But Sticks wasn’t inspired as he watched from the side.

  At the same time, in Reidan.

  “Abubu! Abuoo~!”

  Lord, armed with the ‘Baby Wooden Sword’ made by his father Grid, was hunting a ‘desert rabbit’ that was twice as powerful as a normal rabbit. Lord caught the rabbit while crawling around on all fours. It was enough to raise the admiration of Piaro, who once dreamt of being a sword saint.

  ‘The young lord has an excellent talent in swordsmanship.’

  Perhaps, the ultimate genius wasn’t Kraugel, as Piaro thought.

  Chapter 365

  Chapter 365

  Peok peok!

  Peok peok peok!

  The battle between Grid and the rabbits was coming to an end. He squeezed out his last remaining power to prevent the rabbits from attacking, evading and then succeeding in a counterattack to win.

  Jjik!

  Kuuong!

  “Hahat!”

  The rabbits made X-shaped eyes and died. Grid saw them and felt like a 10 year slump had disappeared. He had been killed by rabbits more than a dozen times in the past! He was glad to be able to erase that terrible black history that he didn’t want to think about again. His mind was lightened and pleasure filled his body.

  He felt rejuvenated.

  “Kuahahahat!”

  Grid laughed with joy. Of course, he paid special attention to his image as lord of Reidan and master of Overgeared. He tried to laugh in as dignified a manner as possible. Sticks’ face was confused as he watched Grid.

  ‘One of the nine legends, Pagma’s Descendant is fighting with rabbits?’

  It couldn’t be. Sticks denied reality and urged Grid.

  “Grid, stop joking and start now.”

  This seemed like a peaceful forest, but there would certainly be a fearsome monster at the end.

  ‘I encountered a gourmet dragon… What if Grid encounters a light dragon or dark dragon?’

  He wouldn’t be deceived by Grid who was harassing ‘innocent’ rabbits. There was a high possibility that a rare dragon existed in this forest. In a short while, Grid would fight against the dragon.

  The moment Sticks tried to maintain his tension.

  Fla~sh!

  A flash of light fell onto Grid’s body, who was holding a wooden sword above a rabbit. It was the symbol of a level up. Sticks saw it and faced reality.

  “D-Don’t tell me… Does this mean hunting rabbits was really your biggest ordeal?”

  No, what was this? Sticks couldn’t understand it at all.

  “Hum hum.”

  Grid turned away from the confused Sticks. He was embarrassed and had nothing to say. He just checked the notification window that appeared.

  [Your level has risen.]

  [10 stat points have been acquired.]

  ‘Okay.’

  The lower the level, the lower the power of the stats. The basics stats were so low that it was easy to feel strong with a new investment of stat points.

  ‘First of all, increase agility to 10.’

  The rest would be invested in strength. It was the ideal stat distribution to increase the speed of hunting for novice beginners.

  [Your agility has risen.]

  [Your agility has risen.]

  …

  [Your strength has risen.]

  [Your strength…]

  …

  Gaining three levels was the condition to clearing the 30th island. Grid invested his stat points without any delay.

  ‘Next is the deer.’

  He faced the threat that were the thirsty deer at the lake shore.

  Sneak sneak.

  Grid approached the deer as sneakily as possible. Originally, the deer were difficult for level 2 beginners. The deer’s physical strength and attack power was at least three times higher than rabbits.

  But who was Grid?

  ‘I am a legend!’

  Grid was filled with courage as he hunted the deer. He paid attention to the deer’s kick, keeping a distance favorable to him before striking the deer with the sword.

  The 30th island. The worst gateway that caused a challenger’s despair by 100% repr
oducing their worst trial…

  It was the moment when 1st ranked Kraugel’s place of frustration was turned into a basic training field for Grid.

  ***

  [You have succeeded in the mission.]

  [500 challenger points have been acquired.]

  [Your level has returned to normal.]

  Grid, who returned to the level 306 Pagma’s Descendant from the level 3 beginner, was impressed.

  ‘My body feels great.’

  His body was light and boiling with power. He stretched out his hand and a sharp wave burst out. He jumped slightly and reached an explosive height. He had perfect and delicate control over each of his 10 fingers.

  This was the flesh of a legend, compared to a level 3 beginner.

  ‘I was unaware that my body has grown to this extent.’

  In other words, it meant he hadn’t been using his body properly.

  ‘Moving forward, I have to pay more attention to it.’

  Grid contemplated on his past self. He was growing in real time. Sticks wasn’t aware of this and asked with a loud voice.

  “…Are you really Pagma’s Descendant?”

  It was a question full of distrust. Grid’s appearance was shocking as he struggled with the rabbits and deers. In the end, Grid couldn’t ignore him any longer and spoke honestly.

  “I am dull-witted. I was always inferior to others, and went through trials that others wouldn’t have experienced. Does that mean I shouldn’t be a legend?”

  Pride was in Grid’s eyes. It was pride in himself. Sticks felt his confidence and shook his head.

  “No, that isn’t it. I don’t have any doubts.”

  A dull-witted person was born again as a legend. That was even better than the genius legends. It meant he tried harder than anyone else.

  “Maybe I respect you more.”

  Sticks smiled and spoke in a straightforward manner. Grid smiled in response and walked to the gate of the 31st island.

  ***

  [You have entered the 31st island.]

  The 31st island was uncharted territory for Sticks. He was surprised to see the scene stretched out in front of him.

  “City…?”

  That’s right. The 31st island was a city. Hundreds of buildings were lined in four rows, and the streets were crowded with carriages and people. ‘Where is this place? Why is a city recreated?’ Grid’s voice was heard as Sticks tried to reason it out.

  “This is the fortified city of Patrian.”