Overgeared

by Park Saenal

  The name of the nine former legends. Most players were aware of them. It was because the former legends occupied a large amount of Satisfy’s worldview. But what about other legends? The legends before the previous generation? They were unknown. It was virtually impossible for a player to collect the information of all the legends in the past. It was because a person who was too far in the past wouldn’t be mentioned well in history.

  Pokibun, Ten, Arin… They were legends in the distant past that not much was known about. But Kasim was well aware of the former legend, Lantier. His master often told the story.

  The introduction was too long. Faker avoided the attacks of the death knight Kyleo and skeleton knight while paying attention to Kasim.

  “First of all, can you save Khan?”

  -My teacher also used the name Lantier.

  “…?”

  -Lantier isn’t the name of an individual. It’s the title given to the head of Eclipse, a shadow group that existed for over a thousand years. We…the teacher who taught Doran and I was the 32nd Lantier. Do you understand?

  Puok!

  Kyleo’s dagger was deeply embedded in Faker’s shoulder. Faker was in pain but the skeleton knight protected Kyleo against his counterattacks. Kasim’s explanation continued.

  -From now on, I will give you the techniques meant for a legendary assassin. Of course, it isn’t complete. Many years passed and many techniques were lost.

  This strength.

  -Will it raise you to the legendary status or will you stay at the same level as me, Doran, and our teacher? It’s purely up to you.

  Chaaeng! Chaeng!

  Why was Kasim doing this? Didn’t Kasim know what Khan meant to Grid? Faker grumbled about Kasim, rather then rejoicing at receiving the forerunner of a very important hidden quest. He put Khan’s safety higher than his development. He wanted to stop Kasim, even if it meant not receiving the hidden quest.

  “Kasim…!”

  Faker urged Kasim to move.

  -Don’t fret. I will arrive soon.

  Kasim’s words were meaningful.

  “I will compliment you on your diligence.”

  Veradin’s voice was heard at the same time. Faker was unable to exert his full strength due to Tower of Command and was imprisoned by the skeleton knight. He sensed his death when he saw Kyleo’s dagger flying.

  Veradin. He had a high level of survival and dominance stat that made it hard to see him as a normal necromancer. He dealt painful despair to Faker. Faker realized it since he stabbed Veradin with Moon Sting. Veradin still had a lot of hidden power left. Veradin was several levels higher than Faker. Maybe Immortal was more terrifying than the Overgeared Kingdom thought?

  ‘I’m sorry, Khan.’

  Kyleo’s dagger entered Faker’s field of view. It wasn’t just the shape of the blade. The snake scales embossed on the green handle were clearly marked in his eyes. Now Faker was going to die. Faker demonstrated transcendent concentration. His thinking power transcended the speed of time.

  Gulp!

  Just before the dagger stabbed between his eyes. Faker swallowed a small drug that he had inserted in the gap of his molars. It was the ‘Assassin’s Mindset’ that he obtained from a hidden quest in the past. A person who swallowed the drug would immediately explode when they activated it, ‘instantaneously’ targeting the enemy within 2 meters.

  However, the death penalty increased by three times. It meant that the user lost three times more experience and had a triple chance to drop items. In short, it was crazy. It was something that shouldn’t be used unless the person was willing to quit the game.

  However, Faker swallowed it without hesitation. It was purely to increase Khan’s chances of survival. If he were to die and the death knight and skeleton knight freed, Sua and the Red Phoenix Group wouldn’t be able to deal with the remaining enemies to save Khan.

  Then.

  Puhahahak!

  Faker’s shadow started rising like a waterfall. It was the moment when King of Shadows Kasim appeared. He used Shadow Move several times to travel from the royal palace where Lord and Irene lived and rose from Faker’s back, stabbing at Kyleo with his dagger.

  “Cough!”

  “Awful people. You deserve this.”

  Faker smiled as he confirmed Kasim’s appearance.

  Veradin was baffled. “Who are you?”

  Faker, the Red Phoenix Group, and now Kasim. Veradin gritted his teeth at the people that kept appearing.

  “Don’t disturb us!” Veradin screamed.

  Kyleo and the skeleton knight attacked Kasim in response to Veradin’s order. Kyleo was releasing more poison than before. Veradin’s mana was quickly consumed. His mana potions couldn’t keep up with the speed of mana consumption. This wasn’t what Veradin intended. Kyleo was running wild.

  Why? Veradin still had dominance remaining. The moment the question popped into Veradin’s mind.

  Chaaeng! Chaeng!

  Kasim swung his dagger just as fast as Faker and more vicious than Kyleo. Then the shadows at the feet of Kyleo and the skeleton knight rose.

  Puoook!

  Kwajajajak!

  “What…?”

  Veradin’s face turned white. Kyleo’s health feel sharply as he was penetrated by the shadow spear while the skeleton knight turned to ashes.

  Kiik…! Kiiiing!

  Kyleo’s runaway condition was getting out of control. He waved his sword randomly, speaking in an odd voice as he emitted a huge amount of poison. Why?

  Kasim answered. “This guy, he still has the memory of being murdered by me?”

  “…!!!”

  Veradin was shocked. He knew the end of Kyleo so he finally realized Kasim’s identity.

  “King of Shadows!”

  The strongest assassin currently in existence. His presence across all the shadows of the world was a death sentence that couldn’t be avoided.

  “Shadow Soldiers.”

  He was as majestic as any other king with his 100,000 shadow soldiers.

  “Not a target…” Veradin muttered with a confused expression. Why was such a big monster in the Overgeared Kingdom? He shook with fear as he felt doubts. The huge smithy was already filled with hundreds of thousands of shadow soldiers.

  “W-What is this?”

  “Eh…? Eh eh? Aaaack!”

  The screams of the necromancers belonging to Immortal rang out. The number of dead bodies increased. Kasim’s shadows were a perfect counter to the necromancers who specialized in a large number of troops. The necromancers were overwhelmed with numbers and were helpless.

  Seokeok!

  Chukakakakak!

  The dozens of ghouls and skeleton knights were shattered by the shadow swords and spears flying in all directions. In the center of the smithy covered by darkness, Kasim handed a booklet to Faker. It was a booklet containing Lantier’s knowledge.

  “This is what Doran inherited from Teacher. The skills couldn’t be succeeded with my talent and emotions. But it might be possible for you.” Kasim had been watching Faker for the several years that he guarded Lord. He saw that Faker’s talent transcended himself. “For you, this power is just the beginning. First of all, go beyond Doran. And…”

  Kasim’s sharp eyes focused on Veradin. Veradin made a quick judgment and was running away. It was stupid. Didn’t he realized he had received a death sentence he couldn’t escape from?

  Kasim scoffed.

  “…And then succeed my skills.”

  The moment that Doran’s skills and Kasim’s skills combined, Lantier’s techniques would be completed. The path to being a legend would open. Despite being a normal class player, Faker had wings as he defeated a sun grade player. But Faker pushed the joy back. He didn’t even examine the contents of the hidden quest as he ran to Khan.

  “I will thank you next time.”

  They were family living in the same house anyway. They could meet at any time. Faker lightly nodded to Kasim and took Khan to escape the smithy. He
headed towards Sticks. Then Kasim…

  Puhahahak!

  Shadows appeared at Veradin’s feet and immediately spread like water. Veradin used the hidden technique ‘Overcoming Death’ to endure Kasim’s attacks several times, but it didn’t make sense. It would take him 18 hours to re-summon Death Knight Kyleo, who just died. Even if Kyleo was summoned, he couldn’t win.

  In the end, Veradin fell to his knees and laughed. He seemed to have ulterior motives. But Kasim didn’t show any interest. Veradin saw the dagger heading towards him and hurriedly shouted.

  “You’re going to regret killing me!”

  “Why?”

  Kasim finally showed some interest and Veradin explained, “Do you think I would’ve invaded this place without any insurance? If I die, the queen and prince might not be safe.”

  Of course, it was a bluff. Even Veradin wouldn’t dare harm Irene or Lord. They were Grid’s family, but they weren’t excluded from the target list because of a moral issue. They were excluded because Veradin knew they would always be protected. But there was no reason to tell the truth. Veradin didn’t want to receive the death penalty. The penalty for Veradin was different from an ordinary player.

  “Really? You sent troops to Queen Irene and Prince Lord?”

  “Of course. It is a power that consists of 20 death knights. If I die, then they won’t be safe…”

  Veradin didn’t change his expression when lying, only to suddenly stop talking. It was because Kasim was laughing. He was holding his belly and laughing.

  ‘Did I exaggerate too much?’

  20 death knights was too much. It was obviously an exaggeration. He should’ve said 10. Veradin was uneasy.

  “The 20 death knights… By now, they would’ve all returned to dust.”

  There were 200 Rebecca’s Daughters candidates around Lord. Even if there really was a group of death knights, they were no match against the Rebecca’s Daughters candidates. In the first place, Kasim knew that Irene and Lord were safe. That’s why he came to support Faker. If there was the slightest risk, he wouldn’t have left them.

  Puok!

  Kasim’s blade stabbed his heart.

  [You have died.]

  [You have lost 32.3% experience.]

  [Your death has caused all the conditions to become a Hwan Kingdom resident to be lost. You have lost all the additional effects you have obtained in the meantime. In order to get the effects back, you must meet the criteria again from the beginning.]

  It was huge damage. It had been almost a year since he died. Veradin experienced the biggest frustration since Satisfy began. He missed his target, Khan, and only killed a few young blacksmiths.

  At the same time, in Sticks’ office.

  “I need to go to the elf kingdom to obtain an antidote to cure this poison. I will hurry, so wait here.”

  “Isn’t it faster if you bring Khan with you?”

  “Many procedures are needed for a person to enter the elf kingdom. I can’t help with this part.”

  “Please let me know the exact timing. How long will it take?”

  “Six hours… no, seven hours…”

  “Can’t you do it sooner? Khan’s pain is too great.”

  “…I will try.”

  Sticks checked Khan and hurried. He disappeared immediately with Teleport. Faker held his head. Seven hours? It meant that Khan would experience the severe pain of poisoning for the next seven hours.

  Khan spoke to the saddened Faker. “I… Take me to the smithy.”

  Chapter 776

  Chapter 776

  There was no blood on Khan’s wrinkled face. His skin was pale all the way to his fingertips. His body was a mess. It was hard to fathom his pain as he kept coughing up black blood.

  “I… Take me to the smithy.”

  “…”

  Faker wanted Khan to relax. His chances of survival were likely to increase if he was stable until Sticks came back. But Faker quickly got rid of that idea. He recalled that Khan had been working for most of his 80 years of life. Khan would feel alive when striking metal in front of a hot furnace.

  “I understand.”

  Doing blacksmithing would help Khan became stable. Faker believed this and helped Khan. Khan leaned on his shoulder and smiled gently.

  “Thank you. Thank you.”

  Faker’s heart ached. Since when had Khan become so small? Where did his big and hard hands go, leaving only the faded hands of an old man? Time was truly cruel. Faker recalled the bond with Khan since the days of the Tzedakah Guild and worried about Grid above all else.

  He knew that the sadness Grid felt would be huge compared to what Faker was feeling now.

  ***

  Unlike usual, the air was cold.

  “…”

  Khan was tearful as he returned to the empty smithy. This place had been filled with young blacksmiths just a few hours ago. One day, they disappeared into a handful of ashes, shouting that they also wanted to support King Grid. Khan was filled with great sadness at the loss of their dreams and futures.

  “Should we go back?”

  Faker caught Khan’s trembling body and asked with a concerned look. Khan shook his head.

  “It’s nothing. I will be okay.”

  He had a final work to do. He would go directly to the souls of the young blacksmiths and comfort them. Khan thought this and walked up to the furnace. Faker piled up hundreds of potions beside him.

  “I will bring the Saintess. Don’t forget to drink a potion whenever it’s time.”

  Nod.

  Faker confirmed Khan’s answer and immediately logged out. Then he tried to contact Saintess Ruby using the emergency network. However, it was currently the moment when the PvP was over and Grid was receiving the gold medal. She couldn’t be reached.

  The urgent Faker tried to contact the other Overgeared members. But he couldn’t get in touch with them either. Everyone was thrilled with Grid’s victory and preoccupied with the celebration.

  Kwang!

  Faker slammed his fist against the wall. He continued to do this a few times until his fists were bleeding.

  “…Dammit.”

  Faker was furious with himself. He was going to defend the Overgeared Kingdom? How could he when he couldn’t even protect one elderly man?

  ‘Why didn’t I try harder?’

  He realized the limits of a normal class. He knew that there were many monstrous players in the world that he didn’t know yet. Nevertheless, he was satisfied and complacent with this reality. It was a terrible arrogance. He was mistaken after winning the battle against Black. A little more, he had to do a little more.

  The moment that Faker held his head and sank to the floor.

  Yiing.

  His phone vibrated as it rang. His face turned rosy as he hurriedly accepted the call. It was Saintess Ruby’s number.

  ***

  “Grandfather Khan!”

  Taang, taang.

  The sound of the hammer on the calm night was lonely today. Ruby breathed heavily as she arrived at the smithy.

  “Grandfather…”

  “Oh, our princess has come.”

  Who was the person standing in front of the flames? Khan’s color was completely white as he faced the furnace. His skin remained cold despite the hot heat.

  “G-Grandfather…”

  Ruby started crying. The light in her big eyes, more beautiful than jewels, faded. It was Khan who loved her and took care of her like a granddaughter. To Ruby, he was like a grandfather. She believed he would love her forever and planned to always see him. But what was this haggard appearance? It seemed that they couldn’t be together anymore. Ruby’s chest ached as she saw Khan try to hide his pain with a cheerful expression.

  “Hope! Benevolent Light! Purification!”

  Ruby wanted to get rid of Khan’s pain. After hurriedly using heal, she used a cleansing spell to heal his abnormalities.

  [You have healed the target.]

  [The target is old.
His body has reached its limits.]

  [The recovery effect isn’t applied properly.]

  [The detoxification effect isn’t applied properly.]

  “…!”

  In the process of doing good deeds, Ruby had saved many lives. She believed that she could save more people in the future and give them happiness. Yet she couldn’t save a precious person. Ruby was shocked since she never doubted the power of a Saintess.

  “P-Purif… Purification! Purification!”

  Ruby had a short playing experience with Satisfy. She was unfamiliar with the concept of NPCs. She couldn’t accept reality and continued to use the skill. Khan placed a hand over her head.

  “Please calm down.”

  “G-Grandfather…”

  “I’m sorry. I’m giving pain to our princess because I’m too old. Haha.”

  “Uh…!”

  Ruby fell into Khan’s arms. Khan’s always hot body was exceptionally cold today. Khan patted her trembling back.

  “Don’t be in too much pain. There’s no need to be sad. My grandson has become a wonderful adult and king. Princess Ruby, who was just a girl, is becoming a respectable adult. It’s time for this old man to return to the earth.”

  “Grandfather…! Grandfather! Wahh!”

  Ruby eventually started sobbing. She always had a gentle and calm appearance because she was conscious of her great responsibility as a Saintess, but she was still just a girl.

  Khan took a deep breath and said, “Huhu, don’t be sad. I should leave when my natural life span ends. Instead, you should celebrate… Cough! Cough cough!”

  Khan’s health gauge dropped dramatically. His symptoms of poisoning were getting worse.

  “Grandfather!”

  Faker returned as Ruby was crying out in shock. He brought the priests who had just returned from an expedition.

  “I pray to the Goddess of Light.”

  “Give peace to your son.”

  The priests gathered their hands and started praying. It was the manifestation of the ultimate healing spell Light Prayer, where 17 or more Rebecca priests chanted a prayer. But even that didn’t work on Khan.

  A priest approached Faker and said cautiously, “It’s time to leave.”

  “What are you saying? We have to save him for the next four hours, just four hours.”