Chapter 22: Forging the Blood Berserker

Owner Setting, you say?

Why did this Ability suddenly pop up?

No, on second thought, it was the first time I’d ever made a dedicated item for someone other than myself.

Maybe that’s why the Message appeared.

“Well, it’s a commission anyway, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Whatever the case, I decided to give it a try.

After all, this time, I’m literally making a custom item just for Park Kang-chul.

“Berserker, Park Kang-chul.”

[Setting ‘Park Kang-chul’ as Owner of the Cloak.]

[Calculating Park Kang-chul’s Understanding.]

[Berserker Understanding: 55%]

[Park Kang-chul Understanding: 39%]

[Total Understanding: 51%]

Understanding?

What does that mean now?

I’m not sure, but the Understanding seems higher than I expected.

Well, Park Kang-chul did provide all the Berserker-related materials, neatly organized.

I also watched Park Kang-chul’s battle videos uploaded on YouTube for the production.

In fact, Park Kang-chul himself is a very straightforward person, so that probably helped.

[Production begins.]

In any case, the production had started.

Bam!

A vivid red Point suddenly appeared, just like before.

Instead of scattering as sparks from the hammer blows, the shattered Points spread out like droplets of blood.

It was a situation I’d never experienced, but I didn’t panic and kept swinging the hammer.

Whether the Points changed or not, my job was the same.

Bam!

[Progress Rate: 13%…]

Swing the hammer.

Shatter the Points.

That’s all there is to it.

Bam!

Maybe it’s because of the excellent Materials or the high goal, but the hammering felt especially difficult.

Every time I brought the hammer down, I could feel my energy being drained.

But I couldn’t stop.

Sssrrrk.

With each shattered Point, the Materials writhed.

The Blood Ghost (Remnant) and the two Fibers fused into the Giant Vampire Bat’s Hide.

On top of that, the Blood Ghost (Remnant)’s remains scattered, emitting a mysterious light.

I couldn’t tell how exactly the process was unfolding.

I simply watched the item come to life, unable to suppress a faint, satisfied smile.

[Progress Rate: 89%…]

The Cloak’s form was almost complete.

I had already received Park Kang-chul’s measurements, so the Cloak was being tailored perfectly to his size.

It was a deep red, reminiscent of the Bloodsucker’s Cloak.

Since the Giant Vampire Bat’s Hide was used as the base, it glistened like the wings of a living bat.

At last, as I swung the hammer for the final time—

Kka-ang!

[Production is complete.]

[You have obtained the Blood Berserker’s Shroud.]

The crystallization of all my Materials and the skills I’d built up so far had finally taken shape.

The Blood Berserker’s Shroud.

I made this item inspired by the Veil of Blood from games, but since I made it with Park Kang-chul in mind, the name and appearance turned out like this.

Whew.

I wiped the sweat streaming down my forehead and immediately checked the item details.

I could feel it in my bones—

Even without checking, my intuition as a blacksmith told me the value of this item.

When I finally checked the item’s information, I couldn’t help but cheer.

“Triple Esssss!”

That’s right.

The Blood Berserker’s Shroud, made on Park Kang-chul’s commission.

[Blood Berserker’s Shroud]

Type: Cloak

Grade: SSS

Restriction: Berserker Park Kang-chul

Description: For a Berserker, there is no such thing as defense. Only attack. Shedding blood to offer even more blood to their foes, and reveling in the ecstasy of it—that is a Berserker.

Abilities:

1. Absorption – Stores a portion of damage dealt in close combat to form a Blood Barrier.
   
2. Hemorrhage – The more severe the bleeding suffered by the wearer or those nearby, the greater the increase in attack speed and movement speed.
   
3. Rage – The more blood absorbed by the Cloak, the lower the Defense, but Attack Power and Attack Speed increase dramatically.
   
4. Blood Resurrection – When receiving fatal damage, the Blood Barrier converts into Health and revives the wearer. Usable once per week.
   

This was the first SSS-Grade item I had ever created.

A smile spread across my face.

I’d suspected it might be possible while crafting with the ‘Hephaestus’ Descendant’ SSS-Grade Ability, the Anvil, and the Work Clothes, but to think I’d actually make an SSS-Grade item!

“Does specifying a target add to the grade?”

The Cloak has only one restriction:

Park Kang-chul.

In other words, this is a soulbound item that only Park Kang-chul can equip.

It’s a bit of a shame, but since he’s the only one who’ll use it, it doesn’t really matter.

And besides—

“Wasn’t it a hundred billion won for an SSS-Grade item?”

The commission stated a price of 10,000,000,000 won for an SSS-Grade item.

Not one billion, not ten billion—one hundred billion!

When I first saw the commission, I almost dismissed it, thinking there was no way I could make an SSS-Grade item.

But now, I had really done it.

Unable to hide my grin, I opened the system.

I entered the commission tab for Park Kang-chul and placed the Cloak inside.

A moment later—

[You have completed Park Kang-chul’s commission.]

[Commission Gold: 10,000,000,000 won]

“Uahahahahaha!”

A hundred billion won really came in.

The hundred billion I’d only ever heard about in stories was now in my bank account.

“How many zeroes is that?”

I’d never understood why currency needed commas, but now I get it.

With numbers this big, it’s impossible to count without those commas.

To think I’d ever live to see a day where you needed commas just to count your money.

With this, with this!

With this!

“How many chickens could I buy with this?!”

I don’t even know.

I can’t calculate it.

I’m not sure, but with this money, I could probably eat chicken three times a day for the rest of my life.

Jokbal, pizza, sweet and sour pork, too.

Even if I ordered delivery every day, the money wouldn’t run out.

With that thought, I wondered if I should order something right now, when suddenly, a ‘ding’ notification rang in my ear.

Curious if it was an even better notification, I checked—and my jaw dropped wide open in shock.

[Park Kang-chul has deposited additional commission gold.]

[Commission Gold: 10,000,000,000 won]

Park Kang-chul had deposited another hundred billion won.

“Find a Level 5 Gate. The fastest one.”

Park Kang-chul.

The moment he received the Cloak, he immediately set out to find a Level 5 Gate.

The reason was obvious—

The Cloak he’d ordered from Molten Iron had arrived.

And it was SSS-Grade, no less.

However—

“Kang-chul-nim, are you sure about this? Shouldn’t we check the equipment at a lower Level Gate first? Even if it is an SSS-Grade item, this is too dangerous.”

His Secretary spoke, unable to hide her anxiety.

Receiving an SSS-Grade item was great, but she never imagined he’d immediately seek out a Level 5 Gate.

In fact, Park Kang-chul, who operated solo without a Guild, had never succeeded in clearing a Level 5 Gate before.

And yet, as soon as he received an SSS-Grade item, he was heading straight for a Level 5 Gate—

It was only natural for his Secretary to be flustered.

“Besides, it’s only a Level 20 Cloak…”

Even if it was SSS-Grade, it was still a Level 20 Cloak.

Looking closer, its Defense wasn’t just low—it had no Defense at all.

All the stats that should have gone to Defense were poured into the Cloak’s Abilities.

Despite the Secretary’s concern, Park Kang-chul stood firm in his decision.

“Are you rebelling?”

“…No, sir.”

“To the Level 5 Gate. Now.”

“Understood.”

The Secretary bowed her head in resignation.

No one could stop Park Kang-chul when he was fired up.

All she could do was let him run wild until his excitement died down.

With no other choice, the Secretary searched for a Level 5 Gate.

Level 5 Gates weren’t easy to find on demand, but recently, high-level Gates had been appearing one after another.

Thanks to that, it was easier to locate a Level 5 Gate than expected.

“Be back soon.”

“Please be careful.”

Park Kang-chul entered the Gate.

Level 5 Gate—Giant’s Canyon.

A place where Giants roamed between narrow canyons.

Even though it’s called a narrow canyon, from a human perspective, it’s vaster than any canyon on Earth.

“A little human, eh?!”

The moment Park Kang-chul set foot in the canyon,

The Giants spotted him.

Giants charged at Park Kang-chul, who dared to enter a Level 5 Gate alone.

Watching them—

“That’s right, I’m here!”

Park Kang-chul charged forward as well.

Dragging his massive Greatsword, he ran like a moth plunging fearlessly into a flame.

Up until now, that was all he was—a moth to the flame.

How many times had he barely escaped with his life after recklessly challenging a Level 5 Gate?

But now, things were different.

Swoosh!

“Kahahaha!”

“A puny human!”

Park Kang-chul slashed at a Giant’s ankle.

To a Giant, it was only a minor wound, but Park Kang-chul was fast.

He dodged their grasp and swung his Greatsword as if it were a dagger.

Drip.

Blood flowed from the Giant’s wound.

At that moment—

Wooooong—

The translucent Cloak on Park Kang-chul’s shoulders glowed red.

[Absorption]

A portion of the damage dealt to enemies is stored to form a Blood Barrier.

[Hemorrhage]

Responding to the bleeding nearby, Park Kang-chul’s attack speed and movement speed increase further.

[Rage]

The stronger the Blood Barrier, the lower the Defense, but Attack Power and Attack Speed increase dramatically.

Fighting these Giants, with lowered Defense?

This was truly a battle with no retreat.

Fight as if you’ll die if you get hit even once.

But that’s exactly why—

“Kahahaha!”

Park Kang-chul felt an even greater thrill.

He got faster.

He got stronger.

The power of the Cloak surged through his body.

The Giants—each one previously impossible to bring down—

“Graaaah…”

Boom!

Kneeled before Park Kang-chul.

But even Park Kang-chul couldn’t dodge every attack.

A boulder thrown by a Giant from afar grazed him.

Even a graze, with the Cloak’s effect and the Berserker’s Skill lowering his Defense, would be a hard blow to endure.

Wooooong—

The Cloak’s effect.

The Blood Barrier blocked the boulder.

The Blood Barrier provided a defense separate from Park Kang-chul’s own, enough to withstand the Giant’s attack.

“Kahahaha! I’m going insane! Absolutely insane!”

Park Kang-chul ran toward the end of the Gate.

With every step, the ground was soaked red with the blood of Park Kang-chul and the Giants.

Then, the Level 5 Gate’s Boss Monster appeared: Cyclops.

This one-eyed Giant was on a completely different scale from the others.

Cyclops attacked Park Kang-chul.

“How dare you invade the Giant’s Sanctuary alone!”

Cyclops was powerful.

He wasn’t a monster you could defeat solo in the first place.

Even Park Kang-chul couldn’t bring him down as easily as the other Giants.

He managed to land a critical hit and force one of Cyclops’ knees to the ground—

“This is the end. Pathetic little human (|%《 ㅅ ).”

Crunch!

In the end, Cyclops grabbed Park Kang-chul in his massive grip and crushed him.

Blood sprayed in all directions.

Cyclops tossed Park Kang-chul’s body to the ground and turned away.

Just then—

A chilling laugh echoed from behind Cyclops.

“Keh… Kehaha, hahaha!”

[Blood Resurrection]

Cyclops, hearing Park Kang-chul’s laughter as he revived from a pool of blood, felt fear for the first time in his life.