Even before starting the game, and continuing through playing it, countless worries arise.
Choosing a profession, character names, growth routes, and skill trees.
Yet, these were mere moments of concern.
For gamers, there existed burdens they would carry for life—like a lifelong assignment.
Namely, items, or more precisely, the equipment they wore.
The higher the level, the more naturally players aimed to wear better gear.
‘Because that’s how you hunt comfortably.’
No matter how good the hardware, if you don’t have the software to use it, it’s nothing but decoration.
Of course, ordinary players enjoying ASA didn’t have excessive greed; as long as they maintained the minimum maginot line to hunt, focusing on so-called cost-effectiveness, that was enough.
But rankers couldn’t afford that luxury.
Not only did they have to avoid being caught, but to ascend higher, they continuously updated their equipment to maintain the best setup.
There were even cases where they wouldn’t sell equipment obtained, just to keep it away from rivals.
Because of that, as the level rose, good items became astronomically expensive—practically impossible to acquire, no matter how much money one had.
Even Wilhelm of the Rothschild family, ranked third in the global scene, suffered difficulties due to lack of equipment trade.
“In the midst of all that, a piece of equipment that caught the rankers’ eyes appeared.”
Ser Vantes’ Necklace – Infinity.
Its required level was only 20, low enough for low-level users to equip.
Its auction duration was the maximum of seven days—relatively long.
Even the starting bid was a reasonably high 80 gold, so at first, it didn’t attract much attention from users.
But days later, an explosive event occurred on I-tube and the Community.
‘The single phrase engraved on the necklace was the cause.’
It was the phrase: ‘Unique, Growth-type.’
Of those, the most attention-grabbing was ‘Growth-type.’
It was a setting sometimes seen in games.
Equipment that grows together with its owner.
I thought ASA didn’t have such gear, but that assumption was shattered.
And Ser Vantes’ Necklace was that kind of item.
Naturally, users went wild, and the auction turned into a tense battle.
But on the fourth day, the registrant canceled.
People were greatly disappointed, but fortunately, it wasn’t due to a simple change of mind.
Wilhelm discovered the unknown player and contacted them, purchasing not only the necklace but also information about how to obtain it.
Thanks to that, it became a beneficial situation for players.
Unlike other elite guilds, Wilhelm openly shared the information he had.
And Wilhelm publicly revealed the purchased information through his I-tube video.
-The acquisition route for Ser Vantes’ Necklace is inside the Vault, which can be accessed after completing the Shinaga quest. Even there, it is hidden in a very deep and secret place. If you look carefully at this wall, you’ll notice a protruding block…
After filming the interior of the Vault, Wilhelm confirmed there was no false or deceptive information and concluded the video.
As the item description stated, Ser Vantes’ Necklace was a growth-type Unique Item.
Since it was unique, no other items of the same category existed, so no one lamented that fact.
Rather, people praised Wilhelm simply for revealing this information.
It gave hope that other places like this might exist in different vaults—and indeed, some had been found.
Of course, no user had ever discovered a unique growth-type item like Ser Vantes’ Necklace before.
But the most important thing now wasn’t that unique growth-type items like the necklace had been discovered.
“It’s whether the necklace still remains inside that matters.”
Dahav pressed the protruding block gently, inserting a finger into the resulting crack and pushing the block sideways.
The grinding sound of machinery started, the stone door emitted a delicate ringing, and then swung wide open.
It was a narrow corridor barely wide enough for a person to pass through.
Yet, as if to prove this was truly a vault, the corridor’s walls were filled with murals depicting battles between demons and humans that had been passed down.
Exactly like the footage.
There was no room for doubt anymore.
“You found it properly.”
Dahav strode down the corridor, heart filled with both anticipation and excitement.
Walking toward the softly glowing corridor, he entered a room lined with relics on either side.
At the center were storage cases containing rare and precious items incomparable to the ones seen outside.
Among the many objects, Dahav’s eyes fixed on only one—the necklace placed on the altar in the middle.
The Red Snow Crystal, a gem symbolizing the Helkite family.
The dark crimson glow on the gem’s surface gave off an almost cursed feeling.
Even without picking it up, one could tell what the necklace was.
‘Ser Vantes’ Necklace’
Rankers, blinded by the desire for good items, even Wilhelm of the entire world coveted this necklace, and it still remained here.
Dahav stretched out his hand and grabbed the necklace.
[Ser Vantes’ Necklace – Infinity]
- Grade: Unique (Unique, Growth-type)
- Category: Medium-grade
- Required Level: 20 or higher
- This magical tool was created with the dying will and grudge of a dragon strong enough to face seventy-two demons alone. However, the Redeemer purified and sealed the necklace to neutralize the dragon’s will and grudge, entrusting it to guardians and successors. Due to the long purification and sealing process, its power weakened, but with steady growth, it could regain its former abilities.
- Stat Options: Strength +10 / Agility +10
- Special Option: Hanibarame’s Blessing – Increases movement speed by 50% for 5 minutes. (Cooldown: 30 minutes)
- Special Note
If specific conditions are met, the category and grade can be upgraded.
[Would you like to select ‘Ser Vantes’ Necklace – Infinity as a reward item?]
After confirming its stats and being sure it was truly Ser Vantes’ Necklace, Dahav nodded without hesitation.
[Selected item has been stored in the inventory.]
[One more reward item remains available.]
“Good.”
He couldn’t help but shout in triumph.
Since Wilhelm had revealed the growth conditions, Dahav could level it up as soon as the requirements were met.
Worries about the necklace vanished for a while.
“To be precise, it’s not just the necklace.”
One more reward item remained, and although insufficient compared to the necklace, the items in the room were undoubtedly valuable.
“Which one should I take?”
Rubbing his chin, Dahav surveyed the room.
Since Kasaka’s Half-Dragon Dagger was still intact, it was somewhat regrettable to take the main weapon.
For armor, being rarely hit by monsters made bringing it along a bit lacking.
“Then, maybe accessories, secondary weapons, or items…”
While anxiously turning his head left and right, his gaze suddenly locked onto an item that overwhelmed all worries.
“That’s…?”
It was definitely a golden chest adorned with feathers.
No mistake.
“Heavenly Cloak?”
Dahav dashed over and grabbed the item.
[Heavenly Cloak ]
- Grade: Unique (Unique)
- Category: Top-grade
- Usable Level: No restriction
- Created by Heoyu, a transcendent immortal, after his defeat by Emperor Kang Kyunghyun of the Immortal Realm, fashioned from his own winged clothes—this is a mobile storage.
- Special Option
- Sky Chest – Allows summoning and using the storage anywhere, anytime.
It was exactly the ability Dahav knew about Heavenly Cloak.
“Could it be that Wilhelm got this here?”
Thinking it over, it made sense.
The footage cut off right after entering the vault, and since it was a unique item, users visiting afterward couldn’t have known.
“Besides, Wilhelm only started using the Heavenly Cloak after obtaining Ser Vantes’ Necklace.”
Everything fit perfectly.
But that was all fine.
“If I have this Heavenly Cloak…”
The worry over hunting with a harpy party vanished.
There was no need to regret missing other unique items.
Although the vault’s contents were excellent items, their low level range meant they couldn’t be used for long.
At most, they capped out around level 30.
Even with a generous estimate, that meant about 100 gold in the world’s currency.
Compared to that, items with exceptional and unique auxiliary functions like the Heavenly Cloak or Half-Dragon were extremely rare and difficult to obtain—even with money.
“If I handed these over to the rankers, I’d probably get about 1,000 gold.”
[Would you like to select ‘Heavenly Cloak’ as a reward item?]
Without hesitation, Dahav nodded, and the Heavenly Cloak was added to his inventory.
Looking at the two items stored in his inventory, Dahav’s face was filled with delight.
“Long live Alexandra, Long live ASA.”
***
Around the same time, in the Lord’s Chamber.
Amidst piles of approval documents stacked like sand, the sound of a pen scratching filled the room as Shazam spoke cautiously.
“I am eternally grateful for the great grace bestowed upon this servant.”
Without looking up, Alexandra continued speaking while staring at the documents.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Shazam bowed his head.
“Apologies, but by chance, I overheard a conversation not meant for me.”
Alexandra’s eyes paused on the papers.
Frozen as if deep in thought, a faint smile appeared.
But it only lasted a moment.
Her expression soon returned to its usual coldness.
“Put aside useless thoughts early on. Just as I was getting bored, an interesting servant appeared, so I created a little amusement.”
“Isn’t that excessive reward for what you call a mere amusement?”
“Worldly greed overflows in warehouses; if withholding or giving one less of the products inside would change your opinion of me that much, then I must be a reckless person.”
Although Alexandra’s voice rose slightly at his sharp words, Shazam calmly replied.
“It’s not just any items; these are items from the Vault.”
“Don’t speak nonsense. That’s why they are called treasures—because they are only revealed when the outsider has the heart and composure to recognize their value.”
At the vault’s entrance lay countless traps confusing users’ eyes and minds.
The first was the Despair Trap—a pitiful trick where users, disappointed by the poor-looking items arranged in the vault, would give up hope and grab anything they could.
Then, if they braved through despair, the Greed Trap awaited—temptations of alluring items inside.
To reach the vault, one had to overcome these emotions and possess excellent insight.
Only by pressing a specific block to activate the mechanism could the vault open.
Considering that one needed unshakable will and sharp insight to withstand both despair and greed, the vault was designed to be nearly impossible to access.
It was close to impossible, but Shazam spoke as if such traps were trivial.
“I learned everything from my Lord. So my eye for people is certainly sharp. You already know I have unwavering will because you’ve seen it, and my insight is excellent enough to find even the Black Mage’s Cave we searched for so long in Dongnan.”