Chapter 191: Ridill

First, I crafted armor for the Shadow King.

[You are using the Crafting Skill.]

Materials for the Shadow King’s armor, like Cheongryong’s, are better when they are fabric-based, but I decided to take a different approach. 

I had used fabric materials many times when making Cheongryong’s armor, and I didn’t think general fabric suited the Shadow King very well.

The material I had in mind was…

[Vampire Lord’s Blood]

It was an amorphous material like this blood. 

Usually, such materials were used as additives to change an item’s attributes or add abilities rather than as the primary material. 

However, I began using these amorphous materials as main ingredients through ‘refinement.’

I turned the blood into a semi-liquid state through refinement and used it to create armor. 

It wasn’t just blood. 

Among SS-class materials, there were quite a few amorphous ones. 

I refined all these materials with unusual forms—like shadows, essences, or even something’s ‘gaze’—into usable materials to create the Shadow King’s armor.

It was a new challenge in its own way, but it was a complete success. 

Thanks to that…

[Crafting is complete.]

[You have acquired the ‘Hood of the Play of Darkness.’]

I was able to brilliantly craft the Shadow King’s armor using amorphous materials.

[The ‘Play of Darkness’ set (6/6) has been fully equipped.]

[The ‘Play of Darkness’ set effect has been activated.]

[Set Effect: Dancer of Darkness]

While the ‘Stealth’ or ‘Invisibility’ status is active, attack power, attack speed, movement speed, critical hit rate, and critical hit damage are significantly increased.

Through this, I was able to create a set effect for the Shadow King that I really liked.

‘With this method, I can utilize SS-class materials even more effectively.’

Refining amorphous materials to use them as primary ingredients. 

This method greatly increases the versatility of items. 

Furthermore, if I taught this to the Production Team, they would also be able to significantly increase their own item versatility.

Without delay, I immediately called Production 1 and taught him how to refine amorphous items. 

After receiving the training, Production 1 shared the knowledge with the entire Production Team. 

With this method, the efficiency of all tasks, including item crafting and building construction, would likely increase.

With this, I had finished making armor for my entire party. 

What remained was the SSS-grade material in front of me, the ‘Elder Dragon’s Claw.’ 

I had to use this to create an item.

[You are using the Crafting Skill.]

[Please select the type of item to be crafted.]

The item that came to mind when I saw the Elder Dragon’s claw was…

[Materializing ‘Ridill.’]

It was this. 

Ridill, it was the dagger that the Norse hero Sigurd was said to have used to cut out the heart of the evil dragon Fafnir.

Since the Elder Dragon’s claw was a byproduct dropped during battle rather than something obtained by defeating it directly, its size was small. 

It looked difficult to make anything larger than a dagger. 

Also, since the material came from a dragon, a weapon with a legend related to dragons seemed appropriate.

And as it was a dagger, the person who would use this weapon was…

‘An So-hee.’

The Shadow King. 

Although she had already received an EX-grade item called the Dokkaebi Gamtu, there was no rule saying she could only have one. 

In fact, it was certain that her combat power would double as the number of EX-grade items suited for her increased.

Just thinking about how the Shadow King recently used the Dokkaebi Gamtu to defeat the Arch Lich made me look forward to how much stronger she would become with a proper EX-grade weapon in her hands.

[Please select the material for Ridill.]

Naturally, I added the Elder Dragon’s claw along with other top-tier materials that seemed to match.

[Fulfillment: 90%]

[Success Rate: 95%]

A quite satisfying success rate appeared. 

However, I couldn’t fully trust even a 5% chance of failure. 

Only after confirming a future where the item was successfully crafted using the White Feather Fan did I proceed.

[Would you like to start crafting?]

I began to swing my hammer.

“Clang!”

Processing an SSS-grade item to create an EX-grade item through Myth Creation was the highest level of difficulty among my crafting tasks. 

However, this was something I had already done several times. 

It no longer felt particularly exhausting or difficult.

I simply swung my hammer. 

As I watched the Elder Dragon’s claw gradually take the shape of a dagger, I felt more energized rather than tired.

After swinging the hammer without even realizing how much time had passed…

I was able to create Ridill exactly as the future I had seen through the White Feather Fan.

[Crafting is complete.]

[You have acquired ‘Ridill.’]

Fortunately, the small Elder Dragon’s claw fit perfectly. 

If it had been any smaller, I might not have been able to make even a dagger, and if there had been any more, there would have been scraps left over. 

It was crafted with perfect precision.

I then checked the item information.

[Ridill]

Type: Dagger

Grade: EX

Requirements: Level 340 or higher, one recognized by Vulcanus

Description: A dagger used by the Norse hero Sigurd to cut out the heart of the evil dragon Fafnir.

Attack Power: 9,000

Abilities:

1. Dragon Blood — The dragon’s blood absorbed by Ridill ignores the enemy’s physical and magic defense.

2. Dragon’s Eye — When aiming at an enemy with Ridill, you can identify their weaknesses. Critical hit damage increases the longer the battle lasts.

3. Dragon’s Claw — Attack power, critical hit rate, and critical hit damage are significantly increased.

4. Dragon’s Heart — Critical hit damage is significantly increased when attacking the enemy’s heart or a vital point equivalent to it.

5. Evil Dragon’s Curse — Consumes magical power to momentarily reverse the defense of an enemy’s vital point.

A dagger that seemed perfect for the Shadow King had been created. 

The abilities that increased critical hit rate and damage were all so good they could be considered exclusive to the Shadow King.

Furthermore, there was the ‘Evil Dragon’s Curse,’ which could be considered Ridill’s core ability.

Reversing defense meant that it could deal even stronger damage against monsters with high defense.

Reversing a defense of 10 would make it -10, and reversing a defense of 100 would make it -100. 

The lower the defense dropped, the more massive the damage would be. 

Since the defense of the monsters encountered while climbing the Tower was becoming increasingly higher, this effect of Ridill would surely be a great help when defeating powerful entities like boss monsters.

“It took longer than I thought.”

Day and night had already swapped. 

Lately, it seemed like a full day would easily slip by once I focused. 

Then again, I didn’t just make one item.

I made armor sets for three people and even an EX-grade weapon.

Honestly, it was surprising it only took this much time. 

In the past, a week wouldn’t have been enough for this amount of work.

At any rate, I was glad I had mentioned in advance that I might not be able to climb the Tower today due to item crafting. 

After having a light meal and taking a rest…

“Ms. Nam Bora?”

I contacted Nam Bora. 

In fact, she had gathered information on the Rankers some time ago, but I hadn’t been able to receive the report because I was busy. 

Sure enough, as soon as I spoke to her, she began providing information about the Rankers of each country as if she had been waiting.

— “First, I’ll tell you about the United States.”

[Douglas]

“Ah, Douglas.”

— “You remember him, right? He’s the Hunter who was once called the strongest in the United States… no, the world. You even made set equipment for him, including a Legendary-grade saddle.”

“I remember.”

— “He was quite active during this Monster Wave as well. In the end, he didn’t defeat it, but Douglas was the one who attacked the Elder Dragon and harvested its claw. Personally, he’s the Hunter I recommend the most if you’re going to form a party.”

“I think so, too.”

— “Right?”

The Dragon Knight, Elvin Douglas. 

He was a Hunter who flew on his exclusive summon, a Dragon, and attacked enemies with a lance. 

His level was as high as the Sword Saint’s, and his skills seemed excellent.

Also, the Dragon Knight was proficient in aerial combat, which my party currently lacked. 

Since the spaces within the trials were getting larger as we climbed the Tower, he would be useful in many ways. 

Therefore, Douglas was an absolute choice.

— “Next is the Rank 3 Hunter of the United States, Nicholas.”

“What about Rank 2?”

— “I heard they died during the second Monster Wave.”

“Ah…”

— “Nicholas’s class is Duel Master, a Hunter who uses dual swords…”

I had high expectations since the United States was called a Hunter superpower. 

However, perhaps because I had the Korean Rankers, who had grown rapidly while wearing my equipment, right next to me, there was no one besides Douglas who really caught my eye. 

It wasn’t that they were bad, but their positions overlapped with the Sword Saint or the Berserker and other party members.

Since there was no need to add such redundant positions, I put them on hold for now. 

Eventually, even for the Rankers, the level gap became too large, so I decided to move on from the United States.

— “Next is the Ranker from France. Their class is Fencer, a Hunter who handles a rapier-type weapon called an Epee…”

This was also a Hunter I remembered. 

They seemed like a powerful Hunter in their own way, but again, the position overlapped with the Sword Saint. 

Furthermore, the overall level was too low.

— “Next is the Ranker from Taiwan. It’s a Hunter named Peng Yuyan, and his class is a Bird Ranger…”

Taiwan’s Rank 1 was the same. 

This was also a Hunter I had made items for before, and he was an expert in underwater combat. 

Of course, naval battles might occur while climbing the Tower, but…

‘It’s too limited.’

The problem was that his combat power would plummet in non-underwater situations. 

So, I skipped him as well. 

I was about to skip the rest, thinking that those from Rank 2 wouldn’t be very noticeable either, but…

— “Taiwan’s Rank 2 Hunter is Chai Lin. She is a Lightning Caster who can only use lightning magic. She seems to have been very active in Taiwan, where they have to face aquatic monsters, as a Lightning Caster.”

“A Lightning Caster?”

— “Yes.”

A class that made my ears perk up reached me. 

A Lightning Caster. 

Just as it was for Cheongryong, when a mage had constraints like only being able to use one element, they tended to be much more powerful in that specific attribute.

Normally, I would have passed because using only lightning lacked versatility.

‘But she would pair well with Cheongryong.’

Didn’t I have Cheongryong at my party? 

If Cheongryong sprayed water magic and that Lightning Caster struck down lightning on top of it? 

Surely, they could produce attack power beyond my expectations. 

Although Cheongryong had been using lightning magic a little lately, it wasn’t as strong compared to his water and wind magic.

“I’ll select her. Please contact the Taiwanese side.”

— “Yes, I will.”

With this, two people were already chosen. 

Now, only one remains. 

Since it was the last party member, I had to choose carefully. 

A versatile and powerful Hunter who could display their skills until we finished climbing the Tower, without overlapping positions.

— “Next is…”

However, no Hunter who could satisfy my greed was mentioned. 

Honestly, it couldn’t be helped. 

Since my eyes were currently adjusted to the Korean Rankers, the Rankers of most other countries didn’t even enter my sight.

Around the time the Hunter list was running out and I was starting to think I should just take someone from my Guild…

— “Next is a Hunter who was dispatched from Vatican City State.”

“The Vatican?”

The name of a country… no, a city-state I hadn’t even thought of reached my ears.