Chapter 28: From Loot to Trial

[Mirror Ring]

- Grade: Rare.

- Restriction: None.

- Durability: 8/10

- Options

#Skill Defense 10 times.

Cannot be repaired.

[#Skill Defense]

#Negates skills every 30 seconds.

The reason why Hold was blocked.

That reason was none other than the confiscated ring.

Levan only understood why Hold wasn’t working after checking the ring’s options.

‘No way he was wearing a skill defense item.’

An item of rare grade, no less.

Honestly, based on the option alone, it could have been Unique or even higher.

But the reason it was still marked as Rare was because the number of uses was limited to 10.

‘So there are 8 uses left.’

Seeing the total durability of 10 and the current durability at 8, it seemed that each time a skill was blocked, durability dropped by 1.

Levan showed the Mirror Ring and asked.

“Is this yours?”

“Yeah! It’s mine!”

“You’re lying. You got this from the Magic Tower, didn’t you?”

“W-what? How did you know that?”

“It’s obvious without even looking. How could a broke bastard like you carry something like this? I should’ve known when you mentioned a countermeasure earlier. Wearing something this bothersome means it’s confiscated.”

“That’s not allowed!”

“Lord Shin!!”

“Tsk.”

“Damn it…”

Gods sure come in handy.

Although the item had limited uses and a kind of expiration date, Levan confiscated the Mirror Ring for now, thinking it might come in useful someday.

Levan, having confiscated the ring, said.

“What, are you not going to hand over everything you have?”

“What? You took the ring, what else do you want from me, you bastard!”

“This item has an expiration. So it’s not worth it to save your one and only life by giving me something in return. Right, Duel God?”

“That’s right.”

“See? Even the god agrees with me.”

“Ugh...!”

“Quiet and start taking off everything you have.”

Levan thoroughly searched Max’s body, suspecting he might be hiding items.

“Open there too.”

“Why open there?!”

“Well, in movies, people hide stuff there too… whatever, if there’s nothing, then fine.”

A meticulous search.

After finishing, Levan checked the options of the items Max was wearing.

Throughout the inspection, Levan couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

Because all the items Max had were completely useless to Levan.

Levan sighed.

“Wow… it’s hard to be this useless, but you really pulled it off.”

“Useless? Watch your mouth.”

“Useless guy talking big, huh. By the way, this really isn’t worth it…”

Max’s items were as straightforward as his profession.

Meaning, most items raised either mana or intelligence.

There were items that increased magic attack power, but unfortunately, those were wands.

Levan, however, was a mage who used blunt weapons instead of wands.

Besides, he didn’t need magic attack power yet, and he couldn’t wield two weapons at once.

‘Selling mage items isn’t worth it either since they barely sell… this is a big problem.’

Literally.

Mage-exclusive items are trash with oversupply and almost no demand.

So even if Levan sold Max’s items, he wouldn’t gain much.

Still, he had won the duel and didn’t want to waste the opportunity.

In other words, he wanted to squeeze out as much as possible.

After pondering for a while, Levan suddenly had a good idea.

“Hey, Duel God. Sorry, but can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“I was going to take an item as payment for my life, but none of the items appealed to me. And the money he has is small… so, can I make up the difference with stats or skills instead?”

“Stats or skills, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, there have been precedents of taking stats and skills as duel rewards.”

“Oh, so that’s possible?”

“Good. But since you already took the Mirror Ring as loot, I will decide which stats and skills you can take.”

“Understood.”

[Duel God presents #Victory Rewards.]

[#Please select your #Victory Reward.]

[#Victory Reward]

#Intelligence +10

#Mana +100

#Energy Bolt

“Hmm.”

Levan was briefly happy that he could take skills and stats instead of an item.

But the victory rewards chosen by Duel God were more disappointing than expected.

Levan hesitated.

‘Gods aren’t always this sharp. But there’s no use arguing with a god. It’s disappointing, but I’ll settle for this.’

So he compromised.

Levan chose Energy Bolt as his victory reward.

“I’ll take Energy Bolt.”

“Understood.”

[You have acquired Energy Bolt.]

Choosing Energy Bolt as the reward automatically granted Levan the skill.

Once the reward was received, Duel God, who mediated the duel, disappeared after finishing his task.

Only Levan and Max remained.

Having finished his business, Levan was about to leave like Duel God.

Then Max grit his teeth and said.

“You bastard!”

“Hm?”

“I will never forget this humiliation today…!”

“Suit yourself.”

“Remember this always, you bastard…! We mages are always watching you, no matter when or where…!”

“Oh, how scary. Well, I’m off then. Take care.”

Levan hadn’t killed or crippled Max.

Max cursed him only because of the grudge involving Rubix.

Levan was not someone who would tremble in fear over such a trivial reason.

‘Time to go hunting.’

After the duel, Levan decided to change hunting grounds.

Having seen the boss monster wiped out in two strong hits in the Frog Hole Dungeon, Levan felt there was no need to hunt here.

‘I already defeated the perfect Amthosrin. It’ll only be fun hunting if there’s at least a 20-level difference.’

For that reason, Levan planned to adjust his hunting route.

‘First, let’s smash some cubes.’

As he moved far from the Frog Hole, Max was no longer in sight.

Levan then settled somewhere appropriate to accept new epic quests and growth quests.

Levan first took the newly acquired Epic Cube and spun it vigorously, but then.

[Cannot use cube.]

[Please check the newly acquired skill.]

An unexpected notification appeared before his eyes.

‘Check the skill?’

If it was a newly acquired skill, then surely.

‘Energy Bolt?’

Why was he suddenly told to check it?

Following the system’s instruction, Levan opened the info window for Energy Bolt.

But something about the skill was strange.

[Energy Bolt] / [#Cannot Use]

- Grade: Normal.

- Rank: F (0.0%)

- Effect: Summons one non-elemental energy bolt that deals 200% of basic magic attack damage to the opponent.

- Cooldown: 30 seconds.

- Casting type: Random.

“Huh? Why can’t I use this?”

Ridiculously, Energy Bolt was currently unusable.

Levan didn’t know why.

He was instantly frustrated upon realizing he couldn’t use the Energy Bolt he had rightfully earned.

He quickly checked the explanation attached to the “Cannot Use” tag.

[#Cannot Use]

#Warmaigers cannot use regular mage skills.

#If a Warmaiger wants to use regular mage skills, they must get permission from Rubix.

#Rubix’s permission can be obtained by passing Rubix’s Trial.

#Do you accept Rubix’s Trial?

“Argh!”

If he had a phone in his hand, Levan would have thrown it on the floor.

That’s how furious he was.

“What the hell, I have to go through a trial and get permission just to learn the most basic skill?”

It was unfair and irritating.

Energy Bolt was the most basic attack skill a mage could learn.

Like a free Strike skill for a warrior, yet its acquisition conditions were so demanding.

Just then.

[Rubix shakes his head at your words.]

‘Argh!’

Levan was about to curse even more, but he held back.

After all, in the power dynamic, Rubix was the superior god and Levan the subordinate.

Levan sat down and calmed his anger with about three minutes of meditation.

Seeing this, Rubix nodded with satisfaction.

[Rubix smiles approvingly at your behavior.]

‘…son of a bitch.’

At least Rubix couldn’t read his thoughts—that was a relief.

After a deep breath, Levan stood up again.

Then, reluctantly, he decided to accept Rubix’s Trial.

Even if it was just the most basic Energy Bolt skill, it was better than nothing.

And above all.

‘I want to have at least one offensive magic skill soon…’

So a desperate man digs a well.

Levan answered the question window that appeared before him.

“I accept the trial.”

[You are being transported to Rubix’s Tower.]

Levan’s vision flickered.

***

“Hey, Guild Master, what are you doing?”

“Used up all my playtime, so I’m resting.”

“Me too. So I came to visit.”

Playtime was short for ‘play time,’ and the man called Guild Master was resting at home after exhausting his War Lord’s playtime.

The man who visited Guild Master’s house was none other than Romantic Sword.

To talk with Guild Master lying on the bed, Romantic Sword also lay on the nearby sofa.

Romantic Sword said.

“Hey, have you seen the new guild member I invited?”

“Who?”

“You know, the one who seemed like a warrior but turned out to be a really fun mage.”

“Oh… that was Levan, right?”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

“Is it okay to invite him?”

“I took action first and reported later. He’s a veteran.”

“Oh, so it’s allowed?”

“I already invited him, why ask for my permission now?”

“Still, as Guild Master, shouldn’t you check first?”

“Bullshit.”

The two were the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master of the FREEDOM Guild.

At the same time, they were actual friends.

Romantic Sword said.

“Anyway, he’s a shy guy like Renya. So I was thinking of holding a small event for the new member Levan-kun. What do you think?”

“You got slapped by Renya when you did that last time, didn’t you?”

“But we became close fast.”

“No, I think you just like to get slapped and stir things up. If you want to get beaten, just say so. I’ll take care of it.”

“Yeah, get lost. Anyway, I’m planning to do that after a long time, so will you help?”

“What level is he?”

“Was it 20? I don’t really remember.”

“Hmm, that should be fine. Okay, I’ll help.”

“Okay, then I’ll leave it to you, Guild Master.”

Thus, through a secret meeting between the high-ranking officers of FREEDOM Guild—the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master—a small event for the new guild member Levan was decided.

After the agenda passed, Romantic Sword grinned from ear to ear.