Chapter 31: Ruined Nation, Pasna

[Energy Bolt]

- Grade: Common

- Rank: F (0.0%)

- Effect: Summons one non-elemental energy bolt. The summoned energy bolt deals magical damage 300% higher than base attack power and lasts for 2 seconds.

- Cooldown: 60 seconds.

- Proficiency Options

* Using 22 Cubes reduces cooldown to 60 seconds.

* Using 33 Cubes reduces cooldown to 40 seconds and increases energy bolt duration by 1 second.

‘Is this option for real?’

Levan couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle as he checked the revised information on the energy bolt.

Because the way the damage was applied made no sense at all.

‘It’s a skill that deals magic damage, but it requires base attack power?’

Warlord skills clearly distinguish between physical and magical damage, demanding the appropriate stats accordingly.

If the Strike skill Levan learned is based on physical damage, then the wizards’ magic spells are based on magical damage.

Therefore, warriors’ skills are influenced by Strength, and wizards’ by Intelligence.

But the energy bolt Rubix gave?

‘This guy really sticks to his concept, huh.’

It only proved once again that deep down, he was a hardcore strength fanatic.

‘But even with the 33 Cube set, the duration is only 3 seconds? That means I have to use the skill immediately after activating the cube?’

Despite being a surprisingly special energy bolt, it did have a glaring downside.

Its magic duration lasted only 3 seconds.

Meaning, even if used from a distance, if 3 seconds pass while the bolt is in flight, the magic dissipates before hitting the target.

‘I guess I’ll have to use it as a melee skill most of the time.’

It wouldn’t be a problem at close range, so Levan decided to use the energy bolt mainly in close combat.

‘Better to be sure about these things.’

Feeling good that his five hours of grinding hadn’t been wasted, Levan happily took out two unopened cubes.

After some thought, he decided to open the Epic Cube first.

‘Yeah, better to get the beating over with early. I bet it’s going to send me to fight wizards again.’

Epic Cubes grant Epic Quests.

And Epic Quests are related to class scenarios, so this time too, the quest would likely require him to fight wizards.

In other words, not much to look forward to.

Levan quickly activated the Epic Cube.

[You have successfully activated Rubix’s Epic Cube.]

[An Epic Quest has been triggered.]

[Double Kill]

- Grade: Epic, Special, Unique.

- Objective: Defeat a boss monster who was a mage affiliated with the Magic Tower once.

- Reward: Rubix’s Epic Cube, Rubix’s Skill Cube Fragment, Rubix’s Treasure Cube Fragment.

Levan swiftly read through the quest details.

And without realizing it, certain beings came to mind.

None other than the Lich.

Because among the Warlord’s representative mage-type monsters, none was more notable than the Lich.

‘And the condition says boss monster, who was part of the Magic Tower... That means it must have a backstory... Ah, could it be that one?’

As a veteran player, Levan had defeated several types of Liches before.

One Lich he had killed for a quest popped into his memory.

‘Wasn’t its name Bookworm Mongoose?’

Bookworm Mongoose.

If Levan remembered correctly, Bookworm Mongoose was a Lich who used to be a Magic Tower mage.

And it was a boss monster.

The only problem was...

‘But I think that guy was around level 50.’

Even though Levan had taken down a fully evolved Amtosrin, there was nearly a 2.5 times level difference. It was uncertain whether he could handle it easily.

‘Hmm, but the strategy itself isn’t difficult, so let’s just try and see how it goes.’

He was planning to hunt in a much higher-level area anyway.

So it wasn’t an impossible task.

‘Alright, the next hunting ground is decided, and now it’s time for the Growth Cube.’

With the next destination set, Levan picked up the Growth Cube, but then.

[Insufficient Strength.]

“...?”

A warning message he hadn’t seen in a while.

“My Strength is 96 now, and it says I lack Strength?”

Levan couldn’t help but laugh at the message.

*       *       *

Somewhere in the open fields around Herum.

A dozen or so figures wearing crow masks appeared.

They were none other than the Black Guild, also known as the “Plague Guild.”

Members of the Plague Guild never called each other by name.

They always wore white crow masks and black robes, because it minimized the risk of being chased even when behaving rudely.

Among the crows, the Vice Guild Master, commonly called the “Deputy Commander,” pulled out a sulfur stick from his cloak and said,

“Everyone, get ready.”

The Busan Couple had no choice but to yield to the deputy commander’s threats.

Especially Choi Sungwoo, who was even more helpless.

Because even if he himself could stand his ground, his girlfriend was terrified.

So he spilled all the information he knew to the deputy commander.

 

[Amtoses resonate with each other.]

[The summoning conditions for Amtosrin have been met.]

[Amtosrin is being summoned.]

[Amtosrin absorbs the maximum number of Amtoses it can tolerate.]

[Amtosrin is empowered.]

As the sulfur stick was lit, thirty Amtoses previously gathered caught the smell and quickly swarmed the flame.

And then, the fully evolved Amtosrin was summoned.

Grrrrrrrr!

The roar of the fully evolved Amtosrin was imposing.

Though it looked intimidating, its level was only 45 at best.

In contrast, the Plague Guild members were all skilled fighters with at least three-digit levels.

The deputy commander chuckled upon seeing the summoned Amtosrin.

“Well, nothing to prepare for then.”

He had told the guild members to get ready just in case, but seeing the Amtosrin’s level made him laugh quietly.

So, wanting to set an example as a deputy commander, he drew his sword.

“Half-Slash.”

[Half-Slash has been activated.]

The skill gleamed on the blade.

Fully prepared, the deputy commander charged at the fully evolved Amtosrin and swung his sword in one swift motion.

Swoosh!

[The strength of the fully evolved Amtosrin has weakened.]

The Amtosrin’s HP dropped steadily.

The deputy commander cut down more than five Amtoses at once.

It was easy.

After swinging a few more times,

[You have successfully hunted the fully evolved Amtosrin.]

The deputy commander had easily succeeded in hunting the Amtosrin.

He raised his hand over the dead Amtosrin and shouted,

“Loot the items.”

[You have acquired Amtosrin’s Symbiosis Harness.]

‘Symbiosis Harness?’

After killing the Amtosrin, the deputy commander smoothly looted the item.

And as a result, he obtained the same Symbiosis Harness that Levan had gotten.

The deputy commander checked the harness’s options without much thought, but then.

“Sh-shit, what is this?”

He blurted out a curse involuntarily.

The reason was simple.

The Symbiosis Harness’s options were so absurdly powerful that curses just flew out.

Guild members, curious about the deputy commander’s outburst, asked,

“Deputy commander, what’s wrong?”

“No idea. Ask him.”

“Deputy commander, what’s going on? Did something good drop?”

The deputy commander chuckled and threw the harness to them.

“Heh heh, see for yourselves, you bastards.”

The guild members eagerly checked the options on the Symbiosis Harness.

Soon, they too began swearing loudly like the deputy commander.

“Wow, damn it!”

“Is this for real?”

“Whoa, insane!”

“Ha ha ha, crazy, right? So what do we do now?”

“Start grinding right away.”

“From now on, it’s just grind after grind.”

“Ah, finally gonna make some easy money.”

Following the deputy commander’s orders, the guild members pulled out sulfur sticks from their cloaks.

The start of the Amtosrin grind.

Also known as Amtogrind.

*       *       *

Levan ultimately failed to open the Growth Cube.

Because his Strength was insufficient.

So he gave up for now, planning to open it later.

The system notification said it wasn’t severely lacking, just a little short, so raising Strength by about 5 would do.

After finishing his cube activations, Levan headed to his next destination.

The name was “Ruined Nation, Pasna.”

Arriving at Pasna, Levan muttered,

“Ah, damn expensive.”

In Warlord, level 50 was considered mid-level.

Pasna Ruined Nation was an essential city that players just hitting mid-level had to pass through.

It was quite far from Herum.

The game’s map was structured so that the farther you went from the starting village, the higher the level of monsters.

But since Levan was hated by all wizards, he couldn’t use taxis.

Of course, like with Hudson, he could fight to snatch a taxi pass, but fighting every time he needed transport was ridiculous, so he just bought teleport scrolls from the auction house.

Most teleport scrolls were quite pricey.

But Levan bought them anyway for one unchanging truth:

‘Time is money.’

Arriving in Pasna, Levan surveyed the surroundings.

“Ruined Nation Pasna, it’s been a while.”

Once a prosperous kingdom, Pasna had fallen due to treacheries of corrupt officials.

There were many hidden dungeons here and a fair number of base quests scattered around.

If his fighting ability still worked against monsters here, spending some time leveling up in Pasna wouldn’t be bad.

Levan began planning.

‘Let’s see... if I recall correctly, Bookworm Mongoose is the boss monster of the Royal Library Dungeon. To enter the Royal Library, you need high reputation or a certain amount of Pasna Contribution Points, right?’

Levan’s character had been reset, and with it, all reputation lost.

Since he hadn’t done anything to raise reputation while rebuilding his character, it was currently zero.

Meaning, relying on reputation wasn’t an option; raising Contribution Points within the kingdom would be faster.

Levan also knew exactly how to quickly gain Pasna Contribution Points.

‘Contribution Points are like NPC affection. So the best way to earn them is through quests. Then it must be that quest again.’

The quest he planned to undertake was known as the Ruined Nation grind, a popular series that any player setting foot in Pasna eventually did.

Abbreviated as the Mangada series.

With his goal set, Levan immediately headed out into the open fields outside the Ruined Nation.

[Sorrowful Plains]

Stepping into the open field, the region name appeared: Sorrowful Plains.

This place used to be a golden granary that boasted a bountiful harvest every year.

Farmers here wore smiles on their faces daily.

But as the kingdom fell into ruin, no matter how bountiful the harvest, paying taxes left nothing for them.

So the farmers stopped smiling.

Thus, the area became known as the Sorrowful Plains.

Levan opened the auction house and bought an item.

[A package has arrived from the Auction House.]

True to its name, the auction house delivered the package with lightning speed.

Levan tore it open and took out the purchased item.

He then sprayed it all over his body.

[You have used Love It Bug.]

[For the next hour, you will receive a powerful love attack from insect-type monsters within a 300m radius.]

A musty smell spread across his body.

But insects go crazy for this scent.

Levan muttered,

“Alright, snap out of it. If you don’t want to get bugged to death, you fight until you die.”

Extreme hunting efficiency.

For that, Levan deliberately pushed himself into a tight spot.