There was an indescribable amount that players had to invest or lose just to succeed in a single raid.
It was especially grueling when facing bosses like the Harpy Queen of Sky Ridge, whose pattern information was scarce due to the lack of user interest and strategy guides.
It was obvious that without knowing a boss monster’s pattern, was difficult.
Facing a boss without knowing its patterns and phases was like night and day compared to facing it fully informed and prepared.
Naturally, Dahav’s lips curled into a smile.
‘In that sense, the memories left in my head can be called cheat keys.’
Simply knowing the patterns and strategy was enough to gain half the victory even before the battle began, lightening the posture players took when attempting the raid.
Of course, if just knowing the patterns alone guaranteed success, then by the year 2040 when information had become widespread, even casual players should be able to clear it—but that was far from the truth.
‘The factors that guarantee raid success: items, level, skills, talents. And above all, comrades you can reliably entrust your back to.’
Dahav possessed everything except one thing he stubbornly insisted on as a solo player: comrades, especially a reliable tank to soak up damage.
No matter how talented one was, there was always a limit when acting alone, and some situations were simply unavoidable.
‘You need a tank to draw the boss’s attention and take its attacks.’
Knowing this, Dahav insisted on creating a ghoul with exceptional tanking ability.
Though it meant making compromises or using shortcuts, at least the tank could attract the boss’s gaze and ensure success.
However, the Harpy Queen was neither easygoing nor susceptible to shortcuts.
Furthermore, since she hovered in the air, it would be difficult for a ghoul to draw her attention.
Though Dahav’s skills and talents far surpassed those of the level 30 players, the raid’s difficulty was entirely different, so he could not afford to let his guard down.
Not just Rabo, but many super players including the Immortal Emperor and Nazarik had challenged this level 30 raid—and failed.
Due to the Harpy Queen’s nature, a single slip-up could lead to a wipe.
“So, we must definitely create a tank who can hold aggro from the Harpy Queen and withstand her attacks.”
Saying this, Dahav placed the purchased corpses on the table at the Brokerage.
[Head of the Fierce Kobold Captain, Dobber]
- Grade: Unique
- Classification: Mid-Low Grade
- Usage/Consumption Level: No restrictions
- The head of Dobber, the strongest and bravest among the kobolds living in the underground mine.
[Armadillo, Chancellor’s Upper Body]
- Grade: Unique
- Classification: Mid Grade
- Usage/Consumption Level: No restrictions
- The body of Chancellor, the ruler of the Bidrahi Desert and renowned for his sturdy frame, especially called the Iron Fortress Armor among the Armadillo tribe.
Dahav had carefully selected and purchased only corpses of Unique grade or higher, including all necessary parts to craft the ghoul.
At a glance, these were far from ordinary monsters, and the price tag was lined with 80 gold.
Considering the amount was far beyond what one would expect for level 30 usage, Dahav instinctively flinched as his hand reached for the table.
But he quickly shook his head.
‘Don’t get nervous. No matter what, with Morgue Dimension’s level increase, I can only add one additional ghoul. This is just the foundation for succeeding at the Harpy Queen raid. No mistakes allowed.’
Determined, Dahav clenched the handle and began using the skill.
Reverse.
Ding—!
[Would you like to receive System correction for the Reverse skill?]
[If corrected, the maximum success masterpiece will result.]
This was the moment to take a greedy step for the sake of a nearly guaranteed investment and thorough preparation.
He also bolstered his confidence in his abilities.
“I’m quite used to this now. It’s not that difficult.”
Dahav vigorously shook his head.
[Using the Reverse skill without System correction!]
The Reverse skill used without correction was very unfriendly.
Neither message nor the blue line appeared in his vision.
Though momentarily taken aback, he quickly regained composure.
First…
Like when corrected, he separated the corpses according to priority for sewing.
The previously chaotic table was tidied up, and Dahav’s eyes flared with passion.
‘From now on, it’s for real.’
He carefully moved the handle, connecting corpse parts one by one.
‘When the guidance was given, it was definitely here…’
Recalling every point he had carefully observed while receiving corrections, he moved his hands steadily.
Chik, chiik—
As memories surfaced, his back was covered with a cold sweat from concentration on the delicate handling of the handle.
Yet Dahav paid it no mind, silently sewing amidst the stifling silence.
An hour passed in this extreme focus, and the determination began to reveal itself.
Ding—!
[Congratulations, masterpiece! A Very Sturdy Ghoul has been completed! Though created without correction, the craftsmanship is surprisingly exquisite; however, due to lack of technique and practice, the masterpiece has limits.]
[Very Sturdy Ghoul]
- Level: 30
- Species: Undead
- Health: 960 (+50)
- Mana: 480 (+50)
- Status: Strength 92 (+5) / Agility 51 (+5) / Stamina 96 (+5) / Spirit 48 (+5)
- Command Limit: 15
- Owned Active Skills
- Taunt Lvl.3 (Consumption MP 80)] – A unique kobold taunt using words from Dobber’s head corpse, forcing the target to focus on it.
- Curl Lvl.1 (Consumes MP 20 per minute)] – Using the unique toughness of Armadillo, the body becomes like a rock, greatly increasing defense at the cost of movement speed. (Movement speed reduced by 80%, defense increased by 100%)
The results were incomparably good, but Dahav’s expression was not bright.
“Failure.”
A masterpiece created in one go without correction.
The ghoul was decent enough to please the eye but was still a ‘failure.’
If he had aimed for masterpiece from the start, he would have corrected and created it easily.
‘To ensure the Harpy Queen is definitely hunted, even the smallest variable must be controlled.’
Though the Very Sturdy Ghoul was the best he’d made so far, it was still insufficient to replace the tank position against the Harpy Queen.
Dahav disassembled the overly crafted corpses and grabbed the handle again.
***
Sky Ridge Workshop.
The workshop’s Rental Clerk, who had been staring at the doorframe, nervously asked Dante, the workshop’s owner.
“Isn’t it past 8 p.m. already…?”
Dahav, the renter and known as a benefactor of Sky Ridge, had been working inside nonstop.
Usually, concentrating on work without a single break for 8 hours straight was not easy.
Especially in a workshop, it would drain both stamina and spirit.
Anyone else would be worried about Dahav’s health, who had once lost a limb and was found by the benefactor without hesitation.
“If he keeps this up, he’ll definitely collapse… I have to go in and stop him…”
The clerk clenched the door handle, but Dante quickly shook his head and said,
“Wait. Can’t you see that gaze?”
“A gaze?”
“That’s not the look of someone exhausted.”
Following Dante’s words, the clerk’s gaze naturally shifted to Dahav’s eyes.
“What is that…?”
It was clearly not the tired look of someone who had been working hard for 8 hours.
Instead, his eyes seemed to glow brighter by the moment.
“When I worked here for 30 years, I met craftsmen with some skill. Remember when I lent my workshop to Sabrina, the owner of the Alchemist Tower?”
The clerk had drilled that story into the ears of anyone who would listen.
But that was not important right now.
What did it have to do with this situation?
Dante shook his head.
“You have to be sharp. Right now, the benefactor is showing that same gaze.”
To create even a single item, he poured his soul in while devoting every fiber of his being.
That was what a true master was, but ordinary people who had never entered that realm wouldn’t understand.
“But 20 hours is dangerous…”
“If you truly think of him as a benefactor, you have to leave him be.”
The clerk hesitated, then released the door handle and awkwardly left the room.
Though he was forced to withdraw, it was the wise choice.
“This is it!”
It wasn’t misjudgment or faith born from a need for reward.
Within 20 hours, Dahav was on the verge of discovering the secret to creation.
“I shouldn’t just follow what the guidance showed me!”
As stated clearly in the System messages, just following the guidance had a limit of masterpiece at best.
In the end, additional technique and creativity were necessary.
And Dahav had just realized that.
“When moving the arm, I have to thread the string so the joints don’t get caught, and I can’t stab thick muscles like the biceps or thighs straight on. I have to pass through at an angle.”
Not only that, but once he grasped the trick, his concentration became astonishing.
Finding the points and receiving the focus to support them, failure was impossible.
Chik, chiik—
Dahav’s hands fluttered as if many butterflies were flying at once.
His hands, which had been moving rapidly, suddenly stopped, and a burst of exclamation escaped his lips.
“That’s it!”
A smile curved Dahav’s lips, and a joyful message window popped up.
Ding—!
[Congratulations! Masterpiece has been made! The Brave Iron Fortress Armor Dark Knight has been completed! With outstanding power and creative technique, this masterpiece surpasses a masterpiece!]
Looking at the message window, Dahav’s smile uncontrollably rose to the heavens.
A Dark Knight.
Just creating an undead warhorse classified as ‘achievement’ was already a success, but on top of that, he had created an evolved ghoul—the Dark Knight.
But this was only the beginning.
Ding—!
[First to achieve masterpiece! Achievement ‘Master’s Touch’ has been unlocked.]
[Master’s Touch]
Granted only to those who create works above masterpiece.
Basic stats (Strength, Agility, Stamina, Spirit) +5 / Special skill ‘Dexterity’ +10
[Due to success effects, the Dark Knight’s base stats (Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Spirit) increase by 10 each, and one random skill from the monsters used as corpses is acquired!]