Overgeared Chapter 1029:
[Affinity with Duke ‘Grenhal’ of the Saharan Empire has reached 50 . Grenhal is willing to dine with you at any time . ]
[Affinity with Duke ‘Morse’ of the Saharan Empire has reached 30 . Morse will respond to your light jokes with a smile . ]
[Affinity with Duke ‘Basara’ of the Saharan Empire has reached 62 . Basara will positively review whatever you ask for . ]
“ . . . ” Grid felt refreshed as he was surrounded by the dukes and knights of the empire . Those who didn’t even look at him a few years ago were now giving him goodwill and praise . This was an unreal situation for Grid . It was a rewarding feeling that was hard to describe in words .
He trembled with happiness . Then he suddenly felt doubts . ‘Why does Basara have the highest affinity?’
Grid talked a lot with Grenhal, head of the Seven Dukes . There was even the dexterity effect that he couldn’t suppress during the handshake . Additionally, affinity with Grenhal had increased exponentially after saving his life . However, Grid didn’t understand why Basara’s affinity was so elevated . She seemed to maintain a clear distinction between public and private matters and was somewhat indifferent, so he hadn’t shared many words with her .
‘I don’t understand . . . ’
Then Grid turned his head to the waterfall . The 52 waterfalls lost their momentum and fell like streams in the aftermath of their mana being taken away by Braham . Beneath them was the war **** follower . A follower who had mastered 10 secret techniques—he was a little weaker than the yangban, Garam .
Still, an enemy who could be described as powerful was now half-dead . His trembling legs were torn, just hanging by the skin, while his left arm and ears were cut off altogether . Blood was flowing down from his neck . He looked shabby compared to the dignified appearance he’d had when he overwhelmed the dukes and the 10 meritorious retainers just a short moment ago .
‘I better finish it quickly . ’
The remaining health of the war **** follower was less than 10% . There was very little chance of him exerting his original ability because his physical condition was unstable .
“Get up . ”
“Yes, Your Majesty . ”
Step .
Grid ordered the knights and started to take steps . He wanted to deal a final blow to the followers as he was afraid the war **** might descend again while Braham was asleep . More than anything else . . .
‘He is mine!’
He had to worry that the dukes might kill the follower .
Step . Step .
Grid’s eyes were blazing with greed as he gradually narrowed the distance to the follower . He dreamed of a ‘perfect secret technique’ while looking forward to how much experience killing the follower would give him . The followers occasionally dropped fragments of the secret techniques that were damaged and had no value as skillbooks . Grid narrowed the distance to the follower and performed a sword dance . “Pagma’s Swordsmanship . ”
He felt the sword energy and mana exit his body at almost the same time . Blue energy formed around the Sword Aiming at the Gods, and four types of spells appeared simultaneously . It was the precursor of Linked Kill Flower Pinnacle .
[Swordsmanship and magic have achieved unity!]
A notification window appeared in Grid’s field of view as he aimed at the follower taking a defensive posture with only one arm .
[The world calls you a magic swordsman . ]
[A new class will be given to you to define you . ]
[The third class ‘Magic Swordsman of the Epics’ has been acquired . ] (TL: Epics = epic poetry)
Ttiring~
[Magic Swordsman of the Epics]
[Rating: Legendary (Growth)
A magic swordsman who was born after inheriting Pagma’s power and Braham’s blessing—his epic will begin with a legend and end with a myth . ]
[The class effect of Magic Swordsman of the Epics has permanently increased sword energy and mana by 20% . ]
[The class effect of Magic Swordsman of the Epics has integrated magic and swordsmanship and permanently reduced the cooldown of all skills by 10% . ]
[The class effect of Magic Swordsman of the Epics has permanently increased the strength and intelligence stat by 100 points . ]
[The class effect of Magic Swordsman of the Epics means you will gain two additional stat points with every future level up . The additional stat points will be automatically invested in strength . ]
[There will be more beneficial effects if the Magic Swordsman of the Epics class grows to the myth rating . ]
[Your status has risen sharply . You are a special being . The special passive ‘Origin True Energy’ has been created due to the status increase . ]
[★Origin True Energy ★
Possessed: 3
You can consume one Origin True Energy to double a specific stat . The duration is one minute .
If you consume all the Origin True Energy, all your stats will be permanently reduced by two times .
* The consumed Origin True Energy is impossible to be recovered . ]
“ . . . !”
Origin True Energy—Grid knew about this concept a long time ago . It was the reason why Mercedes’s hair turned white . In order to deal with the cave cricket, she had pulled out the Origin True Energy . She had been unable to cope with the aftermath and aged partially, losing her beautiful blue hair . Grid was filled with guilt when he was reminded of Mercedes . He bit his lips and shook off his thoughts .
‘I won’t use this even if I’m dying . ’
This energy could only be used three times . If he used it three times, all his stats would be permanently halved . It was a nuisance . He was afraid to touch it .
Enchant Weapon, Detect Force, Lightning, and Wind Cutter . . . Linked Kill Flower Pinnacle combined with magic started to hit the follower . The follower resisted Grid by using a counterattack martial arts, but it was an unreasonable feat with only one arm . Grid continued to use the sword dances like Transcended Link Flower and Pinnacle Kill .
“Kuek . . . ! Cough!” The follower lost all his health . Then he said something as he collapsed in a pile of blood, “Thank . . . you . ”
“ . . . !” It was so unexpected that Grid unconsciously backed away . Thinking about it, all the followers he’d met so far had been monsters who respawned in the same spot .
“My name is Merlin . . . I abandoned everything and trained for 50 years while pursuing the path the war **** showed me . . . ” The follower who had mastered 10 secret techniques was able to talk . “ . . . I couldn’t see the end and was blinded by despair . Now it is finally over . I . . . welcome . . . the rest . ”
He wasn’t a monster and was instead closer to an NPC . The follower called Merlin started to turn to gray ash . Grid gritted his teeth . Rather than rejoice in getting a new class, he felt great anger at War God Zeratul . He was raging because he saw Pagma’s image in Merlin .
‘How many people has he destroyed?’
Countless people must have suffered like Pagma and Braham . It was terrible . The moment Grid thought this . . .
[War God Zeratul is looking at you . ]
-Are you baring your teeth at me?
The voice in Grid’s mind seemed emotionless . It didn’t show any displeasure or bitterness toward Grid . This was natural as War God Zeratul was an arrogant existence . He didn’t react seriously just because a mere mortal showed hostility toward him . Grid’s expression became even more terribly distorted . The war god’s leisurely behavior was hateful . A curse was already eating at Grid . It was a curse resulting from the killing of the war **** follower .
[You feel an uncontrollable anger!]
[You want to release your anger!]
[It is impossible to distinguish between enemies and allies!]
“Kuek . . . !” Grid’s vision turned red, and he spun around heavily . Grid was confused by the changes in the position of the sky and the ground, and he floundered . By the time he barely managed to regain his mind, the area around Grid was crawling with followers . There were more than 300 of them . The dukes, the knights, and his precious companions were gone without a trace .
“These jerks . . . !”
They dared to hurt his colleagues . . . ? Then it happened when the **** Grid was about to start a sword dance .
-Calm down .
[The blacksmith **** Hexetia is keeping you in control . ]
“Grid . . . ! Grid! Wake up!”
“Ah . . . ” Grid’s red and spinning vision was restored to normal . The hundreds of followers surrounding Grid were gone, and there were his companions, the dukes, and the knights .
‘Don’t tell me . . . ’
. . . The followers he just saw were actually them? He was about to hurt them with his own hands . . . ? The god’s curse—a chill went down Grid’s spine as he grasped how terrifying the weight of this punishment was . His shoulders shook with fright .
“What is it? Did you see a ghost?”
Yura, Jishuka, and his other colleagues supported him . They didn’t say many words and just watched Grid with warm eyes . This alone was a great strength for Grid .
“It wasn’t a ghost . I saw a monster . ” Grid smiled and checked his condition . He calmly controlled the emotions that had run wild because of the unknown curse . Grid had gained a huge 20% increase in experience in exchange for killing the follower who had mastered 10 secret techniques . However, he still didn’t get a perfect secret technique . Only a damaged version entered his inventory .
‘Is this the right reward?’
Without hesitation, Grid left the place where the follower had died and headed to the back of the waterfall . It was the place the follower had been guarding . Skunk guessed that treasure was likely to be hidden in this place . Once they entered, they found it was covered with murals . The mysterious and dreamlike murals, similar to those in Buddhism, covered the walls and simultaneously stimulated primitive fears .
“I need a long time to interpret it,” Skunk muttered when he saw the scale of the murals . He didn’t seem to expect an answer, but based on his sparkling eyes, he was obviously very pleased with what he saw . Skunk was looking forward to the story that would be told every time he unraveled a mural . Grid thought about it and used his insight stat to look around carefully . Then he found the entrance to a small cave .
“I will enter first . ” Faker stopped Grid who was about to enter the cave and moved forward carefully . He used the assassin’s ability to detect traps . Then he signaled to the party once he determined it was safe . The cave was around 100 meters deep and wasn’t too big .
“This is . . . ”
They reached the end of the cave and saw a large mural . Humans as small as ants were bowing toward the sky . It wasn’t clear what existence they were worshipping . There was only a red radiance in the sky . It wasn’t the sun . The radiance was more brilliant and larger than the sun .
“Due to the nature of this place, it must be the symbol of the warriors . ” Skunk approached the mural . He took a closer look and cocked his head . “Still, the image of worshipping the **** is a bit strange . Normally the humans depicted in these sorts of paintings would have longing or joyous expressions, but the humans in this painting are screaming . ”
At this moment, the cave started to shake and the ground surged . The bulging ground took the form of an altar with an old box on it .
[Secret Technique Box]
“It is also locked . . . ” Skunk didn’t finish saying that they had to find a key . It was because Grid pulled out the master key and opened the lock .
‘A scam . ’ Skunk clicked his tongue .
***
Simultaneously, at the waterfront of the ruins . . .
“We’ve finally arrived . ”
An imperial ship anchored itself . It had taken two times as long than expected to get here, but the reinforcements finally arrived .
“This . . . ?” Drunk Duke Diworth jumped from the ship and laughed when he saw the ship flying the flag of the Overgeared Kingdom . “The war will continue here . ”
Diworth had the previous track record of missing the enemy king right in front of his nose . It was the shame of his long life and a mistake he had to make up for .
“Just wait, Overgeared King . This time I’ll cut off your head . ”
Please note that Diworth’s power was one level inferior to that of Grenhal, Morse, and Basara .