NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13 - Such, Emotion!
Such, Emotion!
*Clink! Ting!*
The effects when opening a box were always spectacular. Every time a box was opened, it seemed like the universe’s constellations, gigantic star formations, and noble moonlight appeared. The extravagant presentation made one wonder if the entire CG team had been invested in it.
Even without the flashy visuals, there was plenty to see during a box opening. For instance, the human drama.
“Argh! How come no rare items are coming out?!”
Bang, bang!
Heo won-moo kicked at the sales counter as if he were going to hit an NPC.
“C-Calm down… Is it really that important?”
“Oh my! Lady! If we get junk from this, we’ll be in trouble! It’s fine if it’s a game, but damn!!”
At that moment, Choi Seo-yeon and Lee Hae-won screamed and hugged each other.
“Ahhh! It’s ultra-rare!!”
“Gasp! M-Me too!”
Even Lee Hae-won, who wasn’t good at expressing emotions, blushed and jumped up and down with Choi Seo-yeon. The box-opening room was a place where human joy and sorrow were mixed together.
Among them, one man was screaming with the most intense emotions.
“Raaaahhh!!”
Kim Iseo let out a monstrous roar.
“It’s legendary!!”
* * *
Legendary grade.
When a player obtains a legendary item, the gap between players becomes enormous. For example, Kim Iseo once conquered thousands of ghouls relying only on the Holy Sword.
‘The difference in armor is drastic.’
The gap created by skills is like the distance from Earth to the Moon, while the gap created by armor is like the distance from the Milky Way to Andromeda.
Since armor random boxes are the main revenue model for the game, it was only natural.
==========================
<
▻ Grade
Congratulations. Legendary grade!
▻ Description
This is armor imbued with the power of the ancient giant Nephilim. Giants were known for their exceptional resistance to magic, and their immense size and infinite stamina terrified humans.
* When health drops below 30%, the ‘Gigantism’ skill can be activated.
*Gigantism: Your body becomes immensely large (including weapons and armor). When a player becomes as large as the ancient giant, they attract a lot of attention from monsters. However, they gain a 50% reduction in received damage, and all attacks become area damage.
! Do not use this skill in relationships. Unless you want your partner to die.
▻ Effects
– Increases body-related skills by one level.
– +100 to all resistances
– 15% reduction in physical damage received
– 40% reduction in magical damage received
– 15% increase in damage for area attacks
– Creates a shield equivalent to 20% of your health.
==========================
‘…This is unbelievable.’
Kim Iseo was stunned by an item he had never received, even when clearing console games.
‘Gigantism!’
Among the options, the notable one was Gigantism. Skills that trigger as options are only possible with legendary items.
‘With the Holy Sword and Gigantism… I might be able to aim for an Aggro Burst set.’
Combining the Gigantism skill with several others, a top mechanism for red-grade dealing called ‘Aggro Burst’ could be created.
An Aggro Burst dealer draws the enemy’s attention and delivers all the damage in a short period. This is very useful in boss raids, as it allows for dealing the most significant damage to a weakness in an instant.
‘I could also tank now…?’
Thanks to the basic options of Nephilim’s armor and the enhanced body level from the first kill of the Necromancer, Kim Iseo’s body level was boosted.
[Warrior’s Body Lv. 4(+3) (Grade UP)]
From a robust body to a warrior’s body, with an additional level of 3.
‘Maybe later, if a skill like the Judgment Sword comes out, boss raids will be possible.’
With this, Kim Iseo began to have ambitions. Even selfishly, he thought of getting another legendary-grade skill.
Specifically, the Judgment Sword.
The flower of Aggro Burst.
‘…But it’s probably impossible.’
Judgment Sword was rare and was a top skill for boss raid burst among red-grade skills. It would only be obtainable if the Unyielding Warrior was moved to tears.
‘Let’s keep it in mind for now.’
Kim Iseo made a vow to remember the synergy if a skill appears.
“Wow, Team Leader! You got a legendary item?”
“Really?!”
When Kim Iseo got the legendary item, the team members gathered around.
“Yeah. Nephilim.”
“Wow!”
“Is it real?! Damn, I’m going for a smoke.”
Heo won-moo turned away with a bitter expression.
“Hey, since I got a legendary, I’ll send a box your way. Take one.”
Kim Iseo wanted to give at least an ‘ultra-rare’ to the team members.
Hero-grade or higher only comes from premium boxes, so with the lack of money, the best ultra-rare from a standard box seemed appropriate.
* * *
“Hey, Kim Iseo! This is amazing!”
Heo won-moo donned an impressive ultra-rare armor and puffed out his chest. The moment Kim Iseo drew the legendary, ultra-rare items had immediately appeared.
“It really feels like a fantasy world walking around like this! Hehe.”
Choi Seo-yeon wore a rare-grade boot and armor. Even with just these two, she looked like quite a respectable soldier.
“It looks like cosplay.”
Kim Iseo also wore the Nephilim armor. He observed his appearance carefully and made a decision.
“I think I need to switch to casual mode.”
“Eh, why?! It’s fun!”
“Of course, it’s fun for you since you have a set. I look like an idiot.”
Kim Iseo changed the setting to make the armor invisible. He returned to his original casual outfit.
“Sniff… You really changed it.”
“Stop sniffling. We’re almost there now.”
Kim Iseo pointed with his finger, and beyond that, a faint light from a portal was visible.
“Wow. We’re already here.”
“Everyone… you know, right?”
Kim Iseo surveyed everyone with a determined gaze.
“Yes!”
“Phew……”
The portal pointed out by Jannelet was unusable; it would be destroyed before they could use it.
Indeed, the Queen had appeared suddenly and stomped on the portal.
– Kraaahhh!
As expected, the Queen crushed the portal.
*Ding.*
[You have encountered the Queen. Be careful!]
“Run!”
Kim Iseo immediately dashed out, grabbing Jannelet’s hand.
“Hey, let go of me!”
[Jannelet’s heart is reacting to you, beating rapidly.]
[Affection +5]
[Current Affection: 80]
* * *
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Queen’s footsteps grew faster and faster. It was a monster so large that its head could be obscured by clouds if it stood up straight.
Such a monster was chasing them with enormous strides. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.
“Huff…… huff…… Shouldn’t we steal a car or something?!”
Heo Won-mu gasped and shouted.
“Hey! If we take a car, Jannelet won’t be able to guide us!”
“Damn, that’s a realistic reason!”
Tatadatadak.
They sprinted at their fastest speed since their time in the pavilion.
Thud! Thud!
No matter how fast they ran, the distance from the Queen kept narrowing.
“Team Leader!! We’re not gaining any distance!! What should we do!?”
“That’s just how it is, you moron!!”
Kim Iseo yelled, forgetting about keeping his secret from the constellations.
As he said, the distance to the Queen was not increasing. They just needed to reach somewhere before it got any closer.
“Over there! On that mountain are the griffins—Billy, Nelly, and Penny—that my guards and I rode!”
Jannelet gasped and shouted.
‘Why can’t she run faster than this!’
It was different from the game.
“Jannelet!”
“Why, why? Oh…… oh! Eek!”
Kim Iseo simply picked Jannelet up and carried her. It was an immense display of strength.
[Jannelet’s heart is about to burst. She may not be able to meet your gaze anymore!]
[Affection +5]
[Current Affection: 85]
‘Only 15 more…!’
Even in the midst of this, Kim Iseo was calculating in his head.
‘Unexpected affection increases twice. At this rate, it’s definitely possible.’
Kim Iseo had planned to increase Jannelet’s affection during the quest. However, it had increased by 15 before he could even implement it.
“There! Let me down now!”
Jannelet pointed to a hillside. There, three mythical birds commonly known as ‘griffins’ were waiting for them.
“Alright. I’ll let you down. Then, run on your own!”
Kim Iseo set Jannelet down and immediately used ‘Windstorm Sword’ to rush towards the griffins.
Pop.
He arrived almost instantaneously.
– Eeeeek!
The griffins greeted him with a horse-like sound. Kim Iseo petted them briefly before tearing off a bit of one of the saddles.
‘Let’s do it one more time. Jannelet, I’m sorry. It’s a business relationship after all.’
Kim Iseo started fiddling with the saddle with a non-apologetic expression.
“Billy! Nelly! Penny!”
By then, Jannelet had arrived. She hugged all the griffins as if greeting old friends.
“One more time… please bear with it.”
Thud thud…… thud!
The griffins looked at the Queen chasing them from behind as Jannelet spoke.
– Eeeeek!
The griffins acknowledged with a gesture.
“Get on here! It might be slower than the portal, but it should help us shake off that monster… eek!”
Kim Iseo pulled Jannelet up onto the griffin with him. He couldn’t afford to have her ride another griffin.
“Is this Billy?”
“Y-yes. This is Billy.”
“Good. Billy, let’s go!”
The other members also mounted Nelly and Penny, and the griffins spread their wings.
– Eeeeek!
Whoosh!
With a few flaps of their wings, they soared into the sky.
“Wow!”
“Eeeek! So high!!”
“Uuugh!”
The members experienced the sensation of flying through the clouds in their own ways.
Of course, just because they had risen into the sky didn’t mean that the Queen’s attack had stopped.
– Kraaahhh!
The Queen, as large as a flying mountain, was almost like flying herself.
As she ascended, she actually became more visible to the Queen.
Thud! Thud!
Seeing her target more clearly, the Queen increased her speed. Just as her long arm reached out towards one of the griffins.
A figure with shimmering silver hair descended vertically.
It was Jannelet.
* * *
‘What… what to do!’
Jannelet’s hands, flailing in the air, could grasp nothing but the void. Transparent liquid was welling up in her deep eyes.
‘So cold…’
Whiiiiiing!
The icy wind cut through her body like a blade. She simply closed her eyes and began to offer a final prayer.
“Great Constellations, this priestess Jannelet has failed her mission…”
Tap.
She felt a sensation in her hands, which had been flailing in the air.
“Grab on!!”
It was Kim Iseo’s hand.
“No, what if you fall too?!”
The problem was that he wasn’t riding a griffin; he had simply fallen with her.
“Just grab on!”
As they fell rapidly, their hands reached out to each other in mid-air.
Tap. Grab.
Finally, their hands locked, and Kim Iseo pulled her close, embracing her.
“Are you planning to die together? What on earth…”
Jannelet’s tears rose towards the sky. Her hands clung tighter to Kim Iseo’s.
“I’m not dying.”
Kim Iseo wiped her tears away as he said firmly. It was the truth.
‘There’s no fall damage.’
In Mana Sword, there was no fall damage, only immense damage.
“Hold on tight!”
Kim Iseo positioned himself with his back facing the ground and lifted Jannelet up.
“Why are you going so far…”
A smile was Kim Iseo’s only response. At that moment, his back touched the ground.
Boom!!
[Jannelet has become infatuated with you!]
[Affection +50]
[Current Affection: 100(+35)]
What Kim Iseo gained from this dazzling and bold play was not just affection.
[The constellations are cheering for your performance!]
[Some constellations are moved to tears!]
He had perfectly elevated the entertainment value for the spectators, which would lead to investment.
[The Red Constellation, ‘Indomitable Warrior,’ is moved to tears and cheering for you!]
[‘Indomitable Warrior’ is sponsoring you with a skill!]
In Kim Iseo’s fading consciousness, he saw dice rolling.
Clatter. Bang!
[Skill: Judgment Sword (Legendary Level) Acquired!]
“…Wow.”
He said only that and closed his eyes.
* * *
It seemed that Kim Iseo absorbed all the impact from the fall, as Jannelet was unharmed.
“Open… open your eyes. Please…”
However, her expression was a mess. She clung to Kim Iseo, covered in tears.
“Your companion will be arriving soon… was it Haewon? The green one? Please, just don’t die… don’t die.”
Jannelet buried her face in Kim Iseo’s chest, sobbing.
It all felt like it was her fault. Should she not have intervened from the beginning?
Was it greed to want to save the inhabitants of Gaia?
Was it something unfit for her…?
All kinds of regrets passed through her mind, causing turmoil.
Until Kim Iseo’s hand wiped away her tears.
“Ugh…”
“Y-you survived. Sob… sniff…”
Jannelet burst into tears, having held them back until now.
“Ugh… it really hurts…”
Kim Iseo first checked his condition.
‘15% health remaining.’
It was the power of the legendary armor. Despite falling from such a high place, he still had some health left.
‘This should be enough; I don’t need a potion.’
He shook off the dust and stood up.
“Can you walk? We need to move quickly before Billy arrives.”
Jannelet pointed to the approaching Queen, urging them to walk faster. Kim Iseo had planned to do just that.
At least until he acquired one more legendary skill.
“No. Let’s just defeat it.”
[Health has dropped below 20%, ‘Giantization’ skill is now available.]
[Skill: Giantization. Activated!]
Boom…!
Rumbling vibrations echoed as Kim I-seo’s body rapidly grew in size. He had soon become as large as an apartment building. He then used another skill in succession.
[Skill: Judgment Sword (Legendary Grade). Activated!]
The top technique for aggro and burst damage in a boss raid was Judgment Sword.