An incident had occurred.A completely unknown participant had successfully become the first to conquer the Ruins of the Serpent.And not only that—he had taken down Moju, a frontrunner for victory, with his own hands.Some cheered at the news, some were stunned, and others were left in despair.While those varied reactions played out across the battlefield…
The one at the center of the storm—Han Yuseong—was quietly waiting for the Star Store to open.
[Star Store (Bronze) has been unlocked.][You have met the activation conditions for the Unique Ability 'Martial God'.][The quality of available items in the Star Store has been upgraded by one tier!]
As a reward for clearing the event, the Star Store had been unlocked.Thanks to the activation of his Martial God ability once again, Silver-tier items were now available.However, no especially unique items had appeared this time.Han Yuseong checked how many Star Points he had received.
[You were the fastest to clear the Ruins of the Serpent.][Your contracted Lord of War has earned 100,000 Coins.][You have received 20,000 Star Points as a dungeon clear reward.][Due to the effect of 'Restriction,' your Star Points have been multiplied by 5.][Total Star Points Acquired: 100,000!]
Both Coins and Star Points had come in substantial amounts.Han Yuseong first purchased and drank a potion to cure his status ailments.
The side effects of using the One-Poison Core were beginning to show.The potion he drank had cost a staggering 10,000 Star Points.
[You have consumed the Alchemist's Secret Elixir (Epic).][A mysterious energy cleanses your body completely.]
"Hoo…"
Han Yuseong could feel the lingering poison and the aftereffects of the core dissipating.As he waited for the potion's effects to fully take hold, he browsed through the store's offerings.Last time, a special item had appeared, allowing him to get the Orb of Command—But unfortunately, there were no such rare items this time.
Even so, there were still things worth buying.
[Spellbook of the Blue Tower (A) – 20,000 Star Points]· Contains the skills: Amiss Spear, Mystic Wall, and Frost Nova.
There was a spellbook.Han Yuseong spent the required points and used it immediately.With 70,000 Star Points still remaining, he decided to hold off on spending the rest for now.
'It's probably about time for a promotion match.'
Han Yuseong had made significant contributions in two events now.At this point, he was more than qualified to move up to Silver Tier,and chances were high he'd soon be selected for the Silver promotion trial.He figured it wouldn't be too late to use the rest of his Star Points then.
"Now then, what's left is…"
There was still one message he hadn't checked yet.
[You have conquered the Ruins of the Serpent.][Rewards will be distributed based on the number of Marks you possess.][Total Marks held: 2,075.][You will receive the highest tier of rewards!]
It was a message regarding the Mark-based reward system.With 2,075 Marks, Han Yuseong had surpassed even Moju, who had cleared the Ruins of the Serpent in his previous life.This meant he would receive even better rewards than Moju had.And now, those rewards arrived.
[You have received: Dagger – Hoga (Legendary), Purified Core of the Venom King (Legendary), Skill Book: Halden-Style Swordsmanship (S-Rank).][You have also received a massive amount of experience points.][Level has increased by 9!][+9 Strength, +9 Agility, +9 Vitality.][Due to the Martial God effect, an additional +3 to Strength, Agility, and Vitality has been granted.]
Legendary items.An S-rank skill book.And an experience boost so massive that it raised his level by nine all at once.Han Yuseong calmly reached out and caught the items as they slowly descended from the air.A dagger, a skill book, and a familiar item he'd seen more than enough of in the dungeon—the core.
[Hoga (Legendary)]· Type: Weapon (Dagger)· Attack Power: 95· +5 Agility· +30% Throwing Speed (Dagger-type weapons)· On hit, reduces all of the target's stats by 5% (up to 10%)· After being thrown, returns to the wielder if a specific motion is performed
[Purified Core of the Venom King (Legendary)]· The refined core of the monster once known as the Venom King.
When consumed, all stats increase by +10, and the passive skill Perfect Poison Immunity (S) is acquired.
It was a decent dagger with a good debuff effect.The added feature of it automatically returning when thrown was also appealing.Though being a dagger, it wasn't something Han Yuseong expected to use heavily.As for the core, it was a kind of elixir.
'Well, there's no reason to hesitate.'
Han Yuseong consumed the core and immediately absorbed the skill book as well.There was no point in holding back on items like these.The Venom King's core melted into his body, and the energy within spread throughout him, transforming into raw power and unveiling new skills.
[All stats have increased by +10.][You have learned the passive skill: Perfect Poison Immunity (S).][You have learned the active skill: Halden-Style Swordsmanship (S).]
[Perfect Poison Immunity (S)]· Type: Passive· +20% regeneration speed, +40% poison resistance· Automatically detoxifies all forms of poison when infected· Can convert poison absorbed into physical enhancement· Significantly reduces recovery time from all status effects
[Halden-Style Swordsmanship (S)]· Type: Active· A destructive sword style once wielded by Halden the Mercenary King.· Specializes in breaking enemy equipment—some forms have been lost.· Effects: While using this sword style, gain +35% armor penetration and increased ability to break enemy weapons/armor.
Form 1: Shatter – Unleashes a powerful flurry of strikes imbued with hardened sword energy.
Form 2: Ruin – Scrapes the ground to create shrapnel, then slashes through it, sending a magic-infused blast to destroy enemies ahead.
Form 3: Full Moon – Spins the body in a wide arc, slashing in all directions. The emitted sword energy spreads in a vortex, cutting down nearby enemies.
Form 4: Obliteration – Condenses magical power and detonates it alongside a devastating sword slash.
Perfect Poison Immunity.Among Playmers, there are those who use poison as their primary weapon.Against such opponents, simply having poison resistance often isn't enough—Because many of them possess skills that ignore a certain amount of poison resistance.That's where Perfect Poison Immunity would prove useful.
"The Mercenary King, huh."
[Quite the grand title. Arrogant, even.]
A 5th-tier skill, Halden-Style Swordsmanship.Han Yuseong already possessed a sword technique from the Lucen Kingdom,but that one had little going for it beyond speed.It was low-tier, after all—nothing could be done about that.But a 5th-tier sword technique like this would definitely be useful,and its skill set seemed promising.
'So that means… I've obtained Legendary items and a 5th-tier skill.'
For a single dungeon clear, the rewards were overwhelming.Even Moju in his previous life had never earned this much.But that was only natural—Han Yuseong had gathered far more Marks than Moju ever had.In the end, he'd gotten everything worth getting.
'It's going to be noisy for a while.'
There would be talk all over about this latest event.After all, Maezato Moju—Japan's most promising rising star—had suffered a devastating defeat.And if any of the sharper Lords were paying attention,they might even realize that the winner of this dungeon event was the same person who'd won the recent ranking battle.
'Well, it's not like attention is a bad thing.'
In the end, all of it would work out in Han Yuseong's favor.
Just then, Kakasha suddenly spoke up.
[Oathbearer, I have a question that's been on my mind.]"A question?"[Yes. That lunatic you fought just now—when you said he was weaker than you expected… was that just to provoke him?]"No, hmm… It wasn't really provocation."[So you meant it sincerely?]
Yes, he meant it.The Moju Han Yuseong remembered from his past life was stronger than this one.It was only natural—Moju had gained more experience over time, acquired stronger skills and gear, and refined his abilities.
[I thought you were just trying to provoke him. To say something like that so casually in the middle of a fight… you really are…]
Kakasha clicked her tongue in disbelief.But what could she say?
"I didn't realize fighting him would be that boring."
If he hadn't had the memories from his past life,it might've actually been fun.Han Yuseong let out a sigh and began walking forward.
[To say something like that to the very end… Truly, you are one cruel man…]
Leaving Kakasha's exasperated remark behind—
*
Maezato Moju had failed to conquer the Ruins of the Serpent.Though his personality was considered the worst,he was still acknowledged for his skills and potential.He had been one of the most highly anticipated players.
The failure sent shockwaves through Japan's Playmer community.And it dealt just as much of a blow to the Lord of Justice who had contracted with Moju—as well as to his Oathbearers.
"...It was a one-sided defeat, in every sense of the word. The young master wasn't able to land a single effective attack before he was defeated."
Japan — inside the
In one of its grand halls, Ran knelt on the floor, head bowed low, delivering a report to someone.
"That is… everything I witnessed, Chairman."
Through the large glass windows, the full landscape of the city below could be seen.A man stood with his back turned to her—neither young nor quite elderly, somewhere in between.He was the chairman of one of Japan's top conglomerates.And he was Maezato Rinjo, Moju's father.
"Disappointing."
After a long silence, Rinjo finally spoke.At his cold words, Ran shivered and bowed even deeper.
"Did you uncover his identity?""Only speculation that he may be Martian… Beyond that, nothing concrete yet. The tracking unit is already combing several regions, but it will take more time…""You must find him."
Rinjo slowly turned his head.His gaze, icy and sharp, pierced through Ran like a dagger.
"Once you find him—kill him, or recruit him. One of the two.""Recruit? You mean… bring him over to our side?"
"Exactly. If he's a foreign Playmer, we'll have to recruit him—no matter what it takes."
A powerful Playmer was no different from a strategic weapon.The more high-level Playmers a nation possessed, the greater its national power.This was exactly why the U.S. and Japan were considered the top Playmer superpowers:not only did they have a large number of Playmers,but those Playmers were exceptionally skilled.
A big reason for that was how aggressively they had naturalized foreign Playmers.
"Once you've identified him, report to me immediately.""Yes, understood, Chairman."
Rinjo waved his hand dismissively.Ran quickly exited the room, leaving silence in her wake.Rinjo, standing by the window, clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Useless brat. Couldn't even clear a single event…"
Maezato Moju—often called a mad dog or a murderous maniac.Why had Rinjo gone out of his way to protect someone like that?
Because he was his son?No—it was because of the talent Moju possessed as a Playmer.Talent that Rinjo himself did not have.
He recalled a line he had read not long ago:
["I thought he had great potential."]["But was this all he amounted to? How disappointing."]
It was a message sent by the Lord of Justice,the one who had contracted with both Rinjo and Moju.
As Rinjo recalled those words, his eyes twitched.
"So I've fallen another step behind… in the race for the Apostle's seat."
The Lord of Justice had yet to appoint an Apostle.Among the higher-ranked Oathbearers serving that Lord, many were vying for that prestigious title—and Maezato Rinjo, chairman of a top conglomerate, was one of them.
What kind of beings were the Lords of the Stars?They were transcendents capable of crossing dimensions.To become one of their Apostles meant gaining immense power—Whether that be the strength of a Playmer, or power in the form of influence and authority.
'I've come this far through wealth and political power. But as a Playmer, I have no talent. This is my limit. That's why I need Moju.'
If Rinjo wanted to surpass his rivals,he had no choice but to raise Moju into a true weapon.If Moju grew strong enough to act as Rinjo's sword,Rinjo could accomplish so much more.
But the fool had failed—and in a place Rinjo had never anticipated.
He bit his lip and checked the message that had arrived.
[Maezato Rinjo.][I heard your son was injured. Is he alright? As fellow Oathbearers under the same Lord, I'm concerned. Let me know if you need anything. – Lee Suho]
"Lee Suho… that bastard sees my failure as his chance…"
Lee Suho—one of the Oathbearers closest to the Apostle position.He had recently lost credibility due to a failed "Lord Hunt,"but now, with Rinjo stumbling, this was a chance for him to recover.
"I didn't expect to be held back like this…" Rinjo muttered, closing his eyes.
"I must become an Apostle. For my family… for Japan."
No matter what.
While so many were desperately vying for the position of Akiros's Apostle,in a quiet one-room apartment in Seoul…
[Ku-fufufu! Rejoice, O Oathbearer! At long last…!][I can finally appoint you as my Apostle!]
A new Apostle was about to be born.Han Yuseong clicked his tongue as he listened to Kakasha's overly excited voice.
"You guzzled coins like a starving hippo, and now it's finally paying off, huh."
[Kyaak! Don't compare me to a pig!]"I said hippo, not pig."[What difference does that even make!?]
The Blade of War, resting on the bed, shimmered as if it were angry.Of course, Han Yuseong didn't care in the slightest.