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Chapter 724: The Great Path (2)
Forging Equipment.
Yeongwoo couldn't help but be impressed.
Several questions he had been carrying around were answered all at once.
"So that's why I've seen such huge differences in ability even among Legendary equipment."
As Yeongwoo muttered this, Eroom nodded.
—Correct. The abilities that can be bestowed differ depending on the position of the nameplate belonging to the one who forged that equipment.
"Then when an equipment name contains the name of a specific region, does that mean someone from that place forged it?"
—I cannot say. Place names can also become part of an equipment's name when it comes into existence naturally through achievements.
"Ah, I see. But equipment with especially distinctive traits is probably something that someone forged."
—Well... since the forger's disposition is reflected in it, that is generally true.
Then Eroom quietly stared at the Fragment of Great Achievement in Yeongwoo's hand.
—I'm curious what kind of item will come out of it.
"By the way, is forging a weapon the best choice? Or do you just happen to need a sword right now?"
—My intuition tells me it will be a weapon. And I do happen to need one.
"You think it'll be a weapon?"
—The categories of equipment you can create vary according to the disposition you've accumulated throughout your life. For someone like you, who spent his days acting as a kidnapper, a weapon is the obvious fit.
"...Really?"
Truth be told, Yeongwoo also preferred a weapon.
What he needed right now was more firepower, after all, and besides, he had to fill out his Weapon Compendium with as many entries as possible.
"So... how do I begin forging equipment?"
—Break the stone tablet.
"What? You bastard. You're not trying to screw me over, are you? This isn't just some ordinary stone tablet. And you're telling me to smash it?"
—The task you accomplished has already been recorded and certified in your nameplate and your register. Therefore, that stone tablet is merely the reward itself. You've received the prize, so naturally you should enjoy its benefits.
Since Eroom spoke without the slightest change in expression, Yeongwoo alternated his gaze between him and the Fragment of Great Achievement.
"I guess it would be strange to keep carrying this thing around forever."
Still... was it really okay to break it?
"..."
As Yeongwoo hesitated, Eroom delivered the decisive line.
—Have you ever seen Fourth-Class beings like myself, or the Great Ones, carrying stone tablets around?
"Now that you mention it... no."
—What truly matters is only the color and position of the nameplate. In time, you will understand what I mean.
After saying that, Eroom shut his mouth as though he had no intention of explaining any further.
Taking a deep breath, Yeongwoo raised the stone tablet high.
"Well, if something goes wrong, I'll just earn another one."
Then he hurled it onto the ground.
Crash!
The tablet instantly shattered into dozens of pieces, releasing a pale white mist.
A transcendent character soon appeared within the mist.
「Creation」
Then a system message flashing in golden light appeared before his eyes.
[You have used the Fragment of Great Achievement.]
[Checking the position of your nameplate.]
Only after nearly a full minute did another message appear.
| Grade: Legendary
Maximum Activation: 100%
"Oh... Maximum Activation is 100%. That's got to be good news, right?"
—Since you said you're at the very top of the Ashen Nameplate, that's only natural.
"So does that mean I can create the strongest Legendary equipment?"
—That depends on how you define strongest... but it is true that you can draw out the maximum potential of a Legendary-grade item.
Just as Eroom finished speaking, a new prompt finally appeared before Yeongwoo.
[We have found you at the very top of your nameplate. Accordingly, we recommend the following five categories of 'Legendary.']
"Five categories?"
Naturally, Yeongwoo assumed it meant five types of equipment.
However, the list that appeared included one rather unusual entry.
| Grade: Legendary
Weapon — 100% + 10%
Achievement — 100%
Ring — 90%
Boots — 80%
Bracelet — 70%
[If you choose a category outside the recommended Legendary options, 60% Activation is guaranteed.]
"What the hell? They're not all 100%?"
Eroom shrugged.
—Only the top one or two categories achieve maximum efficiency. Everything else has to be made while accepting a slight loss.
"Wait. I'm supposedly at the very top among Fifth-Class nameplates, and I still can't make every type of equipment at 100% efficiency?"
—Most of the Legendary equipment you've seen so far probably had Activation rates around fifty percent. Some were even below forty.
"What? Then just how good is 100%?"
—You're already the master of the Hundred Sword Mountains, aren't you? You must have seen several high-Activation Legendary items by now.
"Ah."
Yeongwoo immediately recalled them.
Hadn't there been certain Legendary items whose abilities far surpassed the others?
For example, the Legendary spear Le had given him as a wedding gift.
「Lightning Rod」 — Legendary Spear
【Thunderfire】
【Lightning Rod】
【Lemu's Mark】
【Thunderfire】
| Doubles all lightning damage you possess.
【Lightning Rod】
| When you receive lightning damage, Attack Power increases by 15%.
【Lemu's Mark】
| Every time you pronounce "Lemu," you suffer an electrifying bolt of lightning damage while earning the favor of machines.
In truth, despite being merely Legendary in grade, its effects were comparable to those of an average Mythic item.
Of course, Mythic equipment overwhelmingly surpassed it in versatility.
"Oh-ho."
Now that he more or less understood how equipment creation worked, Yeongwoo turned back to the system messages.
"But... mine says 110%."
—...What?
"The weapon one. It says weapons get the base 100%, plus an extra 10%."
—All weapons?
"Huh?"
—Not just a specific subclass like swords or spears... does it really mean every weapon?
"Oh... you're right."
It was only then that Yeongwoo noticed another peculiarity.
The other equipment categories all specified exact slots—rings, boots, bracelets.
Only Weapon did not.
Which meant that no matter what kind of weapon he created, it would be guaranteed 110% Activation.
—A privilege reserved for the very top, perhaps.
Apparently even Eroom hadn't known this, as he stared blankly into empty space.
"Then forging a weapon is definitely the right choice. Even you seem like you've never seen 110% Activation before."
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—Indeed. It is probably the result of your disposition being reflected to the fullest.
"Then one last question."
As he spoke, Yeongwoo looked at the entry directly beneath Weapon.
"What's 'Achievement'? It says that also guarantees 100% Activation."
This time, Eroom wasn't nearly as surprised.
—One hundred percent? That is rather worth seeing.
"What? So everyone who reaches this point automatically gets that option?"
—Correct. You may register one Achievement of whatever form you desire.
"That actually sounds pretty interesting."
—In exchange, however, you lose your opportunity to forge equipment that reflects yourself.
"Then what if I immediately complete the Achievement I created?"
As Yeongwoo tried to game the system, Eroom let out a hollow laugh.
—It is forbidden to complete an Achievement that you yourself created. Surely you don't think you're the first person to have that idea.
"What the hell? Then you're just doing something nice for everyone else."
—It is an act that grants honor and fame that will remain throughout this universe forever. Someone with such base thoughts as yours will never understand, even until the moment of their annihilation.
"Come on. I don't even know if I'll still be alive tomorrow. Why would creating some Achievement matter?"
At Yeongwoo's bluntly practical remark, Eroom lost his temper and raised his voice.
—Do you truly think that by spending your entire life as nothing but a thief, you could ever accomplish something that would remain in the universe forever?
"And what about you?"
—...What?
"Did you choose to create an Achievement? You must've stood before this exact same choice at some point in the past."
At Yeongwoo's question, Eroom's eyes flashed, but he quickly regained his composure.
—Well, I...
"So you chose equipment creation in the end too. Right. For someone who actually has power, it's not an easy option to give up. Especially when you can forge equipment that reflects yourself."
The truth was, even the Eroom of the past had chosen immediate practical gain over honor.
Perhaps that was why he still harbored regrets about creating an Achievement.
"You were the one who told me to forge a sword in the first place. Deep down, you know this is the better choice in every way."
—...
"Of course, that doesn't mean there haven't been lunatics who chose Achievement Creation instead. Just looking around at the people I know, I can already think of a few who'd do it."
One of them was undoubtedly Prince Aldo of Doatel, whose nature had seemed extraordinary from the very beginning.
"Glory that'll last forever. Achievements that'll endure for eternity... Sure, I understand why that's impressive. But so what? Am I really that kind of person?"
—What...?
"I'm asking whether I'm really someone worthy of leaving an eternal mark on the universe. Since I'm not, instead of chasing some vague notion of eternity, I'll become great first."
With those words, Yeongwoo looked away from Eroom.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward Weapon, the option that guaranteed an incredible 110% Activation.
"A weapon... If every type of weapon is allowed, then I don't necessarily have to make a sword, do I?"
Eroom tilted his head.
—If not a sword... then what? A sword is the very symbol of weaponry itself. Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare. If you don't forge it into the shape of a sword, you'll regret it.
"Ah, I get what you're saying. If this really does become my family's heirloom someday, it'd look a little ridiculous if it were a bow or an axe."
—Exactly. Traditionally, a family's weapon takes the form of a sword. Nearly every family follows that convention.
"Traditionally... But my family isn't exactly traditional."
—...?
"We started as a band of robbers. Why would we care about tradition? Our Renaissance has no traditions. Never has, never will."
—Then what weapon are you thinking of?
"If this really is going to become my family's weapon someday..."
Yeongwoo held out his thumb and index finger like a gun.
"I want everyone to understand something the moment they see it."
—...What?
"I want them to instinctively think, 'Yeah... we probably shouldn't fight the people whose family weapon is something like that.'"
Then, extending his thumb and index finger straight, Yeongwoo said,
"You said every weapon is allowed. So naturally, guns should count too, right? I haven't seen a single Legendary firearm yet."
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