Episode 72
072: Lies from the First Meeting
[Sandpit Maw Leviathan Lv. 83]
“Damn it, we’re surrounded!”
“Is the backup still far?!”
“Hold on! We have to hold on somehow!”
“You foreign mercenaries! Do something, quick!”
The caravan was in a desperate situation. But the first to move was Geumson.
“Walker, break through at full speed!”
“Wooooorker!”
Iron Walker roared and accelerated. His massive body kicked up a sandstorm as he charged toward the caravan. The first to spot Golden Hands group was a player struggling among the caravan guards.
“Th-that’s… Iron Walker? Then that person is… Golden Handed?”
Player ‘Moiran’. Moiran doubted her own eyes. The very person who had caused a dungeon rush by opening the ‘City of Giants’ on Repinet. golden hand had appeared out of nowhere. While Moiran was dumbfounded, Geumson had already leaped into the heart of the battlefield.
“Walker! Time for cleanup!”
Without hesitation, golden hand swung his hammer at the head of the nearest Sandpit Maw Leviathan.
Crunch!
[Weak point strike successful.]
[Critical hit confirmed.]
Kshaaaaak!
With a shriek, one leviathan exploded into sand dust. One hit. The overwhelming sight of a level 80+ monster being taken down in a single blow caused everyone—the caravan and even player Moiran—to freeze momentarily.
But golden hand didn’t stop.
‘Infinite Chain Strike!’
golden hand’s flung himself toward the next target, swinging his hammer relentlessly.
Crunch!
Crunch-thud!
Wham!
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 2nd hit! Final damage +20%!]
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 3rd hit! Final damage +30%!]
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 4th hit! Final damage +40%!]
With each swing of his hammer, the leviathans fell like autumn leaves. This wasn’t a battle. It was a one-sided slaughter. Before golden hand’s overwhelming power, the leviathans’ tough carapaces were as useless as paper.
Pshhhhh—
[‘Vibration Sense’ activates.]
A sudden message. It was the effect of the [Delicate Leather Gauntlets], crafted by weaving ‘Vibration-Sense Scale’ and ‘Chitinous Fang’ into ‘Tough Lizard Hide’.
…
1. [Vibration Sense]: 10% increased chance to detect hidden enemies or traps by sensing minute vibrations.
2. [Chitinous Fist]: When unarmed, fist strength becomes steel-like, allowing for attacks.
– Additional Enchantment Slot: [Empty]
Kshaaaaaaaaaa!
Seeing the message, golden hand leaped back. The sand where he had been standing began to cave in.
Crrrunch—
From the sand emerged a massive leviathan that bit into the empty air where golden hand had been. The one that appeared was a leader, appearing twice as large as the others.
[Leader Sandpit Maw Leviathan Lv. 90]
It let out a furious roar and hurled its massive body at Geumson. But a smile, as if he’d been waiting, spread across Geumson’s face.
“I thought it was about time you showed up.”
The Leader Sandpit Maw Leviathan charged at golden hand like a madman, pushing forward with its heavy torso. An attack he would have nimbly dodged normally. But this time was different. Instead…
‘Giant’s Might!’
Crunch—
golden hand’s Strength and Stamina skyrocketed momentarily. Along with it, another message appeared.
[Knockback immunity from ‘Giant’s Might’ skill prevents you from being pushed back.]
Knockback immunity. Normally, golden hand would have been sent flying by the giant leviathan’s body slam. But the skill effect allowed him to stand firm, not pushed back a single step. Moreover…
[‘Giant’s Shoulder’ effect activates.]
[‘Shock Absorption’ effect activates.]
The effects of the [Solid Giant’s Shoulderguards], forged by alloying ‘Stone Golem Rock Fragment’ and ‘Giant’s Bone Powder’, also activated.
…
1. [Giant’s Shoulder]: Successfully blocking an attack induces a brief stagger.
2. [Shock Absorption]: Reduces all impact taken by the shoulder by 30%.
– Additional Enchantment Slot: [Empty]
Ksha… sha? Ksha?
The Leader Sandpit Maw Leviathan, staggered and twitching uncontrollably before Golden Hand, seemed confused, unable to move. Geumson looked into its eyes and chuckled. Then, aiming at its thickest, hardest head carapace, he used his new skill.
“Disarmament!”
The moment a dark crimson energy wrapped around the leader’s head…
Crackle-crackle-crackle—!
Its prized, sturdy carapace disintegrated into dozens of pieces, scattering into the air like sand. The vulnerable flesh beneath was exposed, and over it, dozens of red and blue points shone brightly.
Kshaaaa!?
The leader faltered in panic at that very moment.
“Don’t have time to stare. Farewell, Solar Strike!”
Golden Hand’s ‘Hammer of Forgotten Void’ tore through the air.
Kwaaaaaaaaaang—!
[Solar Strike’s 300% bonus damage effect applies.]
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 63rd hit! Final damage +630%!]
[Weak point strike successful.]
[Critical hit confirmed.]
…
The leader’s massive body exploded without a trace, dyeing the surrounding sands red. With the leader’s futile fall, the remaining leviathans, seized by instinctive terror, began fleeing into the sand. But Iron Walker blocked their retreat.
“Wooooorker! Worker!”
Iron Walker’s flamethrower spewed fire, turning the fleeing leviathans into ashes without a trace. Silence fell over the desert for a moment. Soon, a waterfall of system messages flooded Golden Hand’s vision.
[Annihilated the desert predators, the Sandpit Maw Leviathan swarm.]
[Level has increased! Lv. 56]
[Level has increased! Lv. 57]
[Acquired ‘Giant Sand Maw Fang’.]
[Acquired ‘Sand Maw Carapace’.]
[Acquired ‘Predator’s Lure Stone’.]
…
[Level has increased! Lv. 60]
[Infinite Chain Strike skill has reached Lv. 2.]
[Giant’s Might skill has reached Lv. 2.]
[Achievement: Desert Problem-Solver]
[Slaughtered the desert nightmare ‘Sandpit Maw Leviathan Swarm’ and rescued the caravan.]
– Effect 1: Fire and Cold Resistance for allies +20%.
– Effect 2: Gain significant favor with all desert NPCs.
[Fame has increased by 500.]
“That should be enough for a warm-up.”
Golden Hand nonchalantly said, dusting sand off his hammer. He showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, vitality surged through his body as if the previous battle had been a light warm-up.
Watching this scene dazedly, player Moiran and the caravan leader, Elio, hurriedly snapped out of it and approached him.
“Th-thank you! You’re our savior! If not for you, we would have all…!”
Caravan leader Elio bowed deeply. Moiran, standing beside him, couldn’t hide her excitement and immediately attached herself to Geumsom, starting to chatter.
“Wow, that was seriously awesome! I’m Moiran! I watch all your streams, Golden Hand! Seeing you in person is no joke! What was that skill earlier? The one that disintegrated the head carapace? And that golem is Iron Walker, right? Huh? You have a bird too? Hey bird, hi?”
A slightly talkative player, Moiran. It seemed she was a subscriber to Geumsom’s personal streaming channel. However, the corner of Geumsom’s eye twitched slightly.
[‘Giant’s Tear’ effect activates.]
The last piece of equipment Golden Hand crafted, using ‘Intact Obsidian Carapace’ and ‘Giant’s Tear Gem’.
[Obsidian Helm of Resistance]
– Grade: Legendary (Lv. 100 Limit)
– Creator: Golden Hand
– Status: bound
– Defense: 800
– Effects:
[Will of Steel]: +30% resistance to all mental status ailments.
[Darkvision]: Secures vision as if daytime even in darkness.
[Giant’s Tear]: 30% increased chance to hide emotional state or detect lies from others.
– Additional Enchantment Slot: [Empty]
Judging by the system message about the item’s effect activating, this player before him was likely no ordinary subscriber. After all, she was lying from their very first meeting.
“How nice… to meet a subscriber in a desert like this.”
At Geumsom’s words, the corner of Moiran’s mouth twitched. She also sensed something was off.
‘What? Is he not happy? I said I’m a fan, so why is he lying to me? Is he paranoid?’
Moiran couldn’t help but frown at the system message that appeared before her eyes. She hurriedly opened her status window to check the information of the item she was wearing.
[Liar’s Earring]
– Grade: Unique
– Effect: When a target lies, there is a 15% chance to detect and notify the wearer.
Moiran also possessed an item that detected lies. This earring was a favorite of hers for streaming purposes—used to dig up the hidden intentions of NPCs or other players for added entertainment value for her viewers. But now, that earring was warning her that the Golden Hand before her was lying.
‘Did he recognize me? No way? My stream is conducted completely anonymously; it doesn’t make sense for him to recognize me.’
She was confused. She worried if Golden Hand might be the player on the opposite side of the hidden quest she was currently undertaking. But at the same time, an instinctive wariness surged within her.
That man is dangerous.
Not just because he’s strong, but because she couldn’t read his intentions at all. Moiran forced herself to control her expression and approached Geumsom with even more exaggerated gestures than before.
