Chapter 14
As the Abyss staff had anticipated, after the live streaming service update, public interest in Roanoke exploded.

Every online community was buzzing about Roanoke.

—Geronimo’s negotiation skills are insane. He’s already building a huge power bloc.
—The Nadal Kingdom already has a full faction structure set up. They’re pressuring small and mid-sized neutral guilds to pay taxes.
—When your life is on the line, you’ll gladly pay taxes.
—In Roanoke, the guy holding the sword is king.
—You only live long if you’re weak to the strong.
—Will you choose a miserable life or a proud death?
—There’s no such thing as a proud death in this world. First, just stay alive.

Roanoke had everything people wanted to see.

People started with searching for friends and family, then dove into back alleys, the underworld, and videos of celebrities.

There was one name people had almost forgotten:

Weed.

When news broke that Weed of Royal Road had started playing Roanoke, attention skyrocketed.

—Wait… isn’t that background Hellfire Level 3?
—Weed being there is surprising enough, but he started a character in Hellfire difficulty?
—If you die while creating your character, that’s game over, right?
—Yeah, it’s over.
—Guys, rewind the stream to earlier times. He’s running around the mountains hunting during Hellfire Level 2… wtf
—Killing monsters and beasts non-stop. Even finding time for mining.
—That’s insane. Is that even possible?
—Weed tracking down a fleeing Orc Hunter…
—Who even reverse-hunts an Orc Hunter at Level 2? Is that even doable?
—Hardly anyone’s left in Hellfire. The others just ran to survive.
—He cleared all monsters in both Levels 1 and 2… that’s an unbelievable achievement.
—So this is the way to beat Hellfire difficulty? But even if I knew how, I couldn’t do it.
—Also… his appearance hasn’t aged compared to Royal Road days.
—Does this man even age?

At first, most reactions were just pure joy, but as Weed’s combat skills shone through in Hellfire Levels 1 and 2, people grew awestruck.

—Why would anyone attempt Hellfire Level 3 after Roanoke became a players’ graveyard?
—Maybe he’s testing his own limits.
—Seeing him in Hellfire Level 3… it’s clear he hasn’t lost his edge. As expected from Weed.
—Old soldiers never die.
—Is Weed even an old soldier? Isn’t he still in his prime?
—Anyway, the legend’s back!
—Honestly, if Weed is back in VR gaming, the government should’ve sent out disaster alerts.
—Weed, Weed… now that he’s started Roanoke, this explains why everyone insists on playing the official version.

It started spreading first on forums for people in their 40s and 50s.

Those a bit older still cherished memories of Royal Road.

Though now working and living adult lives, they treasured the days spent socializing, hunting, and doing quests in Royal Road.

And now, Weed, that iconic figure tied to their nostalgia, had started Roanoke.

And not just any Roanoke… but the life-or-death survival version.

Whether at work, at home, or even sitting on the toilet… people had no choice but to watch.

—He’s still making sculptures non-stop.
—What?! He already made the “Withered Goddess Seoyoon” while I wasn’t looking?!
—Master sculptor of beautiful women…
—Let’s be real… he’s just sculpting his wife.
—The new sculptures look incredible too.
—His sculpting skills haven’t declined at all.
—With his low sculpting skill level, how can he produce such detail?
—That’s Weed for you. Less of an artist, more of a grind-machine. Like a factory robot cranking out masterpieces.
—I first learned about Seoyoon when I saw the Ice Beauty sculpture in my 20s. After 20 years, I’ve still never seen anyone more beautiful.
—Agreed. In the past 20 years, no one’s beaten Seoyoon in looks.
—Only now do I realize how great those times were.
—Seeing the Goddess statue always boosted my mood for the day.

The 40s and 50s crowd went wild with nostalgia-fueled enthusiasm.

And now, teenagers and people in their 20s who followed VR league tournaments and Roanoke were learning about Weed.

—The old guys are going crazy over this. [Royal Road Weed Legendary Highlight Compilation]
—WTF?!
—Fainted just watching.
—Whether it’s sculpting or combat, the scale is mind-blowing. Was Royal Road really this epic?
—The older generation kept this stuff to themselves…
—His combat form is insane.

Four days had passed in Hellfire Level 3.

The three people Weed had invited for the raid were overwhelmed with anxiety.

“He’s still making sculptures…”

“He seems totally uninterested in attacking the Abandoned Fortress.”

“What’s he doing? Shouldn’t we at least be doing something?”

The three couldn’t understand Weed, who had been sculpting all day, every day.

Ten days wasn’t a long time.

They needed to scout the Abandoned Fortress, lure soldiers out, and thin their numbers at least a bit.

Even then, the odds were slim.

“He’s not giving up on the raid… is he?”

“I’ve barely seen him sleep.”

“He’s literally just sculpting 24/7… like a madman.”

They had no idea what Weed’s plan was.

Mass-producing masterpieces like a factory to earn Legend Points was a tactic no ordinary player could imagine.

Barton muttered, almost to himself:

“I don’t know why he’s making so many sculptures… but that’s insane labor. Honestly, no one but Weed could…”

Barton suddenly froze at the words he just said.

It had been a long time, and Weed’s plain appearance had made him forget… but now memories flooded back.

His actions and accomplishments were unforgettable.

In the VR world, Weed had become a living legend.

Barton couldn’t recall much about his own country’s history, but he remembered everything Weed had achieved.

“Wait… is that the War God Weed?”

“Weed? Are you talking about the Weed from Royal Road? No way… that guy?”

“Yeah… that’s him! That’s Weed! Of course he’s so relaxed here. He can sculpt like this… because he’s a Sculptor!”

Suddenly, everything made sense to Barton.

Weed, the Sculptor who achieved countless miracles across the Versailles Continent.

For reasons unknown, he had started Roanoke and summoned them into this Hellfire difficulty.

“Oh my god… I’m with Weed…”

Barton trembled with emotion.

From “crazy guy,” “weirdo,” “guy with a death wish,” “someone I couldn’t trust”… Weed’s trustworthiness skyrocketed vertically.

During Royal Road’s golden age, Weed was called many things:

Top Adventurer, Pioneer of the Continent, Slayer of the Embinyu Cult, Emperor of the Desert, and more.

Starting from the small northern village of Morata, he had founded the Arpen Empire, changing Royal Road’s history with countless adventures.

He went back in time to wipe out the Embinyu Cult that had been swallowing the continent and rebuilt civilization in the southern desert.

He had tackled every S-rank quest, influencing all of Royal Road.

As a once-ordinary player, Barton had always envied and admired Weed.

The migration of thousands of players from the Central Continent to Morata was all thanks to Weed’s impossible feats.

Now, in Hellfire Level 3…

If it were anyone else mass-producing sculptures here, it’d seem crazy. But for Weed… it made sense.

“You guys don’t really know about Weed, do you?”

“I’ve heard some stories.”

“I’ve read a bit online, I know a little.”

“That’s not enough. Internet stories have been watered down over the years. Let me tell you the real stuff… back in my day…”

Barton, who had spent his youth in his 20s and 30s on Royal Road, had countless stories to tell.

Weed, the Sculptor, the Arpen Empire, and his legendary Sculpted Lifeforms.

“In our time, Royal Road had Weed. Nothing was impossible for him. The only person who cleared every S-rank quest.”

The final day of Hellfire Level 3 arrived.

Weed had been crafting sculptures nonstop, securing enough Legend Points.

He then visited the Legendary Library to learn his target skill.

You have learned: Mirror of the Abyss.

The darkness of the abyss rises, reflecting the surrounding area.
Living beings will melt and rot, turning into the undead.

Range: 300 meters.

Undead that finish fighting return to the Abyssal Swamp.

Warning!
After casting the spell, you will experience extreme pain.
Failure to endure the pain will result in death and transformation into an undead.

Learning this ultimate magic permanently increases Mana by 10%.
Soul Power increased by 5.

Weed had learned the Necromancer’s Ultimate Spell from the Legendary Library.

Compared to his Royal Road days, it was fast and easy.

‘It’s nice to get stronger step by step… but getting this strong all at once feels even better.’

(Be warned: It says extreme pain will follow.)

‘I’ll just endure it somehow.’

Weed saved his remaining 23 Legend Points for the next level of Hellfire difficulty.

He used Hero Points to learn Corpse Explosion.

It was a basic Necromancer AoE skill, usable as long as he had mana.

(Why did you choose Corpse Explosion from all the available skills?)

‘Because nothing beats the fun of blowing up a whole field during large battles.’

Low mana consumption, and if enough corpses piled up, the explosion power was enormous.

With bones and flesh scattering like shrapnel, the surrounding area would take massive damage—perfect for speeding up hunts.

‘I’m not planning to go back to sculpting as a profession, but it’s been helpful.’

Making sculptures again after so long hadn’t been boring.

The bonus stats and rewards were generous.

Even in Royal Road, Weed hadn’t started with talent or experience in sculpting. He just focused hard and gave his best at every moment.

Thinking back to old times, he pushed himself to create even better pieces.

True grinding requires focus at every second.

‘It’s time to start.’

(It’s broad daylight. All enemies in the Abandoned Fortress will be awake.)

The final day of Hellfire Level 3.

If he didn’t win today, death was inevitable.

But Weed had no fear of failure.

After the past 10 days of extremely productive grinding…

‘Time to put them to eternal sleep.’