Episode 66
066. Still Blue
Crunch!
Craaack!
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 2nd Hit! Final Damage increased by 20%!]
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 3rd Hit! Final Damage increased by 30%!]
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With each impact of golden hammer, fine cracks began to spread across the giant’s hard, stony skin.
Tiiiiit!
Above, Tia hid within the darkness, creating sharp gusts of wind to disrupt the giant’s line of sight. Meanwhile, the Iron Walker continuously attacked the giant’s ankles, hindering its movement.
Groooar!
Enraged, the giant pulled at the iron chains constricting it. The chains grew taut, causing the entire magic circle to shake precariously.
[Warning: The seal is weakening. Part of the Ancient Giant’s power is being released.]
The unreasonable power of the giant, weakening the force of the system’s seal with sheer physical might alone. An overwhelming aura, incomparable to before, erupted from the giant’s body. It swung its massive fist toward golden hand, who clung to its body.
It was unavoidable. For a giant, it was swift.
“Damn! Indestructible!”
[For 15 seconds, you become invincible, nullifying all attacks.]
Kwaaaaang-!
The giant’s fist struck golden hand’s body, but shrouded in a crimson-red energy, he didn’t budge. Instead, he used the recoil to leap even higher. However, a dizzying system message followed.
[The durability of ‘golden hand’s Dragon Scale Breastplate’ decreases drastically.]
He had allowed just one attack. That single blow had nearly shattered half of golden hand’s legendary-grade armor.
‘If not for Indestructible… that would have been horrific.’
golden hand gritted his teeth. His eyes held no surrender, burning only with fiercer tenacity.
‘Keep going!’
golden hand latched onto the giant’s body again, swinging his hammer like a madman.
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 27th Hit! Final Damage increased by 270%!]
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 28th Hit! Final Damage increased by 280%!]
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[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 49th Hit! Final Damage increased by 490%!]
Kwaaaaang-!
golden hand’s hammer struck the giant’s massive red weak point on its chest. By now, even the giant could no longer scoff at golden hand’s strikes. With a roar incomparable to before, the giant’s chest caved in, creating a huge fissure.
Another message arose. But it was an unexpected one.
[‘Ancient Explorer’ achievement effect activates.]
[Decryption of Ancient Giant language is complete.]
Only after the message ended did the giant’s voice become audible.
— Graaah…! That… that cursed technique that annihilated my clan…! You… who are you! How… how do you have it!
The giant staggered, letting out a painful groan. The chains binding its body constricted even more fiercely. But golden hand had no room for mercy. He pushed off the giant’s staggering knee, leaping upwards. A blue dot and a red dot simultaneously marked the giant’s crown—the optimal point. golden hand prepared his final blow.
“Solar Smite!”
The hammer, imbued with the sun’s power, descended like a meteor toward the giant’s crown.
Kwaaaaang!
Crunch-
[Weak point strike successful.]
[Critical hit confirmed.]
[Solar Smite effect applied.]
[Deals Fire and Holy damage equal to 300% of Attack Power and inflicts the ‘Burn’ status ailment for 5 seconds.]
[Head Hunter effect, Headshot, activates.]
[Additional damage of 10% applied.]
[‘Infinite Chain Strike’ 50th Hit! Final Damage increased by 500%!]
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Messages flooded his vision. Ignoring them, he drove home the ‘Weak Point Strike.’ It seemed even the giant couldn’t withstand the final blow. Squeezing out its last strength, the giant uttered an unintelligible word like a scream.
— El… La… Dia! My… light…! You….
That desperate cry. In that moment, Geumson realized—this giant was no simple monster. Even in its fading life, it clung to a single name.
‘Could it be…?’
Wondering, Geumson took out an item he had found while searching the castle and held it up.
[Pendant with a Portrait of the Giant Queen]
“Is this person Eladia?”
As golden hand raised the pendant high, a faint light emanated from it, illuminating the giant’s face. Instantly, the giant’s crazed eyes wavered one last time. The bloodshot glare vanished, replaced by a clear, rational light.
— I’m sorry… I am sorry… I am just… sorry again….
The giant clutched the pendant as if to crush it. But that was the end. The giant’s body began to petrify, turning to dust from its feet upwards.
Sssssss-
The lonely sound of sand scattering in the wind echoed. At that moment, the giant spoke to golden hand. Its eyes were clear, no longer tinged with the earlier madness.
— ……Is your sky… still blue?
The giant’s fading voice. But golden hand, as if struck in a vulnerable spot, was speechless. He struggled to form words.
“For now… it is.”
— Stranger, I too am a stranger to you…. But… trust no one. Even if….
The giant’s words became inaudible. Its massive body began to crumble into sand. But its final utterance…
— May you all… be well….
Fsssssh-
The giant’s body, unable to finish its last words, completely collapsed. golden hand silently watched its end.
Simultaneously, messages arose.
[You have defeated the Hidden Boss ‘Ancient Giant’.]
[You have perfectly conquered the ‘Forgotten Giants’ City’.]
[The system expresses awe at your combat instinct and survival ability.]
[Rewards are enhanced.]
[Level has increased! Lv. 51]
[Level has increased! Lv. 52]
[Level has increased! Lv. 53]
[Level has increased! Lv. 54]
[Level has increased! Lv. 55]
[Title ‘Liberator ’ acquired.]
Description: You have liberated the Ancient Giant King, who was bound by a twisted fate and trapped in eternal agony.
Effect 1: Final damage dealt to enemies who are sealed or bound increases by 25%.
Effect 2: Leadership stat permanently increases by 50.
Effect 3: Gain high affinity with Giant race and ancient relics.
[Achievement ‘Giant Slayer’ acquired.]
Description: You have felled the forgotten Ancient Giant King. Your name will be etched in fear among giants.
*Effect 1: Final damage dealt to Giant-type monsters increases by 20%.*
*Effect 2: Final damage received from Giant-type monsters decreases by 20%.*
[Hidden System ‘Master’s Workshop’ has reached Lv. 2.]
[New Crafting System ‘Giant’s Forge’ unlocked.]
Description: A special forge granted only to those who inherit the crafting techniques and spirit of the Ancient Giants. Optimized for handling powerful armaments capable of felling even giants.
[Effects]*
*1. [Ancient Material Specialization] – When handling Ancient-grade or higher materials, material loss rate decreases and the probability of drawing out latent potential increases by 50%.*
*2. [Crafting Bonus] – When crafting equipment, base stats and durability receive an additional 20% increase.*
[An Ancient power surpassing Legend descends into your hands!]
[Your discovery is broadcast to all servers.]
[World Message]
[Player golden hand has acquired ‘Ancient Giant’s Heartstone’!]
[Player golden hand has acquired ‘Fragment of the Seal’s Chains’.]
[Fame increased by 1,000.]
[Acquired ‘Fragment of Kronos’ Crown’. – Cannot be disclosed.]
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Messages cascaded down, almost too many to read. But golden hand’s eyes gleamed, as if the battle wasn’t over.
“Walker! Tia! Surround it!”
golden hand opened his system map. A single grey dot marked on it. A dot that had been hidden but revealed during the battle. Without hesitation, golden hand shot towards the dot’s location.
“Eeek! Wha, what! How did you… find me…?!”
Startled by golden hand’s sudden appearance, the small shadow stumbled backward. It was a strange entity, about the size of a child, composed entirely of deep black shadow.
“Yikes! Let go! I said let go! You insignificant human! Let go! How dare you touch me?!”
The small shadow flailed in resistance but couldn’t escape golden hand’s grasp.
“A book?”
The shadow child, held by the scruff and unable to move. The book in its hand. Seeing it, golden hand couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
‘Nothing… I see nothing?’
No red dot from Intuition of Resolve. No blue dot from Insight of the Flow. The book revealed nothing. That alone captured golden hand full attention.
It was just a book. No special magical aura was perceptible. Nor did any unique system message for a skill book appear. It was just an ordinary book, the kind commonly used by NPCs in 《Lepione》. But Geumson couldn’t look away for another reason.
‘If I can’t see anything….’
If neither red nor blue dots were visible, it meant only one thing.
Flawless Perfection .
A perfect object, without a single physical or magical flaw. That’s why golden hand couldn’t tear his eyes away.
‘Flawless Perfection… is that even possible?’
An item that should only exist in theory—Flawless Perfection—was right before his eyes. golden hand snatched the book tightly held by the shadow child.
“Eek! Y-you human! Give it back! Don’t take it! No!”
