Episode 71
071. Disarmament
[Unable to resist the intense heat.]
[Health is decreasing.]
[Warning: Continuous exposure to intense heat cannot guarantee survival.]
The Dragon Scale Breastplate’s 30% fire resistance. Without it, golden hand struggled against the flames. But…
[Resists heat due to the effect of Endurance (45).]
[Resists heat due to the effect of Concentration (100).]
Seeing the messages, golden hand seemed to be forcibly enduring the heat, which would otherwise make work impossible, using his Endurance and Concentration stats. However, merely enduring wasn’t enough for the task at hand.
[Invest all remaining stat points into ‘Endurance’.]
[Endurance: 40 → 85]
[Remaining Stat Points: 45 → 0]
After investing all remaining points into Endurance, he could finally move without discomfort amidst the heat.
[Health is continuously decreasing.]
But unlike fire resistance, his health itself kept falling. It seemed he needed to finish the work quickly.
Ssssssss-!
Finally, the crown could no longer withstand it and began to flow out as a dark red molten metal. But it was brief. The molten metal soon writhed, trying to revert to its original crown shape. The king’s will to reverse time had materialized and was resisting.
“Such stubbornness. Sorry… but you won’t get your way!”
golden hand drew out the ‘Hammer of Forgotten Void’.
‘Flow Distortion!’
The power of void imbued in the hammer forcibly twisted and suppressed the flow of temporal energy emanating from the crown. The writhing molten metal finally ceased its movement. Seizing the opportunity, golden hand poured in the other materials one by one.
[Inputting ‘Corrupted Earth Heartstone’.]
[Inputting ‘Giant’s Bone Powder’.]
[Inputting ‘Vibration Sensory Scales’.]
Materials with different properties collided violently inside the furnace, sparking unstable sparks. Maximizing his ‘Soul Forging’ skill, golden hand infused his will into the hammer’s tip, beginning to fuse the materials into one.
Clang-!
Clink-!
Clink-Clink-Clang!
The hammer struck consecutively. But things didn’t go as golden hand wished. His arm holding the tongs trembled violently.
“Grrr! Strength… isn’t enough!”
golden hand gritted his teeth. Mere heat alone couldn’t subdue this stubborn material. What was needed was overwhelming physical force. But he had no stat points left to invest in Strength. That’s when another skill came to mind.
“Giant’s Strength!”
[Using the ‘Giant’s Strength’ skill.]
[Strength and Stamina stats increase by 100%.]
[Strength: 100 → 200]
[Stamina: 90 → 180]
Vroooom-!
The muscles all over golden hand’s body swelled as if about to burst. An overwhelming aura, akin to the Giant King’s, emanated from his body. His hands holding the hammer and tongs no longer trembled.
Clang-!
Clink-!
Clink-Clink-Clang!
The sound of Geumson’s hammering rang out again. Now it had changed to the crisp, clear sound he desired. Simultaneously, messages appeared.
[‘Soul Forging’ skill has reached Lv. 5.]
[‘Divine Dexterity’ skill has reached Lv. 8.]
He rekindled the fading energy of the Dragon Scale Breastplate, using the Giant’s Bone Powder to build a sturdy framework to contain that flame. He wove the exterior with vibration scales that sensed the world’s subtlest flows, and finally, firmly engraved the king’s will, which sought to reverse even time, at its core.
[The item being crafted fully accepts the power of ‘Kronos’ Crown’.]
Ssssssssss-!
The moment he immersed the forged armor, now shaped into a single form, into the cooling liquid, an illusion gripped the entire forge—as if it were enveloped in a faint temporal mist. And from its center, a system message announcing the birth of a complete masterpiece echoed in his ears.
[Achieved a Great Success!]
[Due to the ‘Luck’ stat effect, surpassing ‘Great Success’, an ‘Ultimate Success’ occurs!]
[The grade of the crafted item is upgraded by ‘two tiers’!]
[Title ‘Void-Refining One’ effect activates.]
[‘Void Imprint’ manifests, opening one additional magic enchantment slot.]
[Kronos’ Inheritor Dragon Scale Breastplate]
Grade: Ancient (Lv. 100 Required)
Crafted by: Golden Hand
Status: Bound
Defense: 2,000
Effects:
[King’s Will]: Possesses high resistance to all curses and debuffs related to time.*
[Earth’s Blessing]: While standing on the ground, recovers 1% health per second and increases resistance to all status ailments by 20%.*
[Dragon’s Heart]: Fire resistance increased by 50%. When hit, 10% chance to reflect 30% of damage received as fire damage.*
[Companion Growth]: Grows alongside the wearer, blossoming new abilities.*
– Additional Magic Enchantment Slot: [Empty]
Description: A breastplate crafted by the blacksmith Geumson, inheriting the will of the forgotten Giant King Kronos. Contains power to reverse even the flow of time.
“…I did it.”
Geumson picked up his new breastplate with trembling hands. He felt a weight incomparable to before and a massive power stirring within it. He equipped the Dragon Scale Breastplate immediately. Only then did the health loss from the murderous heat stop.
“Now I can finally breathe. Shall I continue with the next piece?”
golden hands did not stop. With cumulative fire resistance at 60%, his movements became even faster and more precise.
Clang-! Clang-!
Clink-!
Clink-Clink-
[‘Soul Forging’ skill has reached Lv. 6.]
[‘Insight of the Flow’ skill has reached Lv. 5.]
[Achieved a Great Success!]
[Achieved a Great Success!]
.
.
.
[Obsidian Helm of Resistance]
[Delicate Leather Gauntlets]
[Solid Earth Iron Boots]
[Solid Giant’s Shoulderguards]
[‘Void Imprint’ manifests, opening one additional magic enchantment slot.]
[Blue Index skill has reached Lv. 2.]
“Phew, finally finished.”
Wiping away sweat, Geumson looked down at the completed five pieces of armor. Unlike the hammer and breastplate, they were all Legendary grade with a level 100 requirement. Every piece was a successful creation, without a single failure. Without hesitation, golden hands equipped all parts.
Clack-
Clack-
Clunk-
[‘Craftsman Golden Hand Set’ effect has been modified.]
[‘Craftsman Golden Hand Set’ effect activates.]
*2-Set Effect: Strength +50, Stamina +50*
*3-Set Effect: Attack Power, Defense increased by an additional 20%.*
*4-Set Effect: Active Skill ‘Indestructible ’ becomes usable.*
*5-Set Effect: Active Skill ‘Disarm’ becomes usable.*
A message appeared simultaneously. Golden Hands looked at the final modified set effect—‘Disarmament’—and let out a low sigh.
“Disarmed? …That’s insane.”
The items upgraded with the materials he had gathered over time. Thanks to them, a new set effect seemed to have emerged. However, like the ‘Indestructible’ skill, the set item effects were astonishing.
[Disarm Lv. 1]
Designates and forcibly removes one piece of equipment, excluding weapons, that the target is wearing.
Geumson clicked his tongue as he looked at the newly acquired set effect. The meaning of the word ‘Disarm’ was clear. It meant he could temporarily neutralize a monster’s tough carapace or hide, or special defensive organs.
Moreover, it would be even more devastating against players. Players typically create intricate equipment setups considering item synergies. If ‘Disarmament’ were used on such a perfect setup? It was no different from a fatal skill that could instantly shatter an opponent’s item balance.
“Good, with this…”
Geumson smiled with satisfaction and checked his status. Thanks to the new set effects, his abilities had skyrocketed to an incomparable level. Overwhelming power unbelievable for level 55. At this level, he wouldn’t fear most rankers.
— Tiat!
As soon as he finished checking all equipment, Tia settled back on his shoulder. However, Tia began pecking at Geumson’s neck with her small beak and pointed in a certain direction.
“Something’s over there?”
*— Tiat!
“Walker, shall we go check it out?”
“Worker! Woooorker!”
With the ‘Giant’s Forge’ deactivated, the desert heat was felt again. Previously, this terrain had made him sweat. But not now. The scorching desert heat was nothing more than a warm breeze to golden hands.
Thud, thud, thud, thud-
The Iron Walker’s heavy footsteps began to traverse the desert again. golden hands also had no problem keeping pace with the Iron Walker’s strides.
[Effect of ‘Earth’s Stride’ applies.]
A message appeared. The item effect was manifesting.
[Solid Earth Iron Boots]
Grade: Legendary (Lv. 100 Required)
Crafted by: Golden Hand
Status: bound
Defense: 700
Effects:
[Earth’s Stride]: Movement speed increases by 20%, and ignores movement speed reduction effects in rough terrain.*
[Taking Root]: When used, allows walking up even cliffs.*
– Additional Magic Enchantment Slot: [Empty]
Greaves made by melting ‘Rock Beetle Carapace’ and ‘Broken Statue Finger’. Thanks to the Earth’s Stride effect, he could run on sand as if on flat ground.
However, from beyond a distant sand dune, faint screams and vibrations shaking the ground were felt. At the same time, Tia began fluttering anxiously and crying out.
— Tiiiiit! Tap! Tap!
“That way.”
Golden hands gaze turned towards the direction of the sound. In his field of view, a small caravan surrounded by dozens of giant monsters came into sight. Sand swirled like a massive antlion pit, and from its center, terrifying maws surged up, swallowing the caravan’s guards.
