Part 2, Episode 141.
Weapon Master
A trait that ignores equip restrictions, allowing you to equip weapons from all job classes, and also rapidly increases proficiency for all weapons.
Compared to other traits that provide direct assistance in combat, it is undeniably somewhat lacking.
However, in the actual God of Savior community, Weapon Master is classified as an advanced trait.
Is it because it allows you to equip weapons for all job classes?
No, the reason the Weapon Master became an advanced class lay in the latter rather than that.
Because proficiency is getting dirt hard to raise as time goes on.
Since the number of equipment and skills that can be equipped is fixed, there is bound to be a limit.
In the end, I have to turn my attention elsewhere…
At this time, what users were most interested in was none other than weapon proficiency.
This was because as proficiency increases, it provides a 1% damage amplification rate, and in the later stages, this 1% difference becomes quite significant.
There isn’t even any significant investment cost to raise it.
Whether you beat scarecrows, kill monsters, repeat PVP, or even just hide away to train.
Your level increases simply by performing actions that increase weapon proficiency.
Of course, that is only in theory.
The truth is, once you get past level 30, proficiency levels are ridiculously slow to rise.
For this reason, it was common for even top-tier users not to have weapon proficiency exceeding level 50.
No, it would be a relief just to reach level 50.
There were countless cases where even top-ranked players, whose names everyone would recognize, could not get past the dreaded level 50 and remained in the late 40s.
But what about Dohyun?
[Swordsmanship proficiency has reached LV61.]
[When wielding a sword, related damage is amplified by 61%.]
It is a whopping level 61.
Despite being a latecomer compared to the rankers, he achieved a figure that far surpassed most high-rankers.
There are proficiency monsters like Sword Saints who devote their entire gaming life to training, but this level is likely one of the best you can count on one hand.
While his exponential rise was partly due to acquiring and training with the Reverse Heaven Technique, his biggest role was, as expected, that of a Weapon Master.
Dohyeon wasn’t just highly skilled in swordsmanship.
[Spear Mastery – LV 43]
[Dagger Proficiency – LV 53]
[Shield Proficiency – LV 46]
… …
[Scythe Proficiency – LV 40]
He had over four proficiency levels in the 40s range, where others barely manage to stay even with just one, and in the case of the dagger, which he uses most frequently after the sword, he was at level 53.
It is essentially making the most of the Weapon Master trait.
There are probably few users among those with the Weapon Master trait who utilize it as well as I do.
Because this was a growth possible only for Dohyeon, who possessed the fraudulent weapon known as Cheonbyeon.
“Achieve your own unique level and realize your limits… Maybe this quest popped up because I showed exceptional growth.”
I have heard of it.
It is said that Transcendence traits are awarded differently from others depending on the user’s trait mastery, class, and the path taken when completing Transcendence quests.
That was the beauty of the transcendental system.
They clearly started with the exact same characteristics, yet to think they can change into different abilities depending on one’s path?
What an interesting system this is.
“You said there are at least five Weapon Master transcendent traits revealed so far.”
Three of them were quests that were completed via a hidden route after accepting the Hidden Transcendence Quest.
The characteristics divided in that way each possessed features so different that one wondered if they were truly derived from the same source.
From the trait that recorded the absurd figure of Weapon Mastery Level 80 thanks to the inflated mastery buff, to the trait that grants a buff effect every time you switch to a different type of weapon.
Just as the characteristic itself possessed two effects, the effects of the transcendental characteristic were also diverse.
That is why I was curious.
What on earth will the trait pop up?
The Weapon Master’s Transcendence Quest, which is known for having quite a diverse range of routes among its characteristics.
Since you have proceeded with a quest of unprecedented nature, you are bound to obtain new derivative traits different from before.
I was really looking forward to seeing what that would be.
[You have acquired the first Transcendence trait by completing the only hidden Transcendence quest at present.]
And now.
[Activation conditions have been met.]
[The Transcendence trait of the ‘Weapon Master’ trait is activated.]
Finally, lifting the veil, the transcendental characteristics revealed themselves.
“……!”
Dohyeon’s eyes widened as he checked the description of the transcendent trait held in his hand.
The only hidden transcendence quest.
The first transcendent trait.
What a characteristic!
True to its grandiose nature, it possessed quite special effects, ranging from its activation conditions to its capabilities.
The joy of finally experiencing transcendence like other rankers and the thrilling pleasure of obtaining unique transcendence characteristics consumed my mind.
Although his hands were trembling uncontrollably, Dohyeon maintained his composure as much as possible and averted his gaze.
“……Gasp, gasp!”
Asion soars into the air, breathing heavily.
[Caution! Your HP is 10% or less.]
My stamina was running low, so shouldn’t I finish this off before that stamina bully recovers like a ghost?
Above all, I was very curious.
Seeing is believing.
Let’s see what this Transcendence trait looks like when actually activated, as the description alone is ambiguous!
With his heart pounding, Dohyeon gripped Cheonbyeon tightly.
As if to uphold his intense will, the light dwelling by the riverbank grew even deeper.
The trembling of the sword blade travels through my grip.
The moment the thought crossed my mind that I couldn’t tell if this was the sensation of resonating with a sword like I’d seen in martial arts novels, or if my hands were just trembling from excitement.
“You let your guard down! Die!”
Asion, thinking that Dohyeon was off guard as he stood straight and blankly gripping his sword, suddenly reached out his hand.
Then, huge flames shot out from both palms and two wings, as if a dragon had breathed.
However, the direction in which it was fired was different.
Whoosh- Crunch-!
Flames shot upward rather than downward on the ground swept through Asion and surged up.
A sight like watching a waterspout rising from a sea of fire.
The fire was so intense that the entire surrounding area turned red, as if a sunset had fallen and covered the world.
[Activating the second ability ‘Endless Flame Extinction’ of the Transcendence Trait ‘Flame Ghost King’.]
[Burns the caster’s fire of life to ignite the final flame.]
[Burning life temporarily raises your rank.]
[When used, you cannot use ‘Flame Ghost King’ for 24 hours, and your stats decrease by 30%.]
Asion’s secret technique, which he had kept hidden until the very end.
Although it had only recently become available for use and this was only the third time it had been put to actual use, its power was undeniable.
—-!!
The firepower spewing out with such terrifying force was so grand that just looking at it made my knees tremble.
It wasn’t just when viewed with the naked eye.
In fact, on both times this was activated, not only did it instantly melt the opponent, but it also burned a wide area of 30 meters without a trace.
“Kaiser, I acknowledge you. I never thought I would use this. But now that you have used it, this is the end for you!”
Taat!
“You fool, to think you jumped headfirst into this. You’re just like a moth to a flame…”
But Asion didn’t know.
What that light residing in Dohyeon’s sword had cut down.
Swish-!
“It’s getting cut?”
“……what?”
With the power of his thighs, Dohyeon leaped high and swung his sword, cutting through the flames containing everything with a futile ease.
Would it be like this if you saw Sir Leved’s single sword, said to have split a tidal wave, in person?
The sight of Dohyeon flying through the gap, cleanly splitting in two, was truly terror itself.
Asion could not easily recover from the shock of the sight that seemed to defy common sense, but he soon came to his senses and shouted.
“……It doesn’t matter. As long as I am inside the flames, I am practically invincible.”
The pillar of fire didn’t stay for no reason.
While inside this place, his defense and magic resistance increase explosively, and the power of all fire-based magic is greatly amplified.
Above all, this place is in the air.
It was all too easy to defeat the guy who had no choice but to approach in a straight line and land a counter.
… … I thought so.
Smirk.
Until I saw the guy’s face, which had suddenly come right up to my nose.
A smile of unwavering confidence, even after revealing his final hidden move.
There is something!
Instinctively, an emergency light went on in my head, and I could immediately picture what it might be.
‘ah.’
It came to mind.
The fact that a tremendous radiance of the century emanated from him just a moment ago.
‘transcendence……!’
And by the time I realized it, it was already too late.
[The ‘Weapon Master’ transcendent trait ‘Armor Release’ is activated.]
[Awaken the soul of a weapon that meets the conditions, imbuing it with the ‘Will of Iron’ and drawing out the hidden abilities latent within.]
[‘+15 White Lion’s Snow Flower Sword’ meets the conditions and is imbued with ‘Iron Will’.]
[When handling the basics, the sword becomes sharper, harder, and heavier depending on the technique.]
Armed liberation.
The Weapon Master’s unique and first-ever trait that no one has ever obtained to date.
And because Dohyeon’s first transcendence trait was being activated.
Iron will alone is a useful ability, but the true power of armed liberation lay in the effects that followed.
[The spirit of ‘+15 White Lion’s Snow Flower Sword’ awakens.]
[Hidden abilities latent within are manifested.]
Artram, the legendary blacksmith and NPC who created the Reverse Heaven Robe.
He had said this.
Unless it is an ego weapon that exists only in legend, humans can never draw out 100% of a weapon.
Back then, I thought it was a realm only a master could understand, but now I think I know.
No legendary blacksmith could bring out the unique abilities inherent in a weapon when crafting it.
Armed liberation is the act of forcibly awakening such inherent abilities, even if only temporarily.
And just as he awakened the performance of the weapon himself, there are bound to be those who have handled the weapon to its extreme.
Those who went beyond merely handling weapons, becoming one with them and sharing a deep communion.
Weapons with such a history possessed a special quality that distinguished them from other weapons.
[The will of the ‘Forgotten King’ can be felt in the iron soul of the ‘White Lion’s Snowflake Sword’.]
[A special ability is manifested under the influence of the ‘Forgotten King’.]
The traces of one who shared a communion deep enough to contain one’s soul are imbued in the weapon.
And the original owner of the White Lion’s Snowflake Sword is the Forgotten King.
[‘Snow Flower Blooms Fiercely’ manifests.]
I never thought I’d end up using this.
Dohyeon, having recreated the sword strike that had delivered such a huge shock with his own hands, raised one corner of his mouth.
Whoosh!
At the same time, a powerful energy surged around him, forming a shape.
It was a lion.
A massive white lion, which can be considered the symbol of the Snow Flower Sword, and a blizzard violently swirled and engulfed the space.
‘ah…….’
At that moment, Asion had the illusion that he was standing on a snowy mountain cliff.
It feels like encountering a natural disaster beyond human control.
A profound sense of awe, as if I were challenging nature to a battle with my bare hands, weighed down my entire body.
Tight-
Even then, Dohyeon was merely holding his sword.
An honest attitude, enough to make one think that it could be stopped now.
But instinct is speaking.
Just as humans cannot cope with disasters, they cannot stop that.
[I saw a sword of an infinitely high realm.]
[A sword strike of uncontrollable power falls.]
The moment I realized it.
Sssss-
Dohyeon’s hand fell.
