Episode 207 Berserk Charm – (1)
First, the option to recover 2% of maximum HP was expanded to include an option to recover 2% of maximum MP.
Similarly, the non-combat option was changed to recover both HP and MP.
Furthermore, the maximum limit for recovery suppression by any debuff was fixed at 50%.
In other words, even if you go to a dungeon where recovery is completely suppressed, you can still utilize a 50% recovery effect.
For Sanghyeon, who really wanted to improve his self-survival ability in the grand scheme of things, this was exactly what he needed.
“I’m definitely going for this.”
Sanghyeon selected Skill Enhancement.
It immediately changed to Grasp of Restraint, and the detailed tooltip changed exactly as seen earlier.
Since it was a passive skill, he liked it because there was no need to worry about using it separately.
No matter which dungeon he went to, he no longer had to fall into the anxiety that recovery might not work at all.
This was the picture Sanghyeon had wanted.
Ignoring the probabilistic aspect and fixing it in a perfect state.
This was also the reason I decided to increase the number of status effect skills that operate under the premise of "completeness."
This is because in the world of high-level and top-tier players, status effects that function based on probability rarely land.
The reason is simple:
just as my specs and skills have risen, so too has the opponent's stats. It is actually more extreme than I imagined. As
defense and evasion increase, and consequently skill evasion rates rise, it is only natural that they do not land.
The way to cleanly offset this is essentially an option with a 100% probability.
"I must have been running around frantically. I left the skill I copied from Park Jung-min without even giving it a name." Sang-hyun let out a hollow laugh upon seeing a skill in the "
Please Set Name" list that had a particularly embarrassing name. The more intuitive a skill name is, the better. Since this skill activates the Control debuff, I decided to name it Control. "Control" ■ Skill Level: Stage 1 (0.0%) ■ Skill Description: Consumes 10 Mana per second to block all skill usage by the designated target. The 'Control' debuff is permanently applied to the designated target and cannot be removed in any way. It can only be removed by the caster interrupting their casting or by a lack of focus caused by interference. This skill is fatal to ranged players like mages rather than melee ones like swordsmen. If you are afflicted with Control, it is safe to say that you are effectively forced to rely solely on basic attacks. I have never used a skill I acquired meaninglessly. The Control skill will surely come in handy alongside the Grasp of Restraint. It might even become a dramatic variable. “The title of Versatile is right around the corner.” I can see a scenario where I reach 1,000 in all stats if I just raise Agility to 263 and Evasion to 234. It is highly likely that the Berserk Charm I will purchase through Han Hyun-jung will also have individual stat options. I calculate that I can obtain the title of Versatile along with the purchase of the talisman. The title of Versatile does not make the body stronger, but it is excellent for imprinting one's presence upon the Constellations. Just as Sang-hyun was intoxicated by the joy of his growth, he received a call. Looking at the caller ID, he saw an unexpected name. Although he had registered the number just in case, it was someone he had almost never imagined would call first. It was none other than Frederic Villain, the Master of the Nobility Guild. * * * When he stepped out of the training grounds, Frederic was there, having driven a sports car himself. Even Sang- hyun, a complete novice when it came to cars, could sense that this was a limited edition vehicle worth well over several billion won. He never imagined he would be sitting in the passenger seat of such a sports car with a man. However, Frederic seemed to want to talk while enjoying the cityscape outside the window, rather than the bleakness of the enclosed space. Unlike those who usually travel with multiple escort vehicles, Frederic was alone. As Sang-hyun looked around while getting into the car, Frederic, having roughly read his thoughts, said, “I don’t usually go out for drives with a tail. I like going around alone.” “Are you okay with that?” “The days of staring back anxiously, worried about dying, are over.” Frederick’s confidence was palpable. Considering his abilities, it wasn’t unfounded confidence. One of the things Sang-hyun remembered about Frederick was that he was completely immune to status effects. He possessed the ability to ‘completely ignore’ them. Since this functioned as a superior concept to the ‘complete option’ that unconditionally inflicts status effects, a game of rock-paper-scissors was impossible. If viewed from the perspective of an enemy, he was practically the polar opposite to Sang-hyun. This was because he was an existence that clashed head-on with Sang-hyun’s very identity. In truth, he didn’t want to become an enemy. For a few minutes, a silent drive ensued.
Sanghyun also liked the view of the city outside the window, so he cleared his head by observing the people.
How much time had passed?
Just as the silence had become natural rather than awkward, Frederic spoke again.
“If I were to bring up recruitment in a situation like this, you would think it’s a cliché, wouldn’t you, Mr. Shin Sanghyun?”
“Even if it is a cliché, I don’t think you can deny that it is a pleasant thing to hear.”
Sanghyun replied with a smile.
Frederic’s voice and tone were softer than expected.
And he spoke Korean quite fluently. If you closed your eyes and listened, you wouldn’t think he was American at all.
“I received a lot of offers in the past, too. Just as you said, it felt good. But I didn’t join any guild.”
“I see.”
“I would like to continue interacting with our guild as a mercenary like this. What do you think?”
Sanghyun did not take Frederic’s words at face value.
From the perspective of running a guild, it was naturally easier to manage guild members than mercenaries.
Because they are mercenaries, there are lines they cannot cross and limits to what they can demand.
“I’d love to. It’s a position where I can establish ties with the Nobility Guild and utilize their infrastructure.”
The current player ecosystem is thoroughly advantageous to mercenaries.
Of course, this comes with the prerequisite that one must be skilled, but in other words, if you have the ability, you are treated well unconditionally.
However, since the majority of mercenaries are just talkers without any skill, they are often misunderstood.
Frederick’s proposal surely wasn’t a request for a permanent mercenary contract. He
likely hoped that while enjoying the Nobility Guild’s infrastructure as a mercenary, I would eventually find my way into the guild’s embrace.
It was a good strategy.
The Nobility Guild was prepared for that. In fact, there were quite a few guild members who were formerly mercenaries.
Just then, Frederick brought up a topic in an unexpected direction.
“We own a gate. It is one of the 47 gates that have not yet been conquered…”
At the mention of 47 gates, Sang-hyun took a momentary indignation before letting it go.
It means the guild possesses that many gates.
And that means there are 47 unconquered gates; the actual number held must be dozens of times that amount.
Sanghyun asked,
“Am I allowed to go?”
“The gate’s conditions are a bit peculiar. There is a level restriction of under 350 and a maximum party limit of two.”
“It should be possible to clear it without much trouble, so there must be a reason why this news reached me.” “
That’s right. There are many types of status effects required to clear the inside of the gate. But the party limit is two.”
“Ah…”
If it were a gate that could be defeated by simply overwhelming it with damage, it would have been cleared long ago.
Not just cleared, but cleared repeatedly like a bone broth every time it reset, yielding all sorts of rewards.
The fact that it didn't is likely because there are tricky aspects even for the Nobility Guild’s player composition.
Two people is far too few to utilize multiple status effects. It is no wonder they couldn't find a way.
Of course, it seemed there was no player more suitable for this gate than himself. In a way, it was a custom-made gate.
'I really do lack prior information.'
Even after tracing back his memories of his past life, Sang-hyun knew nothing about this gate. It
might have remained unconquered for a long time back then, given how strict the conditions were.
He intended to accept the offer,
however, only after purchasing a Berserk Charm through Han Hyun-jung.
Since venturing into a gate with no information was a challenge, it was best to set up his forces to their maximum potential. As
Sang-hyun fell silent to collect his thoughts, Frederick added details to his previous proposal.
“If we succeed in conquering it, I will guarantee ownership of all by-products obtained from within and give you a share of the gate.”
“What do you mean by a share of the gate?”
“It means that whenever a successful conquest is made, a certain percentage of the by-products will be settled and continuously paid to you.”
It was a tempting offer.
From Frederick’s perspective, it wasn’t a losing proposition either.
Once the strategy was established, since it was their own gate, they could conquer it indefinitely at any time. To
Sang-hyun, guaranteeing a share—something rarely promised to outsiders—held great significance.
It must mean that they have calculated internally that attacking the Gate would be difficult.
“Hmm…”
It is a shame.
I calculate that I could demand a better reward than a stake in the Gate.
One of the things Sanghyun values highly about the Nobility Guild is their ownership of the Endless Dungeon.
It is a rare dungeon, one of only two in the entire world, shaped like a tower that must be climbed endlessly.
The rewards are so good that many players known as "Named Players" have experienced significant growth here.
The owners are Jeron Decay from the UK and Frederic Villain from the US. Essentially, one of them is standing right beside Sang-hyun.
“If you have any other proposals, please let me know. My ears are always open.”
He thought that if an open-minded conversation were possible, the matter might be resolved easily.
Sang-hyun made the offer without deep hesitation. Even if it didn't work out, Sang-hyun had nothing to lose
from the proposal anyway. “Can you grant me the opportunity to enter the Endless Dungeon?”
A brief silence followed.
It wasn't that the proposal was preposterous, but rather that it wasn't the kind of thing Sang-hyun should be bringing up.
The Endless Dungeon is a place where the risk increases exponentially, commensurate with the substantial rewards.
Since the outcome depends entirely on the player's ability, no one can guarantee the result.
For that reason,
it was actually easier for Frederic to give an answer.
“Very well. After all, the Endless Dungeon is a place where you reap what you sow, so the rewards are objective.”
“I would like this to be documented.”
“Of course. However, you are aware that clearing the Gate must precede it, aren't you?”
“That goes without saying!”
I received a definitive answer much more easily than I had expected.
Since it was his own dungeon and it could have ended up benefiting someone else, I thought he would refuse, but that wasn't the case.
Frederick added an explanation of the Endless Dungeon rules.
“You must be aware that once you give up on the challenge, it is completely impossible to try again for one year.”
“I know.”
It meant the opportunity comes only once a year.
I had seized a once-in-a-year chance, but at the same time, I was extremely nervous because it was a one-coin challenge.
Still, I was overjoyed.
Until I came to America, I had thought the Endless Dungeon was just a place I could visit in my dreams.
However, thanks to properly demonstrating my skills, I caught Frederick's attention and immediately secured the opportunity.
Luck? Absolutely not.
It was the moment when the skills and credentials Sanghyun had diligently built up finally shone.
