Chapter 6
[Max Favorability from the Start?]
- Grade: Rare
- Description: A title given to those who raised an NPC's favorability to the maximum during the tutorial.
- Effect: NPC favorability increases more quickly.
All stats + 2
A title was one of the hardest rewards to obtain even in Demroc.
That was only natural.
A title was only granted when a player's results or actions were recognized as an achievement impressive enough to warrant one.
One had to act more fiercely than others and produce certain results.
'A Rare title is quite valuable.'
Even among them, a Rare grade was a satisfying result.
Common, Rare, Heroic, Legendary.
The difference in ability between grades was significant, and a Rare grade could be useful anywhere.
Even during the Demroc days, the grade Dohyun utilized the most was Rare.
And this grade system was the same in God of Se.
The importance of Rare grade would likely be similar as well.
'A good start.'
In that regard, obtaining a Rare grade title from the tutorial was a very pleasant beginning.
With an option that helped with favorability grinding, no less.
Though it wasn't an option that helped in combat, in the long run, it might actually be better.
'Fortunately, God of Se doesn't make favorability rewards a gacha either.'
Surprisingly enough, they had made some revisions, perhaps because they incorporated feedback.
Well, that must be why God of Se could take over the world. If they had operated like Demroc, even as the first virtual reality game, it would have been controversial.
Dohyun, having finished checking the reward, raised his head.
'Hmm.'
He saw Charlie wearing the most benevolent expression, eyes gleaming.
There was no trace of the frustrated demeanor from their first meeting where he had practically dragged him along.
"Thanks to you, we were able to arrive faster than expected. It's all thanks to you."
His voice had noticeably softened as well.
'I only fought…… Is it okay for it to be this easy?'
Come to think of it, he hadn't really done anything special, so should he call this pure…….
Well, it was a wartime situation, so Charlie would be grateful to Dohyun for quickly clearing out the monsters.
In the midst of a battlefield, the atmosphere had become somewhat amicable as Charlie pointed ahead.
"Now we just need to go there."
What he pointed at was a door beyond the corridor.
Finally, this tutorial was nearing its end. Past that door, the last event would await.
"If we just eliminate the dark sorcerer inside, we can end this war in victory……."
As Charlie continued speaking while running through the corridor—
"……!"
When they were about 100m away.
Rumble—.
The corridor they had passed through suddenly began to collapse.
That wasn't the end.
From beneath the collapsing floor, an unpleasant black light was seeping through.
Charlie panicked at the sudden turn of events.
"My god……! Has the summoning already begun?"
It was because the summoning was progressing faster than the original plan.
To make matters worse, bizarre-looking monsters were climbing up from the collapsed floor. Including the ones they had seen earlier, as well as bat-like creatures.
Someone had to hold them off.
"Damn it……! I'll handle this place, you go on ahead! Just get inside there. You must stop the summoner!"
"……?"
"Originally, someone in my position as the commander should go…… but I feel I can trust and leave it to you. No, rather, I'd like to ask you. Hero…… could you please help me?"
At that, Dohyun momentarily forgot the situation and dumbly pointed at himself.
He wondered if he had misheard.
But perhaps misinterpreting his intent, Charlie offered a prayer of thanks.
"May the blessing of Arlen Castle be upon the hero of war……."
For Dohyun, this was bewildering.
'……I go in? Not you?'
Naturally, this was a certain event that occurred in God of Se's tutorial.
'That thing' would be summoned, and Charlie would enter first to confront the monster.
Then after a scream was heard and he died, 'that thing' would break through the wall—an event sequence that everyone experienced identically, to the point that even Dohyun, who was playing God of Se for the first time, knew of it.
Yet that event had changed.
'They said things might change a bit depending on what players do…… but it changes this much?'
This was strange.
Charlie barely intervening in combat or clapping was a minor detail that didn't significantly affect progression, but…… wasn't this an event that had to inevitably occur?
As he approached the door, a message floated up.
[Only one person may enter at a time.]
[Upon death, the sealing array will collapse and all status ailments on the boss will be lifted.]
[Do you really wish to enter?]
A message full of warnings.
The appearance of such a message in the tutorial was unheard of. Those in the know might know, but it meant this wasn't the normal route.
And in Demroc, they called this—
An Easter egg.
Or…….
'A Hidden Piece.'
A device intentionally hidden within a game.
And such devices usually boasted high difficulty, with rewards that were on a completely different level from normal ones.
If God of Se was similar to Demroc, this would be the same.
He didn't know exactly what principle triggered the Hidden Piece, but probably Charlie's recognition and favorability played a major role.
'Lucky.'
That was the only way to express it.
Who would have thought such a secret was hidden here?
Now he could gladly accept all of Charlie's cringeworthy reactions.
[Do you really wish to enter?]
"Yes."
For Dohyun was not one to refuse such a Hidden Piece.
With his unhesitating answer, the door opened and a blinding light enveloped Dohyun.
And when he opened his eyes, a different scenery unfolded.
Kraaaah!
"Gaaah! W-why is this happening! I'm the cult master who summoned you! Obey me! N-no! Uwaaaaah!"
Something massive, dyed in darkness, was devouring a person who appeared to be the summoner.
No, it was hard to call that thing a person.
The overall silhouette was close to human, but the body that briefly revealed itself was like that of a monster.
[Dark Summoner Who Contracted with the Abyss]
- Title: One Who Contracted with the Abyss
- Type: Hybrid
- Characteristics: Dark Magic, Summoning, Curses
- Description: A dark sorcerer who contracted with the world of terror, the Abyss. Seeking to summon 'that thing' to bring down Arlen Castle.
The revealed information also declared it was not human.
However, Dohyun's gaze was not on that creature.
He was looking at the pitch-black darkness that was consuming it. Within that darkness, pupils like those of a reptile glowed red.
[Bound Iron-Blooded Demon Dragon]
- Title: Legendary Named Boss
- Type: Dragon Race
- Characteristics: Currently in a sealed state.
- Description: A demon dragon of the Abyss bearing the name of Iron Blood.
Almost nothing about them has been revealed to humans, and they have been passed down as a source of fear. Currently, all abilities are sealed by restraints, and physical movement is restricted.
"……Legendary grade?"
Dohyun, who confirmed that creature's information, let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
* * *
God of Se borrowed many things from Demroc.
One of them was the grade system.
A system consisting of Common - Rare - Heroic - Legendary.
Everything from the title Dohyun obtained to items and skills had grades assigned.
And the same applied to monsters.
Not all monsters had them. Grades were only assigned to monsters with the 'Boss' title.
And among those, the special bosses were Named Bosses.
'The only bosses possessing names.'
They were unique entities with names that symbolized themselves.
Unlike bosses that respawned after death, when they died, that was the end.
Irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind bosses.
As such, they were given settings of having lived for long ages, and therefore boasted higher difficulty even at the same grade.
'Legendary Named Boss…….'
Such a creature bore a Legendary grade title.
Along with a name that appeared more black than red.
'So this is why they say it's absolutely impossible to catch.'
Now he understood.
From the start, this wasn't a monster made to be hunted.
A boss monster tasked with the mission of unconditionally, certainly killing the player to progress the set event.
That was the true identity of the tutorial boss.
That wasn't so strange.
Gamers were familiar with games that inserted unkillable monsters into tutorials to progress events.
However, there was one questionable point.
'In the video, everything except the name was shown as question marks…….'
So while he thought it would be strong, he hadn't known it would be this absurdly powerful.
Probably no one knew this creature's true identity.
'No, with about a year and six months, there might be some who know. In that much time, most Hidden Pieces would have been discovered.'
Of course, even if there were, no one would dare think of hunting it.
Anyway, having come this far, he had to make a choice.
Whether to hunt it.
Or to cleanly give up.
As if to help with Dohyun's dilemma, upon making eye contact, the creature let out a roar.
The roar from a massive body exceeding 10m sent shivers down his spine just from hearing it.
And the messages that appeared afterward were even more chilling.
Kraaaaaah!
[You have heard the roar of the 'Bound Iron-Blooded Demon Dragon'.]
[Physical abilities deteriorate from the roar of an overwhelming presence.]
[Movement speed decreases by 20%.]
[Attack speed decreases by 20%.]
[Defense decreases by 30%.]
[Magic resistance decreases by 25%.]
"……No conscience at all."
An already strong creature was neatly stacking debuffs.
It seemed like it was telling him not to even think about facing it. But it was also somewhat fair conditions.
Clank— Clank.
Grrrrr…….
Its hands and feet, its torso and neck.
The restraints binding everything across its entire body prevented it from leaving the wall.
Like a guard dog.
It was blocked by the restraints whenever it tried to move beyond a certain range.
At least its arms had some leeway, swinging even while dragging the restraints, but the speed was slow.
-HP: [1,000,000 / ???]
Perhaps because it was wounded, its entire body was covered in blood, and for a Legendary Named Boss, it had a shabby amount of health.
As stated in the description, it was in a state where all abilities were sealed.
In short, it was the worst of the worst versions, with limbs nearly severed and dying.
But even so, that absurd amount of health and those arms of ridiculous size that would certainly kill him in one hit.
Common sense said this wasn't a boss for a level 1 player to hunt.
'It said if I die, the seal and status ailments will be lifted, right?'
Probably in the original tutorial, when Charlie died and the seal was lifted, it would have regained its complete form.
If so…….
'……Isn't this doable?'
Could this moment be the only opportunity?
The only chance to hunt an unkillable boss.
This kind of situation occurred in Demroc as well.
Discovering things by chance, but always standing at a crossroads before Hidden Pieces of maddeningly high difficulty.
Every time, Dohyun's choice was the same.
"Alright, let's do this."
Kaiser—he was not a man who would refuse such a challenge.