#003
Something he never could have imagined had come out of the SSR.
An item that could overturn the very common sense of this Game Dungeon if used improperly.
A way to utilize this absurd 'power.'
At this moment, Ryu Hwi conceived countless plans.
Linzea, no…… at the very least, a way to erase even Linpel Darius.
"This SSR is a trump card to defeat Linpel."
It was better to seal it away and avoid using it until that moment came. He mustn't show it off rashly before others' eyes.
It was an SSR dangerous enough to warrant that.
The Forest of Beginnings.
A place gamers first connecting to World of Phantasm were sure to visit.
However, it was an area one could never return to once they left.
Ryu Hwi held his short sword and wooden shield, facing the enemy.
A monster with nothing but human bones remaining, wielding a sword and shield.
A monster he had fought countless times in the simulation: the Skeleton.
He steadied his breath before that foe.
[Hokyakiyagi!]
The Skeleton, which shouldn't have vocal cords, let out a monstrous shriek and charged. Ryu Hwi didn't even think of dodging; he simply waited.
The moment the Skeleton swung its sword.
"Ha!"
With a sharp kiai, Ryu Hwi deflected the Skeleton's sword.
The blade was knocked away, its attack broken.
……But it didn't end with just that effect.
The instant he precisely deflected the attack, every nerve in his body grew hyper-sensitive.
The Skeleton's movements appeared slow.
Ryu Hwi immediately moved his sword.
Exactly as he had done in the simulations, he cut down the Skeleton in a single strike.
[Kasha…….]
As the Skeleton vanished, small gem-like objects fell to the ground.
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Combat Report:
-Victory
Skeleton×1
Acquired 10 Exp.
Converting experience points to RP (Random Box Points).
Acquired ×1 Skeleton Magic Stone.
=SYSTEM OFF=
The genre of World of Phantasm was RPG.
You defeated enemies to gain experience and level up.
However, the concept of levels did not exist for Ryu Hwi, and the experience he acquired was immediately converted to RP (Random Box Points).
It cost 150 RP to spin the Random Box once.
He had to hunt 15 Skeletons just to spin it a single time.
The efficiency was atrocious.
Ryu Hwi checked the skill he had activated.
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Equipment Skill:
SR – Sword Mastery Lv1
Swordsmanship proficiency increased.
All stats enhanced when equipping a sword (Lv1).
SR – Parrying Lv1
Effect granted when deflecting an opponent's attack.
Attack Break (Lv1).
Temporary reflex enhancement (Lv1).
=SYSTEM OFF=
"To think I'd actually be able to use Parrying for real."
Parrying activated by repelling the opponent's attack, and it had no cooldown.
It was a skill that existed not in typical RPGs like World of Phantasm, but in genres that emphasized 'action.'
It was clear proof that YggON ignored the system restrictions of the Game Dungeon.
In particular, when he saw the SSR that had come out on the very last pull of a 106-draw Random Box, Ryu Hwi understood just how terrifying the YggON system was.
Ryu Hwi was certain.
With this, he could completely overturn World of Phantasm—no, even shatter the balance of Yggdrasil's Game Dungeons themselves.
"Then……."
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Daily Mission:
Monster Hunt 9/10
Reward: 1 YggON Ticket
Spin the Random Box 1/1 (Complete)
Reward: 1 YggON Ticket
Acquire Monster Drop Items 8/10
Reward: 1 YggON Ticket
Clear All Daily Missions 1/3
Reward: 2 YggON Tickets
=SYSTEM OFF=
"If I'm lucky, I just need to catch one more and I'll be done."
The Daily Mission was one of the YggON system's features.
Just by completing it, five YggON Tickets came in per day.
Ryu Hwi moved his feet to find his next prey.
* * *
The Skeleton let out a death throes and collapsed.
After confirming it had dropped small gems as loot, Ryu Hwi let out a string of curses.
Because the Skeleton hadn't dropped items, he had to hunt four more.
"Today's the third day. The RP acquired so far is 1,500."
Ryu Hwi had done nothing but hunt Skeletons without going anywhere else since entering World of Phantasm.
The date had changed in the meantime, but that was no problem.
The time ratio between the Dungeon and the outside was different.
Time inside the Dungeon flowed nearly ten times faster than outside.
Even if ten days passed in Yggdrasil, only about a single day would pass outside.
"Now then……."
[It's Random Box time!]
YggON suddenly appeared in mid-air.
[1500 RP! I've duly noted your persistence in gathering enough points for a 10-draw while still in the tutorial zone. Let's spin it, a 10-draw! Random Box. Random Box!]
"……."
[Random Box! Random Box!]
Without answering, Ryu Hwi called up the UI.
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Skill Management:
SR – Sword Mastery Lv1
700 RP until next level
+Level Up Available
SR – Parrying Lv1
700 RP until next level
+Level Up Available
=SYSTEM OFF=
It was possible to strengthen acquired skills' levels using RP.
Without hesitation, Ryu Hwi pressed to level up Sword Mastery and Parrying.
[Aaaaaaaaah!!]
YggON raised its voice.
[What are you doing! What are you doing! What are you doing! Isn't a Random Box the only choice there? I cannot believe this. YggON doubts whether Master is in his right mind!]
"Shut up. I don't believe in the Random Box."
[How could Master, who pulled this UR YggON from a Random Box, say such a thing? Are you denying YggON's very reason for existence?]
The robot vacuum cleaner's lens flashed red.
"What's the probability of getting an SR?"
[N is 70%, R is 27%, SR is 2.7%, and SSR is 0.3%.]
"So getting two SRs and one SSR out of 106 draws was a miracle."
Ryu Hwi felt chills at the terrifying probability.
[That's right! You didn't even get a single SSR after 106 draws! Furthermore, Master is a lucky man who pulled a UR. So don't invest points in useless places and spin the Random Box. Hurry up and gather points to spin the Random Box.]
"To think you'd treat skill level-ups as useless even though it's a system you support……."
[Random Box! Random Box!]
The obsession with the Random Box was terrifying.
"Aren't the tickets from Daily Missions enough for the Random Box?"
[I want points, not tickets. Rather than bonus tickets, I want points that Master earned through effort.]
It was tenacious.
Like a vengeful ghost that died unable to spin the Random Box was clinging to him.
Ryu Hwi ignored YggON and checked his skills.
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Equipment Skill:
SR – Sword Mastery Lv2
Swordsmanship proficiency increased.
All stats enhanced when equipping a sword (Lv2).
SR – Parrying Lv2
Effect granted when deflecting an opponent's attack.
Attack Break (Lv2).
Temporary reflex enhancement (Lv1).
=SYSTEM OFF=
The all-stats enhancement from Sword Mastery and the Attack Break performance from Parrying had increased.
While World of Phantasm strengthened skills using skill points obtained from leveling up, YggON accomplished everything with RP.
The results of the five YggON Tickets received from Daily Missions were…….
N – Toothbrush
R – Landmine +new
N – Cheap Hat +new
N – Trash Can +new
R – Premium Toothbrush +new
Ryu Hwi resolved to never waste RP on the Random Box.
"Then shall I rest a bit before resuming the hunt?"
[Master, why do you not leave this forest? The monsters here have poor experience efficiency.]
YggON's question was reasonable.
"Not yet. It's still too soon."
But Ryu Hwi knew World of Phantasm's information like the back of his hand.
Not only that—he had grasped information on all the famous Game Dungeons currently existing in Yggdrasil.
Even after his H-Rank fell to Unknown and his name was stolen, Ryu Hwi had continued checking Game Dungeon information.
"I'll be here at least a week. After a week, I'll get an SR guaranteed ticket from the login bonus, right?"
How much could he do without level or stat adjustments?
Fortunately, there was a suitable test opponent.
Ryu Hwi intended to strengthen his skills to a suitable level first in order to fight that opponent.
"If it goes well, this will be a successful debut."
* * *
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Alarm!
YggON System Login.
Day 7 Login Bonus – 1 YggON Ticket.
1-Week Consecutive Login Bonus – 1 SR Guaranteed YggON Ticket.
=SYSTEM OFF=
A week had passed since entering the Game Dungeon.
Of course, that was Yggdrasil time; outside, not even a single day would have passed yet.
Ryu Hwi checked his skills.
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
Equipment Skill:
SR – Sword Mastery Lv3
Swordsmanship proficiency increased.
All stats enhanced when equipping a sword (Lv3).
SR – Parrying Lv3
Effect granted when deflecting an opponent's attack.
Attack Break (Lv3).
Temporary reflex enhancement (Lv2).
=SYSTEM OFF=
Whenever he had time, he went around catching monsters, allowing him to raise Sword Mastery and Parrying's levels.
Each time, YggON threw a fit, but Ryu Hwi paid it no mind.
Naturally, the points required increased each time he leveled up.
Ryu Hwi judged that staying here any longer would be a waste of time.
He wanted to say he was in perfect condition, but it was still lacking.
All that remained was…….
[Is it Random Box time!]
YggON appeared, catching on like a ghost.
[You've obtained an SR guaranteed ticket from the 1-week login bonus. Will you spin the Random Box right now?]
"Yeah."
In the end, the final step had to be left to luck.
Since it was SR guaranteed, something strange wouldn't come out.
Ryu Hwi used the SR guaranteed ticket to spin the Random Box.
SR guaranteed—to be exact, SR-rank or higher guaranteed—so if he was lucky, an SSR could come out, but…….
Seeing the golden shooting star, Ryu Hwi let out a sigh.
And then…….
Looking at the result, this time he let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.
"You said this was a World of Phantasm pick-up, yet only absurd things come out?"
[A pick-up is merely a pick-up.]
Just fighting while holding this would cause a commotion.
And for good reason…….
=YggON SYSTEM ON=
SR – Gun Sword +new
Type: Gunblade
A weapon in the form of a blade attached to a gun.
Can utilize cylinder energy to increase the blade's power.
A weapon also capable of being used as a gun.
=SYSTEM OFF=
Because something that completely destroyed the world setting of World of Phantasm had popped out.
Ryu Hwi grabbed the handle of the SR Gun Sword. Perhaps recognized as a 'sword,' the effect of Sword Mastery activated.
As a test, he cut the tree beside him.
The thick tree was felled in a single strike. Even accounting for the Sword Mastery buff, it was an overwhelming level of power.
As a weapon, its value was incomparable to the R Short Sword.
"With this, I can do it."
Preparation for battle was complete. All that remained was the final confirmation.
"YggON, what happens if I die in the Dungeon? Since my body was converted, do I really die?"
[Even if Master dies, revival is possible through Yggdrasil's backup. However…….]
"However?"
[It hurts enough to die.]
Ryu Hwi smirked.
He was used to pain. As long as he didn't actually die, there was no problem.
"YggON, is there a function to record my play?"
[Affirmative.]
"Good. Then record everything from now on without missing a thing."
[Understood. Is there a desired file name?]
File name?
Without hesitation, Ryu Hwi answered immediately.
"Make it something like 'Escape from the Abyss of the Unknown.'"
Ryu Hwi stepped forward.
The Forest of Beginnings.
Ratia had set this place as merely a starting point, a tutorial area.
But Yggdrasil did not reproduce the information it read exactly as-is.
Yggdrasil was known to create superior Game Dungeons the more elaborate the original was.
People assessed that Ratia IP-based games were all ordinary and shallow, mass-produced knock-offs.
Perhaps for that reason, Ratia-made games often ended up as messy, chaotic Game Dungeons.
World of Phantasm was Ratia's representative work that was at least properly made but…….
Still, quite a few aspects existed that were implemented in absurd forms.
For example…….
A mid-boss level monster appearing in the tutorial area that was absolutely impossible to defeat.
A figure came into view: a knight wearing pitch-black armor and wielding a greatsword.
The Dark Knight.
A calamity that blocked gamers starting World of Phantasm.
Ryu Hwi blocked the path of the monster emanating an overwhelming presence.
"Experiment commence."