Chapter 108
There were countless kinds of options that could appear on equipment.
Some were tied to specific parts of gear, while others were common options that could appear anywhere.
Among them, equipment with the highest concentration of unique part-specific options was classified as “high-tier equipment.”
Even items of the same grade were divided into tiers depending on their option quality.
For example, [Movement Speed] only ever appeared on shoes.
[Control Resistance] on helmets. [Damage Reduction] on armor. [Casting Speed] on accessories. [Proficiency] on gloves.
Of course, sometimes gear would appear without these unique options.
‘The probability of equipment from boxes having a unique option is 8.7%.’
That was a number proven through endless trials.
Roughly eight or nine out of every hundred pieces would bear a special option.
Currently, only his [Shoes of Hermes] and [Star of Arrogance] had them.
But the options attached to the [Golden Mystery of the Arahan] were unlike anything else.
The Golden Mystery was a shoulder piece.
‘And shoulders never had special options.’
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Among all equipment slots, only the shoulder slot was thought to have none.
Many claimed it simply hadn’t been discovered yet, but with so much data and testing, it seemed undeniable.
That was Park Chan-woo’s assumption too—until now.
‘…So it really hadn’t been found before?’
He couldn’t be sure.
Perhaps this item alone carried something extraordinary.
He removed the [Golden Mystery of the Arahan] and placed it before him.
—
Name: Golden Mystery of the Arahan
Level: -89
Grade: [Legendary]
Description: The highest ideal reached by ascetics. A mystery completed by one who had nothing left to learn of gold.
Slot: Shoulder
Defense: 60
Durability: Indestructible
Inherent Options:
(1) Generates a [Golden Aura] around the wearer.
(2) Attack and Defense increase according to coin count.
(3) When coins exceed a certain number, the item’s grade rises.
(4) Coins can be consumed to increase the item’s level. (Cannot exceed wearer’s level)
(5) Unlocks when holding 500+ coins.
Hidden Option:
(1) [Seeker’s First Step] – +1 to all stats per 10 coins.
《This option applies to all equipment bearing the name “Arahan.”》
—
It had risen from [Ancient] to [Legendary].
Defense increased slightly, but the real change was option #4.
Once he held over 100 coins, it unlocked.
“…It can level up?”
No matter how many times he reread it, he couldn’t believe it.
In the Abyss, equipment always stayed at the level at which it was obtained.
That was common knowledge.
But here was an exception.
Only for the Golden Mystery, but still—an impossible line of text had appeared.
Even he, with all his experience, had never seen such a thing.
‘So the rumor was true.’
There had once been whispers of gear that could level up.
Everyone dismissed them as nonsense.
No such item had ever been found.
Until now.
And it was right before his eyes.
He checked again and again, afraid he’d misread it.
‘Use coins to raise it to my current level.’
Not infinitely. There were limits.
Coins were required, and it couldn’t exceed his own level.
But even with restrictions, the benefit was enormous.
‘It means I can keep it forever.’
Raising its level meant extending its lifespan.
For equipment worthy of being endgame “graduation gear,” it was priceless.
And the Golden Mystery of the Arahan certainly was.
Its effects scaled monstrously with coin count, its grade improved on its own, and its stats were absurdly efficient.
No wasted options, no flaws.
Top tier in every way.
‘How many coins will it take?’
He set a coin on the item to test it.
Ding!
《Raising equipment level requires 5 coins.》
“….”
Five?
More than he expected.
He had 150 coins.
Not enough to burn recklessly.
And spending coins meant weakening the effects tied to their total.
‘No point in spending them now.’
Even if he raised it by five levels, the impact would be minor.
For now, it wasn’t worth it.
Still, the possibility alone was a revelation.
‘This shoulder piece is safe to keep.’
He could ignore other replacements.
More importantly, he now knew such an option existed at all.
If it appeared on other equipment—or other Arahan pieces—
‘It would cut the grind for gear by years.’
High-grade gear farming was brutal.
Drop rates were abysmal.
And often, even high-grade gear turned out low-tier in quality.
Hours of grinding wasted.
If this kind of option spread to other items, he could bypass all that.
Time he couldn’t afford to lose.
‘511 days. I must reach level 1 before then. I can’t waste time farming.’
He still had 85 levels to climb.
The road was long.
But after the explosive growth of the Second Night, he felt it was within reach.
He exhaled deeply.
‘Difficult, but possible.’
He had a foundation now.
The time had come to focus on leveling.
‘And my Legendary title evolved into Mythic.’
He checked the [Titles] section.
—
Titles
[Mythic] (Master Title): +400 ATK, +10% Penetration, “Master of Valhalla”
[Mythical Magic: Ajos]: Summoned Ajos scales with user’s stats
[Easter Egg (001)]: +2 to all stats, [Luck] effect on level up
[Elixir Addict]: +10% potion effectiveness
[Nemesis of Creators]: Grants “Unyielding Will” against Creators
—
A new option had appeared under [Master of Valhalla].
‘So that’s what the Second Night’s territory was.’
Khan and the warriors had called themselves “Warriors of Valhalla.”
That land itself had been Valhalla.
‘Those words are glowing…’
The phrase [Master of Valhalla] shone golden.
He reached out.
Bzzzz!
A golden portal formed before him.
‘…I see.’
He understood instantly.
It was a gate to Valhalla.
Though the Second Night had ended and forced him out, as its ruler he could now freely enter and leave.
Step.
Without hesitation, he crossed through.
The scenery shifted back to the familiar battlefield.
Valhalla.
But as soon as he arrived, he froze.
Someone was already there—someone he hadn’t expected.
“Adora?”
“…It’s been a while, Park Chan-woo.”
Beside the portal stood the Witch of Death herself, her face cold.