Chapter 151
The [Potential Enhancement Scroll] was an item that pushed the limits of equipment.
It was often used to extend the lifespan of gear that had already reached its point of diminishing returns and was due for replacement, but its best use was, of course, on equipment with overwhelming potential.
‘My best equipment right now is the [Star of Arrogance] and [Baal’s Belt].’
The [World Tree Staff] also had end-tier unique options, but the problem was its level.
Being a level -98 item, its base attack power was inevitably low.
Besides, he had already used a [Potential Enhancement Scroll] on it once.
It would be a waste to use another.
‘The [Star of Arrogance] doesn’t have any attack or defense stats anyway.’
The [Star of Arrogance] was a “final relic” that didn’t even have a level. Perhaps because of that, it had no attack or defense power.
The [Potential Enhancement Scroll] usually raised an item’s limits—attack, defense, or all-around stats.
But it couldn’t increase stats that didn’t exist or couldn’t exist.
The [Star of Arrogance] was a necklace devoid of any physical attributes, offering only options that enhanced the use of magic.
‘The [Baal’s Belt] has both overwhelming stats and unique options.’
A [Zero]-grade item.
Base defense of 450!
It increased Strength and Stamina by 66 each and had a unique option that doubled regeneration speed.
And on top of that—
‘Set equipment’s potential needs no explanation.’
Its potential alone was nothing short of astonishing.
Even the [Golden Mystery of the Arahan] he was wearing possessed high potential, yet it still couldn’t compare to [Baal’s Belt].
It was the very definition of peak potential.
《Using the [Legendary Potential Enhancement Scroll] on [Baal’s Belt].》
《You have met the hidden ‘Special Condition’ of this equipment.》
《The latent power of [Fierce God Baal] awakens!》
Seeing the message, Park Chan-woo couldn’t believe his eyes.
‘……I unlocked a hidden special condition.’
Such things existed.
Equipment that revealed its true power only when specific conditions were met.
When the conditions were fulfilled, even trash could turn into a treasure.
‘I had a feeling there was something.’
[Fierce God Baal]—one of the four beasts handled by the Creator God who made the Abyss.
Since it bore such a name, he was sure the description alone couldn’t possibly cover everything about it.
But he hadn’t expected the [Legendary Potential Enhancement Scroll] to be the trigger.
He turned his gaze to the belt.
There were no visible changes, but—
Name: [Baal’s Belt (Radiant Exclusive Equipment)]
Level: -84
Grade: [Zero]
Defense: 450
Unlocked Potential:
(1) Defense +450
(2) Empowered ‘Roar of the Fierce God’ (Enhanced)
(3) All Stats +10
(4) Defense +450
(5) All Stats +10
“Crazy……”
He couldn’t help but gape at the revealed potentials.
A normal [Potential Enhancement Scroll] usually opened three potential abilities.
But the [Legendary] one had opened five.
And each one’s values were absurd.
‘900 Defense, +20 to all stats, and an enhanced Authority?’
Insane.
No matter how many times he checked, that was the only word that came to mind.
“……I’m done with belts.”
He could say that with certainty.
There was no longer any need to search for another belt-type equipment.
He had truly reached the endgame.
Even if the item’s level was low, its potential easily devoured all other shortcomings.
Combining the original 450 Defense with the 900 gained from potential, it raised his Defense by 1,350 with a single piece of equipment—something nearly impossible.
That was end-of-the-world level power.
At the absolute late stages—around level 90 and above—it might barely be possible to obtain such a piece of gear.
After equipping the [True Satyrus’s Boots], Park Chan-woo quickly scanned through his status window.
Level: -75
Strength 148(1+147)
Stamina 123(1+122)
Agility 67(1+66)
Intelligence 67(1+66)
Mana 80(1+79)
Total Attack Power: 2,440 (1,000+1,440)
Total Defense Power: 3,160 (660+2,500)
Fame: 137,700
Abyss Items in Possession:
Easter Egg(001), Easter Egg(002), [Mage’s Stone] (Mana +24, Legendary), [Void] (Eternal), Coin(247)
Titles:
Myth (Master Title): Attack Power +400, Total Penetration +10%, [Master of Valhalla]
Mythical Magic: [Ajos] — The summoned Ajos is influenced by the user’s abilities.
Easter Egg(001): All Stats +2, Grants ‘Luck’ effect upon level-up
Elixir Addict: Elixir Effect +10%
Lord Slayer: Applies ‘Threat’ effect to all Abyss Lords
Demon Hunter: Applies ‘Fear’ effect to all Incarnations
Venom Eater: Poison Resistance +10%
He checked mainly the major changes.
‘Must be because of the [Intermediate Swordsmanship of Arahan]. My attack power skyrocketed.’
Not just Defense—his Attack Power had nearly doubled as well.
Still, the sheer increase was beyond expectations.
‘The temperament of a swordsman has awakened. Does that mean both physical and magical stats now scale equally……?’
If that were true, it was an unimaginable level of talent.
In this world, there was no class that used both sword and magic.
As long as class levels existed, trying to develop two at once was sheer stupidity.
For instance, if one focused on leveling up the [Swordsman Class], then Mana-related stats barely affected Attack Power.
The reverse was also true.
If one raised only the [Mage Class], Strength or Agility did little to improve damage.
Even the so-called [Magic Swordsman] class was no exception.
There, Magic had always played the dominant role in attack calculation.
‘Now, all stats connect.’
But after reaching [Enlightenment], everything changed.
Every stat began contributing significantly to Attack Power.
……As time went on, both Attack and Defense would eventually hit their limit.
There would come a point where leveling up or finding better gear became nearly impossible.
At that point, warriors started raising Intelligence or Mana, and mages began training Strength or Agility.
But even then, the gains were negligible—hardly worth the effort.
That was the infamous “class wall.”
Yet Park Chan-woo had no such wall.
He could simply raise everything evenly.
Because every stat contributed to both Attack and Defense.
And with ultimate efficiency at that.
No need to squeeze out power from one side like a dried-up squid.
“This is…… the true talent of a Magic Swordsman.”
Brrr—
His body trembled uncontrollably.
In the past, the title “Magic Swordsman” had been nothing short of a curse to him.
It represented mediocrity—neither here nor there.
He had thought he possessed no real talent for the sword.
Compared to Han Shin or Lee Hyuk-soo, he was practically a child.
However—
‘So I did have sword talent after all.’
He had [Sword Talent].
……He just hadn’t realized it, because the conditions for that talent to bloom were so far beyond his reach.
Even when he first acquired the [Magic Swordsman Class], he never imagined he could master the sword itself.
He thought it merely meant imbuing his sword with magic.
But Park Chan-woo’s true gift lay in his aptitude as a Magic Swordsman.
The name he once considered a curse had been, in truth, a hidden blessing.
His hands trembled without end.
“I had…… talent for the sword, too……”
When he faced Aurum—
He had swung his sword within the realm of his unconsciousness.
He thought it was just a dream.
That his sword had overwhelmed Aurum.
That he had surpassed the wall of pure swordsmanship.
But this wasn’t the end.
‘It’s only Intermediate.’
His [Swordsmanship of Arahan] had only reached the Intermediate stage.
Which meant there were still true masters of pure swordsmanship scattered throughout the Abyss.
‘The true inheritors of Arahan’s name. I must find them.’
Only then could he become stronger.
By seeking them out, crossing blades, and breaking through his next wall.
However—
‘Arahan’s name isn’t given to Incarnations.’
Han Shin was not one of them.
Arahan stood as the enemies of demons.
They would never pass on their name to an Avatar.
No matter how exceptional Han Shin’s swordsmanship was, his path could never be the same as Park Chan-woo’s.
With this, Park Chan-woo was more complete than ever before.
The trauma of his past as a “Magic Swordsman” could no longer hold him down.
It had become his fortune, his blessing—his happiness.
……Yes.
He was happy.
It had been so long since he felt this way.
He couldn’t even recall the last time he was truly happy.
Even when joy came, he could never embrace it fully.
The uncertainty of the future had always kept him awake at night.
‘Let’s never forget this feeling.’
And so, for the first time in a long while, Park Chan-woo lay down on his bed.
Without gripping a weapon, completely free from the fear that a sniper or Creator Abyss might attack him at any moment.
He sprawled out flat.
「Father. I have finished digesting the [Fox Den]. But…… you seem very happy. I am happy too. Perhaps that is why the digestion went so smoothly.」
Cygnus, perched by the window, looked at him as he spoke.
Having finished absorbing the [Fox Den], Cygnus had grown slightly larger.
A small red mark now adorned his forehead.
「It went so well that I can now use [Fox Fire]. From what I can tell, that Abyss must have served as a storage for Fox Fire itself. The [Creator of the Burning Boundary] was likely the one who stole it from the foxes.」
“What exactly is [Fox Fire]?”
「A flame that reveals truth. It exposes false appearances and burns lies—the foxes’ most powerful ability. I believe it was used to discern one’s true form when they transformed.」
“……That’s incredible.”
He was genuinely impressed.
The foxes’ ability wasn’t limited to shapeshifting.
In fact, compared to [Fox Fire], transformation was trivial.
And now, Cygnus had learned to wield that very power.
‘I get it now—why demons stole Fox Fire.’
Leaving only the transformation ability while sealing away Fox Fire.
Because it was fatal to them.
For demons who lived by falsehood, a flame that exposed truth was their natural enemy.
They must have desperately sought to seize and seal it.
Once again, Park Chan-woo realized how much he had gained from the [Fox Den].
‘I’ve gained another weapon to surprise Ahheta.’
Especially since the [Master of the Moon, Ahheta] was a being whose very existence was a lie.
This [Fox Fire] would prove extremely useful.
Ssshh—
His eyes closed.
As sleep gently overtook him, Park Chan-woo smiled.
‘More than I thought.’
Far more.
‘This might actually be doable.’
—
Ding!
《The [Third Night] has begun.》
《It is not an ordinary full moon, but a [Super Blue Moon].》
《A moon that rises once every ten thousand years even in the Abyss.》
《The night of the [Super Blue Moon] is like a grand festival within the Abyss.》
《To enter, look up at the [Super Blue Moon]!》
《And enjoy the festivities!》
《To join the [Third Night], you must also make a choice.》
《Choose one of the following factions: the Mage’s, the Warrior’s, the Rogue’s, or the Sage’s.》
《The [Third Night] overflows with [Mystery].》
《There are no participant limits.》
《It will last for 5 days.》