Chapter 178
Park Chan-woo tilted his head.
Greater fortune?
That was the ability of Easter Egg (001)—a trait that occasionally triggered luck whenever he leveled up.
But the phrase “greater fortune” was new.
The Pandarian King had disappeared, and he had leveled up twice.
Yet fortune hadn’t triggered at all.
It sometimes activated when opening boxes or enhancing equipment, but he had never once seen the trait described as having evolved.
He quickly pulled out Easter Egg (001) and checked it.
—
Name: Easter Egg (001)
Level: None
Grade: Rare
Description: An egg of unknown origin. Said to be granted to those who achieve a special goal. Simply possessing it may bring good fortune.
Equipment Slot: None, passive effect
Unique Option (001): When possessed, good fortune triggers with each Level gained.
Every 20 Levels gained after acquiring Easter Egg (001) increases its grade.
The higher the grade climbs, the greater the fortune it brings.
It is said that something extraordinary occurs once the final grade is reached.
Level at time of acquisition: -98. (Next grade promotion requires reaching -58.)
—
“…Right. It was a growth-type egg.”
Its grade had risen from Normal to Rare.
It had probably upgraded when he reached -78.
He simply hadn’t noticed because there had been no notification.
And the phrase “greater fortune” appearing now—
that was something he had never seen.
Apparently even grade increases didn’t guarantee a major effect every time.
Baal’s Belt had become a dazzling Exclusive Equipment with nothing more than ordinary fortune.
It wasn’t just equipment enhancements.
From the moment he acquired Easter Egg (001) on the First Night, it had brought him nothing but benefits—
benefits on a scale he still couldn’t fully quantify.
Of all the things he owned, Easter Egg (001) was by far the most valuable.
And now it was making a fuss, declaring that the trait had evolved.
That had never happened before.
He had no idea what kind of change was about to occur.
…Wait.
Park Chan-woo glanced around.
Baal’s Sword had vanished.
It disappeared as if it had never existed.
Boksil blinked up at him.
“Kkyui?”
She looked just as confused.
Where had it gone?
He didn’t have to wonder long.
From deep within the Mountain of Treasures—
Pong!
Baal’s Sword reappeared with a puff of smoke.
And then—
—
《‘Baal’s Sword’ has awakened!》
《Evolution begins.》
《Material supplier Ahhetta no longer exists.》
《Required materials will be sourced from within the Hidden Treasure Vault.》
—
Jjeo-eo-eo-eo-eok!
The sword split open down the center.
A mouth emerged.
A vicious, feral mouth—just like Baal’s own.
And the moment it fully opened—
Kreung! Kreureung!
Hwiaaaaaaaaa!
It inhaled everything around it like a black hole.
Park Chan-woo and Boksil stared, speechless.
The sight defied description.
Countless treasures—enough to buy entire worlds—were sucked away in an instant.
Every time they blinked, a mountain disappeared.
It was impossible to tell how long it continued.
Then—
Keo-eo-eok!
The mouth that had devoured tens of thousands of treasures let out a burp.
Satisfied, it sank back into the blade.
That… was a sword?
He had seen ego weapons, and weapons that absorbed the traits of others.
But a sword that ate entire treasure vaults alone?
Could anyone even call that a sword?
The Hidden Treasure Vault had been completely emptied.
Only one item remained.
A single shoe.
Presumably the last of Baal’s three mysteries—Baal’s Shoes.
—
《Congratulations!》
《Exclusive Equipment creation successful!》
《Exclusive Equipment surpasses brilliance!》
《Acquired: Baal’s Sword (-73Lv, Transcendent Exclusive Equipment, Zero Rank, Set)!》
《Set Effect (2) activated.》
《Magic Swordsman Trait ‘Switching’ acquired.》
《You may register one sword and one staff in the Switching window.》
《Only Eternal Grade or higher weapons may be registered.》
《Registered weapons share abilities and can be freely switched.》
—
“…!!”
That sound—
Park Chan-woo trembled as he read the message.
Both pupils widened, and every hair on his body stood upright.
No matter how many times he reread it, it remained absurd.
Transcendent Exclusive Equipment.
He had only ever heard of such a thing.
In all of history, only Han Shin at the end of the century possessed Transcendent Equipment.
And even then, it had been a gift from one of the Great Nine Lords.
He hadn’t earned it; it had been granted.
But now—
Easter Egg (001)’s “greater fortune” had pushed Baal’s Sword beyond its limits.
And the Switching function had been added on top of that.
He could freely switch between sword and staff.
The abilities of both would be shared.
It was—
“This is insane…”
The perfect feature.
He had never seen anything like it, not even when he had a dual Class in his previous life.
It was proof of how exceptional the Magic Swordsman Class truly was.
Switching likely appeared only when both a sword and staff of Eternal Grade or higher were owned.
Now that he finally had a proper sword, the feature must have unlocked.
Both were masterpieces.
This was end-game gear.
The best of the best.
His accumulated fatigue vanished.
He felt full without eating.
It felt better than winning the lottery.
His heart racing, he picked up the sword.
Information appeared.
—
Name: Baal’s Sword (Transcendent Exclusive Equipment)
Level: -71
Grade: Zero
Description:
Believed to be a hyperdimensional sword forged from the teeth of one of the four beasts handled by the Creator God of the Abyss, Ferocious God Baal.
Its creator and purpose remain unknown.
It is said that Ferocious God Baal descends when all four related equipment pieces are gathered and the seal is released.
★ Equipment Level +2 from Immortal Emblem (99)
★ Attack Power multiplied 5× by Transcendent Exclusive Equipment effect
★ All unique options greatly enhanced
Attack Power: 2,500 (500 + 2,000)
Durability: Indestructible
Unique Options:
(1) Strength +100
(2) Agility +100
(3) Authority: Gluttony
(4) Physical Penetration +18%
Set Effect:
(2) When 2 pieces are gathered: Absolute Being (activated)
(3) When 3 pieces are gathered: Advent
(4) ?? (Unlocks upon gathering 4 pieces)
—
Park Chan-woo exhaled slowly—eyes serene, like an enlightened priest.
“…I could die without regrets.”
“Kkyu?!”
Boksil flinched.
Realizing his mistake, Park Chan-woo coughed lightly.
“Ahem. I mean—it’s that good. I’m not going to die, so don’t worry.”
He had just parted from Anubis.
The shock had made him blurt nonsense.
Embarrassed, he looked back at Baal’s Sword.
Perfect.
The transcendence process was bizarre, but the result was flawless.
Attack power, unique options—nothing was lacking.
The equipment Level was a little low, but Immortal Emblem covered that.
Immortal Emblem—
the only token capable of compensating for low equipment Level.
Did equipment Level increase by one per rank?
If so, Sephiro—rank 1—was likely wielding gear with +100 Levels.
Another reason to rise in the Hall of Fame.
Gluttony, Absolute Being—
He wanted to try them immediately.
He looked around.
“…All the treasures are really gone.”
Even after seeing it twice, it still felt unreal.
Baal’s Sword had devoured everything, leaving only one shoe.
If the next Night’s administrator saw this vault, what would they think?
They would enter expecting legendary rewards—
Only to find a lone shoe.
They would probably curse Ahhetta as a penniless beggar.
Smirking, Park Chan-woo shrugged and walked out.
Tting!
—
《Leaving the Hidden Treasure Vault.》
《Divine Creature Cygnus has devoured all of Eternal Land except the Temple of Eternity!》
《Divine Creature Cygnus grows and enters Adulthood.》
《Cygnus’s Level increases to 50.》
《Pure Blood experience gain increases to 75%.》
《Cygnus’s Foxfire illuminates the entrance to the Secret Laboratory beneath Eternal Land.》
—
…It ate everything here too.
All land surrounding the temple had vanished.
Cygnus had devoured the entire Third Night in a single hour.
Just as Baal’s Sword had emptied the vault, Cygnus had swallowed the Eternal Territory without leaving a trace.
Park Chan-woo looked around.
Cygnus was nowhere to be seen.
「Father. This land is truly delicious.」
Cygnus’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Before he could respond, Cygnus continued:
「The deep flavor of mysteries accumulated across countless ages is exquisite.
The black iron—shaped by endless death and desires for eternity—has a rich, savory taste.
The traces left by ancient spirits even have a fragrant, grassy aroma.
Thanks to that, I have grown significantly.」
Flap!
Cygnus descended from the sky, chattering cheerfully.
Park Chan-woo froze.
“You… are Cygnus?”
Cygnus looked completely different from before.