Impact of the World: Pioneers of the Frontier
In Secondil, a small town preparing travelers for the treacherous Fourfold Marsh Wilderness, rich with nutrients and minerals, a male player ponders his next move. Facing an area boss blocking the path to Thirdrema, he laments, "Didn't expect that move from the boss… Should've gathered intel first."
His weapon broke mid-fight, leading to defeat. Needing a replacement, he sighs, "Another one-handed sword, I guess…" Frustrated by Shangri-La Frontier's durability system, he visits Secondil's weapon shop.
"Hey, old man, got anything new?" he asks.
"New? I could make somethin'… wait a sec," the smith replies, his tone different from past visits. The player tenses, sensing a flag. "Just got somethin' new. Wanna see?"
The shop menu now includes a "Small Hammer" category, displaying various hammers. "Small hammers… blunt weapons, dual-wieldable?" the player muses.
"Yup. Great against slash-resistant foes and more efficient than pickaxes for mining," the smith says.
"Nice. Two Iron Small Hammers, please."
"Done." Seconds later, the hammers appear in the player's inventory.
"Thanks, old man!"
"Oh, and bring ores from the marsh—I'll craft somethin' even better."
"Seriously? Sweet!" Energized by the prospect, the player leaves, thinking, Got new weapons! Tomorrow, I'll mine the marsh. His fight to defeat the boss and reach Thirdrema continues.
In Eidolt, the Crystal Craft City, streetlights reflect off fine crystals from the nearby Crystal Den, turning the town into a kaleidoscopic, sleepless wonderland at night. A girl with pink twin-tails tied with six cherry ribbons, wearing a red-lined dress, stands before a weapon shop, eyeing the "Small Hammer" category with narrowed eyes.
"As the research team said… minutes ago, 'Small Hammer' wasn't here," she mutters, her voice a gravelly old man's despite her youthful appearance. "The hammer-wielding Vorpal Bunny was the start. A quest altering monster ecosystems and the game's landscape… fascinating."
This is Kyojo, leader of the Library clan, dedicated to exploring and sharing Shangri-La Frontier's secrets. "Once info spreads, we'll find the trigger. Waiting while theorizing is its own fun." A new message pings; Kyojo heads to their clan, eager for discussion.
In Fifthisia, the port city and current final destination for Shangri-La's pioneers, trade thrives, offering top-tier weapons, armor, and items. In a back-alley specialty weapon shop, a woman with a red-black skull icon beside her name points a sword at the shopkeeper, browsing the inventory.
"Hey, shopkeep," she says, voice calm but menacing. "This 'Small Hammer' category wasn't here yesterday. What's up?"
The blade grazes his throat. "J-just got word from Fasteia's smith via Mailbird! He made an incredible weapon, shared the tech with smiths everywhere… I thought it was a lie, but it works! I crafted one too—please, don't kill me!"
She smiles sweetly. "Thanks for the info. As a reward, I'll take your priciest hammer—for free."
"Y-yes, sold!" he stammers.
Sheathing her sword, she leaves with the hammer. "New weapon drop… not a real-time update, so it's likely Unique-related." As dusk falls and Fifthisia's lights glow, the back alley darkens. "Maybe I'll visit Fasteia when night lifts," she muses, lavender hair swaying as she vanishes into the shadows.
Known as Arthur Pencilgon, a top-tier player-killer feared as the Giant Slayer, she thrives on battling elite players and NPCs, having crushed countless foes.
Find the One Who Changed the Landscape—Even If You Become the Hunted