'It's not easy.'
He pretended to be relaxed, but Lokan's situation was not very good.
He believed in Berserk's ability to sustain life for the duration even when his health reached zero, but if his control was even slightly clumsy—if he was decapitated or his heart burst—Berserk might be forcibly terminated.
'I have to see this through in one go.'
He could manage up to a certain point with raw force, but the combination skill was a problem.
The durability of the Orc Battle Axe was already considerably reduced from blocking sword strikes; if it collided with the combination skill even for a moment, the durability would plummet.
Because of that, he had somehow evaded Aqua Slash, but Aqua Guard was the problem. To deal damage to Artwight, he had to break through that absolute defense.
'I'm prepared to die anyway… … Huh?'
*Whoosh!*
Lokan, thinking quickly despite the fierce battle, remembered something.
"Heh heh! Let's die together somewhere!"
And he immediately launched a reckless assault. If he was prepared for death anyway, there was no need to waste time.
"Leap Attack!"
Lokan immediately leaped, aiming to knock Artwight down.
– Aqua Guard!
As expected, Artwight activated Aqua Guard! His sword, infused with magical energy, shot towards Lokan with a sharp gleam.
"Cancel! Throwing!"
It was a situation where he would be harmed, but Lokan wasn't embarrassed at all. He canceled the Leap Attack mid-air and threw his hatchet using the Throwing skill. His body, now slowed, twisted. He landed in front of Artwight, twisting his waist and body to unleash power gathered in an instant.
"Shoulder Charge!"
A powerful head-butt aimed squarely at the chest! It penetrated through the slight opening in the Aqua Guard created by the thrown hatchet.
– *Gasp!*
However, the power of the combination skill was immense. Although the force behind the throw disrupted Artwight's posture momentarily, he still possessed enough power to strike Lokan.
Lokan's vitality plummeted instantly, and the momentum from his charge subsided.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be strange for him to fall here. However, Lokan's eyes were brighter than ever.
"The Sealed Helmet of the Lion King, equip!"
At that moment, a change occurred in Lokan's appearance. The Sealed Helmet of the Lion King, which he had removed during the confrontation with Artwight, was now worn again.
[Health has decreased to 5% or less.]
[All stats are increased by 50% by the effect of the title 'Fortitude'.]
This was the reason he had dared to remove such excellent armor earlier—to trigger the special effect of the 'Fortitude' title.
A insane ability that increased all stats by 50% when health fell below 5%! As soon as it activated, Lokan shifted gears.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh!!"
Lokan finally unleashed the anger he had been suppressing. Although the level difference was almost double, Artwight was a being of similar caliber in terms of pure ability.
But now, Berserk had doubled his stats, 'Fortitude' increased them by another 50%, and finally, the Sealed Helmet of the Lion King enhanced the effect of his shout-type skills by up to 50%!
Even a level 100 player wouldn't have been immune to this onslaught, let alone Artwight.
– Whoa!
After the Aqua Guard, Artwight's leg, which was about to move for another strike, faltered, and the grip on his sword weakened. A perfect opening had been created.
"Dash! Strike!"
*Slash!*
Lokan couldn't miss it. He closed the distance instantly and delivered a fatal blow. He amplified all his enhanced power once more and unleashed a force that would be difficult to withstand even at full health.
[Critical Hit!]
A critical hit erupted. The base critical hit chance for users was 0%, meaning it should never happen, but Lokan had title effects: 10% from 'Orc Warrior Slayer at Level 1' and another 10% from 'PKK (Player Killer Killer)'. The combined 20% chance triggered at the perfect moment.
– *Gurgle!*
A Critical Strike doubles the damage! Damage equivalent to Artwight's maximum health was dealt at once, and the being fell into a moribund state.
Being a spirit-like entity, it didn't suffer a stun effect like a normal monster, but its form became so transparent that the scenery behind it was visible, indicating severe debilitation.
"Huh! Where do you think you're going!"
Artwight tried to retreat immediately, but Lokan wouldn't allow it. He quickly caught up and swung his Battle Axe, ignoring incoming damage and launching a relentless assault, finishing Artwight before it could escape to the lake.
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[Level up… … .]
[Miraculous achievement! You overcame the limits of your abilities and defeated a being of a vastly different level.]
[You have acquired the title 'The Hero of Reversal'.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Miraculous achievement! You defeated a world-renowned being for the first time.]
[The title 'First Named Hunter' has been acquired.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Titles 'Hero of Reversal' and 'First Named Hunter' are combined as special conditions are met.]
[Impossible Achievement! You have overcome the limits of your abilities and have won a battle against a world-renowned being.]
[The title 'Limit Break' has been acquired.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[First!]
[Limit Break][Legend]
You have defeated an opponent of a vastly different level than yourself. You possess the qualities of an Absolute who knows no limits.
You are the first to win this title.
[Hold Effect]
- Increases all stats by 10% when fighting an opponent stronger than you.
- Increases all stats by an additional 20% when fighting a named monster.
- All skill levels increase by 1 when fighting an opponent stronger than you.
- When fighting an opponent stronger than yourself, all penalties due to level difference are nullified.
"Oh my god."
Title combination! This was something Lokan hadn't even considered.
Judging by the notifications, both original titles were likely Epic grade, but their combination had birthed a 'Legendary' title.
The Orc Warrior he defeated at level 1 also had a name, but the system recognized 'world-renowned' status starting from level 100. If he had obtained 'Named Hunter' back then, this current miracle wouldn't have happened.
And the effects were truly enormous.
The stat increases would synergize greatly with his existing titles, but the increase to all skill levels and the nullification of level difference penalties were revolutionary! This was the effect that would allow Lokan to fight on equal footing with anyone, making future challenges much smoother.
"After all, this was the right answer!"
Although Berserk's penalty was heavy, his mood was lighter than ever. At this point, Materian's quest almost didn't matter. Even if obtaining the 'Essence of the Lake' had no effect, he would still be ecstatic.
But Lokan didn't get carried away. While suffering the Berserk penalty, the monsters roaming this area were dangerous. He immediately used a Safety Guard to set up a safe zone and waited for the penalty to end.
"Establish a safe zone."
It was a dangerous area with aggressive monsters, but since all nearby threats were eliminated, he was considered out of combat, and the safe zone was successfully created.
Just a minute later, a fireball flew towards Lokan.
"Fireball!"
*Fizz!*
Looking at it, Lokan smiled. He didn't even try to escape. He just stood still and watched the fireball descend.
*KABOOM!*
Something amazing happened. The fireball passed through Lokan's body, hit the ground, and exploded. But even with the explosion at his feet, Lokan wasn't harmed in the slightest.
This was the little-known effect of the Safety Guard. While active, it created a spatial separation, ensuring absolute safety akin to being in a village.
"What, what?"
"Why is he unharmed?"
"If it's not a hack… did the developers actually make a useful item?"
The attackers, unaware of this mechanism, hid themselves in bewilderment. They didn't want to be revealed, but Lokan already knew who they were: elite members of the MP Guild hunting nearby.
If not for the Berserk aftermath, he would have slaughtered them immediately. But for now, he merely observed. They were already marked. He had no intention of letting them go, so he wasn't impatient.
"I recorded a video. Spread it!"
"Let's see what the damn GMs say this time!"
After several more futile attacks, they fled from Lokan. He wasn't counterattacking now, but they feared he could strike at any moment.
"Damn it."
After they all disappeared and the newly respawned monsters around Qingming Lake didn't aggro on him, Lokan, now recovered from Berserk's aftermath, stood up.
He then proceeded to easily dispatch the respawned monsters and circled the lake. His goal was to collect the special herbs that bloomed around its shore.
Although he hadn't learned the Gathering skill, the success rate was just low; gathering was still possible. He generously collected the herbs and saved Qingming Lake's location in his Rune Book. Materian's final quest had limitations that made it difficult to complete immediately.
"Return."
Having accomplished his goals, Lokan immediately returned to the city.
* * *
In the city, Lokan disposed of all miscellaneous items and repaired the durability of his equipment, which had been depleted during the fight with Artwight.
Finally, he headed to the Wizards' Guild. He intended to complete the final quest in one go without further back-and-forth.
"I want to buy goods."
A merchant NPC couldn't deal with all users directly. Upon his request, a translucent window opened, displaying all items available for purchase at the Wizards' Guild.
Most enchanted items were expensive. Aside from essential wizard-only items, few were sold, but Lokan bought a few items without hesitation.
They were consumables priced at a crazy 1 gold each, but it didn't matter. On his way, he had stopped by the auction house to collect his earnings. Thanks to the Blood Chasers dropping a massive amount of loot, he had enough to buy three.
After finishing his errands, Lokan returned to Qingming Lake.
"Using Rune Book. Destination: Qingming Lake."
*Whoosh!*
* * *
The newly respawned monsters attacked without fear. However, for Lokan, who had explosively leveled up by defeating the level 100 Artwight, they weren't even a warm-up.
All their instinct-driven attacks were detected, and since his level was now higher, Lokan's stats were further boosted by his title effects. He crushed everything that showed hostility.
"Will this be enough?"
After slaughtering all aggressive enemies and securing the area, Lokan settled down at a spot by the lake. This was for the final quest material: the 'Fish of Qingming Lake'.
Normally, one would need a fishing rod or a harpoon, but Lokan, having suffered greatly in his previous life, knew a shortcut.
Lokan took out a yellow marble purchased from the Wizards' Guild, aimed at a point in Qingming Lake, and activated it.
"Lightning Shock!"
Surprisingly, what Lokan used was magic. Quite potent lightning magic at that! Like the Cloak of Stealth, he had bought an item that allowed the use of specific skills without the required class.
Unlike the cloak, it was a consumable, allowing only three uses per marble, but the effect was clear.
"Lightning shock, lightning shock, lightning shock!"
Risking mana consumption, he used the items one after another. Stunned fish floated to the surface of Qingming Lake.