Gathering Material
Blue Orichalcum, it was a rare material that could only be obtained by raiding Guardian of the Forest, a field boss in Grey Forest near Bairan. It was so rare that no one put blue orichalcum on the market, it was because of the difficulty of the raid. Only level 170 or higher users can hit the Guardian of the Forest properly, and those who already surpassed this level can be called high rankers in this day of age.
That is why, in his battle against the Guardian of the Forest, Gilgamesh wants to engage with Kaela. The Guardian of the Forest was armed with superior defense, high health, and AoE skills. It also constantly summons golems that put pressure on raiders.
Their strategy was simple, while Gilgamesh was dealing with the main boss, Kaela would take care of the golem it summoned.
The deepest part of the forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife replaced by an oppressive silence. There was a huge crater where the forest used to be. Gilgamesh started to observe all the topographic features, including the trees tinged with grey ash.
"Here," Gilgamesh said, his voice low but firm. They had reached the heart of the forest, a massive crater where the trees had been obliterated, leaving behind a barren wasteland. This was the domain of the Guardian of the Forest, a towering golem made of solid rock and adorned with the rare Blue Orichalcum.
The ground beneath them began to tremble. Small rocks and pebbles skittered across the ground and the air was filled with the sound of grinding stone. From the depths of the crater, a massive figure began to rise. It was the Guardian of the Forest, a golem over 5 meters tall, its body made of solid rock, and its shoulders and back covered in shimmering Blue Orichalcum. Its eyes glowed with a faint blue light, and its movements were slow but deliberate, each step causing the ground to shake.
Around it, more smaller golem began to rise, each about half the size of the Guardian. Unlike the Guardian, these golem were made of plain rock, their bodies rough and unadored. But what they lacked in durability, they made up for in numbers. Within moments, dozens of them had surrounded the Guardian, their glowing eyes fixed on Gilgamesh and Kaela.
"Be ready!" Gilgamesh shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. Kaela nodded, her warhammer resting on her shoulder as she took up a defensive stance.
Gilgamesh charged at the Guardian, his Black Greatsword held high. The massive golem swung its arm in a wide arc, but Gilgamesh was ready. He ducked under the attack, his movements fluid and precise, and brought his blade down on the Guardian's leg. The sound of metal striking rock echoed through the crater, but the Guardian barely flinched. Its defense was as formidable as its size.
Meanwhile, Kaela moved like a storm incarnate, her warhammer carving arcs of destruction through the summoned golems. Each thunderous impact sent stone fragments flying like shrapnel, yet for every crumbling construct, two more emerged from the trembling earth. The Guardian's endless summons threatened to overwhelm them through sheer numbers.
Gilgamesh's eyes burned with focus as they darted across the colossal golem's form. Then - a glimmer. A hairline fracture in the Blue Orichalcum plating at its shoulder joint. His grip tightened on the Black Greatsword as mana surged through his veins.
"Pagma's Swordsmanship, Kill!"
Peeeeoongg!!
[Critical!]
[You have dealt 34,540 damage.]
The guardian health gauge was reduced by around 1/30. This fact makes Gilgamesh's eyes widen.
Gilgamesh's breath caught as the Guardian's health bar barely shifted. "One million health?!" he roared over the chaos. "No wonder they need hundred-man raids for this monstrosity!"
The Guardian of the Forest was a typical defensive monster. As a peak golem, it possessed both abnormally high defense and health. But like any defensive monster, their agility is low.
Gilgamesh used fast footwork to quickly arrive in front of the guardian. "Pagma's Swordsmanship, Link!"
Jjejeong!Jjang!Jjejejeok!
Link had a shorter casting time, less mana cost, and a shorter cooldown time than Kill. It was also a skill that dealt 500% of his attack power. It was weaker than Kill, but it was efficient and strong compared to other skills.
[You have dealt 8,345 damage.]
"Crazy!!" Gilgamesh said noticing the damage wasn't applied properly due to the overwhelming defense.
The Guardian retaliated with a devastating backhand swing. Gilgamesh barely twisted aside, feeling the wind of its passage buffet his body.
'My only advantage is my fast speed.' Gilgamesh thought as he avoided another attack from the guardian. He then looked at the monstrosity in front of him, before he shifted his gaze at the guardian's leg.
"Kaela! Switch!"
Before they arrived at the Grey forest, they already formulated some commands to make it easier for them. Switch was where they swapped their respective enemy.
Did not need to be told twice, Kaela then switched her position with Gilgamesh. Their rehearsed maneuver was executed flawlessly. Kaela's warhammer met the Guardian's knee in a shower of sparks as Gilgamesh pivoted to clear the growing swarm.
"Wave!" Azure energy erupted outward, shattering a dozen constructs.
Behind him, Kaela can be seen crunching down as the guardian's hand swept over her, she then smashed the side of the guardian's leg, making it lose balance and falling over.
"Hard Strike!"
The golden-tinged impact sent cracks spiderwebbing up the Guardian's leg. It staggered, its balance compromised. Kaela pressed her advantage with ruthless precision, each blow widening the fractures in its stony hide.
Then the earth itself rebelled. Her attack has to be cut short because the guardian succeeds in getting up and activating its skill.
Grruudgguddukk!
The earth began to rise, stone spikes erupted from the ground in a deadly fusillade before being launched at Kaela. She then took out a massive shield before slamming it against the ground, defending herself from the incoming projectile.
The momentary distraction was all the Guardian needed - a crushing backhand sent her skidding across the battlefield, a trail of blood marking her path.
"Kuckk!" Kaela grunted as she wiped the blood that coming out of her mouth.
"Don't forget about me, you bastard!!" Gilgamesh's enraged shout drew the Guardian's attention as he descended like a falling star, Aura-enchanted blade carving deep into its wounded shoulder.
[You have dealt 3,122 damage.]
[You have dealt 5,000 damage.]
"Are you okay?" Gilgamesh said as he reached out his hand to help Kaela. After dealing with the Guardian's spawn, Gilgamesh immediately tries supporting her dealing with the Guardian of the Forest.
"Yeah, I'm fine." their eyes met in silent communication.
Their attention soon turned toward the guardian as it raised its leg and slammed it down, causing a tremor on the ground.
BOOM!
The seismic impact sent them both sprawling as the system message flashed:
[You have lost your balance, agility will reduced to 10%]
"F**k!" Gilgamesh spat, struggling to regain his footing as the Guardian loomed over them.
Kaela's voice cut through the chaos "Gil!"
The Guardian of the Forest took one step towards them. They had secured a safe distance, but the guardian was so big that it narrowed the distance to just a few steps.
Kuwaaah!
The guardian roared and brought down its huge hand.
Kwaang!
It was fortunate that the golem's movement speed was slow. They easily avoided the attack of the guardian. The guardian's hand struck the ground. The entire ground shook upon the impact.
"Gil!" Kaela stood behind the behemoth, Fantastic Pickaxe in hand, her meaning clear. Gilgamesh's lips curled into a savage grin as he charged forward, drawing the Guardian's wrath with a flurry of strikes.
Not to miss the oppurnity, Kaela scaled the golem's back with practiced ease, her pickaxe finding purchase in the precious Blue Orichalcum plating. The metallic shrieks of mining impacts joined the battle's cacophony as she systematically harvested the Guardian's very armor.
Its looked absurd at first but lets not forget that the guardian is made of stone, iron, blue orichalcum. So by mining the blue orichalcum on its back, it can reduce the guardian's defense in addition gaining large number of blue orichalcum.
[Blue Orichalcum acquired!]
[Guardian of the Forest's defense has decreased by 8%]
And thanks to its large size, it cannot easily get the pest off its back. The enraged Guardian thrashed like a bucking stallion, summoning waves of constructs to dislodge its tormentor. Gilgamesh stood as an immovable bulwark between them.
"Pagma's Swordsmanship, Restraint!" the advancement of the small golem froze for a second. Making an opportunity for Gilgamesh to attack them.
"Wave!"
The Guardian's health gauge plummeted to 15% as its defenses crumbled. Gilgamesh felt the moment arrive - that perfect confluence of opportunity and power. He sank into the familiar stance, but this time with a new understanding burning in his veins.
"Pagma's Swordsmanship."
Gilagmesh's sword dance usually lasted from 1.5 to 3 seconds. But this sword dance lasted two times longer than that. It was natural. This was because he was using two sword dances in succession.
"Transcend, Link."
[The new skill fusion has succeeded.]
The dance began - but different. Slower. More deliberate. The Black Greatsword traced impossible geometries in the air as two techniques merged into one transcendent whole.
[Fusion skill 'Transcended Link' has been created.]
[Your intelligence has increased by 10 due to the successful fusion of a new skill.]
[Transcended Link]
A sword dance that transcends imagination and is more dazzling than a butterfly's wings.
You will temporarily be in a transcended linked state.
A total of 20 strikes will be launched, dealing 150% attack power with each hit.
Every time a target is hit, they will be stiff for 0.1 seconds.
* This skill doesn't share a cooldown with Transcend and Link.
Skill Mana Cost: 1,600
Skill Cooldown Time: 15 minutes.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwang!
The deepest part of the Grey Forest. There was an outpouring of black energy swords in the forest where the Guardian of the Forest had lived for hundreds of years.
[Critical!]
[You have dealt 183,900 damage to the target.]
Twenty blades of condensed energy manifested simultaneously, each strike landing with the precision of a master's touch. The Guardian's massive frame jerked like a marionette with each impact, its stony hide fracturing under the relentless assault.
Kiyaaaaaah!
The awakened guardian screamed with pain from the profound blow. Then notification windows flashed in front of Gilgamesh.
[Pagma's Swordsmanship has reached a higher ground.]
[The level of Pagma's Swordsmanship has increased.]
[Pagma's Swordsmanship]
Lv. 2
-When the skill is deactivated-
You can become one with the sword at any time. Increases physical attack by 30%, critical hit rate by 20% and critical damage by 10%.
* This effect is only applied when a sword type weapon is equipped.
* The skill consumes no mana.
-When the skill is activated-
Become one with the sword. Wave, Restraint, Link, Kill, Transcend and Transcended Link. You can unleash a total of six sword techniques.
* The effect of the deactivated skill will be lost.
* 20 mana is required to activate the skill.
* Once deactivated, it will take 10 seconds until the skill can be activated again. Nothing will be consumed when deactivated.
"This is good."
A slow smile spread across his soot-streaked face as he read the upgraded skill description. Kaela approached, her pickaxe slung over one shoulder, the other arm cradling a bounty of Blue Orichalcum.
As the dust settled over the battlefield, two figures stood triumphant amidst the grey forest, their shadows stretching long in the setting sun. The Paretic Blade's birth drew nearer with each step back to civilization.