New Skill

"Me?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I'm just Overgeared."

"Overgeared..." A ripple of confusion passed through the Tzedakah members. The unfamiliar term hung in the air between them like an unanswered riddle.

Gilgamesh sighed, realizing he needed to clarify. "Guess words won't cut it."

With a flick of his wrist, he drew the Paretic Blade. The weapon's unveiling silenced the forest clearing - even the evening birds ceased their songs. Moonlight fractured along the blade's impossible edge, revealing the barely contained power thrumming within its core.

"Ohhh!" they all exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening in awe. While they didn't know the exact stats of the Paretic Blade, its appearance alone screamed power and craftsmanship. The blade shimmered with an otherworldly aura, and the intricate designs along its length hinted at its unique properties.

"Ohh, he has a Unique-rated weapon!" Pon exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. Players with unique-rated weapons were rare, and usually only high rankers can have them, as his own spear is rated unique.

"Kuhh- and not only that, it's also enchanted to +9!" Vantner's eye twitched, his voice dripping with frustration. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. He had never had the chance to wield a +9 weapon, and it was also rated unique! His own prized epic-rated axes, painstakingly enchanted to +8, suddenly felt like children's toys in comparison.

The Tzedakah Guild members exchanged impressed glances, their admiration for Gilgamesh growing. They guessed it based on their common sense that since there was no record of anyone wielding a legendary-rated weapon, Gilgamesh's weapon must be unique.

It was still 8 months after Satisfy was released, which means 24 months of game time. The idea was preposterous if players could get their hands on legendary items. This breathtaking weapon could only be unique, no matter how extraordinary it appeared.

The guild's assumptions piled up like gold coins at a casino. Gilgamesh gave them a wry smile but didn't bother to correct them. "Anyway, guys, I have to go."

Recalling his promises to Kaela, Gilgamesh knew he couldn't spend any more time with the Tzedakah members. He also needed to find a new monster to test his armor, and that would take some time. With a heavy heart, he decided to put on hold his desire to join the Tzedakah Guild early.

'I need to meet Khan first,' Gilgamesh thought. Khan was an important NPC in the Overgeared novel, a mentor and grandfather figure for Grid. Although some of Khan's role had been replaced by Kaela—since he had met her earlier than Khan—it did not diminish Khan's importance in the grand scheme of things.

Tzedakah members seemed disappointed by Gilgamesh's choice to leave early, especially Regas, who wanted to know Gilgamesh more. He is training addicts in the art of Taekwondo. He had been mentally drafting how to ask for training when he saw the sword dance's fluid footwork - a perfect marriage of martial discipline and artistic grace. Seeing Gilgamesh obliterate the boss monster in one blow inspired him to train harder.

None voiced their disappointment, though it hung thick in the air. These were proud players, unaccustomed to being awestruck - yet none could find words to make Gilgamesh stay.

___

"Whoaa... just whoa!" Laella's squeal shattered the reverent silence. The fire mage twirled, her orange curls bouncing with unrestrained energy. "He is so cool~!"

No one disagreed with her. Gilgamesh's entrance had been nothing short of overwhelming, especially the part where he had stopped the Onix Bear with his mesmerizing sword dance. The way he wielded his greatsword with such grace and power left a lasting impression on everyone present.

"Seriously, did you see how he just danced around that bear?" Laella continued, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It was like watching a performance! I've never seen anything like it!" In reality, Laella works as an internationally renowned global singer. So she was impressed by Gilgamesh's performance.

Regas shadowboxed the air, attempting to mimic the sword dance's rhythm. "Did you see those pivots? The way he transferred weight?" His kicks cut sharp angles through the dusk. "If I could adapt that to Taekwondo..."

Jishuka's gaze remained fixed on the path Gilgamesh had taken, her fingers absently tracing her bowstring, her expression complicated. "Faker, what's your opinion about him?" 

Faker, who had been silent the whole time, removed his stealth. "Strong." There was a beat of silence before he added, "If not for the fact that we can see his name above his head, I'd have thought he was Kraugel."

The mention of Kraugel sent a ripple of intrigue through the group. Not much was known about him, except that he was the 1st-ranked player on the unified rankings since Satisfy's opening—an untouchable player. The fact that Faker would even draw the parallel spoke volumes about Gilgamesh's capabilities.

Laella twirled again, her robes flaring like flames. "Well, I don't care who he is! Did you see how his biceps flexed when he-"

"Laella!" Jishuka's cheeks flushed crimson as the others burst into laughter.

***

Meanwhile, back at his home in Bairan, Gilgamesh logged out of the game, a satisfied smile on his face. He had spent some time with Kaela, enjoying her company. But now, it was time to claim his rewards.

===========================

[Achievement]

- Legendary Sword Dance: Get Pagma's Swordsmanship.

- Pay to Win!: Make your first Legendary item.

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[Reward]

- Demon Slayer's Breathing Techniques Manual (CLAIMS)

A manual for you to know about how to breathe. Ever seen someone take a deep breath and suddenly turn into a human blender? That's Breathing Techniques for you—where controlled wheezing turns you into a sword-wielding tornado of death. Forget gym memberships; just inhale like you're smelling fresh ramen and exhale like you're blowing out a candle through a demon's neck.

"When in doubt, just breathe dramatically and hope the plot armor kicks in."

- Skill {Jack of All Trade} (CLAIMS)

"Why master one thing when you can be kinda okay at everything?"

With Jack of All Trades, you're the human equivalent of a Swiss Army knife—sure, you're not the best at anything, but hey, you're not the worst either! Need to cook? You won't burn water. Need to fix a car? You'll at least find the hood latch. Need to play guitar? You can almost play "Wonderwall" without making dogs howl.

This skill turbocharges your learning curve—up to intermediate level, anyway—before reality (and actual experts) remind you that mastery takes effort. But who needs mastery when you can confidently say, "I know a little about that" in every conversation?

===========================

"YESSS!!!" Youngwoo exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. Thankfully, no one was home at the moment, so his loud noise would not worry his family.

The rewards were better than he had hoped for. Demon Slayer was a hyped anime in his past life, so he naturally had watched it. He knew how the characters relied on their Breathing Styles to take down demons that were significantly stronger than humans. The thought of being able to harness similar techniques in Satisfy filled him with exhilaration.

While he understood that they were somewhat exaggerated in the show, the idea of implanting such a skill in Satisfy thrilled him. He could already envision how it would enhance his combat style, allowing him to unleash devastating attacks with a flair that would leave his enemies in awe.

And then there was the Jack of All Trades skill. Youngwoo was at a loss for words as he read the description. This was truly a broken skill. The ability to be somewhat competent in a variety of tasks, even if only at an intermediate level, would make his life significantly easier.

"This is going to change everything," he muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. The potential for growth was immense, and he felt a surge of excitement at the thought of exploring all the new avenues that lay ahead.

He then claimed both rewards and immediately opened the Breathing Technique Manual.

The first thing he saw in the manual was a clear, concise instruction on how to perform basic breathing techniques. It outlined the importance of breath control, emphasizing how proper breathing could enhance physical performance and mental clarity. Youngwoo felt a thrill of anticipation as he read through the steps, eager to put them into practice.

After the basics, he moved on to the more advanced technique: Total Concentration Breathing. It breathing technique that involves expanding one's lungs to intake as much air as possible, accelerating one's blood flow and heartbeat while increasing their inner body temperature, resulting in their bones and muscles becoming more excited. It says that using Total Concentration Breathing essentially enhances the user's physical traits and capabilities while still remaining human.

As he flipped to the next page, he was greeted by a series of illustrations and descriptions for various Breathing Styles. Each style was unique, tailored to different combat scenarios and personal preferences. There were styles for offense, defense, and even support, each with its own set of techniques and applications.

"Amazing...!" Youngwoo breathed, his eyes wide with excitement. With a newfound sense of purpose, he began to practice the basic breathing techniques right away.

He focused on his breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, feeling the rhythm of his body align with the flow of air. As he practiced, he could feel a sense of calm wash over him, sharpening his focus and clearing his mind.

"Fuooh~ this is great~" he exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face as he felt the effects of the breathing techniques take hold.

Thanks to his Jack of All Trades skill, Youngwoo grasped the basics right away, and the results were nothing but great. With each breath, he felt more invigorated, more alive. The world around him seemed to come into sharper focus, colors appearing more vibrant and sounds more distinct.

Youngwoo flopped onto his bed, still practicing Total Concentration Breathing. "Hmm... Let's try something else," he thought, feeling a surge of curiosity.

He wanted to test his Jack of All Trades skill by doing something he was not used to.

"Cooking..." Youngwoo muttered to himself. Cooking was not his specialty. He knew enough to survive on his own, but he couldn't make more complicated dishes. Scrambled eggs and instant noodles were about the extent of his culinary repertoire.

"Yeah, let's try it." He got up and hopped off the bed, energized by the challenge. He quickly surfed the internet in search of an easy recipe he could make.

"Fired Rice... It looks easy enough." 

After deciding what he would make, Youngwoo made his way to the kitchen. He gathered all the ingredients he needed to make fried rice: cold rice, eggs, assorted veggies, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and butter.

"Check, check, check, check, and... check," Youngwoo said, mentally ticking off each ingredient as he laid them out on the counter.

Following the recipe from the internet, Youngwoo began to cook. He cracked the eggs into a bowl, whisking them with a fork, and then moved on to chopping the veggies. Thanks to his high dexterity in the game, he found that his nimble hands translated well to the kitchen. He sliced and diced with surprising speed and precision.

Once everything was prepped, he heated a pan on the stove and added a generous amount of butter. The rich aroma filled the kitchen as it melted, and he could feel his excitement building.

"Alright, time to put this all together," he said, feeling a rush of confidence. He added the garlic first, letting it sizzle and release its fragrant aroma before tossing in the veggies.

As the vegetables cooked, he poured in the rice, stirring it all together. The colors were vibrant, and the sound of the sizzling rice was music to his ears. He added the soy sauce and oyster sauce, mixing everything thoroughly.

"This is actually coming together!" Youngwoo exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. He could hardly believe how well it was going.

Finally, he pushed the rice to one side of the pan and poured the whisked eggs into the empty space, scrambling them until they were just set. Once the eggs were cooked, he mixed them into the rice, ensuring everything was well combined.

With a final drizzle of sesame oil for flavor, he turned off the heat and stepped back to admire his creation. The fried rice looked delicious, and the aroma was mouthwatering.

"Not bad for a first attempt!" he said, feeling a sense of pride swell within him. He plated the fried rice and took a moment to appreciate his handiwork before diving in.

As he took his first bite, he was pleasantly surprised. The flavors were well-balanced, and the texture was just right. "Wow, I actually did it!" he thought, savoring the taste.

Feeling accomplished, he finished his meal, already thinking about what he could try cooking next. The world of Satisfy awaited him, but for now, he was content to enjoy the fruits of his labor in the real world.