Chapter 280 - Combination of God Ranks
[You have used the Infinite Ingredient Bag.]
[Congratulations! You have received 5 ingredient items!]
[The items have been delivered to the inventory.]
By using the Ingredient Bag obtained as a reward in Round 17, five ingredients appeared.
'Bubbling desire, uncontrollable moonlight, wings extinguished by darkness...'
Most of the ingredients were unknown to the majority.
Except for one.
'Oh, condensed Ether came out?'
It's a difficult item to obtain through extraction.
The reason is that its luck stat exceeds 1,000,000.
'By the way, were there so many ingredients I didn't know about?'
Ryu Min shook his head as he looked at the ingredients.
He knew that luck influenced extraction, but he didn't expect to receive so many unknown ingredients.
'But it's the first time my stats have exceeded a million.'
In Round 99, Ryu Min's basic stats were in the thousands.
Only with bonuses did they exceed ten thousand.
'However, now my basic stats are in the tens of thousands. And with bonuses, they reach millions.'
It's an increase of more than a hundred times compared to the previous round.
He hadn't tried extraction in that state, so he wasn't surprised to get unknown ingredients.
'All thanks to the stats given to me by the Archangel.'
Ryu Min grew stronger thanks to the rewards for killing the Archangel.
If he had known that before, he would have tried to kill Archangels earlier.
As it was his first time killing an Archangel, there were many new things for him.
Even the eternal rank.
'Now that I have condensed Ether, should I try combining it?'
Just like in another world, Ryu Min placed various ingredients in the combination window and pressed the combine button.
Since he didn't know the combination for the eternal rank, he could only find it through trial and error.
[Combination not available.]
[Combination not available.]
[Combination not available.]
...
...
Although only messages appeared stating it wasn't possible, he didn't give up.
'If I put purified Ether and condensed Ether as secondary ingredients, it should be possible.'
After trying several times, he had a hunch.
[Main Ingredient]
-Dragon Horn
[Secondary Ingredients]
-Purified Ether
-Condensed Ether
-Essence of Negativity
-Bubbling desire
-Penetrating sight
It wasn't just a simple hunch.
Because when he pressed the button, a completely different result appeared.
[Combining an eternal rank item.]
[Time is required to create such a high-level item. Please be patient and wait.]
[Combining the ingredients...]
[Analyzing the user's soul...]
[Adjusting synchronization...]
[Combination successful!]
['Eye of Insight' has been created.]
'I did it. It's combined!'
A satisfied smile spread across Ryu Min's face.
['Eye of Insight']
-Category: Helmet
-Rank: Eternal
-Defense: 5,000
-Effect: All stats +200, allows perceiving the enemy's essence and detecting their weaknesses.
-Durability: Infinite
-Usage Restriction: Black Scythe (Soul Binding)
-Description: An item linked to the user's soul rather than the body, exerting influence. It cannot be transferred to others. It can be applied together with other equipment items.
The most important thing when looking at an item is undoubtedly its attributes.
'But this... is more incredible than I thought, isn't it?'
Perceive the essence of others?
Well, it doesn't matter anyway.
The important thing is to identify the weaknesses.
Of course, you could simply hit and break them all...
"There might be situations that can't be solved with force."
In those moments, it was a useful option.
Especially in times like this, when challenging the minds of the gods.
You might even end up fighting against the gods.
"The best thing is to prevent those situations from occurring."
Ryu Min, satisfied with the equipment he wore, decided to stop his combination at this point.
Although he had condensed Ether as reinforcement material, he didn't have refined Ether, which was essential.
"Without refined Ether, it's impossible to create the Eternal."
He had an idea of where to get it.
"Probably, I would have to kill Michael."
Although they released him from heaven, he wasn't worried.
Anyway, he would appear when Round 18 arrived.
Either for a good reason or a bad reason.
"Maybe I have to kill him at that time."
He had to kill him, not only for refined Ether but also for the soul binding mission.
It was a fate already decided.
"But only after using him to my advantage."
The same applied to demons.
He would also have to ask the demons that would appear in Round 18.
That's why he also chose the side change.
"We'll have to prepare for the upcoming Round 18."
Ryu Min immediately took out his phone.
He needed to strengthen himself.
"Oh, Archbishop Heo. Gather all the followers of the angel guild now. All of them."
Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
The headquarters of the Angel Guild was filled with unexpected people.
"284, 285, 286..."
Although he had counted when entering, Heo Taeseok counted again just in case.
Including himself and the Lord Black Scythe, there were 286 people.
All were inside the sanctuary.
"Is everyone here? What a relief. It would be..."
As soon as Heo Taeseok finished speaking, Eom Jun-seok, the interpreter, continued.
Half of them were Koreans, but there were also many foreigners, so it was a necessary measure.
"Everyone was surprised when I called you suddenly, right? Our Lord Black Scythe has prepared a special benefit for all of you. Are you curious about what kind of benefit it is? You will be very surprised when you hear it. From now on, the words of the Lord Black Scythe will be as valuable as the information for the next round."
People's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
They were eager to know what kind of information the Lord Black Scythe would offer.
People's gaze focused on Heo Taeseok as if urging him to speak quickly.
"That's... the Lord Black Scythe will speak to you directly."
"Ah..."
There was a moment of disappointment.
But soon, Ryu Min stepped onto the stage and spoke calmly.
"I am going to reveal to you how to combine to obtain the God rank."
"God rank?"
People's eyes widened.
After hearing about the God rank from the angels, no one didn't know how valuable it was.
Even the condensed Ether they received as a reward for the round was considered a God rank material.
In the depths of oneself, no one lacks condensed Ether. However, most don't know how to combine it or what they need to create a God rank item. But don't worry. When it comes to combinations, I know everything.
No one questioned how he knew.
Just as no one asks a blacksmith where he learned his skills.
Simply, the Black Scythe, who knows the recipes, waits for the materials to be delivered to him to make his own items.
After all, that was the intention behind Ryu Min's words.
"I will make a God rank item right here, so take out all the materials you have and give them to me. Make sure you have the necessary materials to make the item."
People took out their materials arranged in the water without hesitation.
Materials that would be useless if you didn't know the recipes.
There was no resentment in using them for others, even if they were used for other people.
Numerous materials piled up on the counter.
From completely useless materials to those needed for God rank items.
They were of all kinds.
After the materials were delivered, Ryu Min looked up slightly.
"It seems it won't be enough to make 285 God rank items."
There was a sigh of lamentation at the shortage.
Someone wouldn't be able to make a God rank item.
But Ryu Min smiled as if there was no need to worry.
"Even if it's not enough, don't worry. You can buy materials in the special shop for points."
Ryu Min bought materials in the special shop.
He only spent a million points.
He still had sixteen million points left.
Even so, people looked at him with respect, as if they were seeing a philanthropist from the last century.
Ryu Min, laughing under the mask, made people line up once everything was ready.
"Line up here and come up."
The line formed instantly as soon as he finished speaking.
"Black Scythe will personally make the God rank items!"
People were excited as they faced Black Scythe one by one.
"Do you have condensed Ether?"
"Yes!"
"Add these materials as sub-materials and combine them. You only need to put any master glove as the main material."
"Gloves, you say?"
"Yes. Don't be disappointed if it's not the area you wanted, as each part has different materials."
People nodded as they listened to the instructions for the person behind them.
Although it wasn't what they wanted, they were satisfied to be able to make a God rank item.
"Wow, a pair of God rank gloves has been created! Their stats are amazing!"
"Next, please. Someone is waiting behind you to combine. Next."
Ryu Min distributed the materials for combining one by one.
Although it was wrong to speak, he read others' thoughts and tried to adjust as best as possible to what they wanted.
That's why most seemed satisfied with the items.
"Min Juri, you will combine a helmet. Take it."
"Jo Yong-ho, these are the materials for God rank armor."
"Seo Arin, make some shoes with these."
"Thank you, Black Scythe."
He distributed the combination materials while receiving thanks from people.
There were exclamations and excitement everywhere, but no one was making weapons.
To combine God rank weapons, you need at least 2 condensed Ethers.
So he distributed them among the 285 present, and the materials ran out exactly.
"With this, we could survive quite well in the war."
It was a more arduous task than he thought, but there was still something to do.
"Everyone will be happy to receive God rank items, but for now, put the items aside and pay attention to what I have to say."
Ryu Min captured everyone's attention as he opened his mouth.
It was perhaps the most important information.
"From now on, I will talk about Round 18."
People swallowed and focused on his words.
"The mission of Round 18 is a group mission to [win the war]. In this war between angels and demons, our players must side with the angels and fight against the demons. In a way, from the angels' perspective, we are being hired as mercenaries."
"Fight... alongside the angels...?"
"Against the demons...?"
People's eyes widened and instantly filled with anger.
For the players, angels were no different from enemies.
In fact, demons, who previously had no contact with them, now seemed more like allies.
"Fight alongside the angels?"
"Unacceptable!"
Although there was resistance, Ryu Min's voice was firm.
"Regardless of whether it makes sense or not, that is the mission assigned to us. Whether we like it or not, we have to team up with the angels and fight."
"But, angels won't do something wrong!"
"And if we don't? Will we lose the war and become extinct together?"
...
Ryu Min's direct words left everyone in silence.
"If you hadn't listened to me beforehand, you might have ended up in an embarrassing situation in front of the angels."
"Do we really have to side with the angels?"
"That's right. There's no other choice. Face it. If we want to survive, we must follow the mission."
"But... isn't there another way besides killing angels?"
"No. As I said, because we are in a team, killing team members is not possible."
"Ah..."
Having to ally with those who were enemies was a difficult mission to accept.
It was almost like telling North Korea to temporarily ally with the United States to attack.
But Ryu Min's words were not yet finished.
"It's not that there isn't another option."
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