Fwoooosh, fwoosh

Before an intensely heated furnace

Vulcaro stared at the finalized crystal, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.

Its beautiful.

He had crafted a lot of equipment and refined countless gems before, but he couldnt help but be impressed. He wondered if he had truly refined this crystal himself.

The onyx-colored crystal radiated a mystical, darkness-like light. And despite it only being the size of a fingernail after being refined, light shone through its thousands of facets.

Seeing that graceful light, Vulcaro couldnt help but put on a gentle smile. It truly was dazzling, so much so that one would never tire of looking at it.

Vulcaro remembered having seen an alluring light like this before.

I want to complete it.

Vulcaro started to feel an overwhelming desire to create a fully finished product with this crystal. He wanted not just to refine it, but to create an item that could handle its full power. That was his greed as a blacksmith.

But

Vulcaro placed the crystal on a thick cloth, and wrapped it up.

Its probably impossible.

Shake, rattle

Vulcaro raised his head. The equipment on the wall was vibrating ever so slightly.

Grip

Vulcaro grabbed the hammer he had placed off to the side. He gripped it differently than when he was forging equipment.

He got up from his spot, limping as he walked outside.

It had to be today of all days.

Vulcaro had known this would eventually come, but he walked on thinking how great it would have been if he had been able to have just one more day.

* * *

Clack

Stomp Stomp

Hundreds of players marched in rhythm.

The slums were in chaos. People who made this place their home, unable to climb to the next floor, hid to protect themselves.

Whats all this?

Did something happen around here?

The oncoming players were armed with swords and spears. And all of their clothes were decorated with the symbol of Olympus, a tall mountain.

In front of this group, a player wrapped in red cloth walked alongside Agamemnon.

To be in such a foul-smelling place Agamemnon frowned at the awful stench that filled the slums. No wonder we couldnt find him until now.

Agamemnon stared at a building covered in tattered cloth. As he pointed his hand towards it, the hundreds of players behind him got into formation.

The players surrounded the building, preparing their weapons.

And youre certain this is the place? Agamemnon asked his subordinate, his voice filled with skepticism.

The subordinate got close, nodding, his eyes having changed to a blue color. He answered, I am certain, sir.

Really?

His eyes spelled his doubts.

Step-thump

Hearing the sound of someone walking with a limp, Agamemnon smiled as he nodded.

So we are in the right place.

Thump

A rough-looking, muscular man walked out of the cloth-covered entrance. Holding a hammer in one hand, the man wasnt wearing any proper equipment. And the hammer in his hand looked like a standard blacksmiths hammer.

Youre causing a scene in the neighborhood. What brings you guys here?

Surely thats a rhetorical question.

Shing

Agamemnon pointed the tip of his sword at Vulcaros neck.

Criminal Hephaestus.

After hearing Agamemnon, the players of Olympus that had surrounded the workshop started murmuring.

Hephaestus?

The blacksmith of Olympus?

I heard he refused to make a weapon and ran off with the property of Olympus

There was a rumour going around that their mission was to capture Hephaestus alive. But once this was confirmed by Agamemnon, their faces changed in an instant.

H-How are we supposed to capture a Ranker?

No matter how many people we have on our side

Hephaestus was the greatest blacksmith in Olympusno, in the entire Tower. And he was a Ranker that had climbed to the top of the Tower.

Meanwhile, the people that Agamemnon had brought were players that hadnt even managed to clear the 10th Floor. Though they massively outnumbered him, there was a great difference in power.

Fear not. A Rankers power is severely restricted on the 1st Floor.

What? I ran off with their property?

Hephaestus let out a baffled laughter.

Whirr, whirrrr

Vulcaro, or rather, Hephaestus slammed the air with his hammer. The hammer struck against the thin air and created a massive sound blast, shaking the eardrums of the nearby players.

It was a deafening boom. Hephaestuss powers made the entire place shake.

Now stop making me laugh and come at me. Ill smash all of your heads.

His confidence made the surrounding players take a step back. They knew that if they were hit by that hammer, not just their heads, but their entire bodies would shatter.

Despite this, Agamemnon laughed at Hephaestuss actions.

Youre a Ranker that got crippled after being punished by the Ruler of the Skies. Can you really call yourself a Ranker while wearing almost nothing?

Agamemnons subordinate took a closer looking at Hephaestuss leg. Agamemnon was right. Hephaestus was disabled. Even when he was walking out of the workshop, he looked like he might fall over at any moment.

Besides

Flap

Agamemnon gave a signal and the man wrapped in red came forward.

We also have a Ranker on our side.

The man had orange eyes, flaming red hair, and pure white skin. He was wrapped in a red cloth.

Chryses?

Hephaestuss eyes widened after recognizing the man.

Chryses. He was a player that had climbed the Tower while being sponsored by the High Ranker Apollo. He was a rookie that was fairly well known in Olympus. Hephaestus had also seen him a few times.

So youve become a Ranker.

I didnt think Id end up fighting against you.

Fwoosh

Chryses stretched out his hand, forming a crimson spear.

Hephaestus muttered to himself. He didnt expect that they would bring a Ranker from Olympus just to catch him.

If you guys cause a scene here with a Ranker on the 1st Floor, the penalty will be nothing to scoff at.

Players of the upper floors had their powers restricted on the lower floors. And if they used too much power, even if it was restricted, a penalty was applied to them. Worst case scenario, an Administrator would show up to personally intervene in the situation.

That doesnt matter. I might be a Ranker, but youre a Ranker as well.

Hephaestus frowned at Chrysess answer. Though he might be using his powers on the 1st Floor, it was directed at Hephaestus, another Ranker. So it was true that Chryses didnt have to worry much about the penalty.

You guys sure are good at coming up with sly tactics.

Fshhh

Hephaestuss body started turning hot and red, and he started emitting a blue light from his eyes. His massive mana turned into heat, turning his vicinity into a sauna.

Gulp

The tension was thick.

Fwoosh

Hephaestus swung his hammer, finally speaking.

Come at me.

Boom, ka-boom!

Fwoosh, boom!

The hammer hit the air, and fire appeared all around Vulcaro.

Players started dropping dead. The fight between Chryses and Hephaestus descended the entire area into absolute chaos.

I used to respect you.

Klang!

Chysess fiery hands grabbed Hephaestuss hammer.

You became a Ranker thousands of years ago, and instead of desiring more power, you followed your creed and wielded your hammer instead of a sword.

Is that the only reason why you respected me?

Fshh

The hammer heated up even more intensely. It was to the point that Chryses, who could manipulate fire, had to let go, unable to handle its sizzling heat.

Shwoo

Ting!

Arrows and spears rained down, and Hephaestus knocked them away by swinging his hammer.

Pshk, pshk, pshk!

Chryses was impaled by the ricocheting arrows and spears.

Kugh

Holding back his scream, Chryses slowly backed off.

Woosh

Smash, kk-crack!

Hephaestus swung his hammer down in the direction opposite of Chryses. The shockwave created from hitting the air blew players heads and crushed their bodies and armor.

Kugh

Ahhhh!

Players screamed in agony.

Splatter!

Blood started pouring from Hephaestuss body. It was the Towers penalty.

Though he was attacked first, they were players of a floor much lower than Hephaestus. Regardless of the circumstances, Hephaestus couldnt avoid the Towers penalty being applied to him for attacking them.

Kgh

Hephaestus started wobbling. He already had a crippled leg, and now in addition to the penalty, he was having a hard time even standing.

Chryses pulled out the arrows and spears that had impaled him before approaching Hephaestus once again.

I had respected the part of you that, despite being a Ranker, could drop everything and give up on power for your own creed.

There was no aggression in his eyes, yet he once again wielded the flaming crimson spear in his hands.

Thats why

Cut the crap.

Whirr, whirr

Hephaestuss hammer let out a cry. It was a vibration that shook the air.

Chryses could instinctively feel that this attack was going to be the climax of this fight.

I dont want to fight against you.

Fwoosh

Chryses enveloped his body with fire. It was enough heat to melt the ground.

The entire area was filled with Chryses and Hephaestuss mana.

The moment Hephaestus limped a single step toward Chryses

Whoosh

Chryses took the form of fire and charged at Hephaestus as if he was a chariot.

Whirrrrrr

Fwoooosh!

It was a great collision of mana.

G-Get away!

Youll get caught up in it!

Their collision burned all the nearby players into a crisp. Their fire attribute mana burnt the atmosphere into nothing.

Gulp

Agamemnon swallowed his spit.

The result is

Fsssh

The flames started receding. As the heat and smoke started dispersing, the aftermath of their collision was revealed.

Agamemnon smiled.

Crack, kk-crack

Hephaestuss arm was slowly turning gray, like stone.

That shield

Its something you made.

Fssh

The fire subsided, revealing Chryses holding a steel shield with the head of Medusa on it.

Its Aegis. It might only be a replica, but its enough to bind you.

Crack, kk-crack

Hephaestuss entire body had turned gray.

Aegis was Olympuss greatest binding item. Not only was it the greatest shield, but it also held the power of the monster Medusa. Thats how the worn-out Hephaestus was able to be turned into stone.

Thud

As soon as he fully turned to stone, Hephaestus fell over on his side due to his crippled leg.

Witnessing this sight, Agamemnon mumbled while trembling with joy, Its finally over.

There were over a hundred fatalities, and Chryses received fatal injuries, but he was still satisfied with the results. Because he had managed to capture Hephaestus, the criminal.

Drag him away.

Following his order, his subordinates that had shied away from the battle approached the petrified Hephaestus.

And thats when a voice interrupted them.

I cant let you do that.

Slash

A player suddenly jumped in, and cut the feet off the subordinates that were approaching Hephaestus.

Splatter!

Ahhhhh!

Their ankles were cleanly cut.

Agamemnon glared furiously as his subordinates cried in pain, rolling around on the ground.

You bastard

Only

The reckless guy that jumped in the midst of a battle between two Rankers and hundreds of players

Fwoosh

What brings such wretched folks to an important place such as this?

It was the new player Kim YuWon. He was now standing in front of them.