Chapter 10

“Class synthesis… Let’s go!”

Class synthesis was a feature that combined four cards of the same class from one’s collection to obtain a higher-rank card. Needless to say, there were no guarantees, as Revenge incorporated randomness into every aspect of its gameplay—it was essentially a gambling simulator!

Synthesis complete! [Archer (Basic)] Synthesis complete! [Swordsman (Basic)] Synthesis complete! [Cleric (Basic)] Synthesis complete…

After synthesizing forty basic-class cards, he received four advanced-class and six basic-class cards. He then synthesized four out of those six again, yielding another basic-class card.

jae-yeon repeated this process. In the end, it resulted in two hundred fifty advanced-class cards.

“So now I have two hero, twenty-four rare, five hundred ninety high, and three basic.”

Out of the 580 high-class cards, I synthesized 553 after excluding the 27 registered in the collection.

Synthesis completed! [High Swordsman (Advanced)] Synthesis completed! [Bloody Warrior (Advanced)] Synthesis completed! [High Warlock (Advanced)]…

Synthesis completed! [Sniper (Rare)] Synthesis completed! [Phantom Ranger (Rare)] Synthesis completed! [Druid (Rare)]…

Thousands of class cards were gradually compressed.

“Now there are two hero, 58 rare, two advanced and three general… Wait, but among the 58 rare classes, 30 have been added to the collection?!”

The insane number of rare classes was unnecessary.

‘Well, strictly speaking, only the rare classes increased in numbers. The ordinary classes remained at nine, while the advanced ones stayed at 27.’

Despite having 32 cards for the rare collection, I had filled less than one-fifth of it. Moreover, new rare classes appeared with each update.

“In that case, should I be grateful that there were only 28 overlapping classes…?” I muttered while continuing the synthesis process.

Synthesis completed! [Oracle (Hero)] Synthesis completed! [Paladin (Hero)] Synthesis completed! [Inquisitor (Hero)] Synthesis completed! [Cannoneer (Hero)]

This time, my luck was good. With only seven attempts due to the 28 rare class cards, I managed to obtain four hero classes!

“Great! Now let’s synthesize…”

Collection Completed!

Power of Gunpowder (Cannoneer, Musketier): Maximum ammunition +1

In the Name of God (Oracle, Paladin, Inquisitor): Additional damage against undead increased by 5%.

“Synthesis…can’t be done?”

Yes, it couldn’t be done. Everything was registered in the collection.

“Darn.”

The classes didn’t disappear just because they were added to the collection, but it was unfortunate for me since I needed to create a legendary class through synthesis right now.

“Ah, why can’t you synthesize something that is already registered!”

After all, wasn’t one good job enough? Why stop me from synthesizing?! In the first place, who would do a class change with ordinary, advanced or rare classes when there were legendary jobs available? Wasn’t this just a business trick?

I grumbled while making additional purchases. Drawing again and again, I upgraded to higher classes through synthesis. Finally…the hero classes started accumulating. This became possible once my collection reached a certain level, allowing multiple overlapping classes.

Kukungong!

When I synthesized four hero cards, the goddess made a surprised expression. If she had shown this expression when drawing, I would’ve cheered but now my eyebrows didn’t move. The result of synthesizing four hero cards must be above hero rank. If it was just hero, it would be a failure. Four hero cards became one card.

“Please legendary! Please Sword Saint!”

A golden shining sword descended and stabbed forward.

“Sword! It came out!”

I grabbed the sword and pulled it out. Then…

–Be loyal to the royal family and serve as the shield of the empire with your life!–

These words seemed familiar.

“Ah…”

For a moment, I stood stiff like a rock. The sword in my hand turned to dust and disappeared, leaving only one line of text:

[Imperial Knight (Hero)].

”…Dammit.” I leaned against a rock and cursed. And then…

“There he is!”

“The human bastard is over there!”

“Catch him! Kill him!”

“Graaaaaah!”

The orcs who had followed my trail were now madly rushing toward me from the other side of the mountain. They sprinted with all their might, fearing that they would lose sight of me again after barely catching up.

”…Yes. It felt like shit earlier, but the timing couldn’t be better.”

I subtly closed my eyes to check the class window. Even when open-eyed, it was difficult to confirm the contents without closing them properly.

Seeing the class details made me sigh involuntarily.

‘Ah, it’s already frustrating enough not having the Legendary Sword King class.’

Despite collecting more than ten hero classes, none included the Sword King. In fact, there were hardly any swordsman-related classes at all.

‘The Variant Ranger (Hero) is too inefficient. There is no way to obtain equipment for Musketeer (Hero). Mind Pathfinder (Hero) doesn’t fit the situation and Oracle (Hero) is meaningless.’

In fact, there were some swordsman classes but they had problems.

“Is this… possible?”

★ ☆ Job Change Completed ☆ ★

[Duelist (Hero)]

Strength +80, Agility +160, Stamina +80, Health +40, Mana +40

Attack speed increased by 50%.

[Ah Takkuo Feru].

“Finally! I’ve got you!” Now that the orcs had approached fairly close, I briefly checked their characteristics. There was no need to run towards them when they were coming on their own accord.

[Ah Takkuo Feru].

When parrying successfully, attack speed increases by 10%, up to 10 stacks, lasting 30 seconds.

“It’s simple. Not as good as ‘High Skills’, but it seems okay.”

However, the problem was that duellists were fencer class and their weapons differed from ordinary swords. I lightly swung the Sword of Beginnings.

“It seems there is no problem using other weapons.”

In Revenge, once you equipped a class, you couldn’t use any weapon except for those dedicated to your class. For example, a swordsman couldn’t wield a bow, and an archer couldn’t hold a sword.

‘But not all systems in Revenge are enforced.’

Just as monsters could freely leave regen areas and critical hits occurred regardless of probability, equipment restrictions also didn’t work properly in Ardenia.

The issue was attributes. Would the class attribute, which commonly required a fencing blade, apply even when holding a sword?

“Kraat!” The first orc arrived with a shout and swung its axe. I gripped the Sword of Beginnings and rose to my feet.

The first orc to arrive let out a shout and swung its axe. I grasped the Sword of Beginnings as I rose up.

Pfft!

I lightly avoided it. Then with the Sword of Beginnings, I hastily blocked the falling axe and struck at the neck.

[Fatal Hit!]

There was no parry effect.

‘I think this should be considered Attaque Au Fer (Weapon Attack). Is it because it is a long sword?’

However, after carefully reading the attribute description, there seemed to be another problem.

‘It might be because I couldn’t disrupt their posture. I have to try again.’

“Human! Die!”

Kwang!

“Ugh!”

[Parrying successful!]

As soon as I strongly deflected the swinging axe and disrupted the orc’s posture, I felt an invisible energy residing within my body. My already accelerated physique, due to the job effect, became even faster as I pushed off the ground and leaped.

“Yes! It worked!”

[Fatal Hit!]

It cut past my neck and the axe descended again towards me.

Kwang!

[Parring successful!]

I spun around in mid-air. I saw another falling axe.

Kwang!

[Parring successful!] [Critical Hit!]

‘Ah, the text is blocking my view. I have to get rid of it later by changing the settings.’

While thinking this, I swung the sword. An orc warrior lunged at me with its whole body, but its neck snapped apart.

[Critical Hit!]

Tap.

I landed on the ground.

Chwahhhk!

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Four orc warriors fell simultaneously, blood spurting from their necks.

“Oro…oro?”

“Grrk! Stop! Don’t attack one at a time!”

The orc warriors were stunned as they saw their companions killed too quickly, causing them to halt abruptly. I was also surprised while facing them.

“Wow… What is this?”

The orc heads rolling on the ground wasn’t surprising. I had already cut off several of these orc warriors’ necks before. The problem was the time it took to cut their necks and the sensation felt while doing so.

“It is so light. Even cutting an apple would be heavier than this.”

“Human! How dare you kill our brothers…” Cough!

[Fatal Blow!]

A headless body rolled on the floor. Previously, I had to avoid enemy attacks, concentrate all my weight into one strike, and hit the neck. Now, without even rotating my upper body, just swinging with the strength of my arm cleanly severed the thick neck. Considering how arrows barely penetrated these orc warrior monsters, it was truly amazing.

“This shouldn’t be possible even for a hero class.”

[Parring success!] [Critical Hit!]

[Parring success!] [Critical Hit!]

I cut off the necks and limbs of orc warriors who had run several kilometers to track me down. It was completely different from before when I had to regulate my breathing, squeeze out all my strength, read their vulnerabilities, carelessness, center of gravity, and flow of muscles.

[Level up!]

[20th level -> 21st level!]

[Bonus points +10!]

“It’s easy! Too easy! Are these guys so weak?” My body felt like it would burst with strength. I could feel the abundance of Inner Force circulating throughout my body. There was sharp perception akin to a blade edge, along with inexhaustible stamina. When I turned slightly, some text appeared at the corner of my vision.

☆Collection Effect ☆

Close attack power increased by 5%, ranged attack power increased by 6%, magic attack power increased by 5%, all attacks increased by 1%, additional undead damage increased by 5%.

Strength +16, Agility +17, Stamina +19, Health +16, Mana +25, Magic Power +21, Magic Resistance +11, Recovery +11, Mana Recovery +8.

All damage reduced by 3%.

Stealth Buff +10%, Range Increase +2%, Maximum Ammunition +1.

Inventory weight limit increased by 24 kilograms, Inventory slots increased by 4.

“The effects…are quite significant.”

I hadn’t paid attention because each effect was subtle, but now it had accumulated to a remarkable level.

Thud!

The last orc warrior fell and silence descended upon the forest. These orcs were incredibly tenacious; despite their comrades dying one after another, not once did they consider fleeing.

“I’ve become stronger.”

It wasn’t due to my cultivation advancing.

As a martial arts practitioner, my current level is still merely that of a beginner, equivalent to the lowest-ranked sword user in Ardenian terms.

‘In Ardenia’s low-power world, this level was enough to pretend to be a knight.’

The problem is, despite not advancing further, my combat abilities have risen exponentially compared to my past self. My class and additional stats from collections have granted me unimaginable power.

“At this rate…I could seriously win against the police, right? Maybe with some broken limbs and injuries.”

What matters most is that as a Player, I am just getting started. What would happen if I obtained legendary classes, completed collections, learned skills, acquired gatekeepers, and gained pets?

“Maybe…”

Maybe I… could defeat even the combat police riding gigas. And with my bare hands!

“Haha! Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”

My body trembled with insane excitement.

“Log out!”

Immediately upon returning to Earth, I started class drawings using diamonds.

“I’m going for Legendary Class!”

Now there was no hesitation! Instead of being discarded when classes overlapped, they became collections and increased stats.

It was advantageous. Anyway, it was beneficial!

“Go!”

Chwiiiing!

“Go!”

Chwiiiing!

“Let’s goooooo…!”

I charged obsessively, continuing the draws. Synthesizing classes and charging again. Then suddenly…

[Your payment has failed.]

“No, this stupid game! Why is it failing when heroes aren’t even coming out? This timing is perfect!”

I angrily logged out and returned to Earth. Then I turned my head inadvertently as I was about to send an inquiry regarding the issue, and saw something. There was account information floating on Cheeda’s stomach:

-Current Balance: 84,564 won

“Eight…four thousand…five hundred won…?”

There was no trace of the 80 million won saved during my three years of military service. The payment failure occurred because the account balance wasn’t enough to buy 10 Class Summoning Stones.

“Ah.”

August 5th, 2089.

Now, I had become penniless, worrying about meals for the month ahead. And there was no sign of the legendary class.