Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

A few seconds later…

Everyone grew tense as Kieran casually sifted through the pile of loot, wondering over the details of the most useful items. As the items dropped from the Dungeon Boss, there was a type of thin film obscuring their information. 

Without appraising the items, one would need to be familiar with the radiance spectrum, which, loosely put, was the color that hinted at the rarity of an item.

Due to the drop rates within Zenith Online, players were only familiar with the color of Unique Items and could only speculate what an Epic Item's color looked like. However, this wasn't the case for Kieran, who was greatly familiar with it.

'Unlike what they expect, even a boss of Bundal's standard would struggle to drop several Epic Items. That being said, he did drop two. Unfortunately…'

Kieran's expression changed slightly as he looked at the two Epic Items in the loot pool. While he would be lying if he said an Epic Item didn't interest him, they were truly not as useful or as practical as everyone made them out to be.

For one, Epic Items generally appeared at Lv.50. None of them possessed Item Levels below this number, but because of this stipulation, their requirements were horrendous. So much so that Normal Classes equipping such an item were pipedreams. 

What constituted an Epic Item was its ability to bolster the user's power to incredible heights, even if it was one piece of equipment. But, doing this required that the engravings on the equipment be powered properly. That could only happen if the user possessed the prerequisite stats, which sometimes involved what was known as Advanced Pressure.

Advanced Pressure, which Thrax momentarily wielded against Kieran, was simply a physical release of Mana to exert pressure upon one's surroundings. Though, the auxiliary effect of possessing Advanced Pressure was the user's internal Mana becoming denser, albeit marginally. 

Still, this slight change sufficed to power the engravings found on most, if not all, Epic Items. Engravings were what set Epic Items apart from Unique Items, even if there was no apparent disparity in the materials used to produce said items. 

Without completing a Class Advancement, unleashing the full power of an Epic Item, even if the user met the prerequisite stats, was impossible unless there was some unprecedented reason.

Nevertheless, Kieran soon moved his attention away from the Epic Item, gazing at what seemed to be a badge with a strange series of characters carved on the front. Once his eyes fell upon this item, Kieran's lips curved into a pleased grin.

'I've finally obtained you,' Kieran murmured inwardly.

「 Official Guild Creation Order (Special)

Item Rank: N/A

Item Level: N/A

Item Usage: When brought to the Adventurers' Guild, allows the user to enlist an official guild, provided that the user fulfills all the other requirements. 

Description: An order with the ability to brighten or darken a person's future. The allure of this item similarly produces an omen of being targeted. Only one willing to brave adversity should think to employ this order. 」

The Official Guild Creation Order was one of the dungeon's exclusive items that could only be dropped in Insane Mode or above. Though, achieving the First Clear of Hell Mode guaranteed its drop.

With this now in Kieran's possession, he was no longer hindered by the possibility of failing to obtain it from his Treasure Chests. As a result, Kieran's smile gradually shifted to an expression of anticipation.

'I wonder what my luck will be like if I open my Treasure Chests en masse. Though I'm somewhat impatient to find out, I'll have to wait until I return to the Godhand Bazaar. In the meantime… let's continue to browse through the loot.'

"Whoa! Wait, what's with the smile? Give it here. Show me right now," Nemean exclaimed, running up to Kieran's side with a curious expression.

Sadly, before Nemean could unearth the information of this item, Kieran tossed it into his inventory with a mischievous grin. "Oops. That's for me to know and for you to find out."

"That's not fair," Nemean complained, pointing at Kieran while somewhat outraged. "You literally unalived me, bro. I would have broken past Lv.60 if not for you. Now I'm back at the beginning of Lv.58!"

"Aw, man. That's tough," Kieran said, snickering as a result of Nemean's comical expression. "But hey, I have something for you. As one of our picks, I'll give you this."

With that, Kieran picked up a skill book and handed it to Nemean.

As he read the item's description, Nemean's jaw dropped, looking between Kieran and the skill book several times. "Are you being serious? This is for me?!"

"Undoubtedly." Kieran nodded, affirming Nemean of his decision.

「 Enhanced Skill Book - Enhanced Durability

Item Rank: N/A

Item Level: N/A

Item Usage: Upon usage, the user will gain the Enhanced S+ Rank Passive «Enhanced Durability». (This passive skill is incapable of growth.)

Description: As an Enhanced Skill, it will bestow an additional effect extremely beneficial to the user, especially if the user holds a predominantly physical class. 」

"W-wow!" Nemean snatched the skill book and jumped around while howling like a cartoon cat with his ass lit on fire. 

The others looked at Nemean's comical behavior and chuckled. However, once they learned of the skill book's details, they were similarly taken aback, being elated for Nemean.

Because the passive was incapable of growth, it couldn't be considered an SS Rank Skill. Nevertheless, Kieran was well aware of the S+ threshold. Seeing that it was quite unique, and that Deranged Spirit was currently in this category but was a monstrous skill, Kieran speculated that Enhanced Durability was more than decent.

After giving the skill book to Nemean and taking the guild order, Kieran had a few more decisions left regarding the floor loot. The rest would be divided up after Khaos chose a few pieces.

Unsurprisingly, Kieran ignored the radiant glow that symbolized Epic Items, instead picking two scrolls and finally what seemed to be a journal. Ignoring the two scrolls that he placed inside his inventory, Kieran blew the dust off the journal.

As he did so, a prompt appeared before Kieran.

〈System: You have located a «Quest Item» partially linked to a quest in your possession.〉

'I beg your pardon?' Kieran looked at the message before his eyes, blinking for a few moments to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. Out of nowhere, the system had revealed the presence of a link between a quest in his possession and the journal in his grasp.

Curious, Kieran triggered the item's information.

「 Log of the Mad Alchemist (Quest Item)

Item Rank: Special

Item Level: ???

Item Usage: When in the user's possession, can be used to locate the Hidden Dungeon, «Castellan's Catacombs». To trigger the location of the dungeon, read through the contents of the journal. 

Description: A log of Bundal's experiments, recordings, and annotations of in-depth information. As a person of meticulous nature before falling victim to his thirst for knowledge, Bundal logged everything, including the identity and actions of his supporters. The reasons for Bundal's action delve deeper than what exists on the surface. 」

'Hidden Dungeon?' Kieran's expression flashed with intrigue as he considered opening the journal. Since he had currently limited the visual and audio feedback to the stream, there was no risk of him leaking this information.

However, there was a small issue. Triggering a Hidden Quest could potentially rope in everyone currently inside his party. Not to mention, there was also the matter of him starting a questline that could hinder or completely disrupt his current agenda.

Thus, albeit with a reluctant heart, Kieran tossed the log in his inventory. 'At the very least, I must complete Veradin's trial and Isadora's quest before worrying about other matters.'

Meanwhile, Khaos was taken aback after Kieran gestured for him to take his pick. "Are you sure, Aatrox? Even though their information is obscured, I can tell by the impression of these items that they're not simple."

"Believe me when I tell you I've already lucked out. It would look bad if I monopolized all the good loot. Besides, you have a fine archer on your side, she deserves a suitable reward," Kieran commented.

He made this comment because one of the Epic Items was a sublime-looking bow, seemingly forged from a metal that resembled an azure crystal. However, from what Kieran could tell, this item possessed a secondary effect.

'If I'm not wrong… that weapon will likely lead to someone obtaining a class change attempt,' Kieran thought.

Sadly, he had no archer on his side, so he wasn't interested in such a thing. Though Lux came to mind, he was nothing more than a distant ally, not tangible enough for him to care.

As she heard his suggestion, Sora covered her mouth and gasped. "No way. Are you serious, Khaos? You don't have to spoil me like this."

"If not you, then who would receive such a weapon?" Khaos replied. "As my Vice Guild Master, naturally you must be equipped with the best of the best alongside me."

Khaos mentioned alongside him simply because the second item that dropped was a strange-looking blade that resembled a katana. It was eerily similar to the blade Khaos wielded, which meant that it was likely a class-restricted Spellblade weapon.

'Even if they can't draw out the weapons' full power, these two equipping those weapons will make them a force to be reckoned with. Plus… considering the messages I read in the chat, they'll undoubtedly require such a force.'

Afterward, the dungeon loot was distributed according to contribution and usefulness, but only two people received coins—Kieran and Khaos. 

As the two designated leaders of their respective parties, it was up to them to distribute their coin rewards accordingly.

A few seconds later, Kieran raised his hand and commenced the awaited string of notifications.

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«Xenith World Announcement» -

Congratulations to the players: Aatrox, Alice, Bastion, Khaos, Nemean, Sora, Sera, etc… for being the first clear to clear the Lv.50+ Team Dungeon «Mad Alchemist's Hidden Laboratory» on «Hell Mode»! In light of their tremendous feat, they have been rewarded handsomely. 

Shower your illustrious peers with praise and celebrate their feat. Aspire to be as good as them!

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