Chapter 12
Failnaught.
The reason I pulled out this weapon was simple.
[Failnaught – The Arrow That Never Misses]
(Untradeable)
Type: Bow
Grade: Unique
Requirement: Level 250+, Bow Mastery Lv. 30+
Description: A bow that never misses, once used by Sir Tristan, one of the twelve knights of the Round Table renowned for his archery skills.
Failnaught’s ability.
While it didn’t literally never miss as the description suggested — it was a game, after all — it still boasted the highest accuracy correction among all bows.
But there was a problem.
‘Usage time.’
A level 250 requirement wasn’t too high for my items, but my current level was only 10.
Unlike Astrape, it wouldn’t become disabled after one use, but I’d be lucky to fire it for a few seconds.
So, the moment I grabbed Failnaught, I immediately pulled the bowstring.
Creak—
Sure enough, it was tough.
Using a weapon well beyond my level made drawing the bowstring difficult.
Still, for some reason, all the items stored in Luke’s subspace could be used regardless of their restrictions.
Eventually, the taut bowstring yielded to my grip, and the moment I released it—
Fwoosh!
The arrow flew.
As expected from Failnaught, a level 250 bow, the arrow shot out at incredible speed and—
Thwack!
—hit the first target, held by a falcon, dead center.
Startled, the falcon dropped the target and fled.
I had no time to watch it escape. I was already drawing the next arrow.
I had to finish the attack before Failnaught disappeared.
Fwoosh!
The second.
Then the third arrow.
I didn’t aim very precisely, but thanks to Failnaught’s absurdly high accuracy, all the arrows struck their marks flawlessly.
In the blink of an eye, the fourth target — the one 400 meters away — was shattered.
Now only one target remained:
The 500-meter target.
‘Cutting it close…’
Failnaught was powerful, but at my level, I couldn’t unleash its full potential.
At this rate, hitting the 500-meter target might be impossible.
So, without hesitation, I summoned another item.
“Luke, bring out Brahmastra.”
— Understood.
Along with dark flames, a new item appeared — an arrow.
I nocked it to the bowstring of Failnaught, which was quickly losing power.
Brahmastra.
The true identity of this arrow:
[Arrow of Rama – Brahmastra]
(Untradeable)
Type: Arrow
Grade: Mythic
Requirement: Level 1000+, Bow Mastery Lv. 100+
Description: An Astra crafted with the power of the creator god Brahma. So powerful it can consume other Astras.
Like Astrape, it was a myth-tier finishing move.
Not only was it powerful, but imbued with the power of a creator god, it had homing missile properties.
And then—
Fwoooooosh—!
The arrow soared skyward.
As soon as the challenger began the test, the surrounding class change officers started commenting toward the archer examiner.
“Isn’t this a bit too much?”
“I remember the last target for even Heavenly Archers was only 300 meters…”
Of course.
Even when a promising challenger appeared, she would never push them beyond the 300-meter target. And even that was set more as a formality — no one had ever actually hit it.
And now, 500 meters?
That wasn’t difficult. That was impossible.
But she answered coolly:
“To become an All-Master, that much is required.”
“Still, even so…”
“And if they feel regret here, they might choose to walk the path of archery. The path of the Heavenly Archer.”
“Argh! So that’s your plan?! No way! I won’t allow that!”
Even she didn’t expect the challenger to actually hit the 500-meter target.
Her real goal was to make the challenger give up on the impossible All-Master path, and instead foster an interest in archery.
And yet—
Thwack!
“Huh?”
“Did they just hit that?”
The challenger struck the first target.
That was still acceptable.
There had been a few skilled challengers who managed to hit the 100-meter target.
But then—
Thwack!
“Oh…”
“Unbelievable…”
The second target.
Right in the center.
Still acceptable — barely. There had been exactly one person in history who had hit the 200-meter target.
If the challenger was All-Master material, then hitting 200 meters wasn’t out of the question.
But then came the problem—
Thwack!
“W-wait!”
“They’re actually hitting it?!”
“I can’t even see that far anymore…”
The third target, hit.
Then—
Thwack!
—The fourth.
The 400-meter target, which even the archer examiner could barely hit without a skill assist, was obliterated with a single shot.
The challenger didn’t stop and was already drawing another arrow.
“What kind of arrow is that?”
“I can feel its power from here!”
“Where did they even get that?!”
The examiners were in awe.
Anyone could tell the challenger’s equipment was extraordinary.
But none of them accused the challenger of cheating or relying on gear.
After all, acquiring good equipment was also a skill. And using it effectively, even more so.
So no one planned to disqualify them.
Then suddenly—
“Screeeech—!”
Far in the distance, the falcon holding the 500-meter target panicked and flew away.
Sensing the immense energy radiating from the challenger’s arrow, it took off, frightened.
“This… is bad…”
The target grew farther.
And it was moving now, making it even harder to hit.
There had been a sliver of hope the challenger might hit the 500-meter target, but this?
Now it was impossible.
And to make matters worse, the falcon dropped the target mid-flight.
Just then—
FWOOOOSH—!!
The challenger released the bowstring.
The arrow soared, straight and true, slicing through the air at such incredible speed that it left only a blinding trail.
And at the end of that trail—
Thwack!
The dropped target — hit directly in the center.
And then—
BOOM!!
A massive explosion erupted midair.
The challenger had actually struck the 500-meter target.
No — considering the falcon flew in the opposite direction, the true distance was probably even greater.
And it was a moving target, dropped and swaying.
Everyone knew how much harder those were to hit.
As the final target was destroyed—
“They’re mine. No matter what.”
The archer examiner clenched her bow tightly, determined to recruit Mir.
The second test to become an All-Master:
“Hoho, now it’s my turn.”
—was the wizard class examiner’s trial.
Unlike the others, this one took place in the basement of the tower — for a good reason.
‘Mana density.’
Just like air or water, mana has density.
And the best way to preserve that density is by being underground, where mana naturally pools.
Thanks to the well-built walls, the underground room where the wizard trial took place was dense with mana, enough to feel it on your skin.
‘The test is spell manifestation.’
At the center stood raised platforms.
Each held skill books for the four elemental magics.
[Fire]
[Aqua]
[Wind]
[Earth]
Basic 1st-circle spells.
For example: Fire ignites flames. Aqua creates water.
To pass the test and become a wizard, a challenger had to cast at least one of these spells after reading the books.
Of course, those weren’t the only spells.
There were more spellbooks for different magic types and classes.
‘Surely he’s not expecting me to just pick one of these.’
Unlike the archer test, I didn’t approach the spellbooks.
Instead, I looked straight at the wizard examiner.
He chuckled, stepped up to an empty platform, and placed down a book.
“Your test is to manifest this spell.”
I stepped forward to inspect it — and was stunned by the spell’s name.
Because the book on the platform was—
[Fire Lance]
“…That’s a 3rd-circle spell, isn’t it?”
“Hoho, the fact you recognized it so quickly shows your talent for magic.”
It was indeed a 3rd-circle spell.
Players unlock higher circles as they level, but a 3rd-circle spell was far above what anyone in the starting city should attempt.
On top of that, the mana required to cast Fire Lance was enormous — even I was pushing my limits.
‘What’s with this All-Master class?!’
Just like with the archer test, the difficulty was absurd.
It felt like they were trying to make sure no one could actually become an All-Master.
Still, I had no intention of giving up.
“Understood.”
All-Master.
No matter how I looked at it, it was the perfect class for me.
I would claim it.
“Luke.”
— What shall I prepare for you, Master?
“Freya’s Ring.”
— Understood, Master.
Whoosh.
Black flames surged over my finger and formed a beautifully crafted blue ring.
That ring was—
[Ring of Freya, Goddess of Magic and Abundance]
(Untradeable)
Type: Ring
Grade: Mythic
Requirement: Level 1000+, 9th-circle spell usage
Description: A ring once worn by Freya, Asgard’s most beautiful witch and teacher of magic to Odin himself.
The ultimate mage accessory from First.
Freya’s Ring.
I’d never actually worn it before.
As a Weapon Master, I never reached a high enough magic circle to use it.
But now, things were different.
I could use every item I brought from First.
Vrrrrr—
Sure enough, the ring began to function.
Massive amounts of mana surged into me.
As expected of the ultimate ring — it greatly enhanced both my mana pool and magical ability.
Of course, that didn’t mean anyone could suddenly cast high-circle magic.
First’s — no, Second’s magic system wasn’t that simple.
But—
‘I never built circles, but…’
As a Weapon Master, I didn’t just use swords and spears.
I also wielded staves, spellbooks, and orbs — all recognized as weapons.
So I’d used plenty of magical weapons and magic-infused items.
Even myth-grade weapons with ultra-high circle spells.
So while I hadn’t formally built magic circles—
‘I was used to using magic itself.’
Now, with my boosted mana and magical potential—
Vrrroooom—!!
Casting a 3rd-circle spell was easy.
Fwoosh!
A blazing lance of fire began to form in my palm.
