He heard something shaking. Michael had been wandering aimlessly through the forest. Now he swung his sand fists with all his might toward a transparent barrier. The power of his sand had reached the point where he could create the shape of a giant fist.

“Hup.”

Michael took a short breath before once again swinging his sand fists. The shaking was greater than before, but the barrier seemed stubborn. This just stimulated Michael's desire to win.

“I don't think I can open it like this.”

Michael used the power of the sand to break down the small rocks around him and suck in more sand. Two giant sand fists were being created behind his shoulders. He a.s.similated each sand fist into his hands. He was going to do it like he was swinging his own fists. It would also be a tremendous barrage.

[The scorpion star, 'Antares,' is looking at you with interested eyes.]

At the same time, Michael flew forward. He leapt into the air and stepped on the sand in the air like it was a staircase. Then he swung his hands at high speed. Michael's mind was only full of thoughts of crus.h.i.+ng the thing in front of him. Michael increased his speed when he saw a slight crack in the barrier that was shaking like an earthquake had occurred.

However, he was a swordsman who used a sword. Michael once again focused his mind. Strange sand started to rise from the sand.

'I wasn't sure if this will work...'

As Michael became more proficient in the power of sand, Michael thought that maybe it was possible, and indeed, it was working. By the way, Antares never told him that there was this ability.

[The scorpion zodiac, 'Antares,' is interested in the new sand.]

Perhaps this was the first time Antares had seen it as well. Michael had only learned about this from studying sand. The solid gold particles joined together to form a sword. What should he name this?

“Desert Calibur,” Michael muttered the name of the technique he had come up with and held the sword with a huge sand hand. Desert was naturally the English word for 'desert' and 'Calibur' was derived from Excalibur used by the great King Arthur.

He immediately lowered the sword vertically but he didn't stop there. Michael moved his hands freely and swung the huge Desert Calibur constantly. Finally, the barrier collapsed.

Michael confirmed the ident.i.ty of the crumbling white barrier.

“What is this?”

[The scorpion zodiac, 'Antares,' says it is a cloud.]

[The scorpion zodiac, 'Antares,' is interested in the new sand 'Gold Dust']

“Cloud?”

Michael was amazed that a cloud had this level of rigidity. He casually stepped across the line. Then a message popped up.

Ttiring~

[You have gained a sand that is superior to the constellation's sand.]

[You can name the skill you have just created.]

Michael simply named it Desert Calibur.

[From now on, you can use the skill easily when you say 'Desert Calibur' or when you think it.]

[You have pioneered a new path in the realm of sand.]

[The legendary t.i.tle 'Sand Master' has been acquired!]

[Attack and defense using the sand have increased by 20%.]

'Good.'

He tried it because he wondered if it would work. It was really surprising that it succeeded, but the better thing was the t.i.tle of Sand Master. He was now more solid when it came to attacking and defending with sand. Behind him, the barrier of clouds recovered and was gradually taking its original form.

There was nothing more to see about it now that he broke it and entered. His purpose was to find a bead that was somewhere here. He also came here to hunt.

“Gruruk!”

It was hundreds of monsters that welcomed him now.

* * *

Park Muyeol swung his wooden sword in a trance. Fortunately, he was able to use Stick's Protection here so he wasn't worried. The man-eating plant 'laprene' bared their sharp teeth at him and Park Muyeol murmured to himself, “It is like a bean sprout.”

He then confronted a giant gorilla. It had hard leather so it took five or five swings before the gorilla collapsed, but it was a piece of cake for Park Muyeol. After a fierce battle, he had acquired a skill called Power Wave.

[Power Wave] [Active]

[Rating: Heroic

An attributeless energy can be created and released in front of you. Since it isn't biased to any attribute, you can inflict 100% damage to a target with an attribute.]

While the description was short, it was a pretty useful skill. The method of acquisition was tricky. It was obtained by reaching level 120 without gaining an attribute.

'Power Wave.'

Park Muyeol swung five times, avoided the gorilla's fist, and climbed up onto the gorilla's shoulder.

“This d.a.m.n monkey!”

He once again wielded his wooden sword. The 'horned gorilla' screamed at the rapid blow that occurred in an instant.

“Kuweeeeeoh!”

“Shut up!” 

Park Muyeol swung his wooden sword horizontally and hit the horn. There was a loud sound as the horn fell to the ground. The horned gorilla saw it and became even more furious.

“Kuwaaaack!”

“Aish, you're hurting my ears. This guy!”

Park Muyeol struck the head without a break until the horned gorilla died. Finally, the horned gorilla collapsed.

“It was a tough one.”

 He placed the fallen gorilla's horn into his inventory. This was the first time he had used so many attacks since obtaining Stick's Protection. He could kill other monsters easily because they had a strong attack and weak defense. However, this one was different.

The bigger problem...

“Kuweok!”

“There are a few of the same species. s.h.i.+t.”

They were monsters that came out of nowhere. The problem was that the number of gorillas was increasing.

'Won't I die if something goes wrong?'

Park Muyeol realized that he was going to die for the first time in the game. Of course, he heard Chuntaek say they would resurrect after dying, but he still didn't want to die. He also didn't know where he would resurrect.

It was at this moment...

[A hole has been drilled in the unknown power!]

[There is a temporary connection with you.]

“Hmm?”

[A constellation who likes sticks is startled!]

[A constellation who likes sticks is telling you to escape from here!]

“What nonsense are you saying when you sent me here?”

[A constellation who likes sticks is saying he didn't expect this to happen.] 

[A constellation who likes sticks is giving you the power of a star relic.]

The wooden sword he was holding trembled and a red energy appeared around it. It created a geometric shape.

“What? A club?”

[Your weapon has been temporarily given the energy of a 'star relic'!]

[The star relic 'Olive Tree Club' is radiating willpower.]

It seemed that it wasn't an ordinary club. Wasn't this really heavy?

“Keuk. What is this...?”

Just then, the club floated into the sky. Park Muyeol looked at it with a shocked expression. There were still monsters in the vicinity. Indescribable power gathered around the club floating in the air and it swung horizontally. It was like the fourth batter hitting a home run in baseball. The power was so great that even Park Muyeol got a chill. A wave of great power quickly spread out.

“This is crazy!”

Park Muyeol endured the enormous torrent of power before he rolled around a few times on the ground. The surrounding forest shook and the leaves fell. Even the nearest tree was pulled out by the huge wind pressure. Park Muyeol was amazed that a single swing could create something like this.

“What is this...?”

He opened his eyes to see the remains of the monsters. They had just been alive. Then he closed his eyes for a moment and they were all turning into gray ash. It clearly meant death.

“What is this insane power?”

At the same time, a message arrived.

[A constellation who likes sticks is telling you to escape quickly!]

[A constellation who likes sticks...]

The message that followed was cut off in the middle. This time, another message appeared.

[The unknown power has been restored.]

[Due to an unknown power, you have been disconnected from the outside world.]

“Crazy.”

Park Muyeol didn't know the ident.i.ty of this unknown power. Was this why he felt so annoyed? Just then, the club floating in the air sank toward him. The light scattered from it and it regained its appearance as a wooden sword, lightly settling in his hand. Then at this moment, there was a crack.

“Huh?”

Craack. Crack.

Craaack!

[The durability of the ebony wooden sword has reached zero and it has broken.]

“......”

He was at a loss for words. How should he express what he felt? His sword had endured many things without breaking. It hadn't broken even when Stick's Protection was used. Now it shattered in front of his eyes.

“No, what am I supposed to do?”

In fact, a wooden sword wasn't that expensive. It was easy to get. If he needed one, he could cut it with a knife. Even so, Park Muyeol was saddened for some reason. He felt like he had lost something he loved.

“Hah...”

He had only one guess for the broken sword.

'It is because of the star relic.'

It was obviously an emergency force. He roughly heard what a star relic was from Chuntaek, but he hadn't expected so much power. It was evident that the wooden sword couldn't endure the power.

“I have to find something more durable.”

Park Muyeol realized that the strength of his weapon was also important in order to use Hercules' power that he would obtain after eating the Star Fruit.

“Hmm, it won't be dangerous for a while. It is enough time to make a sword.”

He pulled a small dagger out of his inventory and started to shave at a tree branch that had fallen nearby. He bought it at a store the other day when making a wooden sword for Mido. He hadn't expected it to be so useful.

“How much time pa.s.sed?”

Suddenly, Park Muyeol heard footsteps from somewhere. At first, he thought he was mistaken. However, this wasn't the case. It was clearly the footsteps of a person. He turned his head in the direction of the sound. In that place, a young man was walking.

“Who is coming to this place?”