Upgrading required kills, a specific enchantment, and the Oodachi to be at full durability.
Durability was the easiest requirement; he could fix it at a crafting table using just cobblestone, without needing any Proud Souls.
Next, he smelted two Proud Soul Orbs and various mineral blocks.
Since it was stronger than the Oodachi, the upgrade required significantly more resources.
He needed an emerald block, a redstone block, an iron block, a diamond block, a lapis lazuli block, and a gold block.
Essentially, he needed nine of every mineral resource.
"Good thing I saved some lapis earlier."
He had specifically searched for lapis and redstone; only the emerald and diamond blocks were a bit more troublesome.
But that was only relative; with enough rotten flesh, he could easily trade with villagers for materials.
The profiteers were all locked away in dark rooms, and the remaining trades were quite fair. He quickly gathered everything he needed.
A new SlashBlade appeared in his hands.
[Yuzuki-tou Tsukumo]
[Engraved with the name of a certain clan, this inscription reveals its true nature.]
[In times of hatred, it is a cursed blade that possesses and controls its wielder; when the mind is as calm as still water, it is a protective blade that repels targets peacefully.]
It was a stark departure from the Oodachi's dark iron-black.
The entire blade was pink, with intricate patterns engraved on the hilt.
Holding it didn't just feel like holding a weapon; there was an indescribable sensation.
It was as if it changed according to the wielder's intent. To put it simply...
The sword had a soul!
Even when dropped, it was different from the simple item form of previous SlashBlades.
The Tsukumo stood upright on the ground like a placed block rather than a discarded tool.
The audience was stunned.
"Huh? A new SlashBlade?"
"He didn't say a word! How is the fourth one finished already?"
"Everyone was focused on the Black Mage! How did he craft this?"
"Holy crap, when did God Yu get the recipe for a new SlashBlade?"
"It couldn't have been from the Black Mage, right? Then how did he make it?"
"There was no warning at all. Galen Yu is incredible!"
"The Oodachi has the Dimensional Slash. How powerful is this upgrade going to be?"
The Black Mage had occupied everyone's attention, so no one expected the sudden arrival of the fourth SlashBlade.
It was like a thunderclap striking the hearts of the viewers.
He was no longer tied; Galen Yu had officially taken the lead in progress!
"How... this blade!"
Takeshi Sable's eyes widened. He clenched his fists so tightly in jealousy that blood seeped from his palms.
He had thought Galen Yu was just out gathering resources and happened to stumble upon the Black Mage to get some info on the outside world.
He had been talking normally with the Black Mage just moments ago—how did he suddenly produce a new SlashBlade?
Furthermore, he knew.
This sword was definitely unique!
Its appearance alone radiated a special aura, fundamentally different from the previous versions.
Given how SlashBlades scaled, it was bound to be several times stronger than the Oodachi!
Looking back at the Alliance...
Forget about SlashBlades; most players were still struggling to find resources or attempting to sneak attacks on bosses in the Twilight Forest.
Mark, the strongest among them, was agonizing over defense construction and how to deal with future zombies.
Ronan Mountwell, who was supposedly the furthest ahead, still had no clue how to upgrade.
Even Kira Oakmoor, hailed as the most skilled user, hadn't even mastered the Oodachi or figured out how to use the Dimensional Slash...
Was even their final trump card destined for defeat?
His vision went dark. Unable to catch his breath, Takeshi Sable collapsed to the ground.
In the Black House, the Blonde Elder was listening with great interest.
"Since he didn't pay any emeralds, this isn't considered traded intel. We can listen to the situation outside the chunk for free!"
Free information always tasted the sweetest.
As he listened, the audio suddenly cut out.
Everyone inside and outside the Black House gasped in unison.
The Blonde Elder, who had been resting his eyes, asked in confusion.
"What's wrong? Is Galen Yu's intel report finished? If so, send it to Mark."
He had heard something about a dragon, but the Black Mage hadn't given details.
Still, something was better than nothing. If it helped, it was worth it.
"No, sir. It's Galen Yu..."
"Hm? Did the Black Mage lose his temper and kill Galen Yu?!"
As he guessed, a hint of excitement crept into the Blonde Elder's voice.
Unlike the Architect, the Black Mage seemed like a local resident with significant knowledge, likely hailing from a high-level chunk.
He looked a bit rough, but coming from a high-level chunk meant he definitely had power.
Kidnapping someone in a wooden boat and taking them home was a reckless move that could easily offend someone. If this could eliminate Galen Yu...
It would clear a massive obstacle for the Alliance!
"Sir, no. You should just see it for yourself."
After a moment of hesitation, the secretary spoke helplessly.
"Always so mysterious. The Black Mage said he was just a minor thrall. What could he—"
The words died in his throat as the Blonde Elder froze.
"A new SlashBlade? When did he make that!"
"Our progress has been overtaken?!"
What did the Black Mage have to do with SlashBlades? Or rather...
Had everything been within Galen Yu's control? While he appeared to be kidnapping the Black Mage, had he been planning the SlashBlade all along?
"Sir, that..."
The secretary's expression was complex as she looked from the Blonde Elder to the table.
"Damn it! I said the race isn't over. We still have a chance!"
"Have the expert team study this. There must be a trick to it!"
The whole world was shocked by the appearance of the Tsukumo.
The whole world was shocked by the appearance of the Tsukumo.
It wasn't just because of the progress; they were awestruck by the weapon's presence.
Testing its weight, Galen Yu gave it a few casual swings in the air.
It felt comfortable—even more so than the Oodachi—and it came with the SA: Phantom Blade: Side.
It could be used at any time, manifesting as a massive wave of sword qi.
It wasn't as flashy as the Dimensional Slash, but it was faster, more convenient, and dealt more damage.
As the sky grew dark, Galen Yu felt a strong urge to find a zombie and test the blade immediately.
As for the Black Mage, he thought for a moment and remembered a lead he had picked up somewhere.
"Got it!"
Pulling out some blocks, Galen Yu began to build.
Trapped in the wooden boat, the Black Mage's legs were fixed in place, allowing him only to move his upper body slightly.
Galen Yu's departure gave him a chance to observe the Sky Island.
'So much obsidian. But why is he surrounding the Nether Portal like that?'
Looking at the surrounding structures, the Black Mage felt a bit bewildered.
Blocked by the portals unique to the Nether, he couldn't see what was happening inside and could only speculate.
No matter how much he searched his memory, he didn't know what a Nether Portal could be used for other than traveling to another dimension.
In the midst of his confusion, a voice reached his ears.
"Huh? Is this the profiteer picked up from outside?"
That wasn't Galen Yu. There was someone else in this tiny chunk besides him?
His eyes darted around as another devious plan formed.
Not everyone could be like Galen Yu. Even if there were others, they probably wouldn't be any smarter than those idiot villagers.
With his silver tongue, wouldn't it be easy to trick them?
Maybe he could find a sliver of hope and convince them to break the boat!
Having prepared his speech, the Black Mage was just about to put on a smile and speak when his expression froze the moment he saw the newcomer.
"You... You! Weren't you dead? How are you here!"
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