Overgeared: Path of Absolute

'Finally, Countess Feya is now cured of the poison, and Earl Ashur's request is finished, now I just have to prepare for the events that will happen in the Saharan Empire or so in 2 years.'

Grid thought to himself as he waited in the living room alongside his companions. Isabel was nowhere to be found since she had to go to the Vatican to report that her mission had succeeded before saying goodbye to Grid and the others. Thus, Grid, Alfia, and Meteria were the only remaining people there.

"So... Grid since you're done with your business with Earl Ashur, what's your next move going forward?"

Alfia asked Grid with a curious expression. Meteria was also interested, so she sat quietly waiting for Grid's answer. Grid, seeing them waiting for his answer, spoke and said.

"Hmm... I guess I would be staying for about a month here in Patrian and helping the children grow as well, after that I would probably travel the continent for a while and help as many people as I can and lastly try to become a legend if possible."

Hearing his answer Alfia just silently nodded her head as for Meteria her eyes were shining and imagined Grid becoming a legend while holding her closely, what they didn't know is that Grid was planning to kidnap Asmophel's wife so she could survive against Empress Marie's plan.

'Saving Asmophel's lover is one of the things I need to do in the future... But I need to make a scene where his wife was supposedly 'killed', and the best way to do that is to burn the house, secondly, I need to discretely place a teleportation spell in all the mansions of the red knights that Piaro and Asmophel are leading. With that, I can safely evacuate them, but the biggest obstacle to this plan is how to convince the Red Knights and save them from Asmophel's assassination.'

As he was thinking of possible future scenarios, the door opened, revealing Ashur. As he entered the living room, Grid, Alfia, and Meteria straightened their posture and bowed their heads slightly. Ashur then took a seat and said.

"Please raise your head, there's no need for you to bow to me."

Hearing Ashur's words they raised their head, Ashur smiled at them and said.

"Thank, Thank you so much, if it weren't for you sir Grid my wife would have died suffering without knowing the cause, so once thank you."

As Ashur said these words he bowed his head to Grid, seeing Ashur's action he immediately spoke and said to Ashur.

"No need to thank me, I only did since I don't want to see suffering from such a thing so please raise your head, Earl Ashur."

Ashur raised his head and smiled, while Alfia smiled slightly at Grid's words, knowing that she was indeed right about Grid's personality. As for Meteria, she was smiling brightly and suddenly said.

"Earl Ashur, I know this might be rude of me to speak suddenly, but I want to make a deal with you if you're ok with it."

Hearing Meteria's words Ashur was intrigued while Alfia was worried about Meteria for suddenly speaking without permission since she knows that most of the nobles don't like being spoken to unless granted.

"Hmm, interesting Meteria was it? What could you possibly offer to me?"

Ashur said while slightly raising his mana to intimidate Meteria, but Ashur was surprised by Meteria not only was she resisting but suddenly he felt a great chill surrounding his area, as for Meteria she just simply smiled and spoke.

"Indeed my name is Meteria, as for my offer it's quite simple, I will ask a wood spirit to make a contract with your wife countess Feya to not only guard her but also make her recover much faster since the wood spirits are much more connected to nature.

Hearing Meteria's words Ashur was surprised by the suggestion from Meteria but also surprised that she could summon spirits, he pondered for a while, as for Alfia she just sat there in silence waiting for the conversation same case with Grid, as Ashur finished thinking he then said.

"Ok, I accept... But what's in for you? Surely you would want something more than just money?"

Meteria just smiled at Ashur and said.

"Simple really I just want you to tutor both me and Alfia in magic, because you have a lot of experience, who else could teach us better than a great magician?"

Hearing this Ashur nods his head, as for Alfia she simply says.

"I don't mind... But you have forgotten something important dear sister, and that's you didn't specify for how long"

Meteria hearing Alfia's words opened her mouth like a carp and was failing to say something, seeing this Grid spoke and said.

"How about 4 to 5 years? This should be enough right?"

The 3 people who were discussing this momentarily pondered and nodded their heads, Ashur then said.

"Ok, 4 to 5 years should be fine, though remember I'm quite a strict teacher even to my sons so don't expect me to hold back teaching you understand?"

Alfia simply nodded her head as for Meteria she just said, "Of course!" seeing this Ashur looked at Grid and asked him.

"What about you sir Grid? Surely there's something you want? As long it's within my power I will grant it."

Grid pondered for a moment and then said.

"Can you teach the 9 children I adopted about magic as well, and as for the duration of your teaching you decide, and lastly can you teach me how to create a force magic mass teleport circle?."

Ashur thought about it for a moment before replying, after a few seconds he said.

"Ok, it should be fine for me to teach them as long as the twins, as for the force magic mass teleport circle I will just give you this."

Ashur suddenly pulled out a magic book and handed it over to Grid.

[You have acquired the Mass Teleportation Spellbook.]

Grid smiled and said thank you to Ashur and then said.

"Thank you, as much we would like to talk we have to go now Earl Ashur."

"No worries, and also Sir Grid you can just call me Ashur and I will also call you Grid."

Grid nods indicating he agrees, Ashur smiles at that and activates mass teleport bringing all of them to Omori's Inn instantly.

-IRL (in real life) 1 day time skip brought to you by chibi Shiva throwing snowballs at chibi spirits-

6 days of game time had passed and Grid was now hunting in Kesan Canyon for about 4 hours finally reaching level 200 and still keeping his 'Pioneer' and having 1,000 points in both AGI and STA.

'Sigh I finally reach level 200 with these I should be able to focus on mastering all my abilities, though as much as I want to get the Pagma Successor I can't since it wouldn't be beneficial for me right now.'

As Grid was having these thoughts suddenly multiple canyon spiders attacked him, Grid immediately used a new spell 'Blink' and was able to distance himself, seeing that Grid was gone the canyon spiders looked at the surrounding area but were instantly met with 'Chain Lightning' instantly killing 7.

[You have defeated 7 Canyon Spiders.]

Grid then took the initiative of attack since the formation of the remaining canyon spiders was disrupted he used 'Spear Charge' and took out 3 of the canyon spiders, he followed it up by using 'Spear Shot' killing the last remaining canyon spiders.

[You have defeated 5 Canyon Spiders.]

Grid let out a sigh and looked out the surrounding area, seeing there were no remaining enemies, as he confirmed that there were no enemies he sat in the ground, and said.

"Well, I guess I should start moving now, though it should be possible for me to learn the sword dance of Pagma that is inscribed by Khan's ancestor behind the Loran's waterfall as long as I can perfectly do the sword dance."

After saying this Grid stood up and started walking towards the location of the Loran's waterfall.

-1 hour time skip brought to you by chibi Grid throwing multiple magic spells-

Grid finally arrives at the front of Loran's waterfall, Grid looks at the surrounding area with nostalgia as he remembers his first meeting with Piaro, he looks around then he looks at the small lake and thinks to himself.

'If I remember correctly mermans were hiding in the lake and waiting to ambush me after learning 'Pagma's Sword Dance' I should deal with right now.'

As he finished thinking he cast 'Chain Lightning' in the lake instantly electrocuting all the living organisms in the lake.

[You have defeated 24 Mermans.]

Seeing the notifications pop up Grid smiles at this, after killing all the hostiles he immediately starts walking towards the hidden entrance of the Loran's waterfall, as he enters the hidden entrance he finally sees the engraving of Khan's ancestor, seeing the engravings Gird took a breath and then let it out calmly and thought to himself.

'I'm not sure if it's possible to fully learn it maybe it would be a degraded version for all I know, even if it's degraded to unique it should be still helpful.'

As he finished thinking this he started doing the sword dance perfectly without delay or any single wasted movements, the first thing Grid did was the sword dance transcend, as he raised his sword into the sky and followed it up by sword dance link by swinging it horizontally and followed it up by doing the sword dance wave.

After that, he stopped his movements and took a rest for 4 seconds, and instantly after that Grid started the sword dance restraint followed by kill finishing all the sword dance.

[Degraded Pagma's sword dance has been acquired.]

[Wave]

Unleash a violent sword dance like a high wave. 

Inflicts 55% of your attack power to all enemies within 1m, as well as reducing their speed.

Skill Usage Conditions: Have a sword equipped.

Skill Mana Cost: 350

Skill Cooldown Time: 120 seconds

 [Restraint]

A restrained and understated sword dance. 

Overwhelms the surroundings. No one will have access to you for 0.5 seconds.

* Does not apply to the undead.

Skill Usage Conditions: Have a sword equipped.

Skill Mana Cost: 300

Skill Cooldown Time: 300 seconds

 [Link]

A dazzling sword dance that is like the wings of a butterfly.

Deals 100% of your attack power to a single target.

Skill Usage Conditions: Have a sword equipped.

Skill Mana Cost: 350

Skill Cooldown Time: 100 seconds

 [Kill]

A killing sword that expresses hatred.

Deals 250% of your attack power to a single target. There will be a bleeding and desperation effect.

Skill Usage Conditions: Have a sword equipped.

Skill Mana Cost: 1,200

Skill Stamina Consumption: Consumes 50% of your stamina.

Skill Cooldown Time: 500 seconds

 [Transcend]

A sword dance that transcends imagination.

Your attack power is increased by 25% and your default attacks will turn into ranged attacks.

Skill Usage Conditions: Have a sword equipped.

Skill Mana Cost: 1,800

Skill Duration: 10 seconds.

Skill Cooldown Time: 3,000 seconds 

Seeing this Grid was happy that he obtained the sword dance even if it was degraded, he then performed the sword dance flawlessly increasing the proficiency of the sword, body, and kick mastery to intermediate level 7, Grid then thought to himself.

'With this, I should be able to raid named NPCs without much problem, though I should focus on growing my current class since it would be useful against Empress Marie's forces that are working alongside the Yatan forces.'

As he finishes with his thoughts he starts walking out of the cave, but what he doesn't expect is a whole size small battalion waiting outside the cave, Those who just exited the cave were surprised but immediately used 'Blink' to dodge multiple spears that were thrown to him, Grid immediately uses sword dance 'Transcend' and at the same time use all his buff to maximize the power of sword dance.

He then swang his sword 4 times every 1 second with it being coated with 'Chain Lightning' with this the range attack of Grid caused splash damage killing multiple enemies at once, after the 10-second duration he immediately used the word dance 'Link' with caused a lot of damage to remaining mermen.

[You have defeated 200 Mermans.]

'Damn it, I didn't expect there to be an army of mermen waiting outside, I need to take a breather since I used too much of my stamina.'

As Grid was thinking this he sat down and meditated to recover his stamina and he also cast a barrier to himself to prepare for any ambush.

-2 hours brought to you by chibi Grid resting-

Grid finally was done hunting in the Kesan Canyon and headed towards Bairan hoping to hunt the Awakened Guardian of the Forest and get a lot of Orichalcum, as he continued to walk suddenly a bunch of goblins were heard laughing, Grid hearing this immediately sprinted towards the noise made by the goblins.

Grid arriving at the scene saw goblins surrounding a female merchant laughing maniacally and ripping her clothes off, seeing Grid didn't hesitate and used multiple spells instantly killing the surrounding goblins.

The merchant girl who was shocked by what happened cried Grid sprinted towards her and hugged her softly, the girl cried and hugged Grid tightly as if possibly thinking she would be left behind by the goblins.

After a minute or 2, the girl finally calmed down and introduced herself as a traveling merchant heading to Bairan, Grid then was given a quest to escort her until they arrived at Bairan and Grid immediately accepted knowing such a young girl would be either kidnapped, or killed by bandits or goblins.

"Though this might be rude of me why are you traveling alone? shouldn't you have bodyguards or hired mercenary guards?"

"Umm... This might be embarrassing but I-I d-don't have any money to hire a bodyguard for protection..."

Hearing this Grid felt bad for her and said.

"About the payment, it would be simply free since I know you're having a hard time, so just focus on your goal and at the same time introduce yourself."

The girl smiled and hugged Grid tightly for a few seconds, she said.

"T-thank you S-sir Grid, and m-my name is Nana."

Grid smiled and said.

"You're welcome, as much as I want to continue talking with you Nana we should focus on arriving at Bairan."

"Y-you're right Sir Grid."

As they finally continued with their journey Grid thought to himself.

'Hmm... After arriving at Bairan I should ask the lord if there's a goblin infestation to deal with, and if there's I need to prepare myself since goblins are quite deadly if I'm only the one dealing with them.'

As Grid was finished thinking he looked around the area at the same time used magic detection to sense the surroundings for any enemy that might be hiding in the area.

As of now, Grid didn't know that there was a goblin horde hiding deep in the forest with a Goblin Lord leading them, with 2,450 goblins with different classes and weapons this would be dangerous for Grid even with 200 levels or even with preparation.