Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Epic Artifact Creation (4)
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[A legendary sword, the likes of which will never again be born in the beginner zone, has been created.]
[Calculating grade.]
[Grade: Epic.]
[Please name the sword.]
[You have received the reward for being the first to craft an Epic Artifact.]
[All Stats +2.]
[Dexterity +30.]
[Fame +40.]
Hyun-soo gripped the hilt of the finished sword.
Holding it upright, he saw the blade shimmering with a soft, silver light.
The edge was sharper than any other sword, and the Hanja for Gwangmyeong (光名) etched into its center was striking.
‘It’s light…’
He had learned one of the characteristics of the mineral known as mithril.
Mithril blended well with common minerals.
It was also light.
It was so light that it felt like only 70% of a normal sword’s weight.
As Hyun-soo looked at the sword, Gwangmyeong, he recalled the notifications.
‘I like this place…’
To be precise, he liked this game.
Creations that he and his father had worked on day and night would ultimately end up as decorations in a corner of their smithy.
In a way, their work had never been fully rewarded.
But this game, Ares, was different.
Here, the culmination of his long efforts was rewarded, even by the system.
Now, it was time to inspect this sword.
***
Special User Management Team.
Kim Tae-seok was tense.
They had watched many geniuses start the game before.
Hye-ji, the nation’s top archer and a gold medalist.
Han-wool, a kendo gold medalist.
Even one of the country’s wealthiest tycoons.
But he felt something from the user named Hyun-soo that he had never felt from them.
“He’s only in the beginner zone…”
That was right. The place Hyun-soo was in was nothing more than the beginner zone.
A place where level 1 users learned the tutorial.
“What in the world is he doing in a place like that?”
An Epic artifact?
According to statistics, the average level at which a normal user first obtained an Epic artifact was around 160.
And even then, they didn’t craft it.
They saved up every penny until level 160 to buy one.
But a level 1 user?
Kim Tae-seok wiped his face.
“I’ll check it…”
Ji-hee was just as nervous.
She pulled up the item window for the sword named ‘Gwangmyeong’.
(Gwangmyeong)
Grade: Epic
Durability: 3,000/3,000
Attack Power: 143
Requirements: None for the creator, Level 40+ for others.
Special Abilities:
· Strength +6, Agility +7.
· Attack Power against Undead +8%.
· Attack Speed +15%.
· Critical Hit Chance +25%.
· Passive Skill: Swift Blade.
· Active Skill: Tenacious Sword.
Description: A masterpiece born from the fingertips of a master craftsman, the likes of which will never be seen again in the beginner zone.
(Swift Blade)
Passive Skill.
Mana Cost: None.
Description: Activates with a 2% chance, momentarily increasing attack speed by 1.7 times for 1 second.
(Tenacious Sword)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 20
Description: Imbues the user with the spirit of a tenacious sword, increasing Physical Attack Power by 12% and Physical Defense by 8%.
“Gasp…”
“Wow…”
Exclamations of shock and admiration escaped their lips.
“O-One hundred forty-three attack power?”
The average attack power of a wooden sword wielded by a level 1 beginner was 7.
Even the ebony wooden sword Hyun-soo had obtained barely reached 11.
But that wasn’t the only thing that surprised them.
“Team Leader, this is incredible…”
Lee Ji-hee marveled as if she were looking at something truly mystical.
“He surpassed the maximum percentages for mithril ore and sand iron ingots in the beginner zone…”
When you first obtain an ore and inspect it, the description lists the potential effects it can grant.
The beginner zone’s mithril was described as follows:
Maximum 7% increase in attack power against undead.
Maximum 11% increase in attack speed.
This meant that an artifact would gain these effects when crafted perfectly.
On average, one would only get about half of those values.
In the worst case, not even a third.
Of course, the blacksmith’s skill, level, and abilities were the deciding factors.
“That’s how incredible this user Hyun-soo’s skill is… You could call it a blacksmith’s critical hit.”
A critical hit.
When the archery gold medalist Hye-ji shot her bow, she landed critical hits with nearly 80% probability.
It was due to her astonishing skill.
But for Hyun-soo, a blacksmith, perhaps that critical hit manifested upon the completion of his work.
The two of them, however, had to acknowledge him.
“This user is insane…”
“I agree…”
The time it took him from entering that smithy, refining the mithril, to forging the sword.
Twenty days.
***
[Ji-hoon: Y-You really got an Epic grade?]
[Hyun-soo: Yep.]
[Ji-hoon: You crazy bastard… You’ve been playing like a man possessed for days.]
[Hyun-soo: It was tough, phew~]
[Ji-hoon: You going for the challenge now?]
[Hyun-soo: Gotta go. I’ll definitely do it this time.]
[Ji-hoon: I’ll be looking forward to it.]
[Hyun-soo: Yeah, look forward to—]
[You have been blocked by Ji-hoon.]
“…?”
Hyun-soo marveled at the sheer class of Ji-hoon, who blocked him right after saying he was looking forward to it.
Was it because he had crafted an Epic at level 1?
But Hyun-soo just smirked.
He knew the guy was just messing with him.
It seemed Ren had gone to see Instructor Hans as soon as he left the smithy.
Hyun-soo immediately headed for the wooden dummy striking point.
‘It took twenty days.’
This was a common occurrence for Hyun-soo.
Whenever he set his mind on creating something, he would become completely absorbed, as if possessed.
When he arrived at the wooden dummy training area, it was dawn, so there weren’t many users or instructors around.
“Hello.”
“Oh, Hyun-soo! It’s been a while!”
Instructor Jack greeted Hyun-soo warmly.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I’m here to challenge the wooden dummy break.”
“…I see.”
Jack gave a bitter smile.
Jack was an NPC with whom Hyun-soo had developed a very high affinity.
He was also an instructor who had watched at least several million users attempt to break the wooden dummy.
To be frank, Jack knew.
No matter who came, breaking the wooden dummy in ten strikes was an impossible feat.
Of course, it was possible for the instructors, but he was certain it was absolutely impossible on this small patch of land called the beginner zone.
“It won’t be easy, but I admire your challenging spirit.”
However, Jack didn’t tell Hyun-soo it was impossible.
He simply spoke words of encouragement.
Jack knew it was better to offer a little encouragement like this than to tell someone their challenge was futile.
“Thank you. I’ll definitely break it.”
Jack crossed his arms and watched Hyun-soo walk toward a wooden dummy.
Hyun-soo stood before one and took a deep breath.
Fifty million won.
To him, with a bank balance of only around one million won, it was an incredibly precious and large sum of money.
As Hyun-soo closed his eyes for a moment to calm his breathing, Jack watched him from nearby.
And then.
*Shing—*
As a sword was drawn from its sheath with a clear, ringing sound, a puzzled expression crossed Jack’s face.
‘What’s that sword…?’
Because it was a dark night lit only by a few torches, Jack hadn’t noticed.
He hadn’t seen that the sword at Hyun-soo’s waist had changed.
But the sharp aura it emitted declared that this was no ordinary sword. Hyun-soo muttered.
“Tenacious Sword.”
[Physical Attack Power +12% and Physical Defense +8% for 40 seconds.]
*Tiiiiing—*
In that moment, Instructor Jack heard it.
A clear, pure sound that resonated through the sword.
He stared, mesmerized, at Hyun-soo holding the sword that flaunted its sharp aura in the darkness.
“I wonder if I can succeed this time.”
With a determined expression, Hyun-soo’s sword delivered the first strike.
*Thwack—!*
A heavy sound echoed as the wooden dummy swayed violently.
On the second strike,
*Thwack—!*
Watching the dummy shake wildly again, Hyun-soo tightened his grip.
*Smack—!*
*Smack—!*
“W-What’s that?”
“Gasp!”
“…”
Jack could see the other outsiders, their gazes stolen just like his.
Jack’s mouth went dry.
‘He’s different…’
Different from any user he had ever seen.
It was only natural.
Hyun-soo didn’t just have the sword, Gwangmyeong.
There was the entire process he had gone through to create that one sword.
Like the steps of forging a blade, he had advanced one by one, raising countless stats and earning titles.
Moreover, his Dexterity stat had already surpassed 300, and accumulating a high Dexterity stat provided a slight increase to physical attack power.
And did you know?
Hyun-soo had relentlessly quenched and hammered for twenty days straight.
During that period alone, his Strength had increased by 10 and his Stamina by 6.
*Smack—!*
Yes, this wasn’t just because of an outstanding sword.
It was the blacksmithing journey he had undergone to create this single blade.
That journey had turned him into a true monster of the beginner zone.
*Smack—!*
*Crack—*
A dull sound spread through the air.
The fruits of Hyun-soo’s labor were beginning to sprout.
Others left the beginner zone in an hour.
He had lived there for nearly a month.
He wasn’t as amazing or as cool as others, but he had a single weapon.
Perseverance.
*Smack—!*
*Creeak—*
A sound spread as a crack appeared in the center of the wooden dummy.
*SMACK—*
And with the eighth strike.
The creation that 2.5 billion users had failed to break, the one that had frustrated every player, shattered.
*Crumble—*
Standing before the completely splintered wooden dummy, Hyun-soo gasped for breath.
*Shing—*
He sheathed his sword again and let out a triumphant cheer.
“I broke it!”
*Ting!*
[Congratulations.]
[You are the first user to succeed in breaking the wooden dummy.]
[World Message.]
[Your achievement will be announced to all users worldwide.]
[An anonymous user has become the first to succeed in breaking the wooden dummy.]
[All Stats +5.]
[Fame +200.]
[Ares VVIP Capsule Application Form has arrived.]
Hyun-soo checked the VVIP capsule application form that appeared as a hologram.
There were fields to enter his address and name.
As he was writing his address, Hyun-soo paused.
‘Isn’t my personal information going to get leaked…?’
2.5 billion people had failed, and he had succeeded.
This could potentially become a huge headache for him.
Still, he filled it out, and before he pressed the complete button, a notification popped up.
[Pureum Inc. is committed to protecting its users' personal information.]
[Two members of a dedicated VVIP installation team, who have signed user information non-disclosure agreements, will visit to perform the installation.]
“Oh…”
Pureum Inc.’s handling of matters was impeccable.
They had anticipated such cases and were protecting their users.
‘So this is why it’s the game with the fewest customer service complaints relative to its user base.’
Hyun-soo turned around, humming a tune.
“When will the capsule arrive?”
Hyun-soo planned to use it himself, not sell it.
It might be an extravagant item for someone in his financial situation, but from now on, this place would be his second world.
Just then, Jack approached him.
“Congratulations! I mean it, congratulations!”
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“You’ll be leaving this place for the hunting grounds now, I suppose.”
It was true.
The hunting grounds were where one learned the basics of hunting.
Deer mostly appeared there, though monsters would show up on rare occasions.
Then, a thought suddenly struck Instructor Jack, and his expression turned to one of surprise.
“…It’s going to be insane in the hunting grounds.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. Fare you well. It was a pleasure knowing you.”
Hyun-soo started walking.
He returned to the smithy and met Ren, who told him that Instructor Hans had been clearing his throat and acting shy.
He said he was now able to raise the blade sharpening fee for instructors by 30%.
After sharing an embrace with the elated man, they parted ways.
Hyun-soo headed for the hunting zone.
***
Lee Se-jin, the CEO of Pureum Inc., watched the young man named Hyun-soo on his laptop and clicked his tongue.
They were in the waiting room for a press conference.
All the Pureum Inc. employees were staring at the user with expressions full of dread.
Kim Tae-seok, the head of the Special User Management Team, spoke.
“Mr. CEO.”
“Are you worried about the same thing I am?”
A laugh escaped the lips of Pureum Inc.’s CEO, Lee Se-jin.
“He’s level 1, but with those stats, those titles, that Epic sword…”
Just listing them gave Lee Se-jin a headache.
“I wonder what will happen when an ecosystem disruptor enters the hunting grounds.”