For You (1)
Ian fell into shock.
"It's changed a lot from the terms we offered two months ago."
Hwarang Guild, the number one guild in Korea.
Their recruitment manager had been desperate to enlist Ian, once the top-ranked archer.
But not anymore.
"You were number one back then. Now you're sixth."
The manager had previously dangled the position of archer knight captain—far better than the squad member slot he was offering now.
"To be frank, we at Hwarang believe you'll soon drop out of the top fifty."
The manager eyed the bow slung across Ian's back.
"A masterful composite bow is rare—one in a thousand."
There was no trace of the fervent recruitment zeal from before.
Come if you want. Or don't.
He spoke with a hint of regret.
"I just can't understand it. Why on earth would you choose something like a composite bow?"
Ian stood from his seat.
His mind was a whirlwind.
He logged out immediately.
He'd never seriously considered joining a guild anyway. He'd only come to hear out the offer from Korea's top guild, Hwarang.
And now he knew how far he'd fallen.
Maybe his friends could cheer him up. He shared the news in their group chat.
Ian closed the chat.
He drowned himself in liquor and passed out.
Waking with a pounding headache, he caught the TV news.
He shut off the TV.
It had nothing to do with him.
Should I quit?
Ian rubbed his dry face, then checked his phone messages.
One from Hyun's Forge.
Ian headed to the meeting spot anyway.
He'd mentioned having somewhere to be, and at the coordinates he'd shared, he met Hyun-soo.
Ian took the bow and froze in awe.
His eyes trembled.
He stared at the man who'd introduced himself as Hyun-soo, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Why... why give this to me..."
If it were him, he wouldn't have sold it.
No one understood.
Why a composite bow?
Because it was the bow he'd held as a child. Because legends like Yi Sun-sin, Yi Seong-gye, and Jumong had wielded them masterfully.
No one got it. Everyone mocked his choice.
"I did hesitate to sell it."
Hyun-soo spoke with unwavering certainty.
"But I judged that in all Korea, only you could wield this composite bow."
Only him?
"The restriction requires Advanced Composite Bow Mastery or higher. You're the only player in Korea who's achieved it. And with it, you'll synergize perfectly with Jumong's Composite Bow."
While everyone asked why he'd chosen a stupid composite bow.
"Only you are worthy to hold this bow."
Not him.
"Ha... haha..."
Ian clutched the bow tight.
After holding it a long while, he sorted his thoughts.
He had a promise to keep.
If satisfied with the bow, he'd make a video for Hyun's Forge.
Three years ago, as editor "Jin," he'd been the dream collaborator for Korea's top BJ streamers.
This moment, he vowed.
"I'll make the greatest video for you."
Ian was certain.
His video would secure Hyun-soo in the top five.
"I can't offer much else, but I want to repay this favor. Anything you desire?"
Hyun-soo just smiled faintly at him.
"You, Ian."
"...!?"
Then his story began.
The tale of a small guild.
"We need the strongest archer to protect us."
"...I'll think it over."
He meant it—deeply, sincerely.
He needed to be cautious before deciding.
"I'm going to challenge Divine Archer Baneka's Dungeon. The ultimate goal for all archers."
Ian parted ways with him.
And entered Divine Archer Baneka's Dungeon.
Divine Archer Baneka's Dungeon.
Even when Ian was rank one, countless unofficial rankers had tried it.
Yet no one had seen its end.
But amazingly.
You have cleared Divine Archer Baneka's Dungeon.
With the new bow, it was effortless for Ian.
Soon, a spirit rose from the fallen boss.
Divine Archer Baneka.
One of the Continent's Ten Legends.
Though long dead, she was a beautiful woman.
She gazed at Ian in admiration.
"You who wields the bow others shun."
Baneka's Dungeon was but a first step to becoming her heir.
He knew she possessed the special eye, Heart's Eye.
She spoke.
"You have already decided."
"..."
Her words melted the chaos in Ian's mind.
Only then did he notice his body leaning slightly—as if eager to rush to Hyun-soo.
Ian smiled faintly, and Baneka said,
"I believe you will carry my legacy. Go."
Ian turned to leave.
Watching him dash away, Baneka murmured,
"The meeting of famed bow and master craftsman."
Baneka sensed it.
Their era was fading. A new one dawned.
Ian ran.
Truth be told, with him, Ian felt boundless potential.
His words echoed.
"Only you are worthy to hold this bow."
The man who acknowledged him amid scorn. Who validated his choice.
Ian sprinted wildly, reaching 500m from the POW camp.
Hyun-soo's Jumong's Composite Bow.
It bore this effect.
Announcing the emergence of a legend above legend!
Proclaiming the greatest weapon's arrival. Ian spotted over a hundred arrows flying at the prisoners.
He nocked his bowstring instantly.
Shweeeeeek—
Before the greatest bow,
All arrows within 50m radius of its path ignite.
Ian incinerated them all, then loaded bolts into his quiver.
He was Ares's finest composite bow master.
Click—
Hyun-soo's fourteenth Custom Forge bow synergizes with Baby Arrows.
Accuracy and penetration +20%.
Hyun-soo's gift evoked Jumong himself.
Legends told of Jumong piercing impossible ranges.
This bow enabled it.
Range +90%.
And moreover.
Longer range means lower accuracy.
But this bow compensated.
Accuracy +81%.
Jumong's own bow.
He released the string.
The separated bolt struck Kuhn like light.
And he immediately applied to join Gwangmyeong Guild.
You have joined Gwangmyeong Guild.
Ian smiled faintly.
With the world's mightiest bow.
Ian turned to the Red Hood Guild, their faces etched with panic.
Ian drew his bowstring.
Until recently, he'd teetered on the edge of ruin.
But now?
I don't even know my full power yet.
Current Ian transcended level metrics.
He released the string.
Red Hood Guild ranked in the top 200.
Even against them, Ian brimmed with confidence.
Truthfully, Hyun-soo wondered just how strong Ian had become.
One certainty: Ian, once rank one.
A newcomer had claimed his spot, but now even that rival couldn't match him.
Hyun-soo spotted Kuhn, the Red Dragon Squad leader flung 12 meters away.
His HP lingered at a mere 20%.
-HP drops below 92%.
Conversely, Kuhn had taken little damage.
Hyun-soo's level was just late 270s.
Strongest foe yet.
Though all other Red Dragon Squad members lay dead, this one might surpass them combined.
Hyun-soo checked his status.
Most skills were still on cooldown.
Kuhn rose, glaring at the prisoners.
They'd been spared massacre, sighing in relief.
And Red Hood Guild tangled with a lone archer.
Kuhn knew everything had gone awry.
He saw the prisoners' worried glances at Hyun-soo.
At the border not long ago.
Kuhn had admired Hyun-soo briefly.
A hopeless fight.
Yet he'd murmured Break but Do Not Yield and forged a path.
Knowing that iron will, Kuhn gripped his dagger tight.
"I'll break you."
Most wretchedly, most desperately.
Assassin's Master
Movement and attack speed +55%.
Ares's top damage dealers: assassins.
Low HP and defense, but 1.3x a knight's damage.
Their absurd speed terrified all.
Especially as head of an assassin order.
Shwick—
Kuhn streaked past before Hyun-soo could skill up.
All stats temporarily -25%.
Attack and movement speed -40%.
Assassins dominated with speed.
Slow the foe, and they overwhelmed.
Splish, splish—
Hyun-soo felt daggers from all sides.
Slowed, he couldn't react.
To onlookers, Kuhn blurred like light, shredding Hyun-soo.
It was so.
Kuhn sliced shallow, brutal cuts.
He targeted Hyun-soo's legs, toppling his balance.
Thud—
Hyun-soo crumpled to one knee.
"This is you now."
Kuhn sneered.
"Broken?"
As he approached, assuming Hyun-soo's will shattered.
Hyun-soo swung his sword upward.
Shwick—
Casual Kuhn took the hit, realizing his resilience.
Hyun-soo knew escape was slim.
Poisoned, foe intact.
Twice as fast, levels crushing.
But as always, no surrender.
As Kuhn staggered, Hyun-soo rose.
Then, an inexplicable hum buzzed in his ears.
Break but Do Not Yield.
His own chant?
No.
A system sound.
Kuhn's face twisted in alarm.
"You can't break me."
Hyun-soo popped three grapes into his mouth, chewing.
Break but Do Not Yield.
"I will."
He'd heard the "new story begins" alert dozens of times.
But today, different.
A Story for You begins.