Lord (6)
Hyun-soo kept a wary eye on Ronso, who couldn't approach him, as endless notifications rang in his ears.
Acquired title: First Sentence
'First Sentence? What the hell is this?'
Sentence-Type Title
Grade: SS
Special Ability:
• Activates with 10% probability when you demonstrate your unbreakable will multiple times in moments of life-or-death crisis without giving up.
• Provides one method to overcome the crisis tailored to your profession.
• Once activated, if the crisis is judged an insurmountable mountain, every word you forge carries special power.
• Superior version of the Only for Me title. Rarely activates; a special title granted by Ares solely to your steadfast will.
The final description left a deep impression.
'A special title granted by Ares solely to my steadfast will.'
Search complete.
Discovered one hidden function of Reversal.
Moreover, this power hardly seemed like balance-breaking.
As the description stated, it required breaking through life-or-death crises multiple times, with only a low 10% activation chance.
Can combine artifacts created with Reversal.
Ignores reuse time.
Moreover, upon reflection, this power too was one Hyun-soo had forged himself.
Artifact combination.
The extent of this mysterious, extraordinary power was unknown.
However, combining normal with normal would yield at best rare power.
Epic with epic would amount to unique power at most.
That was the primal nature of the Reversal power.
A power used by recreating artifacts Hyun-soo himself had forged until now.
'A power forged solely by me.'
Additionally, the formation of an unidentified absolute barrier blocking Ronso's approach.
This too stemmed from what Hyun-soo had forged.
The First Sentence title description stated:
'Once activated, if the crisis is judged an insurmountable mountain, every word you forge carries special power.'
A single word holds special power.
Sentence begins.
Break but Do Not Yield
Blocks enemy approach until artifact combination complete.
Hyun-soo noticed it.
The words Break but Do Not Yield being etched in light upon the empty air.
"Wh-what is this?! You bastard, what devilish trick are you pulling?!"
Even Ronso, vastly strengthened by the Calamity of Revival beyond his usual power, couldn't comprehend the bizarre events unfolding.
Two unfinished ores.
They were finally being fully forged.
Smelting.
Refining.
Forging.
Polishing.
Two artifacts descended.
One was the Four Signs Sword. The other, Poseidon's Trident.
He brought the two weapons gripped in each hand to the center.
The two artifacts enveloped in light began forming a new shape.
The trident's three prongs vanished, and the Four Signs Sword's long, beautiful blade became the spearhead.
The shaft turned pure white, proclaiming goodness, with the name 'Trident' engraved upon it.
The light faded, revealing a single spear.
This spear, with its blade as spearhead, astonishingly housed the powers of both artifacts.
◈ Coexists powers of Four Signs Sword and Poseidon's Trident
Shwaaaaa—
The gentle melody of spreading waves.
Kugugugugu—
The divine power raging fiercely met it, birthing a perfect single artifact.
Can use for 1 minute.
"What the hell is that spear?!"
Hyun-soo had heard such questions from many before.
When he first created the Four Signs Sword, he answered Jack the Calamity.
'The king desired it.'
National peace and prosperity.
An era of great peace.
The story of a king who wished for his people's comfort during his reign.
And the tale of the trident named for one of the three supreme gods in Greek myth, the most powerful.
Or the story of the demigod Hercules, born lowly.
Hyun-soo had always spoken of their greatness and tales.
But today was different.
What is this spear?
"I desire it."
At last, Hyun-soo took a step forward.
Kugugugugu—
A massive roar echoed as Ronso's face paled.
Ronso staggered back.
He was merely someone who possessed this level of power before.
But divine power held the strength to exterminate evil.
It inflicted hundreds of percent additional damage on evil.
Plus that unidentified massive power.
Yes, to Ronso—one of the absolute evils—Hyun-soo now wielded immeasurable power.
Moreover, Brelin standing behind him could scarcely believe it.
She recalled the day they first met.
Back then, he was just a commoner blacksmith of exceptional skill.
Now, he was utterly transformed.
"May this territory develop even greater, and stand firm amid any threat."
At last, Brelin realized.
'My choices were never wrong...!'
Ronso's face twisted grotesquely at Hyun-soo's continuing words.
"May I stand in their peace and safety."
A chill ran down Ronso's spine.
He couldn't help imagining it.
Years from now, atop the walls of Ballus Territory—dozens of times larger and stronger—Hyun-soo overlooking his people.
"That won't happen. You and Ballus Territory vanish today."
Ronso regained his composure.
He was battered, true.
Just moments ago, he had been on the brink of death.
But a few lashes of his whip would end him.
Kkarararak—
As his whip lashed out, it left dozens of afterimages.
They seemed like illusions, but each dealt damage.
In that instant.
A massive roar revealed itself. A colossal wave of light erupted behind Hyun-soo.
The wave blocked before him, shielding Hyun-soo.
The whip, sucked into the wave, slowed exponentially.
In Ronso's vision—moving to evade the wave—he saw words etching once more in the air.
Do Not Retreat
Chiiik—
Ronso gnashed his teeth seeing Hyun-soo recover numerous wounds in an instant.
His whip slammed the ground fiercely.
Kwaaaaaaang—
Neutralizes all powers around for 30 seconds.
Cannot use skills.
The wave of light vanished in an instant.
The moment it cleared, Hyun-soo and Ronso clashed.
Kakagang—!
In their endless exchange, Ronso believed he had seized the advantage.
'Without that mysterious power, outworlders are weaklings...'
Kwajik—
Chiiiiiik—!
Ronso, slashed by Hyun-soo, felt the greatest pain he'd ever known.
"Gr, graaaaaaargh!"
This was surely just a normal attack.
Which meant the damage from that unidentified spear utterly defied his common sense.
Moreover, unbeknownst to him.
Damage to evil +450%.
The spear Hyun-soo wielded embodied the essence of the Four Signs Sword.
Plus an added force.
By All Means
Hyun-soo's speed surged exponentially.
Kwajik—
Chwaaaak—
In their fierce exchange, Ronso grew bewildered.
The damage when Hyun-soo struck him far surpassed what his whip inflicted.
The fortunate part was that Ronso's total HP pool was vastly larger.
That was why named NPCs and named monsters overwhelmed same-level users.
They possessed several times more total HP, enduring greater damage.
Clashing with Hyun-soo, Ronso knew he would win.
"Kuhuhuhu, you've lost in the end."
Without the mysterious power controlling it, his spear was merely impotent.
Gazing at Hyun-soo still glaring with unyielding eyes, Ronso savored victory.
He took in the growing wounds and crumbling flesh.
HP falls below 6%
A single spear of irrational power.
Impressive and bizarre.
But factoring in their level gap, the mysterious power, and more—a mere spear couldn't win.
Yet soon Ronso's eyes widened.
HP falls below 2%
Right before Hyun-soo, the final sentence appeared wrapped in light.
I Win
"......!?"
All sentences revealed.
Break but Do Not Yield, Do Not Retreat, By All Means I Win
Ronso took in the brilliantly shining words and mulled them over.
In that moment, Ronso felt it.
"Ghost Step."
The power born from the far superior spirit of this frail, lowly blacksmith who paled in comparison.
Kwajak—
Uujik
Peureok
Karak!
Pipit
Each slash, break, kick, and strike emitted radiant light from the struck area.
And Hyun-soo felt he had reached his physical limits.
But if he couldn't overcome this, 50 soldiers, the Gale Knights, Ballus's blacksmiths, the territory's people, Brelin—all would die.
"I."
Ronso's HP falls below 2%
Perjik!
"By all means."
Ronso's HP falls below 1%
Puuk—!
Ronso, the spear blade embedded in his abdomen, began slowly scattering.
His awe-inspiring words that widened the gap.
"Will become lord."
Ronso.
He began turning to ash and scattering.
The scattering Ronso fixed his gaze on Hyun-soo.
Slumping to his knees, he let out a hollow laugh.
'What nonsense.'
As even his face slowly faded, Ronso thought thus.
'A vessel fit for a king.'
He accepted defeat cleanly.
Hyun-soo staggered but steadied himself.
35 seconds remaining.
Hyun-soo still had places to go.
Outside the castle.
To support his desperately fighting guildmates.
Today was different from usual.
Urgency outweighed anticipation for explosive reward notifications.
Then.
Lord's Mercy
A woman's fingertips touched his back.
Turning, Hyun-soo saw Brelin kneel.
"...I see you, Viscount."
It was perhaps inevitable.
Their statuses had completely changed since they first met.
Soon she spoke.
"...Save your people."
Brelin delegates all lord powers.
At last, Hyun-soo became the master of this land.
Hyun-soo turned.
Now it was time to save his people.