Arte's Aspiration (11)
Dain Slayf, Storm Bringer, Tirving.
The demonic swords are familiar to the masses.
Some swords gained fame from a single novel, while others hail from Norse mythology.
And everyone has heard of them.
The blood-soaked demonic sword.
The sword that drinks blood.
Or the demonic sword that drives its user to ruin but unerringly slays the enemy.
This Tirving was crafted with that motif.
Even as a child, Hyun-soo had encountered and forged various demonic swords.
He wanted to see those special demonic swords from fantasy novels brought to life.
And the power dwelling within this Tirving.
It lay in absorbing all the enemy's blood.
Hyun-soo thought.
'If the source of power is blood, then suck it all in and turn it into my own strength.'
The eighth legend is inscribed.
Tirving, born from the fingertips of the genius blacksmith.
This sword, composed entirely of black light, draws in the blood that Grout summoned with his Blood Festival.
The blood surges into Tirving.
Kurrrr rumble—
Grout had unleashed his peak ultimate ability.
That immense power rampages wildly inside Tirving.
The ground shakes, and the heavens and earth quake.
The black Tirving dyes blood-red like fresh gore.
Blood power accumulates in Tirving.
53%
Blood power accumulates in Tirving.
89%
Blood power accumulates in Tirving.
132%.
Blood power accumulates in Tirving.
Accumulation complete.
583% accumulated.
Grout could see all the blood being sucked into a single sword.
His pupils trembled.
Even the blood—the source of his own power flowing from his body—was being devoured by that demonic sword.
Grout's HP drops below 30%.
Blood Demon Grout Lv.378
Hyun-soo couldn't have imagined it either. When he crafted this sword, he had checked the quest window.
Final Quest: Slay Grout
📍 Rank:SSS
📍 Restriction: The one who triggered the final story
📍 Rewards: Blood Demon's Ring, transcendent story rate, world message
📍 Penalty on Failure: Total annihilation
📍 Description: You have reached the final story of yet another tale. Each stage of another story increases in difficulty. Clearing this final quest will push your story rate beyond imagination.
'There's something even more astonishing.'
All those summoned by Hey Friend, Help Me just moments ago had vanished.
Barad and Ben likely had the highest contributions.
His own share was probably around 20%.
But contribution is redistributed when those around you die or disappear.
In other words, the contribution for hunting Demon Grout would all go to Hyun-soo—100%.
Hyun-soo levels his lowered sword at Grout.
Divide and conquer
"Kill the enemy with the enemy's own power."
A chill ran down Grout's spine. That power that shook the heavens and earth.
Hyun-soo pulls the demonic sword Tirving back behind him and puts strength into his right foot pressing the ground.
"This can't be happeningggg!"
Demon Grout charges. To kill Hyun-soo somehow.
But he senses it.
'This...?'
His body's movements were different from usual. Much slower than before, while Hyun-soo's were faster.
It was only natural.
The current Grout was merely a level 300s boss monster.
Finally, Hyun-soo swings the sword he had pulled back with all his might.
Shwaaaaa—!
A massive volume of blood engulfs a 30-meter radius.
And in a mere 0.1-second instant, it converges above Grout's head.
A small, round blood orb forms.
But like a nuclear bomb, though small, it held the power to destroy everything around it.
Blood Explosion
Unleashes the power of Blood Explosion within a 40m radius, dealing 1,005% additional attack power.
Title: Strongest Single Shot Creator shines.
Double damage applied.
Finally, that small round blood orb slams into Grout.
Kuwaaaaaang—!
With a massive sonic boom, everything around vanishes without a trace.
Hyun-soo knew.
'A power that can never be unleashed again.'
It was possible only by absorbing the Blood Festival.
Within that colossal explosion, Grout couldn't believe it.
'Am I dying to a mere human?'
His eyes shook as his body crumbled to dust and dispersed.
'To a mere blacksmith, no less...?'
With that thought, Grout could think no more.
The last thing he saw was Hyun-soo watching Tirving slowly disintegrate.
Soon, Grout vanished completely.
"Haa... haa."
Hyun-soo's chest burned with hot exhilaration.
He knew.
'No famous ranker in the world has slain a demon yet.'
The rewards for this monumental feat would be unimaginable.
You have hunted Blood Demon Grout.
Acquire 3,310,010 experience.
Hyun-soo doubted his eyes.
'Three million...?'
It was beyond admiration—pure awe.
Moreover, Hyun-soo had been in the 320s.
Hyun-soo gained a total of 13 levels.
'13 levels from the 320s? I've never even heard of a level-up like this...'
And the gold was absurd too.
Acquire 831,689 gold.
Over 800 million won in Korean currency.
The kind of gold you might earn selling a legendary artifact.
The notifications continued for a while.
Especially the artifact Hyun-soo had anticipated was among the rewards.
Legend Grade
Durability: Infinite | Defense: 130
Restriction: Level 330+
Special Abilities:
◈ All stats +2%.
◈ Demonic energy resistance +50%.
◈ Attack power vs. Evil +10%.
◈ Attack power vs. Good +25%.
◈ Passive Skill: Blood Absorption.
Description: The ring worn by Blood Demon Grout. Its power is defined by the single skill, Blood Absorption.
Passive Skill | Level: None
Effects:
◈ Recover HP equal to damage dealt to enemies. (6% chance)
◈ Relieve mental fatigue when dealing damage to enemies. (1% chance)
◈ Applies only to basic attacks.
Hyun-soo was amazed.
A 6% chance on basic attacks might seem low, but the Blood Absorption passive was cheat-level.
Potions couldn't be used recklessly due to cooldowns.
This could be used infinitely, with no potion costs.
And it even recovered HP equal to damage dealt.
Its greatest strength shone against groups.
In battles with multiples, Hyun-soo would continuously heal from the effect.
Final Quest: Slay Grout — Completed with awe-inspiring achievement.
'The story rate must serve as a link to some reward.'
Of course, he didn't know what yet.
But a higher story rate would greatly benefit him.
Especially since the quest reward listed "transcendent story rate."
He couldn't even fathom how much that would be.
Notifications kept coming.
Story rate additionally accrued for progressively advancing another story.
'Oh...!'
Linked Quest: Blood Demon Grout Fragment
Story rate +10%.
Linked Quest: Onrushing Monsters
Story rate +10%.
Total additional 20% accrual.
Hyun-soo's total story rate now exceeded 90%.
Then another notification arrived.
Story rate accrued for Final Quest: Slay Grout.
The system acknowledges your astonishing feat.
Your level difference with Grout is over 200 levels.
Additional story rate accrued accordingly.
Story rate +20%.
Finally, the story rate for the final quest arrived.
Story rate accrued for slaying Blood Demon Grout.
Story rate...
Hyun-soo doubted his eyes.
The numbers seemed unreal.
But he soon understood.
Hyun-soo was low-level, and no high ranker could have cleared it.
Plus, it was an SSS-rank quest.
Equivalent to the quests for becoming a legend.
SSS quests had been cleared fewer than 10 times ever.
'This is my achievement.'
The activation of the incredible Hey Friend, Help Me.
The Ghost Step powered by the Karma skill.
All rewards for the path Hyun-soo had walked.
Congratulations.
You are the first user to successfully hunt a demon.
World message.
Your achievement will be announced to all users worldwide.
Choose anonymous, desired name, or character name.
Hyun-soo closed his eyes briefly, thinking.
World messages could be anonymous or use a character name.
He could hide his identity here.
There was a reason for considering it.
'People don't know yet that Crazy Rookie and Hyun are the same person.'
Revealing blacksmith Hyun's strength could be risky.
But he soon smiled, having sorted his thoughts.
'No, that won't happen.'
The puzzle in Hyun-soo's mind clicked into place.
And he needed it.
'The power this world message brings.'
Hyun-soo was resolute.
The world message echoed across the world under the name of blacksmith Hyun.
Lee Se-jin, on his way to the airport, stops the car.
Watching the anchor's words on the billboard and the world message ticker below, Se-jin marvels.
He asks Tae-seok his most pressing question.
"How much story rate did he achieve?"
Tae-seok's voice comes through soon.
- 234%.
Se-jin is stunned.
Story rate is harder to accrue than regular quest percentages.
When a normal quest gives 2%, story rate gives 1%.
Story rate for Slay Grout: a whopping 120%.
Se-jin couldn't imagine it.
He had anticipated Hyun-soo's rewards.
Where would Arte, with nowhere to go, bestow additional rewards?
'The transcendent percentage hints at extra rewards from someone.'
Of course, high freedom meant it might not happen.
'What on earth could he gain?'
Shifting thoughts.
'How did user Hyun slay a demon?'
He deemed it impossible by common sense.
Soon, he learns about the skill he created.
Se-jin's hand holding the phone trembles faintly.
Sword King Barad, Spear Heaven Ben.
Bella and Gwangmyeong members summoned simultaneously.
A unique-grade skill with penalties.
He wonders.
'Who could dare call Barad and Spear Heaven Ben "close friends" and summon them?'
Only Hyun-soo.
He had to admit it.
'It was user Hyun-soo's power. No balance break or anything.'
Se-jin boards the car.
Heading to the airport, he thinks.
'Why did user Hyun use his own name for the world message?'
A double-edged sword for him now.
Se-jin knows he hides his identity.
After pondering.
'Users won't think Hyun did it.'
He smiles faintly.
'What a clever user.'
Se-jin boards the plane.
In first class, he closes his eyes.
A strange smile plays on his lips.
'User Hyun has more rewards coming.'
Se-jin deliberately hadn't checked them yet.
The plane flies for 12 hours.
'The world's in chaos by now.'
Across the globe.
On one hand, Se-jin is proud of Hyun-soo.
After landing and boarding another car.
Se-jin finally checks the auction house for what he anticipated and awaited.
"Insane...!"
He blurts out in shock unwittingly.
What he sees.
Hyun's Forge subscriber count, explosively risen in just 12 hours.
It had surged to a truly mad degree.