Reinforcement (1)
Ares' exclusive daily publication, World Ares, wielded tremendous influence.
The World Ares daily covered stories from around the globe each time.
As a result, a significant portion of Ares players worldwide made it a point to check out World Ares.
And in Washington, where the headquarters of World Ares stood.
In the conference room, one woman spoke up.
"Hyun has climbed into the top 100 as a blacksmith, second only to the legendary Smith."
Deputy Editor Hanna was remarkably young.
Having navigated elite career paths, she eyed Hyun's name among this year's selected top 100 users on the screen.
She reviewed the report's details on him as well.
The staffer who had nominated him chimed in.
"That's right. Honestly, we initially felt that even ringing a legend above legend world message once and topping the time-attack rankings fell a bit short."
The reason? Hyun's face wasn't public knowledge.
For the top 100 selection, unknowns had a vanishingly low chance of making the cut.
Had his face been known, it would've been far easier.
"But the world message from his demon hunt was enough to secure him a spot in this year's top 100."
"An excellent choice."
Hanna nodded firmly.
"Korea finally has its first top 100 user. This blacksmith Hyun must have racked up a ton of subscribers by now."
Thud.
She closed the report.
"Of course, whether he holds on next year remains to be seen."
Interlocking her fingers, she cut to the chase.
"Two months left this year, and there's one thing we need to focus on."
World Ares had something everyone fixated on.
The world's most influential 100 users? That was mere groundwork for it.
"Who will claim the title of the world's most influential player this year."
World Ares selected the top 100 most influential users in October.
And in December.
The single most influential user in the world.
Hanna glanced at the screen listing the 100 users' names.
Arranged like a pyramid, the pinnacle bore the name of the world's most famous ranker.
"Bahala. He's held the top spot for three straight years. And yes, I acknowledge—he deserves it."
Hanna sounded wistful.
"That's exactly why it's boring. If he wins again this year, people will stop looking forward to the most influential player at all."
It was the natural progression.
"World Ares needs a new number one."
The issue? They couldn't manufacture that number one themselves.
Everyone in the room wore expressions of agreement.
Endlessly recycling the same name, and readers would just shrug: Oh, it's that guy again anyway.
"If a new number one emerges now, the impact would eclipse even Bahala's three-year reign—especially if they had star power to boot."
"Inevitably so. Toppling Bahala after three years at the top? That title alone would be monumental."
Hanna nodded again.
"Exactly. And the less likely the candidate, the bigger the explosion. Take Hyun from just now, for example."
She lifted the report she'd just closed.
"Truth be told, even if Hyun crafts another legend above legend, he can't claim number one—it's already been done. But if he pulls off something utterly unimaginable? That could open the door."
Who would deliver that unimaginable feat?
"An utterly unforeseen player becoming number one? How thrilling would that be?"
People would flock to World Ares.
And that number one would seize immense power.
But it was all wishful thinking.
After the meeting ended, Hanna headed out.
She entered her deputy editor's office and sank into her chair.
"Just two months left, huh..."
Muttering to herself, she soon chuckled softly.
She'd said it moments ago.
How fun it would be if an unforeseen player snagged number one.
She'd cited Hyun as an example.
No grand intent.
She'd just mentioned him since they were discussing his story.
So now, she imagined it with Hyun.
What if he became number one?
Before the meeting, she'd heard his forge was nearing the top spot in Korean blacksmith subscribers.
"...If he became number one, subscriber numbers in Korea wouldn't even be an issue?"
Of course, it was a meaningless fancy.
It was an incredibly tough feat.
And there weren't many ways to make it happen for Hyun.
Suddenly, Deputy Editor Hanna's gaze drifted to one wall.
Her office featured a pyramid chart of the top 100 users, mirroring the screen.
At the very bottom sat Hyun's name.
Hyun-soo woke up refreshed after a deep sleep and munched on cereal.
The TV droned with news.
Me making World Ares' top 100? And my forge is basically number one in Korean blacksmith subscribers.
It was incredible.
His name was still popping up all over Korea.
Hyun-soo had come a long way, no doubt.
But watching the news, he pondered.
How thrilling would it be to become World Ares' selected number one?
He differed from most.
Not jealousy or envy or finger-pointing—he pondered how he could reach that spot and pressed on.
The demon hunt was an amazing feat. But it wasn't my perfect achievement.
Hyun-soo had contributed only about 30% to actually slaying Grout.
Without Barad and Ben, it would've been a pipe dream.
Finishing his cereal, Hyun-soo stood.
He needed to advance further.
Logging into Ares.
Emerging in his atelier, Hyun-soo headed straight for the forge.
The easiest way for him to advance.
Blacksmithing, of course.
He pulled the Saga Stone from his inventory and gazed at it.
Hyun-soo's path to legend.
Create a grade that doesn't exist in this world.
And he thought.
The first such grade.
"Would that get me even close to number one?"
He gave a wry smile.
Of course, he didn't know what ripple it might cause.
And that was only if he succeeded.
Hyun-soo pocketed the Saga Stone.
He hadn't decided what to craft yet.
This time, he'd come here to grow stronger.
He drew out another ore.
This one came from Demon Grout himself.
But it wasn't for artifact crafting.
This was a reinforcement stone.
Artifact reinforcement.
Dozens of years ago, many RPGs featured reinforcement systems.
Using reinforcement stones or scrolls to enhance artifacts.
The one Hyun-soo obtained was called Black Forge Stone.
◈ Reinforcement success rate 200%+ higher than standard stones.
◈ Artifacts never evaporate on failure.
◈ +1 to +3 reinforcement possible.
◈ Works on any grade artifact.
◈ Superior to standard reinforcement effects.
Hyun-soo had eight Black Forge Stones.
This is a jackpot reinforcement stone.
First off, 99% of Ares reinforcement stones destroyed the artifact on failure.
Second, standard stones offered only +1 per use.
Blessed stones sold for 2 million won each allowed up to +2.
But Black Forge Stones went to +3 per stone.
Plus, failure rates skyrocketed with higher-grade artifacts.
According to the official Ares site, if a normal-grade artifact had a 50% success rate unenhanced, unique was a mere 2%.
And no risk of losing the artifact that players fear most.
Reinforcement was the simplest path to better artifacts.
Yet most players avoided it.
The risk of losing valuables.
But Black Forge Stones only consumed the material—no artifact loss.
With 200% higher success odds than standard.
One drawback, though.
Reinforcement isn't determined by skill.
Pure luck.
Place stone on artifact, hammer down—attempt made.
But here, Hyun-soo had a new idea.
It's still just an ore.
The Black Forge Stone he examined was riddled with impurities.
For testing, he tossed one into the furnace.
Melted it down, purified the hardened impurities.
And then.
You have removed impurities from the Black Forge Stone.
The Black Forge Stone's effects are now vastly superior.
Eureka!
Hyun-soo marveled.
◈ Reinforcement success rate 250%+ higher than standard stones.
◈ Artifacts never evaporate on failure.
◈ +1 to +4 reinforcement possible.
◈ Works on any grade artifact.
◈ Superior to standard reinforcement effects.
Something ordinary users couldn't achieve.
Their skills lacked smelting or purifying reinforcement stones.
A whopping 50% probability boost, and +4 per stone now.
Hyun-soo refined and purified the rest.
Next, he placed the Supreme Sword on the anvil.
Hyun-soo tensed.
How far can it go? +2? No, even +1 would satisfy me.
This was Supreme Sword reinforcement.
The value of enhancing a top-tier, rare artifact was immense.
For instance, long ago in Ragnarok Online, reinforcing a Supreme Sword-grade item had fetched astronomical sums.
"Whew. Let's do this."
He poured his skill into perfection.
Now, only luck remained.
Reinforcement hinged entirely on the user's fortune.
But one force backed him.
You possess the Blacksmith of God title.
Reinforcement success rate +50%.
Hyun-soo hammered down with anticipation.
Reinforcement failed.
"Once is fine."
Seven left still.
Second attempt right away.
Clang-!
Reinforcement failed.
"...?"
Third.
Cclang-!
Reinforcement failed.
Fourth.
Reinforcement failed.
Reinforcement failed.
Reinforcement failed.
"Ugh..."
Hyun-soo staggered. Seven of his precious eight Black Forge Stones—each worth at least ten million won—vanished in a flash.
But there was some consolation.
It's not my skill at fault.
Bad luck in a luck-based shit game?
Hyun-soo's luck sucked.
Plus, normal artifacts at 50%, unique at 2%.
Legends maybe 1%, legend above legend in decimals.
Dreaming of reinforced Supreme Sword but no dice—unavoidable.
No known reinforced legend-grade artifacts even existed.
Hyun-soo calmed himself and hammered the last stone.
...I'll get something like this again someday. Keep trying then, over and over.
He dialed back expectations, relaxed.
Then.
Cclang-
A brilliant light erupted from the Supreme Sword, flooding the entire forge.
I've never seen light burst like this...
Hyun-soo had watched reinforcement videos.
A faint glow at most—not engulfing the whole forge.
Success notifications varied too.
Standard: Shines.
Good: Shines brightly.
Excellent: Shines brilliantly.
But this?
The Supreme Sword shines most radiantly.
Hyun-soo swallowed dryly and checked the Supreme Sword.