Sword Sage Laisen (1)
Hyun-soo returned home.
He immediately sat down at his computer and meticulously checked what the Continental War entailed.
'A territory war between two nations broadcast to the entire world.'
Players around the globe enjoyed Ares.
According to the experts' articles, the hype would rival the World Cup or Olympics.
Every participant would receive some reward, varying wildly based on accumulated contributions.
'There's even rewards for guilds.'
For individual players, it was MVP status.
And if a guild took first place, they could claim a territory.
"A territory twice the size of Ballus?"
Hyun-soo caught on quick.
The top guilds in Korea would surely join in droves.
He called Nel.
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
They'd already discussed it in the meeting room, and it seemed they'd made up their minds.
"Does that scare you?"
Nel's voice came through laced with laughter at his teasing tone.
Hyun-soo and the members of Hyun's Forge had drawn 2.2 million viewers with just an internet broadcast recently.
But this was different.
It wouldn't stop at 2.2 million—it would be on a whole other level.
Hyun-soo declared,
"Hyun's Forge will join the Continental War in 14 days. Double down on preparations."
Hyun-soo logged into Ares.
He needed to prepare for the Continental War in 14 days too.
'A feast for high-rankers...'
The average level of the top 100 high-rankers was in the 360s to 370s.
Nearly 30 levels above Hyun-soo on average.
Sure, Hyun-soo was strong for his level, but whether that held up against high-rankers was anyone's guess.
High-rankers weren't just high-leveled—most had exceptional control skills too.
No matter how superior Hyun-soo's artifacts were.
But that's when another thought crossed his mind.
'What if I become a Calamity...'?
Then things would change.
No player had ever become a Calamity.
But reaching that point would obviously make him stronger than now.
So during these 14 days of prep, Hyun-soo planned to tackle two things.
'Create a Calamity unique to me. And forge the offensive Twin Dragon Swords too.'
Hyun-soo pulled out the Twin Dragon Swords.
Twin Dragon Swords for everyone.
They were undeniably the finest swords possible.
But they fell short when it came to attacking enemies.
Besides, the true path to transcendence for Hyun-soo lay in crafting offensive Twin Dragon Swords at the same quality as the buff versions.
The Twin Dragon Swords only revealed their full power when paired.
'But I don't know how to make the other Twin Dragon Swords.'
He did know how to make the first ones, though.
So he formed a hypothesis.
'What if I base it on the first Twin Dragon Swords but infuse offensive power? And shape the appearance to lean more toward offense?'
'If I can make real offensive Twin Dragon Swords on par with the buffs... what happens then?'
Hyun-soo couldn't even imagine the power.
One caveat, though.
'No Saga Stone.'
Two weeks left.
Generous if generous, short if short.
'Wasting Saga Stone on experiments isn't right.'
He only had enough left for one greatsword anyway.
So he'd use prime ores for offensive Twin Dragon Swords first, build confidence, then try Saga Stone.
'Order's set.'
No confidence in Twin Dragon Swords yet.
But total confidence in creating a Calamity.
Your unique Calamity will become a power solely for you, and you can create and apply it to yourself anytime.
Calamity.
The ones Hyun-soo had faced each had unique traits.
Fifth Calamity: telekinesis.
Fourth: flight.
Second: slashing through anything.
First: impenetrable defense.
A Calamity's power manifested as their unique trait.
He read the detailed description before creating.
Creation attempts: 1. Creating an absurd Calamity will cause it to vanish.
The power it bestows depends on how well it suits you.
A Calamity's power was Legend grade.
But as the alert said, it varied by how the user shaped it.
Hyun-soo was cautious.
This could become Sword King's Sword gone wild or Heavenly Spear's Ghost Step.
A sudden pressure weighed on him.
'I could wield power on par with those legends?'
Hyun-soo was a perfectionist when crafting artifacts, and that trait defined him overall.
He ran through skills in his mind.
'If I twist this like that...'
'No, it's lacking. Can't compare to Ghost Step.'
'Infuse this power, and I could rival His Highness Barad...'
His breath caught.
It happened often lately.
Maybe from chasing perfection too hard.
His gaze fell on the Twin Dragon Swords nearby.
"......"
Staring at them, he recalled the battle with Helinya.
Know thyself, know thy enemy.
Hyun-soo had one certainty now.
'Most won't expect much from me in the Continental War.'
Even as Goyad's savior, the war would overflow with high-rankers.
Average high-ranker level: 360s-370s.
Hyun-soo was nearly 30 levels below.
'In that case...'
Calamity creation used hologram input.
Like the varied traits of past Calamities.
A new Calamity differentiated from others.
Judged most suitable for you now.
A Calamity is their unique trait.
Your color is perfect.
The black-tainted Calamity forms power within you.
Hyun-soo marveled.
The Calamity he'd envisioned coiled in his body, finally complete.
You have created your unique Calamity.
A Calamity is power bestowed by the Calamity Church.
Name forcibly assigned.
Acquired Calamity Demonization.
Hyun-soo was baffled.
'What? This is so unhelpful.'
He couldn't name the power himself.
Based on the Calamity Church lore, it granted his desired power but forced the name.
And Demonization.
That name threw him off.
Players with demon or demonic powers faced penalties.
Acquired Calamity.
Your alignment begins to darken with Evil.
This was unacceptable for Hyun-soo.
He quickly checked the Demonization power.
'Insane...!'
It was extraordinary.
But if he kept it now, his alignment might fully turn Evil.
Caught between a rock and a hard place.
Se-jin gazed at the current Hyun-soo with a question mark.
'Can player Hyun-soo be a variable in the Continental War?'
Not as a Korean, but from his overseeing position.
The answer was no.
Current Hyun-soo couldn't shake things up.
"For now, that is."
The future was unknown.
And Se-jin already knew.
"That player Hyun-soo would create a Calamity."
But the Calamities and their church were cruel.
'The power born from a Calamity is immensely strong. The issue is they taint you with their kind in exchange.'
Player Hyun-soo had to choose.
Embrace Evil alignment and grow stronger?
Or abandon the Calamity?
But upon reviewing Demonization, Se-jin marveled.
'...Incredible.'
The Calamities weren't good folk, but this power alone might make Evil alignment worth it.
That was how potent Demonization was.
Then.
'Hm...?'
[...Energy flows.]
Se-jin was shocked.
Something he'd long overlooked stirred in Hyun-soo.
'Wait, if this is the variable...?'
Se-jin foresaw Hyun-soo's choice.
The Hyun-soo he knew would abandon the Calamity to preserve his alignment.
'But if he stabilizes it this way...?'
He revised his initial question.
Could player Hyun-soo be a variable in the Continental War?
'Yes, if this works. If he gains that Calamity through it.'
Veins in his arm swelled black.
Hyun-soo, face pale with shock, felt demonic energy invading his body.
Abandon Demonization to halt the Evil alignment shift.
The Demonization he'd crafted himself was exactly the power he needed now.
'A buff that transcends me, even if briefly.'
Like other Calamities' strengths.
Using Demonization, it exploded his power instead of burning life force.
Soon, Hyun-soo's expression eased.
'...Better to abandon it.'
Pursuing it risked losing far more.
He couldn't imagine the consequences of Evil alignment.
"Abandon..."
At that moment.
Hyun-soo felt a warm energy spreading from deep in his chest.
Soft and nurturing, like a mother's touch.
Saint's energy flows.
"...!?"
Saint's power.
He'd received the Saint's blessing from Aria after slaying the fifth Calamity Jack.
His holy power had surged over 250, enabling holy-infused artifacts.
In other words, holy power coursed through Hyun-soo.
A massive blessing from the Saintess herself.
Black-tainted Calamity flows.
White-tainted goodness flows.
Saint's energy drives it out, transforming it into warm energy instead.
Evil cannot overcome the Good within you.
A special event occurs.
Calamity Church-forced Calamity Demonization is reborn.
Reborn.
A new power based on what Hyun-soo created.
And Hyun-soo was speechless.
Because the new power surpassed the Demonization he'd just checked.
Acquired Legend skill: Flame.
A group arrived at Ballus Territory.
Leading them was Laisen, head of Goyad Kingdom's greatest swordsmanship family.
Following were rising stars from elite knight families.
Brown Swordsmanship Family head Laisen was a kingdom-renowned powerhouse, dubbed Sword Sage Laisen.
"His Majesty has chosen an heir. Paying respects to our future lord is only right, as is a noble duel between knights."
"Indeed."
"Can't wait."
"Sword Sage Laisen versus the king's heir!"
The future heirs' eyes sparkled.
They didn't know Laisen's dark intentions.
He'd been one of Barad's heir candidates.
'A mere blacksmith, daring to...?'
Why else bring these future heads?
He was cunning.
He'd already gauged Hyun-soo's prowess.
Confident of total victory.
He planned to crush him before these dozens of heirs.
Thus, Laisen and his group entered Ballus Territory.
Meeting Hyun-soo at the forge, Laisen faltered.
If his companions were players, he'd have said,
'Bro, that guy's smiling?'
Yes. Hyun-soo welcomed them with arms wide.
Thrilled to test his new skill.