Continental War (5)
Attack skill usage is controlled for 2 hours.
This is the power of the Poison King Riu. You cannot resist.
Hyun-soo felt the poison spreading through his body after being slashed by the spear wielded by Poison King Riu.
By the time he returned to the fortress, the poison had spread throughout, making attack skills impossible to use.
Hyun-soo immediately moved.
Was he running away?
No.
Crackle—
Hyun-soo had fought directly against Fond, Riu, and the Chinese users.
And he felt it.
'Each one of them matches our guild members—no, they're even stronger.'
All of the vanguard, without exception.
The moment he fought there, he realized one thing.
'We're going to lose.'
It rang in his ears.
As always, Hyun-soo found a way.
He wasn't running away.
The place he entered was a forge hidden in an unseen spot of the fortress.
He pulled out the Twin Dragon Swords.
'This time, let's make it for real.'
Custom Repair allowed recreation.
'Twelve turtle ships.'
He thought maybe that could be the variable here.
Fond was someone who needed to be restrained.
Normally, he might have questioned why they were holding back the great Fond.
But this was the Continental War, an event broadcast live worldwide.
Every action drew criticism, every word sparked controversy.
That was why Zhuge had been playing the role of restraint.
The moment Zhuge died—believing he'd been mocked by Crazy Rookie—Fond became unrestrained.
Like a tyrant.
"All troops, equip the weapons supplied by Wang Gang!"
Clack, clatter-clatter, clatter-clatter—
The Chinese users began arming themselves with absurd artifacts.
Fond's weapon was a legendary artifact, no less.
And in total, six more legends appeared among the users.
But the real surprise was this.
Fond wore a thick smile.
It was China's scheme.
They leaked 200 to the media, then supplied uniques from all their forges.
In other words, China had staked everything on this Continental War.
"Woooaaahhh!"
"Waaaahhhh—!"
Fond crossed the bridge.
Originally, Zhuge had planned it for maximum efficiency in victory.
But victory was victory, efficiency or not.
After crossing, he whipped his eyes around.
'Where the hell did that bastard go?'
Crazy Rookie had vanished.
But soon, his lips tore into a grin.
"Hyun's Forge is truly laughable!"
He was using the shallow knowledge he'd learned from Zhuge: public opinion manipulation.
"China's blacksmiths gave their all for their country. What have you done!?"
His gaze fell on a woman named Nel.
The commentators panicked.
But that was exactly what Fond had aimed for.
"Hyun's Forge is just an individual. This is the clear limit of individuals, proof that your subscriber count is fake!"
It was persuasive, and viewers agreed.
He was shifting the blame for Korea's defeat onto Hyun's Forge.
Meanwhile, Chinese users began clashing with the walls.
And massive spells hammered the fortress.
Kaboooom—!
Krrrrrack—!
The wall's durability dropped rapidly.
Korean users popped out here and there to respond, but they were swept away by the overwhelmingly strong artifacts—and levels—of the Chinese users.
The reason Fond said such things was to crush Hyun's Forge.
Having lost to Crazy Rookie, this was the only way to vent.
Kabooom—!
Fond madly slashed through Korean users.
He was nearing the gates.
Fond thought that once the Continental War ended, Hyun's Forge subscribers would drain away like the tide.
Hyun's Forge subscribers weren't truly global.
The 3.7 to 4.5 million were mostly Korean.
And Koreans united well.
A boycott could halve them.
It was a petty revenge indeed.
Then.
"...You're in big trouble for saying that."
Fond looked up at Nel.
She gazed down from the wall with a troubled expression.
Fond slashed another approaching user.
Then Nel said something odd.
"Because of you, our people are going to get even more fired up."
What nonsense?
"Who said Hyun's Forge is an individual forge? Sorry, but we're not an individual forge."
Fond's eyes wavered.
'Not an individual forge...?'
Something was going wrong.
Two weeks before the Continental War began, Hyun-soo called blacksmith Per.
'Tell all the blacksmiths to make only composite bows and baby arrows.'
Hyun's Forge had 500 elite blacksmiths, all trained by Hyun-soo himself.
Their skills ranged from advanced to supreme blacksmiths.
They dove into producing top-tier composite bows and arrows.
While the Chinese lines were thrown into chaos by Hyun-soo's intrusion, the blacksmiths of Hyun's Forge prepared atop the walls.
"Baby arrows made by Hyun's Forge for sale~ Bargain prices, bargain~!"
"How much per shot?"
"50 gold~!"
Users were stunned.
"B-bargain? That's ten times pricier than regular arrows!"
50,000 won per shot. What insane pricing?
"Wanna check it out?"
Users who inspected it went wide-eyed.
The penetration was nearly double that of regular arrows. They'd never seen such ridiculous arrows.
"Still, ten times..."
"Don't you know weapons cost more in war? Think about it. Shoot this, take down Chinese users?"
Nod.
"Whole nation cheers?"
Nod.
"You become a hero?"
Nod.
"We might win?"
Nod.
"Still not buying?"
"40 shots please."
"50 here!"
Elsewhere.
"Epic to unique composite bows from Hyun's Forge~ Lots of other masterpieces by Hyun's Forge blacksmiths, bargain, bargain!"
These were over 40% pricier too.
But note this: Korea's top rankers were here.
To them, it was pocket change.
They bought the bows and arrows made in Ballus Territory.
And this effect triggered.
Accuracy +6%, Penetration +8%.
They were speechless in shock.
Also, Commander I-hwan had just returned from fighting over 200 Chinese users below.
He felt his limits acutely.
'At this rate, we won't last 2 hours. If only we had a greatsword...'
I-hwan was a greatsword user. But he wielded a legendary longsword now.
Because the legendary outclassed a low-grade greatsword.
Then Nel approached.
"The guild master said to lend it out for a rental fee."
"Rental fee? How much?"
"20,000 gold."
"...?"
I-hwan was baffled.
Even for him, earning hundreds of billions yearly, it was absurd.
20 million won to rent, not buy?
"What the... Hmm...?"
I-hwan inspected the greatsword labeled Twin Dragon Swords and gasped.
"I'll rent it."
"Oh, it's per hour."
20 million per hour. Daylight robbery.
But I-hwan had no choice but to rent it, gritting his teeth.
'What kind of person is Hyun, exactly...'
I-hwan was genuinely impressed.
Anyway, Hyun's Forge and Korean users had waited for the Chinese to push deeper, in greater numbers.
And Nel had bought time talking to Fond, creating this situation.
"...?"
Fond looked perplexed.
Just moments ago, archers on the walls firing regular arrows had switched to composite bows and baby arrows.
And Nel said coldly.
"This is it."
Fond's face twisted grotesquely.
"The reason we took out Zhuge, China's brain, first."
Yes. Nel was certain Zhuge wouldn't have allowed this recklessness.
Hundreds of baby arrows launched simultaneously.
Whiiiish—!
Boooom—!
One direct hit sent a user flying 7 meters.
"Gaaahhh!"
"...?"
The rain of baby arrows that saved little Joseon poured down.
Arrows should go thunk.
But Chinese users doubted their ears at the sounds.
Krrrrsh, kaboom, booom, krunch, kaboom—!
"U, uwaaaah!"
"Kuhahaha—!"
"Keurghhh!"
Dozens flew into the air.
They were uniques head to toe, so not devastating damage.
But this volley inflicted massive, unexpected losses. Fact.
And.
"Let's go."
Creeeak.
Thud—
The gates opened, and I-hwan, gripping the Twin Dragon Swords, advanced with Korean users.
"Woooaaahhh!"
Chinese and Korean users clashed evenly.
Viewers went wild at the sight of neither side yielding an inch.
But Nel thought, watching.
'How long can they hold...?'
3 hours? 4?
Even if even now, Korea would eventually be overwhelmed by the level gap.
At that moment.
Hyun-tae remembered everything Hyun-soo had told him.
His doctor, Jin-seop, once said a tiny fraction of patients could hear people.
Kang Hyun-tae was one.
At his wish to see Hyun-soo, blacksmith Ren brought him to the lord's castle.
Lord Bans flung open the gates to the world beyond, guiding him out.
Lord Bans and Hyun-soo still exchanged letters.
Nothing special. Just recent updates on Hyun-soo's life.
Those helped.
Bans sent a falcon, arranging meetings with the Sword King—a sturdy, heroic figure—and Ben.
"Hyun-soo shoved his father right in our faces."
"Heh heh, glad we could meet like this."
They weren't people just anyone could meet. True.
But bound by friendship with Hyun-soo.
They rushed at the thought of fulfilling their old friend's long-cherished wish.
"Hyun-soo is at the outsiders' festival now. But strong power bars most from entering."
Hyun-tae asked in a panicked voice.
"...So I can't see my son?"
The Sword King and Spear Heaven exchanged glances.
"We'll get you in somehow. Don't worry."
"Letting one person in is nothing."
Hyun-tae smiled broadly at the pair. In the carriage, he headed to his son.
Passing forges outside.
Hyun-soo's words before the Continental War echoed.
'Dad, I want to be a cool guy too. People believed in me and followed. But in that war, I don't know how far I can go.'
His son Hyun-soo always found ways.
Even he was afraid. It couldn't be helped.
The world had things you wanted but couldn't do.
'I'll do my best. I'll end it cool and come back, so watch me.'
Hyun-tae asked Ben across from him.
"Can I borrow pen and paper?"
Ben handed them over.
Scratch-scratch-scratch—
Ben was amazed at the quick, precise drawings.
'I've seen Hyun-soo draw blueprints.'
His father was far faster and more precise. Curious, Ben asked.
"What are you drawing?"
Hyun-tae smiled faintly and answered.
"The blueprint for the Twin Dragon Swords."
The carriage neared the Continental War battlefield.