Reunion (6)
Before the continental war began, Nel visited Hyun-soo as he attempted to craft the offensive Twin Dragon Swords.
"Poison King Riu is someone who can summon a hydra—a named legendary monster with tremendous power."
At the time, even if Hyun's Forge participated in the continental war, the impact they could make wasn't that great.
Thus, Nel, the brains of Hyun's Forge, had analyzed all the standout traits of top Chinese users.
"Whether Riu actually summons the hydra is uncertain."
Even in a continental war, it was Poison King Riu's trump card, and he wouldn't use it lightly if he thought he could win without it.
Continental wars were broadcast worldwide, so top rankers tended to hide their full power.
Hyun-soo grew serious.
"If that hydra spews poison at Korean users..."
The aftermath was unimaginable. But Nel gave a wry smile.
"Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any solid counter to the hydra."
At that moment, a special power Hyun-soo had never once used flashed through his mind.
It was the power of Absolute Domination dwelling in the Calamity Necklace.
Grade: Legend
Level: 1
Penalty: None
Mana Cost: 2,500
Effects:
• Instantly brainwashes and subjugates monsters.
• Subjugated monsters' minds are dominated by you, acting as you desire.
• Even monsters 200+ levels higher can be mentally dominated for a few seconds.
• Weaker monsters: ~3 minutes. Similar strength: ~1 minute.
• Requires incantation.
• Special events may occur.
Absolute Domination was a skill Hyun-soo had never used even once.
Moreover, since the Calamity Necklace was from the jewelry crafting field—completely unrelated to blacksmithing—he couldn't even modify it.
'It has clear drawbacks.'
The domination time was too short, and to compensate, the mana cost was a whopping 2,500.
2,500 mana was enormous.
Controlling a single monster around his level would cost more than it gained.
"What if we use this power?"
Nel, who had received the skill info, marveled.
"It's brilliant in one way, but lacking as a Legend skill in another. Still, it could definitely be a game-changer. But I've never seen you use it?"
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
The first reason was that he'd never felt the need to use it.
The second was this.
"The incantation's too embarrassing."
Some skills required incantations to activate.
"What's the incantation?"
Nel soon heard it and smiled wryly herself.
"It's cringy and cheesy at first glance, but if you use it right in the moment, it'd be insanely cool. I know you, Lord Hyun-soo—you're great at that kind of thing."
Using the incantation aptly in context would make it cool; Hyun-soo had agreed back then.
On screens watched by viewers worldwide, the legendary monster hydra appeared.
Viewers doubted their eyes.
The sheer wonder of a single user summoning a hydra—the child of the divine beast hydra, a legendary monster.
High-level monsters like hydras were rare even in footage.
Kiiheeeek—!
Kiihiiiiiik—!
Kyaha aaaaak—!
The hydra's majesty—nine snake heads atop a 7-meter body—captivated viewers.
Some noticed this scene would surely make the continental war highlights.
Many viewers weren't cheering for either side; they were just here for the spectacle.
They anticipated Hyun-soo getting wrecked by the hydra's overwhelming status effect on debut.
[Hydra's Fury]
[Enemies lose momentum before the legendary monster and freeze.]
[Stunned for 2 seconds; poison fills the body, blood flows from eyes, ears, nose, mouth.]
They didn't know the truth.
The broadcast showed Hyun-soo widening his eyes in surprise at the hydra, then smirking.
Not flinching before the hydra's intense pressure.
Even looking up at the vastly larger beast, Hyun-soo swung his arm.
[Title's First Legend Shines.]
[One Legend cannot suppress another Legend.]
Viewers were shocked. Reversals were what entertained them.
Poison breath gathered in the hydra's nine heads' mouths.
As it prepared to fire, Hyun-soo leaped into the air.
Viewers worldwide were entranced.
One reason for their immersion: Master Craftsman Hyun living up to his title of "First Legend."
184cm tall frame in a blood-soaked brown coat.
A stylish Twin Dragon Sword dangling from his scarred right hand, black Calamity artifact armor and boots.
Sharp nose bridge, soft jawline, subtle double eyelids.
His enviable looks drew the world in.
The hydras tried to blast their breath at the one defying their power.
Then.
Ku uu uu ung—
The hydra's body stiffened under immense pressure.
Before the eyes of the world, Hyun-soo gripped the Calamity Necklace in his left hand, staring at the nine heads.
"Thou, kneel before me."
It was embarrassing, no doubt.
But words shift with context.
The hydra heads, crushed by Hyun-soo's pressure from those words.
Their yellow slit pupils turned black.
As if kneeling, they whipped around, blasting breath at the Chinese users.
Puh hwaa a a ak—!
The nine heads' simultaneous poison rose like smoke from spilled acid.
And Hyun-soo issued his final command.
Whipping back to him, the hydra heads slammed their jaws into the ground in atonement.
Kwa a a a ang!
Kwang, kwang, kwaa ang—!!
The legendary monster hydra twitched intermittently, heads buried in the earth.
Hyun-soo recalled Nel's words from before.
Well-timed lines hit harder.
Though clearly Legend-grade, Absolute Domination could only control the hydra for 5 seconds.
Perhaps the worst power imaginable.
A Legend that lasted just 5 seconds?
But in that instant of activation, he twisted it for maximum efficiency.
Thus, he declared:
"Artifacts aren't just used—they're exploited."
Coming from the Master Craftsman, it resonated deeply with viewers.
Many, fully captivated, became fans of this man named Hyun.
There was another power drawing viewers to him.
He kept turning crises into opportunities.
One viewer remarked:
Others reacted:
Like that retort, viewers already knew the world's reaction.
"U, uwaaa aak!"
"Kuh u u uk!"
"Why, why is the hydra suddenly attacking us?!"
The melee users who'd pressured Hyun-soo moments ago.
[Damage per second: 23,312]
[Attack speed & movement speed -30%]
They couldn't help but be bewildered by the sudden turn.
Riu, watching from behind, shouted urgently.
"Get out of there, now!!!!"
"...Pardon?"
"...?"
The roughly 28 melee users, poisoned and confused, forgot about the wildcard named Hyun.
Their HP had already plummeted below 30% from direct hydra poison hits.
Yet just 15 seconds ago, they'd overwhelmed him with numbers.
The questioning user soon felt himself unable to move.
Immense pressure surged.
Ku hooo o o o—!
It stemmed from the one-of-a-kind Transcendent artifact and the Sword King's teachings.
Earlier, with HP over 50%, their high HP pools and defenses had let them survive. But now?
Hyun-soo, gripping the Twin Dragon Swords two-handed, fixed his fierce gaze on the 28 Chinese users.
"N-no way?"
"This can't be real!?"
Terror filled their eyes.
Like cubs thinking themselves kings, only to face a true tiger.
Hyun-soo thrust the 900-attack Twin Dragon Swords with both hands.
[Sword Cry]
Stronger than any Sword Cry he'd shown before.
No—considering Barad lacked Twin Dragon Swords, it rivaled his power momentarily.
"You think that'll kill us all in one hit aaa aak!?"
Behind the vein-popping shout, dozens of Twin Dragon Sword blades swept the area.
133,037 Damage
137,199 Damage
Top melee users had skills to dramatically boost defense—60% for some, 100%, even 300% for tanks.
But the absurd damage scattered all 28 Chinese users.
"..."
"..."
Viewers' perspectives shifted multi-angle.
Sometimes panoramic, sometimes personal POV.
Now, it was Fond's view.
In Fond's sight, 28 users scattered to ash.
And Hyun-soo, brown coat on, strode through the ashes.
Passing the dispersing ashes, Hyun-soo finally faced China's strongest: Sword Emperor Fond and Poison King Riu.
Tak, tak—
With an indifferent expression, he lightly brushed ash from his shoulder twice.
They knew why he did that needless act.
To shatter their assurances of untouchability, instill fear, cloud their judgment.
He aimed the Twin Dragon Swords indifferently.
"Now, just you two left."
He'd fully reaped the rewards of that act.
World rank 4 Fond and rank 19 Riu—fearing a user outside the top million.
At that moment.
World Ares deputy director Hanna stared at Ares' 100 Most Influential list.
Her voice trembled as she gazed at the pyramid structure.
"This was just approved."
She was on the line with CEO Lee Se-jin.
Lee Se-jin sounded mildly surprised but convinced.
-Makes sense.
"Yes."
She removed the magnet labeled Crazy Rookie from the pyramid's base.
Stepping back, she eyed the top 100 influencers, landing on Bahala at the peak.
"If user Hyun-soo beats Riu and Fond to lead Korea to victory..."
She turned. It was a conference room.
World Ares executives sat there. This was their—and her—approved decision.
"Blacksmith Hyun will be this year's number one."
The unshakable throne of three years was trembling.