Bone Dragon (1)
Hyun-soo's eyes wavered as he absorbed the secrets of Atlas.
'This place, once a grand territory of old, might awaken everything it once held?'
The incoming alert reminded him once more.
Atlas was the greatest grand territory 800 years ago.
Countless talents and geniuses followed him under the name of the Saint.
However, the territory of Atlas saw all its people die or crumble in a single day.
This much, Hyun-soo had already heard.
To protect them, the Saint used one of the ancient relics: the Seed of Life.
On the day it meets its true master, Atlas—sunk into the abyss—may awaken once more.
Karn spoke up.
"The new lord Hyun-soo and the new residents and troops must first be recognized. That recognition comes from gathering the Seeds of Life scattered throughout the territory."
Hyun-soo understood.
Seed of Life.
This was literally a guild quest issued across the entirety of Hyun's Forge.
Quests to collect these Seeds of Life would pop up all over Atlas Territory.
"The true master is the lord who possesses power worthy of recognition by the legendary Saint of old. You must gather as many Seeds of Life as possible."
Karn glanced around the territory.
"If you fall short of the threshold, they won't awaken. Even surpassing it might awaken only a fraction. But if you become the true lord..."
Faith gleamed in Karn's eyes.
"You might claim everything the Saint left behind. Though that's not possible right away."
"Not possible right away?"
"Gathering the Seeds of Life can awaken those who slumber from ancient times, but you can't revive them all at once. For now, just meet the threshold. Ensure the Seeds retain their power by hitting that mark."
Hyun-soo grasped Karn's meaning.
An invisible timer was ticking away.
Hyun's Forge had to collect enough Seeds of Life within that time to keep the territory's power from fading.
Then, step by step, gather more to slowly awaken the sleepers.
"What if we gather them quickly?"
"It won't be easy."
Karn's expression turned bitter.
Hyun-soo had one more question burning in his mind.
"Grand territory Atlas. It was so magnificent—why did it vanish in a single day?"
This was crucial information.
Karn's face grew sorrowful.
"Because the Saint's name rang too high. Too high, and it drew the ire of that being from his era."
"That being?"
"Yes. Before it arrived, the Saint scattered Seeds of Life across the entire territory as a precaution. Then it came, and everyone there met their end."
Hyun-soo zeroed in on that being.
What kind of existence could reduce a grand territory to ruin like that?
"And the Saint barely managed to slay it, though at great cost."
After a pause, Karn revealed its identity.
"The Dragon of Ruin, Valadra."
"...!!?"
Hyun-soo couldn't hide his shock.
"W-what? Dragons actually exist?"
Of course, they probably did in the current lore.
But this was unconfirmed territory.
"800 years ago, a few dragons still lived."
Hyun-soo had no choice but to focus intently.
Just recently, he'd acquired the Gathering skill, thinking it would let him realize his long-held blacksmith fantasy.
That fantasy? Crafting gear from demon or dragon bones and teeth.
Of course, he figured that would take level 650 at least.
"So that Valadra ultimately died and vanished completely."
Hyun-soo was struck again by the Saint's greatness.
"Yes. But saying it vanished completely is half right, half wrong."
"Half right, half wrong?"
"It did meet its death at the Saint's hands—that much is true. But it had prepared for its demise: by becoming undead."
Undead transformation.
Hyun-soo's eyes shook.
This was common knowledge even without deep Ares lore—anyone who'd gamed or read fantasy novels as a kid would know.
"Don't tell me... it became a Bone Dragon?"
"Correct."
A thrill shot through Hyun-soo.
'A Bone Dragon isn't a true dragon, but it could still make my dreams come true.'
What Hyun-soo needed from a dragon wasn't flesh.
Scales would be nice, but he wouldn't get them.
But a dragon made entirely of bone? That could yield prime artifact materials.
"Where is it now?"
"Right there."
The Bone Dragon was closer than expected.
Karn pointed.
"The Saint saw it undead and, mustering his last strength, sealed it away. But I'm afraid. What if the Saint's seal weakens and it breaks free? We call that place the Dragon's Graveyard."
You have learned about the dungeon Dragon's Graveyard.
"Is it strong?"
"Yes. It lost half its power to undeath, but it rivals the Continent's Ten Legends."
Continent's Ten Legends.
NPCs grew alongside users.
Barad, an average among legends, was over level 480 now.
'Way beyond what I can hunt right now.'
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
'Still, knowing where it is counts for something.'
He'd gained a lot.
The potential to awaken an ancient grand territory.
The existence of a Dragon's Graveyard.
'And third: the dual-class Saint.'
Hyun-soo eyed the Saint's Sword he'd forged.
This sword needed replanting in the earth and drawing again.
And that would be simple.
'I never added an "impossible to draw" function to this new one.'
As he walked back to the spot with Karn, sword in hand, Hyun-soo thought.
'If this is indeed Purum Corp's mistake, they'll try to fix it somehow. Especially since it's far superior to before.'
Hyun-soo halted abruptly beside Karn.
"Karn, sorry, but I've got somewhere to be."
"Understood."
The reason he'd paused before replanting the Saint's Sword.
> [Wang Uk: Hello. This is Wang Uk, team leader at Purum Corp.]
A bite had come.
***
Summoning user Hyun-soo to the Operator's Room.
Team Leader Wang had received orders from Branch Chief Tao: recover the Saint's Sword by any means necessary.
Any means meant a compensation package convincing enough for user Hyun-soo.
A sofa sat in the Operator's Room, and Hyun-soo materialized there, wrapped in light.
"Hello."
"Hello."
They exchanged brief greetings, and Hyun-soo tilted his head curiously.
"...You look exhausted."
"Oh, no, haha. Not at all."
Wang gave a wry smile. Virtual reality must've shown his fatigue anyway.
They sat on the sofa, and Wang cut to the chase.
"So this Saint's Sword had a glitch? And you turned it into a Legend Above Legend, making it bug-like now. How did that even...?"
Hyun-soo had suspected as much but played innocent.
Wang continued.
"Unfortunately, we need to recover the Saint's Sword. Or rather, restore it to its original state."
He didn't miss Hyun-soo's darkening expression.
"So we've prepared compensation for you."
Wang spoke calmly.
"We'll raise all your stats by 3 and pay 100,000 gold."
Better than expected.
100,000 gold—100 million won in real money.
'All stats up by 3?'
Hyun-soo had about eight stats.
The basic four plus Willpower, Charisma, Dexterity, Holy Power, and such.
That meant dozens of stat points at once.
But it also confirmed something.
'Even worse than I thought.'
Hyun-soo responded firmly.
"Sorry, but I can't accept that."
Wang stayed composed.
"You know it's a solid offer."
Hyun-soo shifted focus.
"Sure, it's decent. But you're saying you're taking a sword forged by a user's effort and skill."
Wang listened silently.
"Even without the Saint's Blessing you mentioned, do you acknowledge it's equivalent to Legend Above Legend grade?"
"...I do."
Wang had marveled at how the Saint's Sword became legendary through Hyun-soo.
"Average users never craft Legend Above Legend in their lifetime. Even I struggle with it. And its value exceeds 1 billion won—even without the blessing."
Wang conceded every point.
"Name your terms."
Hyun-soo had the upper hand now. His plan from the start was unfolding.
He'd known the Saint's Sword was a glitch, known it'd be reclaimed—yet used Asnium anyway.
"First, double the Asnium I used."
"We acknowledge the original amount. But double...?"
Asnium was rare to begin with.
Hyun-soo had gotten his through the Blacksmith God questline.
But Wang yielded, considering what Hyun-soo already had and his achievements.
"Agreed."
"Second."
"There's more?"
Wang realized.
'This guy's gonna drain us dry!'
But his logic was airtight.
"Everything about the Saint's Sword except the blessing came from my hands. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
It was fact.
A superior blacksmith restored it with superior materials.
"Patch the blessing if needed, but leave the sword itself intact."
This way, Hyun-soo could keep the legendary Saint's Sword.
"And for the blessing, don't delete it—nerf it..."
"Let's discuss the nerf details."
They finalized the deal with a handshake.
"It's nearly 11 p.m.—sorry for the inconvenience."
In that moment, something flashed in Hyun-soo's mind.
"When's the Saint's Sword patch?"
"We planned for midnight, but..."
Wang narrowed his eyes.
"One contract term: you can't leave a 1km radius of Atlas while holding the sword until the patch."
Precaution for contingencies.
Fortunately, Hyun-soo agreed readily.
"Of course. Why would I wander off with a sword like that? I've got a conscience. You're upholding the contract too."
"Thank you for understanding."
Wang sighed in relief.
Light enveloped them, and Hyun-soo said,
"Good deal."
Wang smiled faintly at the grin on Hyun-soo's lips.
'Dodged a bullet.'
Back at the Special User Management Team, Wang reported to Branch Chief Tao.
"User Hyun-soo didn't demand the absurd. Reasonable guy. Patch in 1 hour 30 minutes."
"Good work."
Everyone relaxed.
Wang glanced at the monitor to check Hyun-soo.
Then frowned curiously.
"...?"
User Hyun-soo dashed off like a kid, Saint's Sword in one hand, Twin Dragon Swords in the other, face lit with glee.
-Hehehehehehe.
User Hyun-soo has entered the Dragon's Graveyard.