Babylon (2)
“Ares is a world where gods truly exist.”
Those were the words of a famous user walking the path of the priest.
“And I know this: because gods exist, we'll eventually meet them indirectly.”
Indirectly?
People couldn't make sense of it.
An ordinary user like them could never meet a god.
No, even the top high-rankers wouldn't find it easy.
If it were possible at all, it would be after ten years or more had passed.
The user continued.
“The indirect meeting I speak of isn't an audience. It's the things that exist because gods do—things like the Holy Grail, or relics left behind by gods, or even the equipment they wielded. Through those, we can witness the gods' greatness.”
Users understood and agreed.
Something sown on the earth by the gods.
They would come to know something the gods possessed, or some power they held.
“The value of that 'something' will be unprecedentedly immense.”
No one could deny it.
People knew.
Its true value would be astronomical.
Hyun-soo felt the same.
In this Ares, divine materials must exist too.
He was certain of it.
But he shared the others' thinking.
Such things might only be obtainable years from now—or slowly, after a decade.
Ares manages its balance meticulously.
Hyun-soo hadn't expected it at present.
But now, he could feel it.
This mysterious handsome man whose character info was hidden.
The moment he laid eyes on the black, melted sword in the man's hand, a notification rang out.
Divine ore detected.
And Hyun-soo, as the Heir of the Blacksmith God, realized he had a special privilege to partially perceive it.
There's some connection between me and this divine ore.
In Hyun-soo's view, every notification had a 'reason' behind it.
Other users wouldn't sense the divine ore in that sword.
Yet he alone did.
There could be various reasons, but one thing was certain.
Just touching it would benefit me.
Hyun-soo was a blacksmith.
To behold a Mythic-grade ore—one that might not appear for years—was sheer luck.
Touching it could trigger unexpected situations, all aiding his growth.
No, even without that, just seeing and feeling divine ore is a lesson in itself.
The issue was whether he'd be granted permission to touch the sword.
Can I at least touch it briefly?
Saying that outright might make him seem insane.
Most users disliked others touching their artifacts.
A tiny fraction could glimpse artifact info just by touching.
“Who are you?”
Hyun-soo asked.
Then, something astonishing happened.
“I've come to commission the restoration of this sword.”
The man extended the melted Babylon.
It was the moment Hyun-soo had hoped for.
***
“Kabel the informant introduced me.”
Hyun-soo now knew who this nameless friend was.
Thanks to Kabel, he'd crushed both the rebels and Chinese users.
Arranging all that hadn't been easy for Kabel either.
For Kabel to send someone for such a task...
After learning who Kabel was, Hyun-soo knew his intel was spot-on and his handling flawless.
He wouldn't have sent him if he thought it'd harm me.
With that conviction, Hyun-soo led him to the forge in Atlas.
He'd already arrived near Atlas anyway.
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
Unintentionally, the man had become the first outsider to set foot in Atlas.
Upon reaching the forge, Bahala got straight to the point.
“This sword hasn't been appraised yet. But according to the intel I obtained...”
Transcendent grade?
He let out a quiet gasp of admiration.
Along with the power this sword supposedly held, per his knowledge.
Deletes 70% of a demon's HP in one blow? Insane.
Hyun-soo had hunted the demon Grout before.
But that Grout was far weaker than usual.
And it lacked a proper name.
That meant it wasn't one of the 72 Demons, despite the title.
Of course, Grout was still formidable.
But those dubbed the 72 Demons were presumed to defy common sense entirely.
Yet this Babylon could shave 70% off even their HP.
The only sword in current Ares capable of slaying demons.
Of course, once restored.
“May I touch it?”
Bahala held out Babylon.
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
What confidence.
Users rarely handed over artifacts casually.
Too many scammers around.
But Bahala brimmed with assurance of repercussions if scammed.
And Hyun-soo had only planned to touch this Babylon made of divine ore.
But then...
Your class reacts.
You can appraise Babylon.
Hyun-soo could appraise it.
And as mentioned, every notification had a reason.
Sensing the ore earlier was the foundation.
Perhaps a quest precursor.
Appraise it.
The info appeared.
Ding!
◈ Durability: 50/50
◈ Attack Power: 679
◈ Level 450+ Swordsman restriction
◈ All stats +0.5%.
◈ Cutting power +130%.
◈ Attack power vs. evil +160%.
◈ Passive: Demon Hunt.
◈ Passive: Judge.
◈ Active: Myeolak.
◈ Consumable artifact.
◈ Myeolak uses remaining: 3/3
◈ Destroys upon full use.
◈ Forged in legend to hunt demons. Made with 100g divine ore by a god opposing the demon realm, plus ordinary materials.
◈ Melts in hellfire after 3 Myeolak uses.
Myeolak
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 3,300
Use Penalty: HP & MP -50%
Cooldown: Once per month.
Uses Remaining: 3/3
Effect:
◈ Deletes up to 40% HP of all judged evil entities.
Hyun-soo was dumbfounded by the info.
100g of divine ore? Even pork belly's just a few slices at 100g!
Swords weighed 1~10kg variably.
1kg swords were minimal; typical ones needed several kg of ore.
Yet this Babylon contained 100g divine ore.
No way they'd hand out divine ore easily.
Melting it would yield a mere 100g.
Then Hyun-soo was stunned.
...Wait, just 100g mixed in, and it makes a sword like this?
The power of divine ore was beyond imagination.
What if a whole sword were pure divine ore?
The Mythic-grade sword power he'd envisioned.
He set that aside for now. Time to address the key points.
The man before him hadn't appraised the sword yet.
“I can appraise it. Probably because I'm a Master Craftsman.”
“For real?”
Bahala showed intense interest.
He'd only heard rumors and hadn't properly examined it even after acquiring it.
But Hyun-soo shattered those expectations.
“This sword doesn't have the power you imagine.”
Bahala looked puzzled.
Hyun-soo broke down Babylon point by point.
“First. Durability is 50. That's absurd on its own. You know it becomes unusable below a certain durability. This Babylon would be ruined after a few strikes. Especially with Myeolak, I judge a 50-durability sword can't withstand manifesting its power.”
“Second. The Myeolak I heard of is different. The effect matches, but it's 40%, not 70%.”
“Third. Babylon is a sword of transcendent power, yes. But it's specified as Legend Above Legend. The reason? It's currently consumable, and consumables drop a full grade.”
Bahala felt like he'd been struck on the head.
All his known info and hopes crumbled.
First, Myeolak only cut 40% HP.
“It has 3 uses. The problem: each triggers a month-long cooldown. Durability might prevent even one, though.”
Bahala realized.
Even restored, it can't slay the demon...?
The one he'd faced wouldn't fall to 40% HP deletion.
Even 70% might barely do it.
“Check it yourself.”
Hyun-soo screenshotted and shared the info.
Confirming it, Bahala denied reality, torturing himself with false hope.
“...I've heard master craftsmen can upgrade artifacts during restoration. Can you make it permanent and maximize Myeolak?”
He wanted permanence to handle variables, even assuming 70% HP deletion.
Hyun-soo nodded halfway.
“Half possible, half not. Turning a consumable permanent isn't just about skill.”
Bahala started taking hard facts.
“You need materials now. More materials to shift from consumable to permanent. And you're saying...”
Hyun-soo narrowed his eyes.
“You're bringing a consumable Legend Above Legend and asking a skilled blacksmith to make it permanent and boost Myeolak. Essentially, elevate this consumable to Transcendent. Does that sound feasible?”
Bahala nearly shook his head.
Even he saw it as impossible.
“Lack of materials, then.”
“Various factors, but yes, currently.”
“How much would suffice for an upgrade?”
“As much as was used to make the consumable.”
Bahala shared info too, learning for the first time about the 100g divine ore.
100g divine ore?
Not even 1g was obtainable.
Current Ares was like that.
Hyun-soo, now commissioned for restoration, said:
“If everything you want becomes possible...”
“I'll pay whatever you ask.”
Bahala was grasping at straws, of course.
Even as consumable, Babylon couldn't slay the demon; Myeolak as-is couldn't either.
And he was asking to upgrade Legend to Transcendent.
Bahala watched him gauge the fee if achieved.
What would the commission be for the impossible?
“4 billion for restoration.”
An outrageous sum.
But not unwarranted.
Crafting a sword with his desired specs was impossible.
Harder than the Twin Dragon Swords. Those had materials; this requires upgrading restoration without them.
As top player, Bahala knew.
Ares had possibles and impossibles.
4 billion exceeded the sword's value, sure.
But Hyun-soo's intent signaled that impossibility.
“Shall I restore it anyway?”
But restoration was needed regardless.
“Please. I'll pay generously.”
“About a week in game time.”
Bahala handed over the sword and logged out.
Logging out, he sank into loss.
He'd sought divine ore or demon-hunting means.
His intel was top-tier.
Yet nothing anywhere.
No ore, no info.
...Half a year wasted.
The loss was indescribable.
Failing the Sword God's Path job quest meant halting it for now.
Humans are all the same.
Even at the peak, ruin brings despair.
Unable to find info for a week, Bahala felt bitter.
The promised time.
He logged in.
If Myeolak reached even 60%, and durability restored... good enough.
His last hope.
Logging into Hyun's Forge, he froze.
“...?”
Bahala couldn't believe his eyes.
The perfected Babylon was magnificent.
A longsword of black sheen.
Aura evoking demons.
A grip shaped like a roaring demon head.
But Bahala wasn't shocked by the looks.
Two...? Why two Babylons?
Yes. Hyun-soo held identical Babylons in both hands.
As if duplicated.
Hyun-soo turned, his Master Craftsman confidence beaming.
“Prepare the 4 billion.”