Arrow?!

"An arrow?!"

"He's trying to make a bow?"

"But a bow and shield? They don't match at all."

"Isn't it a bit small? Maybe a crossbow? But those don't look like bolts…."

"If he's blocking with a shield and firing something like a crossbow, he could fight pretty safely… but it won't score high points. No idea what he's thinking."

As the shape of whatever Vulcan was crafting began ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to take form, the arena erupted in murmurs.

Everyone else was forging proper weapons—swords, blades, spears, axes—with real destructive power. But Vulcan was making an arrow? Of course it caused a stir.

And the arrow's size was weird too. Making arrows from solid metal wasn't unheard of, but this one was shorter than a standard arrow. Nearly half the length?

Some guessed it might be a quarrel for a crossbow, but it didn't quite match that either. No one could pin it down.

'They've never seen a pyeonjeon before?'

No wonder. What Vulcan was crafting was a pyeonjeon—also called a baby arrow—a type used in the Joseon era. Because of its short length, it needed a separate wooden extension called a tonga to fire, but that shortness made it agile and devastating.

Inconvenient, sure, but enemies couldn't reuse picked-up pyeonjeon either.

'It boosts speed and power too, but that's not the real point.'

Vulcan was making ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠both the pyeonjeon and tonga from metal. Not just different lengths, either. This tiniest arrow might cost more in materials than everything else in the arena combined.

'If it fails, my blood money's gone.'

His focus peaked. He'd gotten only a tiny amount from Tud's secret workshop—too little for proper gear, worthless mixed in with other metals. But this was adamantium.

The metal of annihilation, crushing all forces. Opposite of mithril, which amplified them. It rejected mana or holy power infusion—but nothing could defend against it. Absolute metal.

'If I could melt it, it'd be perfect.'

The fragment retained adamantium's properties. Bound item, too small for other uses beyond decoration or study—so he invested boldly. Melting and smelting? Beyond his skill yet. The arena forge couldn't do it anyway.

So he used it raw, ore-form. Tiny as dust or an impurity—few would notice. But if it worked? Undeniable effect.

Embed at the arrowhead tip: instant one-shot pierce-anything killer.

'Unsmelted, it won't inflate item level.'

Raw ore embedding kept the arrow's level from bloating. Unlike forcing unready ores into trash gear before.

'Studying paid off.'

Worries about raw ore? Goguryeo era ground obsidian into arrowheads—no issue. Not enough for a full head, though.

'Shaft in solid mithril would be best, but skill and mats lacking—no choice.'

Other parts same. Ideal: adamantium tip, mithril shaft for stability, sylphid-wing fletching. All pricey, rare, beyond his handling skill.

Substitutes it was. Adamantium speck at tip's end; rest agaphite head for strength/power. Shaft and wings: alloy of tiny beriite, shadow, senos, phylotan.

'Shrinking seals the join.'

Not easy—different metals don't bond when heated. So shrinking: drill hole in shaft-side tip, heat, insert cooled shaft. Tip contracts on cooling, locks tight.

Prior: cast basic shapes, hammer-forged refinement. Final: engrave shaft with inscription, no durability hit.

Tud said you couldn't infuse narrative into items that way—but it worked before, right? Even if practical effect was zilch, strong imagery helped. Vulcan finished his way.

"…!"

Better than expected. He'd hoped adamantium would push high grade, but Epic? Even Vulcan hadn't been sure.

A monster weapon born. Epic arrow ignoring all defenses, piercing foes.

Low attack for Epic? Not really. Bows set archer damage base; arrow adds power/effects. Near-300 on one arrow? Paired with decent bow: terrifying.

Even Common bow: outperforms most Uniques. Dead-on aim: unstoppable one-shot, no skill or spell blocks.

'Downside: hard to reuse mid-fight, even twice.'

Pierce and defense-ignore don't auto-silence. Fatal to low levels, maybe body-wrecking higher—but lodged deep? Kill/extract post-fight, not reuse.

'But with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me? Not one-shot.'

Add psychokinesis? No bow medium weakens power, but free-flight control?

'Focus-heavy, but turns 2v1.'

Defense-shredder—foes can't ignore. Adamantium crushes mana, hard to empower arrow further—but tip/shaft take basic enchantments: faster, varied paths.

Theory only. Vulcan inspected finished Arrow of Denial, made tonga for standard bow use, then forged iron bow too.

Epic arrow done—bow grade irrelevant. Win locked. Hoped Rare+, but Common/Uncommon fine too.

He had Sniper Glow-Reinforced Longbow.

Not crafting for this tourney—for future self.

'Almost done….'

As iron bow neared completion, a crafter raised hand, calling MC.

"Hold up."

"Characo, what's the issue?"

"I object. Isn't this contest for one single weapon?"

"Uh? Y-yeah…."

MC blinked at the sudden claim, confused.

'This bastard.'

Vulcan knew exactly.

"So is an arrow a weapon or not?"

"Huh? Well…."

As predicted. Bow/arrow set usually, but strictly? Arrow's a weapon—attack power, options.

Characo claimed submitting both: rules violation. If upheld, Vulcan picks one.

Real eval wouldn't force bow-no-arrow or vice-versa—host provides basic maybe.

Judgment first: set or separate?

'Shake me even if rejected?'

Vulcan couldn't respond mid-craft, but intent clear: disqualify rival if win, else rattle focus for quality drop.

User-y ploy. Vulcan unshaken, though.

"We'll ask judges. Keep crafting!"

Characo's objection rippled through crowd. Debate: arrow+bow one weapon?

Normies: set, done. Artisans: nuanced.

Murmurs spread wildfire; shouts as opinions split. Disrupted all crafters.

Characo—done early—smirked at Vulcan/others. Mission accomplished.

'Waited deliberately.'

If scenario hit, Vulcan scrambles new weapon—not stabbing with bow.

Time short; rushed gear limited.

Hence wait-till-now objection.

"Hold."

Vulcan paused. No need refuse.

"Vulcan? Result pending…."

"Fine by me."

"Pardon?"

"Don't want controversy from me. Count this arrow as my one weapon."

"But time's…."

He preempted, claiming arrow solo-weapon. MC worried, but whatever.

'Rest bombed anyway.'

Sounded sacrificial, but iron bow sucked unexpectedly.

Shadow ore for assassin bow? Wrong concept or stealth on arrow too much—failed to Common trash.

Tonga for pyeonjeon? Decent Rare, silencer role fine—but trash bow? Useless pair. Tonga as accessory? Likely rejected too.

Preempted.

"Fine. This one's enough. Submit now."

"…Uh? But… Understood."

Judges' take unknown—maybe low score. Vulcan confident.

Prelims/main same test. Real eval shows arrow solo power, no bow needed—reeval certain.

Submitted arrow as main entry.

'See how long that grin lasts.'

Characo/others smirked, thinking Vulcan quit. Lasted under 2 hours.

Main time ended, all submitted. Hour judging: rankings posted.

Highlight: real-combat eval began.

Gladiators entered arena, donning specific artisans' weapons/shields + host basics.

30-man infinite brawl.

Melee royale imminent.