Chapter 261
Chapter 261
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 261
>Chapter Title: The Stone That Defies the Heavens
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>* * *
>Aison couldn’t believe the sight before his eyes.
[Proof of Iron reacts intensely.]
[The ‘Stone That Defies the Heavens’ dormant within the Proof of Iron awakens.]
“The Stone That Defies the Heavens... That has to be... Impossible. Who in the world are you...?”
The Proof of Iron contained countless minerals.
Over ten thousand in number, more than a hundred different kinds.
It was no exaggeration to say it held every mineral in the world, but if he had to pick the rarest among them, it would be that ‘stone.’
‘...The stone that chooses its own master.’
It was undoubtedly a stone, harder than any other mineral and brimming with fierce energy.
‘A stone that can’t be melted or refined until it chooses its master... Everyone challenged it and failed, treating it like a worthless lump, and now it appears here!’
Even the Sword Emperor had been among those who failed.
This young man was challenging an achievement that even the strongest swordsman couldn’t accomplish.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the master of that finicky mineral might be born today.
It was only natural that Aison’s hands trembled with excitement on the cusp of such a great feat.
“...What is this?”
Then came a flat, toneless voice.
But Aison could sense the faint tremor within it.
He had heard that voice for a very long time.
“Master Atrram?”
A master craftsman in his seventies with unmatched blacksmithing skills.
A man who had been bestowed the title of grand master beyond mere artisan.
The symbol of the Argetlam Workshop, Atrram, stared with a hardened expression.
He had returned after closing the forge, heard that someone had received the silver sword plaque, and come to check—only to find this chaos.
“I’m asking what this is all about, Aison.”
“...I don’t know either.”
“You don’t know? That coming from you?”
Despite the reaction implying it was unlike him, Aison only looked sheepish and didn’t retract his words.
He merely added one thing.
“The Stone That Defies the Heavens.”
“...What?”
That alone was explanation enough.
The moment he heard the name that shouldn’t have emerged, he instantly understood the situation.
But understanding didn’t mean acceptance.
“...Isn’t that the Proof of Iron? So you’re saying that stone is the mineral most suited to that young man?”
“I don’t know. It’s only revealed itself so far; it seems to still be judging.”
“Hah... When was the last time the Stone That Defies the Heavens revealed itself to judge someone?”
“Probably since the Sword Emperor.”
“That’s over ten years ago.”
“No. It was a year ago. Actually, the Sword Emperor has challenged it sporadically since then too. All failures.”
Atrram stared at Aison silently.
It was a fact he hadn’t known. Turning his gaze back to Do-hyun, he spoke in a grave tone.
“...So. What do you think will happen?”
“By all logic, it should end the same as always...”
Aison trailed off, recalling the burst of light he had seen moments ago.
A light blending every color into a chaotic hue like the universe itself.
It was a phenomenon he had never seen even from the countless challenges of the Sword Emperor.
The Sword Emperor had simply summoned the stone with a heavy green wind, without any such process.
“But?”
“...I don’t know. For some reason, this young man makes me want to hold out hope.”
“I see...”
The conversation ended there.
As if by agreement, both men fell silent and gazed beyond the glass.
Unaware that the fervor in their eyes was gradually heating to excitement.
They were simply curious.
What form would Do-hyun’s talent and potential take in the eyes of the Stone That Defies the Heavens?
* * *
>It was a stone.
A small, insignificant thing, rolling around everywhere, tripping feet. A pathetic existence not even qualifying as a mineral.
But because of that, it had lived for ages, unnoticed by anyone.
A hundred years, a thousand, ten thousand.
Countless heroes rose and fell, nations flourished and perished, time and again.
After eons so vast it forgot to count.
---!
The mineral was no longer a worthless pebble.
Having existed so long, it had gained ‘rank,’ transforming into a new mineral.
The world’s one and only mineral. The birth of a radiant gem.
That was when it first caught a human eye.
Kwarung-! Flash!
A dark night thick with storm clouds.
On a rainy day, a bolt of lightning struck it unluckily.
A bizarre phenomenon occurred.
----!!
Struck once was surprising enough, but consecutive bolts poured down with destructive force.
Yet even the lightning flashing across the sky, illuminating the world, couldn’t scratch it.
The one who witnessed the scene by chance was a single man.
-...Unscathed by lightning? Ho, would you look at that? No matter how hard it strikes, it won’t break.
Seeing only legs in his view, the man laughed heartily and picked it up.
From then on, it was with the man.
Life with the man was eventful.
A string of hardships, countless adversities blocking the path ahead.
Step, step.
But they pressed on.
No matter what obstructed them, they cleaved through; they might hesitate, but never retreated. The growing calamities were beyond what a mere human could bear.
Yet the man advanced ceaselessly.
‘This is...’
Watching the scenes flash by like a panorama, Do-hyun swallowed hard.
‘The stone’s memories?’
Incredibly, everything he was seeing was the stone’s memories.
It had said it was assessing his qualities, but suddenly showing him a mineral’s memories made no sense.
No, did stones even have memories to begin with?
Ding-
Lost in questions and dazed, a cheerful alert rang out.
Snapping to attention, Do-hyun’s eyes widened.
[Reverse Heaven Phase reacts to the ‘Stone That Defies the Heavens.’]
[The Stone That Defies the Heavens senses a familiar energy from you.]
[Witnessing the birth of the Reverse Heaven Phase and a fragment of the true Reverse Heaven Phase increases proficiency.]
[The path to the next realm becomes clearer.]
‘...What?’
The Reverse Heaven Phase was reacting?
What did it mean he had witnessed its birth?
[Proof of Iron attempts to peer deeper.]
[It is blocked by the overwhelming path of fate the subject treads.]
[Judgment forcibly terminates.]
Before he could think, his vision flashed.
When he opened his eyes, the light had vanished, returning to the forge’s original dim interior.
The scenes from moments ago had all disappeared like a mirage.
It felt so unreal that it left him hollow.
But Do-hyun’s eyes gleamed sharply.
[Assessment complete.]
[Selecting the mineral that will become the most suitable material for the subject’s armament based on the information.]
[Stored mineral confirmed.]
[Proof of Iron ejects the ‘Stone That Defies the Heavens.’]
The messages before him proved that what he had seen wasn’t an illusion.
Do-hyun picked up the stone from the Proof of Iron and stared at it intently.
From the blackened stone emanated traces of countless hardships endured.
[You have become the first master of the ‘Stone That Defies the Heavens.’]
[Recorded in the Chronicle of Adventures.]
[Acquired title ‘First of Minerals.’]
[First of Minerals]
-Rank: Hero+
-Description: Title granted to the great master who obtained a mineral no one else could.
Avtratel marvels at you, chosen by the forgotten mineral.
-Effect: With the title holder’s permission, mineral restrictions can be temporarily lifted, allowing better extraction of the mineral’s power.
All stats +7
‘The Stone That Defies the Heavens...’
Confirming the title, Do-hyun smirked.
‘Well, the name alone screams connection to the Reverse Heaven Phase.’
That confirmed it.
This stone was linked to the Reverse Heaven Phase, and it wasn’t a sword art unique to him.
Its performance far exceeded its rank, and once completed, it became the original sword art—full of mysteries.
‘Seems like it’s even more extraordinary than I thought.’
Above all, the scenes from the stone’s memories.
They were unmistakably from the ancient landscapes of the main quest stage. Amid the countless adversities, he had glimpsed the Abyss without doubt.
Do-hyun dismissed the message window as his mind grew complicated.
‘I’ll learn the details once I max out the proficiency.’
He’d know everything once he completed the true sword art.
“I can’t believe it...!”
“You there... That in your hand—don’t tell me you’ve truly been chosen by that stone?”
Turning at the sharp intake of breath, he saw two faces filled with shock.
‘...Wait, two people?’
Why two?
Realizing the oddity late, Do-hyun looked at the old man standing beside Aison.
A bushy beard like Zhang Fei from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. A face full of wrinkles yet radiating resolve. Thick hands covered in calluses.
Finally, copper skin scorched by fire.
Clearly an elder marked by years of hammer strikes.
‘Why does he feel familiar? Like I’ve seen his face before.’
Then Atrram approached abruptly and seized his hand.
Do-hyun winced at the sudden rough touch, but Atrram paid no mind.
“You... That stone. Planning to make it into armor?”
“...Pardon?”
“I said, into armor!”
“That was the plan, but...”
More precisely, he hadn’t had the chance yet.
The shock was gone; his eyes, having quickly grasped the situation, gleamed with intense excitement.
“Then, you! Entrust the crafting to me, won’t you? I promise to create the greatest masterpiece of my life.”
Was it an illusion that flames sparked in his eyes?
Burning with passion unfit for an elder.
Do-hyun instinctively glanced away, meeting Aison’s awkward smile.
“Haha... Sorry about that. Master Atrram isn’t usually like this... He just has a particular obsession with new minerals.”
“...I see.”
“And... Honestly, even I’m terribly tempted this time. Handling that would leave no regrets.”
Yet Aison cleanly conceded.
Of course he did.
“But since it’s Master Atrram, I have no choice but to yield. He’s the foremost grand master in the empire, one I’d boldly call the best.”
“...Ah.”
Finally realizing Atrram’s identity, Do-hyun nodded.
Atrram’s fame needed no words.
Even weapons he casually forged while picking his nose had lines to buy them.
Among his masterpieces was ‘Extreme - Annihilation Blade,’ now owned by the Sword Saint.
‘In a situation where I should be begging him, he steps up like this—refusing would be insane.’
Moreover...
[Grand Master Atrram’s Proposal]
-Description: Grand Master Atrram feels a burning aspiration and desire he hasn’t known in years.
He earnestly hopes to take full charge of your armor crafting. He offers to do it for free, without payment.
-Grand Master Atrram burns with aspiration.
-Chance of a masterpiece greatly increases.
[Entrust the crafting to him?]
‘...This might yield something even more amazing than I thought.’