A Monster Beyond Common Sense

MeTube.

The real staying power behind Jinwoo's video on the JBS channel came from overseas viewers.

But the overseas viewership was not, in fact, a good omen.

Overseas users had taken an interest in this sudden climber named Jinwoo. That interest, however, was not a positive one.

And now a new talent had supposedly been born in a country like that? Overseas users took it lightly.

There were already established rankers holding the top. Starlight, Inclassic, Pendant, Kaiser… Just the names alone were heavy hitters entrenched at the absolute peak.

The one they all piled on was always Jejakhanumul. He was Korea's representative. And that representative had gone and proven he was the best Korea had—only to be spectacularly shoved out of the highest ranks.

So nobody expected anything. Some even cursed Korea out for overdoing the viral marketing.

Still, they were curious.

What overseas users dismissed was only the crafting scene. Combat-class players like Slayer and High-tech gave Korea real competitive teeth.

All talk, and not a single real result to show for it.

That was the consensus.

And so they started watching. Just a little, they said.

Click. Click.

Overseas viewers pressed play. "Just a little" became "a little more." And then none of them could stop.

One hour and forty minutes later, the flood of comments from people who had watched the whole thing erupted.

Only then did the overseas users understand.

It was staggering. He was on a completely different level from every Korean crafter they had ever seen—a true supernova.

Likes on the comments started climbing like mad. The view count followed right behind. Overseas users who had only meant to dip a toe in were leaving glowing reviews, and the video went unintentionally viral across foreign communities as well.

Fritz and Mr. Left were watching this video too.

"I had no idea it would be this much…"

Fritz was rattled. As someone who had actually used Jinwoo's earliest gear, he had been certain the man would hit ranker status within a year. But a year? He had reached this height in less than a month.

"SSR+…"

Overwhelming SSR+ equipment, minions wearing that equipment, the tower clear, and even crafting inside the tower itself.

"No way. There's no way."

The next grade after that was UR.

"UR is way too soon. This is already a historic pace."

Fritz shook his head, telling himself it couldn't be.

Mr. Left was watching the JBS upload as well.

"At this level…"

His overall take matched Fritz's—but he could say one thing with certainty.

"UR grade is far too early. Impossible. That much is certain."

He had given Jinwoo high ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠praise, but it had never been blind praise. It had been a precise judgment based on what he saw.

"If he can already craft UR grade at this point in time…"

That would put him at least ten times faster than anything Mr. Left had projected from the gear he had praised before. Mr. Left's brow furrowed.

"It's one of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two things."

Either his own eye for talent had gone completely rotten—

"Or Jinwoo is a monster who breaks common sense."

Around that same time, Jinwoo's younger brother, Dongwoo, was pulling an all-nighter.

"This is the moment."

He was editing the Maze Mist Tower footage his brother had sent over—clips that didn't overlap with anything shipped to JBS.

"If theirs is the main story, this is the side story. And the side story is even better."

The main feature had a long runtime. The side material, though, was packed with nothing but high-impact moments, short and fun to watch. Dongwoo cut it even tighter.

"Just enough so people who came for the main video can enjoy the extras without friction. No greed here. Can't get greedy on this one."

And Dongwoo's instinct landed dead on target.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Subscriber counts started rocketing. One hundred thousand.

"I don't even have the Silver Play Button yet…"

And then it vaulted straight to a million. On top of that, the older Orichalcum video and the World Tree's Judgment video were climbing too—steeply. Comment counts exploded.

"No matter how many times I see it, I can't get used to this…"

Not long ago, nothing had been certain. And now this kind of growth was possible?

"I talked a big game to hyung, but…"

He had spoken with confidence to his brother—and now that it was actually happening—

"You saw this coming. You did."

Dongwoo slapped his own cheeks. All he had to do was show Jinwoo. How incredible his brother was. What kind of crafter he really was.

"There's nothing to feel pressure about."

Everything else, he shut out.

"My hyung. Jinwoo."

Just like when he used to brag to his friends as a kid, Dongwoo started boasting with everything he had.

The Bone Dragon was every bit as powerful as expected. The raw force of that massive frame. The overwhelming presence radiating from its bones and soul.

And yet right now, that Bone Dragon was being beaten senseless by three minions.

"Grrraaaaaagh—!"

The Bone Dragon howled in agony. They did not stop.

"Say it again."

"M-Master."

"Master?"

"Master…-nim."

"This bastard's lost his mind. Master-nim? It's Great Master! Say it again!"

"Great… but greatness is…"

"Not enough hits yet."

Wham! Wham!

The Orichalcum Lightblade and World Tree's Judgment danced. Mortus held the Sky Stone Orb high and poured out dark energy in a frenzy, putting the Bone Dragon through a brutal lesson. Bon's skeleton, forged through countless jewel flame-craftings, could weather multi-attribute attacks with ease.

"Enduring it? Let's see how far that gets you!"

Pur swung World Tree's Judgment like a madman. Bon finally beat his wings and climbed into the air—but there was no escape.

"Ghk— hrgh— I'll say it! I'll say it! It was my fault! Great Master!"

Bon spat the words out in a panic.

"There's no sincerity in that."

Mortus unleashed dark energy and dragged him back down, and the World Tree's Judgment barrage resumed. Only after a long, thorough thrashing—

"What an insolent creature."

"…"

First kept staring at Pur.

"…I did not last nearly this long! And that is all in the past. I am an entirely different set of bones now."

Pur was unapologetic. First shook his head.

With the Bone Dragon thoroughly sorted out, the three minions turned to Jinwoo.

"It is finished."

Jinwoo looked at Bon. The head that had once stood so stiffly was lowered quite a bit now.

"Bon."

Hierarchy established, Jinwoo called to him.

"Yes. Master."

The education had been remarkably effective. Bon had become meticulously polite. When Jinwoo held out a hand, the massive body bowed and offered its head. Jinwoo grinned and gave his minions a thumbs-up. All three looked thoroughly satisfied, pride written across their faces.

"Summon check."

Jinwoo opened Bon's minion information.

Hero rank, as expected.

He was currently the same rank as Pur, and his type was Bone Dragon.

A unique type. That much is clear.

Dragon Fear was listed as a trait rather than a skill—more like a reflection of the unique aura a Bone Dragon carried.

Soul Grasp and Nether Breath.

Even the skills were solid.

"Then right away."

Jinwoo climbed onto the Bone Dragon's back without delay.

"Oh."

The view was remarkably clear. At Jinwoo's signal, the Bone Dragon spread its vast wings and rose into the sky.

Fwoooooosh—!

"!"

Jinwoo was mildly startled.

"He's fast."

The speed far surpassed Pin's.

"I can go faster still, Master."

"Then fly at full power."

"Yes!"

Whoosh—!

In an instant Bon flew so hard that Jinwoo's body rocked hard in the saddle.

"Hah."

Jinwoo was impressed.

Yes. This is it.

Pin and Bon carried different natures of power entirely.

Pin's role and Bon's role are cleanly distinct.

Bon was far more aggressive. Completing a full circuit, Jinwoo studied him more carefully. At present, Bon was pure bone—nothing else. While the other minions had moved somewhat beyond a pure skeletal form, the Bone Dragon's very identity was bone itself.

Which means gear will suit him even better.

"Hmm."

If he was going to equip him, armor came first.

Something like scale armor would work well.

An image surfaced in Jinwoo's mind.

Dragon knight.

Lean into that feel, and it would turn out excellent.

And then—

Bon had an enormous tail. That massive tail, which Pin lacked, was one of the things that defined a Bone Dragon.

"I could use the tail like a scythe—as a weapon."

Fwoooosh—.

Jinwoo guided Bon down and landed. He lifted his hammer and went straight to work.

Using ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the leather—

"Deep Smithing."

Jinwoo cut the leather and applied Flawless Tailoring.

Rustle. Rustle.

Then he shaped scales across the leather surfaces.

Armor to bring out Bon's nature.

Jinwoo pictured the sovereign of the sky. So long as Bon wore this gear and held the heavens, no one would dare climb into the open air.

Rustle—.

Jinwoo poured his will into the work.

Shaaaaaa—!

Light burst from the finished armor.

"UR."

Jinwoo had reached UR grade once again. Armor in hand, he gestured straight to Bon.

"Here, Bon. Armor made for you."

"I require no equipment. With this supreme body I already possess—"

Jinwoo ignored him and fitted the Dragon Leather Scale Armor onto Bon on the spot.

And then—

"U-uugh!"

Bon groaned.

"What was that?"

Jinwoo asked again.

"Saying I did not need it was the folly of a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fool. This armor is… simply my body. It feels as if it has been one with me from the beginning…"

Bon spoke in open astonishment.

Of course, in a very real sense, it had been his body all along.