Genius Blacksmith's Game

As Hyunsoo took one step forward, his chest burned hot.

Why was he attacking alone while everyone else endured?

Part of it was to build a high score, and it was true that the reward of 1,000 gold per hit was tempting.

He had also seen it himself through the Mascot Selection Match.

Continental War: World Championship reacts to awe-inspiring achievements too.

But there was a truth the others did not know.

That truth was that Baal’s eyes, with their narrow black pupils, were fixed on Hyunsoo.

[Baal feels interest as he looks at one being.]

[Baal feels anger as he looks at one being.]

The notifications suddenly rang out across the world.

The users there grew noisy.

“Does that mean someone already knows Baal?”

“Who the hell is it?”

“Wasn’t this Baal’s first appearance?”

The people who followed Baal’s gaze were soon thrown into confusion.

Because Hyunsoo was standing there.

“What exactly have you been doing?”

“How have you already encountered Baal?”

Baal.

The Evil God, and the great lord who ruled the Demon Realm.

He was also the first demon among the 72 demons known as Great Archdemons.

Hyunsoo had met that Great Archdemon before.

It had been an ill-fated connection.

When Hyunsoo had been crafting the Great Bow of Demon-Slaying, the Evil God had tempted him with all kinds of offers and tried to steal the Great Bow of Demon-Slaying.

But Hyunsoo had not let it be taken, and had escaped his temptation.

Baal’s reaction now was exactly the situation Hyunsoo had worried about.

What would happen if that bastard recognized him?

Just as he had feared, Baal ultimately recognized him, and Hyunsoo understood that he now faced a situation where he had to attack him.

The other participants realized it too.

No, even without anyone saying it, they faced the fact that a mere human and Baal could not possibly have a friendly connection.

But.

Fighting spirit?

He feels fighting spirit while looking at Baal?

This crazy......

The rankers there felt that Hyunsoo’s mindset was different from theirs from the very beginning.

We’re stuck inside the framework of an event called Endurance, thinking only about enduring.

But Hyunsoo is genuinely thinking of beating that bastard up.

And they understood.

The death lines Hyunsoo had crossed until now.

They had been far more difficult and brutal than theirs.

Calamity Jack, the Giant King, and the demon Grout.

Continental War, Korea versus China, and the Great Atlas War.

And even the first king title and the first White Tiger Sword Myth.

He had crossed impossible death lines hundreds of times over.

Of course, Hyunsoo knew.

Killing him was impossible.

It was not just impossible. It was a realm he could not even touch.

However.

The fact that Baal had recognized him meant there was nowhere to retreat and nowhere to run.

“I remember you. Blacksmith.”

Baal also found it interesting.

A story about a blacksmith had reached the Demon Realm.

It was the story of the one who had restored Babylon, which Baal himself had cast into hellfire and ruined beyond recognition, into something even greater than before.

Some time later.

After the Great Archdemon Gremory was destroyed, that being began crafting a bow with her materials, and even Baal coveted it.

So he had tempted that being, but he endured.

He was the first to withstand the temptation of Baal, the Evil God.

He had even made Baal, a being of such stature, feel the rare emotion of anger.

However, even if Baal was somewhat weakened on the surface.

This was still a level where Hyunsoo could be dismissed as a brat.

A simple power would be enough.

Just moments ago, he had burned several human insects with Pillar of Fire, one of Leviathan’s authorities.

But that was merely Leviathan’s lowest power.

“Die.”

[Hell Pillar.]

It was the higher version of Pillar of Fire.

The difference from Pillar of Fire was that while Pillar of Fire swallowed an entire radius, Hell Pillar manifested against one target.

CRACK—

The ground beneath Hyunsoo’s feet sounded out, announcing the prelude to an explosion.

The entire world sensed Hyunsoo’s forced logout.

“To think the gold-medal contender will fall so pointlessly......”

In the end, if he died the fastest, he could not win the gold medal.

At that moment.

RUMBLEEEEE—!

[A Hell Pillar dealing 4,600% damage annihilates a single target!]

A black pillar surged up and burned Hyunsoo.

Everyone thought Hyunsoo would burn inside it without leaving a trace.

Yet inside that pillar of flame, Hyunsoo endured.

-What, what is this?

-How can he still be alive?

-His HP is not going down.

Even the commentators could not understand the current situation.

It was because of a power Hyunsoo had never shown before.

The Overlord’s Armor Set he was wearing.

This armor, all of which was Transcendent-grade, had become far stronger through its set artifact effect.

And the power dwelling within it.

(Absolute Invincibility.)

Active Skill

Mana Cost: 2,000

·You enter a state of Absolute Invincibility for 4 seconds, allowing you to ignore all damage.

·While in the state of Absolute Invincibility, if there are any enemies nearby, intangible swords applying the wearer’s usual basic-attack damage will indiscriminately slash enemies 4 to 7 times for the usual damage.

It made him absolutely invincible for 4 seconds.

Why had he not used this power right when the Endurance event began?

The reason was simple.

Because I was confident I could endure.

Conversely, the pure reason he used it now was that he was not confident he could endure this.

Also, Absolute Invincibility did not merely defend against everything for 4 seconds.

Intangible swords applying ordinary strike damage indiscriminately slashed nearby enemies 4 to 7 times.

RUMBLE—!

Invisible blades bursting out around Hyunsoo tore through the air.

The attacks extended toward Baal as well, but......

SHAAAAAA—

As if petty tricks did not work before Baal, they pointlessly vanished and scattered.

However, Hyunsoo escaped the Hell Pillar.

BOOOOM—!

Hyunsoo’s figure, possessing high stats, moved quickly.

It proved that his stats had risen to an extreme degree compared to before Continental War: World Championship.

FLASH—!

The Twin Dragon Sword was gripped in Hyunsoo’s hand as he flew into the sky.

The advantage of the Twin Dragon Sword was that it was a large blade, and large blades had high attack success rate and destructive power.

Because of that, with a large blade, attack damage could enter even against opponents 100 levels higher than oneself.

However, the commentators shook their heads.

-Strength is relative.

-Hyunsoo’s Level has not reached 500 yet. There is no way he can inflict a shock.

In the sky.

Hyunsoo, standing with the Twin Dragon Sword in hand, was more than enough to mesmerize the entire world.

Against the commentators’ words that continued in contrast, Hyunsoo drew the Twin Dragon Sword far back behind him and slammed it toward Baal, whose head alone was as large as Hyunsoo’s body.

CRAAAAACK—!

[You have dealt 54,312 damage!]

[1 hit succeeds.]

A small scratch appeared on the Great Archdemon Baal’s body.

It was such a tiny amount that no one could even tell how much his HP bar had gone down.

However, the fact that the attack had succeeded shocked the entire world.

-The, the attack landed?

-How high are player Hyunsoo’s stats?

-It seems the bizarre Attack Power of the Twin Dragon Sword is also playing a role.

Then.

CRACK, CRASH, CRACK-CRACK-CRASH, CRACK-CRACK-CRASH—!

The Twin Dragon Sword was swung at high speed.

[Critical hit!]

[You have dealt 75,317 damage.]

[2 hits succeed.]

[You have dealt 41,310 damage.]

[3 hits succeed.]

Because a new story had begun.

Even one hit would grant Hyunsoo higher points than enduring, as well as gold.

The entire world witnessed blood flowing from Baal’s skin.

However, Baal did not waver.

In fact, even after Hyunsoo struck him 12 times, Baal’s HP had not decreased by even 1%.

That was why Baal simply left Hyunsoo alone.

The entire world despaired at the fact that attacks from a top high-ranker had continued 12 times, yet failed to shave off even 1% of his HP.

However, Hyunsoo was pleased.

This is better than expected.

The achievement brought by the 30 All Stats increase before the match was being proven.

He had considered the possibility that his attacks might not land at all, but now that possibility had opened.

Based on that possibility.

“Awaken.”

Hyunsoo activated the strongest buff skill he possessed.

HISSSSS—

[It is a one and only creation crafted by a Master Blacksmith.]

[Skill activates.]

[Awaken.]

[You surpass your limits.]

[You surpass your limits.]

[You surpass......]

[You transcend your limits.]

[You transcend your limits.]

Blue mana whirled around Hyunsoo’s body.

This was different from when he usually applied it to Bella and the other retainers.

Also.

Baal, still watching Hyunsoo, spoke.

“In all my life, there has been only one time when a human inflicted significant damage on my flesh.”

Hyunsoo did not yet know who that one person was.

However, Baal was that noble and great a being.

Hyunsoo’s power had clearly changed greatly, but to Baal, he was like an ant before a human, and it seemed he could crush him effortlessly.

That Baal said,

“How long will you try?”

Hyunsoo’s answer was simple.

“Until I can’t.”

Baal showed interest.

Hyunsoo took one potion from his chest.

The rules of the Endurance event had included a clause stating that once a participant reached a high score, they would be given an item that helped them endure more effectively.

When Hyunsoo reached 100 points.

He had obtained that potion and had been waiting for this moment.

POP—

Hyunsoo immediately drank the red, sloshing potion.

[This potion increases all Attack Power and Defense by 12%.]

There’s still more.

Hyunsoo recalled one title.

The title Maker of the Most Powerful Strike had been upgraded when he killed Daniel, and its title name had also changed.

(Unconditional One-Kill.)

Unique Title

Grade: SS

Special Abilities:

·Activates at a 5% chance when attacking an enemy.

·Also activates when you surpass the strongest single attack you have previously made.

·Applies x3 damage to one attack against the enemy.

·The first activation can be triggered at will.

[You designate it manually.]

[x3 damage is applied to this one attack.]

Hyunsoo slowly drew the Twin Dragon Sword behind his back.

DING!

[Even If It Breaks.]

[You have found a breakthrough in a moment of desperate crisis.]

[The skill’s effect becomes 8% stronger.]

DING!

[You did not fear or submit even against the Evil God.]

[You acquire Hidden Piece: One Who Does Not Submit to the Evil God.]

[Your Attack Power and Defense against the Evil God permanently increase by 15%.]

Notifications rang out one after another.

And finally, the last one.

A power that activated in moments of crisis or when he was on the verge of death.

[A Hero does not retreat.]

[You become invincible for 4 seconds, and all abilities rise by 10%.]

[All skills rise by +1 Level.]

Immediately, immense power surged into Hyunsoo’s Twin Dragon Sword.

[Awaken, tournament potion, Unconditional One-Kill, Even If It Breaks, One Who Does Not Submit to the Evil God, and the modifier Hero form the most perfect combination!]

-Can you see the phrase engraved on the Twin Dragon Sword?

-It is a chain. A very old power. But Hyunsoo is using it to prepare the strongest single strike!

The chain engraved on the Twin Dragon Sword shone brightly in golden light.

“......”

Baal’s eyes changed.

But in that instant, Hyunsoo was one step faster.

What Hyunsoo intended to release was Cut Them in Two.

That Cut Them in Two transformed completely.

[Cut Them in Two.]

[Cutting Power is maximized to 2,741%, horizontally cutting through a 20-meter radius.]

SLAAAAAASH—!

The principle of the Twin Dragon Sword passed through, horizontally cutting 20 meters toward the Great Archdemon Baal’s left arm.

Baal’s pupils shook, and his left arm dropped to the ground with a thud.

[You have dealt 10,124,301 damage!]

[Master Blacksmith’s Pride.]

[Status ailment Confusion is applied.]

[Status ailment Panic is applied.]

It was the moment when the status ailment skill called Master Blacksmith’s Pride took effect on the startled Baal.

[You have inflicted a critical wound on Baal.]

[It is an awe-inspiring achievement.]

[Additional hit count is added as a reward according to the critical wound!]

[A total of 28 hit counts are applied.]

[You have succeeded in a total of 31 hits.]

The entire world watched with wide eyes, awestruck.

However, Hyunsoo knew.

I’m going to die soon.

If Baal’s anger engulfed him and Baal began attacking, there was no way he could endure.

But he had made a plan.

Even if he died, he would achieve an overwhelming score.

Also, there existed a power left behind for him by someone he had cherished, respected, and loved.

To honor him, to remember him, and just as he had said, “Become a true king.”

Hyunsoo did not stop. He advanced.

“Ghost Spearmanship Final Chapter.”

He walked, murmuring the name of a skill he did not even possess.

“Divine Step.”