[A Great sword that can never be reborn in the beginner’s zone has been born.]
[The grade is being assessed.]
[It is of Epic grade.]
[Please name the sword.]
[You receive the first-time crafting reward for an Epic Artifact.]
[You gain 2 in all stats.]
[You gain 30 Dexterity.]
[You gain 40 Fame.]
Hyun-soo gripped the finished sword.
When he held it vertically, the blade shimmered faintly with a silver light.
The edge was sharper than any other sword, and the Chinese characters for “Light” (光明) engraved in the center of the blade were impressive.
‘It’s light…………….’
He had discovered one of the characteristics of this mithril.
Mithril mixes well with other minerals.
And it’s light.
It feels only about 70% as heavy as a regular sword.
While looking at the sword, Light, Hyun-soo recalled the notifications.
‘This is good…………?’
More precisely, he liked this game.
The works he and his father tirelessly crafted often ended up merely as decorations in the forge.
Perhaps that was a task that never received proper reward.
But this game, Ares, was different.
After long efforts, he could receive systematic rewards.
Now it was time to check the sword.
***
Special User Management Team.
Kim Tae-seok was tense.
They had observed the beginnings of many geniuses in the game.
Hyunji, the country’s top archer and a gold medalist.
And Hanul, a kendo gold medalist.
Or the country’s tycoons.
But they felt something with the user Hyun-soo that they hadn’t with the others.
“Just a beginner’s zone…….”
Yes, where Hyun-soo was, was merely a beginner’s zone.
A place where level 1 users learn the tutorial.
“What on earth is happening in such a beginner’s zone.”
An Epic Artifact?
Statistics suggest that an average user’s first level to get an Epic Artifact is in the 160s.
Even then, it’s not acquired but purchased bit by bit after saving up until level 160.
But for a level 1?
Kim Tae-seok rubbed his face.
“I’ll check it out………….”
Ji-hee was just as tense.
She opened the description of the sword named ‘Brilliance’.
(Light)
Grade: Epic
Durability: 3,000/3,000
Attack Power: 143
Restriction: None for the creator, level 40 or higher for others.
Special Abilities:
· Strength +6, Agility +7.
· 8% increased damage to undead.
· 15% increased attack speed.
· 25% increased chance for critical damage.
· Passive Skill: Quick Blade.
· Active Skill: Sturdy Sword.
Description: A Great sword born from the hands of a master in the beginner’s zone, an occurrence never to happen again.
(Quick Blade)
Passive Skill.
Mana Cost: None.
Description: Activates with a 2% chance, momentarily increasing attack speed by 1.7 times for 1 second.
(Sturdy Sword)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: 20
Description: Infuses the body with the energy to wield a sturdy sword, increasing physical attack power by 12% and physical defense by 8%.
“Gasp…….”
“Wow…….”
Exclamations of astonishment and admiration burst out.
“An attack power of 143?”
The average attack power of a wooden sword held by level 1 beginner users is 7.
Even the ebony wooden sword that Hyun-soo had obtained was barely 11.
But the surprise didn’t stop there.
“Team Leader, this is amazing……………”
Lee Ji-hee admired it as if seeing something mystical.
“The mithril ore and iron chunks of the beginner’s zone have surpassed their maximum percentages….”
When you first obtain ore and check it in detail, it’s written what effects can be gained.
The mithril of the beginner’s zone was described as such:
Maximum 7% increased damage to undead.
Maximum 11% increased attack speed.
So, this means that when the artifact is made at its best, it can have these effects.
On average, only about half of these values are achieved.
And in the worst case, not even a third is achieved.
Of course, the blacksmith’s skill, level, and abilities play a critical role.
“Does this mean the user Hyun-soo’s skills are extraordinary… It’s like a critical hit in blacksmithing.”
Critical hit damage.
Hyunji, the archery gold medalist, nearly always achieved critical hit damage with about an 80% probability when shooting an arrow.
It was due to her incredible skill.
But in the case of the blacksmith Hyun-soo, this critical hit damage seemed to manifest after the completion of his work.
However, both of them recognized his talents.
“This user is insane……………”
“Right……………..”
***
The time it took for him to enter the forge, refine the mithril, and make the sword.
It was 20 days.
***
[Jihun: Did you really produce an Epic grade item?]
[Hyun-soo: Yes.]
[Jihun: Crazy guy……… You were engrossed in the game for days.]
[Hyun-soo: It was tough, phew~]
[Jihun: Are you going to take on the challenge now?]
[Hyun-soo: Yes, I must succeed this time.]
[Jihun: I’m looking forward to it.]
[Hyun-soo: Yeah, look forward……………]
[You have been blocked by Jihun.]
“…?”
Hyun-soo admired Jihun’s class for blocking him while saying he was looking forward to it.
Was it because he made an Epic grade weapon at level 1?
But Hyun-soo just smirked.
He knew it was just a joke from his friend.
As soon as Len left the forge, he seemed to have gone to meet an instructor named Hans.
Hyun-soo immediately moved towards the wooden dummy training area.
‘It took 20 days.’
Such things were common for Hyun-soo.
When he decided to create something, he would immerse himself in the task.
Arriving at the wooden dummy training area, there weren’t many users or instructors around due to the early hour.
“Hello.”
“Oh, Hyun-soo, it’s been a while!”
Instructor Jack greeted Hyun-soo warmly.
“What brings you here at this time?”
“I’m going to try breaking the wooden dummy.”
“……Is that so.”
Jack smirked wryly.
Jack, an NPC with whom Hyun-soo had developed a very high level of familiarity, had seen millions of users attempt to break the wooden dummy.
To be frank, Jack knew.
No matter who came, breaking the wooden dummy in ten strikes was an impossible feat.
Of course, it was possible for the instructors, but in this small land called the beginner’s zone, it was absolutely impossible.
“It won’t be easy, but I admire your spirit of challenge.”
However, Jack did not discourage Hyun-soo by saying it was absolutely impossible.
He just encouraged him in his own way.
Jack knew it was better to offer even a small encouragement rather than telling someone their endeavor would be fruitless.
“Thank you, I will definitely break it.”
Jack folded his arms and watched Hyun-soo walk towards the wooden dummy.
Then, Hyun-soo took a deep breath in front of one of the dummies.
50 million won.
A significant and large sum for him, who only had about a million won in his bank account.
Jack watched nearby as Hyun-soo closed his eyes and took a moment to steady his breath.
And then.
Swoosh-
Hyun-soo unsheathed his sword, making a clear and crisp sound, which puzzled Jack.
‘What’s that sword….??’
It was too dark, with only a few torches lit, so Jack hadn’t noticed.
That Hyun-soo’s sword had changed.
But the sharp aura radiating from the sword signaled that it was no ordinary blade, and Hyun-soo muttered,
“Sturdy Sword.”
[Physical attack power increases by 12%, physical defense by 8% for 40 seconds.]
Tiiing-
At that moment, Instructor Jack heard it.
The clear and resonant sound transmitted through the sword.
In the darkness, holding the sharp and imposing sword, Hyun-soo caught Jack’s attention.
‘Will he succeed this time?’
Hyun-soo, with a determined expression, made his first strike.
Thump!
A heavy sound echoed as the wooden dummy staggered with the second blow.
Thump!
Hyun-soo, seeing the wildly shaking dummy, put even more strength into his hands.
Thump!
Thump!
“What, what’s this?”
“Gasp!”
Jack, like the bystanders, was captivated by the scene.
Jack’s mouth went dry.
‘It’s different……………..’
More than any user he had ever seen.
It had to be.
Hyun-soo didn’t just possess the Light sword.
The process he went through to make this Light sword.
Like the process of making the sword, he stepped through each stage, gaining numerous stats and titles along the way.
Additionally, the Dexterity stat has already surpassed 300, and gathering a high amount of Dexterity stats slightly increases physical attack power.
And…
Hyun-soo had been repeatedly tempering and hammering non-stop for 20 days.
During that period, his Strength stat increased by 10 and his Stamina by 6.
Thump!
Yes, it’s not just because the sword is outstanding.
The process of blacksmithing that he went through to make this one sword.
This process turned him into a true monster of the beginner’s zone.
Thump!
Crack-
A dull sound spread.
Hyun-soo’s efforts were bearing fruit.
The beginner’s zone, which others leave in an hour.
He lived there for about a month.
He had nothing extraordinary or cool like others, but he had one weapon.
Persistence.
Thump!
Crackle-
And with the sound of cracking, the wooden dummy with a fracture in the middle.
Thump!
And the eighth strike.
With that one strike, the result that 2.5 billion users had failed at, that had frustrated all users, crumbled away.
Rumble-
Hyun-soo, standing in front of the completely shattered wooden dummy, gasped for air.
Swoosh-
He sheathed his sword and let out a cry of joy.
“I did it!”
Ding!
[Congratulations.]
[You are the first user to successfully break the wooden dummy.]
[World Message.]
[Your achievement will be announced to users worldwide.]
[An anonymous user has succeeded in breaking the wooden dummy for the first time.]
[You gain +5 in all stats.]
[You gain 200 Fame.]
[You will receive an Ares VVIP Capsule application.]
Hyun-soo checked the hologram of the VVIP Capsule application that appeared.
There was a space to write the address and name.
Hyun-soo hesitated while writing his address.
‘Could my personal information get leaked…??’
2.5 billion had failed, and he had succeeded.
It might turn out to be a very tiring situation for him.
But he wrote it down anyway, and a notification appeared before he pressed the complete button.
[Blue Corp is committed to protecting user’s personal information.]
[Two members of the VVIP dedicated installation team who have signed the user information leakage prohibition clause will visit for installation.]
“Oh…….”
Blue Corp’s handling of matters was solid.
They were aware of such situations and protected the users.
‘That’s why this is the game with the least customer complaints compared to the number of users.’
Hyun-soo hummed a tune as he turned around.
“When will the capsule arrive?”
He planned to use it himself, not to sell it.
It might be too much for his current situation, but it would be his second world from now on.
Then Jack approached him.
“Congratulations, I sincerely congratulate you!”
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“Now you will leave this place and head to the hunting training ground.”
It was true.
The hunting training ground was where you learn the basics of hunting.
Generally, deer appear in the hunting training ground, and very rarely, monsters do appear.
Then, Instructor Jack suddenly looked surprised.
“……It will be quite something at the hunting training ground.”
“Eh?”
“Never mind, farewell. I was glad to know you.”
Hyun-soo moved on.
He returned to the forge, met Len, and according to Len, Instructor Hans was coughing and blushing.
Now, the instructors would increase the sharpening fee by 30%.
After an excited embrace, they parted ways.
Hyun-soo headed to the hunting zone.
***
Lee Se-jin, the CEO of Blue Corp, clicked his tongue as he watched the young Hyun-soo on his laptop.
In the waiting room for the press conference.
All the employees of Blue Corp were watching the user with expressions full of fear.
Special User Management Team Leader Kim Tae-seok spoke.
“Mr. President.”
“Are you having the same worries as me?”
A laugh escaped from CEO Lee Se-jin of Blue Corp.
“Level 1, but with those stats, that title, and that epic sword…….”
Listing it out, Lee Se-jin’s head was already throbbing.
“What will happen in the hunting training ground if this disruptive species goes there.”
Cliche Novel 
There’s such a good justification for bending the balance of the game that I’m upset it hasn’t been laid out explicitly.
Specifically, that Ares is more than just a game management AI, but a deep level simulation AI made by various groups coming together that is merely being leveraged as a game management AI in this context. Such an AI would have priorities that exist even above game balance: the extraordinary event notification can be taken as a user teaching the AI something it didn’t already know, further perfecting the simulation data. It’s only natural to give rewards suitable for that merit. Furthermore, the traditional crafting method was a lost cultural heritage, aside from just being a new technique, fully justifying Ares giving exceptional rewards for reviving it and allowing the AI to record it.
The mineral master title, or whatever it was called, is actually a bit suspicious in that light. It can be interpreted as the AI choosing a reward that will allow him to show more of his skills more quickly by eliminating some of the tedious trial and error processes… Although personally, I think there’s plenty to learn in how one goes about that trial and error.
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