Strike 12

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Instructor Rellson swallowed hard.

He closed his eyes and then opened them repeatedly.

But as he saw the ashes scattering in the air, he realized that what was happening right before his eyes was real.

“What is this…?”

This was impossible.

A game played by 2.5 billion people.

How many players had surpassed Instructor Rellson?

Surely more than tens of thousands.

And from what he heard from other instructors, no one had managed to defeat a creature in one hit.

Even geniuses like Hanul needed two attempts.

Three attempts if they were extremely skilled.

Usually, it took 5-6 hits to kill a weakened goblin.

But now, a goblin was turning to ash in just one hit.

“You’re not laughing now, are you?”

Instructor Rellson’s pupils shook. Hyun-soo didn’t bother to say anything more.

Ding!

[Hidden Piece. One hit, one kill.]

[Gain 2 Strength.]

[You have met the criteria to attempt the monster hunting trial in the beginner’s zone.]

[You can proceed with monster hunting from stages 2 to 4.]

[You can receive rewards at the end of each stage.]

[You can accumulate rewards instead of receiving them after each stage.]

[However, if you fail the next trial after accumulating rewards, they will be lost.]

Accumulated rewards systems are usually much better than receiving individual rewards.

“Are you willing to take the trial?”

Hyun-soo nodded at Rellson’s trembling voice.

‘Is the sword that good? Yes, it must be the sword. And a critical hit.’

A critical hit, meaning critical damage.

It couldn’t be anything else.

Unthinkable for a level 1 player to kill a goblin with one hit that others needed five or six hits for.

Rellson steadied himself.

Then the next monster was summoned.

[Goblin Lv.5]

This time, it was a real goblin.

Bigger than the weakened one before.

For a level 1 player, the difference between a level 3 and a level 5 monster was like night and day.

Normally, it was very difficult to hunt even a weakened level 3 goblin without the instructors’ help.

“Kekekekeke!”

The goblin moved swiftly.

Another thing to note.

‘It’s just the sword, right?’

Hyun-soo only had special equipment for the sword; he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts given in the beginner’s zone.

Therefore, one or two hits from a level 5 goblin could result in a forced logout.

‘As expected, it’s really fast.’

Rellson smirked.

The speed of the fast-moving goblin.

The dagger thrust forward.

Too fast for level 1 players.

But not for Hyun-soo.

Dynamic visual acuity wasn’t a stat in Ares.

But as the agility stat increases, the enemy’s movements begin to become slightly visible.

To Hyun-soo, the goblin’s movements seemed too slow.

Dodging to the side, Hyun-soo struck again.

Puff!

[You have hunted a goblin.]

“…!?”

Again, it was a one-hit kill.

Rellson stepped back in surprise.

Looking down at his sword, Light, Hyun-soo realized.

‘It’s all about the gear in the game.’

But it was a result of his own efforts.

Hyun-soo checked his stats for the first time in a while.

[Hyun-soo]

Level: 1

Occupation: Unemployed

Strength: 35 Agility: 37 Stamina: 33 Wisdom: 19 Intelligence: 19 Dexterity: 353

Level 1 starts with all stats at 5.

Level 1 players usually leave the dummy training grounds and hunting training grounds in less than 30 minutes.

Because they are the most boring tutorials in the game.

But not for Hyun-soo.

Smelting and refining.

Tempering and hammering.

The stats improved through repeated efforts.

Unconventional rewards for extraordinary deeds.

Rewards for successfully breaking the wooden dummy.

Stat increase due to the epic sword Light.

Light’s attack power is five times that of the iron swords used by beginner players.

He didn’t get it while playing around.

The temperature in the furnace went up to over 1,500 degrees, and he tirelessly repeated his tasks in the heat.

The increase in strength and stamina stats due to the repetition.

And the increase in dexterity as well.

It wasn’t luck.

He deserved it.

Hyun-soo paid attention to the notification that came after checking his status.

[Stage 2 of the trial completed.]

[You can attempt stage 3.]

[You can receive the reward.]

[You can accumulate the rewards.]

Hyun-soo liked the idea of crafting something again in this game.

But today, after meeting Rellson, he reflected on the past.

People like Rellson are plentiful in the world.

Full of those who only believe what’s right in front of them.

‘Will there ever be a time when we are recognized?’

He remembered the image of his father, drenched in sweat, looking up at the sky.

Hyun-soo smiled faintly.

It was time to show the world.

That a blacksmith holding a hammer should never be underestimated.

That he might even rival the geniuses.

The first step was to break Rellson’s fixed notions.

And this first step was bold and brave.

Full of confidence, making it possible.

“Stages 3 and 4.”

Hyun-soo knew better than anyone who he was now.

He wasn’t foolish.

Not reckless.

More calculative than anyone.

“Start them simultaneously.”

[You are achieving something extraordinary for your level.]

This time, it wasn’t about the blacksmith.

“Are you sane…?”

Rellson’s voice choked mid-sentence.

The eyes of a man who had made a firm resolution were strong.

Again, he was confident and aware that his challenge was not reckless.

It was a first.

No one had ever attempted both stages 3 and 4 simultaneously.

A bold move that not even the geniuses had dared.

Seeing that determination in his eyes, Rellson decided to join in on this first step.

Twang!

As his fingers flicked, three monsters were summoned.

***

[An extraordinary event is occurring that does not correspond to the level.]

The alert triggered by user Hyun-soo had nothing to do with blacksmithing.

It was an alert for being too powerful for a level 1 player.

Kim Tae-seok and Lee Ji-hee’s eyes trembled.

“T-Team Leader…?”

She looked at Tae-seok with a trembling voice and a tense face.

“Usually, breaking level 3 grants an epic class reward, right? But what happens if you break level 4?”

Tae-seok had no answer.

Only assumptions.

In Ares, the greater and more exceptional the achievement, the better the reward.

Swallowing hard, Tae-seok said, “Maybe he’ll get a class even better than the Epic Knight.”

***

[Swift Goblin Lv.6]

[Mad Goblin Lv.15]

Hyun-soo observed the three summoned goblins.

Level 3 involved facing two swift goblins.

Level 4 was about facing the mad goblin.

Hanul had given up on level 4.

He almost defeated it but quickly realized his limits.

Swift goblins.

Twice as fast as the regular ones, they attacked from both sides.

One leaped with all its might, swinging its dagger.

Hyun-soo didn’t display flashy moves.

He was a blacksmith, not a swordsman.

But he struck the dagger with his Light sword held in both hands.

Clang!

Crack!

[The Goblin’s Dagger Shatters.]

The goblin’s dagger shattered into pieces, scattering around.

Rellson couldn’t believe what he saw. The fragments of the dagger littered the ground.

‘Breaking a sword with another sword…?’

How did he create such a weapon?

How?

At that moment.

Whirr-

Hyun-soo’s Light took on a sharper aura.

[Sturdy Sword]

[Increases Physical Attack by 12%, Physical Defense by 8% for 40 seconds.]

He swiftly cut down the goblin.

“Kyahaak!”

[You have hunted a swift goblin.]

At that moment, another swift goblin stabbed Hyun-soo in the side.

Thud!

‘It’s over…’

Rellson was sure of it.

For level 1 beginners, one hit from a level 6 swift goblin’s dagger was fatal…

“Ow, that stings.”

‘Stings!?’

[HP Drops Below 82%.]

Hyun-soo was unharmed.

Thanks to his high stamina stat, his HP had increased significantly.

Zing-

And again, one hit.

[You have hunted a swift goblin.]

Hyun-soo turned to face the mad goblin.

Even Hanul, the genius swordsman highly praised by Rellson, couldn’t kill it.

Boom-

The mad goblin rushed in, stabbing Hyun-soo in the abdomen and retreating.

[HP Drops Below 62%.]

And as Hyun-soo was about to check his wound.

Whizz-

A poisoned dart shot by the mad goblin struck his chest.

[HP Drops Below 43%.]

[Dizziness status effect applied.]

[Your vision becomes unstable.]

Hyun-soo’s vision violently shook.

Hanul had suffered from this poison dart too.

Seizing the opportunity, the mad goblin screamed and approached.

“Kekeke!”

It leaped powerfully.

Its shoulder drawn back.

Its target: Hyun-soo’s neck.

In that fleeting moment, Rellson was certain that Hyun-soo would be slashed in the neck and forced to log out.

‘There’s no escaping that.’

Considering Hyun-soo’s attack speed and his current posture, it seemed impossible.

It must be the consequence of the foreigner Hyun-soo’s overconfidence.

Then, Hyun-soo cracked a slight smile.

[Quick Blade]

[For 1 second, increases attack speed by 1.7 times.]

A passive skill with a 2% activation chance.

Hyun-soo’s sword gleamed blue.

Faster than the creature could strike him.

Whoosh-

Hyun-soo sliced it first in mid-air.

“Kehek!”

Before the screaming creature could fall.

Whoosh-

He struck again from below, slicing the mad goblin in two.

[You have hunted a mad goblin.]

At that moment, Hyun-soo collapsed backward.

The dizziness made it hard for him to steady himself.

“Huff, huff.”

Hyun-soo gasped for air.

After lying down for a while and letting the dizziness pass, he stood up.

Rellson watched him, his mind in turmoil.

Rellson was a hunting instructor, but he aspired to the higher echelons of swordsmanship.

He had always admired knights who became heroes in wars.

He believed that only those wielding swords were the greatest.

But now, his fixed notion was shattered.

Hyun-soo’s movements were clearly clumsy, nothing more than a beginner’s level.

Yet, his sword and body were not.

‘Is it because he created such an incredible artifact?’

He remembered the outsiders’ saying, ‘It’s all about the gear in the game!’

Then, looking at Hyun-soo standing in front of him, breathing heavily, Rellson was speechless for a while.

“…….”

He had just realized it.

Ares was a virtual reality game but had many realistic elements.

Standing before him, Hyun-soo’s right arm was noticeably thicker than his left.

Of course, as a naturally sturdy person, both of Hyun-soo’s arms were large.

But even at a glance, the amount of muscle seemed different.

His right arm, significantly bulkier than his left.

Rellson watched him for a while and then smiled bitterly.

“How many times?”

Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

“How many times have you swung a hammer for your arm to become like that?”

There were occasionally such individuals among knights.

Most of them were known as strong individuals on this continent.

Hyun-soo thought for a moment before responding.

“I haven’t counted.”

Right, no need to count.

His arm was proof enough.

Rellson slowly bowed his head.

“I apologize, sincerely. I underestimated you and your profession as a blacksmith.”

[Rellson gains a new understanding.]

[Your intimacy with Rellson increases.]

“You are truly a remarkable person. And your blacksmithing skills must be impressive as well.”

After bowing his head for a while, Rellson looked up and spoke.

“From now on, I think I’ll say this to outsiders.”

Hyun-soo looked at him, filled with excitement.

“Do you know what a blacksmith is? It’s a really cool and impressive profession!”

Hyun-soo smiled with satisfaction.

He wanted to change people’s perceptions like this, one by one.

That a blacksmith was not a profession to be underestimated.

And then.

“So, I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

Hyun-soo looked curious.

“I should suggest becoming an Epic Knight, but I think you can reach even higher.”

Rellson’s voice grew excited.

“Of course, you’re a blacksmith, but with such strength, it’s enough. A knight who forges his own weapons and is strong! No, the leader of those knights!”

“……?”

Hyun-soo sensed something unusual.

“Have you considered becoming a Light Lord?”

Ding!

[You can now undertake the quest to change to one of the legendary classes: Light Lord.]

‘A legendary class?’

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