Strike 28

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“The match has begun.”

Special User Management Team.

A new class has finally been born in the virtual reality game, and CEO Lee Se-jin visited upon hearing the news.

Watching Hyun-soo on the monitor, arms crossed, Lee Se-jin smirked.

“He’s definitely smart, figuring out how to use God Blacksmith’s Customization already.”

Hearing this, Lee Ji-hee looked puzzled.

In fact, when Lee Ji-hee confirmed the title ‘God Blacksmith’, she was amazed.

It was the first-ever SSS-grade title a user had acquired!

Moreover, being a blacksmith and a strong warrior simultaneously was possible.

Additionally, God Blacksmith could enhance all artifact effects by an additional 20%.

However, CEO Lee Se-jin seemed to imply that God Blacksmith Customization was even more incredible.

“Lee Ji-hee knows, right? Even ordinary blacksmiths in Ares can embed desired effects.”

“Of course.”

“Do you know how the percentages vary by rank?”

“Yes, for a beginner blacksmith it’s up to 5%, intermediate 10%, advanced 15%, top-grade 20%, master 25%, and grandmaster 40%.”

“What do you think?”

“It seems like a very low probability.”

“Why do you think we set such low probabilities?”

At that question, Lee Ji-hee thought deeply.

It was a setting fixed since the opening of Ares. She hadn’t considered why these percentages were so low.

“Do you remember the Dragon’s Nest party?”

“Of course.”

Dragon’s Nest.

A famous high-level hunting ground in Ares.

Recently, high-rankers attempted to clear Dragon’s Nest but failed.

The intense heat and boiling lava of Dragon’s Nest were unbearable for them.

“Why did they fail? The monsters’ levels seemed clearable.”

“Because of fire resistance.”

“Right, because of fire resistance. But all of them wore artifacts that greatly enhanced fire resistance, right?”

Indeed, that was the case.

Lee Ji-hee murmured, recalling the event.

“The problem was that they wore only fire-related artifacts, shedding their usual gear. Plus, the Dragon’s armor, while increasing fire resistance, came with unnecessary skills and stats.”

“That’s correct.”

“Unnecessary skills and stats.”

CEO Lee Se-jin pulled up the Dragon’s armor details on the monitor.

Fire Resistance increased by 54%.

Defense 656

Wisdom increased by 3%.

Skill: Dragon’s Strike.

Skill: Salamander’s Rage.

Seeing Lee Ji-hee’s puzzled expression, Team Manager Kim Tae-seok spoke with frustration.

“Ji-hee, what determines the grade of an artifact?”

“…Overall information.”

“Right, an artifact’s grade is determined even if it has unnecessary stats, as long as it boosts something significantly or has seemingly good skills. But consider this.”

Kim Tae-seok chuckled.

“A warrior’s armor boosting wisdom by 3%? A useless feature, right? And what happens if you use Dragon’s Strike and Salamander’s Rage, both fire resistance attack skills, against fire-resistant monsters?”

“The damage would be halved.”

“Exactly, that’s the trap of artifacts, ‘perfect’ artifacts don’t exist for users.”

“Ah…!”

Lee Ji-hee understood.

Then she looked again at the information about the Dragon’s armor, her eyes widening.

“Could it be…!”

CEO Lee Se-jin showed a bitter smile to the naive rookie and moved his mouse.

“Your guess is right. What if we remove the unnecessary wisdom increase of 3%, Dragon’s Strike, and Salamander’s Rage from this artifact’s effects? Will its grade drop?”

Lee Ji-hee now fully understood.

“No. With the power of God Blacksmith’s Customization, removing the wisdom increase of 3%, Salamander’s Rage, and Dragon’s Strike could allow for increasing defense and fire resistance further. And if desired, skills can be changed to something more suitable for the current situation, exactly what the user needs.”

“This is the essence of Customization. Moreover, God Blacksmith’s Customization can apply exactly 100% of what the user sets, something even a master blacksmith can only do up to 25%.”

“…”

Lee Ji-hee was astonished.

The power to completely exclude the unnecessary.

The power to include only what a user truly needs.

This was ‘Divine Customization,’ either for someone else or solely for oneself.

***

A blacksmith artisan who has been making weapons for decades has a certain intuition.

Today feels like a day for creating something truly special.

The condition today is exceptionally good.

The feeling that today, anything could be made.

The moment the forge was lit, Colson realized.

Rumble!

‘Today, I will forge an exceptional sword.’

The reason why he’s the top archer blacksmith is that he makes bows better than anyone else.

Therefore, in terms of sword making, he was nowhere near Dang.

But today was different.

He felt as if he could reach something he made.

He had been waiting for this day.

Colson, feeling inferior to Dang, struggled to make a good sword.

Although this sword wasn’t meant to target Dang. At the end of his struggle, Colson completed it.

A recipe.

‘Someday…’

He dreamed of competing in a blacksmith duel with Dang, the top sword blacksmith, and imagined shattering Dang’s sword.

It’s possible.

If Dang’s condition is not good on that day, and conversely, his is good.

A recipe that might even beat the top sword blacksmith.

He made the same thing dozens, hundreds of times with that recipe.

‘It was to increase understanding.’

Unlike the automatic buttons of foreigners, NPCs compete with skill and special powers.

Therefore, Colson continuously enhanced his understanding of the particular recipe.

“What do you plan to do with that sword made by the foreigner?”

At the question from Rex, the Shield Blacksmith Tower Master, Colson confidently replied.

“I will render that sword useless.”

The sword can withstand three clashes.

However, if it sustains more than 60% damage in that time, it will lose its function.

A sword with a completely ruined blade is nothing more than a blunt club.

Watching Colson begin forging, the other Blacksmith Tower Masters commented.

“The sounds you make today are more cheerful.”

Clang! Clang!

“Watch me show that whippersnapper with the pretentious title of ‘Descendant of God’ how vast the world is and that there are things even a god’s descendant can’t do.”

The Blacksmith Tower Masters also didn’t have a high opinion of Hyun-soo, the arrogant foreigner.

Time flew by.

Yet, Colson felt exceptionally light.

The sword, made through dozens of iterations of the recipe, began to take shape.

Hiss!

During the quenching process, he felt it.

The power transmitted through his fingertips.

‘This is…’

A realization that this was one of the finest swords he had ever made.

Finally, it was complete.

“Wow.”

“What an incredible sword.”

“Blacksmith Tower Master Colson, you have a remarkable talent for swords too!”

Colson was ecstatic, admiring the sword he created.

‘How beautiful…’

The blade shone with a dark hue.

A razor-sharp edge that seemed capable of breaking any sword.

Wisely chosen materials, proper forging, and tempering.

And all his experience melted into it.

“Go ahead and check it!”

Amid everyone’s awe, Colson examined the sword.

(Black Night)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 12,000/12,000

Attack Power: 664

Restrictions: No restrictions for the creator, levels 200~380.

Special Abilities:

· Strength +4%, Agility +7%, Intelligence +4%.

· Cutting Power +35%.

· 40% chance to deal critical damage.

· Sword Mastery Level 2 increase.

· Active Skill: Weapon Breaker.

· Active Skill: Light of Black Night.

Description: A longsword with a dark hue, created with amazing craftsmanship by the Archery Blacksmith Tower Master.

“Wow…”

“Incredible… Truly incredible!”

“A new achievement for you!”

Colson was stunned by the other blacksmiths’ congratulations.

Unique bows.

He had crafted 41 unique bows so far, but this was his first unique sword.

He was overwhelmed with emotion.

“It seems they have finished their creation too.”

Rex, the Shield Blacksmith Tower Master, possessed a mystical power. He had the ability to discern without direct verification.

[Insight]

[Checking the grade of the opponent’s artifact.]

[It is of Rare grade.]

Slowly opening his eyes, Rex smirked.

“Theirs is a rare. It’s over.”

“Is that so?”

A smile of victory appeared on Colson’s lips.

The match was already decided.

But Colson gripped Black Night tightly.

God Blacksmith.

He was thrilled at the thought of destroying the sword of God’s descendant, imagining it lying in ruins in his forge.

‘A complete success.’

Colson, a master-class blacksmith, designed this sword to render the opponent’s weapon useless, and here was the proof.

(Weapon Breaker)

Passive Skill

Mana Cost: None.

Description: Activates with a 25% chance, significantly reducing the durability of the opponent’s weapon based on the attack power of the sword.

With this power, it’s possible to break the opponent’s sword to below 50% durability, as initially aimed.

‘No, if it’s even worse than I thought…’

It could even go beyond 60%.

Hyun-soo, the foreigner, walked out of his forge.

His sword looked decent, but compared to the black-bladed Black Night, it seemed significantly inferior.

Dang, the judge of the blacksmith’s duel, stood between them to start the contest.

Colson didn’t miss the distorted expression on Dang’s face.

‘Did you see it? The sword I made.’

Colson laughed inwardly, scoffing at the foreigner, Hyun-soo, standing opposite him.

“If you give up now and come under me, I’ll give you the position I offered before.”

“It’s okay.”

“You’re stubborn, aren’t you? Even at a glance, the difference between the artifacts we made is like heaven and earth.”

The difference between Rare and Unique was immense.

But did he not realize the grade of his artifact?

He wore an unconcerned expression. Anyway, he would find out soon enough.

[The Blacksmith’s Duel Begins.]

[You can clash swords 3 times.]

Colson grasped Black Night with both hands and drew it back.

Hyun-soo briefly looked at Dang.

“Is this how I should hold it?”

“Lean back more, so you can strike with all your might.”

Colson laughed and his eyes shone like a wolf’s.

[1st Clash.]

Colson swung Black Night with all his might in a diagonal line.

The opponent also swung in a diagonal line.

The moment the two swords met.

Clang!

[Weapon Breaker]

[Activates with a 25% chance, significantly reducing the opponent’s weapon durability based on the sword’s attack power.]

[The opponent’s weapon durability decreases by 18%.]

Hyun-soo’s sword’s edge was significantly damaged.

[2nd Clash.]

Clang!

[Weapon Breaker]

Luck was on his side.

Weapon Breaker activated twice in a row.

[The opponent’s weapon durability decreases by 16%.]

Hyun-soo’s sword’s edge was noticeably damaged.

No, if it went further, his sword might become unusable.

And the last clash.

Swoosh!

Colson swung the sword, enveloped in exhilaration.

[Weapon Breaker]

Once again, Black Night gleamed, ready to devour the opponent’s sword.

Today, everything was perfect.

He had crafted a great sword, and Weapon Breaker activated three times in a row.

‘It’s over…’

But then.

‘What?’

The man’s sword was enveloped in a mysterious white light.

And then.

Swoosh!

‘What’s this sound…?’

His sword clashed with the man’s. No, it seemed to clash.

But the opponent’s sword cut through his own.

And then the unthinkable happened.

Swish-

Black Night was sliced apart and fell to the ground.

Clang!

‘My sword, cut…?’

His mind halted.

No, this was impossible.

It was an unthinkable event.

A sword might break, but not be cut. It was something he had never experienced in his life.

But the impossible was proven.

[The Blacksmith’s Duel Ends.]

[Black Night’s damage level is 99%.]

Yes, it was cut.

A sword was cut by another sword.

The man, Hyun-soo, looked at him with shaking pupils as he sheathed his sword.

Swoosh-

The man, with indifferent eyes, turned and said,

“A sword is not defined by its grade alone.”

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