The blacksmith contest with Colson.
Hyun-soo accepted the challenge because he thought it was feasible.
Before accepting his offer, he had meticulously checked the Divine Customization.
Divine Customization allows a user to create something in any direction they want.
However, he figured there would be some conditions attached.
‘That condition must be about the materials.’
One way to create an artifact that a user needs is to use related materials.
‘Even if you use such materials, there’s no guarantee that the effects will be included.’
In any case, in this blacksmith contest, he could obtain the materials he wanted, which led to this idea.
‘Can I add a skill to cut through swords?’
Hyun-soo accepted his proposal with this idea in mind.
And as soon as he entered the forge, he tried to realize it.
[Initiating Divine Customization.]
[You can customize for a specific purpose or for yourself.]
[Through customization, you can add desired effects, and these effects can manifest up to 100% depending on probability.]
‘Add a sword-cutting skill.’
[Searching for a sword-cutting skill.]
[Applying a sword-cutting skill is not easy.]
[However, you can dramatically enhance this effect by reducing other attributes like attack power and stats.]
‘Ah…’
Hyun-soo quickly understood. Even he thought the idea of a sword that cuts through other swords was absurd.
At the very least, it meant giving up other additional aspects.
‘After all, the important thing in this blacksmith contest is to inflict high damage.’
Now is an exceptional situation.
He could go all-in.
[Attempting to add a sword-cutting skill by giving up on attack power, stat increases, and various other skill effects.]
Then, Hyun-soo muttered to himself.
“I’m crazy…”
Seeing it this way, this custom creation was indeed an insanely unimaginable skill.
‘It’s like creating a skill, right?’
Of course, it’s just an ability bound to an artifact. But it indicates that creating a skill to some extent is possible.
Just then, he was hit by the realization of how extraordinary the power of a Descendant of God Blacksmith is.
[To enhance the desired effect, your skill, insight, luck, and various other factors are involved.]
[These factors can apply the effect up to 100%.]
Hyun-soo realized the catch in these words. It could be 1%, 10%, or even 100%.
[Materials for crafting the artifact will be guided. Iron, mithril, orichalcum…]
Hyun-soo chose iron.
In this blacksmith contest, he could freely use various materials.
But there was no mithril or orichalcum.
After all, mithril and orichalcum are incredibly valuable and rare minerals.
‘It’s iron, but it’s of the highest quality.’
It was also the material he was most familiar with.
Hyun-soo started crafting the sword.
Then, a notification came.
[You are in the process of Divine Customization.]
[Please apply a method for creating a sword that can cut through other swords within the limits of your knowledge.]
[This may affect the rate of effect application.]
‘The knowledge to create a sword-cutting skill?’
That means the cutting ability of the sword must be significantly increased, possibly at the expense of its durability.
At this moment, Hyun-soo’s mind worked quickly.
Clang!
‘The reason I’m making this artifact.’
He thought about it.
This artifact was not meant to be Hyun-soo’s main weapon like Light.
Sacrifice one aspect, maximize another.
Clang!
During the forging process, he sharpened the blade even more.
‘My knowledge maximizes its effect.’
As he learned and based on his experience.
[Your knowledge in applying the sword-cutting skill is exceptional.]
[Your experience is amazing.]
[Your understanding is outstanding.]
[Effect application rate increases by 5%.]
[Effect application rate increases by 7%.]
Before long, it was completed.
The blade was much sharper, but unfortunately, the sword’s overall durability was weaker.
However, it was the most ‘customized’ artifact for the current situation.
Ding!
[The artifact imbued with Divine Customization is completed.]
[Experience and knowledge of a master blacksmith have greatly enhanced the effect application rate.]
[Effect application rate is 65%.]
[Rare grade.]
[Please name the sword.]
[The title of ‘God of Blacksmiths’ shines brightly.]
[Would you like to apply all stat increases due to the once-a-week activation of artifact creation?]
“Yes.”
[You gain all stats +1.]
[Proficiency of Beginner Sword Mastery Lv.1 increases by 19%.]
[You gain Dexterity +10.]
The name of the sword was ‘First Custom-Made.’
It was a part of Hyun’s branding strategy for his forge, but also a way to track his progress as he crafted each sword.
Hyun immediately examined the first custom-made sword.
(Hyun’s First Custom-Made Sword)
Grade: Rare
Durability: 1,000/1,000
Attack Power: 177
Restriction: No restriction for the creator, Levels 200~350.
Special Ability:
· Active Skill: Sword-Cutting Sword.
Description: A custom-made sword designed solely for cutting swords.
“…?”
To be honest, it was disappointing. Hyun frowned because it was too underwhelming.
‘It’s a rare grade, but…’
The level restriction is 200~350.
Usually, a level 200 restriction starts with an attack power of 250.
But this one’s attack power is halved.
There’s no common increase in strength or health by +1. The only unique feature is one thing.
‘The existence of the Sword-Cutting Sword skill. Is this the risk of going all-in…?’
He then checked the Sword-Cutting Sword skill.
(Sword-Cutting Sword)
Active Skill
Mana Cost: None
Usage Count: 20/20
Description: When activated, there’s an 80% chance to cut a normal grade sword, a 60% chance for a rare grade sword, a 25% chance for an epic grade sword, and a 10% chance for a unique sword.
‘Damn…’
Hyun was astonished. Even excluding other special abilities, this was overpowered.
‘With just this, the artifact is complete.’
Where else would you find a sword that can cut an enemy’s sword?
Of course, the first custom-made sword is a consumable item.
After 20 uses, it can’t be restored and will disappear.
However, the rarity of this sword itself defies common sense.
The problem is whether he can win this battle.
‘10% is not an easy chance.’
Even assuming three sword clashes, it requires luck.
Then.
Colson, too, seemed to have finished with a triumphant expression.
Hyun faced him, holding the first custom-made sword.
Colson urged him again to come under him, and when Hyun refused, Colson said,
“You’re stubborn, but even at a glance, the difference in the grades of artifacts we made is like heaven and earth.”
“…….”
Originally, that would be true.
In Ares, the grade of an artifact is absolute.
Under the same conditions, with the same skill, everything being equal.
A person with a normal grade sword can never beat someone with a rare grade sword.
But…
‘The class that makes it possible is the god class…’
And the battle began.
[Sword-Cutting Sword.]
[Activation fails.]
He fails, and Colson’s weapon breaker, which destroys the sword, succeeds.
The second time is the same.
[Sword-Cutting Sword.]
[Activation fails.]
Sweat runs down Hyun’s back.
As he swings his sword for the last time, looking at Colson’s smug expression.
[Sword-Cutting Sword.]
[Activation successful!]
[Enemy’s sword is cut!]
A bright white light gathers on his sword.
At the moment the two swords collide, a slicing sound rings out.
Skaaak-!
His sword is literally cut in half.
Colson’s pupils shake violently as he looks at his fallen sword.
Unbelievable.
Incomprehensible.
And he recalls the words he said, ‘The difference in the grades of artifacts we made is like heaven and earth.’
It was true.
He too was trapped in that fixed mindset. But just now, Hyun’s divine customization shattered it.
He didn’t know why.
He felt like he had awakened to something new himself.
“The sword is not determined by its grade alone.”
At that moment.
An incomprehensible notification flashes.
[God of Blacksmiths.]
[As a blacksmith, when you accomplish something remarkable, others may come to respect you more or gain enlightenment.]
It was the effect attached to the title.
Someone might come to respect him or gain enlightenment.
And Colson just watched Hyun’s retreating back.
Slowly bending his knees, he picked up his completely severed sword, Black Night.
The cleanly cut sword.
His words.
‘The sword is not determined by its grade alone.’
An indescribable emotion wells up.
Watching Hyun’s back, Colson bites his lip.
In his childhood.
Colson had harbored a dream hearing his father’s words, who was a blacksmith in a small village.
‘Someday, the God of Blacksmiths will come to this land.’
The story of the God of Blacksmiths told by his father was enough to stir young Colson’s heart.
‘He will break our common sense and bestow new teachings to the blacksmiths of this land, leading us forward.’
Listening to him, Colson’s eyes shone, and his father placed a hand on his shoulder.
‘And this opportunity is given to everyone.’
The story that a human could become a god.
Boy Colson, who harbored dreams, came to admire such a God.
He wanted to reach that position.
When he came to the Blacksmith Tower.
He realized he was a genius.
Then one day, a once-in-a-generation genius named Dang appeared.
And from some day on, that dream started to fade.
He liked money.
He liked power.
But then, Hyun-soo, a foreigner, broke into his understanding and shattered it.
Watching his back, Colson asked,
“…Me too.”
Before he knew it, Hyun was looking at him.
“Can I make such a weapon?”
“…….”
Hyun did not answer for a while. But he knew the power of this virtual world of Ares.
“Someday.”
He knew that nothing was impossible.
[Colson gains enlightenment through you that he too might be able to go further.]
[Perhaps he will become a higher-level blacksmith in the future.]
[You gain Dexterity +20.]
Colson’s heart warmed. The forgotten dream and his father’s words revived.
That person will shatter our common sense.
The one to lead all the Blacksmith Towers.
Finally, it becomes a reality.
Colson knelt on one knee.
“Archery Blacksmith Tower Master, Colson. I greet the God of Blacksmiths!”
But Colson knew that this person had many more paths to travel.
There was only one thing he could do. To be of whatever small help he could on his journey.
“Please accept this.”
[Quest: You have completed the Blacksmith competition with miraculous success.]
[You have acquired one of the ten treasures of the Blacksmith Tower, the ‘Legendary Bow Blueprint.’]
‘A Legendary Bow…?’
Hyun-soo’s pupils shook. A legendary artifact that had not even a hundred released in Ares yet.
Moreover, Hyun vividly remembered the recent auction prices of legendary artifacts.
‘800 million won…!’
Hyun-soo was enveloped in a thrill.
Cliche Novel 
Let’s go!!!! Thanks for the chapter!!
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