Strike 31

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After Hyunsoo posted the first custom-made sword.

The Ares community was bustling as usual, with people checking in.

[“Ah, nothing interesting today?”]

[“Has Ares been quiet lately?”]

[“For real, LOL.”]

Then…

[“Hey guys, I found an amazing sword.”]

[“An amazing sword?”]

[“This guy’s overreacting again, LOL.”]

[“No, seriously. Check the auction house!”]

[“What’s the name of the sword?”]

[“Hyun’s The First Custom-Made Sword.”]

[“Hyun? Who’s that, some otaku, LOL?”]

[“It’s third in today’s auction list.”]

The community users went quiet, checking the artifact information through the link.

One user commented after checking.

[“Ah, damn, it’s a junk item.”]

[“Fooled again, LOL.”]

[“Are you kidding? A sword for levels 200~350 and its attack power is under 200? Shouldn’t it be around 250 normally?”]

[“Yeah, usually around 250.”]

[“Wow, this is a rare piece of garbage. A level 200 sword and it doesn’t even boost any stats? Just one skill.”]

[“Wait, so when you said amazing, did you mean amazingly bad?”]

The original poster replied, frustrated.

[“This is why you guys are always hanging around the Ares community. Look at the skill info!”]

A brief silence followed.

[“What’s so great about this, idiot?”]

[“It’s a rare artifact but only has one skill, LOL. Mine’s rare and has three skills.”]

[“It’s even a consumable, wow, I’ve never seen such a trashy rare artifact before.”]

[“Ah, this guy is so frustrating…”]

Then…

[“Whoa, what’s this? It’s amazing!”]

A veteran member of the Ares community appeared. He was one of the top 10,000 rankers.

His arrival puzzled the other users.

[“What’s so great about it?”]

[“What, tell me too!”]

[“You guys really don’t know? The ‘Sword Breaking’ effect is insanely good.”]

[“But it’s consumable, is it really that exciting?”]

[“It is. There’s no limit to who the skill can target. It can break the swords of level 500 or 600 opponents based on probability.”]

[“Huh? Now that you mention it…”]

[“The important thing is this. It’s a consumable artifact. Keep it in your inventory and swap it in when needed.”]

[“Let me give you an example. There are many named NPCs, monsters, and quests in Ares. Take the recent event with Sword King Barad.”]

[“Yeah, I remember. The high-ranker lost to Barad in a duel.”]

[“Right. But what if that player had this sword?”]

[“???”]

[“Well… if they dueled and by a small chance broke Barad’s sword, then…”]

[“You’re right. If a swordsman’s sword breaks, it means they lose their power for a moment. Like how we players get stronger by 30% with Sword Mastery, it’s the same for NPCs. Maybe that high-ranker could have succeeded in three strikes with this sword.”]

[“Gosh…!”]

[“Wow…?”]

[“And you know Barad is a legendary class. If this sword could help you win against him, it’s worth investing millions. You can’t even put a price on a legendary class.”]

[“Wow, the community master…”]

[“Oh…”]

[“And there’s another way to use it.”]

[“How…?”]

[“I can cut down the sword of someone above my rank with this sword… Like if rank 5 goes after rank 1…”]

[“Whoa!”]

[“That hits home!”]

[“Man, how much you must have wanted to beat them. Get this sword and cut rank 1’s favorite sword, right?”]

[“Idiot, rank 1’s sword is a legendary artifact, it won’t break.”]

[“It’s just an example, an example!”]

[“Hey, guys. It was 2,000 gold just now, but it’s already over 10,000!”]

[“What…?”]

[“Hey, subscribe to Hyun’s Forge right now.”]

[“Subscribed, liked, notifications on…”]

[“Still using those old YouTube catchphrases, are you a boomer?”]

[“Yeah… subscribed…”]

[“I’ll subscribe too.”]

[“Subscribed…”]

Meanwhile, in a 5-star hotel suite in Korea.

Lee Jin-seong, ranked 21st in Ares Korea, threw a tissue box in frustration.

“Damn it!”

His face red with anger, he sighed.

He was the high-ranker who had recently lost to Sword King Barad.

As ‘Lord’, he missed the chance to leap to a legendary class.

“Not yet, it’s not over.”

Jin-seong recalled his conversation with Barad.

“There seems to be potential. You have one more chance. Come to me when you’re ready.”

But the preparation was vague.

He only had about a month.

Jin-seong realized his limitations while clashing swords with Barad.

“Three strikes? I couldn’t even land one.”

The gap between them was too great.

“If only I could reach legendary class…”

Jin-seong, surprisingly, reached rank 21 with a regular class, perhaps a testament to his exceptional control skills.

“Is there no way?”

He mustn’t be choosy about the means.

Any method was acceptable.

“But potions and scrolls are prohibited…”

His fist clenched.

He needed to enhance his own items.

But even after camping at the auction house for a week, no such artifacts were found.

It made sense.

Then a phone call came in.

“Jin-seong, about the Barad quest, with an item…”

“What the fu*k.”

He snapped at his guildmate, then apologized.

“Sorry, I’m just on edge.”

“I understand. But seriously, try with an item.”

“You…!”

Was he being mocked?

He scowled. He must know how hard he had searched for an artifact.

“Are you messing with me now…”

“Check out the ‘Hyun’s First Custom-Made Sword’ at the auction house. That might do the trick.”

“Alright… I got it.”

Jin-seong calmed his excitement.

He could always get angry after checking it out.

Soon, entering the auction house, Jin-seong found the artifact listed as the second top item of the day.

‘Hyun? An unfamiliar blacksmith.’

He then checked the artifact’s information.

‘What is this, trash artif… Huh?’

Soon, Jin-seong’s entire body began to tremble.

It can split an enemy’s sword?

‘No way, is that even… possible?’

It seemed impossible.

Could it really split a sword with 100% durability?

“Splitting a sword means leaving the opponent defenseless, right?”

He thought of the sword wielded by Barad.

A sword is a precious weapon to a swordsman.

Even if it’s just a rare class, it could potentially cause a loss of nearly 20% in combat power.

He had to buy it.

“I must buy it…!”

The bid had already surpassed 13,000 gold.

Jin-seong started to raise the bid continuously.

“Damn Golden Shield guys, sticking close!”

And it wasn’t just them.

Other blacksmith guilds were rapidly catching up too.

Jin-seong needed it the most, but they wanted to secure it for future use.

The bid quickly exceeded 40,000.

But as it went over 40,000, many guilds started to drop out.

‘If only it lasted 50 times…’

No, if it were permanent, this artifact would have been worth hundreds of millions.

It was that valuable, but now it only had 17 uses left.

Statistically, it could probably break 2-3 swords at most.

With bad luck, maybe just one.

And finally, Jin-seong won the auction.

[You have won ‘Hyun’s First Custom-Made Sword’ for 53,310 gold.]

Jin-seong couldn’t hide his excitement.

He immediately checked his messages upon logging in.

Entering the inbox and clicking the artifact, he saw the sword now in his inventory.

Jin-seong, holding the sword, immediately went to find Sword King Barad.

[Sword King Barad Lv.475]

One of the top-named NPCs in Ares.

King of a kingdom and Sword King Barad.

“I thought you were a person who prepares thoroughly.”

Sword King Barad.

He couldn’t hide his discomfort.

This Lord, showing signs of talent.

He thought he would come for the final challenge, fully prepared.

But just a few days after that incident, he’s back?

“Has the only change been that sword?”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

Having been a swordsman for a long time, Barad could tell the power of that sword just by looking at it.

“Are you coming to fight with an even worse sword than before?”

Jin-seong’s previous sword was a unique artifact. This one seemed insignificant in comparison.

“…”

Barad sighed with regret. It was a pity to miss out on a potential successor like this.

Barad charged swiftly.

To show this overconfident, unprepared brat a lesson…

Swoooosh-

Their swords collided.

Or were about to. At that moment, Barad’s eyes widened.

Lord’s eyes flashed like a beast’s. And with an unidentifiable sound, something slowly fell to the ground.

Clang-!

Looking at the sword, Barad was momentarily struck with horror.

[Sword King Barad’s combat power has weakened by more than 25%.]

Even in the presence of the title “Sword King,” an unprecedented and bizarre phenomenon was unfolding.

Lord didn’t miss his chance.

The moment the sword split, the NPC, like a player, lost many abilities.

No sword dance without a sword in hand.

No blocking swinging swords with bare hands.

All he could do was reach for a decorative sword hanging on the wall.

Before Barad could react, Lord was quicker.

Whoosh-!

Using his skill, he swiftly struck Barad 11 times.

“……”

Barad was caught off guard, without any bio-gear.

His attacks were trivial. Yet, it was a fact that 3, no, 11 attacks had reached Barad.

[Congratulations.]

[You can now change your class to a Legendary Class.]

[You have changed your class to the Heir of the Sword King.]

Lord was ecstatic. A wave of exhilaration enveloped him.

But more intriguing was Barad’s expression.

He was still staring at his broken sword.

Then, looking at the sword in Lord’s hand, he exclaimed in astonishment.

“I’m curious, who could have crafted such a unique and extraordinary sword that I’ve never seen in my life?”

His smile was filled with greed.

Lord understood that look.

The desire to possess it.

An overwhelming urge to have it.

Barad couldn’t contain his desire and burst out.

“Will you tell me? Can you make me a sword like that?”

“……!”

Lord was shocked.

Sword King Barad, one of the strongest NPCs in existence.

He was seeking out the blacksmith Hyun (現).

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