[Effectiveness Rate: 98%]
The advantages of emergency and customized production are clear.
It eliminates unnecessary elements for the user and maximizes what’s needed in their place.
The key here is the rate of effectiveness.
The degree of maximization depends on this rate.
And to achieve this maximization, the user’s full skill is essential.
How they utilize their ingenuity, their crafting process, and understanding determines the effectiveness rate.
The higher this rate, the more exceptional the artifact becomes.
(Damascus Crescent Moon Blade)
Grade: Unique
Durability: 3,500/3,500
Attack Power: 201
Restriction: None for the creator, 60-130 for others
Special Ability:
· Cutting power against stone or minerals increased by 280%.
Description: This Damascus Crescent Moon Blade was born from emergency production. A genius creator applied the Damascus forging technique and the Crescent Moon Blade’s method to create it.
The previous emergency production blade was only of rare grade.
This one, even if made in a rush, is unique grade.
Hyun-soo is second to none in making outstanding Damascus blades.
He coldly stares down at the stone golem, having plunged the Damascus Crescent Moon Blade into its chest.
“Kuwo?”
The stone golem couldn’t hide its bewilderment.
It knew its strengths.
Regular weapons couldn’t inflict significant damage, and it ignored concepts like being sliced or stabbed.
But then came the spear, piercing like it was cutting through flesh.
“Rampage.”
[Rampage]
[Indiscriminate attacks on all enemies recognized within a 10m radius.]
[Upon activation, attack speed increases by 70%, physical attack power by 30%.]
Rampage attacks all identified enemies within a 10m radius.
However, there were no enemies nearby, and the Damascus Crescent Moon Blade had already pierced the golem’s chest.
The blade protrudes upwards.
Whooosh-!
“…?”
The stone golem, sliced from the chest upwards, is taken aback.
The power of Rampage begins to slice it indiscriminately.
Boom, boom boom, boom boom-!
The stone golem’s body falls apart in all directions, each time it’s sliced by the rampage.
The golem tries to swing its remaining arm at Hyun-soo but fails.
Koooom-
The other arm had already fallen to the ground…
The golem’s consciousness fades as it splits into dozens of pieces.
“…Incredible.”
Someone mutters.
And the stone golem collapses.
“Huff, huff.”
Hyun-soo, breathing heavily, collapses and surveys the surroundings.
With the stone golem’s death, the other golems disperse.
He then receives a notification about the hunt.
[You have hunted the boss monster, Stone Golem.]
[You gain 22,035 experience points.]
[You level up.]
[You level up.]
[You level up…]
He levels up 14 times in an instant. The boss monster of this Super Rookie Competition doesn’t drop artifacts.
Instead, it offers a significant gold reward.
[You gain 3,413 gold.]
It’s thrilling and sweet. Hyun-soo alone monopolizes what should have been shared by dozens of users based on their contributions.
Then, the awaited notification arrives.
[Your current contribution is 12%.]
Thanks to the first stage’s first-place reward and the rapid increase in the short term, he held this level of contribution.
[Contribution is being calculated.]
[You gain an additional 10% for hunting the Stone Golem alone.]
[You gain an additional 20% for hunting a boss monster superior to the Blood Golem.]
[Your total contribution is 95%.]
‘What…?’
Hyun-soo is the most surprised.
A total contribution of 95%.
The contribution is shared among those who survive in this Super Rookie Competition.
The additional gains are presumably rewards for accomplishing remarkable feats.
Still, it means Hyun-soo alone has raised more than 65% of it.
[The Super Rookie Competition concludes.]
[Congratulations.]
[You have achieved an overwhelming first place in the Super Rookie Competition.]
Then, Beckel, who was in stealth mode, appears near Hyun-soo. Beckel says,
“Do you remember what we talked about regarding an agreement?”
“Yes, I remember.”
Tournament Chairman Beckel speaks earnestly,
“There was a big commotion in this competition, but thanks to you it seems we’ll be able to get through it safely.”
Beckel scans the surroundings, noting the reactions of the users.
“It seemed like the winner was predetermined from the start.”
“But wasn’t it still fun?”
“It was exciting, a bit of a thrill. And we didn’t even get forcibly logged out.”
If everyone had been wiped out, the competition would have faced severe criticism.
But thanks to the man earlier, that didn’t happen.
“I’ll propose to the higher-ups to grant the biggest reward possible.”
Beckel, patting his shoulder and walking by, suddenly stops.
“I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll try to arrange a meeting with the emperor.”
“…Thank you.”
Beckel is just a tournament chairman, but he believes Hyun-soo is worthy of this opportunity.
Even if it’s just for 20-30 seconds.
[The award ceremony will begin shortly.]
[You will receive your rewards at the ceremony.]
Hyun-soo is looking forward to it, especially to see if Barad, the Sword King, will be there.
He waits eagerly for the ceremony to start.
***
Lord, after a long time, met with Sword King Barad. He had been training in the Sword’s Tomb for several days.
The Sword’s Tomb was a kind of swordsmanship training ground.
Inside, they couldn’t even whisper to each other, and Lord had tried his best to gain Barad’s recognition.
Finally, he achieved visible progress.
Enough for Sword King Barad to acknowledge his efforts with a word of praise.
“…Is this it?”
As a descendant of the Sword King, Lord is a high-ranker. But to Barad, he’s still just a novice.
“…I’m sorry.”
Lord couldn’t understand his standards.
How far did he need to go to satisfy him?
And despite being his chosen successor, Barad showed him no affection.
‘Perhaps, he doesn’t recognize me to that extent.’
Even Sword King Barad occasionally mentioned someone.
“The blacksmith from Hyun’s Forge. When is he coming?”
“Last time I contacted him, he said he would visit or make arrangements.”
Lately, Barad’s main interest was the creator of the sword that cut his own.
And Lord was unaware. Among the hundreds of whispers he received, there was one from him.
“Tell me about him.”
Lord sensed greed in his voice.
He craved a certain weapon.
‘A weapon Sword King Barad longs for.’
He chuckles to himself.
‘What do I gain by satisfying the Sword King?’
It’s beyond his imagination. And he’s not in a position to think about it.
All he did was cater to a king with insatiable desires.
“There are various rumors. My personal opinion is that he’s an unofficial ranker blacksmith.”
“An unofficial ranker. The hidden strong ones you talk about?”
“Yes.”
Lord has seen various speculations about Hyun’s Forge. But he doesn’t think too deeply about it compared to other blacksmiths.
Some say he’s a low-level user, but as a non-blacksmith like Lord, it defies common sense, so he assumes him to be an unofficial ranker.
The same goes for Sword King Barad.
‘I’ve never seen such a sword creator in my life.’
Barad once met the dwarf race. Even they couldn’t create a sword with such power.
Considering any situation, it’s unthinkable that he’s a low-level individual as the foreigners say.
Then a voice from outside interrupts his thoughts.
“Your Majesty, the award ceremony is about to start.”
Lord smirks bitterly.
A few days ago, he heard Barad say, ‘I no longer see the need to meet the winner.’
Lord agreed. It seemed ludicrous that Sword King Barad would meet a mere level 50 rookie.
He used to attend in search of great talent, but now he seemed disinterested.
But then.
“…I’ll go soon. Tell them I’ll personally present the reward.”
“…You’re going yourself?”
Lord is surprised.
Barad attending personally? And presenting the reward himself?
He had never handed out rewards at ceremonies before. Just sat there, bored, nodding his head and casually congratulating them.
But now he’s going to present it himself?
“He’s an interesting one, adept with both sword and bow.”
Barad’s intrigued smile makes Lord envious.
A mere level 50?
And he had never shown such an expression to him.
But he soon reassures himself.
Even so, he is already Barad’s chosen successor.
Sword King Barad, about to depart, is lost in thought.
‘A weapon master, perhaps.’
Many legends of the continent still lay dormant. But Barad, more than anyone, had access to a wealth of information.
The Weapon Master, a legendary figure capable of wielding any weapon with ease, had actually handled bows, spears, and swords.
The Moon Blade he hastily created was exceptional.
It was said that the Weapon Master could summon weapons in an instant.
Yes, to Barad, that was a unique method of summoning.
But it wasn’t just that which impressed him.
It was the courage shown in the face of impossible odds that he admired.
The award ceremony.
Second or third place holders couldn’t even dream of being here.
He entered the award ceremony hall, his red cape fluttering behind him.
There, kneeling on one knee, was a man with a sharp gaze.
His broad shoulders could rival even the famously strong Barad.
‘A true warrior. Reminds me of my younger days.’
It was a pity. Had he not already chosen a successor, this man could have been his.
If he wasn’t already known as the Weapon Master, Barad might have revealed his greed for him.
The attendants were at a loss, holding a seemingly insignificant reward.
Barad took the reward from them.
“The winner is… no.”
Barad, looking proud, corrected himself.
“Honor the warrior.”
Warrior. That one word resonated deeply with the attendants. Few could be mentioned as ‘warrior’ by Barad himself.
The man stepped forward, raising his arms respectfully.
“I bestow upon you a reward of 13,000 gold.”
The man accepted it and stepped back. Barad, watching him, let out a barely noticeable smile.
The man didn’t speak. He just bowed in gratitude.
Barad knew why. Though he hadn’t ordered it, his attendants must have instructed so.
Barad didn’t view foreigners favorably, and conversations with them often irritated him.
It was over.
Barad turned to leave.
Then.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
“You dare to speak in front of His Majesty!”
“Such audacity!”
Barad stopped, his face hardening.
This man was among the lesser ones of the foreigners.
Even as a Super Rookie and a Weapon Master, nothing had changed.
He understood the man’s previous eagerness to meet him, but this comment was too arrogant…
“I am the blacksmith Hyun. That’s me.”
“What…?”
A chill ran down Barad’s spine.
The warrior he had admired, the one he sought as the creator, was right there.
The attendants moved towards him.
“The nerve, to say His Majesty sought you!”
“Do you think too highly of yourself now!”
The knights were about to draw their swords in threat.
But Barad raised his hand and spoke with a heated voice.
“I have been waiting for you. Blacksmith Hyun.”
Cliche Novel 
😂😂 Thanks for the chapter!!
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