Strike 98

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Hyun-soo watched as the fifth calamity, Jack, was scattered.

Jack, who disappeared without even being able to scream in pain, was meeting the most fitting end for evil.

Hyun-soo’s heart raced.

‘I really did it.’

Even while planning, he was immersed in doubts about whether it could be realized.

Killing the fifth calamity, Jack, would bring tremendous benefits to his forge and himself in the future.

This calamity hunt was already being recorded by all guild 

members.

It would immediately propel Hyun-soo even further.

The reward notification hit hard.

[You have hunted the fifth calamity, Jack.]

[Your contribution is very high.]

[The reward for your contribution is being calculated.]

[Your contribution is 55%.]

[You have gained a large amount of experience.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[Congratulations.]

[You have reached level 200.]

[Leveling up…]

[You have increased by more than 40 levels at once.]

Hyun-soo was astounded.

He had transformed from level 184 to 227 in a breath.

Being over level 200 meant that he was now considered to be among those with quite high levels, taking a step closer to a higher place.

[You have acquired 31,803 gold.]

31,000 gold. 

In Korean currency, it amounted to about 30 million won, a considerable amount of money.

Just the gold drop alone generated a significant profit.

[You have acquired 4 Blessed Enhancement Stones.]

[You have acquired the Coat of Calamity.]

[The calamity’s…]

[Jack’s…]

[You have gained 500 fame.]

[You have gained 100 charisma.]

Endless notifications.

Hyun-soo was finding it hard to keep his composure.

A Blessed Enhancement Stone was expensive enough to be worth about 3 million won in Korean currency, used to enhance weapons or armor.

Besides, the miscellaneous items dropped by Jack were also of considerable value.

Just by succeeding in the raid, they had generated a profit close to 100 million won just from gold and miscellaneous items combined.

“Oh, I leveled up?”

“I’ve leveled up too, haha!”

Lisel and Bark also seemed to have gained quite a lot of experience.

They were extremely happy, and Hyun-soo smiled slightly.

Their growth was also the growth of Guild Bright Future.

Moreover, both were high-rankers.

‘A level up for high-rankers is even more special.’

Even a single level difference could change the rankings, and the difference in strength was evident.

Hyun-soo looked at the disintegrating death sword in his grasp.

A bitter smile formed unconsciously.

‘The reason I could hunt Jack was also because I made this death sword.’

The regret lies in the fact that the death sword was made in an emergency.

He couldn’t help but recall the notification when he made the death sword again.

[This would be the most perfect method of creating a death sword.]

Emergency-made weapons had to be set within just 2-3 seconds.

The recipe that Hyun-soo set in those 2-3 seconds was unparalleled by anyone.

In Korea, there were about forty real death swords.

All the death swords made to date originated from Hyun-soo’s father and his hands.

[Your experience is astonishing.]

[The effectiveness rate increases by 12%.]

The experience of the only creator who has made them multiple times.

[Your understanding is outstanding.]

[The effectiveness rate increases by 14%.]

The person who understands the true meaning of the death sword and the reasons it was created, and can imbue the sword with that understanding.

Hyun-soo was confident.

He could say he was the only one in the world.

Thus, the death sword was born, even if through emergency production.

But then the thought occurred that he might not be able to make another death sword with such effects and grade.

‘It’s not due to a lack of skill.’

It was because of the system.

Blacksmiths find that when they create artifacts with similar effects, if they have already reached a high grade, the probability of achieving that grade again significantly decreases.

Of course, artifacts are made by Hyun-soo’s skills.

Even so, it could be said that the system, not Hyun-soo, applies the effectiveness rate.

That’s why it’s difficult to make another legendary one.

‘I should be satisfied with what the death sword has brought me.’

He thought he should shake it off, as it was inevitable.

Then.

Hyun-soo looked puzzled.

The disintegrating death sword remained intact as it was.

‘What…?’

Its dissolution suddenly stopped.

While he was bewildered by this strange phenomenon,

[A Job Quest: The God’s Wish Completed]

[You have completed it with miraculous success.]

[You can receive a reward from Saint Aria.]

Miraculous success.

What part was considered a miraculous success?

The God’s Wish quest was about rescuing the saint.

The quest didn’t include killing the fifth calamity, but Hyun-soo succeeded in killing it.

[The God Blacksmith assesses the current situation.]

[He deems the given rewards insufficient.]

Hyun-soo’s heart raced.

The reason the death sword didn’t disintegrate as it should have in an emergency might be related to this notification.

Ding!

[The God Blacksmith gives a hint.]

[Saint Aria possesses a special power.]

[One of her powers might help prevent the death sword from disintegrating.]

[The power of the God Blacksmith helps the death sword not to disintegrate for 10 minutes.]

Joy returned to Hyun-soo’s face.

He began to hope that he might not lose the death sword.

‘A special power of Saint Aria?’

He calmed his excitement and checked the death sword that remained intact in his hand.

(Death Sword)

Grade: Legendary

Durability: 10,000/10,000

Attack Power: 517

Restrictions: None for the creator, for those wielding divine power between 300~450

Special Abilities:

· Divine power increased by 10%.

· Attack power against evil or undead increased by 140%.

· Defense against evil or undead increased by 25%.

· Ignore 40% defense against evil or undead.

· Effect of meteors showering down embedding into the sword.

· Active skill: Tiger’s Vigor.

· Active skill: Light of Sanctity.

· Passive skill: Evil Annihilation.

Description: A hastily crafted death sword that no other holy sword could possibly compare with.

Just by looking at the details, one can understand how extraordinary this sword is.

‘With this sword, the Church of Ares will gain a great power in the fight against the Cult of Calamity.’

The death sword is among the most legendary of swords.

However, when it comes to artifacts, the user must be considered.

For Hyun-soo, it’s an artifact that isn’t needed right away.

And Hyun-soo still had hundreds of millions in medical bills that felt like debt.

‘Recovering this death sword might allow me to settle that and start a new life.’

That was, of course, if the sword could be fully recovered.

‘How do I ask Aria to restore this death sword?’

That’s when it happened.

An inexplicable sense of oppression was felt.

Just as Jack seemed to completely disperse and vanish.

The ashes of Jack pierced through Hyun-soo.

[Curse of Death]

[A curse that activates upon the death of the fifth calamity, Jack, engulfs you.]

[You will gradually die.]

[If you do not resist within 10 minutes, you will be forced to log out.]

Hyun-soo’s skin turned black, he felt dizzy, and then collapsed.

[You have fallen into a state of abnormal unconsciousness.]

Even as he collapsed, Hyun-soo couldn’t let go of the sword.

“I need to recover the death sword….”

He ultimately lost consciousness completely.

***

“Hy, Hyun-soo!”

“Lord Hyun-soo!”

The members of Guild Bright Future rushed to Hyun-soo, who had suddenly fallen.

Belia, who arrived late, also approached upon seeing 

Hyun-soo collapse.

‘Who would have thought Jack placed a curse….’

A terrible curse that harms others even in death.

Belia gently laid Hyun-soo’s head on her lap.

‘What should we do…? He seems about to be forced to log out….’

Hyun-soo’s HP was steadily decreasing, and his increasingly blackened skin looked precarious.

Then.

[The Arrival of Saint Aria!]

[The noblest light appears.]

[Saint Aria Lv.348]

Saint Aria.

The holiest light, comparable to the continent’s top ten legends.

With Jack’s death, she regained the power she had lost.

Soon, dozens of lights struck down around the saint.

From these lights descended famous paladins and priests from the Church of Ares.

Escorted by them, Saint Aria approached.

She looked at the fallen Hyun-soo.

It was memorable.

‘Can I obtain a small amount of Asnium?’

‘Asnium? Asnium is promised only to the descendants of the God Blacksmith.’

‘I am that descendant. It’s necessary to kill the calamity, Jack, and to save the Church of Ares.’

The value of Asnium is astronomical.

Yet, from the man’s straight and honest gaze, Aria gave him a tiny amount of Asnium.

Having received it, the man ran off.

She calmly looked at the sword in Hyun-soo’s hand, which had stopped dispersing.

“Why is that sword dispersing?”

Nel explained,

“Artifacts created in haste disperse.”

“Disperse? Then, can’t you just make it again?”

“No, it cannot be recreated.”

Nel explained the reason and made it known that Hyun-soo could not make such a sword again.

“Yet, why…?”

Aria already felt a great gratitude towards him and had thought to reward him.

Not only did he rescue her but also killed the fifth calamity that the Church of Ares had long pursued.

Belia chimed in.

“It was for something more precious than this sword.”

“What would that be?”

Belia didn’t answer but just gazed at Aria.

Saint Aria’s eyes widened, realizing it was for her.

She asked with a trembling voice,

“What kind of person is he?”

“Good.”

That single word deeply resonated with Aria, and Belia said with conviction,

“At least from what I’ve seen, he is. I have converted to being the child of the saint.”

The child of the saint has a sad restriction.

Specifically, they cannot go anywhere but the Church of Ares.

Violating this rule results in disqualification.

Yet, she says, “He is the one who made me harbor such thoughts.”

What were those thoughts?

“I want to be with this man.”

That struck Aria the most.

The goodness that made Belia, the child of the saint, feel that way.

Aria approached the sleeping Hyun-soo and placed her hand on his forehead.

“No evil shall harm you…”

Warmth originating from her fingertips enveloped Hyun-soo.

[Saint’s Mercy]

[The curse of death is dispelled.]

The blackened skin of the unconscious Hyun-soo returned to its original color, and his expression relaxed.

Then, Aria grasped the death sword, whose dispersion had stopped.

Holding the sword, she offered another prayer.

[Prayer of Rebirth]

[Whatever was dispersing is reborn.]

The dispersing death sword met with its remnants and slowly regained its original form.

Notifications were reaching the sleeping Hyun-soo.

[The death sword regains its complete form.]

“Hyun-soo, I will not forget. Your grace.”

[The Church of Ares and Saint Aria will never forget you.]

Aria, having stood up, said,

“When he wakes up, could you ask him to come to me?”

Belia asked a pure question,

“Why?”

Aria smiled with affection,

“The gratitude of the Church of Ares is just beginning.”

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