Ian was in shock. “The conditions have changed quite a bit from two months ago.”
Korea’s number one guild, Hwarang Guild. The guild’s recruitment officer, desperate to recruit Ian, who was then the top-ranked archer, was very eager.
But not anymore. “Back then, you were ranked first, and now you are sixth.”
The recruitment officer had previously offered a position as head of the Archer Knights with much better terms than those just mentioned, but now he was offering a position as a mere member.
“Honestly, we at Hwarang Guild believe that you will soon fall out of the top 50.”
The recruitment officer looked at the bow strapped to Ian’s back. “Exceptional crossbows are hard to come by, only one in a thousand is crafted.”
The officer no longer showed the passionate recruitment desire he once had. Take it or leave it.
He said regretfully, “I don’t understand. Why would you choose just a crossbow?”
Ian stood up. His mind was in turmoil.
He logged out immediately. He never had much intention of joining the guild; he had just wanted to hear out Hwarang, the country’s top guild.
He had come to realize he was slipping in the rankings.
Hoping for some comfort, he shared the news in a group chat with friends.
At first, his friends seemed supportive. [Hobeom, I honestly don’t get it either. Why a crossbow of all things?]
[Didn’t you know? Hobeom is a patriotic zealot lol.]
Ian turned off the group chat.
After drinking heavily, he fell asleep.
Waking up with a splitting headache, Ian heard a news broadcast. [Last night, a legendary artifact was produced in our country…]
He turned off the TV.
It was a story that had nothing to do with him. ‘Should I quit?’
After washing his face, Ian checked a message on his phone.
It was from Hyun’s Forge. [The crossbow you commissioned has been completed.]
For now, Ian went to the meeting place.
He had somewhere to go, and at the coordinates given by Hyun, he was able to meet him.
Ian received the bow and was astonished.
His eyes shook.
He looked at the man who introduced himself as Hyun-soo with a puzzled expression. “Why, why… would you give this to me…”
If it had been Ian, he wouldn’t have sold it.
People didn’t understand. Why he liked the crossbow.
Because it was the bow he held as a child, and because legendary figures like Yi Sun-sin, Yi Seong-gye, and Jumong had handled it well.
No one understood, and everyone criticized his choice. “I also considered selling it.”
He said with a confident look in his eyes. “But I concluded that you are the only person in our country who could wield this crossbow.”
Only him?
“The restriction states that only those with the highest mastery of crossbow skills can handle it. You are the only user in our country who has achieved that, and with this, you and this crossbow of Jumong will create the greatest synergy.”
When everyone was questioning why he chose a crossbow, “Only you are worthy to wield this bow,” was not the only thing he heard.
“Ha, haha…” Ian hugged the bow.
After holding it for a while, Ian sorted out his thoughts. He had made a promise to Hyun—if he was satisfied with the bow crafted, he would produce a video for Hyun’s forge. Three years ago, under the nickname Editor Jin, he was a sought-after figure by many broadcasters in Korea.
At this moment, he made a vow. “I will create the best video for you.” Ian was confident. He believed his video could boost Hyun into the top five rankings.
“Although there’s nothing else I can offer, I want to repay your kindness; is there anything you desire?” Hyun, looking at him, simply smiled gently.
“Ian.”
“…!?”
Soon, his story began. The story of a small guild.
“We need the strongest marksman to protect us.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
He seriously considered it, knowing a careful decision was necessary.
“I think I will attempt the Archon Baneka’s dungeon. It’s the ultimate goal for all archers.” Ian soon parted ways with him and entered the dungeon of Archon Baneka. The dungeon of Archon Baneka. It was a dungeon attempted by Ian when he was ranked first and by countless other unofficial rankers.
However, no one had ever seen the end of Archon Baneka’s dungeon. Yet, something astonishing happened.
[You have cleared the dungeon of Archon Baneka.]
With the new bow in hand, it was surprisingly easy for Ian. Soon after, the spirit of a deceased boss monster appeared. Archon Baneka. One of the continent’s top ten legends. Although she was a figure from the past, Archon Baneka was a beautiful woman. She marveled at Ian.
“You, who wield a bow that others would not.”
The dungeon of Archon Baneka was merely the first step to becoming her successor. She was known to have a special vision called aesthetic eyes. She said, “You have already made your decision.”
“…”
Ian’s mind, once cluttered, melted away at her words. Only then did Ian realize his body was slightly off, as if eager to return to Hyun quickly. Ian smiled gently, and Baneka said, “I believe you will continue my legacy, go forth.”
Finally, Ian turned around. As he ran off, Baneka murmured, “A meeting of a great bow and a great craftsman.” Baneka felt it. Their era was ending, and a new era for the new generation was beginning.
Ian ran.
Honestly, he was sure that he could achieve boundless things as long as he was with him.
The words he had spoken: “Only you are worthy to hold this bow.”
The man who acknowledged me amidst everyone’s criticism and reproach, the one who confirmed that his choice was right.
[Hyun-soo: You said you would repay the favor, right? I’m sorry for bringing this up so soon after we parted. Please help me.]
Ian, running madly, was able to reach within 500 meters of the prisoner-of-war camp.
The crossbow made by Hyun, Jumong’s crossbow.
This crossbow had such an effect.
[Announcing the appearance of a legend above legends!]
It signifies the appearance of the greatest weapon. And Ian discovered about a hundred arrows being fired at the prisoners.
He immediately pulled the bowstring.
Screaeeek-
[In front of the greatest bow]
[Within a 50-meter radius of where the arrow passes, all arrows fired will burn.]
Ian, burning all the arrows, immediately placed a coin in the slingshot.
In Ares, he was the one who handled the crossbow best.
Click-
[Hyun’s fourteenth custom-made bow and the orchalcum arrow create a synergy.]
[Accuracy and penetration increase by 20%.]
And the crossbow given by Hyun recalls Jumong himself.
In the legends, Jumong is known to surpass distances others cannot shoot.
This bow makes that possible.
[Range increases by 90%.]
Moreover.
‘A longer range usually means lower accuracy.’
But this bow also compensates for that point.
[Accuracy increases by 81%.]
Jumong’s own bow.
He twanged the bowstring.
The coin, separated from the slingshot, hit Kun at the speed of light.
And immediately applied to join the Guild Bright Future.
[You have joined the Guild Bright Future.]
Ian smiled slightly.
[Ian: I will protect you, Mr. Hyun-soo.]
With the world’s most powerful bow.
Ian then looked at the Red Bandana Guild with a bewildered expression.
[Ian: I will take care of the Red Bandana Guild, so don’t worry.]
[Hyun-soo: Are you sure you can handle it alone?]
Ian pulled the bowstring.
Until recently, he had been a player in a crisis of downfall.
But now it was different.
‘I still don’t know the extent of my own strength.’
If one were to describe the current Ian:
[Ian Lv.???]
Immeasurable.
Ian possessed a power that could not be measured by his current level alone.
He released the bowstring.
***
[Hyun-soo: Are you sure you can handle it alone?]
[Ian: No problem.]
The Red Bandana Guild was a guild within the top 200 in the guild rankings.
Ian displayed confidence even in battle against such a guild.
In fact, Hyun-soo was also curious about how much power Ian could now exert.
There was certainty in this: Ian had once been the top-ranked user.
Although a newcomer had taken his top spot, now even that person could no longer match Ian.
And Hyun-soo saw Kun, the leader of the Black Dragon squad, who had been sent flying about 12 meters.
Currently, Hyun-soo’s HP was just 20%.
[Black Dragon squad Leader Kun Lv.351]
[HP drops below 92%.]
Conversely, the leader of the Black Dragon squad, Kun, had not yet suffered much damage.
Hyun-soo’s current level was just in the 270s.
‘He is the strongest opponent I have ever faced.’
Although all his Black Dragon squad members had died, that one person might be stronger than all the Black Dragon squad members combined.
Hyun-soo checked his status.
The cooldown for most of his skills had not yet returned.
And Kun, getting up, looked towards where the prisoners were.
The prisoners who were supposed to be massacred were relieved.
And the Red Bandana Guild was only fighting with one archer.
Kun realized everything was falling apart.
And he saw the worried looks in the eyes of the prisoners looking at Hyun-soo.
At a recent border incident, Kun had also admired Hyun, quietly amazed.
A situation he had to lose.
Despite being about to break, he muttered and created a breakthrough.
And knowing his firm will, Kun, gripping his dagger tightly, said,
“I will shatter you.”
Most cruelly, most fiercely.
[Master of Assassins]
[Movement speed and attack speed increase by 55%.]
Assassins are considered the most powerful dealers in Ares.
Assassins, having very low HP and defense, possess 1.3 times the damage output of regular knights.
Additionally, their incredibly fast speed is the fear of all players.
Especially if it’s the leader of an assassin group, it’s even more fearsome.
Sssssssh-
Before Hyun-soo could activate a skill, Kun had already darted past him.
[You have been poisoned.]
[All stats temporarily decrease by 25%.]
[Attack speed and movement speed decrease by 40%.]
The biggest trouble with assassins is their overwhelming speed.
And if their target’s speed is reduced, assassins can truly dominate them.
Pshpshhhhpsh
Hyun-soo felt daggers attacking from all directions.
Due to his slowed speed, he could not react to their movements.
Moreover, to others, Kun’s duel with Hyun-soo looked like Kun was ravaging Hyun-soo at the speed of light.
Indeed, that was the case.
Kun was slicing Hyun-soo most thinly and cruelly.
And by targeting Hyun-soo’s lower body, he disrupted his balance.
Koooong-
Hyun-soo’s balance crumbled, and he kneeled on one knee.
“This is what you truly are.”
Kun questioned.
“Is it broken?”
Kun asked this question as he walked, thinking that Hyun-soo had lost his will to fight.
At that moment, Hyun-soo swung his sword upwards.
Sssssssh-
Kun, cut in a moment of carelessness, realized that Hyun-soo was still robust.
Hyun-soo knew that there weren’t many ways out of this situation.
He was poisoned, and the enemy was robust.
Moreover, the enemy was currently twice as fast as him and had a level that overwhelmingly surpassed his own.
However, as always, he did not give up.
As Kun staggered from the cut, Hyun-soo stood up.
At that moment, an indistinguishable noise began to buzz in his ears.
‘Even if it breaks, I will not retreat.’
Was it his own voice repeating this?
No.
This sound was coming from the system.
Kun’s expression turned to one of panic.
“You cannot break me.”
Hyun-soo stuffed three grapes into his mouth and chewed them all.
Even if it breaks, I will not retreat.
“Definitely.”
And then, Hyun-soo heard a notification that had come many times before.
A notification that a new story was beginning.
But today, a completely different notification came.
[A story for you begins now.]
Cliche Novel 
Thanks for the chapter!
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