[The wolf’s egg wishes to protect you.]
Hyun-su listened to the voice of the one who always acted spoiled.
“You are going to protect me…?”
[The wolf’s egg wishes to block a single whip attack.]
Hyun-su’s heart calmed down.
The will of the one who wanted to help him.
He felt a strong bond forming between himself and the egg.
Before he knew it, he was also cherishing the existence within the wolf’s egg, and the creature inside felt the same.
Giving flesh and taking bone.
“Thank you.”
The only thing the creature trapped in the egg could do.
It might seem insignificant, but it was his best effort.
The result of his utmost effort.
Crrraaack-!
The whip was blocked, and a precious moment was gained.
The sword’s cry is the strongest wide-range attack.
The heat haze rising from the drawing stance.
And the moment he forcefully drew his sword.
Kwaaaakwaaakwaaakwaaakwaaakwaaakwaaaak!
Within a 20m radius, the hellhounds were mercilessly slaughtered.
Moreover, the sword’s cry was made 8% more excellent by not breaking.
Also, all swordsmanship skills greatly depend on the user’s stats and the sword’s attack power.
“When did I grow this strong?”
He was so powerful that he could ponder such thoughts.
“Grrrgh…!”
Although Ronso hurriedly increased his physical defense dramatically, it was futile.
[Even if not directly cut, if within a radius of 20m, it cuts through all defenses.]
The sword’s cry was a power that ignored all defenses, defying common sense.
“Kraaaah!”
Eventually, he screamed.
[Ronso’s HP falls below 80%.]
After the relentless slashing, Ronso could see twenty hellhounds turning to ash.
Swooosh-
Moreover, he could realize the enormous amount of damage inflicted given the disparity in their powers.
“This was just a one-time thing.”
If this was his peak, then not giving him any more opportunities…
“…!?”
[You cannot move.]
Ronso’s face was filled with dismay.
That moment.
[Counter (反) is activated.]
[Two artifacts can be created.]
Two minerals sprouted around Hyun-su.
Thanks to the mystical power gained from the egg, Ronso realized that he could now exhibit limitless strength.
The rising minerals were refined.
And before he knew it, Hyun-su’s sword that had approached him from below sliced upwards.
[Six consecutive damages will be applied.]
The damage dealt by a mere blacksmith’s sword once.
Craaack-
“Grk!?”
Twice.
“Cough!”
Three times.
Four times.
Five times.
And with the last sixth time, Ronso screamed out.
“Kahaaak!”
Although each of the six consecutive damages was considered a normal attack, being unprotected and slashed was critical.
[HP falls below 68%.]
Ronso’s eyes bulged.
Two swords, each engraved with 28 stars, were swiftly descending from the sky.
And from the other sword, a roar of a legendary monster could be felt.
[The special power of Counter (反) is applied.]
[There’s a 1% chance to wield both swords simultaneously.]
Hyun-su quickly reached for the two swords.
The tremendous power emanating from the two swords made Ronso’s spine tingle.
“Is this what it means to be a blacksmith? A new legend in the making.”
But a legend is just potential, nothing more yet.
“I can’t afford to play with you anymore.”
Ronso also realized that he was in danger.
He resisted the remaining half-second stun.
And then he swung his whip toward the arm that was reaching for the swords.
Sseogeuueoeok-!
A chilling cutting sound echoed.
At that moment, Hyun-su’s eyes widened.
Tuuk-
It was because his left arm had been severed and fallen to the ground.
[You have received a powerful impact.]
[You are afflicted with the status ailment, confusion.]
Hyun-su kicked Ronso desperately with his foot.
Kwajaaak-!
Ronso, pushed back with his arms crossed, let out a small sneer.
He savored the sight of his ever-changing expressions.
And for Hyun-su, that moment felt like an eternity.
“I’ve lost an arm…”
Of course, it was just a part of the game.
After a forced logout, his arm would regenerate like a lizard’s.
But what if he lost here?
“Everything I’ve built will crumble, and everyone will die.”
Lord Belin, who had shown faith in him.
The blacksmiths who had shouted to meet again on the day he left.
The vassals who had waved to him.
And the members of the Guild of Light and the Stormtroopers with whom he had dreamt together.
“Your despairing expression pleases me…”
Ronso’s face hardened as he continued.
Poung-
Hyun-su pulled out a bottle of potion filled with green liquid and opened it with his mouth.
Gulp gulp
He immediately poured it over the severed area.
[You have used the blood of the Giant King.]
He brought the severed arm close, and it instantly reattached.
“……!?”
Ronso, gaping at Hyun-su, who was biting his lip, widened his eyes.
Hyun-su knew that the sound he had heard before was coming again.
“Never break, never back down, and by all means…”
He still couldn’t understand why he was hearing this sound.
He simply said what he had to say now.
“I will win.”
Kwaak-
Hyun-su grabbed both swords.
“It’s dangerous…”
Ronso became desperate.
Layers of black shields built up in front of him.
Then.
Keuheuheuheng-!
A massive roar of a tiger filled the arena, and a holy light struck Ronso.
[Tiger’s Energy]
[A massive divine power weakens you.]
[You are weakened.]
[You are weakened.]
[Fourth Calamity Ronso Lv.394]
[Fourth Calamity Ronso Lv.375]
[Fourth Calamity Ronso Lv.322]
[You are stunned for 3 seconds.]
Ronso was hit with an indescribable shock.
“Such a debuff exists?”
Moreover, the brilliant light emanating from his sword was the light of divine power.
It had the power to destroy evil.
More terrifying than that was the dragon that seemed to ascend blazing from his sword.
“I will win.”
He chewed on the words the mere blacksmith had said.
He had thought it was unthinkable.
The difference between him and the blacksmith was more than just a level difference of 100.
The difference in experience was also vast.
Kieheieieiek!
In that moment, he felt the fierce power of the dragon striking him.
Already weakened by the divine power, Ronso felt he couldn’t resist the force overwhelming him.
Kwaaaaang-
His body felt as if it was being shattered into pieces by the massive impact.
“Uggggggggh!”
Hyun-su, who had burst through the aftermath of the explosion, was pouring it all out.
[Ronso’s HP is…]
[Ronso’s HP is…]
[Ronso’s HP is…]
Both knew it.
They knew that this brief battle would determine their victory or defeat.
Finally, when Hyun-su’s attack had ended.
[You have killed the Fourth Calamity Ronso.]
“This is unbelievable…”
Old man Ronso wore a shocked expression.
Slowly turning into ash, Hyun-su knelt down as he watched him.
“Kuhuk, hukhuk.”
Breathing heavily, Hyun-su couldn’t believe that he had won.
And slowly, while waiting for the reward notification, he mulled over it.
‘What was that exactly?’
The sounds that kept ringing in his head.
‘Never break, never back down, and by all means.’
And Hyun-su had simply spoken his feelings.
‘I will win.’
Then, Hyun-su received this notification.
[Never Break]
[Something special is about to happen.]
Hyun-su’s title, ‘Never Break,’ read ‘Something special might happen.’
[The last sentence is completed.]
[This power originated from you will protect many more.]
[A sentence completed in a do-or-die moment grants a special power for one time.]
[The system is searching for the special power.]
[Searching… 1%… 3%… 13%…]
Hyun-su looked puzzled.
The title he held, ‘Never Break.’
The fact that it was a completed sentence arising from ‘something special might happen.’
‘Strange.’
Yet, Hyun-su had already overcome a life-or-death crisis.
Still, the system was searching for power.
Why bother…
‘Huh?’
Hyun-su, who was kneeling and waiting for the notification, felt a chill run down his spine.
A memory flashed by.
The Fifth Calamity, Jack.
It wasn’t his dark magic that had scared him.
The Six Calamities.
They had called their own traits ‘calamities’ and demonstrated powers that deviated from the norms of named NPCs.
At that time, Jack had demonstrated a power known as ‘The Calamity of Enhancement.’
Soon, the dispersing ash began to form a new shape.
[You have killed the Fourth Calamity Ronso.]
[A new story begins.]
Hyun-su trembled.
Ding!
[Sudden Quest: Resurrected Calamity]
Grade: SS
Requirement: One who has killed Ronso once
Reward: All rewards X2, Necklace of Calamity
Penalty if failed: The destruction of Ballass Territory.
Description: If the Fourth Calamity Ronso is not killed, Ballass Territory will be destroyed by his hands.
The rewards were maximized.
All rewards were doubled, and he could obtain the Necklace of Calamity along with the Coat of Calamity.
However, the damage from failing was too great.
‘The destruction of Ballass Territory.’
[The Resurrection of Calamity is activated.]
[Ronso’s HP is restored to 20%.]
[Ronso’s whipping becomes twice as fast.]
[Damage increases by 40%.]
[Ronso’s full power emerges and strengthens his subordinates.]
Black magic power surged from Ronso, who was turning to ash.
Wooshbangbang!
The black magic power broke through the windows and flew into the air, plunging Ballass Territory into darkness.
[Ronso’s subordinates are demonized.]
[They forget their fear and become much stronger.]
[Their killing and destructive instincts endlessly surge.]
The guild chat became noisy.
[Ian: Did they just get 20% stronger? Just when we thought we could handle them!]
[Bellia: I’m out of MP, they’re chasing me!]
[Risel: Even the dead ones are getting up…?]
‘No way.’
At that moment.
Kooquaquaquaquaquak—
Whips lashed from all directions, brutally whipping Hyun-su’s entire body.
[You are holding Asnium.]
[Your HP has fallen below 10%.]
[Your HP is restored to 15%.]
Hyun-su’s face turned pale instantly from being whipped all over.
“Guh…”
“I was thinking of playing with you slowly before killing you.”
Hyun-su knew the end had come.
It was hard to resist.
Even though he had never broken before, this seemed like something he could not easily overcome.
Then.
[The search is completed.]
Hyun-su saw that Ronso, who was approaching him, could no longer get closer.
‘What is this…?’
Hyun-su could see a blue barrier enveloping him.
[You have discovered one of Counter’s hidden features.]
Amidst the endless notifications, Hyun-su got back on his feet.
Immediately, two more minerals sprouted from Hyun-su.
***
In a small hidden room in the audience chamber,
Belin, hidden there, could not forget Hyun-su, whom she had met after a long time.
‘My lord, it has been a while.’
He had changed significantly in just a few months.
‘I’ll handle this. If I don’t open the door, no matter what sounds you hear, do not come out.’
Belin then squeezed her eyes shut and trembled as the roaring sounds spread.
The vibrations shaking the castle, the endless eerie screams.
Of course, it wasn’t just fear that kept her from leaving.
Belin knew.
She couldn’t be of any help to him.
Then, hearing Hyun-su’s scream, Belin got up.
What am I doing now?
She is the lord of this place.
She bit her lip.
Hyun-su might be in a desperate crisis right now.
She knew she couldn’t be of help.
But if.
‘If I can buy even a moment’s time…’
Might it not be a noble death?
Belin was okay with dying.
For this domain…
That’s why she slowly opened the door.
Creeeak-
Through the opened crack, she saw.
Ronso stepping back and Hyun-su glaring at him through strands of blood-soaked black hair.
A weapon in each of his hands.
When he brought the two weapons together, something astonishing happened.
[Combining artifacts.]
[The emergence of a legend above legends!]
Kooggggggg-
A massive divine power surged from him.
[The legend of the Master Craftsman is written.]
Cliche Novel 