The Sword Strike of Despair.
As he watches, Arte’s pain is transferred to Hyun-soo.
Grout had imprisoned and tormented Arte for his entire life, simply because he possessed superior knowledge to humans.
Now, the power infused in Hyun-soo’s sword is Arte’s agony.
Compared to the mental anguish, this is merely physical pain.
However, with this power, Grout is about to experience unimaginable suffering.
A Ghost Steps, carrying Arte’s lament.
Screeee—!
[Dealt 16,933 damage.]
[7 times the pain is applied.]
“Ugh, ughaaaah!!!”
Grout’s eyes rolled back as his arm was slashed.
Just a mere slash, but the pain defied comprehension.
The power of the Sword Strike of Despair exerted even more strength from the unexpected.
Hyun-soo thought that Grout’s extraordinary reflexes might counter the ghost steps.
But the overwhelming pain, as described by the Sword Strike of Despair, caused him to lose his mind and paralyzed all his senses and reason.
And he still needs to suffer more.
The Art of Swordsmanship.
Originally, Ghost Steps is a series of continuous attacks that cannot deliver critical hits.
It can deliver more than five attacks at once with its restrictions.
But the passive skill The Art of Swordsmanship imbued in the Supreme Sword allows critical hits, to which the effect of the Sword Strike of Despair is applied.
Each attack deals an additional 180% damage.
And it strikes.
[A critical hit was delivered.]
[Dealt 21,067 damage.]
Three times.
[A critical hit was delivered.]
[Dealt 22,413 damage.]
Grout’s total HP is higher than any enemy Hyun-soo has ever faced.
Even after being directly hit by the strongest strike in the world, he still had half of his HP left.
Four times.
Five times.
Six times.
Seven times.
Eight times.
Screeeak
Crack
Thud
Boom
[Dealt 15,313 damage.]
[Dealt 14,130 damage.]
[A critical hit was delivered.]
[Dealt 13,612 damage.]
Eleven times.
[Grout’s HP falls below 20%.]
It’s fine even if he has incomprehensible HP and defense.
The current Ghost Steps activates over three seconds, unlike usual.
Fourteen times.
Fifteen times.
Sixteen times.
[A critical hit was delivered.]
[Dealt 16,313 damage.]
“Arghaaaaah!”
Grout writhed in agony. His eyes rolled back, and he was foaming at the mouth.
But this is only a hundredth, a ten-thousandth of the pain Arte felt.
19th strike.
20th strike.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
A demon who toys with humans for amusement. A noble among the demon race, known to be the most superior of all species.
Unbelievable words escaped from the mouth of the blood demon, Grout.
“S-s-stop iiiit!”
It was a power brought forth by the loss of reason.
But Hyun-soo did not stop.
21st, 22nd, 23rd strikes.
The rage of Arte that he felt in its entirety now plunged Hyun-soo into extreme focus.
24th, 25th, and then 26th, 27th strikes.
He watched the creature struggle desperately.
Killing him and claiming the reward would make him even stronger.
Additionally, it would undoubtedly be a milestone in clearing the Cage Quest.
28th strike.
29th strike.
THUD—
For the final strike, he launched himself off his hind legs as if stepping on solid ground, thrusting his sword into the demon’s chest.
SQUELCH—
[A critical hit was delivered.]
[Dealt 17,301 damage.]
Slowly, the demon Grout began to disintegrate, finally freed from the pain.
Grout’s eyes met Hyun-soo’s.
“…You think you’re so great just because you shattered a fragment.”
Grout’s chilling eyes spoke.
“Do you think Arte can escape from here? Hmm? From this Beres Mountain Range?”
Hyun-soo drew his sword without hesitation.
He heard Grout’s voice as it completely disintegrated.
“…You made me take a risk.”
[Grout will return.]
Hyun-soo’s eyes wavered.
He hadn’t known that Grout might return in his true form.
Hyun-soo was able to kill Grout only because he was a fragment.
Hyun-soo tried to appear calm, but he couldn’t fathom the power of Grout at full strength.
However, there was something fortunate.
He could become stronger here and now.
[You have eradicated a fragment of the blood demon Grout.]
Ding!
[Linked Quest: Eradicate the Fragment of the Blood Demon Grout completed.]
[Experience and artifact drop rate doubled.]
[You have gained 1,260,041 experience points.]
Hyun-soo was astonished. It was the first time he had gained over a million experience points.
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up…]
He leveled up seven times in one go.
In the 300-level range, where the experience required to level up is extreme, this was beyond comprehension.
Additionally,
[You have gained 223,031 gold.]
The amount of gold obtained was also enormous.
The only regret was that there were no item drops since it was just a fragment.
However, Hyun-soo reached level 320.
He was much stronger than before.
[You have gained 25% story progression.]
[The story progression reflects various factors.]
Various factors were reflected.
Although Hyun-soo did not know, it included the difference in levels between him and Grout, the time it took to defeat him, and many other elements.
[You have completed the quest with an astounding performance.]
[You have gained 7% story progression.]
And where this story progression would lead, he did not know.
At that moment,
[You have eradicated a fragment of the blood demon Grout.]
[This is an unbelievably astounding feat.]
“Again…?”
Suddenly, blood gushed out from the disintegrating remnants of Grout’s fragment.
The blood flew towards Arte and flung him out of the Sage Tower.
“Krah!?”
Even in his moment of annihilation, Grout tormented Arte.
[Another story begins.]
The first time, it surprised him; the second time, it puzzled him; the third time, it left him bewildered.
Ding!
[Linked Quest: Incoming Monsters]
Grade: SS
Restriction: For those who are progressing with the new story
Reward: Story Progression ???
Penalty for Failure: Arte’s death
Description: Due to Grout’s curse, Arte will be attacked by all the monsters in the Beres Mountain Range if he leaves the Sage Tower. Additionally, Grout’s range of activity is restricted. If Arte escapes the Beres Mountain Range, Grout can no longer interfere with him. Ensure Arte’s safe escape.
Rumble—
A massive vibration shook the area.
From below, from above. Monsters were coming from all over the Beres Mountain Range.
[There are a total of 8,643 monsters living in the Beres Mountain Range.]
The Beres Mountain Range is known as a high-level hunting ground in the domestic server.
The average level of the monsters is 330-350.
Among the 8,000 or so monsters, there were 100 boss-level monsters.
Hyun-soo saw the black horde of monsters.
His body trembled for a moment.
But he quickly calmed down.
He slowly took in the sight of the Beres Mountain Range.
Then, he thought and found the only way.
‘There is no other way.’
He moved towards Arte.
***
Meanwhile.
“We have risen to rank 4.”
Another story, resulting in an increase in difficulty.
Director Lee Se-jin of the Special User Management Team stroked his chin.
The new story’s grade goes up to level 7.
Among them, level 4 is exceptionally difficult.
The quest to eliminate Grout’s fragment just now was level 5.
Even that level 5 might not have been cleared without Arte.
Director Lee Se-jin pondered.
Thousands of monsters incoming and only one blacksmith.
He couldn’t think of a solution based on his common sense.
“What will Team Leader Kim do?”
“…I don’t know.”
Anyone he asked would likely have the same answer.
One thing was certain.
The reward for the newly triggered emergency quest had the story progression marked as ???.
“I wonder how much will be accumulated if he breaks through it.”
It varies depending on the situation and what the system acknowledges.
One thing was certain: it would at least provide a base of 20%.
The Special User Management Team focused on the monitor.
The monsters were closing in on Arte.
***
Boom—
The Sage Tower.
All the doors of the tower where Arte had lived for 300 years closed on their own.
Forced out of the tower, Arte looked down.
Monsters were swarming up.
As he turned to escape upwards, monsters were pouring in from there too.
“……”
Grrrr!
Kyaaaaah-!
He saw about fifty snow wolves charging.
[Snow Wolf Lv.347]
The advantage of snow wolves is their speed.
The ones that arrived faster than the other monsters lunged at Arte.
At that moment.
Slash—
Hyun-soo appeared.
Swoosh—
With his coat flapping, Hyun-soo swung his sword upwards.
Swoosh—
The sword’s cry.
The Sword King’s technique slashed all the wolves within a 30-meter radius.
“Yelp, yelp, yelp!”
“Yelp!”
Thud—
As Arte watched the wolves fall dead in an instant, he grabbed Hyun-soo’s collar.
“Go, you’ve done enough, hurry, go. Please go!”
Arte cried out.
It was a brief encounter.
But he was grateful to Hyun-soo for fighting for him.
This was enough.
They were surrounded by monsters on all sides.
The Sage.
The one who knew everything in the world couldn’t think of any solution.
Even if the deaths and resurrections of the outsiders were infinite, the process was too painful and terrible.
In truth, Arte couldn’t understand.
Why did the Sword King and Spear Heaven care for Hyun-soo so much?
Why did the Sword King teach him his swordsmanship and Spear Heaven his secret techniques?
“I’m fine. It’s enough that you inflicted pain on Grout. So please, go back!!”
He babbled anything. The distance between them and the monsters was getting shorter.
From the front and back, more than 3,000 monsters were closing in, visible right in front of them.
Hyun-soo finally spoke.
“……”
Hearing those words, Arte finally understood.
Why the Sword King cherished him and why Spear Heaven became his friend.
Slash—
He drew his bow.
With one bow in hand, Hyun-soo stepped forward and said,
“I have not learned how to retreat.”
Those words touched Arte deeply.
He knew. Hyun-soo would want the reward forged for him.
But behind that reward was a blacksmith who knew no surrender.
The words Hyun-soo spoke so he wouldn’t feel ashamed or sorry.
Hyun-soo drew back the bowstring.
And Arte noticed something. It was attached to the arrowhead.
It was something very familiar.
When Hyun-soo shot his most powerful arrow at Grout, the two had talked about it.
‘You should take that as well.’
‘What is that?’
‘It’s a micro bomb I made. It can easily kill 100 monsters at once.’
A bomb slightly larger than a forefinger.
A creation of Arte’s genius knowledge.
Hyun-soo aimed at the creatures climbing up from below.
The distance between them and the monsters was now 30 meters.
25 meters.
20 meters.
Arte instinctively shouted.
“You know killing just 100 monsters won’t be enough…!”
At that moment, Hyun-soo turned his body.
Thwack—
The bowstring twanged.
It seemed like the arrow was flying towards the monsters.
But then, the arrow hit the mountain peak.
Boom—
“Missed…?”
Arte’s eyes wavered.
“No, it didn’t miss.”
Didn’t miss?
Soon, Arte heard an enormous rumble.
Rumble—
A blizzard that hadn’t occurred in a hundred years. As a result, the Beres Mountain Range had accumulated several times more snow than usual.
That snow was now cascading down from the impact. An avalanche had occurred.
It was like a massive snow wave over 8 meters high.
And Hyun-soo heard a notification.
[Ingenious idea.]
[The system acknowledges it.]
[You have gained 21% story progression.]
That’s right.
Hyun-soo’s arrow hadn’t missed.
The enormous snow wave began sweeping away the monsters from above.
Cliche Novel 