Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 165

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Artea’s Wish (6)
[The final story begins.]
It was a notification that Hyeon-su received as Graut made his appearance.
However, Hyeon-su had no time to check the detailed contents of the Quest.
[Graut, Blood Demon Lv.501]
Graut, descending in his true form, was absurdly powerful.
[Artea is dying.]
Artea was a sage, not a swordsman or knight.
His body could be said to be inferior even to ordinary mages.
I push off the ground, recalling the notification I just heard.
The skill Karma.
I still don’t know what power it possesses.
‘I thought I could escape.’
The speed of the turtle ship was remarkably strange, after all.
This is a difficult battle. At the end of this struggle, I gained inspiration through the skill Karma.
Artea granted me three temporary skill creations.
‘With these three skills, I can create the same skills.’
A gift from Artea.
[Beginning skill creation.]
Immediately, I collided with Graut.
*
*
*
[Despair status abnormality activates.]
[Fear status abnormality activates.]
Despair and fear.
Zzzt, zzzt—
My body trembles intermittently. But soon I calm myself.
[You have resisted.]
“Oh?”
Graut was surprised.
The murderous intent radiating from his appearance is strong enough to strangle the breath of ordinary humans and kill them in an instant.
And the reason I could resist that status abnormality—was it because of an unbreakable will?
Of course, that too exists.
But beyond that unbreakable will lies the recently acquired Crown Forged by the Divine, which grants a 50% increase in status abnormality resistance.
Although my level is 320, status abnormality resistance is an extremely difficult stat to raise.
“I, I quite like that unbreakable will of yours.”
Graut was at ease. The difference in power, the difference in rank, the difference in level, the difference in experience….
All of it was the composure of the superior.
Hyeon-su kicked off the ground.
As I surged forward, Bon’s counter activated.
Simultaneously, the rampant sword’s essence took root within me.
It was the same as before.
The weak Hyeon-su borrowed the power of the Royal Sword to transcend himself, if only for a fleeting moment.
[Due to a 40% probability, the sword’s base attack power increases by 221%.]
[It lasts for 15 seconds.]
Though the attack power had surged by 221%, this blade could still deliver a definite shock to Graut, however briefly.
“Ghost’s Walk.”
A ghost treads forward, trampling fear beneath its feet.
Screeeech—!
Hyeon-su vanished.
First strike.
Boom—!
“…!?”
Second strike.
Slash—!
Third strike.
Fourth strike.
Fifth strike.
Hyeon-su, assailing Graut from all directions, was astonished.
Graut defended against every aspect of Ghost’s Walk—a technique that fractured 1.4 seconds into countless movements—and countered flawlessly.
Screech—!
[HP drops below 86%.]
A single impact had dealt 14% damage. And I had barely exerted myself.
Yet Hyeon-su continued his assault.
Screeeech—!
Sixth and seventh strikes.
Ninth strike.
Tenth strike.
Eleventh and twelfth strikes.
Splash—
Blood.
Hyeon-su had landed only two successful attacks.
Simultaneously, Graut’s elongated fingers aimed at Hyeon-su’s chest.
Boom—!
A tremendous explosion of blood erupted, dealing a massive impact to Hyeon-su.
[Blood Burst Chain]
Blood surged from Hyeon-su’s body, fragmenting into tiny droplets.
Those scattered droplets struck Hyeon-su once more with devastating force.
Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-boom-!
[Your HP has dropped below 74%.]
[Your HP has dropped below 61%.]
[Your HP has dropped below 54%.]
[Your HP has dropped below 46%.]
[You have been afflicted with Bleeding.]
“Kugh!”
The direct hit dealt catastrophic damage.
My vision blurred on one side.
This opponent transcended me by an unfathomable margin.
Graut found himself intrigued by Hyeon-su.
An exceptional Blacksmith wielding formidable power.
Moreover, his unbreakable spirit ignited within the demon a desire to crush it beneath his heel.
Graut had already demonstrated this once.
“Even if you tried a hundred times, you would die. Soon, Artea will follow.”
Artea’s HP was steadily declining.
“Why concern ourselves with someone like Artea? Let us simply proceed.”
Graut savored mockery, especially when directed at one possessed of such indomitable resolve as Hyeon-su.
While demons are cruel, humans are greedy.
“Turn away from this, and come with me.”
Graut was a low-ranking demon, not even ranked among the 72 Hierarchy.
But if Hyeon-su were to craft Artifacts for him, everything could change.
He might finally ascend to the Seventy-Two Seats—a lifelong aspiration.
“If you desire it, I shall grant you wealth. Dwell in my Castle, fight for me when needed, and craft for me.”
Graut’s true reason for descending was laid bare.
Yes, resentment and fury at being attacked existed, but beyond that lay his recognition of a path toward greater heights.
“Come now, bark for me. Guard my home and wag your tail only for me while crafting Artifacts—like a faithful dog! I shall feed my dog well and provide generous treats! Come, bark for me. Woof, woof, like a dog!”
Graut deemed this an irrefutable proposition.
Humans invariably trembled and bowed when confronted by transcendent beings superior to themselves.
It was the same principle as subjects prostrating before their king.
Indeed, my lips were parting.
“Meow.”
“…?”
Graut’s face contorted grotesquely.
“You dare, you dareeeee…!”
I had not merely played with words.
Click-
The world’s switch flipped downward, and darkness descended.
[This is a critical moment.]
[Even if shattered—]
[The Royal Sword’s effectiveness increases by 7%.]
The notification arrives as it always does, unwavering.
The Blade that I had unfolded while rushing at him was cultivated in secret, becoming an Artifact.
Clang—
I grip a Sword in my hand.
With that Sword, I cut through the cascade of twenty-eight stars.
The Royal Sword. And….
“Tiger’s Aura.”
Roooooaaaaaarrrrr—!
The roar that once slew the fifth calamity pours down upon the enemy recognized as evil.
Hyeon-su knew.
“Why you do not descend into this world.”
Weakened? Even if weakened, they were absurdly powerful.
Then why do they not descend?
“You are far too vulnerable to sacred power.”
[Tiger’s Aura]
[The immense power of sacred force weakens you.]
[Weakened.]
[Graut, Blood Demon Lv.487]
[Graut, Blood Demon Lv.475]
[Graut, Blood Demon Lv.451]
[Graut, Blood Demon Lv.430]
[You fall into a stunned state for 3 seconds.]
I know. Even weakened, Graut remains a powerhouse I cannot hope to match.
Yet I strike the ground.
Slash—!
I had crafted two Swords in total.
As the Royal Sword dissolves and falls, I seize the other Sword mid-air.
Then.
[The Blade’s special function activates with a 1% probability.]
[You can wield two Swords simultaneously.]
The notification rings out once more.
[You have overcome a moment of crisis.]
[A title begins.]
The effect of the first title helps me overcome the current situation, granting me fierce strength with each word.
[Though I may break]
[Skill attack power increases by 10%.]
[I will not retreat]
[Sword basic attack power increases by 10%.]
[By any means]
[Critical Damage is applied at 2x multiplier.]
As I charge forward, tremendous power surges through my body.
The sentence-type title revealed in this critical moment that maximizing Hyeon-su’s strength was the method to overcome the crisis.
Hyeon-su cannot win.
Against Graut, a demon in the 500-level range.
However, weakened by the Royal Sword’s subtle technique, he could inflict catastrophic damage.
[Blood Demon Graut Lv.430]
Graut sneered.
“Do you truly believe a mere stun from you means anything to me?”
But then….
Graut sensed something amiss.
The stun status had not been dispelled.
[I win.]
[The enemy’s status abnormality resistance is temporarily nullified.]
A power activated by will itself empowers Hyeon-su.
Kiiiieeeeek-
A colossal dragon struck Graut with devastating force.
Graut endured the impact.
And immediately follows.
The subtle technique of Hyeon-su’s supreme blade.
[Eight Consecutive Strikes]
A single attack becomes eight slashes, and according to the first sentence-type title, the Critical Damage is doubled.
One slash transforms into eight strikes.
Skaaaaagh-
[Critical Hit triggered.]
[2x Damage applied.]
[You dealt 17,313 damage.]
[You dealt 10,135 damage.]
[Critical Hit triggered.]
[You dealt 13,417 damage.]
[Damage dealt…]
[Damage dealt…]
I slash with frenzied intensity. There is no pause.
For three seconds, I grit my teeth.
[Eight Consecutive Strikes]
[Eight Consecutive Strikes]
Skagagagagagagak-
Blood, splatter splatter, crash crash crash crash, crack-!
“Uoooooooh!”
I do not wish for Artea’s death. And I harbor one desire.
When I encountered Graut, a similar notification appeared.
[He is one of the most powerful NPCs.]
[Whoever hunts Graut can trigger a world message.]
The world still doubted me, hurling accusations and tearing me down with every weapon at its disposal.
I wanted to tell them.
Through a message that would echo across the entire world.
And through it, I wanted to rise.
As the master of the finest Blacksmith Shop in the nation.
Screeeeeech—!
I became absorbed, watching the emerald blood spray from all directions.
And after three seconds had passed, I finally came to my senses, about to exult.
“….”
[Graut’s HP has fallen below 70%.]
Hyeon-su awakened.
Graut’s expressionless eyes fixed upon him with serpentine, narrow pupils.
Despite giving everything, Hyeon-su had only shaved away 30% of his HP.
“A blade is not wielded that way.”
A sword forged from blood materialized in Graut’s hand.
The moment he raised it.
Craaaaaaash—
[Blood Storm]
Booooooom—!
[You possess Astrium.]
[Your HP has fallen below 10%.]
[Your HP recovers to 15%.]
Hyeon-su’s body was torn to shreds.
[Critical status condition activates.]
[You cannot maintain your balance.]
Hyeon-su, staggering, desperately struggled to rise.
“…I wonder if I should shred Artea’s limbs and crumble that stubborn will of yours.”
It was Graut’s method of torture.
“Still the same, that look in your eyes.”
No matter how many times he tried to knock Hyeon-su down, he would not break.
Graut seized Artea by the collar and hauled him upward.
Then.
“You’re the one who lost.”
[Temporary Skill Creation is complete.]
The one move Hyeon-su had prepared was stirring to life.
*
*
*
Special User Management Team.
Lee Ji-hee and Tae-seok were having a conversation.
“Isn’t the Story Rate twice as difficult to obtain compared to general % rewards?”
“Right. When you earn 2% from a general % Quest, you can only earn 1% from Story Rate.”
Obtaining Story Rate itself was far more challenging.
In exchange, the rewards were maximized accordingly.
“It’s not easy.”
“It can’t be helped….”
Lee Se-jin watched them from behind.
On the monitor, I could see Hyeon-su, who had activated the first sentence.
The two spoke again.
“If we kill Graut, what percentage of Story Rate would we obtain?”
“Well, I’m more curious about what we’d get than that.”
“Would it even be possible to clear…?”
….
Tae-seok did not answer.
Se-jin, standing behind him, was the same.
‘As I thought….’
And when Hyeon-su’s Asthenium exerted its power, I checked my wristwatch.
The secretary entered.
“Director, you need to leave.”
Lee Se-jin had a business trip to the United States.
I turned away, watching Graut approach Artea.
I hurried into the car.
The vehicle glided smoothly toward the Airport.
With my eyes closed, I knew.
The reward that Tae-seok and Ji-hee had been curious about.
‘Artea has nowhere to go.’
Where could someone who descended to the surface for the first time in 300 years possibly go?
That was the crux of the reward.
I let out a bitter laugh. Of course, this was about when Graut was killed.
‘What was that temporary skill creation?’
I had entered the Special User Management Team midway, so I hadn’t seen that information.
‘It’s impossible for a single Unique Skill to change the game. The new Legendary-grade skill called Karma is also exceptional, but it’s impossible.’
That was my judgment.
Yet I held one expectation.
User Hyeon-su was always someone who defied expectations.
But today was different.
‘Isn’t the opponent simply too unreasonable?’
As I continued on, my eyes widened as I glanced out the window.
“Stop the car for a moment.”
As if entranced by something, I stepped out of the vehicle.
A massive electronic billboard filled my vision.
An announcer was reading breaking news, with text scrolling beneath the broadcast.
[Breaking News. Blacksmith Hyeon. Second World Message has sounded.]
The World Message content soon appeared before me.
[He has hunted a demon for the first time among all users.]
[His name is Blacksmith Hyeon.]
I was stunned.
Brring brring brring—
My phone rang immediately.
It was Tae-seok.
He asked me this first.
“What story completion rate did he achieve?”
At the sound coming through the receiver, I couldn’t hide my shock.
Chills ran down my spine.
And I asked another crucial question.
“Exactly what skill did he create?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————