Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 186

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Sword Master Lysen (1)
Hyeon-su returned home.
He immediately sat down at his computer and carefully reviewed what the Continental War entailed.
‘A territorial battle between two nations broadcast worldwide.’
Users across the globe enjoyed Ares.
Reading expert analyses, they claimed the fervor would rival the World Cup and Olympics.
Moreover, all participants received compensation, with rewards varying dramatically based on accumulated contributions.
‘There are rewards for guilds too.’
Individual user rewards went to the MVP.
And if those participating as a guild claimed first place, they could acquire territory.
“They’re giving territory twice the size of Balas Territory?”
Hyeon-su grasped the significance.
The most prestigious guilds from Our Country would participate en masse.
I called Hye-in.
-It won’t be easy. This will be an unprecedented gathering of high-rankers.
I agreed.
I too was facing this new opportunity head-on.
-We might not be able to make an impact.
At that, I let out a bitter laugh.
Those who had apparently discussed this in the Conference Room seemed to have made their decision.
“So you’re afraid?”
At my playful words, Hye-in’s voice came through tinged with laughter.
-No, I’m excited.
Hyeon-su and the members of Hyeon’s Forge had gathered 2.2 million viewers with just internet broadcasts not long ago.
But this time was different.
It would reach far beyond 2.2 million viewers.
I spoke.
“In 14 days, Hyeon’s Forge will participate in the Continental War. Please accelerate your preparations.”
I logged into Ares.
I needed to prepare for the Continental War happening 14 days from now.
‘A gathering of high-rankers, huh….’
Currently, high-rankers within the top 100 averaged levels between 360 and 370.
Nearly 30 levels higher than my average.
While it was true I was stronger relative to my level, whether that would work against high-rankers remained uncertain.
High-rankers weren’t merely those with high levels—most possessed exceptional control skills as well.
Regardless of how superior my Artifacts were.
But at this moment, I could entertain such a thought.
‘What if I became a Legend…?’
Then everything would change.
No User has ever become a Legend.
Yet it was an undeniable truth that upon reaching that pinnacle, I would grow far stronger than I am now.
Therefore, during these fourteen days of preparation, I decided to attempt two things.
‘I will create a Calamity solely for myself. And I will also forge an offensive Twin Dragon Sword.’
I retrieved the Twin Dragon Sword.
A Twin Dragon Sword for everyone.
It was indeed the finest Sword without equal.
But it fell short when attacking enemies.
Moreover, the true method for me to achieve transcendence lay in crafting an offensive Twin Dragon Sword with the same quality as the support-type Twin Dragon Sword.
Only when two Twin Dragon Swords came together would they reveal their complete power.
‘But I don’t know the forging method for the other Twin Dragon Sword.’
However, I did know the method for the first Twin Dragon Sword.
I formulated this hypothesis.
‘What if I follow the first Twin Dragon Sword’s design, but infuse it with offensive power instead?’
Moreover, I could shape the exterior myself to lean more toward the offensive aspect.
‘What if a truly offensive Twin Dragon Sword were crafted to a similar grade as the support-type version?’
I couldn’t even imagine how powerful such a force would be.
However.
‘I won’t use Mythstone.’
Two weeks remained.
It was either generous or tight, depending on perspective.
‘Using Mythstone for experimentation wouldn’t be right.’
Only enough material remained to forge a single great Blade.
Therefore, I would first craft an offensive Twin Dragon Sword using fairly good Ore, and once I gained certainty, I would attempt it with Mythstone.
‘The order is decided.’
I lacked certainty about the Twin Dragon Sword.
But I possessed certainty about Calamity creation.
[Your own Calamity will become a power solely for you, and you can create and apply it to yourself at any time.]
Calamities.
Those I had encountered possessed various characteristics.
The Fifth Calamity wielded telekinesis.
The Fourth Calamity commanded the power of flight.
The Second possessed cutting prowess that severed anything.
The First possessed defensive power that blocked anything.
A Calamity’s power manifests through their characteristics.
I read the detailed description before attempting creation.
[Creation attempts are limited to 1. If you attempt to create an irrational Calamity, it will be annihilated.]
[The power that manifests will vary depending on how compatible it is with you.]
A Calamity’s power is Legendary Grade.
But as the notification suggested, it also depended on how the user crafted it.
And Hyeon-su was deliberate.
This could have become the Sword King’s blade rampage, or it could have taken the form of Spear Heaven’s phantom stride.
A sudden pressure weighed upon him.
‘Could I truly possess power equal to theirs?’
Hyeon-su had always been a perfectionist, even when crafting Artifacts.
Multiple skills flickered through his mind.
‘If I construct it this way….’
‘No, something’s lacking. It cannot compare to the phantom stride.’
‘If I infuse such power, wouldn’t it rival His Majesty Barad?’
His breath caught in his throat.
It had become a frequent occurrence lately.
Perhaps it stemmed from pursuing perfection too relentlessly.
His gaze fell upon the Twin Dragon Sword resting to one side.
“….”
The memory of his battle against Helenya surfaced.
Know yourself and know your enemy.
Now Hyeon-su possessed a certainty.
‘Many do not expect me in the Continental War.’
Though he was called the hero who saved Goyad Kingdom, high-rankers would flood the Continental War.
Moreover, the average level of high-rankers ranged from 360 to 370.
Yet Hyeon-su fell nearly thirty levels below them.
‘Then….’
Calamity creation could be achieved by inputting a hologram.
Just as the Calamities thus far possessed varied characteristics.
[A new Calamity differentiated from the others.]
[It is deemed most suitable for you at this moment.]
[A Calamity is the unique essence possessed only by them.]
[Your essence is perfect.]
[That Calamity steeped in black light coils within your body, finally achieving completeness.]
Hyeon-su marveled.
The Calamity he had sought to create coiled within him, at last becoming whole.
[You have created your own Calamity.]
[A Calamity is power bestowed by the Calamity Sect.]
[Its name is determined by force.]
[You have acquired Calamity Demonification.]
Hyeon-su was bewildered.
‘What is this lack of courtesy?’
He had not determined the name of this power himself.
Based on the premise that a Calamity is power bestowed by the Calamity Sect, it granted him the power he desired, yet its name was forced upon him.
And Demonification.
The name gave Hyeon-su pause.
When Users acquired demons or demonic power, they faced considerable complications.
[You have obtained a Calamity.]
[Your disposition begins to taint with evil.]
For this reason, it felt like something that should never happen to Hyeon-su.
Hyeon-su swiftly examined this demonic transformation power.
‘Insane…!’
It was an extraordinary force.
But if he didn’t abandon it this moment, his disposition might become completely stained with evil.
He had fallen into a dilemma with no escape.
*
*
*
Se-jin observed the current Hyeon-su with pure curiosity, a question mark forming in her mind.
‘Can the User Hyeon-su become a variable in the continental war?’
It was a thought not as a Korean, but from the perspective of one overseeing everything.
The answer was no.
The current Hyeon-su was an existence incapable of creating variables.
“Literally, it’s ‘for now.'”
The future remains unknown.
And Se-jin already knew.
“User Hyeon-su will create a Calamity.”
But the Calamities of the Calamity Sect and their master were cruel beings.
‘The power created through a Calamity is tremendously strong, but the problem is that instead of granting strength, they try to taint you with the same nature as themselves.’
User Hyeon-su had to choose.
Accept the disposition of evil and grow stronger.
Or abandon that Calamity.
But soon after reviewing the power of the demonic transformation skill, Se-jin marveled.
‘…Remarkable.’
In truth, the Calamities could be called wicked, but looking at this power alone, wouldn’t it be acceptable even if one’s disposition became evil?
The power of demonic transformation was that immense.
Then.
‘Hmm…?’
[…An aura flows forth.]
Se-jin was startled.
Something she herself had long overlooked with the passage of time began to stir within Hyeon-su.
‘Wait, if it’s a variable like this…?’
Se-jin sensed the decision Hyeon-su would make.
If it were the Hyeon-su she knew, he would sooner abandon the Calamity and maintain his original disposition.
‘But if he were to gain it stably through this…?’
He corrected the question he had first posed to himself.
Could User Hyeon-su become a variable in the continental war?
‘Yes, with this. If I acquire that Calamity because of this.’
*
*
*
The veins in his arm swelled black.
Hyeon-su, his expression bewildered, felt as though demonic energy was seeping into his body.
[If you abandon Demonification, you can prevent yourself from being stained with evil.]
The Demonification that Hyeon-su had created himself was precisely the power he needed right now.
‘A buff skill that allows me to transcend myself, at least for a time.’
Like the advantages of the other Calamities.
Using this Demonification, instead of burning away life force, it was a power that explosively amplified his own strength.
Soon Hyeon-su’s expression softened.
‘…Abandoning it is the right choice.’
There was a high probability of losing far greater things if he pursued obtaining this instead.
He couldn’t even imagine what would happen if his nature became evil.
“I abandon it….”
Then.
Hyeon-su felt a warm energy spreading from deep within his chest.
It was a gentle and warm force, like a mother’s touch.
[The Saint’s aura flows through you.]
“…!?”
The Saint’s power.
When he had killed the Fifth Calamity, Jack, he had once received the Saint’s blessing.
Because of that, Hyeon-su’s Holy Power had risen by over 250, and he had become capable of crafting Artifacts imbued with Holy Power.
In other words, the power of Holy Power flowed through Hyeon-su.
And it was an immense power bestowed by the Saint.
[A Calamity stained in darkness flows.]
[Goodness stained in white flows.]
[The Saint’s aura drives it out and instead transforms it into a warm energy.]
[Evil cannot overcome the goodness within your body.]
[Something extraordinary occurs.]
[The Demonification, a Calamity forcibly named by the Calamity Sect, is reborn.]
Rebirth.
A new power was being created based on the power Hyeon-su had forged.
And Hyeon-su was left speechless.
The reason was that a power superior to the ‘Demonification’ he had just confirmed was being created.
[Legendary Skill. Flame is acquired.]
*
*
*
A group arrived at Balas Territory.
Leading them was Lysen, the patriarch of the greatest Swordsmanship Family in the Goyad Kingdom.
Those who followed were talented members of a Knight Family that had only recently begun to flourish.
Lysen, patriarch of the Brown Sword Family, was recognized as a formidable force within the kingdom and was called the Sword Master Lysen.
“His Majesty has chosen his successor. It is only natural that we pay our respects to the one we shall serve henceforth, and that we engage in a noble duel as Knight against Knight, is it not?”
“Indeed.”
“I look forward to it.”
“A duel between Sword Master Lysen and the King’s successor—how thrilling!”
The future patriarchs’ eyes gleamed with anticipation.
They knew nothing of Lysen’s true intentions.
Lysen had been one of several candidates King Barad had considered.
‘How dare they choose a mere blacksmith…?’
Why else would he have brought these future patriarchs with him?
He was a cunning man.
He had already assessed the extent of Hyeon’s martial prowess.
And he was certain he would win overwhelmingly.
He intended to crush him thoroughly before these dozens of patriarchs.
Thus Lysen and his entourage entered Balas Territory.
And when Lysen met Hyeon-su before the Blacksmith Shop, he was taken aback.
Had those beside him been Users, they would have said this:
‘Boss, that bastard’s smiling.’
Indeed, Hyeon-su welcomed them with open arms.
He was thrilled at the prospect of testing his newly acquired Skill.

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