Instructor Relson swallowed dryly.He blinked his eyes open and closed, again and again.But as he stared at the ash scattering through the air, he realized what was happening before him was real.“W-what in the world…?”This was impossible.A game played by 2.5 billion people.How many users had passed under Instructor Relson?Easily tens of thousands.From what he heard from nearby instructors as well—no one had ever killed it in one blow.Even a genius like Hanul took two hits.Extremely well-placed? Three.Normally, you needed five or six strikes to kill a Weakened Goblin.Yet in a single blow, the goblin was oxidizing into gray ash.“You’re not laughing now, are you?”Relson’s pupils trembled. Hyunsoo didn’t bother to add more.Ding![Hidden Piece. One Hit, One Kill.][You gain Strength +2.][You have met the qualification to challenge the Beginner Zone’s Monster-Hunting Trial.][You may proceed through Stages 2–4.][You can receive a reward at the end of each stage.][You can forgo the reward at the end of each stage to accumulate it.][However, if you accumulate and then fail the next trial, the accumulated reward will be lost.]The Accumulated Reward system was usually far better than taking rewards one by one.“You can take the trial… Will you?”At Relson’s voice, trembling even now, Hyunsoo nodded.Is it just that his sword is good? Right—the sword is good. And a Critical Hit landed.A critical strike.A Critical Hit.Otherwise, realistically, it made no sense.A Level 1 killing a goblin in a single blow when others needed five or six.Relson steadied his chest.The next monster was summoned immediately.[Goblin Lv.5]This time it was a real goblin.Slightly larger than the Weakened Goblin from before.Moreover, for a Level 1 user, a Level 3 monster and a Level 5 monster were worlds apart.Even the Level 3 Weakened Goblin hunt was very difficult at first without an instructor’s help.“Kihehehehek!”The goblin moved fast.There was something else to keep in mind.Isn’t it just the sword that’s good?Hyunsoo only looked special because of the sword; what he wore were just the Beginner Zone-issue T-shirt and shorts.Because of that, even one or two attacks from a Level 5 goblin could force a logout.Fast as expected.Relson gave a wry smile.The goblin’s speed as it darted in.The short dagger lunging forward.For Level 1 users, that speed would be far too fast.But not for Hyunsoo.There was no stat called dynamic vision in Ares.Yet the higher your Agility rose, the more—even if slightly—you could see enemy movement.To Hyunsoo, the goblin’s movement looked far too slow.Twisting his body aside to evade, Hyunsoo cut again.Splurt—![You have hunted a Goblin.]“…!!?”One blow again.Relson was so shocked he took a step back.Looking down at his sword Radiance, Hyunsoo understood.In games, gear rules…Of course, this was the fruit of his own labor.For the first time in a while, Hyunsoo opened his Status Window.(Hyunsoo)Level: 1Class: NoneStrength: 35 Agility: 37 Endurance: 33 Wisdom: 19 Intelligence: 19 Dexterity: 353All Level 1s start unified at 5 in every stat.And Level 1 users usually leave the Wooden Dummy yard and Hunting Training Yard in under thirty minutes.It was the most boring tutorial in the game.But not Hyunsoo.Smelting and refining.Quenching and hammering.Repeating those raised his stats.Rewards for actions that defied logic.Rewards from succeeding at Break the Wooden Dummy.Stat boosts from the Epic sword Radiance.Attack Power five times that of the iron swords beginners wielded—Radiance’s Attack.He hadn’t gotten any of it while goofing off.A furnace’s temperature climbs past 1,500 degrees; in that hotter-than-anything heat, he repeated relentlessly.From that repetition came rises in Strength and Endurance.And in Dexterity.It wasn’t luck.He deserved it.Checking his current state, Hyunsoo pricked his ears at the alert that came.[Stage 2 trial complete.][You may challenge Stage 3.][You may receive your reward.][You may accumulate your reward.]Hyunsoo liked that within this game he could once again make something.But today, thanks to Relson, he looked back on the past.People like Relson overflow in the world.A world full of those who only believe what they see right before their eyes.Will there come a time when we’re acknowledged?He glimpsed his father, drenched in sweat, looking up at the sky.Hyunsoo smiled faintly.He would start letting the world know.That a blacksmith who grips a hammer deserves no scorn.That he might even rival a genius swordsman.The first button would be to break Relson’s fixed idea.And that first button was bold and fearless.And he could do it because he was confident.“Stage 3, Stage 4.”No one knew who he was better than Hyunsoo himself.He was not foolish.He was not reckless.He was more calculating than anyone.“Start them simultaneously.”[You are performing an action that is illogical for your level.]This time, it had nothing to do with blacksmithing.“Are you out of your mind…?”As he spoke, Relson’s throat closed with °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° a thunk.The eyes of a man who had made a hard vow were fierce.And confident—and they told you this was by no means a reckless challenge.It was a first.Stages 3 and 4, at once—something no one had ever done.A bold act no genius had attempted.Seeing those eyes, Relson joined him in fastening that first button.Taa-a-a-ak—!When he flicked his fingers, three monsters were summoned. ****[An illogical event is occurring for this level.]The alert the user Hyunsoo triggered again had nothing to do with blacksmithing.It rang because he was far too strong for Level 1.Kim Taeseok and Lee Jihee’s eyes quivered.“T-Team Lead…?”Voice shaking, she looked at Taeseok’s hardened face.“When you clear Stage 3, you get the Epic class reward, right? Then what happens if you clear Stage 4?”There was no answer Kim Taeseok could give.Only a prediction.In Ares, the greater and more outstanding your feat, the greater the reward.Swallowing, Kim Taeseok said,“He might get something better than the Epic class Radiant Knight.” ****[Swift Goblin Lv.6][Mad Goblin Lv.15]Hyunsoo looked at the three goblins that had been summoned.Stage 3 was facing two Swift Goblins.Stage 4 was facing a Mad Goblin.Hanul had stopped while trying to clear Stage 4.He had nearly reached the point of killing it—but he grasped his own limit faster than anyone.Swift Goblins.Twice as fast as ordinary goblins, they charged in from both sides.One leaped with all its strength, slashing with its dagger.Hyunsoo could not display any flashy movement.He was a blacksmith, not a swordsman.But gripping Radiance with both hands, he smashed into the dagger with his blade.Kaaang—!Crunch—![The goblin’s blade breaks.]The goblin’s dagger shattered to pieces and scattered across the ground.Watching it happen with his own eyes, Relson couldn’t believe it. The dagger shards littering the floor.Breaking a blade—with a blade…?How did he craft such a sword?How?At that moment—Kiiiiiiing—Radiance drank in a sharper aura.[Stalwart Sword][Physical Attack Power +12% and Physical Defense +8% for 40 seconds.]He cut through the goblin at once.“Kyaaa-a-a-ak!”[You have hunted a Swift Goblin.]In that instant, the other Swift Goblin stabbed into Hyunsoo’s side.Pook—!It’s over…Relson was certain.For Level 1 beginners, a single stab from a Level 6 Swift Goblin’s dagger was lethal…“Ow, that stings.”St—stings!?[HP drops below 82%.]Hyunsoo was fine.Thanks to the vastly increased HP from his high Endurance stat.Craaaack—And again, one blow.[You have hunted a Swift Goblin.]Twisting his body, Hyunsoo was already looking at the Mad Goblin.The sword is supreme!Hanul, whom Relson had praised, hadn’t killed it either.Thud—!In a flash, it dashed in and drove its dagger into Hyunsoo’s abdomen, then sprang back.[HP drops below 62%.]And just as Hyunsoo reached to brace his stomach—Thunk—A poisoned needle fired by the Mad Goblin sank into his chest.[HP drops below 43%.][You are afflicted with Status Ailment: Dizziness.][Your vision shakes.]Hyunsoo’s vision shook violently.It was to that poisoned needle that Hanul had fallen prey as well.Immediately, the Mad Goblin shrieked and closed in, seeking its chance.“Kihehehe!”Then it sprang with a powerful leap.Its shoulder drew back.Its target: Hyunsoo’s neck.In that sliver of a moment, Relson was convinced Hyunsoo’s neck would be cut and he’d be forced to log out.That can’t be dodged.Given Hyunsoo’s Attack Speed and current stance, it looked impossible.It must have happened because this outsider grew arrogant.Then Hyunsoo smirked.[Swift Blade][For 1 second, your Attack Speed surges to 1.7×.]A Passive Skill that activates at a 2% chance.Blue light gathered on Hyunsoo’s blade.Faster than the creature could cut Hyunsoo—Fwoooosh—Hyunsoo cut it first, midair.“Kihek!”And before the screaming thing could fall—Fwoooosh—He cut upward once more.The Mad Goblin split in two and oxidized to ash.[You have hunted a Mad Goblin.]At that moment, Hyunsoo fell backward.With the dizziness status, it was hard to steady himself.“Hah… hah…”Hyunsoo panted roughly.After lying there a good while, he rose once the dizziness subsided.Relson’s mind was a tangle as he looked at him.He was a hunting-yard instructor, but he was one who dreamed of reaching a higher state with the sword.He had always admired the knights who became heroes of war.Because of that, he believed only those who wielded swords were supreme.But his fixed idea was breaking apart.Hyunsoo’s movements were certainly rough. Exactly beginner-level.But his sword and his body were not.Is it because he forged an artifact that’s too incredible?He recalled outsiders crowing, “In games, gear rules!”Then, staring at Hyunsoo standing before him, breathing hard, Relson couldn’t speak for a long time.“…”Only now did he notice.Ares was a virtual reality game, but it had many realistic elements.The thickness of Hyunsoo’s right and left arms was different as he stood face-to-face.Granted, Hyunsoo was naturally big-boned; both arms were large.But even at a glance, the muscle mass looked different.His right arm, far more massive than his left.After staring at him for a long time, Relson let out a wry smile.“How many times?”Hyunsoo looked puzzled.“How many times in your life have you swung a hammer to make your arm like that?”Even among knights, there were the rare few like that.Most of them were called the strong on this continent.Hyunsoo thought for a moment and said,“I’ve never counted.”Right—no need to count.His arm already proved it.Looking at him, Relson slowly bowed his head.“I’m sorry. Truly. I… belittled you. And the profession of blacksmith.”[Relson realizes something new.][Affinity with Relson has increased.]“You’re a truly admirable man. And your blacksmithing must be magnificent as well.”After keeping his head bowed for a long time, Relson lifted it and said,“From now on, I think I’ll say this to outsiders.”Excited, he spoke on while Hyunsoo watched.“Do you know the profession called blacksmith? It’s truly splendid and great!”Hyunsoo wore a satisfied smile.He wanted to change people’s thinking like this, one by one.That blacksmith is by no means a profession to be despised.And then—“So I’d like to propose something to you.”“A proposal?”Hyunsoo looked puzzled.“Originally, it would be right to offer Radiant Knight, but I think you can climb higher.”Relson’s voice rose.“Of course, you’re a blacksmith—but with this degree of martial strength, it’s more than enough. A knight who forges his own weapons and is strong besides! No—a leader of those knights!”“…?”Hyunsoo sensed things were taking a strange turn.“Would you consider becoming a Radiant Lord?”Ding![One of the Legendary classes. You may begin the Radiant Lord advancement quest.]A Legendary class?

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