Genius Blacksmith's Game

Taehun, Hyeji, Hanul.

Their HP—after each of them had taken two critical injuries from the Savage Labyrinth King—had dropped below 30%.

Even while watching the Lycans pour in without end, they worried about someone else.

We were confident we could hold out for one minute.

But Hyunsoo went alone to face the Savage Labyrinth King, a Level 380-something monster.

It was far too dangerous.

And yet....

KOOOM

KWAJIIIK

PUHCK-

KUNG KUNG

OOJIK

PUHT!

[A critical hit triggers.]

[You dealt 24,546 damage.]

[A critical hit......]

[You dealt 24,313 damage.]

[You dealt 16,356 dam......]

[A critical hit......]

[You dealt 24,313 dam......]

[You dealt 25,518 dam......]

The three of them stared at him, dazed.

In 1.4 seconds, he moved while creating twelve afterimages.

The one who had nearly been swallowed by the enraged Savage Labyrinth King’s mouth moved again.

Only a little over 8 seconds had passed.

They were in a life-or-death situation too, but they were captivated and had their eyes stolen away.

‘What did we even just see?’

‘What kind of person is Hyunsoo, exactly?’

‘This is insane.’

And when they came to their senses, they realized it.

That they, who were dying, were being driven into a corner by a remaining pack of around 150 Lycans.

Taehun, who was at the very front, had his entire body torn apart by the Lycans, Hanul was struggling in a contest of strength, and Hyeji, in a seated shooting stance, fired arrows without a moment’s rest.

[The Savage Labyrinth King has been hunted.]

[The buff effect from the Savage Labyrinth King is removed.]

A story you couldn’t believe even after seeing it.

In that instant, a Lycan aimed for Taehun’s throat.

GRRrrrrr-!

At that moment.

SGAAAAAK-

A sword that fell from the sky split the Lycan in half.

FLAP-

The one whose coat fluttered stepped across in front of us and looked at the Lycans rushing in.

KIIIIIING-

A clear and pure sword sound rang out in everyone’s ears.

The moment they heard that beautiful melody, Taehun, Hyeji, and Hanul thought the same thing.

‘I’m not afraid.’

The primal fear that had swallowed them up just moments ago receded.

With hair soaked in blood and his coat fluttering, the moment Hyunsoo drew his sword—

[Cry of the Sword]

[Indiscriminately slashes all targets recognized as enemies for an additional 190% damage.]

[Even without directly slashing, if they are within a 20m radius, they will be slashed, and all defense is ignored.]

SGAGAGAGAGAGAGAK-!

401% sword attack power enhancement, and on top of that, Cry of the Sword’s 190% additional attack power applied as base.

All defense ignore layered on top.

The ones that had been packed tight, charging like a horde of zombies.

A wondrous number floated above the pack of around 70 Lycans.

[A critical hit triggers.]

[You dealt 30,146 damage.]

[A critical hit......]

[You dealt 31,313 damage.]

[You dealt 21,356 dam......]

[A critical hit......]

[You dealt 34,313 dam......]

[You dealt 25,518 dam......]

[You dealt dam......]

[You dealt dam......]

Around 70 Lycans turning to ash.

And they understood why they weren’t afraid.

“Let’s go.”

The charisma he carried.

The power he had to lead people.

The will to not give up in a desperate, do-or-die moment, and to keep moving forward.

‘And even the power of artifacts only he can make.......’

Because of all of that, an infinite courage took root—if they were with him, they could do it.

Hyunsoo moved first.

KWAJAAAK-

Chasing after him, the ones who had fallen got back up.

[Elapsed time 8 minutes 11 seconds.]

[Elapsed time 8 minutes 12 seconds.]

Just like him, we wanted to prove we were strong too.

‘We’re not some cursed trio.’

‘Every morning, we got up at 4 a.m. and ran for gold medals.’

‘We’ll be the best here too......!’

In that moment, the true worth—something they didn’t know, but Lee Sejin did—was revealed.

DING!

[Hidden Piece. Completed: The most shining power.]

[You displayed the greatest power in history with similar levels and normal classes.]

[The system judges that the source of that power came from the purest power: skill and experience.]

DING!

[You may change class to the hidden class: Ironblood Knight.]

[You may change class to the hidden class: Ironblood Archer.]

[You may change class to the hidden class: Ironblood Fighter.]

Everyone accepted it, and a red haze rose from the three of their bodies.

Hanul.

[Basic sword attack power increases by 20%, and cutting power by 40%, and critical hit chance increases by 20%.]

[The Ironblood Knight is special.]

[If you achieve Top Tier Sword Mastery Lv.9, you will unlock Grand Sword Mastery.]

Hyeji.

[Basic bow attack power increases by 20%, and penetration by 40%, and accuracy increases by 20%.]

[If you achieve Top Tier Bow Mastery Lv.9, you will unlock Grand Bow Mastery.]

Taehun.

[Basic kick attack power increases by 20%, and destructive power by 40%, and vital-point critical hit attack power increases by 20%.]

[If you achieve Top Tier Kick Mastery Lv.9, you will unlock Grand Kick Mastery.]

A hidden class—and Ironblood, obtained together by the three of them.

‘This class is made exactly for us.’

There was no flashy or incredible unlocking of skills.

‘For us, who have overwhelmingly superior skill than others, even the basic attack power rising like this is beyond imagination.’

Soon, the three of them began to reveal its true worth.

PPUHEOOOONG-!

Taehun had needed to strike at least 11 times to hunt a single Lycan.

But now, just 8 was enough.

SSWAE-E-E-EEK-

Hyeji’s performance was dazzling as well.

The synergy of the Baby Arrow, her skill, and the increased penetration shattered common sense.

SGAAAAAK, PUK, PUPUPUK, PUPUK-!

Hanul surged between the Lycans at high speed, crisscrossing through them.

Everywhere his sword passed, Lycans were dropping, one after another.

The three of them were sure.

That there was no one at their level who could defeat them now.

‘Maybe we could even fight high-rankers.’

Their wavering gaze, without them realizing it, landed on the back of one man.

At some point, he had turned the last remaining Lycan into ashes.

And looking at the elapsed time floating in ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) front of them, the three couldn’t make themselves believe it.

‘H-how is a number like this even.......’

A sudden awakening of the three.

The result it produced—and from the start, the greatest contributor to it was Hyunsoo.

‘If Hyunsoo hadn’t been able to hunt the Labyrinth King alone, this couldn’t have happened.’

They all looked at Hyunsoo’s back as he cut down the final Lycan and drew harsh breaths.

Then the three exchanged looks.

They nodded, making a single decision.

Just as Hyeji was about to step forward for that unbelievably cool person—

THUD-

Hyunsoo suddenly went limp and collapsed.

“H-Hyunsoo?”

“Are you okay?”

Hyunsoo—who had shown the most incredible charisma of anyone just moments ago.

Collapsed, he spoke with an awkward expression.

“I’m originally the type of existence that’s like a tragic male lead.”

“???”

“I collapse at the drop of a hat.”

The three of them looked at him and ended up laughing.

*****

[You have hunted the Savage Labyrinth King.]

[You have obtained 516,862 experience.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You leveled up......]

[You have obtained 161,803 gold.]

After hunting the Labyrinth King, Hyunsoo pulled off five levels.

Using the power of the Rampaging Sword that still remained after hunting the Labyrinth King in a short 10 seconds.

He unleashed Cry of the Sword and rescued Hanul, Taehun, and Hyeji.

After that, he immediately hunted the Lycans.

Then he heard an astonishing notification.

[Something special is happening to party member Hanul.]

[Something special is happening to party member Hyeji.]

[Something special is happening to party member Taehun.]

Hyunsoo, who had briefly stopped, turned to look at them.

He realized they had awakened by obtaining new classes.

Hyunsoo was genuinely happy.

Because he had come to understand their hardships.

At the same time, he had a desire like this.

‘I want to be with them.’

Even so, he first did what he had to do right now.

When the final Lycan fell, Hyunsoo’s face twisted.

His vision spun.

‘Ah, again......!’

Hyunsoo, collapsing like a weak little fish, didn’t have the strength to move.

When he explained that he originally did this often, they burst into laughter.

‘How should I suggest it......?’

Hyunsoo thought about how to suggest they join the guild.

If he recruited them—now even stronger—Radiance would become incredibly powerful.

Then he saw Hyeji looking down at him as he lay there.

Brown bob-cut hair, brown eyes.

Snow-white skin and a height of 160cm.

A woman for whom the word pretty wasn’t nearly enough, she chuckled and, playfully, said:

“I’m a fan.”

Hyunsoo gave a bitter smile at that.

Earlier, seeing them depressed, he had jokingly thrown those words at them.

And then he had asked them for autographs.

“Ah, then sign—”

As Hyunsoo made a gesture like he was rummaging around inside his clothes.

“Please accept us into your guild.”

Hyunsoo stopped.

Taehun naturally supported Hyunsoo.

As Hyunsoo got up, he could see the three of them smiling beautifully.

Just as much as he wanted them, they wanted him too.

“Anytime.”

[Hyeji has joined the Radiance guild.]

[Taehun has joined the Radiance guild.]

[Hanul has joined the Radiance guild.]

It was the moment the genius blacksmith gained three more geniuses.

KURURURUR-!

The dungeon trembled.

[You have cleared the true Savage Labyrinth.]

[Clear time is being tallied.]

The four of them’s hearts trembled.

The wondrous number already revealed before their eyes.

‘We really were incredible.’

‘This is us, world bastards!’

They laughed brightly.

[Elapsed time 10 minutes 1 second.]

And the specialness added on top.

[Sudden Quest: Savage Labyrinth King and Lycans completed.]

The reward was simple.

[Record is shortened by 20%.]

[Total elapsed time is changed from total elapsed time 10 minutes 1 second to total elapsed time 8 minutes.]

[Rankings are updated.]

[Savage Labyrinth Time Attack Dungeon World Rankings.]

[1st Republic of Korea 8 minutes.]

[2nd United States 11 minutes 11 seconds.]

[3rd......]

[4th......]

[......]

[......]

“WAAAAAH!”

“We did it!”

“This is insane!”

The three of them knew now the world would no longer call them the cursed trio.

[Savage Labyrinth Time Attack Dungeon has ended.]

[You recorded 1st place.]

With that, each of them received a valuable prize of 100 million won.

At that moment.

[You have broken the 10-minute record.]

[It is an astonishing achievement.]

[The Savage Labyrinth acknowledges you, who have renewed a record no one can break.]

[The Labyrinth’s blessing descends.]

[All stats increase by 2%.]

[For one month, experience and artifact drop rate increase by 2x.]

The four of them marveled.

It was truly an incredible reward.

Especially for them, now beyond Level 300, percentage rewards were enormous.

Just for Hyunsoo, it raised more than 50 stats because of this.

And Hyunsoo knew.

‘The rewards I still have to receive aren’t over yet.’

*****

Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news!

Endless breaking news and articles poured out across the world.

[Republic of Korea team achieves an 8-minute record. Creates a new legend.]

[World experts praise: 8 minutes. An absolutely unbelievable record.]

[Their ranking changed along with recruiting Master Blacksmith Hyun. Users worldwide turn their attention to Hyun’s Forge.]

[U.S. user Will holds an official press conference and announces an apology statement. Will says Korea’s record this time will remain in history.]

[Why did Will’s reaction suddenly change?]

[Netizens speculate Will changed direction to avoid criticism by praising them. But even with his rave reviews, netizens’ response remains cold.]

[The huge ball Will launched. Hyun’s Forge subscriber count ignites even more from Will’s praise......]

[Statements from high-rankers worldwide become a hot topic. “When servers merge, I’ll go find Hyun’s Forge first.”]

At that time.

Nell was looking at a computer screen.

The real-time search keyword rankings on FindNet, a portal search site.

1st Hyun’s Forge

2nd Savage Labyrinth

3rd......

Hyun’s Forge was up in the rankings on every portal search site, including FindNet.

CLICK

Entering the auction house and clicking Hyun’s Forge, Nell let out a hollow laugh.

[Temporary error occurs due to a large increase in subscribers.]

[Please try again later.]

‘It’s far bigger in impact than when you crafted a legend above legend.......’

Even Nell couldn’t tell just how big it was.

At minimum, a day would have to pass to confirm the results.

The last Hyun’s Forge Nell had checked was 7th place, 1.73 million subscribers.

‘I’m curious.’

Nell smiled.

‘Whether you can break through the wall of third place.’

And....

‘How far Hyunsoo will climb.’

They would know soon enough.