Genius Blacksmith's Game

Zhuge was a user skilled in tactics and strategy.

With that competence, he was carrying out the duty of tactical strategist in a kingdom on the China server.

Favored by the king, he had led China to victory in large-scale battles multiple times on the China server, which had the largest population.

‘Korean users?’

Compared to the battles Zhuge had led to victory so far, they were beneath contempt.

In everything, China was above.

The participants’ average level range differed by more than 10, and as for artifacts, the Chinese users were overwhelmingly superior.

‘Defenders are advantaged in a territory war?’

That was true. But because of that, China secured 100 more users than Korea.

Victory was seen as certain.

And the world expected that as well.

You could tell just by looking at Ares Play Toto.

Looking at the win prediction on Ares Play Toto, China was running at 92.7%.

And Zhuge, too, was a person who had bet his entire fortune on China winning.

‘In a situation this certain, what we need is a more overwhelming victory.’

The advantage of being able to field 100 more.

With Wei, the necromancer ranking #2, at the head, he packed those 100 slots full with people specialized in war of numbers.

Of course, Zhuge devised the best strategy.

‘Korea doesn’t have any users with notable holy power. Even if they do exist, they won’t be able to handle this much volume.’

It was the clear limit of skills.

Zhuge’s target time to capture Korea’s fortress was 2 hours and 30 minutes.

That Zhuge grew flustered as he saw the white bell that appeared.

‘What the hell is that bell......?’

Zhuge’s plan was perfect.

No, it had been perfect.

“We researched you and researched you again, Zhuge.”

If not for the variable called Nell.

Starting a few days before the continental war was held, Nell had studied Zhuge’s tactics and strategy and prepared numerous countermeasures accordingly.

Nell and Hyun’s Forge still had more preparations, and one of them revealed itself.

The appearance of a woman atop the wall captivated viewers across the world.

-She’s beautiful.

-Nobility itself.

-It feels like we’re seeing the word pure white with our own eyes!

-Saint’s Child, Belia has appeared.

Saint’s Child.

The best priest class on the Korea server.

Standing beside Hyunsoo, her palm touched Ramas’s Bell.

“Save us from evil.”

[Holy power settles in.]

[Even greater holy power goes berserk within Ramas’s Bell.]

[Holy power settles in.]

[Even greater holy power within Ramas’s Bell......]

Along with that, Hyunsoo, who had shaped Ramas’s Bell using the skill Reverse inside the fortress, pulled his hammer back.

Before he knew it, the undead were right before reaching the wall.

DAAAANG-!

The instant it struck, an enormous wave of holy power spread out.

DOOOOOOM-!

“Kgh!”

“Whoa, what is that!?”

At that wave, users took a step back.

Also, the basic ability of Ramas’s Bell was greatly increased by Belia’s holy power.

[It weakens undead within a 10 km radius by 48%.]

KHEEEE—

KYAAAAAAK-!

KHEEIIIIIIIK!!!!

Undead touched by the wave of holy power writhed as if swept away by a tide of light.

-I-I can’t believe it.

-A wide-area debuff that swallows up roughly 2,200 undead!

-I’ve never heard of a skill like this in my life!

-Of course. This isn’t a skill. It’s an artifact!!!

The shocking thing wasn’t over yet.

The principle of Ramas’s Bell was strength that settled into those who killed undead, at the same time it weakened the undead.

[You have heard the sacred bell toll.]

[Attack power and defense against undead increase by 18%.]

“W-whoaaaaaaa!”

“WAAAAAA!”

At that moment, thunderous cheers burst out among the Korean users.

Commander Lee Hwan was startled.

‘Our side’s morale shot up like crazy?’

The participation of Hyun’s Forge wasn’t something Lee Hwan had held great expectations for.

They were merely people who had hunted the First Calamity.

“Full force, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) fireeeeeee!”

The users drawing their bows were the most shocked.

Originally, undead in the level 340 range didn’t die even if you shot four arrows.

But now, they were breaking apart with just two shots.

A reversal.

Originally, the enemies’ advance speed had been overwhelmingly faster than the killing speed.

Lee Hwan was paying attention to something else.

‘A wide-area debuff beyond common sense.’

This had a downside.

In the case of those with high status ailment resistance, they could ignore this power.

As proof of that, undead pulled out by top-tier high-level necromancers kept, kept pushing forward.

A large portion of them resisted this bell toll.

KWA— KWAKWAKWA— KWAKWANG-!

About 200 users hidden among the undead sprayed magic and skills.

Our side’s losses were greater.

Because they were still hiding among countless undead.

Lee Hwan saw necromancers hidden behind melee users beyond the bridge.

‘If we can’t take them out, the war of numbers continues.’

Right then, Lee Hwan could see it.

‘They’re coming......!’

Somewhere between about 150 and 220.

The reason China was most feared was coming.

Enemies armed in black armor—the reason they were feared was that they were the ones fully backed by Black Dragon Forge.

‘How many is it?’

Lee Hwan was flustered.

What they were wearing, hidden under the robes.

‘Unique, Unique, Unique, Unique.......’

Defense holders whose durability surpassed common sense, and then he swept his eyes over the weapons they held.

These too were infested with Unique.

“How do you see the situation?”

The woman called Nell asked.

“In the beginning, we’ll defend evenly, but eventually we’ll start getting pushed back. The one standing at their forefront right now is Kou, world rank #15.”

Lee Hwan continued with a bitter smile.

“Of course I can take him. But it’ll be hard among all those undead.”

“So it is.”

At that moment, the gate opened.

Korean users were stepping out to check Kou and the users.

Soon, Lee Hwan would join in that gap as well.

Then Nell looked at Lee Hwan with trusting eyes.

“Then make sure you do it. We’ll wipe out all the undead for you.” 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Lee Hwan wore a puzzled expression.

Then.

[Black Night]

As if someone had turned off the lights, darkness fell so deep he couldn’t see an inch ahead.

[It stimulates primal fear.]

[The enemy’s hearing is completely paralyzed.]

[Our side’s hearing is not paralyzed.]

“W-what is this!?”

“U-uaaahhh!”

“H-HIIIK!”

Lee Hwan and the Korean users’ hearing was fine.

They were hearing the screams of the Chinese users.

Lee Hwan imagined it.

‘Not seeing ahead is bearable.’

But having even your hearing paralyzed—that came as an enormous fear.

Is this game broken? Did my machine die? Where am I?

Something like claustrophobia might come rushing in.

Then Nell said.

“Our probability of losing is over 90%.”

Lee Hwan agreed.

It was humiliating, but it was fact.

“I believe this method can at least raise the win rate by 10%.”

Lee Hwan wore a puzzled expression in the darkness.

Then came Nell’s next words.

“This is the plan Crazy Rookie devised. People firmly believe China is attacking and Korea is defending.”

What are you talking about?

“But from now on, we.......”

At those words, Lee Hwan’s eyes shook.

Then.

SNAP-!

The dark world instantly brightened.

*****

Zhuge was flustered.

He too was trembling in fear at the pitch-black darkness and the silence where nothing could be heard.

The moment the world brightened and all status ailments were lifted, Zhuge was shocked more than he had ever been in his life.

“T-this, what......?”

And Wei, the necromancer shining as world rank #8, couldn’t hide their bewilderment either.

“Zhuge...... am I seeing what I’m seeing right now......?”

Neither Zhuge nor Wei, nor anyone here, could have imagined it.

With their face stiff, Wei looked around.

Necromancers were gathered together, continuously summoning undead.

GULP-

Wei swallowed their dry saliva.

Ever since entering the world rankings, they had experienced all sorts of things.

But this exceeded expectation.

“Fuck...... You’re the defense, and we’re the attack, you crazy bastard!”

Yeah, territory war is divided into defense and attack.

But right above them, Hyunsoo was gripping the Twin Dragon Sword and looking down at them.

This was Hyunsoo’s plan.

Black Night, created as a calamity, dyes the whole world in darkness and paralyzes all enemy hearing.

But not the caster, Hyunsoo.

Everything could be seen, and everything could be heard.

With Calamity Leap, he flew up into the sky in an instant.

Crests were engraved on Hyunsoo’s Twin Dragon Sword.

[Three-Foot Oath to Heaven.]

[With a three-foot blade, I swear to the heavens.]

[Mountains and Rivers Shake in Color.]

[Mountains and waters tremble.]

SHAAAAAA—!

An enormous pressure that came crashing down from the Twin Dragon Sword.

It crushed the necromancers and summons who were huddled together.

In a hurry, the necromancers pulled up shields made of bone from the ground and built a huge bone wall between him and themselves.

Zhuge’s face turned deathly pale.

A necromancer’s weakness lay in having HP as low as a mage.

No matter how many walls they raised, in front of massive power beyond common sense, they were nothing but pups.

At last, the final line was engraved.

[One Swing Sweeps All Away.]

[With a single swing, I sweep it away.]

[Blood Dyes Mountains and Rivers.]

[Blood dyes the whole land.]

Hyunsoo knew better than anyone.

This was only raising the win rate by 10%.

In the end, Korea would again draw close to being taken at high speed.

But even just the undead no longer appearing meant Korea took one step forward.

No, more precisely—

‘I get closer to MVP.’

He was sick of hiding and looking for chances.

He wanted to show everything plainly.

He brought the Twin Dragon Sword, which he had pulled back with all his strength, down on the roughly 80 necromancers.

“Sword’s Cry.”

KIIIIIIING-!

Their thinking was paralyzed, and screams and shrieks erupted.

“U-uaaagh!”

“What is that bastard, kill hiiiiim!”

“You crazy bastard!”

“You’re the defense, and we’re the attackkkk!”

At last, it fell. The enormous power that shattered the bone wall they created into ruin.

That power began tearing apart the necromancers and summoners there, including Wei.

At that time.

“Where is it!?”

“The VVIP hospital room!”

Dr. Kim Jinseop and the nurses were running.

‘Please, it can’t be......!’

The closer the sound got, the more Jinseop’s chest pumped.

BEEEEEEEEEP-

It was the sound of the vitals machine checking a heart.

In this case, there were two possibilities.

They were dead, or someone had detached the vitals machine from the patient.

Soon, arriving at the VVIP hospital room, Jinseop opened his eyes wide.

“.......”

There was no one in the bed.

He couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

Then he heard a machine sound.

It was as small as the sound of a refrigerator, but in this moment, Jinseop could clearly hear it.

With a look that said it couldn’t be, he slowly turned his head.

‘The capsule.......’

The capsule for the VR game Ares was running.

*****

Ren, the blacksmith of the Beginner Zone, was flustered.

A tall middle-aged man, around 183 cm, was looking at him and smiling faintly.

“You—I’ve heard a lot about you. Your name was Ren, was it?”

The reason he was flustered was because the man’s face looked exactly like his master’s.

The middle-aged man spoke.

“I want to see my son Hyunsoo. Do you know where I should go?”