Genius Blacksmith's Game

Professor Eom Seokjin was one of the figures serving as a professor in Ares Studies departments that were being newly established around the world.

Quite a few of the people commonly called Ares experts were, in truth, no different from °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° stock experts.

First they either trashed something or praised it, and if events unfolded the way they had said—

See? I told you I was right!

Customers, I told you I was right, didn’t I!?

That was how they went around loudly declaring that they had been correct.

And of course, when the opposite happened?

Now then, on to the next stock...

Ahem, let’s talk about the next pick...

They did their best to ignore what people said.

But Eom Seokjin, starting from his title alone, was a man who researched the worldview of Ares and studied the effects virtual reality had on the world.

Recently, he had felt things growing noisier because of the experts going around the internet, JoyTube, and all kinds of programs, talking loudly.

The thing laid out on their chopping block was Atlas.

And so today, he too had appeared on the program Professor, I Have a Question!

Recognized experts appeared on that show.

A beautiful female host asked him a question.

“Professor, Atlas has been receiving a great deal of criticism lately. What is the reason for that?”

“After Master Blacksmith Hyun won the Great Atlas War, he declared before the eyes of the world that he would become king faster than anyone else. But now, several months later, Atlas has only reached the level of a ‘major territory’ among the countless kingdoms and empires in Ares. Let’s look at the data together.”

“As you can see, Atlas is currently only around 65th by the standards of a major territory. Of course, among users it is number one, but by NPC standards it is only lower tier.”

“Lower tier by NPC standards... Even so, for a user, that really is extraordinary. Is there a particular reason it’s being criticized like this?”

Eom Seokjin adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and gave a bitter smile.

“There’s an expression I often used back in my school days. It’s called ‘forced slander’—meaning criticism you have to force. It’s awkward to criticize them outright, but for the people who call themselves ‘experts,’ it becomes excellent prey.”

“Prey?”

“Yes. What better prey could there be than the top user not ending up where he said he would and instead remaining in the lower ranks? That’s why they’ve been exaggerating their rebukes and criticism.”

“What do you think, Professor?”

“...I do think Hyun spoke too soon. But he still deserves recognition as the first great lord, and I also judge it true that, as those experts say, Atlas really has been unable to grow to a certain extent.”

“Why is Atlas unable to grow?”

Eom Seokjin thought that was the question the viewers were most curious about.

“Atlas has to manage immigrants, and it has to pioneer new territory, so it has a great many things to do. On top of that, there are no hunting grounds nearby where it can achieve major growth.”

“How do the other major territories grow?”

“Because other major territories are under kingdoms, they’re given opportunities to monopolize things like extermination campaigns and dungeons. In the case of powerful nations, they create a cycle of growth through war and plunder.”

“Then Atlas too... Ah...”

The host started to say what she was thinking, then caught herself.

Eom Seokjin nodded.

“It’s a deadlock. In order to carry out extermination campaigns or clear dungeons, Atlas would have to be left empty for at least several days. And the point is that no one would leave Atlas alone if it were empty for several days.”

“Then, Professor, do you share the same opinion as the other experts?”

The opinions of those other experts.

That within a few months, Atlas would collapse.

That place, weakened because it could not grow, would end up being devoured.

At that, Eom Seokjin shook his head.

“Ares is a place with infinite possibilities. The other experts are saying, ‘It will absolutely fail.’ But I think this is a point where one must be cautious. If they manage to overcome those conditions and find a place where they can grow, then I think I would say this.”

“That Atlas has grown wings.”

*****

With Not-Hyunsoo Syndrome and Loyalty’s Wrath both activated, Atlas’s combat power ran wild.

Watching the fifty thousand monsters preparing to collide with them, Nell snatched up the waddling KyooKyoo.

At that moment—

[Dragon Fear]

KRAHAAAAAAAAAA—!

The Dragon Fear spreading from KyooKyoo’s mouth enveloped fifty thousand monsters.

Dragon Fear reached all beings who heard that sound.

And—

[Depending on their degree of strength, they fall into a stun.]

That meant the creatures would be stunned for anywhere from a minimum of ten seconds up to one minute. Some monsters passed out, while others foamed at the mouth and lost all fighting spirit.

Nell shouted.

“Today, Atlas must grow wings!”

She too had watched Professor Eom Seokjin’s broadcast.

“WOOOOOOOOOO!”

At her words, those who had gained Not-Hyunsoo Syndrome, Loyalty’s Wrath, and now wings, ran even wilder.

First came Atlas’s forces.

Under the pretext that they need to achieve the greatest growth, Nell had already issued them the finest bows and the highest-grade Aegisal arrows.

“Fiiiiire!”

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK—!

The monsters, caught in Dragon Fear and unable to move,

scattered like autumn leaves.

And they were capable of firing at least four Aegisal arrows every ten seconds.

On top of that, the one who had taught them archery was gold medalist Hyeji.

And then they drew their swords and charged.

They were running wild while thinking of Hyun, who had fainted.

“WOOOOOOO!”

“I’ll kill every last one of them!”

[You have hunted 2,416 monsters.]

It was the moment they hunted, all at once, a number of monsters that would ordinarily require about a month-long extermination campaign to kill.

And for the record, this was a number hunted in only fifteen minutes.

Elsewhere—

there was Asura Kabel.

In addition to receiving multiple buffs, Asura Kabel was also under yet another extra buff.

Namely, self-reproach.

It seemed Hyunsoo, who had fainted, had truly done his utmost over the past several days.

He was sincerely furious out of his affection for him, but at the same time, seeing how explosively Hyunsoo had grown during the time he had been in this tower, he felt a sense of self-reproach.

I was far too complacent.

He too was someone engaged in a fair rivalry with Hyunsoo.

And besides, these were only monsters in the level 400 range.

Especially at this moment, with the Loyalty’s Wrath buff on him, Asura Kabel possessed a truly irrational level of strength.

First of all, there were multiple boss monsters here as well.

In total, more than ten boss monsters.

One of them—

the tower’s Cyclops, level 479.

The creature’s giant iron mace was batting Atlas’s troops aside.

“KRAHHK!”

“U-uaaagh!”

And Kabel did nothing more than pronounce judgment.

[Blink]

[Attack the enemy’s weak point with damage equal to 1,300% attack power.]

[80% chance for 2x to apply.]

[60% chance for 3x to apply.]

[30% chance for 4x to apply.]

[5% chance for 7x to apply.]

[30% chance applies!]

THUNK—!

Execution.

[You have hunted a Cyclops.]

Having hunted a boss monster in a single strike, Kabel, proving himself the strongest assassin, roamed all across the battlefield, targeting only boss monsters.

And also—

[Boss monster Cyclops is counted as 310 kills.]

[Boss monster Orc Knight is counted as 293 kills.]

[Boss monster......]

The bosses were being counted as vastly larger kill numbers.

And as he watched the monster horde surging in like mad, Kabel’s eyes sharpened.

“Asura Path.”

The legion of Asuras that lives in hell.

They crossed over the gates of hell, and four thousand of them crawled out, biting monsters, clutching their legs, wrenching their necks.

That was right. The being known as Kabel.

He was a powerful assassin, and the only being capable of summoning a legion.

[You have hunted 7 boss monsters.]

[You have hunted 1,790 monsters.]

Even Kabel, a top-tier high ranker, had already leveled up three times.

Of course, even this was still only at the fifteen-minute mark.

Elsewhere again—

that man was, as expected, the one who stood out above the flock.

Watching Hyunsoo unconscious with his head in Nell’s lap, he discarded everyone else’s self-reproach, growth, and wings, and felt only pure anger.

Luxiu.

Holding the buff-type Twin Dragon Sword Hyunsoo had wielded, he had made him a promise.

That he would cut down ten thousand monsters and offer the spoils to him.

That was no exaggeration.

Even the undefeated knight whom the great archdemon Gremory herself had coveted was now in the absurd situation of being at least 20% stronger than usual under the effects of Loyalty’s Wrath.

He stood before the horizon where infinite regeneration was taking place.

He also possessed the power called Demon-Cleaving, a force completed by swinging it millions of times, but recently, he had changed that power.

Dark currents rippled around the sword he raised into the sky.

Those surging black energies were drawn into a single blade.

“Demon Slaughter.”

Hundreds of black sword energies crashed down among the monsters.

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAAAANG—!

The monsters being shredded apart were torn to pieces without leaving even a trace.

That attack just now.

And on top of that, he was standing directly in front of the place where the monsters were respawning, completely blocking it off.

He alone had cut down three thousand in fifteen minutes.

The total hunt count kept rising without end.

Beams of light announcing level-ups fell all over the place, and the ground was littered with an unbelievable amount of spoils.

Along with that—

[The tower intends to end the summoning.]

As expected.

It was something Nell had anticipated.

Fire Bird originally twisted Floor 8’s trial.

If the monsters truly came out infinitely, Atlas would instead be wiped out.

And once Hyunsoo had hunted beyond a certain threshold, he would likely be able to shut off this infinity whenever he wanted.

Likewise, the tower too could end it.

[30 minutes later, the monsters’ advance ends.]

Nell looked at the steadily rising number of monsters hunted.

Still not enough...

They had been here for less than two hours.

“This would only amount to sparrow wings at best. Impressive enough, sure, but...”

And then Nell looked at Hyunsoo, asleep with his head on her lap.

Maybe, just as usual, he would only wake after everything was over?

But no.

Hyunsoo, who had only briefly fainted, snapped his eyes open.

“I’m not satisfied.”

Having awakened from unconsciousness and checked the notifications, Hyunsoo was confirming the privilege he had started receiving once the hunt count passed twenty thousand.

[10 Honor Points are accumulated for each monster hunted.]

[533,013 Honor Points have currently been accumulated.]

He went all in on exactly one thing in the Honor Shop.

[You have purchased a Cooldown Reset Potion.]

One bottle cost 100,000 points.

With that, he bought four reset potions.

And then, taking one bottle for himself—

Gulp gulp—

“Kabel, Luxiu, Bella!”

He passed one bottle each to the three strongest among them.

“I’m not letting this chance slip away!”

Hyunsoo too was more aware than anyone of Atlas’s current situation.

For the moment, he set aside his gratitude toward those whose hearts had burned with Loyalty’s Wrath for his sake.

“This is an order. All of you, do your utmost to become stronger!”

“YES, MY LORD!!!!!!”

SHAAASH—

He pulled the buff-type Twin Dragon Sword to himself and gripped it tightly in his hand.

At the same time—

“Burn.”

The force of Sangyu Twelve settled over those who had recorded the history of those who had needed to rise.

“WOOOOOOO!”

“HRAAAAH!”

And then he awakened the power that, not long ago, he had made coexist with Burn after breaking most of the buff-type Twin Dragon Sword’s original effects.

The Twin Dragon Sword flew toward Bella.

The moment she caught the sword—

“Awaken.”

With Burn and Awaken coexisting, they rampaged across the battlefield.

Moreover, Hyunsoo too, holding the attack-type Twin Dragon Sword, rampaged.

“Combo, Pull them in, telekinesis, Sever in Two.”

“Demon Slaughter.”

“HRAAAAH!”

“WOOOOOOOOOO!”

They ran wild like mad stallions.

“Do not fall back!”

“Our growth is itself the reward granted by our lord!”

Some burned with drive and hunted more for the sake of Hyunsoo, who had fought alone.

“My lord, wait for us. We have already taken spoils nearing ten thousand!”

And some acted from one feeling alone—for Hyunsoo and no one else.

And every time points piled up, Hyunsoo kept buying more and more Cooldown Reset Potions, handing them out or drinking them himself.

And then—

[The advance of infinite monsters ends.]

When the settlement was completed, Nell’s eyes shook.

Looking at the utterly unbelievable results, she said only this—

“From sparrow wings... it turned into dragon wings...?”