Genius Blacksmith's Game

After hunting the Dragon Guardian,

Hyunsoo was met by a flood of notifications.

[You obtain 530,013 gold.]

[You obtain 13,401,032 EXP.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You obtain Dragon Enhancement Stone (8).]

[Legendary grade. You obtain Dragon Mineral (3).]

[Legendary grade. You obtain the Guardian’s Annihilation Sword.]

[Legendary grade. You obtain the Guardian’s Armor.]

The rewards Hyunsoo obtained were, for the most part, made up of the things the Dragon Guardian had been carrying.

Who’s supposed to use this...?

The Dragon Guardian’s Annihilation Sword and the Dragon Guardian’s Armor were both Legendary grade, but they were so enormous that it did not look like a user could wield them.

Still, just as he was feeling satisfied at jumping three levels in one go and getting his hands on the huge sum of 500 million—

[Sudden Quest: Dragon’s Heart completed.]

[Clear time: 7 minutes 46 seconds.]

Hyunsoo frowned.

Clear time...? Why that?

At first, when he had clashed with the Dragon Guardian, Hyunsoo had received a notification saying that if he failed to kill the bastard within 20 minutes, KyooKyoo would become Absolute Evil.

And now, unlike in the past, Hyunsoo had gotten quick enough on the uptake to understand it.

This didn’t just mean the amount of time until KyooKyoo was tainted by Absolute Evil. It also meant I was supposed to clear the bastard within that time!

But Hyunsoo had taken only 7 minutes and 46 seconds.

[You encounter a new truth.]

Truth?

And this time, the reward method was to learn a hidden truth—perhaps one he might otherwise never have learned for all eternity.

[Dragon Balladra feared that someone might take the Dragon’s Heart, and so hid a total of two Dragon’s Hearts.]

[Both require a “key.”]

[However, because KyooKyoo exists, the key can be ignored.]

Hyunsoo was shocked.

There are two of those incredible things!?

[You learn the location of the hidden Dragon’s Heart.]

And that location—

the Dragon Guardian was revealing it by scattering white light.

Watching the two bickering creatures, Hyunsoo said,

“Guys, you don’t need to fight, because there are two Dragon’s Hearts.”

[KyooKyoo is astonished.]

[Lucky Lump is shocked.]

“KyooKyoo, put your hand on the Dragon Guardian.”

At that, KyooKyoo placed its hand on the Dragon Guardian with a tense expression.

At that moment—

[You receive Dragon Speech.]

The Dragon’s Heart that had been hidden within the Dragon Guardian’s body revealed itself.

[Legendary mineral. You obtain Dragon’s Heart.]

DING!

[The true power of the hidden Dragon’s Heart is revealed!]

[Transcendent Evolution Stone. You obtain Dragon’s Heart.]

(Dragon’s Heart)

Grade: Transcendent

Restriction: None

Difficulty: Highest Grade

Special Ability

· It can grow any Legendary monster.

· The degree of growth may vary depending on the potential possessed by that being.

· Absurd growth is impossible.

· The higher the rank of the being that is growing, and the greater the degree of growth, the more time may be required.

Of course, even this was not a power that would suddenly take a Legendary-grade monster that “could not grow” and make it into a Transcendent monster.

Even so, this is incredible. Just the fact that it can make high-potential Legendary-grade beings grow while ignoring the thing called time...

And he decided to use it on KyooKyoo first.

[You apply Dragon’s Heart to KyooKyoo.]

At the same time, Hyunsoo tensed up at the line in the description that said, the greater the degree of growth, the more time may be required.

Because the heart of a master always wanted to see it grow right away if possible.

At that moment—

[KyooKyoo evolves.]

Damn, it evolves immediately!

Black light burst from KyooKyoo’s eyes as it slowly floated up into the air.

Hyunsoo was swept up in huge anticipation.

He could not forget that KyooKyoo’s nature was that of a Transcendent species, one of the few yet revealed.

Hyunsoo hoped for it.

A height of 20 meters!

Magnificent wings!

The form of a true dragon overflowing with majesty!

And when KyooKyoo finally revealed its complete form, everyone there was struck with considerable shock.

[KyooKyoo’s evolution is complete.]

The revealed KyooKyoo had grown a little larger than before.

And crimson scales had sprouted across the body of KyooKyoo, which had originally been in the form of a Bone Dragon, settling there beautifully.

And in the empty sockets of its skull, eyes had formed—large, clear eyes that radiated bright light.

Soon, the creature that had revealed itself came to understand.

The power boiling within its body and the Dragon Speech engraved into its mind.

Asahadradabara.

The meaning of that Dragon Speech.

It was a voice telling KyooKyoo that it was destined to become the king of dragons.

At last, KyooKyoo descended to the ground.

And it gave a majestic roar like a Dragon Lord.

“SKREEEEEE!!!!”

“?”

“?”

“?”

“?”

The most shocked one was Hyunsoo.

“No, it turned into a hatchling?”

“Woof...”

[Lucky Lump says it got even cuter.]

“...Golemmy.”

[Golemmy says it’s jealous.]

“Meow.”

[Pretty says it became prettier.]

“Cluck?”

[Kkoko blanks out.]

It was just as Hyunsoo said.

KyooKyoo had become more dignified, and with an aloof gaze it looked at them as if to say, I am the Dragon Lord.

But all it had really done was turn into a small, cute hatchling.

Hyunsoo checked on KyooKyoo.

(KyooKyoo)

Grade: Legendary

Type: Pet

Level: 413

Attack Power: 4,301

Defense: 5,031

Special Abilities:

· Active Skill Breath

· Active Skill 1st–4th Class Magic

· Active Skill Dragon Storage

· Active Skill Dragon Fear

· Passive Skill Just Once, Dragon

· It is a talent that will one day become a ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Dragon Lord.

Potential: 132

Description: Originally timid and cowardly by nature, it gradually changed as younger siblings came into being, and that was for the sake of protecting them. Furthermore, by becoming a hatchling instead of remaining in its original skeletal form, it has taken one step closer to becoming a true dragon, and its talent is at the level of a Dragon Lord.

Ghk...

The reason Hyunsoo’s pets were Legendary—or capable of power on that level—yet still did not fully display it was because there were certain restrictions on them.

For example, in KyooKyoo’s case, its level had been very low.

But now it had become a Level 413 Legendary.

And the name Tiny Breath had changed into simply Breath.

Originally, Tiny Breath dealt 50% of Bone Dragon Breath damage.

And a Bone Dragon was, ultimately, just an inferior version of a dragon.

But now, KyooKyoo was breathing out Breath at 50% the damage of real Dragon Breath.

And what stood out the most was the power called Just Once, Dragon.

(Just Once, Dragon)

Passive Skill

Grade: Transcendent

Level: None

Effect:

· It activates when KyooKyoo faces fear or anxiety, or when it tries to save something.

· Just once, it becomes a true dragon and randomly activates 1st–8th Class Magic.

“...?”

If it activated, then once, and at random, a 1st–8th Class spell would go off.

Which meant—

A 1st Class spell like Fireball could activate...

Or something called an ultimate move, like Meteor, could activate too?

There was something else that puzzled him.

Becomes a true dragon? Does that mean it temporarily takes on the form of a dragon? Hm...

Hyunsoo was wrapped in one question after another, but there was no time to check any of that now.

What was certain was this.

“Kyoo—”

[KyooKyoo tells you to serve it.]

“...Confiscate your snacks?”

“...!?”

[KyooKyoo says that maybe you do not have to serve it after all.]

KyooKyoo had gotten even cuter.

Hyunsoo judged that compared to the Dragon’s Heart, this was not small growth at all.

KyooKyoo used to be in the form of a Bone Dragon, and now it became a hatchling. In other words, I’m raising a real dragon as a pet.

Even if KyooKyoo was still young now, the more it grew, the more it would come to possess the form of a true dragon.

In other words, it really was a true Transcendent species.

Anyway, Hyunsoo walked farther inside to obtain the second Dragon’s Heart.

There, he found a door wrapped in multiple iron bars.

[A key is required to obtain the Dragon’s Heart.]

[The key is ignored.]

KRRRRACK—!

The iron bars shattered and fell away on their own.

Hyunsoo opened the door and stepped inside, where he found the second heart floating in the air.

As he went to apply it, his chest pounded.

Lucky Lump was surely a higher being than any of the other pets present here.

Please, please, please...

Hyunsoo wished desperately.

Just for today, let me learn what our Lucky Lump really is!

[You apply Dragon’s Heart to Lucky Lump.]

Soon, the Dragon’s Heart sank into Lucky Lump’s body.

Lucky Lump, the baby puppy with snot running from its nose, slowly floated up into the air.

For a moment, it seemed they might be about to encounter a massive truth.

“Wooooof...!”

In fact, Lucky Lump was looking down at them with a dignified expression that seemed to say, I’m amazing. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

But then the notification came.

[It is a being with immeasurable power.]

[Time is required before it can grow.]

[The required time cannot be known.]

It was the sound of all the wind going out of things.

[Lucky Lump feels droopy.]

“Woof...”

The truth was, just as KyooKyoo had become cuter this time, Lucky Lump had been hoping it too would become even cuter.

But even though it had not grown immediately, Hyunsoo was filled with massive anticipation.

...KyooKyoo is a Transcendent species dragon, and even so, it grew right away.

But Lucky Lump had not.

Just as the Dragon’s Heart’s description said, it was because it possessed such enormous potential and growth capacity that time was required.

Wearing an expression of disbelief, Hyunsoo looked at Lucky Lump, now drooped out and flopped onto the ground belly-down.

What kind of higher being are you, exactly?

But Hyunsoo found that he liked that even better.

And then—

“Bro, I’m going to log out and eat.”

He logged out for a short break.

Meanwhile, after Hyunsoo logged out,

Lucky Lump, which had not yet moved over into pet space, began to feel its chest pounding.

And then—

—My king...

it began to hear a mysterious voice.

*****

Hyunsoo, having logged out to eat, was wearing a broad grin.

Damn, I was incredible today. I beat the Dragon Guardian, evolved KyooKyoo, and I might even find out Lucky Lump’s true identity soon. Hell yeah!

As a reward for his own hard work, he was even thinking of ordering black bean noodles and sweet-and-sour pork.

And then Hyunsoo, who had turned on the TV out of habit, stopped.

“...?”

—Asura Kabel is locked in a fierce clash alone against an undead army led by Valon.

—The depth of Asura Kabel’s power is beyond imagination.

—However, even Asura Kabel is being pushed back by the army’s nonstop assault...

—Today, we may be witnessing the fall of a legend!

What kind of situation is this?

The grin vanished from Hyunsoo’s face, and it turned serious.

He narrowed his eyes and watched Kabel fighting some kind of group.

Then he remembered that Dragon’s Mine had been a whispers-disabled zone, and at the same time he thought of the one called Valon.

Kabel had told him.

Valon is Tyrant Jebar’s dog. There’s a dangerous organization behind him, so you need to stay wary.

Hyunsoo’s face twisted as he remembered that.

Don’t tell me that idiot!

He thought Kabel might have been stupid enough to try facing some danger alone.

And knowing Kabel’s usual personality, Hyunsoo even thought they might have withdrawn from the guild.

He checked the backlog of chat messages.

The first one among them—

[Kabel: ...Tyrant Jebar wants me.]

“...!!!!”

Then the next messages.

[Kabel: ...I want to delay leaving the guild if possible. I don’t want to say something stupid like I’ll endure it alone.]

The voices of the commentators echoed from the TV screen.

—The beings Tyrant Jebar has crafted as masterpieces beyond compare are advancing!

And through those fussing voices—

[Kabel: I have a crafting request for you.]

CRUSH—

Hyunsoo clenched his fist hard.

[Kabel: He will use his creations to pressure and tighten the noose around me.]

[Kabel: What I am requesting you craft is “something” that can oppose that.]

This was a cry for help from Kabel, whom he had thought would fight alone, sent directly to Hyunsoo.

Kabel—no, my friend—is trusting me with their back for the first time.

[Hyunsoo: Hyun’s Forge accepts the request.]

He logged into Ares.

Kabel’s words were planting huge inspiration inside him.

Hyunsoo entered Dragon’s Mine.

And arrived before a certain being.

He laid everything from his inventory out before it.

These were the materials for what would soon be born.

[Dragon Mineral]

[The Guardian’s Annihilation Sword]

[The Guardian’s Armor]

He looked down at the masterpiece forged by dragons.

“Dragon Guardian, I will recreate you.”

That would become the greatest weapon in history for Kabel.