Genius Blacksmith's Game

A bow from Korean legend.

While crafting it, Hyunsoo gave a bitter smile.

‘The Thousand-Pound Bow is literally a bow with the weight of a thousand geun.’

It was a story rooted in Jeju Island legends, mainly about the Great King and the Little King.

Sadly, even though it was a Korean legend, it wasn’t very widely known.

And Hyunsoo knew.

‘How am I supposed to lift a bow that weighs a thousand geun?’

Sometimes legends became nothing more than stories.

The knowledge of a genius blacksmith planted a new idea.

‘Keep it as the Thousand-Pound Bow, but apply the name of the Thousand-Pound Bow in a new way.’

A blacksmith’s knowledge embedded into a legend.

‘Make this bow increase the weight of the enemy the arrow sticks into.’

Impossible for others, but not hard for Hyunsoo to apply.

Because he had God’s Custom Crafting.

Then a notification surfaced.

[You are crafting a new form of Thousand-Pound Bow.]

Yeah. A new form.

The interesting part was that the Ares system recognized it enough to display that notification.

‘The existence of the Thousand-Pound Bow.’

Ares was a supercomputer.

Every user knew that.

So even if it didn’t exist here, it still knew what it was.

It was a fascinating story, and that was why possibility opened up.

‘Countless legends and myths inside my head.’

Dozens of things he’d playfully tried to realize as a child.

And then, the substance of that story being completed.

[An artifact imbued with God’s Custom Crafting is completed.]

[The experience and knowledge of a blacksmith with master-level skill have fused into it, raising the effect application rate to an absurd degree.]

[By applying a distinctive format, its effect improves further.]

[Effect application rate is 99%.]

[It is Unique grade.]

[You have crafted an artifact closest to a Legend.]

[You have named it Hyun’s Eleventh Custom Craft Bow.]

[The God of Blacksmiths title shines.]

[You have selected the application of the all-stat increase from artifact crafting, which can activate only once per week.]

[You gain All Stats +4.]

[You gain Dexterity +50.]

[You gain Renown +100.]

[Beginner Bow Mastery Lv.2 proficiency increases by 78%.]

As always, Hyunsoo engraved “Hyun” on the inside of the bow.

On the outside, he branded the Hanja for “Thousand-Pound Bow.” Then he checked the bow from Korean legend.

(Hyun’s Eleventh Custom Craft Bow)

Grade: Unique

Durability: 12,000/12,000

Attack Power: 341

Restriction: No restriction for the creator, Archers level 80 and above

Special Abilities

·Active Skill Thousand-Pound Time.

·Active Skill Strange Thousand Pounds.

·Passive Skill Ten-Thousand-Pound Weight.

Description: Hyun’s Eleventh Custom Craft Bow. It holds the power to increase an enemy’s weight.

Hyunsoo shuddered. Because of something in the notification.

‘By applying a distinctive format, its effect improved further.’

In truth, the materials used to make the Thousand-Pound Bow itself weren’t all that special.

They were things he’d rushed to buy through the auction house.

Hyunsoo was sure.

That he could pull Hyun’s value back up with this bow after crashing in the second stage.

****

[Two artifacts closest to a Legend meet.]

[Their effects improve by 10% each.]

CHAAAAAK—

Hyunsoo pulled the Thousand-Pound Bow’s string and stared at the werewolf charging from the front.

A werewolf’s advantages were its speed, its ridiculous bite strength, and its thick hide.

Even same-level users didn’t find it easy to pierce.

That was why werewolves were infamous for being more troublesome than their level suggested.

Hyunsoo had already studied all three stages perfectly.

Even with Short Arrows, he’d realized hunting these werewolves wouldn’t be easy.

Their HP was also outrageously high.

So he thought this.

‘Do I really have to cut or shoot them to kill them?’

No. He didn’t have to.

‘If they’re fast, stop them from running. If they’re tough, kill them a different way.’

Click.

A Short Arrow loaded into the guide-tube. The accuracy he’d raised through steady growth of Bow Mastery.

TAAT—

The moment he fired, he triggered it.

[Thousand-Pound Time]

[Thousand-Pound Weight is applied.]

[Thousand-Pound Weight presses down on the enemy.]

[For 1 minute, all arrows fired gain Thousand-Pound Weight, lasting 8 seconds each.]

The ground under the werewolf pierced by the arrow collapsed. First, all four of its legs were driven into the earth.

KWAJIIIII—

Its belly slammed into the ground.

KURURURURURUR—

The earth fully caved in, leaving only the werewolf’s head above ground.

“KRAAAAH!”

The werewolf screamed in pain.

Hyunsoo spoke to the viewers.

-What is that bow?

-What even is the Thousand-Pound Bow?

-Huh...!?

He said he would show them a new strategy.

Hyunsoo had to become a star. It wasn’t what he wanted.

But it was what he needed to do to make Hyun’s Forge known to the world.

Blacksmith Hyun, and Crazy Rookie. Both of them had to spread their names far and wide.

So what he needed was a single story.

A story that would remain at AJ Internet Broadcasting Station for a long, long time—

and the plan for that story was finally starting to become real.

[Current viewers: 122,031.]

In front of a hundred and twenty thousand people.

He announced the method.

“I’ll hunt all thirteen werewolves.”

-He’s insane....

-What the hell....

CHAAAAAK—!

A werewolf already aiming from the right flew in.

PEUUUUT—!

The moment an arrow pierced its neck—

KWAJIIIII—

It slammed into the ground like it had a Thousand-Pound Weight hanging off it, dust exploding upward.

He didn’t even need Short Arrows anymore.

A single arrow with ordinary iron attached to it kept firing without rest.

PWOOOOOK

KWA-A-A-AANG—

PWOOOOOK

KWA-A-A-AANG

PWPWPWPWOOOOOK

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-AANG—!

The werewolves within a 20-meter radius of Hyunsoo were driven into the ground, letting out mournful cries.

“KIIIIIIING...!”

The cry of ferocious werewolves made viewers doubt their own eyes.

-What am I even looking at right now...?

And someone. One of the 120,000 viewers. Maybe a Korean high-ranker. Or just a billionaire.

Or someone who believed in Hyun, or someone who believed in Crazy Rookie, said:

-Donation mission: 5 million won if you hunt them all ㄱ

PWOOOOOK—

KWA-A-A-AANG

PWOOOOOOOK

KWA-A-A-AANG—!

PWOOOOOK

KWA-A-A-AANG—!

The arrows kept pounding them into the ground without pause.

Someone noticed something strange.

-What? Why are they clumped together?

Yeah. It looked like Hyunsoo was just pulling and firing, but the distances between the buried werewolves weren’t far.

Most of them were gathered tightly.

Right then—

[Thousand-Pound Time has ended.]

The skill’s time released. While hunting the two trolls, Hyunsoo hadn’t shown Sword King Barad’s swordsmanship at all.

The power Lord Vance had passed on to him.

He’d judged that power alone was enough.

Why?

‘The second stage was a stepping stone.’

The third stage was for the leap.

KIIIIIIING—

-What’s that sound?

-Huh?

An unknown sound grabbed the viewers’ ears.

Its clarity, ringing out as it struck the blade’s surface, felt pleasant.

But the effect it caused defied common sense.

KUKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAK—!

Hyunsoo swung once from where he stood.

Dozens of invisible swords shredded them.

JURURURURUK—

Red blood welled up over the stone, making viewers thrill.

-That’s Crazy Rookie!?

-No! It’s Crazy Rookie plus Blacksmith Hyun!

Yeah. They believed there were two of them, but Hyunsoo was alone.

In an instant, thirteen werewolves were sliced apart.

All of them turned ash and vanished.

-I’m the Best has donated 5,000,000 won.

-Good.

Yeah. Good.

That word was enough.

No, viewers felt it wasn’t enough—

-GOOD-GOOD-GOOD-GOOD....

The chat got flooded.

And Hyunsoo felt thirst.

There was still something he hadn’t shown.

He wanted to show how valuable this bow was, how incredible it really was. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

And Hyunsoo wondered.

Could this ridiculous story progression—

[A new story begins.]

—continue?

As expected, it answered Hyunsoo’s anticipation.

[Fenrir’s Fragment, the Werewolves’ King, descends.]

The true boss of this Time-Attack Dungeon that no one had known about.

Even if it was only a fragment, Fenrir was one of the eight monsters called Legends in Ares.

[Boss Monster appearance!]

[Those who hunt Fenrir’s Fragment will receive rewards.]

[Fenrir’s Fragment Lv.178]

It was bigger than any normal werewolf.

About six meters tall.

Its heavy body was like a mountain.

-How are you supposed to kill that...?

-This is so damn fun...ㅠ

The one who’d donated five million won spoke again.

-2 million won if you succeed.

Then more piled on.

-1 million won if you succeed.

-I’ll add 50.

-Fun. I’ll add 15.

-This is insane for real.

Unknown people who’d been hiding.

Among them, Blacksmith Rowoon was visible too.

At last, the thing started to run.

KWAJIIIII—

Every step gouged the ground.

Viewers swallowed hard at that overwhelming speed.

If Crazy Rookie allowed even one hit, he would die.

But Hyunsoo was calm.

HOOO—

The breath he released ruled the battlefield.

He put on the gauntlet he’d used in the first stage again.

CLACK—

He loaded an Orichalcum Short Arrow into the guide-tube.

Click.

He drew the string of the bow closest to a Legend and aimed at it.

CHAAAAAK—

‘The true face of this bow isn’t Thousand-Pound Time.’

The power Hyunsoo wanted to show.

The ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) real might of the Thousand-Pound Bow.

[Strange Thousand Pounds]

Piiiiiiing—

Fenrir’s Fragment sneered as it watched the Short Arrow fly at light speed.

It roared.

“KRAHAHAHAAAH!”

The roar was savage, like it would swallow the arrow.

And the arrow did fly straight into its mouth.

That instant—

[The direct-hit area gains Ten-Thousand-Pound Weight on top of Thousand-Pound Weight!]

[Applies for 15 seconds!]

The arrow stuck inside its mouth became Ten-Thousand-Pound Weight. The monster’s head slammed into the ground as it ran.

KWA-A-A-AANG—!

Fenrir’s Fragment’s body twitched intermittently with its head buried.

Hyunsoo walked toward it.

Step. Step.

Captured in the viewers’ sight.

Now level 80—

no, a level-86 user after killing the trolls—

walked lightly toward Fenrir’s Fragment, level 178, more than twice his level.

Sssshing—

He swapped weapons and drew the greatsword he’d made for the second stage.

-Did he predict this situation...?

-Maybe?

-So was making a Normal-grade item part of the plan too?

-Build-up...?

Yeah. All three artifacts Hyunsoo made had a use.

What was the greatsword’s advantage?

Even if it was Normal grade, it had the raw power to cut something in one stroke.

CHUK—

Hyunsoo raised the greatsword.

Then, gripping it with both hands, he brought it down on the monster’s neck as it writhed with its head buried.

KWAJIIIII—

Its body and head separated.

THUD—

Without a scratch on him, Hyunsoo watched Fenrir turn to ash with a flat, emotionless gaze.

He turned, walked away, and put the greatsword into his inventory. Then he pulled out a new weapon again.

The Thousand-Pound Bow.

-I want it....

Yeah. Every viewer realized it.

[Current viewers: 147,311.]

The ringleader behind this impossible scene.

That strange power that slammed Fenrir into the ground. The black wooden horn-bow shape.

The Thousand-Pound Bow branded with Hyun—

all of it was the bow’s power.

As soon as the stage clears ended, the people who’d been holding their breath revealed their greed.

-I’ll buy it. Is 500,000 gold enough?

-Huh... that’s Ian, archer rank 1...!

-550,000 gold.

-Please, sell it to me.

-I run a company. I can help you a lot going forward, so please sell me that bow.

The viewers’ greed spilled out. They understood. If you were an archer, you were supposed to own that bow.

If you had that bow, you could become the best.

So you had to buy it, even if it meant overreaching.

But then—

“I’m not selling this bow.”

At Hyunsoo’s words, the chat froze.