Hyunsoo used Seeds of Life to awaken 23,000 territory residents and 4,000 forces.

That was the highest number among count-ranked users in the world.

Hyunsoo compared world averages.

On average, soldiers were level 250, and knights were «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» around level 320.

But Atlas’s soldiers and knights were different.

The average level of Atlas’s soldiers was 265.

And though only thirty knights had awakened, the knights’ average reached 330.

The average level was higher by 10–15.

In real combat, that kind of gap decided victory or defeat.

Next, Hyunsoo checked the average force count held by counts.

Currently, Kali—the world rank #2 among count-ranked users—possessed 20,000 territory residents and roughly 3,000 forces.

And Pond, whom Hyunsoo had already faced, also held many.

He had 2,000 guild members under him.

On top of that, the number of NPC forces was around 2,000 as well.

But even combining their totals, Hyunsoo still had the advantage in numbers.

However, Hyunsoo knew one fact.

They’ll be waiting for the server merge. Catching me will be their chance to raise their name value.

And.

They’ll think the current me is small and pathetic.

Of course, even just a few days ago, that was true.

And even if Hyunsoo had awakened much of Atlas, it would be taken for granted that he would lose to them.

Because they commanded not only NPCs, but a considerable number of ranker-class fighters and high-level users.

But I won’t lose.

Most of the blacksmiths from Valas Territory had come over.

He also summoned the tower lords of the Blacksmith Tower, and Per, Hyunsoo’s vassal, to stand before him.

Unfortunately, the 4,000 blacksmiths the tower lords had brought with them went back.

But the several hundred blacksmiths of Valas Territory that Hyunsoo had raised were people who shone wherever they went.

In front of them, he set down an enormous bone.

RUMMMBLE—

“Epics will be for the soldiers, and Uniques will be for the knights. The Unique-grade bones will be handled by blacksmiths ranging from top-class to master-class. Bones below that grade will be taken up by ordinary blacksmiths.”

Per asked.

“What in the world are these bones?”

“Bone Dragon bones.”

“......!?”

“......!?”

“......!?”

The tower lords and Per were so shocked they nearly fainted.

“Th-this enormous bone, and you’re using it for nothing but soldiers and knights?”

“Yeah. I have the dragon bones that reach Legendary grade, so these will be used for soldiers and knights.”

“Incredible.”

It was Dang’s blunt, honest impression.

“How could the forces of any territory possibly wear artifacts armed with dragon bones....”

It was true.

The tower lords started listing the advantages of dragon bones.

“Dragons are the progenitors of magic. Even their byproducts carry magic defense that defies common sense. Soldiers and knights wearing this will boast tremendous defense against magic, mysterious power, and skills.”

Another tower lord chimed in.

“And that’s all? According to legend, dragon bone is said to pierce anything. It’s light but hard—make spears from it and throw them, and they’ll fly far and pierce straight through in a single stroke.”

“Even if you apply it to the baby bolts that you favor, Lord Hyunsoo, as a descendant of the gods, it’ll produce power beyond reason.”

All they could do was marvel.

“For the next ten days, make artifacts using these dragon bones. And I’ll teach the blacksmiths the crafting method.”

Hyunsoo had already confirmed how to use dragon bones.

Surprisingly, just because it was dragon bone didn’t mean the method was unusual.

It was the same as ordinary bone crafting. No—if anything, it was easier.

And for the ordinary blacksmiths—

[The blacksmiths’ morale rises sharply.]

“Thank you for granting us this honor, descendant of the gods!”

For them, just being able to touch dragon bones was an honor, and it stoked their drive.

Hyunsoo finished the first round of preparations to meet the enemies that would soon come flooding in.

This time, he summoned Bella, the Olympic Trio, and the members of Gale.

“Raise the intensity of the soldiers’ training, and teach them each specialized field so they excel in every domain.”

Bella was in awe.

She had seen the strength of the Olympic Trio when they trained soldiers in the kingdom capital.

Their skill is second to none.

Even if they were weaker than her, they would strengthen what the soldiers and knights lacked.

Their swords will grow sharper, and the accuracy and destructive power of their arrows will rise.

And they’ll learn hand-to-hand combat, so they’ll know how to protect themselves even if they lose their weapons.

Once again, Bella realized it.

I can’t even imagine how strong this territory will become.

Bella saluted on behalf of them all.

“Salute!”

Like this, Hyunsoo prepared for danger, and Hyun’s Forge was ready to take flight.

Nell approached.

“We need to tighten it further. After the server merge, territory wars will erupt everywhere to an uncontrollable degree.”

Of course.

People across the world were itching to fight other nations.

“Wars with kingdoms will also break out constantly, and we’ll face crises... but it’ll also act as another opportunity.”

Hyunsoo knew exactly what that opportunity was.

“You mean war spoils.”

“That’s right.”

He was certain victory in territory wars would bring enormous spoils.

After Nell moved off to handle their work, Hyunsoo also spent days teaching the blacksmiths the bone crafting method.

And when one week remained until the server merge, Hyunsoo decided they no longer needed his instruction.

Now was the time to do his own work.

Hyunsoo’s gaze landed on Raon, who was walking Lucky Lump.

About two months ago, Nell had spoken carefully.

The territory resident named Raon is suspicious.

Yeah. He is.

So you knew. Then why are you leaving him alone?

Because he’s on our side. And Lucky Lump probably knows best.

And just recently, before Ben left, Ben had said this.

I don’t know why, but he helped us prepare our housewarming gifts. And the power he carries is approaching legend.

Ben drew a small smile.

If he had ill intent, something would’ve happened a long time ago. It’s a bond. Heh-heh.

Hyunsoo agreed.

A bond.

A very good one.

And every time Lucky Lump went on a walk with Raon, this alert would pop up.

[Lucky Lump is happy.]

Raon—an unknown figure who looked stiff and blunt.

Right now, each time Raon walked Lucky Lump, a small smile would settle at the corner of his mouth.

The server merge is the beginning of many changes.

Watching Raon treat Lucky Lump even better than usual and hand out more snacks, Hyunsoo realized it.

He’s going to leave.

There was no helping it.

A chance to cross many continents meant he could achieve something he hadn’t been able to.

Just like this?

If Raon hadn’t helped them prepare the housewarming gifts, Atlas wouldn’t have become what it was.

Whether intentional or not, what Raon had done for Hyunsoo carried a value that couldn’t be converted into money.

What can I even do for him?

Hyunsoo’s chest boiled.

What he did best.

A way to repay priceless value—an artifact.

He’s probably an assassin. You can tell by the way he walks.

Remembering Ben’s words, Hyunsoo stepped into the forge.

This will be an artifact for a nameless friend.

He didn’t know who Raon was, or why he was here.

But even if someone was nameless—even if you didn’t know them—you could still become friends.

The material was Legendary-grade dragon bone.

A dagger didn’t consume that many materials anyway.

I’ll make the best dagger possible.

And if this dagger contained tremendous power, Hyunsoo believed without a doubt it would also carry the power to bring him back here.

That was why he would give it everything.

He began crafting.

He formed the grip using bone, and the blade would be made from excellent, high-quality minerals.

For days, he repeated crafting and dismantling, estimating what kind of dagger he should make.

Not this.

It’s lacking.

Better.

An artifact strong enough to let a nameless friend come back.

He wanted to make a dagger that existed only once in the world.

But in a conclusion that wouldn’t come easily, he thought of what an assassin was.

An assassin hides in secrecy and kills the strongest enemy—a killer.

Holding that image, he crafted.

Then what if I make a dagger that becomes better and greater the more it kills its target?

If that becomes real, he’ll have to use this dagger for a long time.

Why? Because he won’t be able to find a better substitute than this.

And if he tries to find a substitute, he’ll come back here again—because he’ll know I’m the only one who can make something that surpasses it.

After wandering for three days and agonizing for one, the real crafting began.

The shape of the artifact as it took form.

So outstanding it felt like you could never see something like it again.

The more it formed, the hotter it made his chest burn.

For Hyunsoo, crafting a new kind of artifact in Ares was also a joy.

It’s my first time challenging legend with a dagger.

Knowing he still hadn’t left yet, Hyunsoo pushed through the final stretch and completed it.

But an alert flustered him.

[It is Unique grade.]

He asked why—and found the answer.

Was it because it held such an incredible ability that I couldn’t even keep up with it during the crafting process?

This dagger had been crafted in a rush.

And to be honest, more than 90% of Ares’s grades were decided by luck.

He just hadn’t had luck.

Hyunsoo felt his chest tighten.

Then.

[The blacksmith’s soul activates.]

In the alerts that followed, Hyunsoo realized one fact.

[While making this dagger, you immersed yourself more than anyone.]

[This is born from the heart that wishes for the future of a nameless friend.]

[More than any other moment, you obsessed, striving to create a better artifact. For an unknown friendship, you burned your soul—and at last, you completed it.]

[The eleventh legend is written.]

It wasn’t just the desire to make him come back.

Hyunsoo was sincerely thinking of him as another friend.

And that made him happy.

Because I can put this dagger in his hand.

Then he sensed a presence in the forge, and found the territory resident Raon turning away.

Hyunsoo stepped in front of him and blocked his path.

*****

Kabel stared at the dagger in Hyunsoo’s outstretched hand and was shocked.

He knew...?

The first reason for the shock.

And he realized that the nameless friend the alerts spoke of was himself.

“How did you know I was going to leave?”

“......You’ve been hugging Lucky Lump and tearing up every single day for a week. What do you mean, how? Everyone in town could tell.”

“.......”

A perfect mistake from someone who prided himself on being thorough.

And Kabel looked at the dagger Hyunsoo offered.

Even at a glance, it was striking.

Like a Damascus longsword, the thick, solid-looking blade was far thicker than a normal dagger, with a curved tip.

A pattern of a crouching dragon was engraved along the blade—and the white grip was made of bone connected to that blade.

GLUG—

It was a sight that made saliva go down.

But Kabel shook his head.

“I don’t leave any ties, and I don’t leave any traces.”

It was the iron rule of an assassin—and a meticulous informant.

The same held true here. He might return because of Lucky Lump, but he wouldn’t get swayed just because he’d received a favor from Hyun.

“Even if it’s just to acknowledge the sincerity, shouldn’t you at least check it?”

He could do that much.

CLICK—

Kabel accepted the dagger with a dry, expressionless face.

As an informant, I’ve absorbed information on countless Legendary artifacts. A mere Legendary artifact can’t keep a tie between me and—

Kabel froze. Even his body—hard and steady like a poker face—trembled.

What is this...?

He knew information on over a hundred Legendary artifacts.

And even recently, about the first Transcendent, the Twin Dragon Sword.

Insane... no legend can compare to this dagger. It could even become Transcendent grade?

His heart began to waver.

A man with unshakable iron rules.

This artifact was so overwhelming it could shake the heart of the best assassin—an informant who lived by those rules.

How could someone make an artifact like this...?

He shuddered at the power of Hyun—the master craftsman.