Chapter 68_ Undefeated King's Swordsmanship (4)

Peeeeeong!

"...!"

There was a loud explosion from the furnace. Flames of immense size. The flames rose from the blast furnace and leapt outside, covering the entire blast furnace. Red flames burst into the air, like the surface of the sun.

A loud sound was heard from the smithy. It was the sound generated by the rise in temperature of the flames in the furnace. But then, the large flames in the furnace that should be impossible to control were calmed in an instant.

The flames in the furnace emitted a high temperature that made it impossible to stay close to. Then Lexus put the prepared young hydra's fang that he obtained from raiding Hell Gao into the furnace and accelerated his usage of the bellows.

"Success."

He stopped the bellows and pulled the young hydra's fang out of the furnace. The previously white young hydra's fang was now in color red. It showed off a beautiful red light. Then, Pagma who was with Lexus grabbed it with the tongs and placed it on the anvil. Then he pulled out a hammer.

Ttang!Ttang!Ttang!

He continued the forging. Both Pagma and Lexus hammered at the young hydra's fang together with the God Hands as they added a mineral to it which made it starts to mix with aetherium as it gradually changed its shape. A notification window popped up in front of the Lexus.

[The Legendary Blacksmith's Patience skill has been activated.]

[Concentration, stamina and defense will rise to the extremes for one hour.]

Then, a day quickly passed.

[The Virulent has been completed!]

[A legendary rated item was produced, so all stats have permanently risen by +25 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +1,000.]

[There is a beneficial effect from producing the highest quality. The good luck stat has increased by 5.]

It was at this moment when he obtained one of the swords that would symbolize him in the future.

•~×~•

Somewhere within the hunting grounds, near the vicinity of Patrian—the desert region of Reidan—Lexus held the sword that he and Pagma had created, the product of the collaboration between the two legendary blacksmiths.

Moreover, with his high amount of luck, he was greatly favored by good fortune this time and managed to enhance the newly produced sword to the maximum, just like the beneficial event that had occurred to him previously with his Blight of Misery and Brilliance, which were effortlessly destroyed by the 1st Great Demon.

[+10 Virulent]

Rating: Legendary (Transcendent)

[Durability: Infinite Attack Power: 2,500~3,000

* With a single cut, the target will lose 10% of their maximum health per second.

* Inflicts wounds that prevent any healing ability of the target when they are hit.

* Reduces the fire resistance of the target from a minimum of 20% to a maximum of 100%.

* Physical damage will be converted to fire attribute damage and the damage of any sword skills classified with fire attributes will be doubled.

* If a critical attack landed, all the buff effects of the target will be eliminated and will ignore all enemies' resistance.

* The chance of a monster dropping items when killed is increased by 30%.

A sword made by the collaboration of the legendary blacksmiths, created with the ultimate properties of aetherium and the venomous properties of a young hydra's fang. It is designed as the ultimate blade of slaughter.

Once the sword pierces the skin, a poisonous curse spreads through the victim's body, killing them within seconds by stopping their heart. A sword of the legends that has never existed in this world before.

A sword only the supreme being possesses, a legendary sword to be only possessed by him, that is suited only for a ruler's use and makes him transcendent.

Condition of Use: Level 600 or higher. Complete Sword Mastery. More than 15,000 strength. More than 10,000 Agility.]

(#A/N: Reference is Akame's katana in Akame ga Kill...The One-Cut Killer: Murasame.)

The one-handed sword's appearance is red and black. It bears a blade roughly 1.5 meters long, a decayed and ruined cross guard, and a purple line, where the venomous curse seeps from the sword.

Virulent ends with an asymmetrical point that somewhat resembles the point of a knife. The pommel on this sword resembles that of a brutal, pointed red rock. Even without the option effects, Lexus is very positive that Virulent is without a doubt, the strongest and mightiest legendary sword that ever existed.

It was because the general attack power of legendary weapons were within 1,000~2,000+ and yet, Virulent had the attack damage of 2,500~3,000 which had more than double of the initial amount.

(#A/N: Well it is enhanced by ten times but keep in mind that not every items can be enhanced upto +10.)

As he stepped forward, he was quite confident in his skills because he had overwhelming stats, coupled with his sword; fighting these monsters in front of him would be a piece of cake.

Lexus sprang into action. Before the monster, which had the level of over 300, could even properly react to his blinding speed and the incoming sword strike, he feigned the attack as he rolled through and sliced a nearby monster's neck.

The flames condense in his sword, emitting a black-red light so bright it was almost blinding. He lashes it down on the back of the monster's neck. The black flames engulfed the beast; Lexus had acquired this ability as his fire and darkness affinities were automatically merged or fused together.

It allows Lexus to release very destructive black flames from his sword. Unless Lexus wills it, the flames cannot be extinguished and if used against enemies, they will burn the enemy without mercy; the black flames will never stop. The desert was a harsh terrain. Every time he moved, his feet sank into the sand, which was supposedly to severely limit his movements.

However, Lexus' agility stat had already surpassed 10,000 and he was walking through the desert as if it were a flat surface. He even sped up and ran. A basilisk noticed a human running and opened its mouth. Then the light of petrification, which also dealt significant damage, flashed. It was a skill that was difficult to respond to because the range of the light was wide and fast. In the midst of this critical moment, he drew his sword, but the sword was unleashed in the sheath and whipped forward instantly. The quickest blow, quick draw.

[You have dealt a critical blow.]

[You have dealt 40,000 damage to the target.]

[The effect of 'Undefeated King's Swordsmanship' has been activated, adding 300% critical damage.]

[The title effect of 'One Who Met the Martial God' has increased the critical hit damage.]

[Ultimate Martial Art has been triggered!]

[You have dealt 1,600,000,000 damage to the target.]

Splash!

A sound of jingling bells and a flash of black sparks accompanied the blood as it gushed out and splattered everywhere. Lexus' lips curled up. He clearly felt that the sword easily sliced through the monster in his vision. It might have been due to his control; after all, having created one of the strongest swordsmanship, he was able to slice his sword straight into his target without wasting even the slightest energy.

[The desert basilisk has been destroyed.]

[2,700,400 experience has been acquired.]

Even with his basic attack alone, he instantly killed a monster with a level above 300 that had millions of health. The basilisk struggled in pain and miserably died. Suddenly, the other basilisks surrounded him and swung their tails.

['Absolute Defense' is activated. 50,000 mana is consumed per second.]

[You have become immune to the damage due to the effect of 'Absolute Defense.']

It was quite unnecessary, but the skill activated on its own so Lexus didn't even bother to dodge the incoming attacks. Tail after tail flew at him, but God Hands appeared in his inventory and defended against them all. Despite this, his heart continued to beat dangerously, and his hands trembled. Instead of fear or anxiety, what he felt was a strange sense of anticipation.

['Hydra's Venom' is encroaching the affected targets in the vicinity!]

All the monsters in the vicinity were all affected by the venom that was inflicted to the monster that has already perish in one slash.

['Hydra's Venom' is attempting to disrupt the target's legend.]

[The target will lose 10% health per second.]

Hydra's Venom was very simple: it disrupted the equilibrium of its target. It might not have much impact against ordinary beings aside from their certain death, but there was no deadlier curse for legends, transcendents or godly beings who had achieved transcendence. Hydra's Venom scattered the legends that they had built up.

While it could not destroy the legends, the curse caused cracks to form. Since legends couldn't be repaired in a short amount of time, as time passed, the cracks would grow and cause imbalance. And if this persisted...the cracks would cover the entire legend and shatter it.

It was a way to force a divine being to fall from grace. The higher one's power, the greater the danger. That is why, the Hydra, a race of monsters believed to be created by Yatan is something even Gods fear.

Its regeneration makes it nigh-impossible to kill and its poison kills mortals and brings eternal suffering to immortals. The pain is enough to make one beg for death. This poison once led a god to death. It is comparable to a great demon. It is present in many myths, and is one of the mythical creatures representing Hell.

Then how about those who did not even have a legend? The destruction of legends might not occur but still, the venom destroys the target deeply to their core and it's easier to affect such targets who didn't have the resistances— the privilege of legends.

Holding the sword, Lexus murmured as he leisurely swung his sword.

'...Everyone looks so weak.'

His sword easily sliced straight through the monster's lower jaw and out through its skull. He was quite certain that no player could be his match with his current abilities. Although he was skeptical, even Kraugel, the number 1 player, might not win against him.

10 stat points were gained every time the level of players increased, and users would become stronger as their stats increased. It wasn't just because of simple reasons like wearing better items or getting stronger skills, but also due to the unique function of stats.

For example, the strength stat. A level 200 user's strength stat had 0.3 attack power, 7 health points and a weight limit increase of 40 with every point. A level 300 user's strength stat had 0.4 attack power, 9 health points and a weight limit increased of 50 with every point.

In this way, the effect of the stats increased every 100 levels. This was called the stats awakening. Lexus was currently at level 310 but looking at the total number of stats, his level was nearly 500 or even above 600.

He obtained special titles, and produced countless items. What if he reached level 400 and received the fourth stats awakening? The source of his power was his overwhelming stats. Lexus was more familiar with this than anyone else, so he didn't have to be nervous about the growth of others.

Unless he was faced by a fully developed legend at level 600 or someone who achieves a high level of transcendence, he was the strongest. However leveling wasn't that easy. He received several millions of experience but he didn't even increased his level even once.

"Well it doesn't really matter. I have plenty of time to grow anyway."

Despite he was hungry and thirsty for more, he was already satisfied to what he had achieved so far.

"Now that I'm done testing the sword's performance, I better go back and fulfill my duty as the king again."

Mumbling to himself, Lexus sheathed his sword and prepared to leave the place. But then, he saw hundreds of desert basilisks and desert worms were rushing towards him. Not wanting to waste the free experience points that delivered themselves to him, he decided to quickly deal with them and Lexus used his Fire Dragon's Breath. One of his supreme ability that deals 50 times of his magical damage.