Chapter 250: Chapter 250

Su-ho checked the information about the items he had obtained.

[ Path of the Blacksmith ]

The path that a successor of the Blacksmith’s Lineage must walk, and the proof that one has become the successor.

All restrictions related to crafting are lifted.

[ Eye of the Blacksmith ]

Eyes that only a successor of the Blacksmith’s Lineage can possess.

Also known as the Blacksmith’s Eye, it allows observation from the perspective of a blacksmith when activated.

Reveals the most vulnerable part of the target.

[ The Great Blacksmith’s Unleashed Hammer ]

A brilliant legacy granted only to the most cherished successor of the Great Blacksmith.

To unlock the second seal of the hammer, one hundred strikes are required.

With the first seal released, the ‘Square Collection’ ability, which allows a part of the target to be collected in perfect shape, and the ‘Socket’ function, which allows the collected fragment to be embedded, have been activated.

As Su-ho read through the information, he slowly nodded.

He understood most of what was listed.

The Path of the Blacksmith resembled the nature of the Ten Thousand Returns to Origin, and he had personally experienced the Eye of the Blacksmith while pounding away at the seven heaps of scrap metal.

He had also experienced the Square Collection ability of the Unleashed Hammer, so there was no need to tilt his head in confusion.

However, when the passage about the ‘Socket’ came up, he couldn’t help but tilt his head.

“Does that mean the collected fragment can be embedded?”

If it meant the cube-like pieces that had protruded earlier, then embedding those into the hammer?

“Looks like it’s some sort of option-adding item.”

He had a general idea.

Even if the name differed, the concept of adding options by combining items was something found in many other items as well.

“At this level, I must’ve just stepped into the beginning phase of succession.”

If compared to a baby, it would be the stage where one starts to toddle.

Compared to Heogong-type, it was clear the ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Blacksmith-type had a far more complex structure.

While Heogong-type felt like an evolution of a completed swordsmanship, the Blacksmith-type felt like learning something entirely new.

And yet, despite the name ‘Blacksmith’, why did it not give off any real blacksmith vibe?

Well, it didn’t matter.

Good is good—just looking at the skill Path of the Blacksmith alone, it felt like a vastly superior version of any ordinary blacksmith.

Su-ho opened his status window, distributed the 10 bonus stat points he had received to balance all his stats evenly, then refreshed it.

“It’s really right around the corner now.”

Just two more levels and he’d be able to test the unified effect he had in mind.

Closing the status window, Su-ho looked around.

He may have officially become the true successor of the Blacksmith-type, but that didn’t mean the gate had been cleared.

In fact, he hadn’t even cleared the quest yet.

“If you want to claim a reward, prove yourself worthy of it,” they had said.

He didn’t really know what he wanted, but since he had entered a custom-made gate, he figured he ought to get the best possible outcome.

Bubble bubble bubble!

Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet—molten lava—began to roil intensely.

Along with that, the heat surged upward, and the rising air became scorching hot.

[ The Nameless Blacksmiths present the next trial. ]

[ The Nameless Blacksmiths doubt whether you are suited for the forge. ]

[ Endure as long as possible in the scorching furnace to prove you belong in the forge. ]

[ The grade of your proof will vary depending on the hourglasses consumed. ]

A system notification floated up.

The sudden environmental shift was for the second trial.

At that moment, five massive hourglasses materialized in the air.

“So those are the hourglasses.”

Among the five summoned hourglasses, only one began to spill sand.

Su-ho began to breathe calmly, adjusting to the rapidly heating environment.

“This is still manageable.”

The sound of a horse echoed out of nowhere.

It came from within the boiling lava, and at the same time as the sound, a massive flame horse burst out through the lattice-patterned grates.

Burnt-orange skin and a flaming mane.

Anyone could tell it was a Flame Horse.

Its name card confirmed it:

– Flame Horse of the Forge Lv.???

But the level wasn’t displayed.

Was it even a monster?

The Flame Horse that emerged from the lava began galloping along the rail tracks, setting fire to its surroundings.

Clop! Clop! Clop! Fwoosh!

Everywhere the Flame Horse ran, fire erupted as if a wildfire had broken out.

But the creature never approached Su-ho, merely circling around him.

Thanks to that, Su-ho figured out its role.

“Looks like a sauna assistant to control the temperature.”

If that was the case, wouldn’t killing it stop the temperature from rising?

Better to see it for himself.

Su-ho immediately summoned Guiyeong Spear and hurled it at the Flame Horse.

[ Spear Throw activated. ]

Guiyeong Spear shot forward like lightning.

The Flame Horse was faster than Su-ho had expected.

Even something this insignificant was riling up his competitive spirit.

Su-ho summoned not only Guiyeong Spear but also several Blood Spears, beginning a full-on throwing assault.

The Flame Horse mocked him.

Su-ho couldn’t land a single hit.

So he quickly gave up.

“It wasn’t meant to be caught anyway.”

The creature was just an object meant to regulate temperature.

That meant the strategy needed to change.

The core of this trial was to endure until all five hourglasses ran out.

Su-ho entered his Subspace House immediately.

[ Entering Subspace House. ]

As soon as he entered, he was freed from the intense heat.

Su-ho smirked and muttered.

“I’m the guy who cleared the Tower of Trials using tricks .”

He opened the exit portal to check the hourglass progress.

But as soon as the portal opened, Su-ho’s eyes widened.

The hourglass, which should’ve been flowing, had stopped completely.

So had the Flame Horse.

It stared directly at Su-ho, as if seeing through the portal.

Could it really see him in the Subspace House?

But it was staring right at him, and with the hourglass frozen, the Subspace strategy was a bust.

He thought he could take the easy route, but this trick wouldn’t work here.

As soon as Su-ho stepped out of the Subspace House, the Flame Horse began galloping and humming merrily again.

Looks like sticking to the standard method was the only answer.

Su-ho ignored the steadily rising heat and began scanning his surroundings.

“Let’s try Mana Detection first.”

[ Mana Detection activated. ]

With the skill triggered, mana waves began to appear.

Su-ho carefully examined everything, hoping he hadn’t missed anything.

But no matter how much he looked, nothing seemed out of place.

He canceled the skill and found a spot farthest from the Flame Horse’s fire.

But whenever he moved, the Flame Horse cleverly closed the distance and fueled the heat like it was tossing firewood into a furnace.

Su-ho gritted his teeth and used a blessing.

[ Blessing activated. ]

The stat-boosting blessing helped a bit.

Having more HP meant his body could endure the heat longer.

Still, it was only a temporary fix.

Heat wasn’t something that could be endured just by having high HP.

As he tried enduring the sweltering heat, Su-ho attempted Mist Transformation.

But it was pointless.

As mist, he became even more vulnerable to the heat, feeling it more intensely.

“In the end... it’s just a matter of willpower.”

There was no other way.

He had other cards to play, but didn’t want to use them just yet.

Not when only one hourglass had started.

So he quietly endured.

He wanted to sit, but the iron-grated floor had heated to the point that sitting would burn his legs and butt.

So he stood still, waiting for the sand to run out.

After what felt like an eternity, the sand in the first hourglass finally emptied.

[ The Nameless Blacksmiths nod at your perseverance. ]

The blacksmiths nodded.

That nod was the beginning.

Soon, the second hourglass flipped.

The Flame Horse let out a piercing cry.

As the Flame Horse neighed loudly, its burnt-orange skin and red mane turned bright orange.

The flames it scattered followed suit.

Naturally, the temperature spiked.

With five hourglasses, of course the temperature wasn’t going to stay steady.

Su-ho summoned Blood Weapons and wrapped them around his feet.

Even with shoes on, the soles of his feet were starting to burn.

“If I don’t do something fast, I’ll fail before the second hourglass...”

After some quick thought, Su-ho decided to go with that option.

“I’ll wear the best fire-resistant gear I currently have.”

What he pulled from his inventory was none other than Giseunghwan.

“I never thought I’d use this here...”

But he had no choice.

He could always make more Giseunghwan.

Su-ho consumed it immediately.

[ You have consumed Giseunghwan. ]

[ Absorbing the full technique experience stored in Giseunghwan. ]

[ Please select a skill to enhance. ]

A list of skills appeared before his eyes.

Among them, Su-ho chose ‘Flame Body’—a B-grade skill he acquired in the Martial Arts Library that boosted flame resistance.

[ Giseunghwan’s technique experience has been absorbed into Flame Body. ]

[ Absorption complete. ]

Su-ho kept feeding Flame Body with Giseunghwan.

While B-grade only offered 10% and A-grade 20% flame resistance, S-grade was a different story.

After consuming several more—

[ Congratulations! Flame Body skill has been upgraded to S-grade. ]

[ Flame Body’s details have changed, and an additional effect has been added. ]

Finally, Flame Body had reached S-grade.

[ Flame Resistance increased by 50%. ]

What had only been 10% or 20% before had now jumped to a whopping 50%.

Thanks to that, Su-ho was finally liberated from the hellish heat.