Chapter 189

“Ugh.”

Having just fired the arrow, I frowned.

Even though the target looked about 300 meters away, I should’ve felt the impact.

But there was nothing.

‘Did it not work?’

As I drew the bowstring again, doubtful—

– “You brat, do you think you can use a good skill so recklessly?”

The Elder spoke.

– “No matter how good a ship is, it can’t float at low tide. The idea of imbuing an arrow with Poison Flash was good, but that’s as far as it went. Your method is wrong.”

‘Hm, is that so?’

– “Isn’t Poison Flash a skill that condenses great power into a small space?”

Meaning it was a single-target strike, not an area attack.

‘Ah.’

I realized the problem instantly.

The farther the opponent, the harder it was to apply the skill accurately.

In short—

A sphere the size of a golf ball.

You had to hit a fast-moving opponent with it precisely.

And what if that target was far away, too?

– “Do you understand now? It seems you wanted a fighting style where you could just cheese it by firing Poison Flash from afar like that Eldrin…”

‘That stings a little.’

– “Do you think anything in this world is gained so easily? The Secret Art I taught you is clearly a close-range skill.”

‘I see.’

It wasn’t like it was impossible to hit from 300 meters.

But for that, my archery would have to reach its absolute peak.

And even then, it would be inefficient.

Each shot consumed 300 Energy.

It was best used when I could strike accurately at close range.

My Energy wasn’t infinite, after all.

Heh.

I smiled.

My success rate had been good lately, so I’d assumed it would work.

But the Elder was right.

Nothing in this world came easy.

“Then I’ll have to find another way.”

Just as I shifted into my stance again—

Sssst, ssssst!

Far in the distance, Andrey began to stir.

“Huh?”

I paused.

Eight directions.

Before I knew it, an Andrey stood in all eight directions around me.

What?

What did he just do?

Without any presence or warning—

Eight Andreys appeared at once.

Was this a hallucination?

– “Kek kek, that’s the bastard’s Secret Art. It uses a Formation—a skill that creates seven clones identical to himself in the four cardinal and four ordinal directions.”

One real body.

Seven clones.

– “Do you know what makes that skill tricky? It’s hard to distinguish the real body from the clones because they’re far away. And even if you find it, he can switch positions, so it won’t be easy.”

‘It certainly sounds tricky.’

Insect King Andrey was a high ranker, ranked 69th.

If seven more beings similar to such a high ranker appeared…

This was going to be tough, wasn’t it?

– “Aye, it’s difficult.”

The Elder nodded.

– “Because it’s difficult, that insect bastard almost conquered the world. However, that Formation has a huge side effect.”

‘A side effect?’

– “As you know, great power comes with a corresponding price. Just as you endured that terrible pain to become a proper person.”

‘……’

That hit close to home.

From training with the Elder to Delilah’s trial, the pain I’d experienced couldn’t be called normal.

– “The price of that Formation is death. It’s a Formation cast by sacrificing one’s own life force for ten minutes. He usually had his subordinates use it… Well, I guess he can’t break his old habits.”

‘Death, you say.’

– “Or he’s confident he can take care of you within ten minutes.”

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!

At that moment, Andrey’s fists rushed toward my face.

The problem was that there were eight of them, not just one.

‘How strange.’

All eight were clearly over 300 meters away.

Yet their fists were flying at me as if they were right in front of me.

However—

Squeeze.

I clenched my right fist around my weapon.

‘With just this…’

It couldn’t give me a sense of crisis.

To truly draw out fear from my nerves, it would have to be on the level of the Great Demon Dragon or Aranvalon.

– “Be careful!”

‘Yes, Elder!’

Fwoosh!

Sensing the incoming attack, I switched my weapon.

From bow to shield.

It was simple.

‘If he dies in ten minutes, I just have to endure it, right?’

Andrey’s fists poured down onto the large shield covering my entire front.

But it was impossible to block attacks from every direction with a single shield.

“Keuk.”

His fists struck my body as well, not just the shield.

“Heup!”

The moment I was hit, my breath caught and spit flew from my mouth.

But my Pain Resistance was S-Rank.

I could endure this much.

– “This ignorant fool…”

Watching me, the Elder shook his head.

– “Don’t tell me you plan on just getting beaten for ten minutes?”

‘Is there any other way?’

– “Well, if it were me, I would have accurately hit all the targets in the eight directions with a bow… But for you, there’s no other way. Not unless you break the Formation.”

‘See?’

If the Elder had his way, I had mine.

I still had plenty of cards to play.

I could call Kayden.

I could use Recovery through Dana.

And when it came to taking a beating, wasn’t that my specialty?

‘Do you know something?’

– “What is it.”

‘This right now is more bearable than when you hit me, Elder.’

– “……You insolent brat! How dare you compare me to that insect? Isn’t it obvious that I hit better!”

Andrey wasn’t a ranker specialized in combat power in the first place.

He specialized in Formations and Dokgo, so I judged I could at least try to endure it.

‘So, I’ll withstand it.’

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!

As I endured, huddled behind the shield, Andrey’s movements grew even swifter.

Left, right, front, back.

Fists rained down relentlessly.

‘What matters now…’

Was believing in my choice and holding out.

“Hyaaaap!”

Just as I shouted and put on a show of strength—

[Guide: Hoon.]

A message from Capu arrived.

[Guide: The one on the left is the real one. Now!]

‘What?’

I instinctively turned left, swinging the front of the shield toward where my side had been.

KABOOOM!

A deafening roar shook my ears.

“Heup!”

The shock through the shield was so heavy it knocked the wind out of me for a moment.

– “Hoh.”

The Elder looked intrigued.

– “Even amidst that attack, there was a real one, and you found it with just your senses?”

That’s right.

Even if all eight had similar power, there was definitely one that was real.

And that strike just now had been the real one’s decisive blow.

The power was far more amplified than the others.

It was clearly Andrey’s own special move.

‘If it has this much power…’

This might be harder than I thought.

[Guide: Hoon.]

[Guide: Don’t answer, just listen!]

[Guide: The situation inside the mist is projected onto my artificial lenses.] (T/N: Capu coming in clutch again!)

Artificial lenses…

‘Ah.’

I suddenly recalled something he’d once said.

Hoon, I’ve inserted special artificial lenses. They’re amazing lenses. They tell me the information or weaknesses of any object. As an explorer, it’s an item I’m very fond of.

Was he talking about the item he got from the trial?

[Guide: The only ones in the mist are you and Andrey.]

[Guide: He is close to you, right in front of you.]

[Guide: Yet, the fact that you’re only blocking and not attacking must mean you’re caught in some kind of illusion?]

Capu grasped my situation just from what he could see.

[Guide: What do you say. Do you need my help?]

Nod.

I nodded.

It sounded like he was suggesting we go straight for the real one.

‘That’s better.’

That blow just now—

The real one’s punch was heavy.

I could endure it if I had to, but I’m still human.

Taking him down cleanly was more appealing than getting hurt.

‘Ignore the fakes and find the real one.’

The fake hits were just pain.

Bearable.

I could have Dana heal everything later.

Fwoosh!

I abandoned defense and drew my sword.

I straightened my hunched back and raised my posture.

– “Hoh, don’t tell me you’re planning to find the real one?”

‘Yes, I’ll show you, Elder. Ah, that elder, Dang Hwi-pyeong. It’s okay to get rid of him without saying hello, right?’

– “Even if it’s the outskirts, I don’t even want to exchange words with a bastard like that.”

‘Yes, I understand.’

I smiled.

Come to think of it, there was something I had that the Elder didn’t.

A capable ally.

[Guide: Good, Hoon.]

[Guide: From now on, I will guide Hoon.]

A reliable ally.

—

Capu’s guidance began.

Even though I’d fallen into a strange space called a Formation, I was no longer alone.

[Guide: He moved 1 step left, 2 steps right! He’s circling counterclockwise around you!]

Okay.

I held my sword and closed my eyes.

BANG! KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!

Fists rained down on my chest, arms, and thighs.

I took the hits and endured.

They were all from clones, anyway.

‘Hit me all you want while you can, Andrey.’

Soon enough, I’ll land a big one on you.

[Guide: He’s extending his left fist at a 45-degree angle to your left. Now!]

I turned my head precisely in that direction.

Even though there was only empty space—

Flinch!

A being located 300 meters away flinched within my field of vision.

‘It’s the real one.’

Clenching my jaw, I stepped forward.

[Guide: He withdrew his fist!]

[Guide: He’s pulling back to the right! 38 degrees to the right, distance is 5 steps!]

Okay.

I turned my body to match.

At the same time, I recalled the Secret Art the Elder had taught me.

‘Concentrate.’

Wooooong!

I gathered energy into the blade.

The Secret Art’s energy that would plunge my body into pain.

‘Condense the drawn-out energy into a single point. Compress it as much as possible.’

Do you know this?

Fighting fire with fire.

When your body hurts, pushing it even harder can make it hurt less.

My body was already becoming a wreck from Andrey’s continuous attacks.

Right at the limit.

I gathered energy with everything I had.

‘Then, receive the help of the Toxin Mist.’

In addition to my own energy, I drew in the poison’s energy.

[350 Energy is used.]

‘Huh?’

It increased.

The cost—originally 300—had risen by 50.

As much as I condensed, as much as I endured.

The fact that it increased meant—

The more I practiced, endured, and improved, the more room there was for growth.

[Guide: The opponent is flustered!]

[Guide: He stopped pulling back and is taking a stance! Right fist! He’s thrusting it straight forward! Distance is 1 step!]

One step meant—

He was right in front of me.

Fwoooosh!

Wind pressure brushed the tip of my nose.

With my eyes closed, I could see his stance and fist in detail.

The very thing I’d practiced countless times in the trial.

I looked straight at his fist.

My heart dropped.

‘If this hits, it’s a fracture at the very least.’

I could feel it.

The flustered Andrey had brought out the strongest card he could play.

However—

I did not dodge.

Because the unprecedented energy boiling in my grasp told me—

I would win.

Not to lose to something like that.

To believe in myself.

‘When the scattered energy of the Toxin Mist and my energy…’

‘Fuse into a single point…’

‘The flash of poison born at last melts everything!’

Finally, while slipping diagonally left, I thrust my sword with the recoil from snapping my waist.

Straight into the center of his chest.

As if exploding everything I’d gathered at once.

Ten Thousand Art.

Secret Art.

Poison Flash.

A green light flashed from the blade.

Andrey’s fist grazed my cheek, drawing blood.

I didn’t care.

I focused only on driving the trembling power in my grasp into him.

And—

Thump!

The world trembled.

(T/N : Its amazing how the author can turn Capu to an OP character with just support/utility skills)