Chapter 42
There was no mistaking it.
The long scar running across his lips made it unmistakably clear that he was Tyrant Lim Chang-yeol.
‘So Lim Chang-yeol was the founder of the Seoul Union?’
Now it made sense why he had hidden his identity so thoroughly.
Having been involved in the underworld from a young age, he must have been reluctant to reveal himself.
If Han Shin was seen as light itself in the public eye, then Lim Chang-yeol was the shadow—darkness incarnate.
Yet Lim Chang-yeol was also one of Han Shin’s fiercest rivals.
‘He always said Han Shin reeked of hypocrisy and couldn’t stand it.’
From the beginning, Lim Chang-yeol hated Han Shin.
From the moment Han Shin started helping people and playing the role of hero, Lim Chang-yeol instinctively sensed the stench of a hypocrite and kept his distance.
Their domains didn’t overlap much anyway, so they rarely clashed.
The problem arose when Han Shin fully embraced the narrative of a ‘Great Hero’ and began to deny Lim Chang-yeol’s very existence.
As befitted a man titled the Tyrant, Lim Chang-yeol was magnanimous. He never forgave anyone who bared their fangs at him.
But he gave his all to those within his fold.
Perhaps that was why—
So many followed him.
Every last one of them was willing to die for Lim Chang-yeol without hesitation.
Even those who had reached max level couldn’t dismiss the name of Tyrant Lim Chang-yeol.
Because his guards would die with a smile if he ordered it.
Light and shadow.
Water and oil.
Han Shin and Lim Chang-yeol were that kind of relationship.
Both were leaders of massive factions.
As time passed, clashes between their forces became more frequent. Eventually, Han Shin fabricated a pretext and led a campaign to purge Lim Chang-yeol and his followers.
‘Han Shin accused him of drug trafficking and human trafficking. But Lim Chang-yeol was actually the one who most harshly forbade those two things.’
It was a trap, prepared over a long period of time.
And Lim Chang-yeol walked right into it.
After Lim Chang-yeol died at Han Shin’s hands, South Korea descended into chaos.
Though the country’s government had already collapsed long ago, the relative public order had been maintained thanks to Lim Chang-yeol and his control over the underworld. With his fall, that order crumbled.
Truthfully, even back then, Park Chan-woo hadn’t cared much about the conflict between the two.
‘…I was too busy just trying to survive.’
Park Chan-woo had a role similar to Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo.
He wasn’t interested in others and preferred to work alone.
Having become a mage later than most, he was obsessed with making up for his shortcomings.
“Are you Kim Byung-han?”
Lim Chang-yeol looked at Park Chan-woo and asked.
One of them had to be Kim Byung-han, and since Park Chan-woo hadn’t flinched when he appeared from behind, that was his guess.
Usually, just seeing the scar on his lips was enough to make people shrink back.
But Park Chan-woo didn’t flinch—he met Lim Chang-yeol’s gaze head-on.
“…I’m Kim Byung-han.”
“Huh? Not this one?”
A voice came from the side.
With a tone of surprise, Lim Chang-yeol turned his gaze to Kim Byung-han.
‘Damn it. How long had he been behind me?’
Though startled by his sudden appearance, Kim Byung-han feigned composure.
But the moment he met Lim Chang-yeol’s eyes, he instinctively shrank back.
‘What kind of eyes are those…!’
More than the long scar on his lips, it was Lim Chang-yeol’s eyes that were truly terrifying.
He had met many people in his career, but he could say with certainty—he had never felt anything like this before.
Kim Byung-han tensed his eyes.
If he lost in spirit, it was over.
He was an invited guest, after all.
It was the Seoul Union who needed him, not the other way around.
Lim Chang-yeol raised his hand and pointed to Park Chan-woo.
“Then who’s this one?”
For some reason, he seemed more interested in Park Chan-woo than the one actually invited.
Kim Byung-han frowned and answered.
“Park Chan-woo. He’s my subordinate.”
“…Is that so?”
Lim Chang-yeol tilted his head slightly, unconvinced.
‘Doesn’t look like someone who belongs under anyone.’
He was good at reading people.
He also placed great importance on first impressions.
How someone behaved when facing him determined how he judged them.
To Lim Chang-yeol, Kim Byung-han was a coward pretending to be bold. The way he rolled his eyes showed he was cunning and strong only against the weak.
But Park Chan-woo… The one Kim Byung-han had introduced as his subordinate—his first impression was “unshaken.”
He wasn’t surprised, didn’t flinch.
Fewer than five people in Lim Chang-yeol’s life had ever reacted to him like that.
Lim Chang-yeol shrugged.
“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Lim Chang-yeol, Union Leader of the Seoul Union. I hear you’re quite skilled.”
“I’d say I’m not bad.”
“Level 15, was it? That’s higher than mine.”
Hearing that the Union Leader’s level was lower, Kim Byung-han straightened his shoulders with pride.
If the Union Leader was lower level than him, then the rest of the Union members were beneath notice.
“Are you planning to personally participate in the [Tower of Arrogance] raid?”
“For now, I’m thinking of forming a party with top-tier members. What weapon do you use?”
“A sword.”
“Hmm, solid choice. But we already have quite a few swordsmen.”
“Are any of them higher level than me?”
“Seems they’re not.”
“Then I should be the best candidate.”
“Which is why I want to run a little test—would that be alright?”
“No problem.”
Kim Byung-han nodded confidently.
Lim Chang-yeol smiled slightly.
“Good attitude. Then go over there and pick a weapon.”
He gestured toward a large wooden chest.
Inside the chest were weapons of all kinds.
Kim Byung-han blinked.
He thought the test would be something related to the Abyss.
“You’re planning to test me here?”
“Just a quick spar with me, and we’re done.”
“…?”
Kim Byung-han was momentarily speechless at the unexpected proposal.
He never imagined the Union Leader himself would suggest a duel.
Still, he had no reason to hesitate.
His level was high, and his equipment was top-tier.
“There’s no sword I like among those. I’ll use my own.”
“That’s fine.”
Kim Byung-han drew a dazzling golden sword from his inventory.
An [Epic]-grade weapon.
If he clashed with one of those cheap blades, they’d shatter on contact.
“Ooh. That’s a flashy one. Then I’ll take… this.”
Lim Chang-yeol casually picked up a rusty dagger from the chest.
He didn’t wear any other equipment.
Seeing this, Kim Byung-han’s expression stiffened.
It was a clear sign of disrespect.
No matter how high his rank, wasn’t this Union Leader being overly arrogant?
“You might get hurt.”
“I don’t care if I die—so I hope you give it your all.”
Did he just say he didn’t care if he died?
Was he assuming he couldn’t be killed?
“And if I actually kill you and cause trouble?”
“That won’t happen. I swear on the Union.”
“Fine then.”
Kim Byung-han smirked inwardly.
The level gap was absolute.
There was no way a rusty dagger from the modern world could withstand the equipment forged in the Abyss.
More importantly—
‘I can see every sword path.’
Kim Byung-han possessed a [Secret Class].
[Swordmaster].
The very name signified mastery of the sword.
In Kim Byung-han’s eyes, he could see every movement, every trajectory of the opponent’s strikes.
No matter how skilled Lim Chang-yeol was with a blade, he couldn’t possibly overcome the blessings of the Abyss.
In a one-on-one, Kim Byung-han was invincible.
“Shall we begin, then?”
Lim Chang-yeol’s eyes sank low.
“Hup!”
And immediately, Kim Byung-han lunged forward.
Strike first and win.
Half of a human battle was decided by who attacked first.
Swish!
Kim Byung-han’s sword slashed through the air.
Lim Chang-yeol dodged smoothly and struck at Kim Byung-han’s side.
Clang!
But it bounced off.
A cheap dagger like that piercing Kim Byung-han’s armor? Impossible.
Whirr!
Lim Chang-yeol spun his wrist and dagger with acrobatic finesse.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dagger pounded the armor repeatedly, but it only rang hollow—no damage was done.
Fast, sure—but the level and equipment difference was too much.
‘I’m going to win.’
After his first attack failed, Lim Chang-yeol hadn’t been able to capitalize on the opening at all.
Kim Byung-han relaxed.
A difference in level meant a difference in stats.
Trying to force a dagger through would only strain his own wrist.
Clang!
Kim Byung-han calmly deflected the incoming dagger.
As expected, Lim Chang-yeol’s movements were completely predictable.
It was surprising that the dagger hadn’t broken from the clash, but the recoil alone would’ve worn him down.
His wrist ligaments were probably close to snapping.
At this rate, simply exchanging blows would guarantee Kim Byung-han’s victory.
After a few more strikes—
‘It’s pointless. Absolutely pointless.’
He was starting to yawn.
Lim Chang-yeol was just repeating useless actions.
His movements were impressive, sure—but even when he managed a hit, it did no damage.
This was the price of arrogance.
If he’d properly equipped himself from the start, he wouldn’t have embarrassed himself like this.
Once this match was over, the tables would turn.
Kim Byung-han might even end up taking over the Seoul Union.
Swish!
‘I told you it’s pointless.’
Lim Chang-yeol swung his dagger low while crouched.
Kim Byung-han didn’t even try to block it.
Slice!
Thud!
“Urgh…?!”
A sharp pain shot through Kim Byung-han as the dagger pierced deep.
An impossible outcome.
The dagger had slipped through a tiny seam in his armor—the very gap meant to protect him.
It wasn’t a deep wound, but the unexpected hit made Kim Byung-han stagger.
He collapsed halfway to the ground, and before he could react, the dagger was pressed to his throat.
“H-How…?”
He couldn’t believe what had just happened.
When he asked, Lim Chang-yeol answered casually.
“Abyss gear has something called [durability]. Your armor’s was pretty worn down. I imagine you’ve been fighting the same way in the Abyss.”
He was right.
Relying on the armor and not dodging attacks had worn it out significantly.
“When the durability wears down, it creates gaps. They’re not visible on the surface, but if you can find the ‘worn spot,’ it’s enough to stab through.”
That was why Lim Chang-yeol had kept tapping his armor.
He was trying to locate the weak spot.
Easier said than done—but the fact that he found it purely by instinct and feel made it even more unbelievable.
If someone could actually do that, they were a monster.
Tyrant Lim Chang-yeol.
He was a monster.
“Your level’s high, but your skill… not so much.”
Lim Chang-yeol shook his head in disappointment.
Kim Byung-han had relied far too much on his gear.
His swordsmanship wasn’t anything impressive either.
“You’re Park Chan-woo, right? Are you going to take the test too?”
Here, level didn’t mean much.
What Lim Chang-yeol sought was raw skill.
The ability to react instantly to any situation, regardless of time or place—that came from sharp instincts, not level or gear.
Park Chan-woo nodded.
‘If the Seoul Union Leader is Tyrant Lim Chang-yeol, then this changes things.’
He had planned to enter the Tower of Arrogance alone, quietly.
But if the opponent was Lim Chang-yeol, that plan was worth reconsidering.
‘I’m pretty decent with a sword myself.’
Though currently playing the role of a mage, Park Chan-woo was originally a Barbarian and Knight.
And apart from beings like Han Shin or Sword King Lee Hyuk-soo—transcendent figures beyond the boundary—he had no equals.
The strongest in the human realm.
