Chapter 26: The Sword Saint, Cheon Yuseong (2)
Throbbing pressure resonated throughout Jinhyuk’s body, as if his veins screamed under an overload.
Jinhyuk furrowed his brows, recognizing the aftermath.
‘Is this what it’s like to use an SS-tier combat ability?’
He had never before used abilities related to combat, excluding those of the fire element, so the sensation was new to him.
It was a clear indication of how vital the absolute amount of magic power was.
To use Teresa’s unique ability later on…
No amount of magic power would be excessive.
‘I need to finish this quickly.’
Dragging it out would only wear down his body.
Jinhyuk gathered all the remaining magic power.
A dark aura flickered at the tip of his sword.
The sword force used by the Sword Demon, though only a fraction of its original strength, was sufficient.
More than enough.
＊＊＊
Cheon Yuseong clenched his teeth so hard blood seeped out, but he felt no pain.
‘I cannot accept this.’
He had worked hard enough to die.
In the game and outside it.
Yet, no matter how much he trained and strived, he couldn’t defeat the man before him.
Always greeted by a black-and-white screen.
The red text [You Die] mocked his efforts.
Years passed, reading the message of death countless times.
During those years of giving up everything and forgetting…
The Tower of Trials became a reality.
This was it!
If he could start over, there was no reason he’d be inferior.
The gap was merely due to him starting the game earlier and monopolizing the good fortunes.
But even after preparing to the best of his ability…
Why!
Why does he only bring despair to me again!
Cheon Yuseong roared fiercely, unleashing ‘Soul Chaser Sword Dance.’
Dozens of sword qi split into multiple attacks, ‘First Form.’
The blue magical power materialized, flooding the area, ‘Soul Chaser Blade.’
Absolutely… Absolutely!
“I cannot accept this!”
He swung his sword with a ferocity like that of a beast’s claws, engulfing Jinhyuk in dozens of sword qi.
The ground was sliced as if it was mere paper, demonstrating overwhelming power.
Just the wind pressure alone was formidable.
Where the storm passed, only dust clouds rose.
“Heave… Heave…”
Cheon Yuseong gasped for air, his chest heaving violently.
He had used his best technique.
This had to have worked.
But,
“What’s with all the dust from that skill?”
From within the dust cloud,
Jinhyuk, unharmed, appeared.
He didn’t block it.
Nor did he counter.
He merely dodged.
“All the sword paths… you read them all?”
All those attacks?
Impossible!
Even Cheon Yuseong, who wielded the sword, couldn’t fully grasp all the paths of his own attack.
“I’ve faced faster and stronger than that, against someone from much higher up.”
Not from the first floor, but from much further above.
Against one of the absolute rulers of the tower.
“Ridiculous. There’s nothing above the Soul Chaser Sword except for techniques used by the demon lord himself.”
“How did you know? You fought with him?”
“To the very end!”
Cheon Yuseong drew his sword across.
At the same time,
From above…
…to below.
Jinhyuk thrust his dagger downward.
Boom!
The divergent trajectories of their swords collided at a single point.
Crack!
The clash of Qi and force sent blue sparks flying in all directions.
But the equilibrium didn’t last long.
The fully manifested black moon devoured Cheon Yuseong’s force in an instant.
“Argh!”
A heavy groan escaped Cheon Yuseong’s lips.
Despite his near-rampant expenditure of magic power, it wasn’t enough.
It wasn’t a matter of magic power, skills, or unique abilities.
The only difference between them was how much they enjoyed and loved this world.
Eventually,
Boom!
Cheon Yuseong was brought to his knees.
“Ugh!”
And with a following strike, he lost grip of his iron sword.
The sword spun in the air before embedding itself in the ground.
The duel was decisively concluded.
“Looks like I’ve won again. Not sure how many times now.”
He had lost count long ago.
“At least… it’s 138.”
138 times…
“Next time it’ll be 139, assuming you still think you stand a chance.”
At Cheon Yuseong’s declaration, Jinhyuk’s eyebrows raised.
“Next time?
“Yeah, next time. Oh! And try to be stronger when you come back.”
To reuse the copying ability on the same target, a 90-day period was required.
And if Jinhyuk knew Cheon Yuseong, he would return next time with even more useful abilities to copy.
‘He’s like a buffet that comes to me.’
Why search far and wide for abilities to copy?
When there’s someone so desperate to grow stronger right in front of you?
This kind of person is best nurtured slowly for consumption.
‘I’ll have that skill ready by the 15th floor.’
Thinking about copying the boon only a training maniac like him could obtain, Jinhyuk’s lips curled up in anticipation.
Of course,
“Kill me. I don’t need your sympathy.”
Cheon Yuseong perceived Jinhyuk’s words as cheap sympathy.
What a strange guy.
To think he’d refuse to be spared.
No helping it then.
With a soft sigh, Jinhyuk retrieved his dagger.
“As you know, the Tower of Trials isn’t easy. Even rankers can die if they’re not careful here, right?”
The difficulty of the tower needed no further explanation.
Especially now that ‘humans’ added another variable, making it even more challenging than before.
“That’s why we need as many strong players as possible. Especially someone as exceptionally strong as you.”
“Exceptionally strong… player?”
Cheon Yuseong’s eyes quivered faintly.
A peculiar look.
Like a neglected son of a count, finally acknowledged by his father.
He’s fallen for it.
…Now’s the chance.
Jinhyuk extended his hand toward Cheon Yuseong, subtly activating another skill.
[Lv2 ‘Empathy’ activates. Cheon Yuseong’s hostility towards you decreases. His affection slightly increases.]
Grasping Jinhyuk’s hand, Cheon Yuseong stood up and dusted himself off.
“…Wrong words aren’t spoken. But remember, next time the outcome will be entirely different.”
Of course, he would think so.
“Sure, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
But then,
Cheon Yuseong hesitated as he was about to disengage the barrier.
“By the way, I still don’t know your name.”
“Do we need formal introductions? We’re not exactly friends.”
Names like ‘hey, you, over there, look’ exist for a reason, right?
“Fine. I’ll continue calling you as I have.”
Wait…
Something feels off.
Surely not…
“Wait! Don’t call me that.”
Jinhyuk urgently protested.
I’ll tell you my name. Please, just not that.
Stop it, damn it!
“Colonel Timo.”
Ah. He said it even though I asked him not to…
Jinhyuk massaged his temples, realizing once again how a name chosen in jest could have profound repercussions.
And how painfully true that was.
＊＊＊
While Jinhyuk concluded his battle with Cheon Yuseong and was busy collecting items, another anomaly occurred in the relic.
The attack team, having just finished a battle and resting, was stirred.
“Cheonhwa hyung, didn’t we clear all the monsters in that direction?”
A mage player using detection magic cocked his head.
“Yeah, Gwangil went with some guys an hour ago and wiped them all out.”
“Really? Hmm…”
“Why?”
“No, it’s just… there’s a magic response on the detection magic. Looks like one or two creatures…”
“That’s impossible. The specters were thoroughly cleared out three times as far as I know. Let me see.”
Cheonhwa approached the player.
Indeed.
The translucent holographic screen showed red dots.
“Damn, Gwangil. Did he slack off and miss one or two? Specters are easy to miss because they don’t agitate unless approached.”
But then,
“Wait, hold on. It’s moving.”
“What do you mean it’s moving? Those guys stay put unless agitated.”
“No, seriously! And it’s fast. Heading straight for us!”
At that moment,
Rumbling footsteps approached.
Impossible for spectral entities.
Cheonhwa’s pupils dilated in shock.
If, and it’s a big if…
If it’s not a missed specter but a new entity appearing…
And it breached the outer defenses without anyone noticing…
A chill ran down their spines.
“Get everyone up, now!”
“All of them?”
“Yes, all of them!”
Cheonhwa shouted.
＊＊＊
Shortly after, a 3-meter tall golem appeared before the attack team.
Its massive body made of rocks.
More concerning than the golem was the white-haired man perched on its shoulder.
“Hello, humans.”
The sweet voice resonated through their ears.
The man smiled gently at Cheonhwa.
“It talks?”
“Damn, an intelligent monster?”
“That golem isn’t just any; it’s an iron golem. Weapons won’t even scratch it.”
Players murmured among themselves.
Intelligent monsters, especially those resembling humans, were the most avoided.
“Are you the boss monster of this relic?”
Cheonhwa asked, shielding himself with a massive shield.
“Ha, my name is Velus. I’m but one of the bloodline serving the lord of this relic.”
“Bloodline? If you mean…”
Cheonhwa’s eyes widened in realization.
“Could it be…”
Vampires were the only monsters using that term.
And if that were true…
The lord Velus served in this relic…
Swallowing hard,
“Vampires…”
If that’s the case…
This place belonged to one of the strongest beings in the Tower of Trials.
‘There’s no chance.’
He never imagined such a powerful creature resided on the first floor.
Even with Teresa and their secret weapon, exceptions were made for the Progenitor.
‘At least level 500 and above.’
At this point, no unique ability or sacred artifact could hunt it down.
Cheonhwa spoke with difficulty.
“What do you want from us? You wouldn’t come here without reason.”
“Quite perceptive. I’m here to make an offer.”
Velus jumped off the golem’s shoulder.
Light as if defying gravity.
“What offer?”
“Choose. Either all of you come quietly with me or…”
Red magical energy concentrated in Velus’s palm.
“Or be an example by killing half of you before being dragged away like livestock?”