Chapter 474
A snowfield where the sun never sets.
A slow, drifting snowstorm.
This entire landscape was a conceptual world created by the Sword Saint.
Swoooosh…
Mana surged.
The blade, now pure white, trembled violently.
[Unique Holy Spear ‘White Night’]
Acquisition Difficulty: SSS
Details: Based on the swordsmanship you have seen and experienced, you can create your own exclusive martial art. While ‘White Night’ is active, all attack power and attack speed increase by 200%, and the special stat [Fifth Sense] increases by 100. (If used with [Battlefield Selection], additional field effects can be obtained.)
An ability that boasts extreme power, especially in one-on-one combat.
‘So this is Chun Yoosung’s Unique Holy Spear…’
Jinhyuk muttered in admiration.
He never expected such a refined Unique Holy Spear.
Honestly, it was astonishing.
Right at that moment.
Chun Yoosung’s sword tip moved.
A sword light, even whiter than the falling snowflakes, melted into the storm.
“I gave up everything to take one step closer to you.”
My pride.
My freedom.
And even the brand of a traitor… all of it.
But I have no regrets.
Even if I had to endure all of it…
“Because nothing in this world is more important to me than my battle with you.”
“You’re seriously twisted. You really… No, forget it. I won’t even bother.”
There was no point in arguing.
Besides, Chun Yoosung would soon pay the price for his contract with Guntafer.
‘The longer the duration, the harsher the aftereffects. He’ll feel it down to his very bones.’
Jinhyuk reversed his grip on both daggers.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded wildly.
It had been so long since he last felt such excitement and anticipation.
Of course.
He had already experienced nearly every skill and ability the Tower of Trials had to offer.
But this—this was his first time seeing an ability like this.
More than anything, the thrill of having a chance to copy it was exhilarating.
‘By now, Undine and Goguma should have everything set up.’
He had assigned them a special task right before the battle. They were probably handling it well.
Failure would cost them more than anyone else.
[Unique Ability ‘Grave of Swords’ is activating!]
Vwoooom!
A crimson aura surged along the blade.
A foreign energy rose in the pure white world.
“I’m coming.”
Chun Yoosung was the first to move.
Their sword paths and distances were so familiar that they had long since grown sick of them.
BOOOOM!
So there was no need for any pointless probing.
A dazzling sword light grazed Jinhyuk’s neck.
He dodged by the width of a sheet of paper.
“Oof, that was sharp.”
“Stop whining. We’re just getting started.”
In an instant, Chun Yoosung’s two swords split into countless copies.
It was as if dozens of swords were being unleashed at once.
[Chun Yoosung activates White Night’s One Thousand Swords – First Form: ‘Snow Spirit’!]
Time seemed to freeze.
Fwoosh!
The falling snowflakes split apart.
“…!?”
It wasn’t just the speed—
The sheer number of slashes executed in a single moment was beyond comprehension.
Rumble!
Jinhyuk swung his daggers like a madman.
The impact was so intense that his arms tingled.
But by then, Chun Yoosung had already disappeared.
‘Behind… no, to the side.’
A presence flickered from the right.
Whoosh!
Scarlet flames gnawed at the air.
But—
There was nothing there.
No sensation of hitting anything.
“Above!”
Jinhyuk snapped his head upward.
There, Chun Yoosung was preparing another attack.
[White Night’s One Thousand Swords – Second Form: ‘Lightning Strike’]
This sword light was even faster than the last.
Dodging was impossible.
His instincts moved before his thoughts.
Jinhyuk crossed his daggers.
BOOOOM!
The resulting explosion was unlike anything that could come from two blades simply clashing.
The pressure from below sent the snow on the ground flying in all directions.
Chun Yoosung had certainly come prepared.
Each and every strike was relentless.
“Huff!”
Regaining his breath, Chun Yoosung pressed forward to seize the momentum.
The onslaught continued.
He had said he would create his own exclusive martial art—and now, with ‘White Night’ activated, every move was executed with terrifying precision.
However, the recoil from it all… that was another story.
As expected.
Twitch.
Chun Yoosung’s expression contorted.
Dark veins slowly spread over his white eyes.
Something resembling small horns began to sprout from his hair.
“Urgh… What the hell… is this?”
Sensing something wrong, Chun Yoosung staggered.
Of course, Guntafer wouldn’t have mentioned these side effects when forming the contract.
After all, in the Tower of Trials, there was a saying: Only the fooled are to blame.
Perfect.
Another condition was nearly fulfilled.
All that was left was to push things a little further.
[Unique Ability ‘Anubis’ Judgment’ is activating.]
Jinhyuk had avoided using this, fearing a full-scale war between the Egyptian pantheon and the Demon Realm.
But inside Chun Yoosung’s conceptual world, it shouldn’t be a problem.
The outside world had no way of knowing what was happening in here.
“Wow, your skin is completely wrecked. And that thing on your head… Your body’s burning up, and your head’s dizzy, right? Like you’ve got the flu?”
“Yeah… That’s exactly how it feels. Do you know what’s happening to me?”
First question—success.
“Of course, I know. And there’s one big problem.”
“A serious problem?”
“The deterioration speeds up in proportion to mana and time. If you keep fighting like this, you’ll transform into an entirely new species. You’re not actually planning on becoming a demon, are you? Though… it kinda suits you.”
“Damn it, I have no desire to become a monster.”
“Oh? That’s a relief. In that case, just be careful. You need to make sure this state doesn’t last more than ten minutes.”
Second question—smoothly handled.
Once again, Jinhyuk couldn’t help but think:
‘The activation conditions for Anubis’ Judgment are completely broken.’
Just triggering it through a mere conversation?
That was absurd.
“Then that means I just need to finish this before I completely transform into a demon.”
“Well, technically, yes… but are you really confident? Even with those shackles holding you down?”
This was the final question.
And when it came to provoking his pride…
“Have you forgotten that I was the one pushing you back this whole time? I’ll make sure to wipe that smirk off your face completely.”
As expected, Chun Yoosung reacted exactly as Jinhyuk had anticipated.
[Conditions have been met.]
[The target’s stats have been reduced by 50%!]
It felt a little like cheating, but there was no helping it.
After all, Jinhyuk was also supplying mana to Alice at the same time.
A sly smile played on his lips.
⁕⁕⁕
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The battle resumed.
Chun Yoosung carved out his own path, unleashing all the combat experience he had accumulated over the years.
And yet.
Something…
…felt off?
It didn’t take long for him to realize the dissonance.
His attacks were undoubtedly sharper than ever before.
And with his contract, he should have been able to surpass his limits.
But for some reason, the battle was getting harder.
‘Is that bastard… still holding back?’
It didn’t make sense.
A Unique Holy Spear was the pinnacle of personal martial mastery.
Even among the denizens of the Tower, only a few could reach this level.
For any player to face such a technique with composure was simply impossible.
Which could only mean…
‘I’m getting weaker… because of the side effects?’
That was the only plausible explanation.
“Urgh!”
Chun Yoosung forced himself to focus.
Losing like this was unacceptable.
He couldn’t allow it.
“I never… wanted a fight like this!”
Swish!
His footwork left no prints in the snow—instead, it froze the ground beneath him.
At the same time, the Sword of Cabalado shifted.
The blade nearly doubled in length.
Ancient runes engraved into the metal emitted a dazzling light.
[Sword of Cabalado – ‘Gramainu’ has been activated!]
A darkness without end surged forth.
[White Night’s One Thousand Swords – Fifth Form: ‘Ice Reflection’ has been activated!]
A radiant white energy, mirroring eternity, intertwined with it.
A lone, decisive slash.
This was—
The full might of Chun Yoosung, the Sword Saint.
Two slashes intersected vertically and horizontally.
The trajectory seemed straightforward, but the depth behind it went far beyond mere lines.
It was as if dimensions connected.
As if this was always meant to be one single strike.
BOOOOM!
A deafening roar split the heavens.
A prodigy who had devoted everything to the sword.
Who had even obtained divine fortune to sharpen his craft.
Yet—
“You… monster.”
“If I didn’t regularly spar, this would have been dangerous. But in the end, exclusive martial arts are just adaptations of techniques you’re used to.”
Even so, Jinhyuk had blocked the attack.
By predicting the exact moment when the two intersecting lines connected.
Twitch! —Twitch!!!
…Thud.
Chun Yoosung dropped to one knee.
His chest heaved with ragged breaths.
“Haa… Haa…”
His heart pounded uncontrollably, his body burned with fever—he could barely endure it anymore.
His reflection in the snow was no longer human.
Black horns had sprouted from his white hair.
His crimson pupils gleamed, as if heralding the rise of a new Demon King.
“Is this… me?”
He had abandoned his humanity in desperation.
And yet, the result had not changed.
This was the end.
He had no strength left. No will left.
“…Just end it. I want to rest now.”
“When you say ‘end it’… Do you mean kill you?”
“I’d rather die than live as a demon.”
So, he’d rather die with his pride intact.
That was exactly like Chun Yoosung.
Click.
Jinhyuk pressed a dagger against his throat.
Of course, he couldn’t resist adding one last remark.
“You do look kind of cool, but it’s a shame. I actually know a way to get rid of those horns. But hey, if you’re dead set on dying, I won’t stop you.”
“…Wait!”
Chun Yoosung snapped his head up.
Humans were strange creatures.
If he had truly lost all hope, that would be one thing.
But even the most resilient warriors, who could withstand excruciating torture, would crumble if they were given a sliver of hope.
That was the art of interrogation.
“You’re serious? There’s a way to undo this?”
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I swore on my own honor… So, I’ll swear on Alice’s instead.”
“……”
This wasn’t over.
He had acquired the Unique Holy Spear.
With enough refinement, another opportunity would come.
“Fine. I hate the idea of relying on you… but I have no choice.”
Ah, but nothing in this world came for free.
What about the emotional damage he caused when he betrayed Jinhyuk at the most critical moment?
“You’re not seriously planning to make me do something ridiculous as payment, are you?”
“Ridiculous? No. But I do expect something in return.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Now that I know there’s a way, I can just find it myself. I won’t give you any leverage over me.”
“Oh? Then go ahead and try. But how do you plan to live in the meantime? The media is going to go crazy over this.”
– Medical student at Korea University… Actually a demon?
<University denies all claims – “We have no record of such a student.”>
– Surgeons interested in experimental dissection… err, medical research on high-value subject.
– Horns on men… A sign of hidden potential?
– The Venus Virus? Viral fame skyrockets. Top streamers looking to secure exclusive interviews.
– Residents worried about property value dropping. Protests for immediate eviction.
– Witness Mr. Kang: “His personality changed drastically. He almost stabbed me to death.”
Even the orangutans at the zoo would shake their heads in pity.
A normal life would be impossible.
Finally realizing the gravity of the situation, Chun Yoosung swallowed hard.
