A loud shout rang in his eardrums. Yoon-seok opened his eyes blankly and looked around. He wasn’t in the middle of the familiar arena. He was standing on a square-shaped slab of stone.
‘What…?’
He had heard from Ashton that the tenth-floor trial wasn’t a duel between challengers. That was all he knew. Because only a small number of duelers were on the tenth floor and above, they never released information for their competitors. Anyway, he just thought he would meet an enemy similar to Hydra or his cloned self. But…
It wasn’t like that at all.
‘Is there a reason to do this in such a place?’
Yoon-seok turned to the outer audience stands, where thousands of people dressed as if they were in a historical drama.
Yoon-seok’s brows furrowed. He wouldn’t be surprised if this place were supposed to be a recreation of past Moorim. Perhaps it might be a part of an admin’s past they had sent him to. But why?
This question lingered in his mind.
“I am Jeong-cheon from Seven Swords of Plum Blossom.”
A man seized the start for the battle. Was that his opponent for this duel? When he was going to pull out his sword…
「All skills are sealed.」
「The effect of all equipment is sealed.」
「The power of the admin is sealed.」
「Stats are fixed at Rank C.」
His world turned black and white and stopped. It was ridiculous. His skills and stats were sealed after getting rid of his coins? As he was wondering what the hell this was all about…
「Please select a skill to synchronize.」
A list of skills available for selection appeared. Synchronization? The skills that appeared on the list were none other than those owned by Yoon-seok. Without hesitation, Yoon-seok chose one.
「Unique Skill b Bloodseeker’s Ultimatum} has been synchronized.」
「Rank is fixed at Rank C.」
The rank went down a notch, but…
Nevertheless, there was no doubt that it was the most powerful skill Yoon-seok owned.
「Countdown is starting.」
When the skill was chosen, the black and white world regained its original color. At the same time, dread dominated his body.
Magic rank was fixed with C. If the increase in stats of {Bloodseeker’s Ultimatum} were included, it would be Rank B-.
‘…Is there that big of a difference?’
As the Rank B Middle Qigong was sealed, a huge amount of Bloodseeker Energy and Azure Dragon Energy disappeared. It felt like 1/30 of the amount that he had originally in his body. No, it was less than that.
His body felt stuffed with wet cotton, but he had to adapt quickly.
Since the duel would start soon.
「START!」
The moment the system message announced the start of the duel, the man, who identified himself as Jeong-cheon of the Seven Swords of Plum Blossom, opened his lips as if he’d wanted to say something. But curiosity didn’t work on him. Yoon-seok could only see his weaknesses.
Tadak!
Immediately, he pulled out his sword and rushed in. With his stats downgraded, there was no enhanced speed that looked almost like teleportation in the eyes of the general public. But as if he possessed pretty quick reflexes, the man hurriedly raised his sword to stop the attack.
Clang!
Two swords collided. How long had it been since he heard that metallic sound instead of the sound of explosions? After listening to the sound, it gave him a reality check. He became weaker.
“It was said that you mastered evil magic, and it was true!”
Jeong-cheon shouted something. In this Moorim duel, it seemed like some behind-the-scenes stories were involved. Well, he wasn’t very interested. That wasn’t what mattered.
‘Seems like the stats are similar.’
He was worried when all his abilities were sealed out of the blue and turned to Rank C, but fortunately, the opponent seemed to be on a similar level.
‘Then it’s too easy, though?’
It might be different for other challengers. For Yoon-seok, this trial felt like it was bound to be easy because all his skills would increase by two from b Bloodseeker’s Ultimatum}.
Whoosh!
Yoon-seok wielded the sword infused with Bloodseeker’s Energy and cornered his opponent. Maybe it was because the power that suppressed its side effects was sealed, but the force secreted from the sword was fatal. The man, who was struggling to defend himself from Yoon-seok’s sword, shouted something.
“Falling Flowers!”
He didn’t think it was a command. So, was he just trying to act cool? Come to think of it, all the people from Moorim except the Heavenly Devil had that habit.
Whikkkkk! Whoosh!
Magenta-colored energy that reminded him of Elle’s hair spread magnificently around him. After observing and contemplating his sword, did his judgment improve? He could immediately tell that a principle was included.
Change and Fast.
‘A dagger hiding in splendor, do it swiftly to take the enemy’s head…?’
The intention was good, but the opponent was not. Yoon-seok could already tell the difference between truth and lie just by looking at him once. Yoon-seok wielded his sword forward. But, the man’s face turned dark at the ordinary attack.
How?
He felt like he could hear everything he was thinking.
‘It’s so obvious.’
Soon, the two swords collided with each other again. But, there was no metallic sound. Accelerating, Yoon-seok used the power of the man’s sword, pushing it to the side. As a result, the man’s posture was utterly destroyed.
Squelp!
Yoon-seok didn’t miss the gap and stabbed the other sword into his neck.
Thud.
The man knelt weakly on the ground, blood gushing out of the hole in his neck. Was it hard to accept his death? The man died with his eyes wide open.
‘What was the intention behind this duel?’
Even after winning, Yoon-seok felt icky. Hydra, Great Battle, Infinite Duel, his cloned self…
The Tower tended to create as many scenarios as possible so that new experiences could be gained in new fields. But what do you get out of a fight like this? Initial intent? Well, whatever it was, he would find out soon enough.
「Victory.」
「Stats are fixed at Rank C+.」
「Please select additional skills to synchronize.」
He was afraid that the duel might just be the beginning.
「Unique Skill b Predation} has been synchronized.」
After choosing the skill to synchronize, his black-and-white world regained color again. Time started to flow once more. But as if time remained halted, the audience was awfully quiet.
‘Judging from the timing of the cheers, do they all support the same side?’
He had no clue. Why should there be such a concept in a duel? If he had to fight, it would have been better if he was placed 1:1 in the arena. Despite the questions, the next opponent arrived on stage.
Maybe the guy who just died was a colleague? His cold eyes were filled with anger.
“You must know. You’ve just lost your last chance of getting out of here alive.”
With that being said, the countdown began. Yoon-seok observed his opponent. He had similar clothes and swords. However, the number of threads on the warrior was different. There were three earlier, but now this one had four red threads. Was that something that differentiated between them?
Come to think of it, the aura felt from his sword-holding position was far more powerful.
‘That’s right, my stats weren’t increased, and skills weren’t added for no reason.’
To be honest, his first opponent was bland. So Yoon-seok chose {Predation} as his second skill, which didn’t help him in combat. He suddenly wondered if he was excessively greedy, but…
It was too late to regret now. Whether it was a mistake or not would soon be revealed.
「START!」
The moment the restraints were lifted, Yoon-seok immediately narrowed the distance with his opponent. His foe matched his approach to seek revenge.
Tadak.
The distance between them narrowed instantly. As such, the scent of plum blossoms around him grew stronger. Just as the metallic smell of blood bloomed when he was using Bloodseeker’s Energy, that may be one of the traits of Inner Qi. However, the scent didn’t bloom because his previous opponent’s level was low.
“…”
Twenty steps, fifteen, ten…
Both reached the area where each other’s swords touched without pointing their weapons. And at that moment, petals began to fall. It didn’t happen, but Yoon-seok felt that way.
“…?”
Unlike earlier, there were no tactic commands. He stretched the sword without hesitation, even before his feet touched the ground. At the tip of the sword, the magenta energy was divided into thousands and flooded toward Yoon-seok. It wasn’t like the Falling Flowers tactic that consisted of truth and lies the previous opponent had demonstrated. Every one of them that had scattered splendidly was real.
‘So he can use sword energy this way.’
If Falling Flowers was a technique-based tactic, then this was a tactic based on the fundamentals of Inner Qi. Yoon-seok’s choice of countermeasures was extremely simple.
‘But his power is weak.’
Should he say it was like an empty suit? The appearance may be fancy, but it was a tactic that gave up on other aspects. Yoon-seok increased the size by infusing more Bloodseeker’s Energy into the sword. Then, he cut horizontally toward the sword energies being fired at him. As if the energy wasn’t filled in properly, the magenta energy that touched his sharp sword was swept away.
Of course, there were too many to offset with just one single cut…
‘This is enough to hold on.’
After Yoon-seok determined the angle of the incoming pieces, he wasted no time recovering the injuries with Bloodseeker Energy. It was a kind of self-defense technique that he used with Inner Qi.
“…!”
Maybe it was a secret move? As if he didn’t expect him to defend so easily, the man quickly widened their distance with a distressed expression. However, in a one-on-one duel, Yoon-seok couldn’t leave it as it was.
Sqwelp-.
The distance narrowed rapidly after widening. Yoon-seok quickly slid the man’s sword to the side. Then, he stabbed his sword into his foe’s exposed heart.
「Victory.」
「Unique Skill b Predation} has been activated.」
「Acquire one of your opponent’s skills at random.」
「Acquired Magic Enhancement (Rank C+).」
「Loot one of your opponent’s equipment at random.」
「Looted Embroidery Sword (Rank C+).」
「Absorb some of your opponent’s highest abilities.」
「Absorbed magic stat.」
「Stats are fixed at Rank B-.」
「Please select additional skills to synchronize.」
He didn’t know what the hell the purpose was, but the duel wasn’t over yet.
Another duel ended, and a more chaotic atmosphere broke out in the hall. It wouldn’t be strange if they stormed the hall given the hostile gazes shot toward Yoon-seok. But Yoon-seok didn’t give a damn. Maybe it would be different if it was a mission, but in a trial where 1:1 duels were the main event, he held the belief that they would never break the rules and attack him en masse.
“…”
The third opponent also didn’t disclose his name. Nevertheless, he didn’t express resentment by appearing to be angry. He just looked at Yoon-seok calmly.
‘If he’d been there at the beginning, he might be quite the opponent….’
His level was decent. After the first and second duel, his opponent was incomparable to Yoon-seok, who set free the sealed {Azure Dragon Energy}.
‘At this point, I can see why the Tower sent me here for a test.’
The challenger’s technique and potential. In the situation where stats and skills were being sealed, the ability to withstand the pressure of thousands of spectators hateful gazes mentally. Maybe that was the whole point of this trial?
Slash.
After exchanging thirty-three blows in total, Yoon-seok finally sliced off the other person’s head after showing a flaw. Was it because it was reproduced by the Tower? Magic Enhancement (Rank B-) and Embroidery Sword (Rank B-). The reward earned by b Predation} was the same, just the rank differed, and the stat acquired was magic. However, there was also an AP reward.
「1,000,000 AP will be paid as a reward.」
To be honest, every one of them was a duel that he could hardly feel any sense of tension. Maybe that was why, somehow, he felt like he received 1 million AP for free.
‘So this is it?’
When he thought about why the phrase to head to the waiting room hadn’t appeared, an old man climbed on the stage. He was relaxed and steady in his stride.
‘It reminds me of the Heavenly Devil.’
White hair as if he’d aged early. However, a well-rounded warrior outfit stretched on broad shoulders and over his upright waist. However, as if he was a normal person, he couldn’t detect any energy from him.
“So you’ve won three duels as promised. I didn’t know how you hid your skills from this old man’s eyes.”
Judging what he’d said, it looked like the duel was over. Not knowing what to say, Yoon-seok remained silent. But did he take the silence differently?
“Oh, there’s nothing to be afraid of. We always keep our promises. I don’t know what will happen next, but no one will touch you until you leave here today.”
As expected, the stage seemed on the verge of executing him. Of course, he didn’t know what crime he committed to be standing here and how he ended up being saved after winning three duels. To be honest, it felt like they were going to catch up immediately if he’d escaped, but…
‘Well, I don’t know which admin’s life it is, but it’s not something I should be worried about….’
When he thought so, the old man asked with a smiling face.
“But it makes me feel embarrassed to stand down like this. So why don’t you exchange swords with me?”
「You can challenge a new enemy.」
「If you don’t challenge, the duel will end, and you will proceed to the waiting room on the 11th floor.」
It ended whether he chose to do it or not. It was kind of like a hidden boss. While Yoon-seok contemplated, the old man threw the bait.
“If Chul Namgoong had accepted the offer, I would have told him the location of ‘Cheonmadong,’ which he had been searching for.”
“Chul Namgoong…?”
“Oh, just as he used to say on the river, should I call him the Firmament Sword?”
The old man spoke sarcastically.
‘It was the real Chul Namgoong?’
Even the possibility of the same name disappeared after he heard the nickname. Somehow, he couldn’t help but laugh. He was just wondering which admin’s past life it was, but it was Chul Namgoong’s, the Heavenly Warrior.
Feeling a strange sense of fate, Yoon-seok nodded.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
There was a higher chance of receiving a bigger reward in the event of victory. Furthermore, they couldn’t have sent out an enemy who would never win in the Tower. Yoon-seok had grown stronger after always challenging himself. So it would be the same this time as well.
But…
Unexpectedly.
「A duel has been established.」
「Stats are fixed at Rank S+.」
「The effect of the sealed equipment is restored.」
「All skills that were sealed are available for use.」
「All powers that were sealed are available for use.」
Specifications that transcended even his actual stats. In other words, it meant that the old man was too strong to be his opponent if no corrections were made. Who the hell was this guy?
“Oh, come to think of it, it’s the first time we’ve met face to face, but we haven’t even introduced ourselves yet.”
The old man lightly raised his sword and made his name known.
“I’m Sword Saint Lee Hyun-hak, Leader of the Hwashan Sect.”
And the purple force that started to hit everywhere like a storm…
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