"That's right! He sees the real deal! Of course, it is me!"
It was Jong Do-hyun who jumped up from his seat.
He must have thought he was being pointed at because of what he had done in front of the Association building.
And…
"Dumbass. He didn't call for you."
Hong Deok-pyo, who was next to him, grabbed Jong Do-hyun by the wrist and pulled him down.
"Uh? Hyung?"
Jong Do-hyun asked, but he wasn't answered. Instead, he stared at Chun Yuseong.
'Right, if it is his level, he would want to fight a strong guy like me.'
He could understand that.
Because he, too, would be thrilled to find a strong opponent.
'I like this more and more.'
When he first heard about Chun Yuseong, he wanted to see more of him. When he heard how Jong Do-hyun described him, he wanted the man under any conditions.
However—
Only after seeing these actions did he become convinced that he needed to get this man.
If he couldn't get him alive, then he would get him by killing him.
"I will let my body loose after a long time."
Hong Deok-pyo took off his suit, exposing his muscles beneath the white shirt.
But…
Chun Yuseong, who had raised his sword, didn't lower it.
What?
As his thoughts began to race, Hong Deok-pyo frowned.
No…?
Upon closer inspection, the direction the tip of the sword was pointing toward was slightly different.
It was not aimed at Jong Do-hyun or himself, but slightly to the right.
There sat a man with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Phew."
After a long moment, the man sighed and stood up. And just like that, everyone realized who the opponent would be.
"Who is he?"
"Not Hong. Was it someone else?"
"Who?"
"I don't know him…"
"Look into the database right now."
A loud commotion rose in the crowd as the guild officials began searching for information.
At the very least, the man was inside the Association building, which meant he had passed the Awakening Test.
Of course, there would be information available about him.
[Player Kang Jin-hyuk, F Rank]
After a moment, they were able to confirm it.
"No. F Rank?"
"N-No… he called an F Rank?"
"He didn't seem that way, but maybe this man likes to bully weak people?"
The commotion grew louder.
Something that made no sense was happening as Jong Do-hyun shouted,
"H-hyung! That's the man! The one who hit me on the back of my head!"
"What?"
"Didn't I say a guy was with Chun Yuseong? It's that guy who hit me!"
"Him…?"
Hong Deok-pyo looked at Jin-hyuk.
And Jin-hyuk looked back at him at the same time, allowing their eyes to meet.
"I don't know why Chun Yuseong pointed at you, but if you can, find a way to reject the offer. This is no place for someone like you."
Cold and realistic words.
The people around Hong Deok-pyo agreed as well.
"Right. The skill levels don't match. The fight will end in less than a second."
"And would you be happy if it just ended? If even the slightest amount of magic is infused into that sword, the F Rank will be cut in two."
"Well, no matter how much security is set up, unexpected accidents can happen."
He'd be lucky to escape without serious injuries. If unlucky, he might die out there.
That was the common thought shared by everyone present.
But despite the advice, Jin-hyuk began descending toward the arena.
"Phew."
His face was filled with annoyance.
The arena was laid out with various weapons. Jin-hyuk reached the bottom and picked up a longsword from the floor.
It was light and well-balanced.
"Please, I beg you—if you lose again this time, stop this."
Seriously, man.
'I'd really appreciate it if you stopped this.'
"You're talking as if I'll lose. Are you saying that after watching the fights?"
"Um… it does seem like you've improved your skills. Trained hard?"
Those muscles looked solid. How many hours did he work out? They were so well-toned that Jin-hyuk almost wanted to ask what kind of supplements he took.
He wasn't on steroids, right?
"Is that the only thing?"
"Ah, I also thought getting this kind of invitation would be a real hassle."
"…"
Chun Yuseong's face twisted in anger. At the same time, the concentration of magic on his sword changed.
Psss!
[Chun Yuseong Lv.6 'Soul Chasing Sword Qi' activated!]
A chilly blue aura appeared.
The qi and killing intent that had been suppressed until now merged together.
Jrit!
Jin-hyuk felt his skin tingle under the pressure.
'Everything he showed during the fights so far was just him holding back.'
It was as if he had been saving his strength for the right moment.
"Everything's fine, but this is a friendly match… right?"
Didn't the atmosphere feel more like a Colosseum? Where the rule was to fight until one died?
"If you receive an invitation to fight, you fight. Right?"
Chun Yuseong took his stance and extended his sword.
He stepped forward with his right foot and lowered his center of gravity.
He intended to close the distance instantly.
Kukuku!
The magic stone floor vibrated.
"O-Oh my…"
"He's really going to do it!"
"Shit! Call the guards! That guy will get killed!"
The spectators screamed.
Unbothered by the audience, Chun Yuseong released even more energy.
But at that moment—
Woong!
A completely different kind of magic enveloped the entire arena.
A force incomparable to Chun Yuseong's.
An ominous, ugly black energy.
[Unique Ability 'Sword Grave' is activated!]
Kwakwakwang!
The energy didn't merely envelop the longsword. Even the air trembled as the aura extended the blade's length by a full meter.
"Huh!"
"S-sword energy!"
"That's insane. What kind of F Rank can do that?"
"That's perfected sword energy—not a half-formed one. Only a handful of players in the world can reach that level."
Shock was the only possible reaction.
Even Hong Deok-pyo looked stunned.
"…I can't believe this."
All the guild officials gulped from their seats.
Ba-dump! Ba-dump!
Their hearts raced.
They all understood—this match could change their lives.
In the heated atmosphere, Jin-hyuk spoke.
"Do you think sword qi will work? You must've forgotten what happened at the ruins."
Overcoming the gap in ability was never easy—especially with swords.
"Obviously, sword qi can't withstand sword energy."
But—
"It's something you can try to compensate for."
At that moment—
Psss…!
Another layer of sword qi overlaid Chun Yuseong's blade.
One. Two… seven times.
The qi stacked like layers of armor.
"Oh."
Jin-hyuk frowned.
Indeed, Chun Yuseong could do the same with sword energy to prolong the clash. The problem was that it consumed far more magic and stamina.
'He's aiming to end this in one strike, not drag it out.'
At most, he could last three minutes. Anything longer would be difficult.
Jin-hyuk glanced at the sword in his hand.
Cracks were already forming along the blade.
Right. That was expected.
No ordinary sword could withstand that much sword energy.
Using his dagger might link him to the masked man, which was why he deliberately chose this weapon.
Now, the time limit applied to both of them.
"Here I come!"
Chun Yuseong made the first move.
Kwang!
He launched himself forward, instantly closing the distance.
His sword aimed straight for Jin-hyuk's neck.
Jin-hyuk met it head-on.
Kwaang!
A violent gust tore through the arena as their blades collided.
Fast. Terrifying.
Kwang! Kwang!
A relentless barrage followed. Chun Yuseong's sword moved so quickly it was invisible to the naked eye.
Jin-hyuk blocked every strike.
Sparks and flashes filled the air.
Kkuk!
Explosions of magic erupted with each clash. Even the magic stone floor couldn't endure it.
"Man… this is so intense I'm about to get blisters. Can we end it now?"
"No. It hasn't even started yet."
Chun Yuseong's sword glowed red.
Those were the layers he had built.
'Second form!'
A blazing red energy flooded the arena.
Soul Chasing Flame Emperor.
The second form of the Soul Chasing Sword Technique.
A power meant to burn all enemies ahead.
Jin-hyuk felt the searing heat.
'This brat is absurdly talented.'
Being able to use the second form at all was already a massive achievement.
Puak!
Seven red petals bloomed, making the situation dangerous.
Jin-hyuk instantly realized he must never confront them head-on.
And then—
He released Sword Grave further.
Using the magic infused in the sword, he activated another skill.
[Ice Formation is activated!]
Countless ice particles gathered, forming a rectangular shield.
Chun Yuseong's eyes twitched.
He clearly hadn't expected such a skill, though the surprise lasted only a moment.
'No matter what—don't be surprised.'
Repeating that to himself, Chun Yuseong swung the fully-bloomed petals.
Pung!
Ice and fire collided.
Opposites in every sense.
However, in terms of skill mastery, Chun Yuseong held the advantage.
'Done.'
He smiled as thick vapor filled the arena.
He could feel the ice shield collapsing.
But—
"…!?"
At the very moment he was confident of victory—
['Daylight' is activated!]
A ray of light pierced through the vapor.
It wasn't ice.
Another skill had been activated.
"Kuk!"
Chun Yuseong gasped.
Never—never be surprised.
The next moment plunged him into despair.
[Chun Yuseong activates Lv.6 'Sword Veil']
A defensive skill activated instantly.
At the same time—
Kwakwakwakang!
The unerring beam of light pierced through the magic stone floor and even the stadium walls.
Chik!
"Ugh…"
Chun Yuseong's body convulsed violently.
Smoke rose from him.
The attack had been controlled—he survived.
But the fact that even his defensive skill was pierced made no sense.
"You… how many skills do you have…?"
Barely audible words.
And then—
Thud!
Chun Yuseong lost his balance and collapsed.
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