Chapter 71: 13th Floor. God of Weapons, Haihimer (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: 13th Floor. God of Weapons, Haihimer (2)
A mass of slime. Sharp blades were useless against it.
What it required were heavy, blunt strikes. Kang Jun-hyeok clenched his fists, stepped forward, and lunged.
Boom!
The mucus composing the slime’s body exploded outward. However, the creature didn't just take the beating. Its body flickered and sharpened, and then, like a sudden eruption, blades of mucus sprouted in every direction.
Slash!
He deflected and parried the blades with his gauntlets. For those he couldn't block or dodge, he twisted his body to minimize the impact. In this manner, he tore through the slime’s mass to reach its core.
Splat!
He threw a final punch. The core shattered, and the mucus collapsed into a heap.
[Proficiency in Hand-to-Hand Combat has increased.]
“Whew.”
He took a short breath to compose himself. But there was no time for a leisurely rest; the terrain began to shift immediately.
Rumble!
A cliff formed. From its side, a path emerged—so narrow that only one person could barely pass at a time. It was the kind of precipice where a single slip would send one plummeting into the abyss.
“Kieeeek!”
“Kaaak!”
From the opposite side of the path, goblins charged. They weren't ordinary goblins. They were Red Goblins—variants far stronger than the average kind.
What weapon should be used in this situation?
The judgment was instantaneous, and his actions were just as swift. Kang Jun-hyeok pulled out a spear and a shield simultaneously.
“Kieeeek!”
“Kaak!”
The goblins hammered at his shield, trying to drag him down. He pressed his body as close to the cliff face as possible and braced his legs. Then, he charged forward, leading with the shield.
“Kaaaaak!”
“Kieeeek!”
Unable to withstand the force, the goblins were pushed back in a line, either becoming skewers on his spear or falling into the void. If he had been even a moment late in raising his shield, he would have been grabbed and dragged down into the abyss with them.
[Proficiency in Spearmanship has increased.]
[Proficiency in Shield Technique has increased.]
Rumble!
The terrain shifted once more. This time, it was a forest. A massive tree monster appeared before Kang Jun-hyeok.
“Kwoooooo!”
With a monstrous roar, the tree monster swung its branches.
Kang Jun-hyeok hurriedly raised his shield. As the branches collided with the metal, his body was pushed back across the dirt.
It was strong.
In terms of pure power, he was no match. And since it was a monster made of wood, simple thrusts were meaningless.
Thus, he stowed the spear and pulled out an axe.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
He closed the distance while blocking the swinging branches with his shield, then hacked away with the axe. The tree monster howled, flailing its limbs frantically.
Rumble!
Unable to block everything, some of the branches lashed across his back and legs. Enduring the impact, he swung the axe with even greater force.
A few minutes later, the tree monster collapsed.
[Proficiency in Axe Technique has increased from F to E.]
[Proficiency in Shield Technique has increased from F to E.]
“Whew.”
Kang Jun-hyeok caught his breath. His breathing was heavier than before.
Rumble!
But there was no time to rest. The terrain immediately transformed into a colosseum. Two warriors wielding swords charged at him simultaneously.
Kang Jun-hyeok gritted his teeth and drew his sword.
Clang! Clang!
The swords struck his shield violently. They were strong and fast. Their coordination made it difficult to counterattack.
‘This is…’
Kang Jun-hyeok’s mind raced.
The enemies appearing one by one were difficult to defeat without taking damage. Not only was his system-calculated health being depleted, but physical and mental fatigue were also accumulating.
He reached a conclusion quickly. At this rate, he was in danger.
There was no telling how long the enemies would keep coming. Furthermore, the opponents were gradually becoming stronger.
This was a true trial bestowed by a god. Having memories of his past life, he knew that clearing this through ordinary means was impossible. A fundamental change had to occur.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes grew cold and focused. Even as he blocked the relentless attacks with his shield, his mind remained perfectly calm.
Active skills were forbidden. He could only use his equipment and passive skills. Among these, what could change the situation?
The answer came immediately.
[Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons]
The martial art the Master of All Weapons had handed down to him. A unique skill that allowed him to control and wield all weapons.
He focused on it.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s movements began to change.
Clang!
He parried and deflected the swinging swords with his shield. However, he put almost none of his own strength into the movement. He was using the opponent's power against them.
Bam!
He bashed with the shield. As his body was pushed back, he used the momentum to spin. Harnessing the repulsion and acceleration, he lunged with his sword.
Clang!
One warrior was blown back as if he had been bounced off a spring. Without missing the opening, Jun-hyeok surged forward. Using the remaining warrior’s attack as leverage, he drove his sword into the man's chest.
Crunch.
The warrior who had been blown back charged again. Kang Jun-hyeok lightly deflected the strike with his shield and raised his sword. The blade buried itself directly into the charging opponent's neck.
Using almost none of his own strength, he had defeated them by redirecting the force of their own charges.
[Proficiency in the Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons has increased slightly.]
[Ho.]
The Master of All Weapons let out a sound of amusement.
Until now, Kang Jun-hyeok had not been able to properly handle his Divine Art. He had been so clumsy that he hadn't even scratched the surface.
It hadn't mattered until now. Kang Jun-hyeok was excessively strong, so it wasn't a major flaw. But not here. The enemies appearing were powerful, and his active skills were sealed.
Only now did Kang Jun-hyeok begin to consciously and seriously focus on the Divine Art.
[Was this your aim, Haihimer?]
A sense of enjoyment flickered in the gaze watching from the heavens.
The next enemy was a knight in thick armor wielding a greatsword. Kang Jun-hyeok immediately drew his own greatsword.
Clang!
The greatswords collided, letting out a thunderous roar. The knight charged like a tank, pressing Jun-hyeok hard. Jun-hyeok twisted his body and retreated to evade, then thrust his greatsword forward.
Screech!
But he couldn't pierce the armor. This was an opponent he couldn't deal effective damage to with his strength alone.
The moment he realized that, his movements shifted.
Clang!
Greatsword met greatsword. The force generated by the collision began to accumulate in Kang Jun-hyeok’s weapon.
C-Clang!
The greatsword, now laden with that redirected force, shattered the knight’s helmet. Though the knight staggered, he regained his stance. Stepping forward, he swung his greatsword violently.
Whoosh!
The blade cut through empty air.
Having already sheathed his greatsword, Kang Jun-hyeok grabbed the knight's arm and slammed him into the ground. With a deafening boom, cracks spread across the floor. The knight coughed up blood.
[Proficiency in Greatsword Technique has increased significantly.]
[Proficiency in the Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons has increased slightly.]
Next, a vast abyss stretched out. On the other side of the chasm sat seven ballistae.
Judging by the distance, even a full-power bow shot wouldn't reach. It was as if the trial was telling him: master what you have perfectly. Otherwise, you cannot overcome this.
“Hmph.”
With a snort, Kang Jun-hyeok pulled out a bow. He drew the string and waited. The ballistae fired all at once.
K-Boom!
The massive bolts shattered the ground and caused it to crumble. The recoil of that force washed over Kang Jun-hyeok. His body shuddered as if vibrating. The recoil from the ballistae smashing the earth was channeled into his bow.
It was a truly bizarre flow of power—a profound and mysterious logic that an ordinary person could neither understand nor accept.
The string was released. With a sharp whistle of rending air, the arrow pierced the head of the man operating the ballista across the abyss.
Through a series of such processes, he eliminated all the opponents.
[Proficiency in Archery has increased from F to E.]
[Proficiency in the Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons has increased slightly.]
Rumble!
The space changed once more. This time, it was a desolate, empty plain.
His opponent was a knight clad in pitch-black armor. Holding a black longsword in both hands, he waited quietly for Kang Jun-hyeok. Jun-hyeok understood immediately.
“The sword is the king of all weapons.”
He drew his sword in response. Gripping a white sword that contrasted with the black, he kicked off the ground.
Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok’s sword was knocked aside. The black sword moved fluidly, rapidly targeting his vitals.
Clash!
He quickly regained his stance, but the knight’s attacks were incredibly sharp. He couldn't even defend properly, let alone counterattack.
He was strong. His strength and speed surpassed Jun-hyeok’s, and his technical skill with the sword was comparable to Alessandro, the Loser of the Great War he had faced in the past.
Back then, he hadn't been able to properly respond to Alessandro’s swordsmanship. He had only won because Alessandro couldn't account for his unique nature as a Player; he had never beaten him in terms of technique.
However, the current Jun-hyeok was different.
Clang!
The white sword moved. Both blades drew bizarre arcs as they collided. The knight’s sword was incredibly smooth. It was a beautiful technique, like a single choreographed dance.
In contrast, Kang Jun-hyeok’s swordsmanship was violent. He shifted and transferred force, amplifying it. He created even greater power and let it explode.
Clang!
The fluidly moving sword tried to slash Jun-hyeok’s wrist. He lowered his arm to evade and used the momentum to strike upward.
Clash!
The knight gracefully leaned back to dodge. He spun once and delivered an upward slash. Kang Jun-hyeok instead used his strength to press down.
Clang!
They clashed again and again. Neither side gave way easily, entering a state of deadlock.
There were no stray thoughts in Kang Jun-hyeok’s mind. He thought only of moving his sword, controlling the direction of force, and defeating his enemy.
In that moment, his mind suddenly became clear. His vision expanded, and the world slowed down. He began to see his own movements as if from a third-person perspective.
It was a moment of enlightenment.
Kang Jun-hyeok moved his sword as if in a trance. His internal energy flowed naturally according to his movements. The sword, clashing against the black blade, created a strange motion.
Screech!
The sword, sliding along the flat of the opponent's blade, saw its power amplified in an instant. He swung it like a cracking whip. The knight’s body was blown back as if struck by a massive weight.
Crack. Snap.
Cracks spread rapidly across the black armor.
After staring at the knight for a moment, Kang Jun-hyeok stepped forward. The staggering knight began his counterattack.
Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok didn't make any large movements. With just a light flick of his wrist, he parried and deflected the knight’s attacks. Then, he swung with the amplified force. The knight blocked with his sword.
Boom!
The knight’s feet were driven back. Kang Jun-hyeok took another step forward and brought his sword down.
The situation had reversed. The knight’s beautiful swordsmanship could not withstand Jun-hyeok’s strikes. No—it went beyond that. The knight’s own attacks were being turned back against him.
With only slight movements, power was loaded and shifted, becoming as massive as a raging torrent.
And finally.
Crunch.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s sword pierced the opponent’s chest. The knight lost his strength and collapsed.
[Proficiency in Swordsmanship has increased from E to D.]
[Proficiency in the Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons has increased.]
“……This is it.”
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a low groan. His expanded vision and the slowed time returned to normal. The Master of All Weapons spoke softly.
[Turning Adversity into Strength and Absorbing Force to Break Momentum.]
Accept the opponent's momentum and turn it into your own strength; absorb the opponent's attack to shatter their momentum.
[You are still inexperienced, but you’ve become decent enough to watch. Congratulations. You have just understood the first profound logic of my martial art.]