Chapter 87: The Second Test (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87: The Second Test (2)
The timer hit zero, and space began to fracture.
Krrr-crack!
Yoo Jin-ha gripped his sword, his expression turning serious. A monster burst forth from the shattered void.
[Uwoooooo!]
A guttural roar tore through the air. It was a massive, muscular beast with two heads.
Kang Jun-hyeok muttered under his breath, "A Twin-Headed Ogre. A variant, no less."
It was a monster with enough raw power to level a small hill on its own. Likely due to a mutation, it was half again as large as a typical Twin-Headed Ogre.
[Kuwaaaa!]
Its roar shook the earth, making the very atmosphere tremble. It was undeniably strong.
By Kang Jun-hyeok’s estimation, this was a boss-level monster from the mid-40s floors. Yoo Jin-ha’s current progress was the 46th floor. This was a formidable foe that usually required a Hunter to fight with everything they had.
Kang Jun-hyeok wasn't the only one who felt the pressure; Yoo Jin-ha surely felt it too. However, the look on Yoo Jin-ha’s face was one of pure disappointment.
“I had high hopes for the second test, but is this all it amounts to?”
He stepped forward, glancing back at Kang Jun-hyeok.
“It’s dangerous, so please step back for a moment. I’ll handle this one alone.”
“As you wish.”
At the implicit command not to interfere, Kang Jun-hyeok obediently took a step back. Yoo Jin-ha stood tall, gripping his longsword as he faced the beast.
[Kuwaaaaa!]
The Twin-Headed Ogre charged with a monstrous shriek. Yoo Jin-ha took his stance, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Whoosh!
A massive fist swung through the air. The wind compressed under the force before detonating outward. Yoo Jin-ha lightly leaned back, letting the blow whistle past his nose. Then, he swung his sword in a sharp, fluid arc.
Slash!
A deep, clean laceration appeared across the Twin-Headed Ogre’s back.
[Kuwaa!]
The Ogre let out a pained scream and unleashed a frantic flurry of punches.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The strikes were fast and devastating. The air exploded repeatedly under the sheer force. If a direct hit landed, even Kang Jun-hyeok would be left in a near-death state.
However, Yoo Jin-ha moved with a relaxed smile. The fists cut through empty air in vain. His movements were incredibly fluid, evading every single attack with inches to spare. In an instant, he closed the distance, slipping inside the Ogre’s reach to thrust his sword forward.
Thuck.
The blade sank into the Ogre’s side. But it didn't go all the way through. Yoo Jin-ha clicked his tongue and dodged a sweeping kick.
“It’s sturdy.”
Even with a direct thrust, he couldn't reach the vitals through that thick hide. In that case, he would simply carve it apart piece by piece.
His sword moved gracefully. He parried the Ogre’s fists and etched wound after wound into its flesh. In no time at all, the Ogre’s body was drenched in blood.
[He is quite useful after all,] the Master of All Weapons murmured as he watched the battle. [I felt it before, but... out of all the trash gathered here, he’s the only one worth his salt. He wields that sword as if it were an extension of his own body. His movements are swift and precise.]
“I suppose so.”
[The boy has talent. Even in my world, such talent was rare.]
Kang Jun-hyeok did not disagree with the Master of All Weapons.
‘Judging by his movements, his Swordsmanship proficiency is roughly around Rank C.’
It was a higher proficiency than Kang Jun-hyeok currently possessed. Yoo Jin-ha was strong. He had a natural gift for the sword—an innate talent that would be considered top-tier even on a universal scale.
That was why, among all beings in the universe, he was proudly hailed as the Sword Saint.
As he climbed the Tower, he had never been stalled once until the 70th floor. He cleared everything without issue, as if he were merely out for a stroll. Possessing power that was rare even in the wider universe, Yoo Jin-ha was a great hero and the pride of Earth.
‘I used to think so, too.’
In the past, at least.
Squeltch.
[Ku... kuwaaa...]
Finally, having lost a lethal amount of blood, the Twin-Headed Ogre collapsed. Against a boss from the mid-40s floors, Yoo Jin-ha hadn't just avoided taking damage—he hadn't even broken a sweat.
“It’s over.”
Yoo Jin-ha turned his head, his expression brimming with confidence. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke slowly.
“That was incredible.”
“Pardon?”
“To take down a monster like that without a single scratch... You really are amazing.”
“Oh.”
Perhaps he hadn't expected Kang Jun-hyeok to offer such straightforward praise, as Yoo Jin-ha looked slightly dazed. Kang Jun-hyeok continued.
“As expected of Yoo Jin-ha. You truly deserve to be called Korea’s strongest Player. Your talent is simply marvelous. I admire you.”
There was no actual emotion behind Kang Jun-hyeok’s words. He spoke as if he were reciting from a script. However, due to the power of his Acting skill, it appeared to Yoo Jin-ha as if he truly meant it. The corners of Yoo Jin-ha’s mouth twitched upward.
“...I appreciate the kind words.”
“The invasions will continue. I’ll handle the small fry. I’ll leave the most powerful monsters to you.”
“Of course! Leave them all to me!” Yoo Jin-ha said, thumping his chest cheerfully.
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled silently.
* * *
The invasions continued.
Monsters attacked relentlessly, and the Players did their best to hold them back. Unexpectedly, there wasn't much trouble. The Players had already practiced working together through their Guilds; the only difference was that their opponents had changed from humans to monsters. This was a surprise even to Kang Jun-hyeok.
‘This is much smoother than in my past life.’
The gauge was currently at 70%. They had passed the midpoint and were entering the final stages. In his past life, the White Tower had collapsed at this point. But now, far from collapsing, there weren't even many casualties. It was a stark difference.
‘A change has definitely occurred.’
He had released information and given advice to top-tier Players like Kim Tae-yeon and Baekdusan. It seemed the results of those actions had created this divergence.
‘The impact is greater than I thought.’
Kang Jun-hyeok was genuinely surprised. To be honest, he hadn't thought much of it. He had simply intended to give advice in exchange for a fair price. Yet, the outcome was vastly different. His small actions could significantly change the future.
If that was the case...
Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Yoo Jin-ha.
Krr-crack.
Having finished off the last monster, Yoo Jin-ha caught his breath and looked at Kang Jun-hyeok. Kang Jun-hyeok smiled and applauded.
“You really are remarkable. That looked like a fairly powerful monster, yet you defeated it so easily.”
“Haha. It was nothing.” Yoo Jin-ha laughed heartily.
Kang Jun-hyeok continued to praise him. He built him up, acted surprised by his strength, and expressed his admiration. As a result, the wariness and hostility Yoo Jin-ha had initially shown toward Kang Jun-hyeok had vanished without a trace. His guard was down, and his eyes were filled only with goodwill.
‘He really is an open book.’
Kang Jun-hyeok struggled to suppress a smirk. Yoo Jin-ha spoke with a friendly face.
“You’re quite powerful yourself, Kang Jun-hyeok. To be honest, I’m impressed.”
It wasn't empty talk. While Yoo Jin-ha had handled the strongest monsters, there were many smaller ones as well. All of them were monsters from the 41st floor and above. There were several situations that could have been dangerous for Yoo Jin-ha to handle alone, yet Kang Jun-hyeok had dealt with all those monsters by himself.
Considering he had only cleared the 15th floor, it was a miraculous display of power. Yoo Jin-ha was sincerely impressed.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what happens as you climb higher. One day, you might even reach the same level as me.”
However, that admiration had a clear limit. They were the words of someone who clearly looked down on Kang Jun-hyeok.
“Why don't you come find me after the second test is over? I think I might have some things to teach you through a few sparring sessions.”
Kang Jun-hyeok smiled brightly. “Thank you.”
There were no major issues after that. Unlike in his past life, the strengthened Players succeeded in defending each Tower. Since Yoo Jin-ha had managed to defend the Black Tower alone in the past life, there was no reason for there to be a problem now.
And so, the gauge reached 90%. They could clear it like this. Everyone believed that without a shadow of a doubt.
Everyone, that is, except for one person.
‘It should be about time.’
Just as he predicted, the sky split open.
* * *
“Waaaaah!”
“Whoa... huh?”
The Players froze. The monsters they had been fighting so fiercely vanished as cleanly as if they had been tossed into a trash can. The Players were dazed by the surreal phenomenon.
Then, from the rift in the sky, the Administrator of Earth appeared once more.
“What?” She tilted her head. “I thought a Tower or two would have broken by now, but you’re holding up better than I expected.”
The Administrator seemed flustered. The invasion she had sent down was not something the Players of Earth should have been able to block without issue. There should have been numerous casualties, and at least one or two Towers should have fallen.
This wasn't a mere guess. It was her Authority as an Administrator—a prophecy. It was a special ability granted to her by the Master of the Universe.
But the scene before her was nothing like that. The Towers were perfectly fine, and the casualties were remarkably low.
“Wait a minute?”
Looking puzzled, she moved toward the Black Tower. Yoo Jin-ha momentarily tensed up, thinking she was heading toward him. But the Administrator ignored him. She didn't even spare him a glance, as if he were a mere ant on the side of the road. Yoo Jin-ha’s face flushed red in an instant.
“Hey. Did you do this?”
“Did I do what?”
“Don't play dumb. Come to think of it, things were weird from the start.”
The 0th Floor, where she first met Kang Jun-hyeok. There, Kang Jun-hyeok had single-handedly defeated all the Mantis monsters. She had been too flustered to realize it properly at the time, but that, too, was something that had deviated from her Authority. After a moment of thought, the Administrator suddenly grabbed Kang Jun-hyeok by the collar and pulled him close.
[What are you—]
“Shut up.”
Vreeeeeen!
The Master of All Weapons was forcibly silenced. No, it wasn't just him. The world and Kang Jun-hyeok were separated from time itself.
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a silent, bitter laugh.
‘Just one word?’
With a single word, the universe had stopped. She possessed that much Authority.
Having frozen the world, the Administrator brought her nose to Kang Jun-hyeok’s neck. It was as if she were sniffing him.
“...What are you?”
A moment later, when she pulled back, her face was filled with confusion.
“Why do you have a familiar scent?”
“A familiar scent?”
“Don't play dumb. It’s a familiar scent. Why does a human smell like this? I thought I was mistaken when we first met, but I wasn't.”
“Even if you say that, I wouldn't know.”
Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. The Administrator let out a groan.
‘...What is this?’
Breaking the prophecy was one thing, but the familiar scent was another. Something was definitely strange. Yet, no matter how she looked at him, he seemed like an ordinary being of the universe. He didn't appear to be anything more. The Administrator tilted her head.
“I don't get it.”
But one thing was certain. She felt a sense of familiarity toward Kang Jun-hyeok.
“This is interesting. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
She backed away with a smirk. With a snap of her fingers, the frozen world returned to normal.
[Ugh.]
The Master of All Weapons groaned, as if feeling the aftereffects of the frozen world. The Administrator flew up into the sky.
“Well then, I should get back to work.”
[Kang Jun-hyeok. What just happened?]
“It’s nothing important.”
Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head and thought to himself.
‘A scent, huh?’
The familiar scent the Administrator felt. He had played dumb, but he had an idea of what it was.
‘The Returning Gem.’
The stone obtained from the Tower that allows one to return to the past. Because he had used it, she must be sensing its trace. However, it was unexpected that even an Administrator couldn't quite identify it.
‘Whose was it?’
There were very few beings higher in rank than the Administrator of Earth. Could it be?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. There was no point in speculating. It was a question he couldn't answer. The right move was to focus on the present.
So far, the second test had been incredibly smooth. At this rate, they would be able to clear it without any significant casualties.
‘But an Administrator isn't the type of being to just sit back and watch that happen.’
The real test was starting now. The Administrator smiled and clapped her hands.