Chapter 90: The Second Test (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: The Second Test (5)
Kang Jun-hyeok lunged forward, his spear a blur of motion. The air shrieked as the tip tore through it, a bolt of lightning aimed directly at a gap in the knight's heavy plate. The knight reacted instantly, swinging his greatsword in a desperate parry.
Clang!
The knight twisted his blade to deflect the strike and simultaneously drove his elbow downward in a brutal counter.
[Repulsion]
Vreeee!
A violent wave of repulsive force erupted from Kang Jun-hyeok. The knight was momentarily blown back, but he dug his heels into the dirt, grinding to a halt.
[Stealth]
In that heartbeat, Kang Jun-hyeok vanished.
The knight hesitated for a split second, his gaze searching the empty air. But his confusion was short-lived. Assessing the situation with cold instinct, he stepped forward and dropped into a low stance. Gripping his greatsword with both hands, he unleashed a swing of ferocious power.
Rumble!
The massive blade carved a violent, 360-degree arc through the air, seeking to catch the hidden intruder.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok wasn't there. He had already leaped high into the air.
[Charge]
From mid-air, his body hurtled toward the knight like a falling meteor. With a heavy thud, the knight was forced back a step. By the time the impact registered, the weapon in Kang Jun-hyeok’s hand had already shifted from a spear to a greatsword.
[Sword Ki and Sword Wind]
Slaaaaash!
Intense sword ki condensed into a howling gale, screaming toward the knight. The knight corrected his posture with uncanny speed, swinging his own blade to parry the blast, letting the lethal wind slide harmlessly past him.
But Kang Jun-hyeok used that split-second opening to close the distance, pressing himself directly against the knight’s armor.
[Shock]
Armor was designed to deflect blades, but it was inherently vulnerable to internal vibration. The knight’s plate rattled violently, the shockwaves bypassing the metal to rattle his bones. As the knight staggered, Kang Jun-hyeok didn't let up.
[Spear Throw]
The skill activated in rapid succession. Three spears materialized and were hurled from different angles.
Boom!
The knight stomped the ground, stabilizing himself. Moving his greatsword with surgical precision, he deflected two of the incoming projectiles. He snapped his head back to dodge the third, twisting his body in a feat of impossible agility. The remaining spears merely grazed the curves of his pauldrons, failing to draw blood.
He had neutralized three simultaneous strikes with near-perfect technique. It was a display of skill that bordered on the divine—certainly not something a mere human should be capable of. If they were fighting with pure physical prowess alone, Jun-hyeok wouldn't have stood a chance.
But physical strength wasn't his only weapon. He had the miracles bestowed upon him by the Tower.
Whoosh!
Having parried the spears, the knight brought his greatsword down in a crushing overhead strike. Kang Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground.
[Rift Movement]
His body flickered, reappearing instantly behind the knight’s back.
[Thrust]
The spear aimed for the knight’s exposed nape. Even then, the knight reacted. He twisted with blinding speed, raising his forearm to block. His bracer shattered under the force, but the spear failed to pierce through.
The knight had succeeded in his defense. Or so it seemed.
[Thrust] had been activated twice.
Crunch!
The second strike tore through the weakened armor and embedded itself deep in the knight's arm. Kang Jun-hyeok immediately activated [Instant Acceleration] and threw his entire weight into the drive. The spear, already through the arm, plunged deeper until it pierced the knight's chest. Staggering back, the knight reached out with a trembling hand to grab the shaft.
[Earth Shake]
The ground groaned and trembled. The knight’s balance crumbled, his hand missing the spear. Kang Jun-hyeok tightened his grip on the spear with one hand while drawing his greatsword with the other.
Craaaack!
He struck the butt of the spear with immense force. The spearhead burst through the knight’s back in a spray of dark ichor. Kang Jun-hyeok twisted the weapon in his grip. The knight’s body convulsed for a moment before finally going limp.
A system window flickered into existence, announcing his victory.
“Phew.”
Kang Jun-hyeok retrieved his spear. Normally, a knight of this caliber would have held on longer; monsters didn't die just because their hearts were pierced unless their health was completely depleted. However, his current attack power was nearly 40, and his Strength stat exceeded 60. No matter how resilient the knight was, he couldn't withstand a direct execution like that.
“O-Ohhh!”
“He won! He actually won!”
“My god!”
The people who had been watching with bated breath erupted in cheers. Kang Jun-hyeok glanced back and let out a dry chuckle.
I guess they were all watching.
He could feel their gazes—a heavy mix of envy and awe. Ignoring them, he looked toward Yoo Jin-ha.
“Hyaaah! Hrrraaaah!”
Yoo Jin-ha was facing his own knight, letting out shouts that sounded more like desperate screams. His rapier whistled through the air as he lunged, parrying a blow and closing the distance.
Squelch.
Finally, his sword pierced the knight’s chest. Yoo Jin-ha followed up with a frantic flurry of strikes, butchering the knight until it collapsed. As the monster fell, Yoo Jin-ha slumped to the ground, gasping for air.
“It’s over.”
“Wooooo!”
“We won!”
“Victory is ours!”
They had succeeded in defending all the towers. The crowd broke into thunderous cheers that echoed across the plains.
* * *
[100%]
The gauge reached its limit. They had won.
The space in the sky split open like a wound, and the Administrator descended.
“Wow. What’s this? You protected all of them?” The Administrator’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
While the casualties weren't few, all four towers remained intact. Her prophecy that one or two would surely fall had been proven wrong once again. In the blink of an eye, she appeared directly in front of Kang Jun-hyeok.
“Man. You pulled through too? To be honest, I thought it was fifty-fifty.”
“What was?”
“The chance of you dying versus the chance of you winning.” The Administrator’s eyes sparkled with a strange light. “Now I’m certain. You’re unreadable!”
Her gaze was filled with deep interest and delight. She looked like a child who had been playing with dolls, only to discover one that was actually alive.
“Wow! I’ve found a real diamond in the rough! I thought this planet was boring as hell, but I’ll have to brag to the other Administrators about you. I look forward to working with you!”
She laughed and slapped Kang Jun-hyeok on the back. The other players watched the scene in a daze. After enjoying herself for a moment, she floated back into the air.
“Alright! You guys have won!”
[Second Test Cleared.]
“...W-Woooooah!”
“We did it!”
People hugged each other, shouting for joy. The Administrator continued, her voice carrying over the din.
“You’ll be given three days of rest. Rewards will be distributed afterward based on your performance! For now, just rest!”
With those words, the Administrator vanished. The players erupted in celebratory cheers, but as the shouting gradually died down, everyone’s gaze converged on a single spot. Every eye was fixed on Kang Jun-hyeok.
* * *
On top of a wall rising from the plains, Kang Jun-hyeok sat quietly, staring at his skill window.
[Passive Skill: Greatsword Technique]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: C
• Description: The skill of wielding a greatsword. A level that a talented individual can only reach after a lifetime of effort.
[Passive Skill: Swordsmanship]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: C
• Description: The skill of wielding a sword. A level that a talented individual can only reach after a lifetime of effort.
It’s already at C.
The realm of a master—something a talented person would need a lifetime to achieve. He had reached it at only the 15th Floor. It was an incredibly fast—borderline overwhelming—pace.
He possessed the Divine Art of the Master of All Weapons, but that was a high-level technique. Passive skills like Swordsmanship were fundamental; they represented the very concept and foundation of wielding a weapon, making them the bedrock of his power.
“So this is where you were.”
Kim Tae-yeon, who had climbed the wall at some point, spoke up. “It’s absolute chaos down there. You know that, right?”
Kang Jun-hyeok shrugged silently. “It’s a bit noisy.”
“It’s more than just ‘noisy’...”
Everyone had witnessed the battle between Kang Jun-hyeok and the Black Knight. It was a display of power so wondrous it felt like a miracle they couldn't comprehend. Even Yoo Jin-ha, renowned as South Korea’s strongest player, paled in comparison. Naturally, rumors about Kang Jun-hyeok were spreading like wildfire.
“People are calling you the Perfect Player. Actually, they aren't just calling you that... they’ve decided it’s a fact.”
“Is that so?”
“What do you plan to do now?”
The world had fallen apart. Those with power now received treatment, status, and influence befitting their strength. Originally, Yoo Jin-ha was the most influential player in Korea, but he never tried to lead. He merely enjoyed the attention and awe, refusing to take on any real responsibility.
But Kang Jun-hyeok could be different. If he chose to exert his influence, the entire landscape would shift.
Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. “Nothing changes. I will continue to climb the Tower. As for the people’s affairs... you all can handle that yourselves.”
“I see...”
Kang Jun-hyeok stood up. As she hesitated, he spoke again. “Oh. And your efforts to save people.”
“Yes, yes!” Kim Tae-yeon tensed up. Was he going to tell her not to do such useless things? Given his critical stance so far, it wouldn't have been surprising.
However, the words that came out of his mouth were the exact opposite.
“I won’t stop you. Do as you wish.”
“...Huh?”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
Kang Jun-hyeok left a bewildered Kim Tae-yeon behind and climbed down the wall.
I thought it was unnecessary.
He had believed that saving people and leading the weak would have no impact. But unlike his past life, they had succeeded in defending all four towers. While that was fundamentally due to his own anomalous presence, it meant her actions weren't entirely meaningless.
Kang Jun-hyeok walked across the plains. People who saw him gasped and began to whisper excitedly.
“My god...”
“That’s him, right? The Perfect Player?”
Gazes of envy, longing, and awe followed him. He had felt these gazes until he was sick of them in his past life, so he passed by without a second thought. As he walked a bit further, he saw Yoo Jin-ha surrounded by a crowd. With a gentle yet confident expression, he was preaching about his exploits.
Kang Jun-hyeok couldn't help but let out a small smirk. Hearing that laugh, Yoo Jin-ha flinched.
“K-Kang Jun-hyeok-ssi.”
“You’re still the same. I guess people don't change that easily.”
“Ahahaha.” Yoo Jin-ha broke into a cold sweat.
Kang Jun-hyeok approached him and patted his shoulder. “Yoo Jin-ha.”
“Yes, yes?”
“I’m going to give you one warning and one piece of advice. Climb the Tower.”
“I-I am climbing it now...”
“Not half-heartedly like this. Do it for real. With everything you’ve got. Put your life on the line.”
Kang Jun-hyeok had realized something through this event. Yoo Jin-ha was the type of person who would stay in one place forever unless someone pushed him. No matter how much people looked up to him or praised him, he would just get buried in that attention and fail to move forward.
Kang Jun-hyeok leaned in, his voice low and cold. “If the results you’ve achieved the next time we meet aren't to my liking, it won't end with just a threat.”
“Eek!”
Yoo Jin-ha trembled violently. Kang Jun-hyeok brushed past him. The onlookers were shocked once again. Yoo Jin-ha—the strongest player in Korea and one of the top rankers in the world—was shaking in fear before Kang Jun-hyeok. Their reverence for the "Perfect Player" reached even greater heights.
The rest period the Administrator gave them was three days. With nothing else to do, people lay around resting and chatting. It was a peaceful, idle time.
But Kang Jun-hyeok had work to do.
It’s time to find it.
Kang Jun-hyeok looked into the air. A single quest was written there.
[Hidden Quest: Find a mortal who will satisfy Yulsir and bring them before him.]
• Success Reward: Yulsir’s Reward.
• Failure Penalty: Yulsir’s Wrath.