Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Chapter 60
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Volume 1 - Chapter 3 (Part 3)
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I triggered the skill in that split-second instant as my opponent was summoned, shattering their mind and forcing the system's defeat judgment.
There was no battle in that process.
No, nothing that could even be called a fight took place.
I cleared the first round without anyone seeing a single attack or skill from me.
The information stayed perfectly guarded.
This was a flawless victory, born from an overwhelming difference in levels.
The skill that made this plan possible.
The very skill that, if used right, could end fights faster than anyone else.
[King's Intimidation].
This was an epic-grade item.
A skill embedded in the Giant King's Crown.
The precise description of its ability.
It radiates an intimidating aura toward those weaker than the user, with the effect amplifying the greater the gap in strength.
Its standout feature: this mental assault was practically impossible to dodge.
The intimidation hit the target so fast—even I couldn't perceive it—and took effect immediately.
Especially since it was formless and colorless, the attack itself was invisible.
It was the fastest tool in my entire arsenal.
The ring's mana bolts were incredibly quick too,
and deploying a domain to strike with its power felt nearly instantaneous.
But nothing matched the speed of this [King's Intimidation].
Of course, it had its downsides.
Intimidating multiple targets dispersed the power.
I'd figured that out after testing it a few times on administrators like Siron.
But I'd been ready to unleash the full force on a single foe before their form even fully materialized.
That flaw was one reason I'd picked one-on-one.
Mastering King's Intimidation opened up new trains of thought.
Soon, I pieced together everything I'd learned from the first round.
'Guess I can't kill anyone here.'
No experience, no gold, and—of course—no Soul Origin either.
Mental attacks counted as damage too, and exceeding a threshold got you booted from the arena instantly. That much was confirmed.
There had to have been plenty of first-round matches ending in one-shot takedowns. Yet the community had zero mentions of deaths.
In this event, no one dies.
For me now, anything but one-on-one was a pointless option.
I glanced around.
Round winners were patching up their wounds.
That sight sparked a passing curiosity.
What happened to my opponent?
Just knocked out? Or had their mind truly collapsed?
Even after the round ended, nothing recovered right away.
Permanent damage wasn't out of the question.
As that thought crossed my mind,
I noticed translucent figures drifting around the arena—people who hadn't been visible before.
Spectators in ghost mode.
Losers from the round.
The system hadn't announced it, but clearing a round seemed to let you see them.
They were pointing at arenas or jabbing at thin air.
Probably how they picked and jumped to matches they wanted.
Unable to scout like that myself, I'd kept the community window open instead.
As expected, the boards were flooding with real-time eyewitness accounts from folks who'd caught ranker fights live.
Anyone else catch this? Dude suddenly covered head to toe in bright red fur at the start, went full monster mode, charged the opponent like ripping paper at insane speed. Scared the shit outta me.
Balance is all fucked. Even non-one-sec ones are mostly one-sided stomps.
Most eyewitness tales were bloated with exaggeration and guesswork from their puny stats, but solid intel was mixed in there too.
'Stuff about me too, huh.'
No one was even considering mental powers like King's Intimidation yet.
I headed off toward the four-man and sixteen-man arenas.
Most arenas I passed had lost their glow, fallen silent.
Sensing round one nearing its close, I eyed the system window blotting part of my view.
Round one's wrapping up for real soon.
I halted my steps.
Quietly prepping for the next round, I watched the other matches.
Meanwhile, as Oh Heon readied himself for the next round.
Siron had spent the tail end of round one wandering silently, spectating others' fights.
Drawn late in the matchup lottery, he hadn't battled yet.
At his side stood Hogan, his subordinate from Dimension 64, rigid with tension. They'd crossed paths by chance and stuck together.
Hogan had already cleared round one—no scratches, so probably drew a weakling.
In Hogan's case,
he wasn't an administrator, but his unique ability put him in the admin candidate pool.
Glancing at the victorious Hogan, Siron mused.
'We crossed paths, so maybe make him an admin once we're back.'
Then Siron refocused on the match before him.
His near-final slot let him observe hundreds of bouts, dissecting styles and power levels.
"At that level, even I could win handily."
Hogan spoke up confidently from beside him.
Siron gave a quiet nod, no words.
Just as Hogan said, most fights he'd seen were dull.
Sloppy techniques, wasteful skill use, amateur judgments.
Stats, unique ability efficiency—superior across the board.
Confidence swelled: on that stage, he'd crush most with ease.
Siron's current level: 16.
Job: Fighter, per Oh Heon's orders. Two skill upgrades pushed his Stamina to 18.
Rank: 631st. Solid, but miles from the elite. Nowhere near ranker territory.
But Siron knew.
His true power couldn't be measured by rank alone.
Unique Ability [Steel Embodiment] paired with Fighter's [Tough Body] yielded defense and offense unmatched at his level.
Bottom line:
His real strength far outstripped 631st.
As those thoughts churned, his turn arrived at last.
Seeing the message, Siron said,
"Heading out soon."
His subordinate Hogan replied tensely,
"Siron-nim..."
"Go watch other matches."
Siron answered curtly, giving Hogan's shoulder a light pat.
Hogan nodded with grim resolve.
"Siron-nim, please—victory!"
"Shut it."
Siron grumbled, but a faint smile tugged his lips.
'Good kid.'
All his focus locked onto the fight ahead.
Light engulfed Siron's body, whisking him to his assigned arena.
Opponent: average-built guy wielding a basic shop-bought iron sword.
Siron didn't let his guard down.
Spectating countless matches taught him judging by looks was idiotic.
The instant he hit the arena, Siron charged without pause.
His body turned steel-hard in a flash, dozens of razor spines erupting from his skin.
Psssh!
Mid-range opener meant to end it.
But the foe didn't flinch.
He calmly extended his sword, murmuring low.
[Barrier 2nd Grade]
Activates
A transparent shield etched with geometric runes formed before his blade.
Siron's steel spines slammed it, ringing out ting! ting! as they ricocheted.
At the same time, his sword blade began glowing red-hot.
Blazing flames enveloped the entire blade.
The fire roared menacingly, but he held back—no strike. Just aimed at Siron.
Siron pulled back instantly, widening the gap.
That blaze looked more for intimidation than damage.
One clash.
That alone told them neither was a pushover.
Tension thickened the arena air.
Late-slot match. Both had seen heaps of fights.
And realized: bad luck—they'd drawn tough opponents.
The enemy broke the silence first.
"Not bad. Unique ability, right?"
Siron stayed mum.
Oh Heon wouldn't waste breath on chit-chat here.
Just crush silently.
Imitating Oh Heon, Siron kept quiet.
His foe scowled, dropped talk.
Instead, the flame sword ignited in a blinding blue incomparable to before.
A searing, flesh-melting heat blanketed the arena—leagues beyond the red flames.
That's the real weapon.
But he snapped up his left hand, sighting Siron.
Pitch-black darkness coalesced in his palm.
A black sphere rocketed out at inescapable speed.
Instantly, the world went pitch black.
Vision snuffed, crisis instinct kicked in—Siron moved on reflex.
Cranked steel skin to max, wrapped whole body, then bolted randomly across the arena. Had to run blind till sight returned.
His mid-teens Agility let body sense alone dodge obstacles even sightless.
Foe likely planned blind-then-blue-flame ambush.
Siron evaded with that in mind.
Just as vision flickered back—
Clang!
Blue flame sword met steel skin in a thunderous crash.
Again.
Clang!
Blade hammered his steel arm repeatedly, sparks flying.
Siron took negligible damage, using the impacts to pinpoint position and brace.
Several parries later, he pounced on a gap for counter.
Spines lanced forward from steel skin, piercing something solid.
Vision incomplete, but spine feedback nailed the location.
Foe retreated sharpish.
From there, deadlock—both hunting openings.
Vision fully restored, Siron saw enemy clutching a wound.
[Light of Healing 1st Grade]
Activates
Green healing aura bloomed from one hand; the other swigged a potion.
Irritation creased Siron's face.
No flashy actives in his Fighter kit.
A twinge of envy—he stomped ground, lunged ferociously.
Blue flames clashed steel once more; the arena brimmed with their brutal frenzy.
Spectators trickled in for the show.
After savage back-and-forth, Siron finally slipped inside his guard.
Fist jammed to solar plexus, he wrung out final strength—unleashed spines. Mind flashed:
'Over.'
Dozens of steel spines burst from his fist like shrapnel.
Ripped through armor, shredded flesh in gruesome agony.
Foe's eyes bulged in horror.
Just before spines gutted him, system called it.
Back in the arena, Siron heaved ragged breaths.
"Hah... hah..."
Round one, and such a brutal matchup.
Victory's relief mingled with fatigue's dread for round two.
He beelined for his waiting subordinate.
Hogan greeted with anxious relief.
Siron recapped the fight; Hogan hung on every word in awe.
Hogan spoke again.
"What now, sir?"
Siron paused thoughtfully, then replied.
"Any time left till next round... let's scout more fights. Meet 'Him' later, pass on some intel—worth it."
"Even with your body not healed?"
Siron stressed "Him."
Hogan, no slouch himself, clocked it instantly.
Oh Heon.
Dimension 64's absolute overlord.
The subordinate nodded.
"But you don't look fully recovered..."
"Doesn't matter."
And so Siron toured more arenas with Hogan.
One man watched Siron's match with keen interest right up to his exit.
A blond guy, one eye glowing red.
He muttered to himself.
"Fighter, eh? Not bad. Solid unique ability too. Didn't know powers like that existed."
His name: Afterglow. Rank 3 powerhouse.
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