Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: 1 - 3 (4)
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Jangwang mulled over the lingering echoes of Siron's match that had just concluded, pondering if there was anything more to dissect.
Though crowds of spectators surrounded him, Jangwang saw only his own path ahead.
The tournament was no mere contest of brute strength. It was a vast arena where information flowed freely.
He had watched dozens of bouts so far, committing countless unique abilities, skills, and fighting styles to memory.
The skills and unique abilities one could glimpse in each dimension were limited, and opportunities like this were rare.
As Jangwang turned his attention to the next participants,
someone approached with hurried footsteps.
Then,
one of Jangwang's crimson eyes suddenly tinged yellow.
It soon merged into a fierce orange blaze.
From that eye shot a slender yellow beam.
Visible only to Jangwang, the yellow ray bent sharply in midair, sweeping over the approaching figure's body.
Once it passed through, Jangwang blinked, extinguishing the glow.
He had identified the newcomer without even looking directly—purely through his ability.
"Boss, according to intel we picked up just minutes ago... on these unique abilities... the key details..."
The arrival was one of Jangwang's subordinates. Under orders, he had been scouting other arenas, gathering data on standout unique ability users.
Panting, the subordinate began reciting what he had learned.
Jangwang listened in silence, betraying no reaction.
When the report ended, Jangwang waved him off dismissively.
Once the subordinate departed, Jangwang sank into thought.
"Classifying unique abilities is no easy task. With so many wildly varied powers, synthesizing them is a challenge."
Jangwang's unique ability was [Light of Truth].
The light emitted from his crimson eye penetrated its target, revealing various effects.
Among them, one allowed him to glimpse the status windows of those at a lower level than himself.
It was an extraordinarily potent tool for intelligence gathering.
However, it had limitations—only unique abilities, skills, and alignments were visible, not precise levels or stats.
He had leveraged this power to collect and analyze data on countless individuals.
Yet the abilities on display in the tournament arena...
They brimmed with outlandish powers unlike anything he had encountered before.
Compiling and categorizing them all was no simple feat.
The unique abilities I've scanned range from utterly basic and trivial ones to complex hybrids packed with diverse effects, much like my own [Light of Truth]. Since I can only view the descriptions, how effectively they're wielded is anyone's guess. Like that steel body transformation from earlier.
Status window descriptions couldn't capture every nuance of a power. Real-world application revealed far more, which was why this effect had always served merely as supplementary intel.
Even so, for a semi-information-based ability, [Light of Truth] often yielded highly valuable insights. It worked better on objects than people, which had even netted him some achievements.
The more Jangwang learned about the Transcendence World, the clearer it became: it hid an astonishing array of elements, scattered in the most unexpected places.
Especially alignments. Beyond good, evil, and neutral, the existence of others—and their tangible effects—carries huge weight. When Zone 5 opens, I'll have plenty to handle.
From the tournament grounds' intel, Jangwang solidified his confidence in just how elite his unique ability was.
Out of hundreds I've confirmed, scarcely any match it. Mine might just be the best.
Moreover, [Light of Truth] could target himself as well, naturally producing multiple effects.
The deeper he reflected on his formidable unique ability, the more he contemplated the fate that had granted it to him.
But Jangwang refused to chalk it up to mere luck.
Unique abilities are forged from the life you've lived. They're no random handout.
Later,
as Round 1 neared its close, Jangwang prepared to head to one final match.
Right then, a chilling premonition crawled up his spine.
He immediately activated [Light of Truth] and scanned his surroundings thoroughly.
What the hell was that sensation? I've never felt a threat so overwhelming.
Dismissing it as a fleeting illusion was impossible—that aura had been vividly, inescapably dominant.
He swept his gaze around and spotted its source approaching from afar.
That guy?
Jangwang began moving in that direction as well.
Slowly,
deliberately.
They drew closer to each other.
Though they hadn't yet locked eyes,
Jangwang sensed the other was aware of him too.
He's at least top-rank material. To sense someone at this range on instinct alone...
At some point, the two advanced straight toward one another, as if by silent agreement.
Up close, the man's face was concealed by a mask.
Yet Jangwang had seen dozens like him already. He wouldn't assume a higher level just from that.
Only two people here could outrank him.
Jangwang held his tongue, opting first for his most reliable intel tool: [Light of Truth].
What?
...A bad matchup? Or truly...
In this scenario, it was less likely compatibility or defense.
...He's higher level than me. Second place... or first.
The dreaded outcome confirmed itself in that instant.
Already heightened tension erupted.
He dropped into combat stance as if facing an enemy inches away, glaring at the man—Oheon—while masking his fear.
Yet inexplicably, in stark contrast to Jangwang, Oheon brushed past without a care.
As if utterly unperturbed.
No matter his higher rank, such nonchalance defied reason.
Flustered by the shift from the distant aura, Jangwang faltered.
He couldn't have expected to run into someone of my caliber in Round 1, right?
Why just from seeing my face... No way.
Impossible. That would mean...
Jangwang desperately wanted to deny it.
The stark truth revealed by merely seeing his face.
A truth plain even without [Light of Truth].
Ten levels above me...?
A crushing sense washed over him: every plan he had meticulously laid crumbling under this single revelation.
Watching Oheon walk away, Jangwang found he couldn't bring himself to follow.
Frozen in place, he thought:
That man was the pinnacle of this place.
I reflected on the top ranker I'd just encountered for the first time.
He felt weaker than expected—especially since I got a look at his face.
But I didn't let my guard down. I had no clue what his exact rank was.
I was certain he was in the top ten, but whether he was one of the real heavy hitters... that was unclear.
Eok, Jangwang, Sword King, Lord. Of course, the guy could be one of them.
If he truly was...
This tournament's about to deliver the biggest shock since everyone arrived in the Transcendence World.
What was precious recovery and downtime for others felt like tedious dead time to me. Useless, since training was off-limits.
As Round 2 kicked off, everyone in the tournament grounds was enveloped in light and randomly reassigned.
The participant count had visibly dwindled by more than half. Spectators appeared semitransparent, making them easy to distinguish.
I selected two opponents again for Round 2, landing an early slot this time.
Another match over in the blink of an eye.
"What... just happened?"
"What the hell? That match ended without even starting."
"What's going on here?"
With only a handful watching each bout, rumors never really spread, and the reactions mirrored those from Round 1 every time.
The next match, and the one after that, played out identically.
Opponents were undoubtedly tougher, but they fell in instants all the same.
To me, there was no discernible gap between Rounds 1 through 4.
And soon,
Round 5 began.