Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: From Now On, I'll Take the Lead
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"Hmm."
I frowned after firing the arrow.
Even though the target appeared to be about 300 meters away.
I should have felt the sensation of it hitting if it landed.
But there was nothing.
'Did it not work?'
I pulled back the bowstring again with a skeptical expression.
"You fool, you can't just spam a good technique like that."
The old man spoke up.
"No matter how fine a ship is, it can't sail at low tide. The idea of infusing Poison Flash into an arrow was good, but that's as far as it went. The method was wrong."
'Hmm, is that so?'
"Poison Flash is a technique that condenses powerful force into a narrow space, isn't it?"
Meaning it was a single-target strike, not an area-of-effect skill.
'Ah.'
I realized the problem in that instant.
Since the opponent was far away, the accuracy would drop.
In other words, it felt like this.
Trying to hit a golf ball-sized orb.
Exactly on a fast-moving target.
When that target was also far off?
"Now do you understand? It seems you wanted an easy win like Eldrin, just firing Poison Flash from afar...."
'That stings a bit.'
"You think something that convenient exists in the world? The secret technique I taught you is clearly a close-range move."
'I see.'
Well, 300 meters wasn't impossible to hit.
But to do that, my archery would need to reach the pinnacle.
Even then, it would still be inefficient.
Each shot consumed 300 stamina, after all.
It made more sense to use it for precise close-range strikes.
Stamina wasn't infinite.
Ping.
I smiled.
I'd been on a hot streak lately, so I thought it'd work.
But the old man was right.
Nothing in the world was easy.
"Then I'll have to find another way."
As I assumed my stance again.
Sss, sss!
Far off, Andrei twitched—that was the moment.
"Huh?"
I froze.
All eight directions.
Before I knew it, an Andrei existed in each of the eight precise directions around me.
What?
What kind of trick was this?
Without any presence or warning.
Eight Andris appearing out of nowhere.
Was it an illusion?
"Kekeke, that's his secret technique. It uses a formation, creating seven identical clones in the four cardinal and four diagonal directions."
One real body.
Seven clones.
"Do you know what's tricky about that technique? From a distance, it's hard to distinguish the real one from the clones. And even if you spot it, it can switch positions, so it won't be easy."
'It does seem tricky.'
Insect King Andrei was a rank 69 high ranker.
If seven more like him appeared....
That sounded tough.
"Of course it's tough."
The old man nodded.
"That's why that bug nearly conquered the world. But that formation has a huge drawback."
'A drawback?'
"As you know, great power comes with a corresponding price. Just like how you've endured that horrific pain to become somewhat human."
'......'
The analogy hit home.
From training with the old man to Delaila’s trials.
The pains I'd endured weren't ordinary.
"The price of that formation is death. For 10 minutes, it burns his life force as fuel. Normally he'd use it on his subordinates.... Well, old habits die hard."
'Death, huh.'
"Or maybe he's confident he can take you down within 10 minutes."
Kwa-gaga-gang!
Right then.
Andrei's fist charged toward my face.
The problem was, it wasn't just one—there were eight.
'Amazing.'
They were all clearly 300 meters away.
Yet his fists flew at me like they were right in front of my face.
But.
Grip.
I tightened my grip on the weapon in my right hand.
'Something like this.'
Couldn't make me feel threatened.
To stimulate my peripheral nerves and draw out fear.
It would take something on the level of a Giant Dragon or Aranbalon.
"Be careful!"
'Yes, sir!'
Fwoosh!
I sensed the incoming attack and switched weapons.
From bow to shield.
It was a simple idea.
'If he dies in 10 minutes, I just have to outlast him, right?'
A massive shield filled my front, and Andrei's fists poured onto it.
But.
Blocking omnidirectional attacks with one shield was a tall order.
"Urk."
Places without the shield.
His fists dug in sharply.
"Hup!"
The moment I took hits, my breath caught and saliva sprayed from my mouth.
But my Pain Resistance was S-rank.
I could endure this much.
"You brute...."
The old man watching me shook his head.
"You're not planning to just tank hits for 10 minutes, are you?"
'Do you have a better idea?'
"If it were me, I'd snipe all eight positions precisely with my bow.... But for you, no. Unless you break the formation."
'See?'
The old man had his ways.
And I had mine.
I still had plenty of cards to play.
I could call Kaden.
Or use 'Recovery' through Dana.
Plus.
Who else was better at taking hits than me?
'You know what?'
"What?"
'This? It's more bearable than when you're hitting me.'
"You insolent brat! Comparing that bug to me? Of course I'd hit harder!"
Andrei wasn't a pure combat specialist from the start.
He specialized in formations and poisons, so I figured I could hold out.
'So, I'll give it a try.'
Kwa-gaga-gang!
As I hunkered down behind the shield and endured, Andrei's movements grew even faster.
Left, right, front, back.
Fists hammered relentlessly.
'I believe.'
What mattered now.
Was trusting the path I'd chosen and holding firm.
"Haaap!"
As I shouted and put on a stamina show.
[Guide: Hoon.]
Kapu's message arrived.
[Guide: Left is the real one. Now!]
'What?'
I instinctively twisted left.
Positioning the shield's front toward my side.
Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar shook my eardrums.
"Hup!"
The impact made my breath hitch even through the shield.
"Hoo."
The old man looked at me with interest.
"Even amid those attacks, you sensed the real one with pure instinct?"
Yes.
Even if all eight had similar power.
There was definitely one 'real' among them.
That last attack was the real one's killing blow!
The amplified force made it clear it was Andrei's ultimate move.
'With this much power....'
It might be tougher than I thought?
[Guide: Hoon.]
[Guide: Don't reply, just listen!]
[Guide: My artificial lens projects the situation inside the fog.]
Artificial lens....
'Ah.'
His words suddenly came to mind.
- Hoon, I implanted a custom artificial lens. It's amazing—it shows info or weaknesses on any object. Perfect for an explorer like me.
That item from the trial?
[Guide: Only you and Andrei exist in the fog.]
[Guide: He's right in front of you.]
[Guide: But he's just blocking instead of attacking, so he's caught in some illusion?]
A veteran explorer indeed.
Kapu intuited my situation from visuals alone.
[Guide: How about it? Need my help?]
Nod.
I nodded.
He wanted me to target the real one.
'That might be better.'
That last hit.
The real one's punch packed a wallop.
I could tank it, but I'm human too.
Better to smash him cleanly than suffer pain.
'Ignore the fakes and hunt the real one.'
Fake attacks just hurt.
Bearable.
Injuries could be healed later via Dana.
Fwoosh!
I abandoned defense and drew my sword.
Straightened my crouched waist and raised my low stance.
"Hoo, planning to find the real one?"
'Yes, I'll show you, sir. Oh, that old guy Dang Hwi-pyeong. It's fine if I erase him without a greeting, right?'
"Even outsiders like him aren't worth conversing with."
'Got it.'
I smiled.
Come to think of it.
The old man lacked something I had.
Capable allies.
[Guide: Good, Hoon.]
[Guide: From now on, I'll guide you.]
Reliable comrades.
* * *
Kapu's guidance began.
Trapped in this bizarre formation space, I was no longer alone.
[Guide: One step left, two steps right! He's circling you counterclockwise from your perspective!]
Okay.
I held my sword and closed my eyes.
Boom! Kwa-gagang!
Fists rained on my chest, arms, thighs indiscriminately.
But I just took them and endured.
They were all clones anyway.
'Hit me all you want while you can, Andrei.'
Soon.
I'd feed you a big one.
[Guide: Left fist extending at 45 degrees left. Now!]
I precisely turned my head that way.
Though it was empty space.
Twitch!
300 meters out, in my sight, the figure flinched.
'The real one.'
I gritted my teeth and stepped forward.
[Guide: Pulled back the fist!]
[Guide: Dodging right! 38 degrees right, distance 5 steps!]
Okay.
I twisted my body accordingly.
At the same time, I recalled the old man's secret technique.
「Concentrate.」
Woooong!
I gathered energy into the blade.
The energy of the technique that would plunge my body into agony.
「Condense your drawn stamina into a single point, compress it as much as possible.」
You know this?
Hot cures hot.
When your body hurts, pushing it harder makes it hurt less.
My body was already ragged from Andrei's ongoing attacks.
To the limit.
I drew every ounce of energy.
「Then borrow the aid of Poison Fog.」
Adding to my energy.
The poison's energy too.
[Uses 350 stamina.]
Huh?
It increased.
From 300 to 350.
The more I focused, the more I endured.
The more stamina I could handle.
Meaning constant practice, endurance, and growth opened more potential.
[Guide: Opponent's panicking!]
[Guide: Stopped dodging, assuming stance! Right fist! Straight ahead! Distance 1 step!]
1 step.
Just one step away, right?
Fwooooosh!
I felt the wind pressure right in front of my face.
Eyes closed, I saw his stance and fist in detail.
What I'd practiced endlessly in the trial.
I stared straight at his fist.
My heart skipped slightly.
'If this hits, at least a fracture.'
I could feel it.
Panicked Andrei had pulled his strongest card.
But.
I won't dodge.
The unprecedented energy boiling in my grasp told me.
You'll win.
Don't lose to something like that.
Believe in yourself.
「The dispersed Poison Fog energy and my energy.」
「Fuse into a single point.」
「Only then does the poison's flash melt everything!」
In the end, as I dodged leftward on the diagonal.
Using the recoil to snap my waist, I thrust the sword.
Straight into his chest center.
Exploding the gathered energy in one burst.
Myriad Arts.
Secret Technique.
Poison Flash.
Green light flashed from the blade.
Andrei's fist grazed my cheek, bursting blood.
But I ignored it.
Focused solely on driving the massive energy surging in my hand into him.
And.
Thud!
The world shook.