Item Power vs Skill (2)
Lee Seo-ah brimmed with confidence.
Their levels were both LV29.
Her traits numbered five more than her opponent's, and her stats were two to three times superior. As players, Ryu Ga-eul had far more experience on her side.
But when it came to murder, Lee Seo-ah had ten times the kills under her belt. Her PVP count? Three times higher.
"Does an LV89 player look like a joke to you?"
"Yeah, pretty much. LV90 players get insanely powerful traits. Tons of people die trying to reach it, right?"
Lee Seo-ah was deliberately poking at Ryu Ga-eul's sore spot.
"You're just scared, aren't you, Sunbae? That's why you're stuck at that level on purpose."
"You know what they say about cornered beasts being the most dangerous."
Words she'd heard a few times before. Ryu Ga-eul wasn't scratched—she just burst out laughing.
She's trying to bait out my real power, that bitch?
No items on either side, but that didn't make Lee Seo-ah the favorite. A 29-level gap was like pitting a shotgun hunter against a grizzly bear in a 5-pyeong room.
Saw her cloning technique recently, huh? She's geared up items and traits around that.
Fine, then. Let's fight without clones. Ryu Ga-eul yanked the mace from her shoulder.
"Sabunim, it's 3:1. Fight with us."
"Mm~ I'll handle it first and see."
"This isn't the time. Sword Saint... that woman's Player Killer Lee Seo-ah."
Who the hell was that? Ryu Ga-eul smirked. No such woman existed back in her prime.
"She's a hitwoman who murdered 57 players. Big name in our line of work."
"Shouldn't a famous hitwoman be a bad thing?"
"Makes sense—she took down an LV78 player at LV50. Even rankers steer clear now."
Damn, that's brutal.
"But you know? That was a scrub LV78. I'm LV89."
"No, that's still like 12 levels..."
"The higher you go, the wider a single level gap becomes—like heaven and earth."
CRACKLE—!
Lightning crackled as Ryu Ga-eul shot forward. She infused her mace with sword aura and swung.
A trait that sliced through anything while making it shatterproof against physical impact. The ultimate evolution of Sun Blade, it severed Lee Seo-ah's left arm like rotten timber.
"Rapid Heal."
But before blood could spray from the stump, her left arm sprouted back in an instant.
"You a doctor?"
"You can tell from the mace."
"Nah, thought you were just a concept whore. But a healer playing assassin?"
Ryu Ga-eul spun the mace and hurled it at Lee Seo-ah's face.
Splat—! It pierced right between her eyes. No player, no matter how strong, survives a destroyed brain.
"Without traits, yeah, I'd be dead."
Slithering back to life—her LV50 trait, Triple Resurrection. Three revives per day.
And then her LV55 trait kicked in.
"Sealing your sword aura for now."
Trait Seal
Trait Seal. Post-resurrection, seal the killer monster or player's traits for 10 minutes. She traded revival traits for killer PVP power.
"No sword aura now—what's your plan? You can revive twice more. I'll seal your traits each time."
"Dirty as fuck. Baiting clones means you wanna strip the seal, huh?"
As if. Ryu Ga-eul knew Lee Seo-ah planned some devastating, foolproof strike via clones—not just the seal.
"Clone Technique."
But Ryu Ga-eul deployed it first. Lee Seo-ah panicked; she needed to force that trait out.
What? She's not the type to follow my lead. This bitch that stupid?
Flustered, she pulled her prepared item.
"They say beware those who live for self-perfection."
"Where the hell's that from?"
"Said by the world's most wretched soul who ascended happily in the end."
"Bullshit. Don't expect middle school lit from me."
Ryu Winter, wielding "Blizzard Sawblade", grinned back.
"Of all things, a unique item."
"Jealous? Don't pick random item traits then."
"Sigh..."
Today's regret: her trait boosting item effects 120%+, but clones spawn with random gear.
"Winter, you're useless—evac those two. Rest of you, fight with me."
"Got it."
"Sabunim..."
"Don't worry, Hyunwoo. Sis has this 100%."
She said 100%, but something felt offensively uneasy...
"Get over here first."
Winter grabbed his hand and bolted. First time feeling that soft texture.
Ryu Ga-eul's clone, "Ryu Winter," looked far younger than the original.
Sabunim around 13 or 14 years ago—spot on.
Unlike the original, she was flighty, speech loose.
"Who's the bitch? Your fuckbuddy?"
"...Ra Chae-young. Sword Saint's summon."
A senior's summon was basically another senior. Chae-young bowed politely.
"Yeah, yeah, nice to meet ya. You know manners, huh?"
"Thank you."
"You can fuck off now."
"I can't do that. I..."
"Worried about Ryu Ga-eul? Puhahaha! Like a chicken critiquing an eagle. Worry about yourself."
The blatant roast cowed her. But Chae-young was quick to her duties.
She stood tall.
"I'll call the guild and rally members. Ten minutes max."
"Do that. It'll be over before—win or lose."
Chae-young dashed off to prove her worth. Ryu Winter couldn't hold back a sleazy grin at her back.
"That retard bitch. Desperate to get fucked by you. No chance in hell."
"... Sabunim's summon."
"Yeah, my main body's dildo."
Hyunwoo clocked it: she inherited Ryu Ga-eul's worst traits.
"What do we do now? If I keep you from helping sabunim..."
"Oh, that? My weapon's team-kill bait. Hits hard, but AoE mesmerizes allies too—no discrimination."
Ryu Ga-eul's side had the numbers issue. Experience told her sticking the clone on Hyunwoo was optimal.
"Anyway, you're cute as hell."
"Th-thank you..."
"Damn right. Perfect my type. Makes sense—her thoughts are mine."
Getting too close? Hyunwoo edged away.
But Ryu Winter's scent—identical to sabunim's—melted his limbs.
"You smell so fuckable, can't hold back~ Ah, fuck, when do I get to rail you."
This clone was dangerous... Hyunwoo's legs shook.
"Driving me nuts. Two more weeks of this torture."
"S-stop with the scary talk."
"Maybe just force it."
Ryu Winter muttered offhand.
Strictly, she was part of the original—like an arm or leg.
A twisted version of the Sword Saint.
"...Hah, fine. Fuck now and the main body's cursing me out."
"Good thinking."
"Still can sexually harass the shit outta you, right?"
She turned away, grinning lewdly.
"Gonna dress you in a uniform and fuck you raw. Till you beg for mercy."
"Eeeek..."
"When you're crying and moaning, grind your head under my heel. Etch it in your bones—you live under me forever."
Chills just hearing it. Toyed with by a girl his height...
But Hyunwoo sensed it: his future in two weeks. Inevitable.
"Fuck, can't wait. Really... you little shit."
"..."
"I'll fuck you forever. Can't get pregnant? Unlimited creampies. Hehe..."
Ryu Winter stroked his ass. Soon, barehanded.