Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: The Duel's End
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“Alright then, both sides ready? Let’s begin!”
With Diomedia’s shout in the underground arena of Iron Fortress, the duel commenced.
Go Cheonsu, clad in a blue martial robe emblazoned with the Blue Dragon and wearing gauntlets, faced off against Yoo Seongwon, still donned in his radiant golden armor and wielding the Titan’s Stake, both keeping their distance at first. Go Cheonsu immediately activated his Mu-eun Formation.
“This land is now… denied the grace of the stars to all! Mu-eun—no Grace—Formation!”
“Hm?”
Boom! Shrrrk!
A smoky gray aura enveloped Yoo Seongwon and Go Cheonsu, erecting walls of the same hue around just enough space for their duel.
Yoo Seongwon’s golden armor dissolved from his body, and the Titan’s Stake, now too heavy to hold, naturally dropped to the ground and burrowed into the earth.
Thinking everything had gone according to plan, Go Cheonsu pulled a drug booster ampoule from his pocket.
“What’s this? Huh?”
“This is……!”
‘Just as I expected!’
Seeing Yoo Seongwon, Baek Gayeon as the observer, and referee Diomedia all flustered, he smirked.
Yes, no matter how skilled, without the grace of awakening, he was just a mere human. Losing those powers suddenly would leave anyone rattled.
Then Go Cheonsu injected his final trump card, the drug booster, into his body.
“Sip… Hoo…….”
The sensation of the drug spreading through him revived memories from his special forces days.
A feeling he’d long forgotten after becoming an awakener—the recollection of ‘back then, we fought so fiercely.’ Clutching the two tactical knives he’d carefully hidden in his robes, Go Cheonsu gripped them tightly.
‘Perfect. No way I lose now.’
“Uh?”
Confirming the surge of energy as the drug took effect—not quite awakener level, but swift—he charged at Yoo Seongwon.
Certain of victory, he mercilessly thrust his knives toward vital points.
But Yoo Seongwon, after a brief moment of surprise, let out a chuckle, reached behind his back, and pulled something out.
“Ta-da! HKK-447 Calibur! Monster-hunting automatic rifle.”
“No way, what……!”
Go Cheonsu froze in shock upon seeing it.
A gun? A knight with a gun?
Amid his disbelief, Yoo Seongwon aimed it and explained oh-so-kindly.
“It’s standard gear for Academia staff. You don’t know what we do? Escort kids transporting training monsters, guard Human Class kids on E- to F-grade wild dungeon practice runs, and we even get parade duty for government events or association gigs, so we train for that too.”
“…How did you see through my plan?”
“I didn’t see it coming specifically. Just prepared for everything, and your weak spot turned out to be ‘this.’”
To win, his opponent had to find his weakness.
After endless deliberation, Yoo Seongwon had pinpointed it.
Himself.
Legendary armor, skills, traits, knights—all surpassed perfection, but the one wielding them was still a frail human.
“Truth is, I prepped for more than this. Mental training against psychic attacks or illusions, and this electric stimulator here to snap me awake if needed. Even close-quarters barehanded combat, so I got this ready too.”
“…Cowardly. You could’ve been a bit arrogant. Never imagined you’d prep a rifle.”
“Originally thought of a pistol… but the armor adjusts size freely, so rifle’s better.”
“Urk…….”
He’d been hoisted by his own petard.
Go Cheonsu glared at Yoo Seongwon in dismay.
Even with the booster, he couldn’t outpace bullets.
And this was made to kill monsters, beyond humans.
A graze would shred limbs, and with no cover in the open arena, nowhere to hide or flee.
“Any last words?”
“Hoo, about you, I’d like to know more…….”
Bang!
With the gunshot, Go Cheonsu’s head burst like a water balloon, spraying blood, bone, and brains around.
His remaining body crumpled to the ground like a puppet with cut strings. That was it.
For the Blue Dragon Guild Master who’d ruled Korea atop the three great guilds, it was an utterly pathetic, mundane end.
“Done. I win.”
Yoo Seongwon shrugged at the lackluster victory, shouldered the rifle, and exited the arena nonchalant.
The scene was deathly silent. Even referee Diomedia floundered in confusion, while Baek Gayeon, shocked pale, stared blankly at Go Cheonsu’s corpse.
“Let’s see… Dead, and yeah, awakening’s back. Armor’s on again. Heave-ho, stake’s stowed… As expected, deeds without awakening don’t register on that fancy knight code. Oh, you guys take your boss’s body. I won’t touch it…….”
“…Urk! Yes! I’ll call to have it retrieved.”
The secretary bit her lip in grief, but the outcome was clear—no room for argument.
Just in case, she called the Blue Dragon Guild staff waiting outside Iron Fortress.
“And… who handles contract fulfillment? Next Guild Master Go Cheonyong? Him?”
[‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ wishes to speak with you.]
“…Ah, you’ve come personally?”
Constellations were a higher order of being, so Yoo Seongwon bowed politely to the status window before him.
He’d learned from Academia days that arrogance gained nothing against such existences—his body reacted instinctively.
[‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ praises your courage and wisdom in reading his apostle’s plan in advance and emerging victorious. Says ‘well done’ again.]
“Thanks for the praise. Nearly got me good, though.”
Like a game chat ‘Well Played,’ from ‘Constellation Blue Dragon.’
Even with emoticons, it seemed very human-friendly yet decisive on wins and losses.
He’d half-expected rage and curses from a battle-loving constellation.
[And ‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ will assume and fulfill the contract made by his apostle Go Cheonsu.]
“That’d be a huge help.”
With Blue Dragon Guild underlings possibly resisting in fury, direct constellation intervention was a godsend.
The oath fulfilled, the grand finale neared. ‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ proposed fulfillment options to Yoo Seongwon.
[‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ asks you to choose your reward method.]
[1. Make all current Earth bearers of his grace absolutely obey you. Note: Those who sever the contract will leave, potential future issues.]
[2. Withdraw all current Earth graces and reset them in forms suited to you.]
[3. Withdraw all current Earth graces and pay equivalent value in items.]
“Wow… super detailed and polite.”
[‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ says he’s had his fun here, wants a break now, so time to wrap up.]
Option 1 meant bowing to their boss’s killer—prideful ones would ditch the grace and leave.
To claim full value, 2 or 3 it was. Yoo Seongwon pondered which.
“Hm… I’ll take 2. Not short on cash or loot anyway. No clue what ‘suited to me’ means, but better than the rest.”
He’d already toppled Blue Dragon Guild—reward details didn’t matter much.
Unsure what reset meant, but more skills or graces? All good.
[Seeing you choose 2, ‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ withdraws power from others on Earth and distributes rewards and graces tailored to you and your subordinates.]
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
[‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ bids final farewell: he’ll vanish from this Earth forever, so do well. Wishes you luck in your struggles.]
With that last message, ‘Constellation Blue Dragon’s’ window vanished.
Rewards and graces would come automatically.
Yoo Seongwon moved to announce Blue Dragon Guild’s dissolution and next steps.
But then, screams erupted from Blue Dragon Guild members moving Go Cheonsu’s body—already reacting?
“Aaah! What? Why, why Blue Dragon-nim? Blue Dragon-nim’s power!”
“My voice is gone!”
“W-what’s happening?”
Shouts of shock echoed everywhere from the sudden event.
Baek Gayeon and Diomedia gawked at the bizarre reaction, but seeing Yoo Seongwon’s calm face, realized he’d done something.
“…Hm… It’s started?”
“Your doing, I presume. Congrats on the win anyway.”
“Yeah, well~ Technically… Blue Dragon-nim’s doing. Anyway, Blue Dragon Guild’s done. Constellation withdrew all graces. Redistributing to us. What that means is…….”
[‘Constellation Blue Dragon’ has completed redistribution of graces and powers on Earth to you and your subordinates.]
[You receive ‘Blue Dragon’s Grace x1’ and ‘Reward Points x3.’]
Mid-explanation, rewards hit Yoo Seongwon.
S-grade monster clears now for mere Reward Points—three of them. Plus special ‘Blue Dragon’s Grace.’
Impressed by the haul, he tapped ‘Blue Dragon’s Grace’ to check options.
[Blue Dragon’s Grace]
Grace granted to the victorious in struggle. Acquire special skills or equipment. Restricted by user aptitude.
“Oho… This is something. Special skills—what are they?”
[Skills obtainable via Blue Dragon’s Grace]
(Legendary) ‘Struggle’s Majesty’
(Heroic) Dragon’s Reverse Scale
(Legendary) Summon ‘Gatekeeper of Blue Dragon’s First Palace’—Del Traid
(Heroic) Summon Blue Dragon Martial Soldier
(Heroic) Summon Blue Dragon Cavalry
…….
…….
…….
Skills from following ‘Constellation Blue Dragon,’ or summons of his direct apostle-tier forces.
Also mounts like Blue Wyvern or Blue Fang Dragon variants.
But Yoo Seongwon, stocked on most things, prioritized passives as always, picking top (Legendary) ‘Struggle’s Majesty.’
‘Synergy perfect here.’
[(Legendary) ‘Struggle’s Majesty’]
Amid fighters, you stand unrivaled, acknowledged by that constellation. Massive boost to charisma and appeal toward ‘fighters,’ favorable effects on related skills.
Applicable Skills: ‘Warlord Knight Yucheon’s Heavenly Sword Army Summon,’ ‘Magic Knight Kylride’s Summoning Art,’ ‘Heavenly Sword Army Discipline and Combat Directives’
*Learning consumes 2 Reward Points
‘As expected. Heavenly Sword Army numbers will explode. Let’s learn it.’
Two points spent, one left—net two gained.
Now he could summon the admin quartermaster ‘Junghan’ that Yoo Cheong and Jinseok raved about.
Learning (Legendary) ‘Struggle’s Majesty’ to check boosted Heavenly Sword Army points… another window popped up.
[Congratulations.]
[???]
[1/???]
“…What? This?”
A congrats message with some counter ticking up. Yoo Seongwon froze, staring at the suspicious window.