Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Vampiric Aura
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His skills were certainly impressive.
The Sword Sovereign's combat prowess fell short of the Sword God's, but he didn't lag behind the Sword Emperor or Sword Saint in the slightest.
If evaluating pure swordsmanship alone...
'Atlantis swordsmen wouldn't even rank him in the top ten—barely scraping into the top hundred.'
The Sword Sovereign possessed swordsmanship skills far below his reputation.
Yet despite that, he was one of the four swordsmen representing the Atlantis dimension.
Moreover, in one-against-many battles, he displayed the bearing of an absolute powerhouse surpassing even the Sword Emperor and Sword Saint.
Not even Sword God Lee Kwang-ho could surpass the Sword Sovereign in group fights.
The reason was simple.
'It's all thanks to his unique skill, Vampiric Aura.'
Vampiric Aura was a unique skill possessed only by the Sword Sovereign.
Its primary effect was straightforward.
'When activated, it absorbs mana from any contacted target to restore the user's mana.'
Simple, yes.
But the implications of that simple effect were enormous.
Vampiric Aura absorbed all mana-based skills, including other types of auras, magic skills, curse skills, defensive skills, and more.
In short, anyone fighting the Sword Sovereign would have their mana steadily drained.
'It was truly remarkable.'
During the all-out war against the Demon King's army, the Sword Sovereign had swung his sword once, infused with Vampiric Aura, and erased a barrage of incoming attack skills.
He absorbed every drop of mana composing those attack skills.
'It was a display worthy of the Sword God title.'
Had Sword God Lee Kwang-ho not existed, the Sword Sovereign might have claimed that title himself.
But despite such grandeur, the Sword Sovereign proved largely useless against the Demon King.
'Without Vampiric Aura, he was nothing special.'
Swordsmanship, combat sense, skill application—strip away Vampiric Aura, and the Sword Sovereign's abilities barely scraped into low-rank territory, even at their best.
In a way, it was only natural.
From the moment he awakened as a Player, he had wielded the absolute cheat sword known as Vampiric Aura.
He didn't need to hone his swordsmanship.
He didn't need to sharpen his combat sense or skill application.
The Sword Sovereign was an absolute powerhouse.
'Even reaching that level of swordsmanship in such an environment is impressive.'
It proved he never grew complacent and constantly strived for more.
'Still, many were disappointed.'
What if the Sword God, Sword Emperor, or Sword Saint had possessed Vampiric Aura?
Even someone a notch below, like the Sword King, Sword Ghost, or Sword Demon?
'They would have been leagues beyond the Sword Sovereign.'
The Sword Emperor and Sword Saint matched the Sword Sovereign's combat power without Vampiric Aura.
They clashed endlessly against his mana-draining aura, relying on superior swordsmanship, combat sense, and timely skill use to hold their ground.
'Calling it even is generous, though.'
Truth be told, the Sword Sovereign barely withstood their relentless assaults.
And as they endured...
The Sword Emperor and Sword Saint, continuously robbed of mana, would inevitably falter first.
Sword God Lee Kwang-ho, however, crushed the Sword Sovereign with ease.
'And that was largely thanks to his items.'
It was possible only because of his cheat item, the Sword of Gluttony.
Now Kang Hyun-soo's sword, but before regression, it had belonged to Sword God Lee Kwang-ho.
'Before regression, I met the Sword Sovereign far too late.'
Kang Hyun-soo only encountered the Sword Sovereign after the all-out war against the Demon King's army began.
There, he copied the Sword Sovereign's Vampiric Aura skill via Replica.
The problem? He acquired it too late.
He sacrificed one Replica slot—previously grown to SSS-Rank—for Vampiric Aura.
Yet when Kang Hyun-soo met his end, Vampiric Aura's rank was merely...
'A-Rank.'
Had Vampiric Aura been EX-Rank instead?
With some luck, he might have survived the traitors' assault.
'I won't make that mistake this time.'
Before regression, Kang Hyun-soo had copied numerous aura skills via Replica.
Among them were the auras of the Sword God, Sword Emperor, and Sword Saint.
His final choice before regression had been the Sword Emperor's signature skill, Spirit Aura.
It boasted the best performance among the trio's auras.
Kang Hyun-soo had raised Spirit Aura to EX-Rank.
As one of the top-tier auras, it wielded tremendous power.
But...
'It still fell short of Vampiric Aura.'
Acquired too late before regression, it never truly shone.
However...
'This time will be different.'
The Sword Sovereign was Chinese.
And currently...
He was staying at Luzabenu, the southernmost tip of the Mightor Kingdom.
* * *
Kang Hyun-soo's party secured lodging upon arriving in Luzabenu and rested thoroughly that first day.
From the next day onward, they hunted without a single day off.
Kyaaak!
Monsters charged at Kang Hyun-soo's party from all directions.
Boom!
Slash!
Crackle!
The party engaged in fierce combat against the onslaught.
"Huff... huff... huff!"
The Battle Emperor exhaled ragged breaths.
"This is no joke."
Song Hana grimaced slightly, spraying potion on her wounds.
'Of course it's not easy.'
The average level of monsters in the Luzabenu region was a whopping 500-600.
For the Battle Emperor and Song Hana, who had just hit level 400, it was overwhelmingly tough.
Beyond tough—it was impossible without Kang Hyun-soo's help.
Without his summoned beast?
The Battle Emperor and Song Hana might have perished right there.
"Still, our levels are rising nicely."
"That's true."
"It's a bit grueling, but the efficiency is top-notch."
The Battle Emperor and Song Hana responded to Kang Hyun-soo with satisfied looks.
After hitting level 400...
From the small city of Sok in the Muran Kingdom to the grand city of Luzabenu in the Mightor Kingdom, they faced constant monster ambushes during travel.
Yet not a single level up.
They had been worried.
Fortunately, since arriving in Luzabenu, the Battle Emperor and Song Hana leveled up once a day.
The reward of mass-hunting far higher-level monsters.
'Part of it is because they just hit 400 recently.'
Truthfully, even at mid-400s, this pace would be impossible.
"Let's head back."
The sun was beginning to set.
Time to return.
"Got it! I'm looking forward to sparring today."
"Ah, getting to relax at the inn sounds like bliss."
The Battle Emperor and Song Hana brimmed with energy.
'They've finally adapted.'
Truthfully, Kang Hyun-soo's party had been on a brutal march.
Hunting daily starting the day after arrival, no breaks.
The hunts themselves were high difficulty due to the monsters' levels.
The Battle Emperor and Song Hana fought life-or-death battles with barely any stamina or mana left.
Yet neither voiced complaints.
Compared to their three-month northern expedition, this was hardly a march.
"And tomorrow, we're resting. I'll give you free time, so do whatever you want."
"Really?"
"For real?"
The Battle Emperor and Song Hana's eyes widened like startled rabbits.
Kang Hyun-soo rarely declared even a single day off.
Begging in Sok for one day.
One day after the three-month expedition.
Those were the party's only two breaks so far.
"Yeah, for real."
"Why's he acting like this? Got some scheme?"
"Maybe. What if the expedition starts the day after tomorrow?"
"No way, didn't he say no expedition? Kang Hyun-soo wouldn't go back on his word like some petty fool."
"Right? I think so too. Hyun-soo isn't that unreasonable."
The Battle Emperor and Song Hana nodded vigorously, voices loud enough for Kang Hyun-soo to hear.
"No expedition. Just time to rest. We'll resume the march the day after, so no funny ideas—rest up properly."
At Kang Hyun-soo's firm assurance, their faces lit up.
"For real? You won't change your mind later?"
"Hyun-soo, you promised. No backing out."
"Yeah."
Truthfully, Kang Hyun-soo had business tomorrow anyway.
"What should we do for fun tomorrow?"
"I'm just gonna sleep in!"
"Isn't sleeping the whole day a waste?"
"Well, yeah, kinda."
"Then tomorrow, with me..."
Song Hana and the Battle Emperor chattered nonstop, planning tomorrow's fun.
Regardless, Kang Hyun-soo's gaze fixed on one spot.
Even in the grand city of Luzabenu, a towering high-rise in ancient Chinese style stood out dazzlingly.
That was the guild house of the Zhonghua Guild, where the Sword Sovereign belonged.
'Tomorrow, Zhonghua Guild heads out on a massive expedition.'
The Sword Sovereign, a key executive, wouldn't miss such a large-scale operation.
* * *
Early morning.
With Song Hana and the Battle Emperor gone, Kang Hyun-soo remained alone in the inn.
Creak!
He opened the window.
'Perfect view.'
Their inn was right across from the Zhonghua Guild house.
'Wasted efforts so far, but today will be different.'
Whenever at the inn, Kang Hyun-soo personally surveilled the guild house.
When out hunting, he left a summoned beast and used Brigade Commander's Gaze to monitor it.
All to find the Sword Sovereign.
No luck.
He considered spending money to hire scouts for intel but abandoned the idea.
'No need to draw unwanted attention.'
Luzabenu was practically Zhonghua Guild's backyard.
If Kang Hyun-soo investigated their executive, the Sword Sovereign?
It risked Zhonghua Guild learning about him instead.
Kang Hyun-soo waited patiently.
Soon after.
Zhonghua Guild elites emerged.
Kang Hyun-soo quickly scanned their faces.
'There he is.'
The Sword Sovereign was in the lead group.
'Must be a promising talent.'
He was with the guild master and other top executives.
Unlike pre-regression, post-regression Sword Sovereign was still growing.
He likely hadn't earned the title yet.
'Opportunity won't last.'
Kang Hyun-soo cast Replica on the Sword Sovereign.
[Using unique skill Replica – B-Rank.]
[One stack consumed.]
[Creating Replica of One Stroke Two Cuts – B-Rank.]
[Replica skill One Stroke Two Cuts – F-Rank created.]
[Replica skills retain 100% of original stats.]
...Omitted...
'This guy has way too many skills.'
Stacks depleted rapidly.
But the Vampiric Aura Kang Hyun-soo wanted didn't appear.
Fail to get it now?
He'd twiddle thumbs until Zhonghua Guild's expedition ended.
Then.
[Using unique skill Replica – B-Rank.]
[One stack consumed.]
[Creating Replica of Vampiric Aura – A-Rank.]
[Replica skill Vampiric Aura – F-Rank created.]
[Replica skills retain 100% of original stats.]
'Got it.'
The aura skill he'd longed for.
Vampiric Aura was his.
'Lucky.'
Half his stacks remained.
Luck didn't end there.
'No way the Saintess of Sacred Flames is here too.'
Kang Hyun-soo turned to another player, not the Sword Sovereign.
'Saintess of Sacred Flames.'
The top healer revered as a treasure by all Chinese Players, beyond just Zhonghua Guild.
Currently just a low-level healer.
But far in the future...
She would claim the title and rank among Atlantis's top ten healers.
'Didn't expect her to be summoned already.'
She rose to prominence about a decade from now.
Kang Hyun-soo figured her summoning to Atlantis was at least five years away.
But no.