Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: 20. Life-and-Death Duel Before the Motel (2)
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Not only the man was surprised by Yeong-woo's sudden sponsor reveal.
“What did you just say?”
“Space...?”
The dozens of people packing the motel lobby and stairwell buzzed with shock.
It was because Yeong-woo's line moments ago sounded so utterly absurd, like they must have misheard.
Of course, it was true that Earth had been reset by some massive force, and impossible things were happening that defied the original reality.
But even so.
“He just said he's getting support from aliens...?”
As Seong Ye-rin put it, Yeong-woo's claim was beyond ridiculous.
In fact, some in the crowd thought Yeong-woo was insane.
“Universal what? What kind of bullshit is that? Read too many fantasy novels or something?”
The man in question sneered at Yeong-woo.
Then he thumped his left chest proudly.
“You call yourself Gyeongbuk's Greatest Swordsman? That means I'm about to become the one who claims the Greatest Swordsman's head.”
Fwaah!
Brilliant light gathered above the man's head.
It soon formed a single title.
『Gyeongbuk First Sword (True)』
“Oh.”
Yeong-woo widened his eyes at the sight.
He'd fully expected it, but this was his first time seeing a (True) title in person.
‘So there really was someone tracking me.’
A special title earned by collecting three or more First Sword positions in the Gyeongbuk region: Gyeongbuk First Sword (True).
Their one defining trait?
Real-time tracking of the current Gyeongbuk First Sword's location.
In other words, they were hunters who sought out and killed the Gyeongbuk First Sword to steal the title.
“I was kinda scared hearing you were Gyeongbuk First Sword, but you're just some crazy old dude.”
The man mocked him while assuming a thrusting stance.
Yeong-woo shifted his gaze to the pile of corpses stacked behind the man.
“That's rich coming from a psycho who killed all those people.”
“You fucking bastard.”
The man flew into a rage at Yeong-woo's words, his eyes flashing wildly.
And around then, a settlement message appeared in Yeong-woo's vision.
「Strength permanently increased by 100 due to Angry Goblin.」
「Pumpkin Whistle uses have been recharged.」
The goblin ring and whistle had reactivated after a day.
‘Now I can summon Yeong-tae again.’
Yeong-woo unconsciously broke into a glad expression, leaving the clueless Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) looking baffled.
“What the, what is it now, you punk.”
Then.
Shweee!
He launched a fierce thrust.
Whatever it was, it creeped him out—he'd kill him quick.
Instantly, golden flash activated, sucking in the man's senses.
But.
「Sense stat temporarily risen from 100 to 1,240.」
‘What...?’
The sense value Yeong-woo absorbed via golden flash was a whopping 1,140.
Meaning the opponent's sense stat was over 2,000.
‘No wonder he's so confident.’
Yeong-woo barely dodged the thrust, chilled to the bone with terror.
‘All my stats combined barely hit 1,700.’
Against that, the opponent had over 2,000 in senses alone.
How high were his strength, stamina, and durability?
Shwaaak!
Another thrust came flying.
At the same time, the Gyeongbuk Swordsmanship hologram guide instructed him not to parry but twist his body to evade.
A hint that he couldn't match in power.
‘Damn.’
A premonition of defeat crept in.
It might be premature, but First Sword-level fights were decided by 0.1-second margins.
In the end, Yeong-woo narrowly dodged the blade and yelled into the air.
“Everyone, run!”
“...!”
The onlookers, mesmerized by the unbelievable feats of the two First Swords, jolted in alarm.
They'd subconsciously favored the incumbent First Sword, Jeong Yeong-woo, but hearing him—the man himself—call for retreat made them grasp the gravity.
‘...We're screwed.’
‘The challenger's stronger.’
‘If Jeong Yeong-woo dies, next is...’
It took less than a second for everyone to size up the situation and bolt.
In that time, the two First Swords had already exchanged eight clashes, and everyone except Jongsu started sprinting for the lobby exit.
Tadadak!
Most here were well beyond ordinary, skilled fighters.
Their speed was decent, but laughably inadequate to escape a First Sword's eyes.
“Where do you think you're going!”
The man tangled with Yeong-woo lit up, and golden waves erupted from him.
Hwaaa!
One of the First Sword privileges: 'First Sword's Aura.'
“Uh!”
“Hup...!”
The waves swept the room, freezing those fleeing the battlefield in place.
None possessed the spirit or willpower to stand against a First Sword.
At best, local leader Seong Ye-rin could barely move, spitting curses.
“Fuck, what... what the hell is this?”
Her first time facing a battle-ready First Sword, she was dumbfounded.
Just a shout could pin everyone down? What kind of bullshit...
“Stay right there. I'll kill this punk first, then gut every last one of you.”
With vicious words, the man thrust at Yeong-woo even fiercer.
Yeong-woo barely evaded as before, but the limit was approaching.
The opponent's attack speed outpaced his evasion by two moves.
Likely because the man's strength was far superior, making him faster.
Without Gyeongbuk Swordsmanship's aid, he'd be Swiss cheese already.
‘Focus is slipping. At this rate...’
Shwaaak!
Feeling the last attack graze his ear, Yeong-woo reviewed variables he could use.
First one.
‘...Yeong-tae.’
「Pumpkin Whistle」 - Legendary Necklace
【Calls your friend.】
|Yeong-tae.
The whistle that succeeded in a handshake, summoning a friend.
Friends could be summoned twice a day total, now fully recharged.
And the second, final factor.
「Blue Blood」 - Mutation Drug
【Strength +30% for 10 minutes.】
【Uses: 4】
A doping potion called Blue Blood.
With his pure stats low now, the effect wouldn't be huge, but better than nothing.
Fortunately, strength was his highest at 700.
‘Just these two...?’
If he had to scrape, there was 'Golden Retribution' that inflicted pain on hit.
‘But I can't even land a hit, let alone dodge.’
Yeong-woo twisted away again in despair.
Shiiik!
But his body was already slowing; blood seeped from where the blade tip nicked his waist.
‘Damn, not three years—not even three days before I croak.’
Yeong-woo half-joked to himself.
By original fate, he'd be killed by a drunk in three years, a premature end—but reset had him dying far sooner.
“Ao, fuck!”
Finally, Yeong-woo filled his pupils with light, unleashing golden waves from his body.
Hwaaa!
“Oh.”
The man flinched for a split second, and Yeong-woo leaped back.
Thud!
“What, that's all you got? Running away?”
The man brushed off the aura with open mockery and pursued; meanwhile, Yeong-woo.
Flick.
Swiftly pulled Blue Blood from his pocket and dumped the whole vial into his mouth.
Bottle and all.
Crunch!
“Gah!”
The long glass shattered in his mouth, shredding tongue and flesh, but Yeong-woo had no time to uncork it—unavoidable.
“Kraaak!”
Agony twisted his face hideously, but wounds inside and out healed soon after.
Thanks to 'Slime's Core,' which even reattached severed limbs.
「Slime's Core」 - Mutation Bracelet
【Regeneration dramatically enhanced.】
Of course, to the clueless Gyeongbuk First Sword (True) and women's alliance, it was baffling.
“What the hell is with this guy.”
“W-what was that just now...?”
“Gasp?”
But the mystery wasn't just Yeong-woo's insane regen.
Next.
Slide.
Yeong-woo brought the whistle to his lips.
“...!”
Having seen it before, everyone in the room—from the man—braced for ominous vibes.
Preeee!
When the whistle actually sounded, all screamed in unison.
「Friend Yeong-tae is summoned at your call.」
A summon alert popped for Yeong-woo as saturation dipped briefly, then...
「Iyaaaaa!」
Mutant Hong Yeong-tae's voice echoed distantly from beyond the ceiling.
‘Oh no.’
Yeong-woo reflexively looked up at the sealed ceiling.
Then.
Kwach, kwajajak!
Irregular rending noises approached, closer and closer.
Likely smashing through floor after ceiling from the sixth story.
Until finally.
Kwach!
A massive beast-man with a hyena head. Mutant and friend Hong Yeong-tae—bearing 'Nol's body and a human soul—burst through the first-floor lobby ceiling.
「Urk!」
Yeong-tae smashed the lobby floor with his furry butt, then groped his waist with huge hands tipped in long, sturdy claws.
Then.
「Huh!」
As if just realizing he'd been summoned, he gaped his long muzzle in shock.
Because.
“No way?”
He noticed the lobby he'd crash-landed in was full of women.
Only then did he spot his friend and summoner, Yeong-woo.
“Oh, Yeong-woo.”
Like asking what the hell he was doing in a place like this.
Yeong-woo pointed his blade at the man opposite Yeong-tae and ordered.
“Snap out of it. That's the enemy. He's crazy strong—help me out.”
“What?”
For Jeong Yeong-woo, who'd beaten him senseless, to call someone 'strong.'
Stunned, Yeong-tae whipped his muzzle toward the man, who also recoiled, staring at the beast dropped from the sky.
“W-what... is this?”
Even terror edged the man's voice.
And understandably.
[Jeong Yeong-woo07's Friend - Hong Yeong-tae]
An incomprehensible nameplate hovered over Yeong-tae's head for non-relations.
Summoning a mutant was shocking enough—'friend'? What the hell had been going on?
“Th-this... what...”
As the man gawked wide-eyed at Yeong-woo and Yeong-tae alternately, his First Sword Aura faltered.
Shock shattered his focus.
Then.
Shwat!
The dozens of women's alliance members broke free from paralysis, and almost simultaneously, Seong Ye-rin bellowed in fury.
“All-out attack...!”