Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Master of Manipulation
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Three users remained.
The Warrior (party leader), the Spearman, and Kang Woo-jin.
All of them were melee classes.
With such classes, it was nearly impossible to keep up with Lee Shin's movements.
Although their movement speed was currently faster than Lee Shin's, the fundamental gap in their skills was just too wide.
Using only minimal movements, Lee Shin effortlessly dodged the Spearman and the Rogue's attacks, looking for an opening to counter.
'As I thought. Their individual skills are lacking.'
*Screech! Squeak!*
Lee Shin stepped left and right.
Dazzling movements that mesmerized his opponent.
In just a few seconds, the Spearman's gaze was stolen, revealing an opening.
Lee Shin did not miss that chance.
'Charge, Deep Cut!'
Lee Shin launched an attack in an instant with a simple skill combination.
Simultaneously, he thrust his empty hand toward his opponent's face.
A practical combat technique that obscured the opponent's vision while attacking!
It was simple, but in a real situation, it's difficult to weave it so naturally between skills.
Unlike ordinary skills that activate on use, something like this required pure individual instinct.
In the Arena, it was a technique you'd only see in the higher tiers.
"Ugh!?"
The Spearman, who was a relatively average player, was naturally no match for such an unconventional move.
Flustered, he reflexively thrust his spear toward Lee Shin's hand, which was the closest thing in front of him.
A reflexive reaction!
The sharp spearhead pierced Lee Shin's hand.
But an attack on the hand wasn't significant damage.
It was just a slight sting.
Taking his time, Lee Shin paused for a beat before landing a precise blow.
*Thwack!*
[A critical hit has...]
The Spearman staggered from the powerful impact.
Lee Shin kept his distance to prepare for a counterattack, continuously thrusting his sword.
A relentless assault targeting his opponent's weak points!
*Stab! Stab! Stab!*
[You have been struck in a vital spot!]
[You have been struck in a vital spot!]
[You have been struck in a vital...]
'This is insane...!'
The Spearman let out a gasp of astonishment at the damage messages, all glowing red.
He was landing targeted critical hits even in this chaotic situation?
It made no sense.
This was something you'd only see on a ranker's stream...
'This person... is a pro!'
He felt like he was only now seeing Lee Shin's true skill.
To his surprise, his opponent wasn't just a pretty face.
He was a genuine user with real skill!
'But why is he doing this...?'
That made it even more puzzling.
Couldn't they have just hunted together from the start?
The Spearman had that thought midway through, but he pushed it down for now and shouted to his comrades.
"Everyone, be careful!"
"...?"
Winning the fight was more important right now.
You can only talk after you've won.
"He's much stronger than I thought! I think we need to surround him!?"
A calm judgment made after swallowing his pride.
The Warrior and Kang Woo-jin nodded and began to circle around Lee Shin.
The standard formation, with the Warrior who had the highest defense blocking Lee Shin's front, and the other two positioned diagonally behind!
"......"
Lee Shin remained still, even as he saw his opponents moving to surround him.
In the first place, Lee Shin had been waiting for this situation.
For his opponents to encircle him.
*Grip!*
Lee Shin tightened his grip on his dagger and lowered his stance.
Then, with calm, steady eyes, he surveyed his surroundings.
What he was about to do required a great deal of concentration.
Just then, a small sound echoed in Lee Shin's ear.
*Rustle...*
It was the sound of dry leaves crumbling.
Lee Shin's gaze sharpened.
'Here they come.'
Lee Shin twisted his dagger slightly.
Through the reflection on the blade, he caught sight of the Spearman stealthily approaching from behind.
Three of his fingers were extended.
Now two.
And...
'...Now!'
*Fwoosh!!*
The moment his last finger folded, everyone surrounding Lee Shin rushed toward him.
The Warrior charged from the front, activating a skill.
Kang Woo-jin used a charge skill from the side, approaching silently.
And the Spearman thrust his spear from behind.
'......'
A situation that would dizzy the mind!
An ordinary user would have been caught in the encirclement, floundered, and died in vain without question.
But even in this situation, Lee Shin was frighteningly calm.
*Thrust!*
Lee Shin surged forward instead.
He swung his dagger toward the Warrior's outstretched sword.
Normally, the difference in their strength stats would have made it an uneven match, but that's a different story when their skills aren't on the same level.
*Clang!!*
[You have perfectly...]
"...!?"
The Warrior let out a sound of astonishment.
Because his attack, which even used a skill, had been perfectly nullified.
In that fleeting moment, he had no idea what had just happened.
Why was it blocked so easily?
'...A bug?!'
It wasn't.
He had simply struck a step faster, before his opponent's strength was fully committed.
A simple principle.
But it was easier said than done; this too was a technique you'd only see in the high-ranking tiers of the Arena.
It was only natural that the Warrior, who was at best a mid-to-high-tier Arena player, wouldn't have noticed.
'Tch...!'
The skill gap was palpable in just one exchange!
The Warrior cursed inwardly.
He'd been warned by his party member, but experiencing it firsthand was a different feeling.
But even after sensing the skill gap, the Warrior stubbornly pushed forward.
It wasn't like he could think of any other way, and besides...
'My specs are higher!'
This wasn't reality, but an MMORPG world.
He believed that if his stats were simply superior, he would eventually win.
But this confidence quickly faded.
Instead, he was met with an even greater shock.
Lee Shin's real assault was only just beginning.
Lee Shin intended to inflict as much damage as possible on the Warrior before the other two reached him.
'......'
Seeing the Warrior charge forward, trusting in his stats, Lee Shin took a step forward himself.
The Warrior, startled, reflexively launched an attack.
Lee Shin narrowly dodged it and closed the distance even more.
So close that their bodies were almost touching.
"...?!"
The Warrior flailed in confusion.
It was difficult to use a sword at such close range.
With one simple move, Lee Shin had effectively sealed his weapon.
'Hmph.'
While he was panicking, Lee Shin dropped his stance low.
And just as the Warrior lowered his head, Lee Shin rammed his shoulder into the man's stomach.
An ever-so-slight space was created between them.
Lee Shin struck upward with his palm.
*Thwack!*
"Gack...!?"
A blow that struck his opponent squarely on the chin!
Since he didn't use a weapon, the damage itself wasn't much...
But that wasn't the issue.
[You have struck a vital spot.]
[You have stunned your opponent!]
The Warrior's body went limp and he collapsed!
Of course, this was virtual reality, so he wasn't really unconscious, but he would be forcibly immobile for a while.
'Good.'
And in that brief opening, Lee Shin planned to complete his scheme.
Lee Shin turned his back on the stunned Warrior.
Two figures were charging fiercely toward him.
But their attacks were linear, making their movements rather easy to predict.
Lee Shin quickly anticipated their paths, and then...
*Grab!*
"...?!"
Lee Shin kicked one of Kang Woo-jin's knees, while his hands grabbed his arm and collar respectively.
Then, with a powerful twist of his waist, he threw him at the Warrior.
"Whoa...?!"
Caught completely off guard, Kang Woo-jin was sent flying.
And he plunged his dagger straight into the stunned Warrior.
An attack stacked with all sorts of self-buffs and enhancements.
"Kuaaaargh!?"
The party leader screamed.
His eyes darted toward Kang Woo-jin.
"......?"
"......?"
As they stared blankly at each other, unsure of what had just happened...
Lee Shin was relentlessly beating down the Spearman, shouting loudly enough for the party leader to hear.
"Nice!! Well done!"
"...?!?!?"
* * *
[You have landed a critical hit!]
[You have killed a user!]
[Infamy has...]
Lee Shin literally melted the Spearman in an instant.
It wasn't too difficult, as he had already lowered his health once before.
Lee Shin turned around.
There stood Kang Woo-jin, staring at him with a dumbfounded expression.
Lee Shin deliberately put on a smile and spoke to Kang Woo-jin.
"You worked hard."
"Huh?"
"I'll settle the payment right after we're done."
"...Huh?"
Kang Woo-jin was still stammering, unable to grasp the situation.
But the party leader's reaction was different.
He looked back and forth between Lee Shin and Kang Woo-jin, then shouted in extreme fury.
"You son of a bitch!!!"
"?"
"I knew you were suspicious from the moment I saw you...! You...!"
The party leader spewed a torrent of curses at Kang Woo-jin!
If he thought about it calmly, he might realize something was off, but he had already lost his reason.
He was so heated that rational thought was impossible.
And Lee Shin's desire for it to not be true also played a part.
'Si-eun is evil!' was less acceptable than 'That bastard must have instigated her!'
Of course, from Kang Woo-jin's perspective, this was utterly absurd.
"What is this nonsense..."
Just as Kang Woo-jin frowned and was about to speak.
Lee Shin quickly stepped in front of him, cutting him off.
Then, feigning a gentle tone, he said.
"Woo-jin, it's okay. Don't listen to him."
"What?"
"I'm sorry for making you do something so difficult. Rest now. I'll finish up."
"Ah... Ah!??!!"
Only then did Kang Woo-jin realize what kind of crazy stunt Lee Shin was pulling.
Lee Shin was trying to forcibly turn an innocent person into an accomplice.
The moment he realized it, goosebumps rose on Kang Woo-jin's arms.
'No!'
But the realization came too late.
Lee Shin had already completed his scheme.
*Stab!*
He was plunging his dagger into the party leader's head.
[A party member has died.]
"Ah..."
* * *
"Sob! Why on earth would you do something like this...!"
Kang Woo-jin wailed, having understood the situation.
But Lee Shin didn't even bat an eye.
"Sorry."
"Do you think saying sorry will fix this!"
"What else can you do about it."
"......!"
*Stab, stab, stab!!*
Lee Shin offered a half-hearted apology and killed him.
[You have killed a user!]
[Experience has been acquired.]
[Level up!]
"Oh?"
[Your infamy increases.]
[Current Infamy: 17,600]
"Oh..."
Clear pros and cons!
But Lee Shin wasn't too concerned about his infamy.
It was more important to get out of here quickly.
He thought he'd been quite deceptive, but it was never good to leave any possibilities open.
Lee Shin checked the items and started walking toward where Kilgeo was waiting.
And then.
"......? Where did everyone..."
By the time Jeong Yu-ra arrived, Lee Shin had already completely left the area.
* * *
[Quest complete.]
[Experience has been acquired.]
"Good work. But... *sniff, sniff*. You smell of blood."
'Sharp, aren't you.'
Lee Shin just decided to play along.
No matter what he said, the result was always pretty much the same.
"Yes, I killed a few people."
"...!!"
"They kept getting on my nerves."
"Incredible! You truly are..."
[Kilgeo's affinity has...]
"...destined to become a serial killer who will leave his name in history!!"
"Yes, yes."
"And you'll be a worthy disciple to inherit all my secret skills."
"Yes, yes... wait, what?"
[Kilgeo's affinity has reached its maximum!]
[The quest reward has changed.]
[Upon completing the quest, you can inherit all of Kilgeo's skills.]
[You can select and acquire a portion of Kilgeo's equipment.]
Lee Shin's eyes widened.
"...!!!"
The affinity had reached its maximum.
And thanks to that, the quest reward had changed!
An unexpected gain, which made Lee Shin's expression soften slightly.
Lee Shin said.
"I'll take the next trial right away."
"To take the next trial, you must travel to another city."
"Why is that?"
"Because there is a special place for the trial."
[A quest has been generated.]
Kilgeo's 6th Trial
The path of an assassin is like a blood-soaked road of penance.
Without strong willpower, perseverance, and skill, you will ultimately fall behind.
Kilgeo is curious if you are worthy to walk this path.
Pass through the Tower of Penance to the very end and earn Kilgeo's acknowledgment!
[Map has been updated.]
['Tower of Penance' has been added to the map.]