Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Duel with the Infected Brother
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"What are you doing here, brother?"
Shin Yu-hyun approached Shin Cheol-jin, who had appeared in the Black Tortoise Hall's outdoor training grounds.
"Draw your sword. Spar with me."
"What?"
Shin Yu-hyun wore a look of utter bewilderment at the sudden declaration.
Shin Cheol-jin and Shin Yu-hyun were both candidates for clan successor and leaders of the Four Directions Guardian Sword Halls.
Because of that, direct fights between direct descendants were rare.
Yet here he was, showing up out of nowhere and demanding a spar?
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm challenging you to a successor candidate duel, wagering our positions as candidates."
"What the...?"
The words that's bullshit rose to his throat, but Shin Yu-hyun swallowed them back with effort, furrowing his brow.
A successor candidate duel.
It was a one-on-one showdown where the clan's future leader candidates staked everything.
But candidate duels were only held when someone was truly cornered, and now was not the time.
They usually followed formal procedures under the clan leader's approval.
Moreover, it had only been a day since the clan was attacked.
And now a duel?
"Brother, have you lost your mind?"
"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do!"
But Shin Cheol-jin charged at Shin Yu-hyun without regard for anything.
Watching him, Shin Yu-hyun sensed something off. Hall leaders usually had attendants with them.
Yet Shin Cheol-jin had come to Black Tortoise Hall alone.
And that wasn't all.
Shing! Whoosh!
Without warning, Shin Cheol-jin drew his sword and lunged to attack.
"You madman!"
Shin Yu-hyun hurriedly drew Levatein from his waist.
Clang!
Soon, Shin Cheol-jin's crimson flame sword Phoenix clashed against the demonic sword of black flames, Levatein.
Whoosh!
Centered on Shin Yu-hyun and Shin Cheol-jin, crimson and black flames intertwined and surged upward.
In that state, the two entered a contest of strength.
"What the hell is this! Have you gone cra...?"
Shin Yu-hyun, yelling with a furrowed brow, froze in shock.
Shin Cheol-jin's condition was abnormal.
His face twisted like a vicious demon, eyes bloodshot red.
And drool dripping from his mouth.
He wasn't normal at a glance.
'What the hell?'
Shin Yu-hyun quickly scanned Shin Cheol-jin's status with his Death Command Eye. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan Second Son, Shin Cheol-jin Rank: 4-Star Supreme Status: Chaos Madness, Ferocity, Berserk 'No way...?'
The Immortal King's skill, Death Command Eye, allowed him to discern an opponent's information.
Normally, he couldn't read beings far above his rank.
But Shin Cheol-jin's condition was far from normal, and their ranks weren't that different, so he could grasp the basics.
'Parasitic Magic Beast?'
Clang!
"Graaaah!"
The crimson flame sword and demonic sword collided once more, forcing Shin Cheol-jin and Shin Yu-hyun to stagger back.
"Hall Leader!"
Seizing the opening, Black Tortoise Hall members rushed in to assist Shin Yu-hyun.
They couldn't stand by while their hall leader was attacked in Black Tortoise Hall.
"Stay back! I'll handle him."
But Shin Yu-hyun blocked them.
Shin Cheol-jin's condition was off.
And truthfully, he'd been waiting for this.
The day he'd personally beat Shin Cheol-jin down.
However.
'Infected by a Parasitic Magic Beast?'
Parasitic Magic Beast.
The calamity that would ravage Seoul a year from now.
As the name implied, it parasitized living beings.
The problem was it could infect Superhumans, and even 4-Stars couldn't detect it.
Once infected, ferocity and berserk took hold, gradually paralyzing reason and unleashing the host's desires wildly.
Just like Shin Cheol-jin before him.
"Graaaah!"
Whoosh!
Shin Cheol-jin ignited crimson flames from his sword and charged at Shin Yu-hyun.
'Gotta think later.'
Shin Yu-hyun glared at Shin Cheol-jin.
First, subdue him. And if he was truly infected by a Parasitic Magic Beast, there was no turning back. Recovery was impossible once infected.
Moreover.
'That guy's shown up, huh.'
Shin Yu-hyun gritted his teeth, recalling the one who controlled the Parasitic Magic Beasts.
Swoosh!
Crimson flames surged as the fiery sword arced grandly down toward Shin Yu-hyun.
Clang! Clang!
But Shin Yu-hyun swung Levatein in rhythm, deflecting the strikes.
Between Shin Yu-hyun and Shin Cheol-jin, the Crimson Flame Sword Phoenix and Flame Demonic Sword Levatein clashed endlessly.
Clangclangclang!
Each time, red flame aura and black flame aura erupted in fierce sparks.
"Graaaargh!"
Ferocity had turned him into a berserker, his face mindless as he roared ceaselessly.
And now, Shin Cheol-jin wielded swordsmanship even more powerful than usual.
Shin Yu-hyun was certain from that sight.
'Definitely infected by a Parasitic Magic Beast.'
Death Command Eye confirmed ferocity and berserk overlapping, plus an unknown "Chaos Madness" effect.
And one hallmark of Parasitic Magic Beasts was manifesting. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Phoenix Sword Fourth Form , Explosive Heat Slash Boom! Boom! Boom!
Small explosions erupted from Shin Cheol-jin's swung Crimson Flame Sword. It was the Phoenix Sword form he'd learned in Vermilion Bird Hall.
Normally, ferocity or berserk led to mindless attacks without skills or techniques.
But Parasitic Magic Beast infection allowed use of lifetime techniques even in ferocity.
That's why it was deadlier.
"Ngh!"
Each block of the overhead Crimson Flame Sword triggered explosions, pressuring Shin Yu-hyun.
The shock from the blasts transmitted fully through Levatein.
And that wasn't all. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship First Form , Ignorance Swoooosh! Boom!
With a sharp whoosh, the Explosive Heat-infused Crimson Flame Sword swept from left to right toward Shin Yu-hyun.
Shin Cheol-jin was a direct descendant of Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan and a successor candidate.
Naturally, he could use Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship.
True to his lineage, he unleashed fused Explosive Heat Slash and Ignorance at Shin Yu-hyun.
At that moment.
Whoosh!
Black flames aura surged wildly from the Flame Demonic Sword Levatein. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Phoenix Sword Fourth Form , Explosive Heat Slash Shin Yu-hyun unleashed one of Vermilion Bird Hall's sword arts, Phoenix Sword.
Crimson and black flames traced arcs in the air and collided.
Boooom!
An explosion erupted between them.
A massive shockwave propelled a mixed crimson-black inferno skyward.
"Whoa!"
"Get down!"
The watching Black Tortoise Hall members flinched at the sudden blast and dove to the ground.
Moments later, Shin Yu-hyun and Shin Cheol-jin emerged from the epicenter.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Even amid the explosions, they relentlessly clashed swords.
"I-Impossible."
"The Hall Leader using Phoenix Sword...?"
As the flames swept past, the Black Tortoise Hall members gaped in shock.
They never imagined Shin Yu-hyun wielding another hall's swordsmanship.
Direct descendants of Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, hall leaders trained in Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts from childhood.
The clan's core: swordsmanship, footwork, heart method.
Additionally, they learned advanced sword arts from the Four Directions Guardian Sword Halls: Azure Dragon Sword, White Tiger Sword, Phoenix Sword, Black Tortoise Sword.
Each had derived versions: Phoenix Sword derived Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship, Black Tortoise Sword had Black Tortoise Heavy Sword.
Typically, direct descendants learned Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship and their hall's advanced art.
But Shin Yu-hyun using another hall's advanced technique!
'Good thing I learned it in my past life.'
After the clan was wiped out by Getia worshippers, Shin Yu-hyun burned with vengeance.
He obsessively trained with the few sword manuals he salvaged.
Now, he could mimic other halls' techniques.
'As expected of the second brother.'
Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's second son and Vermilion Bird Hall Leader—Shin Cheol-jin was strong.
Not for nothing was he aiming for 5-Star.
Plus, the Parasitic Magic Beast boosted his physical stats.
Practically 5-Star level.
Clangclangclang!
Shin Yu-hyun whirled Levatein frantically against Shin Cheol-jin's relentless crimson flame-wreathed assaults.
'But within 2 meters, it's my range.'
S-Rank Unique Skill: Presence Detection.
He could sense and counter all movement within 2 meters.
Thus, he dodged or parried Shin Cheol-jin's attacks.
He counterattacked immediately, but Shin Cheol-jin's near-5-Star prowess blocked them every time.
Thud!
Suddenly, Shin Cheol-jin leaped back.
And thrust his Crimson Flame Sword into the ground?
'No way?'
Seeing it, Shin Yu-hyun retreated swiftly.
That instant. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Phoenix Sword Fifth Form , Crimson Lotus Phoenix Wave Red flames radiated like a shockwave from the embedded Crimson Flame Sword.
"Bone Wall! Bone Shield!"
Shin Yu-hyun cast the defensive spells he'd prepped.
Boomboomboomboom!
A white bone barrier rose from the ground before him.
Boomboomboom!
Immediately after, the phoenix-like Crimson Lotus Phoenix Wave's scarlet flames engulfed the Bone Wall.
Crack!
Under the intense shockwave and heat, cracks spiderwebbed across the Bone Wall before it shattered.
And soon pierced through.
But layered Bone Shields stood next.
Boooom!
The Crimson Lotus Phoenix Wave obliterated the Bone Shield too.
But Shin Yu-hyun was already gone.
Thud!
He'd leaped atop the Bone Wall, using four stacked Bone Shields like stairs.
Shin Yu-hyun overlooked Shin Cheol-jin from the 40cm-thick, 4m-high Bone Wall.
Shin Cheol-jin still seemed unaware, thrusting his sword into the ground.
Seeing it, Shin Yu-hyun slowly raised the Flame Demonic Sword Levatein.
Whoosh!
Black flames surged with immense momentum.
Without hesitation, he leaped down at Shin Cheol-jin.
And simultaneously unleashed Black Tortoise Hall's technique. ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Black Tortoise Heavy Sword Third Form , Heavy Breaking Slash Swoooosh!
A heavy strike plummeted with terrifying force toward Shin Cheol-jin's head.
"Grk?"
A beat late, Shin Cheol-jin spotted Shin Yu-hyun dropping from above.
Too late to draw his sword or dodge.
In that moment, the Parasitic Magic Beast in his body raised and crossed his arms.
Right then.
Booooom!
Black flames exploded, unleashing a colossal shockwave.
So powerful Shin Cheol-jin's feet sank to his shins in the training ground dirt.
A crater formed around him.
And...
'He blocked it?'
Shin Yu-hyun broke into a cold sweat unwittingly.
He'd thought it a solid strike, yet Shin Cheol-jin had caught Levatein with both arms.
And that meant.
"Phase 2?"
Shin Yu-hyun frowned.
Crack! Crunch!
No sooner had he muttered than Shin Cheol-jin's body began mutating.
"Graaaaaah!"
Entering full Phase 2 mode.
But conversely, it meant Shin Cheol-jin was nearing his limit.
Phase 2 triggered below a certain HP threshold.
"Time to end this."
Shin Yu-hyun activated his next move. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [S-Rank Unique Skill, Limit Mana Overdrive activated.]