Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Reinhardt's Challenge
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In front of the airship heading to the 7th floor.
Unhyang watched Soo-hyuk's stream while biting her lip.
"Ugh, ugh-."
"What now?"
"I don't like it."
Even at Cheongryang's words, Unhyang didn't tear her eyes away from the kit.
There were only 30 minutes left until the airship's departure. The two planned to head to the 7th floor first and wait.
Cheongryang, who had been monitoring the stream alongside her, asked out of a sudden thought.
"That Valkyrie, by any chance?"
"Yeah."
A response without hesitation.
Soo-hyuk was currently storming into Midgard's headquarters alone to rescue Valkyrie.
'Does she really like Soo-hyuk that much?'
If there was one thing she didn't like, it was that.
But a manager having personal feelings for a streamer?
That wouldn't just slide if it got out.
"Wha-what?"
It was then.
Unhyang's eyes widened, and her hands flapped excitedly.
"Hey, hey! This is that thing, you know, that thing!"
"That thing?"
Wondering what she meant, Cheongryang tilted her head. On the screen, Soo-hyuk was riding lightning through the sky.
"Twenty-five years ago, in the war against the Anuks continent-."
"Oh, that time?"
Now that she mentioned it, she remembered.
And even Lee Soo-hyuk's interview from back then.
"Didn't he say this was insanely hard? Lee Soo-hyuk?"
"He did."
"It just looks like a flight skill to me though..."
Rare flight skills definitely existed. But Lee Soo-hyuk was a player several levels above those rankers who had them.
It didn't look that impressive on the surface.
But.
"It's not a skill meant for flying in the first place."
"Huh?"
"You idiot, think about it. Lightning is originally-."
Unhyang, explaining in exasperation, suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Her gaze shifted to behind the station.
"What, did someone else come...?"
She was already anxious, wondering if Murim had sent more people.
Cheongryang tilted her head at the familiar face.
"Reinhardt?"
A ranker from the Knights' Order guild.
Anuks' magic swordsman and fellow streamer like Lee Soo-hyuk, Reinhardt was walking toward them.
"Fancy seeing a celebrity here."
"He's coming to us."
"To us?"
"The team leader contacted me."
"Contact? What about?"
Before Cheongryang could get an answer, Reinhardt approached.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Reinhardt from the Knights' Order."
He greeted Unhyang and Cheongryang with a perfectly crafted smile.
"You must know, being in the same industry."
Arrogance beneath the politeness.
That was Unhyang's first impression of Reinhardt.
"Yes. We know."
"Then this will be straightforward. You know I'm not suspicious."
"We heard about your son."
In an instant, the smile vanished from Reinhardt's face.
"So you're looking for our streamer."
"...That team leader shares others' business too freely."
"It's important to us. After all, looking for Soo-hyuk isn't with good intentions."
"I ask for your cooperation. It's a very important matter."
"And if we say no? Would you believe us?"
Unhyang absolutely thought no. Soo-hyuk wasn't the type to kill an innocent young player without reason.
But Reinhardt's eyes told her otherwise.
He needed someone to take revenge on right now.
And sure enough.
"We'll decide that when we meet."
He dodged the answer instead.
"He's streaming right now, perfect timing. Since you're here, he's probably planning to head straight to the 7th floor in this trial."
Step-.
Reinhardt's steps turned toward the airship.
"I think he'll succeed again. So, we can meet at the 7th floor starting point."
"You're really going to meet him?"
"I gave up on doing it quietly. But even if it's noisy, we have to meet."
"Why go that far?"
"Because that bastard might have killed my son."
He said 'might', but it was obvious at a glance. He was convinced Soo-hyuk was the culprit.
No.
More precisely, he wanted Soo-hyuk to be the culprit. That way, he could avenge his son.
It was blatant enough for Unhyang, and even Cheongryang standing a step back, to see.
In the awkward situation, Cheongryang racked her brain.
'In the city, it shouldn't be a big problem right away.'
The 7th floor starting point was in the middle of the city. No matter how much Reinhardt, he wouldn't dare use force there carelessly.
'For now, contact Soo-hyuk and have him avoid the spot as soon as he arrives on the 7th floor...'
That was when Cheongryang was thinking.
"That might be a problem."
Unhyang's sudden response.
"As fellow industry folks, you know streamer safety is part of our job."
"Hey, hey! Unhyang!"
Startled, Cheongryang urgently called her name.
The opponent was Reinhardt. He'd been a ranker for decades, a master of both magic and swordsmanship.
Though he fell in one strike, he'd even clashed with Lee Soo-hyuk before.
"So what will you do about it?"
Reinhardt's aura sharpened.
Cheongryang held her breath at his reaction, as if he might draw his sword any second.
"Why waste words between players?"
Swish-.
Unhyang turned her body away from the airship.
"I promise. If you beat me, I'll tell you."
Having something possess your body wasn't a pleasant feeling. Every time he used Master of Lightning, there was always a sense of another will dominating his body.
That was one reason Soo-hyuk hesitated to use Master of Lightning beyond the physical strain.
'It feels like the skill has a will of its own.'
Crackle, crackle-.
Black lightning coursed through his body, overflowing with power. Balder's sword seemed much slower than before, and his presence felt smaller.
Boom-!
"...!"
Balder, clashing with Soo-hyuk, was flung backward.
He quickly twisted in midair to regain balance, only to see Soo-hyuk's sword before his eyes.
Flash-.
Boom-!
The black lightning in one sword strike extended into a long blade, slicing off the spire's top.
Balder ducked to evade, his eyes sharpening. Unlike at first, he now charged at Soo-hyuk with full power.
Clang-!
Boom-!
Their swords clashed, thunder rumbling toward the sky. Balder drew up mana to counter without yielding.
Sizzle, sizzle-.
Soo-hyuk amped output at his toes and lunged at Balder. Balder barely blocked the spear-like thrust and slammed down with all his might.
Rumble-.
Groan-.
Their fight began crumbling the headquarters spire bit by bit.
Midgard's soldiers couldn't intervene recklessly.
Approaching the spreading lightning from Soo-hyuk's movements was hard enough, let alone protecting themselves amid the collapsing spire.
Crack-.
Finally, the spire's floor gave way.
Silverware clattered as it rolled. The giant's bones and heart fell to the floor below.
And at the center, Viola was.
Thud-.
Suddenly slung over Soo-hyuk's shoulder.
'When?'
Balder's eyes widened.
It seemed rescuing Viola had been the goal from the start.
Not planning to defeat him outright.
His pride crumpled.
"Daring to look away-."
"Wasn't looking away."
Soo-hyuk nodded upward.
Toward the top.
Balder looked up, eyes widening again.
"Something annoying was right beside us during the fight."
Crackle, crackle-.
A massive bolt gathered atop the thunderclouds.
"Good thing it's here now."
Power visible even to the naked eye from the clouds.
'Since when?'
How hadn't he noticed such a technique?
Doubt flashed, and the answer came immediately.
The thunderclouds. Hidden within the dark clouds, steadily building power until now.
All for this one strike.
With Viola secured, Soo-hyuk released his hold.
Boom-!
"...!!!"
Black lightning engulfed him. The headquarters spire couldn't withstand and began collapsing rapidly.
"Guh... Aaaargh!"
Bang, rumble-.
Groan-.
Balder's scream was buried in the collapsing sounds.
Thick smoke billowed skyward. Midgard soldiers were crushed by debris or scattered.
In the chaos, Soo-hyuk jumped down with Viola on his back.
No need to create lightning to step on this time. He used the falling spire rocks as footholds.
Landing below the spire, Soo-hyuk set down Viola from his shoulder.
Sizzle-.
The power that had dwelled in his body vanished rapidly. A floating sensation hit, followed by crashing waves of fatigue.
Soo-hyuk steadied his staggering body and crouched down.
"You okay?"
"No problem."
Viola stanched her own wounds and looked up.
"The annoying thing, it's fine now?"
"Joking around means you're really okay."
Soo-hyuk checked Viola's wounds.
Pretty deep cuts. Still bleeding steadily.
But fortunately, no immediate threat to life.
"If we treat it quickly..."
Mid-sentence, Soo-hyuk turned and spotted the collapsing headquarters spire debris in his view.
And within it.
Stagger-.
Balder, barely steadying himself, approached.
'He dodged all that?'
Soo-hyuk had assumed he'd be buried.
But he didn't look unscathed.
His unstable gait suggested severe damage, forcing him to overexert to escape the debris.
Swish-.
Soo-hyuk stood and gripped his sword again.
"Tough bastard, really."
Soo-hyuk was exhausted too.
He'd taken Valhalla's trial, rushed here immediately, fought Midgard soldiers, and used Master of Lightning at max output to drop that bolt.
His stamina was hitting bottom. Now it was who depleted first.
But fortunately.
Thud-.
Balder, staggering forward, collapsed to his knees before Soo-hyuk could act.
"Heh, heh, heh-."
Balder let out a weird laugh.
He arduously lifted his head to look at Viola and Soo-hyuk.
"Think you won?"
"Look behind you."
Soo-hyuk gestured to Balder's rear.
The collapsed Midgard headquarters.
"Can't you see who won?"
"No one wins this fight."
"What nonsense-."
Deeming no need to hear more, as he raised his sword.
Whoosh-.
Crack, craaack-.
Plummeting temperature. Ground freezing rapidly.
Soo-hyuk's pupils dilated at the skin-crawling change.
"It's not nonsense."
As if knowing, Balder grinned with utter abandonment.
"Rasderih might not, but-."
"You will die for sure."