Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Lightning from the Spire
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On the tall spire rising high in the center.
Lee Soo-hyuk was standing precariously at its peak, somehow keeping his balance.
Lee Soo-hyuk hurled lightning.
He was literally throwing lightning bolts from the top of the spire. Toward the participants who looked like tiny dots in the distance.
The spire was incredibly tall. From its summit, the buildings below looked like toy blocks, and people appeared as tiny black specks like baby ants.
The entire map was visible at a glance.
Participants fiercely battling below. Others hiding in alleys or chatting to form teams.
Everything was in view. Of course, only Lee Soo-hyuk could see it all.
As if the spire's purpose was designed for exactly this.
Lee Soo-hyuk turned the spire into his stage.
Kaboom!
Lightning struck from the sky into Lee Soo-hyuk's hand. With the weather's aid, he gripped it like a god from mythology.
Long ago.
There had been an interview with Lee Soo-hyuk after participating in a major league match.
"You're performing exceptionally well today. Any secret to it?"
"It's because it's raining."
"Rain? What does rain have to do with performance...?"
"Rain improves my condition."
People thought it was a joke.
But in reality, on rainy days—precisely on days with thunder—Lee Soo-hyuk became a completely different person.
'Lucky.'
The reason Lee Soo-hyuk accepted the safe asset mission.
It was the weather.
'It's been so long since it was like this.'
Whoosh...
Kaboom!
Thunder roared, and rain poured from the sky.
Enemies were soaked, making them more susceptible to electrocution. Meanwhile, he could draw lightning from the heavens, achieving high output with minimal effort.
And with this towering spire.
It was the perfect map for unilaterally massacring foes by hurling lightning.
Kaboom!
The lightning bolt shot from his hand toward a group of participants. Three fell in succession, and he prepared the next bolt.
And around then.
'They're starting to catch on.'
One by one from below.
Participants realized he was the one throwing lightning from here.
He hadn't expected to hide it until the end anyway.
All the participants here were ranker-level players. He knew from the start he couldn't fool them forever.
A lot, but still far from enough.
But it didn't matter.
This was actually a bit later than expected.
'Now it begins.'
Even if they realized someone was up here, responding immediately was impossible.
Most participants were already dealing with nearby enemies, and taking their eyes off even for a moment meant getting taken out by a closer foe.
This was Lee Soo-hyuk's second phase.
'It won't take long.'
For now, the immediate enemies were more pressing, but as time passed, priorities would shift inevitably.
Soon, he'd be everyone's target.
But.
'No choice.'
The mission faded from his mind. It was just a bonus now.
All he could think about was ending this trial as quickly as possible and getting out.
Kaboom!
Messages kept popping up with every lightning strike.
He ignored them. He was still far from his goal, let alone the end of the trial.
More targets appeared in the distance.
No.
He focused all his senses to make them visible.
Just as they saw him as a speck, he saw them the same way.
For now, all he could do was maintain superhuman concentration without end.
Ping.
A tiny light caught his eye.
His head snapped reflexively.
Whoosh!
A fierce gust brushed past his head. It happened in an instant, but instinct told him what it was.
'Arrow.'
Aim perfectly accurate from this distance. No ordinary skill.
Once the attack started, arrows kept coming.
Shower!
Arrows rained down from all directions.
They converged on one point: Lee Soo-hyuk's heart.
Flash. The sword in his hand sliced the clustered arrows in half.
At the same time, the lightning in his other hand shot toward the source.
Rumble. Lightning surged far away. A single opponent.
That was the start.
Participants who spotted him began counterattacking one by one.
'Here we go.'
One-sided slaughter would be ideal, but that was just wishful thinking.
Now they'd fight back.
For now, first.
Whoosh!
Attacks flying from afar.
'Quite a few with high accuracy.'
Lee Soo-hyuk frowned as he deflected a mana projectile with his hand.
Preliminaries or not, it was crawling with rankers.
Dozens in this field could precisely land skills on the towering spire.
Now he had to block or dodge them all while continuing to hurl lightning.
Kaboom!
Lightning fell from the sky again.
He altered its trajectory. From now on, wielding massive bolts with minimal power was key.
The battle ahead would be against time and stamina.
Crack.
The sensation of a neck breaking transmitted through his fingertips. Having cleared the path again, Hwang Gyu-seong stepped forward.
Stagger.
His body swayed, balance crumbling momentarily. He dropped to one knee, catching his breath.
"Huff, huu."
His breath carried the stench of acetone and blood. Bright red saliva-mixed blood dripped from his mouth to the ground.
"What a bitch... really."
The more he moved, the faster the poison spread.
He needed rest somewhere to expel or detoxify it, but there was no such luxury.
The wounds from the arena fights couldn't be ignored either.
The minor cuts from Uncheon-geuk, and Jin Do-ha's sword had pierced deep.
Bleeding from wounds accelerated the poison.
Messages kept coming.
But he couldn't stop. The more time passed, the tighter the encirclement he'd barely broken would become.
Step.
Finally straightening his legs, Hwang Gyu-seong began moving to a new spot.
As the poison spread, one thought surfaced.
"That bastard..."
Lee Soo-hyuk.
The back of his friend who fought on despite the same poison came to mind.
"Deserves respect."
Back then, it had been unimaginable.
Lee Soo-hyuk losing. No matter the numbers or condition, he'd never considered it.
But experiencing the poison himself, he understood.
This was the power of a divine item, one of the few in existence.
This poison could kill even the greatest players.
"Cough, ptui."
Blood surged from within. Even still, his muscles tore and organs twisted in agony.
Only now, after over 20 years, did true respect dawn.
Lee Soo-hyuk.
What pain had he endured to fight and save them?
"Pathetic..."
Hiss.
He halted his advance and turned back.
"Shame on you, Gyu-seong."
That guy fought. Yet here he was, fleeing shamefully, planning for next time.
'Even if Kim Il-su struck first...'
Someone approached. Exactly what he'd waited for.
"Dying like this? How could I face him?"
Swish.
A brief pause, and they caught up instantly.
Even running nonstop, it wouldn't have lasted much longer.
Jin Do-ha emerged from the brush in the arena's direction. He didn't swing immediately, instead standing at a distance before Hwang Gyu-seong.
"Not running anymore?"
His tone was polite now, unlike before.
He'd painted Hwang Gyu-seong as a traitor publicly, but no need now.
This was Jin Do-ha. Greatest swordsman and schemer.
"Too shameful."
"Shameful... I see. I might've done the same."
Jin Do-ha understood instantly.
He'd been there on Blue Eyes' final day.
"Wise choice. Even if you break through me and the Murim Alliance's net, another encirclement awaits."
Somehow, he'd thought it too perfect.
Kim Il-su, extreme perfectionist, wouldn't leave it all to Murim.
After Murim's net, Blue Zone's would form.
"Better to die by my hand than theirs. More honorable, less unjust."
"Sounds like you're worried about me."
"Unjust, no? Dying to those who stole all your glory."
True enough. Blue Zone took Blue Eyes' legends and glory.
Dying by their hands would be more bitter.
But such thoughts were irrelevant now.
"Doesn't matter."
He hadn't stopped to die anyway.
"I'm not running. I'll kill you, kill everything out there, and walk out."
"...You know it's impossible."
"Maybe."
No.
He knew.
In this state, not even Jin Do-ha before him, let alone Blue Zone or Murim nets.
Yet Hwang Gyu-seong resolved himself.
"So what? Gotta do it."
Possible or not.
At least, no fleeing in his heart.
In Jin Do-ha's eyes gazing at Hwang Gyu-seong, another overlapped.
'He resembles him. Lee Soo-hyuk.'
Over 20 years later, he couldn't forget that day.
A man burning everything despite a body that could die any moment. Breaking limits with sheer will to save comrades.
"...Very well."
Swish.
Jin Do-ha raised his downward sword evenly with both hands.
"From now, I'll unleash five forms. These hold my life's essence."
Hummm.
Rumble.
The qi-devouring sword wailed. The dry sky vibrated, clouds shook, fierce winds like a typhoon blew.
Like a dragon ascending, aura shimmered around him.
"Survive them, and I'll let you go. I stake my life and honor."
"Thanks?"
"No need. I'm the coward apologizing now."
Jin Do-ha bowed in respect.
"Honored to witness the Blue Eyes legend once more."