Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: Lion King (2)
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The best way to experience the Lion King and the Lion Corps up close was, of course, to join the Lion Corps.
In that sense, to join the Lion Corps stably, it would involve dueling one of its members. No matter how much he was the Lion King's disciple, he didn't think he'd lose.
Having returned to the past, he'd have to fight human opponents with several of his most powerful title effects sealed away, but even so, if he only used Tempest Incarnation, he was confident he could beat them, even if they were high masters.
However, Rokan wasn't one to take the easy path.
Hair's-breadth battles that made his blood boil were fun, but opportunities to fight opponents this strong didn't come often.
"I'll earn the Lion King's recognition."
"Uh, um... I mean, that's not exactly something easy..."
But it wasn't something that could happen so easily.
Meeting the emperor of a nation and the strongest warrior wouldn't be simple—if it were, that'd be the weird part.
Everyone believed no one could harm the Lion King, but since you never knew with people, Rokan was willing to go through a few quests to get close to him.
"Khahaha! What a spirited fellow."
Yet, that weird thing actually happened. The Lion King suddenly popped up right behind him.
"Gaokan!"
Rokan himself jumped in surprise and called out his name.
Then he realized his mistake. Calling a being like the Lion King by his name alone was beyond rude—it could be seen as insolence.
"Haha! It's been ages since anyone called me by name. Right, I'm Gaokan. What's your name?"
"...Rokan."
But Lion King Gaokan was an incredibly hearty man. He laughed heartily as if to say it was no big deal, waving off the surrounding people who were getting riled up.
He even personally picked up the application that had fallen to the floor after Rokan smashed the table.
"Rokan... Never heard the name. A guy like you, I'd have to know... Let me see, Master Berserker?"
This time, Gaokan looked surprised.
Who'd have thought there'd be a lunatic who'd gone and purely job-changed into a Berserker.
He grinned at Rokan, as if acknowledging they were both out of the ordinary.
Rokan grinned back at him.
It was like lunatics had some kind of mutual understanding.
"Alright. What kind of recognition do you want from me?"
Gaokan asked Rokan with an amused look.
The "Lion King's recognition" was a very broad concept, and he was giving Rokan the choice of method.
But the answer was already clear before he even asked.
Master Berserker.
What other path would this madman choose?
"Naturally, a duel."
The audacity to challenge Lion King Gaokan himself instead of dueling the Lion Corps!
If he got overwhelmed by the Lion King's might without landing a single blow, he might not even join the Corps, but Rokan boldly challenged him anyway.
And the Lion King accepted the challenge as if he'd expected it.
"Alright. Shall we move somewhere else?"
"Yes."
[Lion King's Recognition][Quest]
Prove yourself through a duel with Lion King Gaokan.
-Success Condition: Lion King Gaokan's recognition
-Success Reward: Joining the Lion Corps
The quest updated along with it. From joining the Lion Corps to the Lion King's recognition.
No doubt, once joining the Lion Corps was confirmed, another quest condition and reward would appear.
They'd be incomparable to the previous ones, of course.
But Rokan didn't care about any of that.
Even if he failed to join the Lion Corps, even if he got killed by the Lion King and had to complete some annoying revival quest, Rokan would be satisfied just sparring with him once.
He cracked his knuckles and followed Gaokan.
"This should be fine even if we go wild."
The place Gaokan chose was a nearby wild mountain.
Not just any wild mountain—it was a monster field teeming with master-level monsters—but that was no issue.
'Testing me?'
He didn't flatten the mountain into a plain, but as the Lion King unleashed his aura, even the master-level monsters fled with their tails between their legs.
[Exposed to Lion King's Presence.]
[Title Unyielding Will negates all effects.]
Of course, the presence effect didn't only work on monsters.
It tried to seep into Rokan too, reducing his stats and inflicting fear, but he had Unyielding Will.
Just like he'd been unaffected by the Death Lord's presence, the Lion King's did nothing to him.
So he followed confidently without changing expression, which made Gaokan's face subtly shift.
Most would piss themselves and run from this alone.
He'd expected Rokan to at least flinch, but seeing him follow with a savage grin stirred interest and a strange competitive spirit.
Just what kind of fun could this guy bring?
Soon the area cleared, and Rokan and Gaokan faced each other.
"Any handicap you want?"
"No. Please go all out. I beg you."
Gaokan smiled and asked, but Rokan answered seriously.
Master versus Grand Master. No matter the huge rank gap, he hated the idea of holding back.
'Better to get crushed outright.'
And that's why Rokan planned to go all out from the start.
"Who knows if you can even handle that."
Gaokan teased with a laugh and drew a single sword. Before starting, he asked one thing.
"But where'd you get that gear? It's awfully similar to mine."
It was only natural. Four pieces of the gear Rokan wore were the very ones Lion King Gaokan himself had worn and sealed.
"I'll tell you if you beat me."
But Rokan didn't answer straightforwardly.
He provoked him, stirring his spirit, and unleashed his power first.
"Tempest Incarnation!"
"Oho."
Gaokan sincerely admired as Rokan swallowed a crimson-golden energy and transformed into a giant form.
He'd wondered what kind of fight a Master Berserker would bring, but this exceeded expectations.
His realm felt only master-level at best, yet it was believable even for a seasoned high master.
Expectation and regret flashed across Gaokan's face.
If this guy were just a bit stronger—if he were a high master instead of master—it could've been a fun fight. He drew his longsword.
Ching.
Just drawing it sent a clear ring echoing out.
He lightly swung at Rokan charging like a startled wild boar.
"Hmph! Bombardment!"
It looked casual, but the strike held profound mystery. Still, Rokan was a master among masters who'd fought countless battles.
He didn't panic at the exquisite strike that neutralized his charge, canceling the skill and hurling a hand axe.
"Quick Slash."
A terrifying throw from close range!
But Gaokan deflected it with a basic skill.
The stats he'd gained surging from high master to grand master were at a level even Tempest Incarnation couldn't easily grasp.
Thanks to that, he brushed off the weapon throw that was Bombardment itself, and meanwhile, Rokan's charge accelerated further.
"Rapid Acceleration, Time of Madness, Shoulder Charge!"
He briefly slowed to recover lost speed with skills.
Chaining instant accel skills triggered Shoulder Charge, amplified to the max by the special ability of the Lion King's pauldrons, letting him close in on Gaokan, who'd paused to deflect.
"Shoulder Charge!"
"...!"
Boom!
But Gaokan grinned.
He thrust his shoulder forward to meet Rokan, who'd closed to unavoidable range.
A Shoulder Charge without any dash to boost momentum!
Yet its power was stronger than any other.
"Urk!"
The power was about even, but Rokan clearly lost, having lost attack initiative and struggling to handle the impact.
"Chains of Annihilation!"
But Rokan didn't stop.
He'd felt the vast power gap in that single clash, but he'd known it before the fight even started.
Now he just had to do everything he could.
"Hmm, Sword Barrier!"
Clangclangclangclang!
Gaokan seriously swung his sword against the sudden storm of chains.
He deployed Sword Barrier to protect himself, eyes never leaving Rokan for the follow-up.
"Wing Mode!"
But Rokan kept changing tactics. Activating Wing Mode, he low-flew straight at Gaokan.
Evidently not expecting a contest of strength, Gaokan feigned surprise.
"Superhuman Strength, Bone Crusher."
Whooosh!
A monstrous blow borrowing even high orc super strength!
Gaokan braced with force, but this strike's power exceeded even his expectations.
His longsword slammed onto the pauldrons at once, limbs staggering briefly, revealing the power gap. It was beyond predicted range.
Rokan didn't miss that short stiffness.
"Storm Slaughter!"
In that instant, Rokan's sure-kill burst forth!
Not only 100% critical, but with amplified crit damage, the fearsome flurry embedded into Gaokan's body.
Gaokan tried defending with skills, but it was a step late. Most attacks hit his whole body, shaving off a huge chunk of HP.
"Haha, this is fun!"
But Gaokan even enjoyed that dangerous assault.
The Lion King's sacred gear was already slashing damage sharply, and his bottomless HP easily tanked Rokan's attacks. Victory in stats and gear alike.
"Tch."
But Rokan had no intention of giving up.
He doggedly clung on.
Tracking a longsword's movements with a heavy battle axe was incredibly tough, but Rokan poured all his experience and skill into it.
He even counterattacked at times, maintaining a tense deadlock.
But that was the limit.
"I lost."
Overwhelming victory. The Lion King allowed a few attacks but easily subdued Rokan.
With grand master-level dominance, he crushed him.
Using similar close-range skills to counter and overwhelm, he pinned Rokan down.
In the end, Rokan could do nothing.
He hadn't used mounts for variables or Soul Collector's "Transcendent Awakening," but even if he had, the outcome likely wouldn't change.
'No reason to use it here anyway.'
No point wasting 10,000 souls on a spar.
Regret lingered, but the duel clearly showed the Lion King's power, and it ended.
"Alright. You pass!"
"... "
Thanks to Tempest Incarnation's immortality effect, he'd dragged it out awhile, but honestly, Rokan hadn't done much.
He'd only landed a few attacks like Storm Slaughter by catching Gaokan off-guard, and even those barely scratched his HP.
So he'd felt relieved thinking failure was fine, no regrets—then pass?
Rokan stared in bewilderment, but Gaokan looked like it was obvious.
"What, disappointed you couldn't beat me? Haha! You're a century too early for that. But you look plenty good to sync with the Lion Corps. Take care, friend!"
And so, Rokan joined the Lion Corps.