Chapter 389: Two Masters, Two Disciples (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 389: Two Masters, Two Disciples (2)
A month or so.
On the outside, barely five hours had passed, but inside the imaginary space, a whole month had gone by.
Rumbleee!
Dozens of blades floated along the sky.
The ink-black deadly weapons conjured by the Heavenly Demon Heart Sword swept forward in a straight line.
[The Heavenly Demon activates Heavenly Demon Divine Art - 'Heaven-Annihilating Sacred Flame'!]
Like a meteor shower raining down across the night sky, the swords descending in straight trajectories were a magnificent sight in themselves.
Right at that moment.
Red swords shot up from the ground.
Although lacking in power and quantity compared to the Heavenly Demon's, they were not pushed back in momentum at all.
Two telekinetic sword maneuvers of contrasting colors.
These ultimate blades—said to take true shape only when one achieved the Transcendent Realm—erased each other’s trajectories as they charged toward a single point.
Boom, boom, boom!
KABOOM!
Swords collided with swords.
Shattered fragments scattered through the air, and flaring sparks quietly illuminated the dark night.
Thud.
Descending from the sky, the Heavenly Demon nodded in satisfaction.
"To match my Heavenly Demon Heart Sword infused with Fifth-Stage martial power... At this level, you could succeed me right this instant."
His tone was one of genuine admiration.
No matter how relentlessly he had pushed him, he hadn't expected Jinhyuk to master the Heavenly Demon Divine Art this quickly.
Even he, blessed with the Heavenly Martial Physique, had taken over a decade to reach the Fifth Stage...
'Had he been in Murim, he would have become a monster capable of unifying it entirely.'
However, the disciple standing before him seemed to have no intention of settling for something so small.
Without being tied to a single floor or bound to any faction, he would climb higher and higher.
Toward a place no one had ever reached.
"It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Heavenly Demon. Though I haven't said it out loud, I feel like I've lost about a hundred lives."
Every limb in Jinhyuk's body throbbed with pain.
He had even checked three times to make sure his head was still attached to his neck.
"We did get a bit intense. Still, it was quite an enjoyable time."
"Same here. I don't think I'll ever spend time this fiercely again."
These words were sincere.
Although he had experienced all sorts of crazy things in the Tower of Trials so far, the month he had just spent was by far the busiest.
'This is... an achievement well beyond expectations.'
His whole body practically itched to test out how much stronger he had grown.
Jinhyuk pleasantly felt the mana circulating serenely inside him.
"Indeed. You have grown strong—stronger and stronger still. Strong enough that ordinary mortals wouldn't dare look you in the eye, and the absolute powerhouses of the world will look up to you in awe. You have become powerful."
However...
"Are you not afraid? Knowing that even if you become this strong, there are enemies you still cannot defeat?"
The Heavenly Demon's voice grew strangely complex.
Jinhyuk knew full well why.
Shub-Niggurath.
A transcendent entity that had driven the Heavenly Demon to the brink of death merely by manifesting.
If Jinhyuk climbed higher up the Tower, he was bound to encounter monsters beyond common sense like that.
The Heavenly Demon was asking if he was truly ready for that.
'Afraid, huh...'
Well, there was a time like that.
A time when he trembled before enemies that defied logic, frozen in place, unable to budge.
But not anymore. Those newbie days were long gone.
Besides, even if the virtual game had become reality, his hard-earned experience and instincts hadn't vanished.
A faint smile played on Jinhyuk's lips.
"...I asked a useless question."
Seeing that smile, the Heavenly Demon became certain.
No matter what kind of monster Jinhyuk faced, he would never feel fear.
That was enough.
Any further questions were meaningless.
"Time flies so quickly. Whenever you are weary and exhausted, feel free to visit Murim. The Right Dharma Protector is eagerly waiting for you as well, and I too shall look forward to the day we meet again."
The Heavenly Demon bade farewell in a quiet voice.
* * *
Pzzzt!
As the imaginary space collapsed, Jinhyuk stepped outside.
"Phew..."
The clammy, damp air of the labyrinth was drawn deep into his lungs.
Perhaps because he had been fighting for his life in there for so long, even the gloomy atmosphere of the labyrinth felt welcoming.
"Were you training inside the barrier?"
The first to greet him was Cheon Yu-seong.
Judging by how the demonic qi concentrated at the tip of Ryuhwa had grown several times denser, he must have leveled up a few stages in the meantime.
"Yeah. Just did a few things. By the way, good to see you after so long, my dear Sword Saint. Have you been doing well without me?"
"It's only been a few hours, but you're acting like we haven't seen each other in years... Dammit. Stop clinging to me. It's disgusting."
"Seriously, why are you always such an icebox? I try to show some affection, but you make it impossible. Whew."
"Stop talking nonsense. Once we clear this labyrinth, just stretch out your neck and wait. You'll faint from shock when you see how strong I've gotten in such a short time."
Cheon Yu-seong issued a declaration of war with a face full of confidence.
Since they hadn't had a 1-on-1 duel lately to put him in his place, he seemed to have grown cocky again.
"Oh dear... how scary. Of course, if Lord Sword Saint decides to get serious, a pathetic life like mine would be no more than a fly's."
"Dammit. Forget it. I'm going to train more, so call me when it's time to head to the boss."
"Yeah, yeah. Take care."
Shrugging it off, Jinhyuk turned toward Eagle Owl.
However...
"...You."
Jinhyuk's expression darkened dramatically.
Because Eagle Owl's right arm was different than before.
"Even as an Operator, using power of this magnitude comes at a price. Don't worry too much. This was my choice."
His body was crumbling into powder.
Because he used the imaginary space, the penalty was eating away at his life force.
Crumble.
Powder scattered along his shoulder blades.
Even now, the aftereffects were continuing at this very moment.
"...How many minutes do you have left?"
"A little over five minutes. If I don't hurry back, it won't end with just losing my right arm."
Does that mean he could die...?
"It's a pity I won't see the end of the labyrinth, but I've confirmed enough of your potential. You've really... changed beyond recognition."
Eagle Owl looked Jinhyuk dead in the eye.
Although his face was hidden behind the mask, Jinhyuk felt like he could tell what kind of gaze was behind it.
"If it's you, you'll be able to achieve what we desire. And you'll surely accomplish your own goals as well."
"Yeah, I'll look forward to the day we meet at the top of the Tower. When that time comes, take off that mask so we can talk properly. Stop hiding your identity like a creep."
"Of course."
Eagle Owl nodded.
With this, yet another reason to reach the top of the Tower was added to the list.
* * *
Once Eagle Owl departed, Jinhyuk and Cheon Yu-seong picked up their pace even further.
Having already obtained the Resistance Stone and finished their training, there was no reason to hesitate.
[Cheon Yu-seong activates unique ability 'Song of the Sword'!]
"Kieeeek!"
"Keeeek!"
Along the dark passageway structured like an anthill, giant monsters resembling moray eels burst forth.
Of course, their hopes of chewing up prey with sharp teeth didn't last long.
Because Ryuhwa, glowing with a green light, severed the moray eels' heads whole.
Slash!
The timeframe was far too short to master left-handed swordsmanship completely.
However, as if proving why people called him a genius talent, Cheon Yu-seong was already demonstrating a peak state of mastery.
"Hmph! How's that? This is my sword."
"There you go, lowering your guard again. Don't get cocky just because you killed a hundred scrub mobs like that; stay focused. The real deal starts now."
Jinhyuk pointed ahead, past the moray eels' habitat.
Different patterns were inscribed along the floor.
It was a bridge over which layers of magic spells and barriers were deployed.
"Is this the place where the residents suffered repeated defeats?"
"Yeah. There are over a dozen types of traps here alone. We prepared for the trickiest ones with the Resistance Stone, but we still shouldn't take it lightly. Watch, like this."
Step.
The moment Jinhyuk moved his right foot forward—
Rumbleee!
KABOOM!
Fiery strikes fell from the sky.
[The Fire Resistance Stone absorbs the flames!]
Ssssssh!
Red flames seemed to burst around Jinhyuk, but they were immediately completely absorbed from the heavenly fire strikes.
However, at the very same time—
Thwip! Swoosh!
Traps of different kinds were triggered simultaneously from all directions.
Poison needles, crossbow bolts, and arrows.
Clang, clang, clang!
As Jinhyuk swung Barnard, the flying sharp edges were sliced in half.
Crrreeeak...
The traps weren't finished. The sound of gears locking together echoed as a massive arm holding a giant sword erupted from beneath the bridge.
Reaching up high enough to almost touch the ceiling hundreds of meters above, the arm swung straight down.
BOOM!
It was a terrifying strike that looked capable of snapping the entire bridge in two.
Yet Jinhyuk evaded the attack once more by taking a single step backward.
A massive wall made of blades formed right in front of his nose.
"Well, it's roughly like this. As we go further, the varieties will get even more diverse."
"It's not that difficult to react once you see it. Still, like you said, it's going to be annoying. If we carelessly waste our mana here, we'll struggle against the boss."
"Exactly. So we need to find a way to breach these traps while preserving our mana."
"Do you have something in mind?"
"Yep."
Jinhyuk wore a strange smile.
Chilling.
A chill ran down Cheon Yu-seong's spine.
He had experienced firsthand through his own body what happened whenever Jinhyuk wore that kind of smile.
"Don't tell me you're planning to use me as bait?"
"Come on. As if I'd ever go that far."
Actually, he had intended to.
If Cheon Yu-seong hadn't learned left-handed swordsmanship, Jinhyuk would have used that as bait and treated him as a guinea pig for the labyrinth...
What a real shame.
Fortunately, he now had a whole truckload of friends who could take over that role.
"Hold on, everyone come out. I've got your first mission."
Hummmmm!
The subspace inventory opened, and a swarm of small Salamanders poured out from the rift.
"You called, Master?"
The main Salamander puffed out its chest.
Was it because it was commanding a huge pack of its own kin?
Unlike before, it radiated an overwhelming aura of bravado, acting as if it were an Elemental King.
The sheer absurdity of it almost made Jinhyuk scoff aloud, but instead, he put on the warmest smile in the world.
"My cute little fire lizard. Over there... see that end of the bridge over there?"
"I see it, Master."
"Go run over there for me."
"Huh? Over there? Why?"
The Salamander blinked its wide eyes in confusion.
"It's nothing much. You just have to run across. My legs are acting up a bit... If you do that, I'll send you straight back to the subspace with a warm campfire waiting for you."
"A... campfire?"
"It's a campfire fueled by Red Logs from the 8th floor. An absolute delicacy."
Famous for producing high-purity, richly fragrant flames, it was the ultimate treat for Salamanders.
Gulp!
The sound of saliva being swallowed echoed.
"O-Okay! Going right now, Master. You must keep your promise. Promise!"
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter...
The Salamander sprinted down the bridge on all fours, drool dripping from its jaws.
BOOOOM!
"Kyaooow!"
It didn't take long for a massive explosion to erupt.
Spinning through the air, the Salamander blazed straight off into the sky like a twinkling star.
"Hmm, so it disarmed five traps?"
Bypassing landmine-type traps was a decent result.
Jinhyuk turned his gaze to the remaining elemental beasts.
"Next volunteer."