Chapter 74: The Five Great Clans (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: The Five Great Clans (1)
Fwoosh!
Blue flames erupted around Namgung Hyun's body.
"You bastard, I could tear you limb from limb! How dare you insult the Great China?"
The Great China, huh...
Well, it made sense. After all, the Murim was a faction rooted in China.
It was only natural that they got along so well with modern Chinese players.
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Jinhyuk immediately activated 'Gluttony's Eye'.
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Name: Namgung Hyun
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Level: 68
Strength: 36, Agility: 48, Stamina: 37, Magic Power: 35, Internal Qi: 85
Available Stat Points: 0
Class: Swordsman
Unique Ability: Sword-Body Unity
Skills: Lv15 'Taehwa Sword Qi', Lv14 'Emperor Sword Form', Lv12 'Lone Soul Sword', Lv11 'Infinite Steps', Lv11 'Firmament Great Expansion Divine Art'
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[Copy Condition: You have encountered a resident of the 'Murim', a faction existing within the Tower. The residents who came with him are currently hiding among the Triad. If you identify all of their identities, you will be able to copy one of his skills.]
'Oh?'
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed as he read the copy condition.
'So there are other residents here besides Namgung Hyun?'
Encountering even one was surprising, but this was the first time multiple residents had descended together.
This scale was far too large just to pick a fight.
Especially considering their personality, where they viewed most players as mere ants to be stepped on.
Which meant...
'They must be highly interested in me.'
He didn't know if their goal was capture, assassination, or conciliation.
Frankly, he didn't care.
He had no intention of dying quietly, nor did he have any desire to join hands with the Murim.
Rather, his biggest concern right now was figuring out how to copy their skills.
Right then.
Clank!
Shring!
Weapons were drawn from all sides.
"How dare you speak to Lord Namgung Hyun like that."
"You must be begging for death."
Over several hundred players bared their teeth.
Since he had provoked them so openly, this reaction was only natural.
On the other hand, Yu Yeon-hwa and Lee Tae-min, who stood beside Jinhyuk, bit their lips and prepared for battle.
"Noona, take the left."
"Got it. It's been a while since I've had a proper workout."
Due to the effect of 'Machine Lord', various machines armed with weapons materialized around Lee Tae-min.
Clank! Clank!
Mana bombs and mana bullets began to load.
"Fhuuu..."
Yu Yeon-hwa also gathered mana into her hands and feet.
To utilize her close-combat optimized skills, closing the distance was more important than anything else.
"I will cover the rear."
Hummm!
Along with a sacred grace, silver armor enveloped Teresa's entire body.
A soft, brilliant glow.
'Blessing of the Stars' had fully manifested.
Cheon Yu-seong also clicked his tongue briefly and drew his sword.
"I feel this every time I see you, but you really live without thinking about the consequences."
How absurd.
"Look who's talking."
If there were a global ranking for reckless lunatics, Cheon Yu-seong's name would be at the very top of the list.
You'd have to scroll down, down, and down a long way before my name even appeared.
"At least I think before I fight. Unlike you, Colonel Teemo."
Damn it. That nickname popped up again.
He wanted to immediately fire back and call it the biggest load of bullshit ever, but...
...arguing here wouldn't do any good.
"Fine. Let's say you're right. I need about three minutes. Can you buy me some time?"
"Three minutes? If you want, I can take care of all of them myself."
Cheon Yu-seong smirked.
Oh, please.
Sure, whatever you say.
"Just don't let them break through."
Jinhyuk summoned the Great Library and read the 'Memory of the World'.
And at that very moment...
Tap!
Dash!
The players on both sides moved simultaneously.
Boom!
Bang!
Different types of mana clashed and exploded.
Telephone poles bent like taffy, and shattered asphalt fragments scattered in all directions.
"Hold on just a little longer!"
Thanks to Teresa's 'Song of Battle' and 'Divine Strengthening', the stats of the others rose dramatically.
"Whoa, Noona!"
"This is great!"
The mechanical drones and mini-tanks controlled by Lee Tae-min grew a size larger.
Naturally, the density of the mana bullets they fired became much thicker.
Yu Yeon-hwa also became strong enough to shatter swords with her bare fists.
"These guys... they're strong."
"Damn it! These useless pieces of junk!"
Though they were outnumbered, they didn't lose ground.
They could easily hold out.
Furthermore, the front line where Cheon Yu-seong stood presented a bizarre sight—he was pushing back the majority all by himself.
Slash!
Crash! Crash!
"Aaargh!"
"My... my arm!"
Severed arms and legs.
Advancing through the misty spray of blood, Cheon Yu-seong was terror incarnate.
"This is insane. How can he do something so ridiculous alone..."
"Everyone who goes near him is dying."
"H-He's a monster!"
The attacking Triad players gasped in horror.
The Combined Attack Formation that had been attacking so fiercely had lost its sharp edge before they knew it.
They slowly backed away, trying to distance themselves from the blood-drenched sword demon.
They instinctively realized they were no match for him.
But right then...
"It seems there's more than just insects here."
Namgung Hyun moved.
He was fast.
Instantly closing the distance to Cheon Yu-seong, Namgung Hyun drew his sword.
Shring!
From top to bottom.
The vertically slashed sword plunged down as if to split heaven and earth.
Boom!
"Ugh!"
Cheon Yu-seong's body staggered heavily.
Although he managed to block it, blood seeped from his palms due to absorbing an attack loaded with such dense internal qi.
"It seems you've handled a sword before, but at best, it's just a lowly creature outside the Tower learning some basic swordplay."
Namgung Hyun adjusted his grip on his sword.
A dazzling blue aura flared up along the blade.
"I shall personally show you what the true swordsmanship of a prestigious clan looks like."
Soon after, a sword dance so magnificent it sent shivers down the spine was displayed.
The exclusive martial art of the Namgung Clan.
It was the Emperor Sword Form.
Would it look like this if a storm swallowed a person?
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
"……!"
Cheon Yu-seong blocked the hundreds of incoming sword strikes with all his might.
The clash of qi against qi.
Blood and sparks painted the air red.
However, it was all too clear who had the upper hand.
There was an insurmountable wall between Cheon Yu-seong, who was exhausted from fighting a crowd, and Namgung Hyun, who was now fully warmed up.
Exchanging blows was the absolute limit.
The moment his stamina reached its limit, Cheon Yu-seong's head would be severed.
And as if to prove those words...
"It's over."
Deflecting Cheon Yu-seong's final strike, Namgung Hyun smiled coldly.
The sword flew precisely toward Cheon Yu-seong's neck.
Cheon Yu-seong closed his eyes tightly without realizing it.
But...
"……?"
The chilling sensation of his neck being sliced did not come.
Nor did any pain.
Cheon Yu-seong cautiously opened his closed eyes.
And there...
"Three minutes."
...stood Jinhyuk, who had finished all his preparations.
"You bastard. You should have hurried up."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for holding out."
With this, the baton was passed.
* * *
Namgung Hyun looked at Jinhyuk with interest.
"I thought you were hiding in the back out of fear, but this is unexpected."
"I had a few things to prepare. I just needed a bit of time."
"Do you really think you can defeat me just by preparing a few things? You must have clearly seen your companion getting one-sidedly crushed just now."
I saw it.
Honestly, it was almost heartbreaking.
Cheon Yu-seong was a guy who worked hard in his own way, so how could one not tear up seeing a high-level resident from above the 20th floor slaughtering newbies like this?
Seriously, troublemakers who ruin things are a problem wherever you go.
But you know what?
There is only one person who has climbed to the very top of the Tower of Trials.
And that person also thoroughly enjoys causing trouble.
"I'd appreciate it if guys who are barely on the 21st floor stopped acting like they're hot shit... I mean, it's cute seeing someone get a red belt at a Taekwondo dojo and act all proud. But when they start crossing the line, it gets annoying."
"The 21st floor? How do you know that?"
Namgung Hyun's eyes widened in shock.
"Of course I know that much. Why? Did you think I wouldn't know about the residents of the 21st floor?"
"...You. You're no ordinary player. What on earth is your identity? Don't tell me, the Empire's..."
"Sorry, but I'm not taking questions."
There were less than twenty minutes left until the first wave.
Cheon Yu-seong and the others needed to rest, so he couldn't drag this out any longer.
Jinhyuk instantly released the mana he had been gathering.
Fwoosh!
Massive flames devoured the ground in an instant.
"Such a cheap trick!"
Namgung Hyun leaped far back, but his vision was completely obscured by the acrid smoke.
Did he do this on purpose?
If so, he had to abandon his sight and rely entirely on his qi-sensing.
"Above!"
Focusing his senses, Namgung Hyun snapped his head up.
He felt the opponent's mana coming from the sky.
"Foolish bastard. You've jumped somewhere with no place to escape!"
It wasn't a bad choice to catch someone off guard.
However, that was only true if it actually caught them off guard.
When the move was read in advance like this, it was the absolute worst choice.
If he dodged and targeted the blind spot, this fight would end right then and there.
But...
"What?"
Namgung Hyun tried to move, but his body wouldn't budge.
Before he knew it, frost created by 'Glacial Shaping' had crept up to the soles of his feet.
A combination that drew the gaze upward while using a time delay to bind the opponent's feet.
As the smoke cleared, Jinhyuk's figure appeared through the gap.
"Here's a tip: always watch your step when you fight."
Crackle!
The dazzling light gathering at the tip of his sword condensed into a single point.
[Target Area: Maximum]
[Lv3 'Daylight' is activated!]
At that exact moment, pure white light condensed to its limit was unleashed.
Rumble!
A white sword of light extending in a straight line surged toward Namgung Hyun.
Its only flaw was the casting time, but it was a skill that boasted the greatest range and power among his area-of-effect skills.
However, just before Daylight could strike...
"This completely defies expectations. It's absolutely astonishing."
"Indeed. It seems Hyun can't handle this alone."
Two people who had been hiding among the Triad intervened.
[Body-Protecting Aura is deployed!]
[Anti-Army Sword Barrier is deployed!]
Boom!!
The two defensive skills made of aura protected Namgung Hyun and the Chinese players around him.
Cracks formed on the transparent walls, but Namgung Hyun and the others barely managed to survive.
It was thanks to using the skills at the perfect timing.
"Oh, impressive. I didn't expect anyone outside the Tower to possess internal qi of that caliber."
A third man also walked forward, letting out an exclamation of admiration.
That made three in total.
All the hiding rats had finally stepped onto the stage.
'As expected, they showed themselves.'
To find those hiding among a crowd of hundreds, this was the only way.
If he set the stage so that their companion couldn't survive on his own, they would naturally have no choice but to come out and help Namgung Hyun.
And that prediction hit the bullseye.
[You have successfully located all the residents present here.]
[The conditions have been met.]
A familiar status window appeared.
Of course, the skill he would choose was already decided.
[You have successfully copied the unique ability 'Infinite Steps'!]
He had obtained a skill of a resident belonging to the Murim.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Jinhyuk's heart beat rapidly.
Normally, one would have been satisfied and stopped here.
Because this alone was an incredible achievement.
But...
'Not me.'
If he were going to stop at simply copying abilities, he wouldn't have chosen 'Fusion' as his unique ability.
To obtain even more powerful and diverse skills.
To wield abilities superior to his opponents.
He had chosen this unique ability.
[Fusing 'Infinite Steps' and 'Grave of Swords'.]
Jinhyuk merged the two abilities into one.
Hummm!
An indescribable light flowed out.
And at that very moment...
[Fusion successful!]
A new, merged skill appeared before his eyes.