Chapter 142
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Duel Challenge
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Go Nam-cheol was, honestly speaking, displeased with Black Scythe.
‘Asking us to trust and follow someone as vice-captain who won’t even show his face? Not for me.’
Whether it was Black Scythe or not didn’t matter.
It was about basic trust between people, wasn’t it?
“How do we do this duel thing?”
“First, let’s move to an open spot.”
As Ryu Min headed outside, the squad members followed behind.
“Nah-cheol, fighting!”
“Thanks, man.”
“Flatten that nose of his a bit.”
“Leave it to me.”
Some had already gotten chummy, whispering words of encouragement to Go Nam-cheol.
The ten squad members gathered in the front yard of the assembly area.
Everyone watched the two with sparkling, intrigued eyes.
A midnight duel under the streetlights.
“Too bad we don’t have popcorn.”
“Heh, yeah.”
Ryu Min let out a smirk at the giggling spectators.
‘Laugh it up while you can. You’re next after this guy’s done.’
Ryu Min had never planned to duel just Go Nam-cheol.
He intended to duel all ten of them here.
Of course, it wasn’t merely for intimidation.
As vice-captain, he wanted to gauge their skills, talents, and tenacity.
“Come a bit closer. Gotta issue the duel request.”
“Got it.”
The two faced off at a distance of ten meters.
Ryu Min manipulated something in the air, and a message appeared visible only to Go Nam-cheol.
[The player before you has challenged the nickname ‘Busan Tough Guy’ to a duel.]
[Duel Type ▶ Non-lethal Sparring]
[Victory Condition ▶ Inflict even the slightest injury]
[Opponent’s Win ▶ Busan Tough Guy fixes his dialect, acknowledges vice-captain]
[Busan Tough Guy’s Win ▶ Opponent resigns as vice-captain]
[Opponent’s Penalty ▶ No equipment or skills allowed]
[Busan Tough Guy’s Penalty ▶ None]
[Do you accept the duel under these conditions? Y/N]
Go Nam-cheol stared blankly at the message as Ryu Min spoke.
“Accept, and the duel proceeds by those terms.”
“What’s this penalty thing?”
“Exactly what it says—penalties imposed on each side.”
“So then…….”
“Yeah. As you see, I plan to face you with all items unequipped. No skills either.”
“…….”
Go Nam-cheol’s lip twitched.
The vice-captain was touching on a man’s pride.
“Don’t take it as looking down on you. It’s for balance. A level 89 geared up can’t seriously fight a level 40, right?”
“……Then this win condition?”
“What each must uphold if victorious. Like a bet. Can’t break it, though. System enforces it the moment you accept.”
“…….”
Go Nam-cheol eyed what happened if he won.
‘If I win, he resigns as vice-captain?’
Enforced behavior, so no dodging it.
Assuming he won, of course.
‘This is doable. No matter the level, can’t ignore gear power.’
Even basic stats: unequipped level 89 roughly matches geared level 40.
No, geared level 40 might even edge higher.
With good gear.
That’s why Go Nam-cheol was confident.
His gear was top-notch.
‘Sorry, but most of mine’s rare. Got a unique too.’
Items had carried him to level 40.
‘High level without gear means low stats. No way he beats me.’
With that thought, Go Nam-cheol accepted confidently.
[Duel established.]
[Duel between the two begins in 10 seconds.]
This message went out to everyone nearby.
Go Nam-cheol widened the distance with serious eyes.
‘I’ll make him regret that self-imposed penalty.’
But he overlooked one fact.
Even unequipped, each of Ryu Min’s stats neared 300.
[Beep—! Duel starts!]
Tadadadak—
Go Nam-cheol closed in right away.
A level 40 Blade Master, sharp sword in hand.
Non-lethal or not, he went for blood.
As distance closed, he chained three skills.
‘Blade Aura, Swift Strike, Dance of Blades!’
Blue blade aura coated his sword, boosting weapon attack by 70%.
Swift Strike buff raised attack speed by 70% too.
Then Go Nam-cheol’s body danced like a whirlwind of steel.
To shred his target.
Tak tak tak tak tak—!
“Huh?”
But right after the skills, Go Nam-cheol could only gape.
He’d clearly seen the opponent batting them away with his hand chop.
‘N-no way? Deflected skills with his bare hand?’
Not basic attacks—skills with five times normal damage.
Deflecting each with hand chops?
Impossible without reading trajectories perfectly and matching speed exactly.
‘N-no, can’t be. Luck. One more, and it’ll be different.’
Unable to accept despite his eyes, Go Nam-cheol swung again.
But Ryu Min deflected every path as if he knew them all.
Without moving from his spot.
‘Crazy. This is insane.’
No movie choreography—how’s he batting weapons barehanded?
Movies couldn’t even fake this.
Then a welcome alert appeared.
[Dance of Blades cooldown ready.]
‘Got it. Block this!’
Go Nam-cheol’s blade danced once more.
Fierce enough to mince flesh without trace.
Tak tak tak tak tak tak—!
All palm-deflected, Go Nam-cheol wore that same dumbfounded look.
To Ryu Min, nothing surprising.
‘Dodging bullets is easy; this is nothing.’
Agility 300 lets you dodge bullets.
Foresight Rune made blocking that Swift Strike trivial.
‘His mental’s shaken plenty. Time to end it?’
After blocking the second try, Go Nam-cheol no longer called it luck.
Face screaming defeat, he swung blades pointlessly.
Puk—!
“Guhk!”
Dodging the sword for a body blow, ribs cracked audibly.
Pain brief, though.
[Duel ended. Opponent wins.]
[Nickname ‘Busan Tough Guy’ lost, so fix dialect and acknowledge vice-captain executed.]
Message up, pain vanished like time rewound.
Cracked ribs knit back perfectly.
Wounds healed fine, but mentality didn’t.
Feeling the vast gap, Go Nam-cheol bowed bitterly.
“I lost. As promised, I acknowledge you as vice-captain. And I’ll fix my dialect.”
“Good. Thanks for recognizing me.”
Ryu Min smiled, turning to the other squad members.
All jaws dropped, replaying the duel.
-Did I just see that? Deflected every attack with hand chops?
-Crazy. That’s Black Scythe’s rumored power?
-Not a scratch?
-Bare-handed, no gear, still this strong?
-Level 89 this insane?
Unbelievable feat, inwardly shocked and awed nonstop.
But no time for that.
“You there—the one wishing for popcorn?”
“Me? Y-yes?”
“Yeah. Come closer. Your turn.”
“N-no, I acknowledge you. Your power’s overwhelming; must be Black Scythe. Haha…….”
“Hm? Ignoring vice-captain already?”
“Huh?”
“I hate repeating myself.”
“……I-I’ll come.”
The squad member approached like swallowing bitter herbs.
“The rest of you wait. Everyone duels me one-on-one.”
“…….”
Squad faces turned ashen.
* * *
Ryu Min dueled each of the ten squad members.
Hand-chopping weapons away from Go Nam-cheol onward, showing ghostly skill.
Result: none could even look at Ryu Min.
Skills, feints, pattern changes—nothing worked.
Bare hands blocked all, helplessness beyond imagination.
“Good work on the duels. Rest sitting down; must be tough.”
“…….”
No physical drain.
Mental exhaustion only.
Squad members gazed at Ryu Min with awe.
Mask hid it, but they knew.
Vice-captain hadn’t broken a sweat.
-Monster, for real.
-No gear, still untouchable.
-Rank 1 truly untouchable.
Overwhelming gap humbled heads.
Defeat and powerlessness dominated.
Some even resented Black Scythe for toying with them.
“Lost the duels, so you all acknowledge me as Black Scythe? Proves my vice-captain quals plenty?”
“Y-yes…….”
Qualifications proven, but he’d crushed spirits and earned resentment.
Too soon for grudges, though.
“Sit and listen. Share duel takeaways one by one. Go Nam-cheol first.”
“Huh?”
“Movement, judgment, momentum—all good, but skill usage lacking. Blade Master skills aren’t for that. Aura and Swift buffs into Dance of Blades? Buffs don’t apply to the skill. Just adds cast delay. Use Dance first if at all. Or buff up, probe, time the skill. Personally recommend the latter—change attack habits. Dance has cast delay; use on sword recovery to reduce it.”
“…….”
“Next, Hwang Man-gi. Gladiator movement solid, but rely too much on Rage skill, neglect defense. Dropping weapon below chest mid-fight’s surrender or begging death. Not carelessness—habit. Fix it.”
“…….”
“Next, Kang Si-hyeok. Skill use, judgment, combat sense—top among squad. Feints skills well. But gives up too easy guessing opponent’s strength. Understandable, but show grit till the end. Disappointing.”
“Ah…… Thank you. I’ll fix it.”
Kang Si-hyeok spoke sincerely.
Squad members, meanwhile, gawked.
Knew names and jobs without telling?
Not surprising.
Vice-captain knows roster.
Shock elsewhere.
-Duels not just dominance, but feedback?
-Not discipline?
-No wonder he dragged when he could end quick……
Never guessed hidden intent; dumbfounded faces.
Especially nailing strengths/weaknesses precisely.
Unexpected gift.
Squad views shifted.
Recent loss and resentment turned to awe and fondness.
Realizing Black Scythe wasn’t just brute force.
“Hope duels made you reflect and learn…… Hm, eyes say no worries. One-on-ones done. Theory lesson next?”
“Yes, Vice-Captain!”
“Please!”
Ryu Min grinned.
Squad brimmed with spirit now, unlike before.