Hold the Line
The effect of Sublime is to exert 'influence' on the surroundings. More precisely, on those around me.
It feels strange to say it myself, but... it influences those around the 'Sublime One.' That dazzlingly radiant Aquarius oak tree. At first, I thought it was just overly flashy in appearance, but I was wrong. Thanks to High El's blessing, the oak had sprouted fresh leaves before I knew it, emanating an aura of life.
This wasn't some metaphorical expression. It was literal.
Life Force Regeneration slightly increased.
A message had actually popped up with the effect. And not just that.
I looked at the fallen citizens. ...Twitch.
They hadn't regained consciousness yet, but there was movement from bodies that hadn't even stirred before. Their life force, depleted by status ailments and the downpour, was starting to recover.
'The effect is as grandiose as the appearance.'
This level of change couldn't be explained by my impure influence alone. As High El said, it was clearly the influence of Sublime.
'Shreyg is the same.'
Definitely, that silver haze. He'd clearly witnessed my sword aura. I had a hunch. The 'small change' from the message might refer to Shreyg's growth.
But there was no time for deep contemplation.
Splash─
Ghosts approaching with the sound of water. I raised my umbrella and drew up my mana.
I couldn't evaporate the pouring rain, but pests like you were no problem at all.
I murmured toward the water ghosts.
"If you're mimicking human form, you've been wrong from the start."
Whoosh─!
"What matters is not the exterior, but the pride within one's breast. For you cannot imitate pride itself."
.
.
.
A small change occurs due to the effect of Sublime.
...Sublime? From the message, it was clearly a buff.
But it was puzzling.
'What is this?'
Sublime was a skill I'd never heard or seen before. And there were no guildmates around Shreyg who could cast buffs on him. Yes, the only other player nearby was one person.
Hoyeol.
'Unless he has eyes in the back of his head...'
He was fighting the ghosts with his umbrella while somehow buffing me. Any other player would deny it as impossible. But that man? With an umbrella taking down Lv.600 monsters?
'...But why would he buff me?'
The buff, Sublime. I didn't know its exact effect. But whatever special effect it had...
Squeeze─
Shreyg clenched his fist.
'I won't be able to contribute much.'
The enemies were Lv.600. He was barely Lv.400. And his class was fencer. The matchup was the worst possible.
'This isn't something a single buff can fix.'
He knew it better than anyone. But Shreyg gritted his teeth. Facing reality again was painful.
Hoyeol had definitely said it.
'...If you can't believe in yourself, believe in Lee Hoyeol who believes in you.'
It was certainly unfamiliar. Shreyg had only known Hoyeol through the media. The attitude that brushed off rude questions effortlessly. His actions screamed arrogance matching his skill, more than humility.
So it made even less sense.
'Why even for a guy like me?'
Giant Union's Nam Taemin, Hisagi, Leoni. And even Grand Archmage Jessie Haynes. Those made sense.
'Same faction.'
And each had immense potential. Raw talents on another level from someone like him, barely clinging to past glory.
'...Enough. No time for sentimentality.'
But the deliberation didn't last long. Overcoming his rising doubts, Shreyg lifted his head to face reality.
Rooooar─
"!"
For some reason, Hoyeol's sword aura was vividly clear in his vision.
...Could this be the effect of Sublime?
Shreyg asked Hoyeol in confusion. But no answer came.
Splash splash.
As if the five were just the beginning, ghosts emerged from everywhere in the street.
'When did they...?'
Shreyg raised Fleure. He could now see sword energy, but he didn't know exactly what it was. And he had no means to damage the ghosts.
'But I can't just stand by.'
He saw the defenseless fallen citizens. Until Hoyeol took down the ghosts, he had to protect them, even as meat shields.
Shreyg assumed a combat stance. He glanced at his needle-like sword.
Damn, it looked anything but reliable no matter how he looked at it.
But.
'...All just excuses.'
Wasn't Hoyeol's umbrella even flimsier? Yet it damaged the ghosts. Shreyg steadied his breath. Staring at Fleure, he murmured softly.
"The responsibility lies with my inadequacies."
He'd only glimpsed sword energy thanks to Hoyeol's buff. To mimic it with such meager talent? It was laughable, utterly impossible.
But.
-"Believe in me who believes in you."
Hoyeol's voice echoed in his mind again.
'Yes, even if I can't believe in myself, I can believe in Lee Hoyeol.'
The corner of Shreyg's mouth lifted.
"I'm joining! Use me!"
Class: Fencer. Even the most pathetic class had its unique skill.
Unique skill, Price of the Duel, activated.
Click─ As Shreyg raised his sword vertically, the ghosts' gazes locked onto him all at once.
It was the effect of the unique skill.
Price of the Duel
Provokes the target until the duel ends.
The provoked target takes additional fixed damage, but this effect applies to the user as well.
To put it simply, it invited the target to a fencing match. Who'd have thought he'd pull off something this absurd? Even after committing, he was shocked again.
'1v1 is tough enough, but twenty at once?'
He'd activated Price of the Duel on every ghost to draw their aggro and protect the citizens.
Definitely reckless. As noted, the additional fixed damage applied to him too.
'A graze could kill me.'
But Shreyg had faith. Even if he was wrong.
Faith that Hoyeol could protect everyone.
Click─ Shreyg pointed Fleure at the ghosts.
And flinched.
"...!"
The sharp tip of Fleure, embarrassingly faint and blurry before.
Yet it was blooming now.
"...Sword energy?"
Sword energy sharpens at the crossroads of life and death. Shreyg, staking his life to protect others. His sacrifice was enough to resonate with Sublime.
Sublime One, your sublimity has brought a small change.
With that, Shreyg successfully emanated sword energy. Seeing it, I thought.
'Sublime. As expected, it's not just for show...'
It seems to have quite the effect...!
Considering the acquisition difficulty, it was absurd. I didn't know the exact conditions, but dying once was certain.
'Without the Last Adventurer effect.'
Acquiring such a cheat title and dying without checking its effect? Knowing it late would make me pop out of the coffin in rage, seriously.
I calmed my excitement and organized my thoughts.
'So, to sum up.'
Sublime's precise effect induces changes around the Sublime One. Me, Lee Hoyeol. It seemed indiscriminate as long as they were nearby.
From High El to the oak tree to Shreyg. Effective on spirits, objects, players.
The issue was the degree of change.
'The message said "small change" clearly.'
But these weren't small by any means.
'High El and the oak aside.'
Shreyg. Even staking his life, with his talent, witnessing and faintly emanating sword energy in such short time? Sublime must have had a huge influence.
'...Wait, then later.'
Like stats or skill proficiencies. If Sublime's effect develops.
If small changes become big ones?
'What the hell would happen?'
Think with that flower field brain of yours, Grandfell. My Lee Hoyeol head can't even imagine.
Anyway, an unexpected big harvest. Who knew Sublime hid this effect.
As expected, living proudly brings blessings.
Of course, unlike Grandfell, I can't live on pride alone.
"...Sword energy?"
Since Shreyg witnessed and emanated it successfully. No need to swing the umbrella inefficiently anymore.
Time for quick resolution. Pride is good, but I need to claim what's mine.
The second [Six-Pointed Brooch]! If it slips away, it'll be a huge hassle.
"Already afternoon?"
Swift search, intervention, manifestation. Sorry for you, but this is my specialty.
Boiling water with magic, that is.
"However, one cannot brew tea with rainwater."
Bubble bubble!
Indeed, my combat power sacrificing tea time. Lv.600 ghosts were no issue.
Not named or boss monsters, and with Predator-Prey Relationship active, even hordes changed nothing.
The ghosts evaporated without a trace. That was the end for my side.
I looked at Shreyg. As expected of sword energy bridging the level gap.
Plus, unlike demon hunter with zero sword skills. Shreyg's class was swordsman lineage, fencer.
Fundamentally different.
Whoosh whoosh─ And fencer's mobility differentiating from other swordsmen classes.
Dodge everything, hit everything. Perfect movement.
'That's true sword energy performance.'
Demon hunter. Inevitably ambiguous for me, an unreachable realm.
But no discouragement. Nothing can dent Grandfell's lofty self-esteem.
Duel end.
To Shreyg who'd felled the ghosts, I said calmly.
"A splendid duel, Shreyg."
...Don't talk like a master, Grandfell.
"No, sir. Without Sublime's effect, I never could have... alone."
"Nay, it was possible because of your resolve."
"Resolve. I shall engrave your words in my heart henceforth."
...Don't play along, Shreyg.
My chest was always proudly puffed, but now it felt even more arrogant. But obsessing would only torment me.
I quickly shifted my gaze.
"Unless we eliminate the root cause, the ghosts will keep spawning. Best to hurry, Shreyg. High El, I leave this place to you."
What need for a demon hunter to wield sword energy better than a swordsman? Just excel at demon hunting.
High El bowed politely at my words.
"Entrust it to me."
Water and plants. High El handling {Nature} was advantageous matchup, confirmed visually. I could safely leave the fallen citizens.
Moreover, Sublime's effect still applied to High El.
"Then, I'll leave it to you, High El."
Bow─ Shreyg bowed to High El like a Spirit King and hurried off.
As expected of a local, taking shortcuts led quickly to a massive building in view.
That must be the AAU London branch. The area was eerily calm, like the eye of the storm. As if holding its breath in hiding.
Message upon entering the AAU building. Shreyg spoke with a troubled face.
"Should we start from the top floor and work down...?"
"No need. Shreyg."
"...?"
But no matter how quietly it hides, it's futile. To me, with a demon hunter's senses, it's crystal clear.
With Predator-Prey Relationship, honed demon hunter senses.
I scanned the building's floor guide.
"There it is."
Finally, the culprit behind this incident came into view.
*
The rain stopped.
I rubbed my eyes repeatedly in disbelief, but the scenery beyond the glass didn't change.
"Why?"
It was perfect. A flawless plan.
The nameless low-rank demon couldn't believe this situation.
The human it possessed. A name it never had. Not only did he have it, he broadcast it worldwide.
At first, even after possession, it couldn't comprehend. How could a mere non-adventurer human possess such knowledge of the Arcana continent?
Knowledge even it, born on Arcana, most high demons, even demon kings lacked.
So greed arose. With his knowledge and the dreadfully gloomy city atmosphere.
It could devour the whole city, gain demon king-level power, beyond.
And when the rift turned dungeon, thought became conviction.
So it couldn't understand.
"...Impossible!"
Strange trees sprouting everywhere. Shining brilliantly, chillingly.
What the hell were those trees?
After they sprouted, rain stopped, mist vanished. Unforeseen variable.
Due to that influence?
"!"
Thump.
Heart racing since earlier. Violently, beyond blaming the situation.
Of course, the doubt didn't last.
Creak─
Door opened soon enough.
With it, a man's voice.
"Branch Chief Baker? Have you come to?"
Good. Adventurer, Shreyg. The dull human still fooled by the shell.
'...Abandon regrets. Wait for next chance.'
Fooling an idiot was easy.
'Pretend just woke up and...'
But too early for relief and next move.
Clack─
Another presence.
Soon, a black long umbrella entered Baker's view.
"...!!!"
Heart malfunctioned simultaneously.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump!