Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 228
>Chapter Title: [Defying Heaven Phase]
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Chapter 228
>Chapter 228.
>[Defying Heaven Phase]
>-Rank: Legendary Signature (Growth)
>-Restriction: Kaiser
>-Description: A swordsmanship born from one who defies the will of heaven.
>It is a sword art designed to utterly destroy any adversity or calamity blocking one's path and stand tall alone, consisting of four stances.
>Mastering all stances may bring about a change.
>-Effect: Allows use of the four stances of Defying Heaven Phase. Currently sealed to match the player's level.
>-First Stance, Beginning
>-……
>“……Legendary! It’s legendary! Legendary!!”
>Do-hyun’s eyes widened as he checked the skill information, then he let out a shout.
That wasn’t enough, so he clenched his fist and expressed his joy with his whole body.
-Aigoo, here we go again……
>-Ri, Ri-ja…… Ri-ja-ri-ja……
>-Hmm. No one’s around here, so it should be fine.
>-Oh, right. Phew, that’s a relief. Hey? But Charlie, didn’t you just say something about your lord’s happiness being the happiness of this lowly sword?
>-……No idea what you’re talking about.
The guardians instinctively scanned their surroundings at the familiar reaction and let out sighs of relief, but Do-hyun paid no mind.
It was legendary, after all. Not just any legendary, but a legendary-grade signature skill!
‘Signature swordsmanship skills outperform others of the same rank.’
In fact, it ranked even higher than Lightning Dragon Descent or Guardian God’s Blessing.
He was already squeezing every last drop out of those two skills, so just how amazing would this one be? He was already thrilled at the thought.
It felt like only yesterday he’d been praying to obtain just one legendary skill and call it a day.
‘My third legendary skill already……’
Tears welled up in his eyes.
He felt a fleeting pang of regret that something like this hadn’t existed in Delorock, but it didn’t matter anymore.
Thanks to it appearing now, he’d obtained this new legendary.
Gazing fondly at the particularly appealing signature swordsmanship skill, Do-hyun’s smile suddenly vanished.
“……Hold on. What’s that? Legendary Signature…… Growth?”
He’d been so hyped by “legendary” that he’d overlooked it, but there was something odd attached.
Growth?
‘If it’s hero-grade, it’s hero-grade. If legendary, legendary……’
As far as Do-hyun knew, no such signature skill existed.
To be precise, growth-type signature skills did exist.
Just as Lightning Dragon Descent was a late-blooming skill that grew proportional to the user’s level, many signature skills were of that type.
‘No, they’re actually quite common.’
Especially for swordsmanship, where growth through training was its essence, such skills were the norm.
But he could confidently state one thing.
‘No skill has ‘Growth’ blatantly written next to its rank.’
That meant, at least officially, this was the first skill of its kind.
And that wasn’t the only strange thing.
‘A swordsmanship made of four stances…… This is a literal sword art skill?’
This was truly astonishing.
Signature skills typically obtained were single techniques, better called sword moves rather than full sword arts.
Of course, not always.
That was the general case, but sword arts were obtained occasionally.
‘Like Extermination, or those who got sword arts such as Sword Saint or Slayer.’
Such sword art skills were generally rated higher than other signature skills.
The reason was simple.
Due to the nature of sword arts with multiple stances, one skill provided the effects of many.
In God of War Online, where skill slots were limited, producing varied effects from one skill was a huge advantage.
‘Of course, not every stance is legendary-grade. Excluding a few core ones, most barely qualify as skills.’
Even so, everyone hoped for a sword art—one hundred out of one hundred.
Early on, they underperformed compared to single sword moves, earning a reputation as flashy but useless, but by the late game, the gap was embarrassingly wide.
Some even unleashed overwhelming power upon mastering all stances, with Extermination as the prime example.
‘It was his signature sword art that played a big role in creating the current Extermination.’
And the one he’d obtained was a legendary-grade signature sword art.
Grateful enough for that alone, this was even the first “growing legendary sword art.”
“Keu…… This is why I take the risks.”
He felt it was a blessing he’d attempted that insane challenge.
Mimicking the Forgotten King’s swordsmanship might have only granted fragments as skills.
He couldn’t help but marvel at the thrill.
‘A growth-type skill like Cheonbyeon? But it’s already legendary. Does that mean it grows beyond legendary?’
What came after legendary?
Excluding the transcendence that came with it, only mythic remained.
Did that mean it could grow to mythic?
His chest swelled at the thought, but he quickly calmed himself.
‘No, don’t get ahead of yourself. This game is the successor to Delorock.’
Cheonbyeon was an exception, containing the power of Kashiar, the ancient human strongest and called the War God.
In contrast, Defying Heaven Phase was, no matter how absurd the feat to obtain it, ultimately a sword art created by a mere user.
The chances of reaching mythic were slim.
That was why Do-hyun focused on the description’s final line.
-Mastering all stances may bring about a change.
Among the diverse signature sword arts, he’d never heard of one with that phrasing.
It was probably related, even if he didn’t know exactly how.
‘Like it grows after mastering all stances…… Whatever it is, I’ll find out then.’
Whether it was hype or not would reveal itself later.
As he speculated like that—
[The Spirit of the Lion King is so shocked it can’t believe it, its jaw dropping.]
A cheerful alert accompanied the message.
‘Your reactions are so consistent. What’s up with the Spirit of the Lion King?’
The great knight and king who had reached the pinnacle, now with its jaw unhinged in shock.
It was so ridiculous he chuckled.
[The Spirit of the Lion King acknowledges that its long-awaited apostle has finally appeared and recognizes your talent.]
>[The Spirit of the Lion King stands, unable to contain its excitement.]
>[The Spirit of the Lion King manifests.]
“……? What?”
Unexpected messages followed one after another, then a blinding light erupted.
Flash-!
-Ugh, I can’t see…… Where’s that light coming from?
>-……Look ahead!
>-Ri…… ja!?
He squinted at the sudden burst of light, but turned at Charlie’s words and understood.
Where the intense light was coming from.
‘That’s…… the king?’
The source was the Lion King’s rotting corpse.
The body, which had stood quietly like a powered-down robot after their fierce sword exchange, now lifted its head, radiating light.
As the fierce light faded, a voice rang out.
-I, Raod Belnuros, acknowledge your talent. Having fulfilled my long-held wish, I shall end the trial as promised with the tower.
A firm, oath-like tone. A low voice brimming with power.
Do-hyun strained to keep his eyes open and saw it: the Lion King’s rotting corpse smiling faintly at him.
Their eyes met, and the king seemed to say:
-I shall bet everything on you.
With those words, the light vanished in an instant, and messages appeared.
[The Spirit of the Lion King fulfills its long-held wish.]
>[The Great Lion King’s trial has concluded.]
>[You are the first in history to conclude the Great Lion King’s trial.]
>[Title acquired: ‘Concluder of the Lion King’s Trial’.]
>[Unbelievable achievement reached. All stats +5 due to ‘Unbelievable Achievement’ title effect.]
>[Trial concluded via unbelievable achievement. Rewards enhanced.]
>………
>[Linked event altered due to unbelievable achievement.]
“……Holy shit.”
It was a dizzying barrage of mind-boggling messages.
* * *
Was this what dumbfounded meant?
The nonstop messages were disorienting enough, but each one was extraordinary.
‘Enhanced rewards, title, achievement, linked event change…… And the trial concludes? What the hell is happening?’
It was chaos.
Any one of these would shock the world, but “conclusion” stood out most.
Conclusion. Ending something completely.
It meant one thing.
[The Great Lion King’s trial has concluded. Cannot ascend the tower anymore.]
>[When the Lion King’s spirit departs, the tower will vanish.]
“This is insane……”
-Holy……
>-Ri, Ri-ja……
The Great Lion King’s trial system itself had ended completely.
No one could climb the Lion King’s tower anymore.
Even Do-hyun couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
He’d thought clearing even the hidden stage, which only Sword Emperor had done, would be fortunate enough, but conclusion?
‘I didn’t plan on causing this kind of accident.’
He was the only one who’d climbed the Lion King’s tower.
When word spread, headaches awaited.
Especially Hyun-ah’s reaction would be awkward.
‘No, wait. I didn’t do anything wrong, right? How was I supposed to handle a hidden stage opening on its own?’
Do-hyun was innocent. It was an act of God.
Beyond that, he was the victim.
He’d just been quietly farming experience and sucking honey, then they confiscated the honeycomb and threw an Eternal Knight at him.
One that used skills and wielded lifetime swordsmanship—no way that was meant to be beaten.
If there was fault, it was clearing a hidden stage that seemed unbreakable.
Who could blame survival? Anyone who did lacked blood and tears.
‘Yeah, exactly.’
As he rationalized and spun positive thoughts—
[……Prophet’s Apostle. I awaited only your arrival. This tower was made awaiting a knight with the Prophet’s Apostle’s qualities.]
“……….”
[Yet even I, its creator, doubted. Seeing the apostles’ levels, I wondered if any could conclude this trial…… Thanks to you, it happened three years early. I offer my gratitude.]
“……Ah, I see.”
Do-hyun sighed at the Lion King’s spirit, possessing the rotting corpse and pinning the blame squarely on him.
That summed up to:
‘An event meant for much later happened three years early because of me……’
In the end, he was the problem.
And very likely tied to the main quest.
‘Prophet’s Apostle…… Is this connected to the main quest too?’
He’d heard it from Luriel before.
Three years from now aligned with the promised day Gamillion mentioned when he first heard main quest details.
Above all……
[Eye of Truth activates.]
‘……No way, a Fragment of Destiny for real?’
That massive red glow beyond the giant door had been nagging at him.