Chapter 156
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Nameless Warrior's Trials
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The old man watched Jeong Hoon's hunt from a safe distance.
Ho, quite the guy, huh?
He'd thought a level 203 Martial Artist would be done for quickly, but Jeong Hoon was sweeping through the monsters.
It was swordsmanship so precise and sharp it was hard to believe it came from a Martial Artist.
Just watching it showed how much he'd honed his blade skills.
Amazing. A non-Warrior pulling off swordsmanship like that.
Slash.
Gaaack!
Every time Jeong Hoon swung his sword, a monster's head hit the ground.
He's targeting vitals with uncanny precision.
For those with necks as vitals, he severed them to bring them down. For those with bellies, he pierced there to cut off their breath.
Hes got insane monster-hunting experience.
It was a method impossible without countless real battles.
How had a mere level 203 accumulated that kind of experience?
Slash.
Kek!
Incredible.
The old man let out a hollow chuckle at the sight of Jeong Hoon overwhelming the monsters without tiring in the slightest.
Its like watching myself in my prime.
Jeong Hoon's swordsmanship overlapped with his own from back when it was said to have reached the pinnacle.
A time that meant nothing now, since he'd discarded his name and everything else.
That guy might be able to take it.
The old man toyed with a necklace.
A cherished relic he'd kept even after abandoning his name and lineage.
If he passed every trial, he'd hand it over without regret.
That's what he'd endured this long for, after all.
Third Form: Annihilation activated.
Annihilation pierced the monster's neck in an instant.
Done.
Not a single monster still breathed.
The ground reeked of blood, littered with corpses.
After massacring hundreds, there was barely room to step.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
That's when the old man emerged, clapping.
You've passed the first trial.
He snapped his fingers, and the piled-up bodies vanished in a flash.
The thick stench of blood cleared away just as quickly.
Then let's move straight to stage two.
Hm? You can take a break if you want.
No time for that.
By now, James Marcus should've gotten the hint about the legendary relic.
Extra reward for this year's league MVP, after all.
A world-class superstar.
James Marcus was this year's league MVP.
Delay too long, and he'd show up here.
Different servers meant no direct clash, but Jeong Hoon wanted to eliminate even the slightest chance of interference.
Impatient temperament. Very well, stage two it is, as you wish.
The old man snapped his fingers again.
Five knights in helmets and armor materialized out of thin air.
Another sweep?
But the knights didn't approach Jeong Hoon. They headed to their assigned positions.
Hm?
Jeong Hoon tilted his head.
What kind of setup has them moving elsewhere?
The question answered itself soon enough.
When the fifth knight stopped, walls stacked up in layers before him.
This stage is a labyrinth. Navigate it and take down all the positioned knightsthat's the trial.
Breaking the walls allowed?
The Nameless Warrior shook his head.
No, that's not on.
A hologram window appeared before him.
Ten flame icons blazed within.
Countdown, huh?
Correct. Each wrong choice at a fork extinguishes one flame.
All ten gone means auto-fail.
Quick on the uptake. Ready to start?
Yes.
Hah, good luck.
With that, the old man vanished again.
The labyrinth looks way too complex for just ten tries.
Anima frowned.
The entrance alone had three paths.
33.3 odds.
66.6 chance of wrong.
Pure luck, and ten counts was brutal.
It's fine.
But Jeong Hoon's face was utterly relaxed.
He had a way to crack the labyrinth.
Just can't break anything, right?
Smashing it would've been quickest, but with the restriction, he needed another approach.
Jeong Hoon opened the achievement shop and bought a scan map.
Scanning the entire space of the Nameless Warrior.
This scan captured from above, looking down.
The labyrinth would be no different.
Oh! Got the answer!
As Anima said, the scanned map laid bare the correct path through the labyrinth.
Of the first three choices, right was correct.
Jeong Hoon took the right path.
Naturally, correct.
The other two had traps marked with X's that would've burned a count, but right revealed the next fork.
Now four choices.
A measly 25 chance.
First left.
Jeong Hoon picked correctly again, advancing.
After nailing the fifth choice, a knight ahead drew his sword from its scabbard.
Shing
He aimed his honed blade at Jeong Hoon, who drew Leviathan in response.
Lv.250 Crusader
A level 250 Crusader.
Can't activate Black Field.
He'd used it hunting monsters, so a short cooldown remained.
Not that it was a tough foe.
He knew Crusader traits inside out.
Jeong Hoon dashed in with footwork.
The knight swung wide at him.
Crusader uses Ruin: Slash.
The Crusader manifested sword aura and cleaved down.
Jeong Hoon angled Leviathan to deflect the blade aside.
Clang! Screeech!
The sharp clash sent the Crusader's sword glancing off.
The Crusader slashed diagonally.
Jeong Hoon ducked, slicing empty air, then struck the exposed neck.
Third Form: Annihilation activated.
Annihilation impaled the Crusader's neck.
Guhk!
With a dying cry, the body went limp.
Four knights left.
As it fell, four new choices appeared ahead.
Farthest right was correct.
Jeong Hoon took it and pressed on.
The old man watched from afar again.
He stared at Jeong Hoon's clear in disbelief.
Unbelievable.
This trial wasn't just about strength or luck.
That's why the no-breaking-walls rule.
And Jeong Hoon satisfied him again.
He'd pulled out a map, scanned the labyrinth, and picked only corrects.
The problem? Casually dispatching knights he'd poured his heart into crafting.
In under five exchanges each, three times running.
Truly remarkable
Level 250-300 knights.
A level 203 Martial Artist overwhelming them.
Its over.
The rest would fall to that Martial Artist too.
And his prediction hit the mark.
Guhk!
The fourth knight's neck pierced without mounting a defense, and after some time, the fifth met the same quick end.
Whered this monster come from?
The old man's lips curled up to his ears.
Now the final trial.
Pass it, and the relic goes to that Martial Artist.
He cleared the labyrinth's end.
The walls vanished, revealing the old man.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
He appeared clapping as always.
A smile played on his lipsclearly impressed by Jeong Hoon's method.
Heh, you used your head.
Yeah. No way luck alone gets me through.
I see. Then straight to the final trial?
Yes.
Jeong Hoon nodded, and the old man snapped his fingers.
A sword appeared before him, floating.
He gripped the hilt.
The final trial: defeat me.
Not going easy, huh.
Heh, it's a legendary-grade relic. No way I hand over my prized possession from life easily.
Lv.370 Nameless Warrior
The old man's level displayed before the fight.
A whopping 370.
Whys every trial like this?
Jeong Hoon drew Leviathan.
Starting now?
The old man frowned and shook his head.
No, put your sword away.
Put it away?
Yeah. You're not even a Warrioryou're a Martial Artist, right? But you haven't shown any Martial Artist moves yet.
Wow, restricting weapons against a level 203? Stingier than I thought.
Don't like it? Quit and leave.
Acting like the top dog, huh?
Jeong Hoon obediently stowed Leviathan.
Just beat you, right?
Yeah. Dull blade, so it'll be fair.
Got it.
Sword versus fists.
Anyone would favor the old man, but Jeong Hoon didn't entertain defeat even 1.
Black Field activated.
All stats boosted 1.5x.
Intruding monsters' stats reduced 10 by Black Field.
The ground blackened as the old man stepped into the field.
He glanced curiously at the floor and spoke.
Saw it earlierneat ability.
Not yet.
All stats 15.
Damage reduction 20 applied.
Duration: 1 hour.
Stat amp ring used.
Poison Attack proc chance 4 for 1 hour.
Guardian of Merhen activated too.
Full buffs on, Jeong Hoon footworked in.
He closed fast; the old man grinned.
Levels are bullshit. How's this level 203 movement?
Far beyond level 203.
Jeong Hoon punched.
Myeongwang Fist Technique infused.
Stage 1.
The old man blocked with his free left hand.
Hit the wrist preciselyno damage.
He aimed a kick at Jeong Hoon's shin.
But Jeong Hoon read it, pulled back, and punched the right flank.
Thud!
Clean hit to the side.
Nameless Warrior uses Steel Guard.
The old man tanked the Myeongwang Fist Technique with his skill.
Whoosh!
He slashed down with the sword.
Jeong Hoon footworked back from the sharp strike.
The old man grinned at the nimble steps.
Neat footwork. Then I'll match it.
Nameless Warrior uses Moonlight Step.
The old man closed in with quick steps.
Jeong Hoon punched; he sidestepped, slashing the flank.
Sharp pain flared.
Using Advanced Healing.
Jeong Hoon healed quick, then punched the left gut.
But couldn't pierce the Steel Guard body.
Still far off.
In that instant, Jeong Hoon grabbed the old man's sword-wrist.
The gut hit was bait to seize it.
Such!
His face twisted in surprisehe hadn't expected the grab.
Then let's begin.
Jeong Hoon grinned and pummeled with his free hand.
What monstrous grip strength!
The old man struggled to shake free, but the hold didn't budge.
No choicehe punched back.
Fistfight ensued.
But as time passed, the old man fell back.
Impossible!
Whatever trick, it pierced Steel Guard.
Myeongwang Fist Technique plus poisonagony piled on.
This way, he'd lose.
Fine! Pierce this!
Nameless Warrior uses Hells Fury.
His body flushed red.
Body buff boosting attack and defense overall.
Useless.
Jeong Hoon's lips curled.
Stage 1 Myeongwang Fist Technique had reached stage 4.
It ignored defensepointless.
Thud!
Kept pounding.
Jeong Hoon took hits head to toe, but Advanced Healing was potent.
He healed on every blow, keeping HP over 90.
Thud! Thud!
Myeongwang Fist Technique hit stage 5.
The old man writhed in heightened power.
Guhk! S-Stop! I yield!
He finally couldn't endure and cried surrender.