Chapter 2. Asura King (3)
Chapter 2. Asura King (3)
"...Here...."
After the screen went black, the place that revealed itself was an island that looked like it was in a vacation spot on Earth, with a giant moon submerged in the horizon.
A massive castle stood there, and someone was lying on a hammock set up on the sandy beach in front of it.
Sura, who had paused the game for a moment, hurriedly asked the Tusus from the Elder Book community.
"What is this? This? Is it supposed to be like this?"
It was actually the Tusus from the Elder Book community—the Wraiths—who were flustered.
- Hey, what is this place?
- What is this? What's going on?
- ...Shit. Wait a second. I think I've seen this in the Ancient Booklet books...?
- Crazy. I think that's the place.
Exchanging opinions, the Wraiths told Sura the truth.
- Sura... it looks like this is Lunans' Divine Realm...?
- Crazy.... Chivalry had a function like this?
- Technically, Chivalry is about talking to gods... so it's not impossible for a god to summon you if they like you, right?
- Wow, what is this. Even in the Ancient Booklet series, only a few Divine Throne realms appeared....
- Is Lunans special, or can other Divine Thrones do this too?
- Seems like Lunans is special. As you know, summoning to another dimension takes quite a bit of effort even for gods....
- Sura King-nim. What on earth did you swear?
At that, Sura told them about his oath, and the Tusus were dumbfounded.
- No, well.... It's romantic, but Lunans responded to that?
- Is it true that Sura King is 100% romance in the middle of all this?
- Maybe that's why Lunans thought he was crazy and summoned him.
- But besides the content, there must be other interactions, right?
- Can't be helped. I'm going to tweet at Michael.
While some Tusus went to bombard Michael with questions, Sura decided to proceed with the game for now.
"I'll proceed with the game for now."
The Tusus said they understood and watched Lunans' Divine Realm.
Meanwhile, Sura approached the man lying in the hammock in front of him.
"Excuse me...."
"Ugh... ugh.... You've come?"
The man, who hadn't been awake for long, tilted his head this way and that, got up, and stepped out of the hammock.
- That man is Lunans. If you look at the books about Lunans in the in-game books, it says Lunans sleeps a lot to suppress his madness.
- Wow. Is that really Lunans?
- Let's see his face!
The man revealed his bare face after rubbing his eyes for a moment.
Red eyes and red hair. His appearance was similar to Salin, but the man's red was truly red enough to represent madness.
- Wow! Handsome!
- Lunans-hyung, take me.
- I've decided to support Lunans starting today.
With long hair reaching his waist, he could easily be mistaken for a woman, but with his sturdy physique and masculine appearance, anyone could tell he was a man.
However, the slightly drooping corners of his eyes gave him an appearance that suggested he liked sleeping.
"I am Runans Abervich. You may call me Lunans."
"Ah, yes. I am Sura."
"I heard your oath well. For the strong mental power conveyed within it to be enough to wake me...."
"Ah. I apologize for disturbing your sleep."
At Sura's polite words, Lunans smiled slightly.
"Don't make a fuss. I was about to wake up anyway. Otherwise, how could a mortal wake me from my sleep?"
Saying that, Lunans stretched, arching his back.
While Sura and the Tusus were flustered by the unexpectedly human side of him, Lunans finished stretching.
"Then. I want to see. Whether you have the skills to keep your oath."
Saying that, Lunans waved his hand and summoned two swords from thin air.
And he threw one to Sura.
Sura caught the sword by reflex.
It was a sword similar in size to the one Sura used in Murim.
"That. It's one I used. Let's have a duel with me using that."
Sura, who had caught the sword by reflex, checked the state of the sword.
And the Tusus were shocked.
- What? Attack power 150?
- Wow, wait a minute. What is this?
Sura, who hurriedly turned off the in-game microphone and paused the game, asked the Tusus.
"Is this good? I don't know about this installment yet...."
Since Sura didn't know the average item stats for this series in detail, he asked the Tusus.
At that, the Tusus' chat flooded in instantly.
- Of course! The 'Demon Heart' series, the endgame gear of this Ancient Booklet, has an attack power of about 120 when fully upgraded!
- This is crazy. Seriously. Is it that high because it's a weapon used by a god?
- Hey. Wait a second. It's even enchanted.
[Lunans' 'Shadow of the Crescent Moon']
Attack Power 150 Weight 45 Price ????
100% chance to drain 60 of the opponent's Health.
100% chance to drain 60 of the opponent's Stamina.
100% chance to drain 60 of the opponent's Mana.
- Wow. It's just the end-all. The end-all.
- Even at full enchantment level, the drain ability is max 50, but it's 60? And it's 100% at that;;;
- Plus, it drains Health, Stamina, and Mana all at once. What is this;;
- Can't we get that?
"I'll proceed now!"
Leaving the Tusus who said they understood behind, Sura gripped the sword and looked at Lunans.
"Ignore the effects. It won't have any particular effect on me. Rather, you'll be able to display your abilities to your heart's content."
"Understood."
Just as the duel was about to take place, Sura smiled faintly.
"Why are you smiling?"
To that, Sura replied.
"Because it's fun."
Sura took his stance.
"It was becoming hard to find a match in the world. Knowing that there's another opportunity... it's enjoyable."
It's a game, but where else would there be an opportunity to challenge a god?
Sura began to like this new game more and more.
- Crazy guy.
- Someone do something about that over-immersion, seriously lololololol
- Ah lol, he's The World's Best, but not the Heaven's Best yet.
At that, Lunans laughed brightly until his mouth corners tore.
"Are you crazy too?"
With that, the two clashed.
Once again, a nuclear missile hit the Elder Book site.
The BEST posts were full of stories about Sura.
[1st] Crazy, Lunans' Divine Realm appeared!!!!!
[2nd] Lunans appearing on Sura King's broadcast right now
[3rd] Sura King summoned to Divine Realm during Chivalry oath, damn
...
Seeing that, the Elder Book users were dumbfounded.
- No... so. You were swearing the Chivalry oath, and you went to the Divine Realm because Lunans liked you?
- Tsk. For that crazy guy, that makes sense.
- Wow, how do you do this?
- Hey, someone hurry and take this to foreign Reddit. Someone might know.
- I tried, but there's nothing! Foreigners are flipping out too!
And at this time, a reply to the Elder Book users' tweet at Michael Garcia came up.
[Michael Garcia]
My goodness. You discovered this?
We have included many hidden elements in this series.
But oh my! It seems this isn't something that can be called hidden!
They say the Ancient Booklet user who discovered Hard Mode last time has met Lunans this time!
Lunans' Divine Realm, The Other Side of the Moon, is a space our production team poured their heart and soul into.
If the user happens to see this post, it might be good to ask Lunans to show you around the Divine Realm!
However, to make that request, you must be in Lunans' favor.
Ah. By the way, to meet Lunans, you need a very strong conviction.
Our production team detected the player's brainwaves.
We conducted research and measurements on how much mental power is generated, and we applied these results to this Ancient Booklet 8.
This user seems to be a person with very strong mental power!
Ah. And Runans Abervich. The power of that existence is immense!
It requires special caution!
I hope you overcome it!
P.S. There are still parts left to be surprised by! I will be looking forward to it. Korean gamer. Sura!
The Elder Book users were flipped out again.
- I withdraw all my support for Sura. I have decided to become one with Sura now.
- Creator official Korean gamer 'Sura' lolol Innkeeper, I'm not going home today!
- Is there still any idiot who isn't crowning Sura-nim as King?
└ Ah lol, we like absolute monarchy lol
Finally, even the operator who sensed this trend stepped up.
[We, the Elder Book users, crown streamer 'Sura'-nim as King!]
They even plastered the phrase right at the top of the Elder Book site.
- Elder Book operator official King Sura lolololol
- Innkeeper... I'll just live in the tavern from today!
- Are there still any stupid Wraiths who haven't gone to Sura's room?
And the 1-on-1 match between Sura and Lunans began, and the Elder Book site was on the verge of exploding.
As soon as Lunans lunged, Sura immediately deployed his swordsmanship. The first form of the Sura Sword Technique.
'Sura Sword Technique. 3rd Form. First Kill.'
The sword, shot out in an instant, blocks Lunans' attack.
Wind is kicked up between the two with an intense shockwave.
Chiiiiiing!
Sparks fly as the two clash swords and glare at each other.
"Ha! To react to this? You're not ordinary, are you?"
As soon as it started, Lunans aimed for Sura's head, and Sura had hurriedly blocked it by twisting his sword.
Soon, their exchange followed.
Sura began to take in every single movement of Lunans.
One of the other abilities he had honed that made him rise to become The World's Best in Murim.
It was observation.
Right now, at this moment. Sura observes and analyzes everything.
'The reach is longer than mine. Maybe because he's about 2m tall. His movements are also quite fast. His technique is also quite good.'
Sura nodded.
'Strong.'
I don't know how they implemented it on this Earth, but Lunans was strong.
'But... well. That's it.'
It was laughable.
It was just that kind of thought.
To Sura, who had reached the pinnacle by mobilizing every means in that hell.
This was just laughable.
However, he does not let his guard down.
He focuses on the opponent in front of him right now.
"It's fun. Come at me more! Entertain me!"
Sura pushed his sword to make Lunans step back and immediately deployed the next form.
- Sura Sword Technique. 2nd Form. Manpa.
Taking one movement as the beginning, an enormous number of slashing movements follow in an instant.
The appearance was like a wave, and the wave engulfed Lunans in an instant.
Within that wave, Lunans began to parry every sword strike while maintaining his form.
"Hahahaha! It's fun! Very fun!"
Lunans eventually managed to parry all those slashes.
"Right now, I have sealed all my divine power! Let's fight purely with swords!"
Lunans' laughter deepens.
"Not yet."
- Sura Sword Technique. 7th Form. Intent to Kill
Right now, at this moment. The trajectory of every sword carries the will of 'kill'.
'Head.'
The trajectory of the abnormally bent sword aims for Lunans.
Clang!
Lunans, who barely parried the sword.
His abnormally raised mouth corners slowly descend, and his face hardens.
Sura's sword was not the end.
'Heart.'
5 trajectories aim solely for Lunans' heart.
A thrust that wouldn't be an exaggeration to call arrogant. That confidence that he could pierce through everything!
"Hup!"
Lunans, who barely blocked those trajectories by swinging his sword widely.
But the true meaning of this attack was not the 5 attacks.
The hidden dagger between the 5 trajectories was the real one.
"Urgh!"
Lunans, who barely noticed, parried the sword again, but the attack landed on his heart.
It was a very shallow wound, but it was a fact that he had been wounded.
"Fun."
"Ha! You've even stopped using honorifics. Is that your true self?"
Sura, who had returned to his days as The World's Best, had stopped using honorifics.
In his Murim days, he had confidence as much as he had taken the strongest position.
Originally, his personality wasn't like that, but his master had led him this way.
- You have the qualifications! Have confidence!
That's right. He has the qualifications.
He was gentle when with his friends, but he didn't hide his confidence.
Meanwhile, the Tusus who heard Lunans' words were terrified.
- That crazy guy, seriously. Does he know what will happen if a god dies?
- He probably knows, right? It's Lunans.
- Oh, that's convincing.
- Wouldn't it be better if Lunans disappeared...?
While the Tusus' chat was coming up, the duel between Lunans and Sura continued.
The sword clash went back and forth in an instant.
The Tusus watching that scene were starting to doubt whether this was even a human fight, and they began to believe that Sura's concept was real.
- Did he really go to Murim?
- Huh? Maybe?
- Shit. Guys. Michael Garcia's tweet is up again!
- What's he saying?
- He posted it on the Elder Book site! Everyone look!
The people couldn't hide their shock at the tweet that came up.
[Michael Garcia]
I have a lot to say these days! It's a good thing.
I am currently watching the duel between Korean gamer Sura and Lunans!
Along with my team members :)
My team members couldn't hide their shock!
Although it's not widely known, Lunans possesses swordsmanship skills capable of competing for 1st place in the Moranas world.
Our production team agonized over how to implement that.
As a result of our agony, we collaborated with an AI company, collected swordsmanship from all over the world, and utilized deep learning.
We created amazing swordsmanship!
Lunans' current swordsmanship is the application of that!
Originally, the duel with Lunans was made to be an unbeatable level for players to feel the power of a god, but Sura is fighting him!
A duel between a human and a god! A duel between a god and a human! I'm so looking forward to seeing who the winner will be!
One regrettable point is that Lunans is not using his original power...
Still, Lunans' swordsmanship is amazing!
I guarantee it will be fun, for sure.
Posts from Elder Book users who saw this tweet started to go up on the site without rest.
[Wait, then is Sura fighting with swordsmanship made by deep learning right now?]
Shit, what is that monster?
What is he really?
- He's even challenging the 'unbeatable level' that is Michael's official stance, damn...
- What am I watching right now...
- Wow, the god-human battle is crazy lololol
- Should I say Sura is amazing or Lunans is amazing?
- No, even if the reaction speed or movement was adjusted for humans, the swordsmanship itself must have been implemented with amazing deep learning, so what on earth is Sura's swordsmanship that matches this...
└ He must have really gone to Murim.
└ Seriously, no. This can't be explained.
└ It wasn't a concept, it was real damn.
[Scraped a research post about Lunans' swordsmanship]
To summarize, they input Western swordsmanship and Eastern swordsmanship manuals into an AI and ran a huge amount of 1-on-1 duels.
Looking at it, they said they ran it for 50 years in terms of time.
You can think of it as inputting the swordsmanship developed that way into the most amazing AI.
Of course, the reaction speed or movement must have been adjusted appropriately, right?
But Sura is... fighting such an opponent.
What are you doing, call the Innkeeper!!!!!
- So he's fighting a martial artist who has trained for decades?
└ Yeah, that seems to be it.
└ But Sura also trained for decades as a concept, right?
└ Plus, he's The World's Best there.
└ Then Sura won.
- But if you follow Sura's concept, he was #1 in a place where martial artists fight with swords for hundreds of years, so wouldn't he be better than Earth?
└ He'll win lol
└ Would our King lose? You lack faith.
└ When did it become a theocratic monarchy? lololol
└ Long live Sura!!!
Meanwhile, the duel between Sura and Lunans was gradually reaching its peak.
'Sura Sword Technique. 2nd Form. Manpa.'
Sura pulls his sword back and shoots forward in an instant to thrust.
It remains the same that he cannot just use sword energy like in Murim.
But that distant realm exists.
Sura's sword thrusts forward one by one, and this eventually creates a huge flow!
But Lunans was still enduring within that flow.
"Is that all! Don't be disappointing!"
Sura responded.
"More?"
"Hahahaha! Come on, do it! I'm telling you to reveal everything!"
At the same time as those words, Sura swung his sword widely, making Lunans step back.
The interval between the two widened for a moment.
And Sura took his stance.
In a different stance than before.
"Lunans."
"What is it? What do you intend to show more?"
"The sword I'm about to show now. It won't be easy."
Right now, at this moment.
The 11 hells that he created while wandering the Sura path called Murim reveal their appearance here.