Duel Tower (2)

Duel Tower, 2nd floor. Upon arriving in the lobby, I first finished distributing my remaining stat points.

Fifty points earned from hitting level 21 after completing the adventurer guild quest.

This should be enough. My agility hitting 97 would reach 100 thanks to the effect of the new Duel Tower 2nd Floor Climber title.

For strength, with the Iron Blood Sword's Rage option granting +20P upon entering combat, boosted to +22P by the Master of Myth title's '10% increase to equipped gear option effects,' plus the +3P from the climber title, I could hit 100 stats.

The maximum specs I could pull off in my current situation.

'Duel request.'

With preparations complete, I spun up another match.

The duel arena was atop a steep ravine. My opponent was an axe-wielding warrior.

"What the...? How's a level 21 on the 2nd floor...?"

I had no intention of listening. The moment the countdown ended and my body was free, I charged forward.

Axes pack high destructive power, but their attack speed is slow and their motions are large. Of course, mastery changes that for any weapon, but this was still just the 2nd floor. These guys were on a lower level than even that goblin.

Ah, not your average goblin, of course—the special one who used swordsmanship. Calling it just a goblin gets confusing. Should've asked its name. If it didn't have one, I could've given it one.

I pondered this amid the slowed subjective time of my flow state.

-Squeeeeek!

Meanwhile, my opponent savagely swung down the axe raised overhead.

Naturally, with the overwhelming level gap, the physical disparity was clear. Elixirs, titles, and gear could narrow it somewhat, but there were limits.

Yet I had swordsmanship that rendered all those gaps, all that distance, meaningless.

A bare-handed human can't beat a bear. Not even a world martial arts champion could knock out a tiger. Punching an elephant down is impossible.

The absolute spec difference exists before technique even enters the equation.

But as always, exceptions exist in this world.

Without aura's aid, without mind's power, pure swordsmanship reaching the realm of mystery can turn the impossible possible.

-Whoosh!

The axe, caught in the circular sword trajectory, lost its power and sliced empty air.

"What the...!"

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shout laced with shock. His upper body was now fully exposed.

Swing at that opening and it was over—but the overwhelming spec gap wouldn't allow it. His perfectly whiffed axe recovered faster than my swing.

So.

-Swish.

My body, already anticipating, spun a full turn to take his rear. With my stance lowered tight, I must've vanished from his sight entirely.

As he scanned around with his recovered axe—stab.

The sword pierced straight through his throat.

I returned to the 2nd floor lobby.

'Still.'

'I've got margin.'

It wasn't tough. Strong thanks to levels, but their movements were still clumsy as hell. Toying with them was easy.

Probably fine up to level 100. How far could I go? How high could I climb? 150? 200? Higher?

Who knows.

'Guess I'll find out.'

I didn't want to cap my limits prematurely. I couldn't win forever—no one's invincible. Humans can beat elephants, but blue whales? Tough.

Still, I wanted to climb as high as possible.

Opponent: swordsman. He freaked at my level too, but I ignored it.

'Higher.'

Places to be. As always, the instant countdown ended, I charged.

Flash Sword, First Form: Myriad Heavenly Flashes.

Unlike the goblin's mere five prongs, mine split into dozens in an instant—a divided sword barrage. The gap from enlightenment and aura control.

Even this wasn't full power. True to its name, it should unleash over a hundred thrusts in varied forms. Specs limited full realization.

But for now, plenty.

"What the hell skill is that...?!"

He panicked, stumbling back. I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Tch. A swordsman should always maintain an unmoving heart. Freaking out over this? Even with the physical gap, posture crumbling like that? Irrelevant.

The pursuing thrust pierced his heart.

Next.

Thick plate armor and shield—warrior. Tough matchup for my lacking specs, maybe.

But 'if I time it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right, push a bit...'

I forcibly deflected his brutish shield charge. Siege-engine force, but each blade graze shook his flesh like wind-tossed leaves.

Then, the moment—

'Now!'

His blocking shield shoved aside, gap exposed in a flash. Golden aura cloaked my sword.

"S-sword aura?! A ranker's why... no, level 21...?"

I ignored his shock. Enlightenment always within me. Minimal aura in my arm's channels too.

Fleeting, but definite sword aura-clad blade sliced plate like tofu.

'Aura shortage as expected...'

Back in the lobby, I pondered. I could've cut the armor without sword aura. But forcing it tested my hand now.

For later. To climb higher.

'Upward.'

No stopping.

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