Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Silent Sword
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Mujung Sword—no, Silent Sword, Lee Chang-su.
He was called a genius.
An innate-grade trait paired with a legendary class.
Even possessing just one of those would have easily propelled him to Platinum, Diamond no real challenge either.
Of course, unavoidable circumstances had kept him from proper training, so he'd only discovered his talents upon awakening at age twenty. But that didn't matter.
With nothing but his natural gifts and abilities, he could ascend to an unrivaled position.
He'd aced his placement exam straight into Silver upon awakening. By Gold, he'd notched seven straight wins in the Colosseum, earning talk of him as the next in line for the imperial thrones—the likes of Infinite Emperor, the Three Emperors, the Five Kings.
And from there, his ascent never faltered.
Joining Oseong Guild, receiving their full backing as he grew, he became a pillar set to shoulder Korea's future.
"...Urk."
Now, that same man barely propped himself up with his sword, his body reduced to a ragged mess.
The match had barely begun when the incoming rain of spears and plummeting Peng Bird strike forced him to scrap every prepared plan. He'd opted instead for the absolute optimal defense for that exact moment.
Not a perfect block against one.
But an imperfect shield against both.
Had he stuck to his preparations, he might've taken a fatal wound.
Of course, things weren't exactly rosy now either.
'Here it comes.'
Thick clouds of dust obscured his vision completely, but a Diamond-rank like Chang-su boasted senses beyond the ordinary.
Based on that instinct, he knew. He was certain.
It was coming.
A beast charging through the dust to sink its teeth into his wounded nape.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the dust cloud split in two.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak!
A brilliant slash erupted diagonally, cleaving it apart.
Holy power.
In response, Chang-su naturally swung his signature blade, the Silent Sword.
Jjeoeoeoeong!
Holy sword clashed against Silent Sword, unleashing a heavy shockwave that rippled outward.
Both were innate-grade weapons—that was the reason.
Had either been of lesser quality, the impact would've wrecked it outright.
And the real onslaught began now.
Kak! Ka-gak! Ka-ang! Ka-ang! Kak! Ka-ga-ga-gang!
A mad flurry assaulted him.
No one side held back—it was mutual.
Shin-hyeok and Chang-su.
The two players shattered even their breathing into fragments, unleashing a torrent of sword strikes.
A ceaseless barrage too fast for the eye to follow.
But this was merely an exchange of intel.
A probe, flesh against flesh, to drag out the opponent's secrets.
Naturally, both succeeded in gathering data.
'Physical stats are mine. But his technique is freakishly refined. Skill and finesse bridging the gap in build. Unbelievable.'
'Definite size difference. Still, opening with two ultimate moves softened him up— he's not an unbreakable wall.'
Their thoughts aligned perfectly.
Each had pierced the other's strengths and flaws.
That marked the true start.
Kwang! Kwa-ang! Kwang! Kwa-ang! Kwang!
Chang-su's Silent Sword seemed serene by name, but it was anything but static.
For it shifted traits on demand.
Heavy sword when needed.
Swift blade if called for.
Illusory strikes at will.
And he blended them without hesitation.
Thus, he pressed Shin-hyeok relentlessly with heavy, ponderous swings.
Perfectly leveraging his superior build.
Block, and damage accumulates. Dodge, and your stance crumbles. A devilish dilemma.
'What now? Your skill's impressive, but meaningless against this overwhelming disparity.'
Feeling victory tilt his way, Chang-su's emotionless gaze fixed on Shin-hyeok.
Whatever choice Shin-hyeok made here would favor him.
That was the moment.
Kwae-ae-ae-ek!
'...Insane!'
Choi Shin-hyeok Style, Chapter 7—Weapon Throw.
Seeing Shin-hyeok's holy sword hurtling at his face, cracks finally spiderwebbed through Chang-su's vaunted silence for the first time.
He'd known, of course.
He'd seen footage of Shin-hyeok hurling his weapon in a duel against his own master and guild leader, Sword King Lee Ho-seok.
But knowledge and facing it were worlds apart.
Especially for Chang-su, who'd trained directly under Ho-seok, absorbing a swordsman's unbreakable creed.
In simple terms: a true swordmaster never drops their blade, not even in death.
That creed shattered, creating a fatal opening.
"Thunder Horse Step."
Kwa-rung!
Shin-hyeok kicked off, black lightning coiling around his legs.
The speed was so ferocious even Chang-su couldn't react in time, failing to close the gap. Regaining his composure, Chang-su pursued.
'Can't let him create distance. He's a master archer too. And his bow... terrifying. At minimum innate-grade. Maybe even legendary. No reason to let him draw it.'
He already knew Shin-hyeok wielded a bow.
To know an enemy's attack and allow it?
Chang-su hadn't been taught that way.
Of course, Shin-hyeok didn't make closing in easy either.
Today, he'd held back his demonic energy entirely, hoarding it full. Now he unleashed it freely to spam Thunder Horse Step.
And on top—
"Rise."
Deu-deu-deu-deuk!
The catalysts scattered across the ground as he retreated answered his call.
Undead.
Shin-hyeok's Necromancy [B].
Among his highest-ranked skills, its power was formidable.
Especially since he'd never unleashed Necromancy at full throttle before.
"...What the hell."
Chang-su's eyes shook violently—that said it all.
The reason was simple.
"Elite knights led by the Royal Guard captain, flanked by squadron leaders and their subordinates. Even rank-and-file soldiers under their command. This... Platinum-grade necromancer level. No—their coordination, morale, battle formations. Beyond that."
Shin-hyeok had conserved them meticulously, forging an elite force no ordinary Platinum necromancer could match.
Hundreds swelling toward a thousand now blocked his path. Chang-su gripped his Silent Sword's hilt until it creaked.
Kwa-duk!
When tension peaked—
"Sea Cleaver."
Like Moses' miracle, the undead horde parted before him.
Chang-su's eyes twitched as a clear path to Shin-hyeok opened.
"...Spirits."
Beyond the vanished undead stood spirits.
And they differed from any he'd known.
All the games he'd fought through thus far.
Plus this winning streak.
On top, his All Master class boosted skill growth, and the Versatile trait doubled down.
The cumulative result.
"Mid-grade!"
Mid-tier spirits across all four elements.
From mid-grade on, they counted as proper combat assets.
All four elements, no less.
That meant one thing.
"Pour down, Elemental Rain."
Shwaaaaaaaa!
Four-element fusion technique—Elemental Rain.
A deluge of attribute-infused rain hammered Chang-su.
Fire, water, wind, earth.
Raindrops laced with their powers.
Vision blurred to inches ahead; sensations scrambled by clashing attributes.
He had to admit he'd lost Shin-hyeok.
Sskim!
'...Coming.'
Sensing the attack priming, Chang-su surrendered to the rain, bracing himself.
His flesh shredded in real time, but better than missing the strike.
And his judgment proved spot-on.
"Tai Chi Divine Art, Heavenly Demon Divine Canon."
Keyiiiiing!
Mana and demonic energy.
Two opposing forces raced through his body unchecked.
Impossible under normal rules, but All Master class and Versatile trait made it feasible.
Harnessing even their repulsion for bodily reinforcement, Shin-hyeok nocked an arrow to Chungmu-gong's bowstring.
Kka-deu-deu-deuk!
The bowframe bent with a scream; the string stretched taut to snapping.
One arrow atop it.
But that wasn't all.
Innate Skill: Hundred Bulls Hundred Hits.
Innate Skill: Focused Shot.
Innate Skill: Perfect Clarity.
Chungmu-gong's Bow's trio of innate skills—the Divine Trinity.
Activating them amplified Shin-hyeok's presence further.
Undead pinned the feet; a lethal blow readied.
Having dragged time to its utmost limit, completing Focused Shot's charge, Shin-hyeok released.
Kki-gi-gi-gi-gi-gik!
The arrow shredded air, accelerating past subsonic into supersonic.
The shockwave and atmosphere's howl were horrific.
Facing this pinnacle arrow, Chang-su swung his Silent Sword.
Sword Veil.
A barrier woven of sword energy.
He maxed his full-body protective aura too, bracing for impact.
Jjeoeoeoeoeoeong!
Soon, a force tore through everything, engulfing him.
"Graaaaaaargh!"
Neither sword veil nor energy armor held.
The arrow's condensed might overwhelmed them.
Especially for Chang-su, who'd eaten two ultimates at the start and endured steady erosion since.
Yet he still stood.
Trait: Indomitable Will.
An innate-grade trait, useless in daily life.
But Chang-su knew.
This trait had earned him the "lone wolf" moniker, forging the Silent Sword he was today.
Never give up, and opportunity comes.
Even if defeat or death loomed—no difference.
'Come. I'll cleave you with everything I've got.'
Kku-duk!
The Silent Sword's hilt half-crushed in his grip—Chang-su was in his worst yet best state.
Indomitable Will dramatically boosted all stats.
But when it ended, he'd be as good as dead.
Hence, he called it his final gambit.
Ignoring his wrecked body, Chang-su locked eyes on Shin-hyeok.
Distance remained, giving ample reaction time.
Or so—
"Overlord—Heavenly Demon Manifestation."
"...!"
Pu-hwaaaaaak!
He'd half-expected it.
Until an overwhelming demonic energy erupted from Shin-hyeok, making "overwhelming" seem inadequate.
And—
"Black Heaven Thunder Step."
Kwa-reu-reu-rung!
Based on that energy, Shin-hyeok's advance—cloaked in black lightning far beyond before—was near impossible to predict.
Chang-su didn't know Shin-hyeok had also swapped titles to Little Heavenly Demon Candidate.
All converging, Shin-hyeok closed the considerable gap in one breath, thrusting his Spear Finger Strike at Chang-su.
"Soul Pierce—Soul Stab."
Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Chapter 1, Verse 2: Soul Pierce.
Choi Shin-hyeok Style, Chapter 6: Soul Stab.
Differing origins, yet now unified as one 'martial' essence manifesting in a single body.
Puk!
No sword veil or aura, but even his innate-grade armor split like tofu, exposing flesh within.
Trained muscles.
Hardened bones.
Not even soft tissue.
Nothing halted Shin-hyeok's Spear Finger.
Advancing unimpeded like a lone spear tip, it smoothly pierced the heart, protruding from his back.
Thud—
Heart impaled, vision dimming, Chang-su slumped naturally into Shin-hyeok's embrace. His gaze turned upward.
Meeting it unflinchingly, Shin-hyeok murmured softly into his ear.
With broadcasts muted, only Chang-su heard.
"I've learned a move from the future Sword King. So, perhaps shift who you acknowledge. Your own validation as the future Sword King beats some old-era king's, don't you think?"
"...!"
"Eh, I get the gist of your reasons, but mull it over anyway. See you properly next time."
"......"
Heart ruptured, organs failing, breath ragged—yet Chang-su nodded unconsciously.
That ended it.
Of course—
"Predation."
Kwa-deu-deuk!
A Diamond-grade player was too much to resist.