Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Orc Great Warrior, Tarkhan
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Orc Great Warrior, Tarkhan.
The champion of the Colosseum made his entrance, drawing gasps of admiration, surprise, and shock from countless viewers. But regardless, their opinions didn't shift much.
Choi Shin-hyeok's stock was at an all-time high—higher than ever before.
Yesterday was impressive, but today topped it. And tomorrow promised even more.
He was the hot prospect everyone was buzzing about.
Or maybe it was time to drop the "prospect" label altogether.
It was only natural.
From Gold tier onward, players were truly recognized.
Stand out here, and you'd be hailed as a rookie or rising star, fielding recruitment offers from major guilds or even nations.
Next came Platinum.
These were national assets to protect, the pillars upholding guilds.
They also qualified for the Inter-National Wars, earning them the title of the real deal.
And finally, Diamond.
Each one was a national treasure.
The resources they harvested from dungeons and the Dimension Arena were astronomical—essential to humanity like blood in veins.
The finals of the Inter-National Wars they competed in brought massive gains to their countries, making every individual priceless.
Shin-hyeok's value surpassed even these Diamond players, so their reactions were par for the course.
Kwaaaaaang!
Yet they had to admit their assumptions were slightly off as Tarkhan effortlessly withstood Shin-hyeok's onslaught.
That sentiment only grew stronger as time passed.
The battle unfolded in split-second exchanges, a blur of movements too fast for most Dimension Arena viewers to track. Amid the spectacle, they grew certain.
Tarkhan possessed beyond-Diamond capabilities.
Which meant Shin-hyeok, matching him blow for blow, did too.
A fresh-faced 20-year-old, barely two months past his Placement Exam.
The viewers couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.
Meanwhile, the fight intensified. Having found their rhythm, they shifted gears, pushing the heat to a fever pitch.
Tarkhan pulled out his shamanism: shaman tattoos, blessings, outer armor, unleashing every trick in his arsenal. Shin-hyeok seemed to be getting pushed back.
Of course, it was dead even in reality, but from a third-party view, viewers couldn't catch the finer details.
Shin-hyeok's defeat loomed, sending viewers into a frenzy—biting nails, legs jittering.
But their worries soon vanished.
Hwarrrrrruk!
Shin-hyeok's demon-infused Fireball flipped the board completely.
Showcasing his B-rank magic to the world, he pushed further.
Shin-hyeok's ultimate technique from the Colosseum 10-win streak—the one that brought the Faceless Sword to its knees.
Summoning an army in a 1v1.
Instantly shifting from 1v1 to 1vHundreds. Maybe even 1vThousand.
Viewers cheered wildly.
But Shin-hyeok's final words left them stunned.
The first real hint at Shin-hyeok's job: All Master.
It fit perfectly—the man who mastered every skill and weapon. Consensus formed swiftly.
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!
Tarkhan clashed with Shin-hyeok's army.
Would a new Colosseum champion rise, or would the title endure? The Dimension Arena viewers popped their popcorn eagerly.
Kwarrrrrr!
Tarkhan's glaive swept through, shattering a corner of the death army in one go.
Power enough to crumble castle walls.
But the real terror? This was just a casual swing.
A light attack crumbling part of Shin-hyeok's forces.
Shin-hyeok didn't flinch.
"Rise."
As long as his mana held...
His army wouldn't break.
Kiiiiing!
Maxing out the Tai Chi Divine Art to cover his mana drain in real-time, Shin-hyeok gestured to the spirits moving on individual wills.
"Elemental Shower."
Shwaaaaa!
Low-grade spirits merged into a four-element torrent pounding Tarkhan.
"This much won't...!"
"Elemental Rain."
"...!!!"
Obviously not enough, so Shin-hyeok called mid-grade spirits next.
Their combined power unleashed a fiercer four-element downpour.
Tarkhan's charge faltered for the first time.
Kagagagak!
Skeleton Royal Guard Knights [B] swarmed Tarkhan.
Platinum-level each, their combined assault pushed him back relentlessly.
Kadududuk!
"...Tch."
A chilling crack echoed. Tarkhan's face hardened.
Right then.
Kwaaaaaaaa!
Great Slaughter.
Shin-hyeok's first technique roared back at Tarkhan.
Kicking off from the great bow's perch, it zeroed in perfectly.
Death army, spirit barrage—all a launchpad for this one strike.
That resolve struck home.
Kwadududuk!
Great Slaughter halted at Tarkhan's shaman outer armor, but the shock transferred fully.
He skidded back, carving another long furrow.
Shin-hyeok's barrage followed seamlessly.
Kwaaaaa! Kwaaaaa! Kwaaaaaaa!!!
Endless Great Slaughters.
Impossible to dodge or block—wounds multiplied, bruises creeping across flesh.
In the slowly tilting victory, Shin-hyeok drew his magic spear.
"True Black Demonization, Throw Enhancement, Enhancement, Deadly Strike."
Four skills stacked: Quadruple Force.
Black flames wreathed the spear as it launched.
"Piercing Demon."
──────────!
Spear shot like a stab from Shin-hyeok himself.
A black line slashed through space, impaling Tarkhan.
Jjeeeeeeeng!
Half his shaman armor exploded, shock unmitigated—bones, muscles, flesh, organs in the pierced spot pulverized.
Death wouldn't be surprising.
But Tarkhan was a warrior.
And a shaman.
Warriors never yield to death; shamans aid them to overcome it.
United, they forged their own miracle.
"Shaman Tattoo Manifest. Berserk, Blood Frenzy, Madness."
Kiiiiiiiing!!!
Three deepest tattoos—chest, limbs, head—activated simultaneously. Red aura enveloped him.
"Three Madnesses as One."
Kwaaaaaaaaa!
Three frenzies merged into pure unity, embedding in his flesh.
A storm of monstrous battle spirit erupted from Tarkhan, shredding everything around.
Peoseoseoseok!
The death army and Skeleton Royal Guard Knights crumbled first.
Shin-hyeok's mana regen couldn't keep up.
Spirits next.
Immune to physical hits, vulnerable to non-physical—like the intense killing intent from battle spirit.
Forced unsummoned.
Huwooooook!
Fierce spirit cleared the dust cloud.
When it parted fully...
Shin-hyeok eyed the crimson-aura-clad Tarkhan, reminded of someone familiar.
'Like pre-regression Ellis Veronia.'
Ellis Veronia.
Now America's rising star, but pre-regression, a world-class powerhouse.
Her path was blood-soaked; known as 'Blood Berserker' for her job.
Tarkhan mirrored that perfectly.
One difference, though—
"Hoo... Three Madnesses as One is tough."
"You're still sane?"
"It cycles madness three times back to origin. Pulls full power while keeping sanity—that's the perk."
"...Isn't that broken?"
"Eh, human. Compared to what you've shown? Nah. Just look at the crowd."
"Hmm..."
Tarkhan was fully compos mentis.
Berserk skills usually eroded the mind, but Tarkhan's extreme madness looped him back to sanity.
Seemed OP, but Shin-hyeok glanced around and nodded.
Spectators like translucent spirits.
Their murmurs were crystal clear.
"Don't wanna clown in front of them, but... gotta go all-out to beat you, Mr. Tarkhan."
"...What?"
"Believe it? I've been waiting for this. Someone to unleash everything on."
"...!"
Scanning the crowd's stir, Shin-hyeok declared full power.
Tarkhan flinched, stepping back—sensing the shift.
Shin-hyeok applauded the judgment.
"Mana, demonic qi, holy power. Triple Aura Fusion - Enhancement."
Kugugugugugugu!
Demonic qi surged like a torrent through his body.
Holy power embedded, reinforcing flesh.
Mana stabilized the collapsing frame from the clashing forces.
Three energies unified, peaking body enhancement.
Crack!
Cracking his neck casually, Shin-hyeok grabbed magic spear and holy sword, stepping slowly toward Tarkhan.
"Champion. I'll take it."
"......"
Shin-hyeok's quiet declaration echoed.
Tarkhan thought, unbidden:
Maybe—just maybe—this prison he'd been chained to forever...
Could be broken.
By the boyish genius before him, more youth than man.
