Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Duel with the Flame King
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On the sparring ground, clear traces of scorching flames and deep slashes scarred the surface.
It was in far too poor a state to serve as a proper arena, but with no better option available on such short notice, the two men decided to use the exact same ground that had just hosted the duel between the Sword King and the Flame King.
True to its design as a player arena, the vast expanse—comparable to a full gymnasium—saw In-ho flash a smile toward Shin-hyeok.
"Let's start by checking your condition. I need to know if you're truly at full strength."
"Do whatever you like."
"...All right."
In-ho was thorough.
He wouldn't overlook even the possibility that Shin-hyeok might fake an injury to gain an advantage, despite appearing unscathed.
Knowing full well his caution might come off as petty or underhanded, he made no effort to hide it.
Yet Shin-hyeok boldly extended his arm in response.
His wrist.
The ideal spot for gauging an opponent's mana pathways and current state. In-ho pressed two fingers there, checked his condition, nodded, and stepped back.
'Around sixty percent of his full capacity. I'm at about forty. With that gap, I should win without much trouble.'
Reading an opponent's full stats from a wrist pulse was impossible.
But estimating their current energy reserves and approximating physical stamina from the heartbeat? For someone of In-ho's caliber from beyond the heavens, that was child's play.
The result: sixty to forty.
However, this sixty percent was by Shin-hyeok's standards, and the forty by In-ho's.
Considering the stat difference between them, the gap was practically negligible.
If anything, In-ho might hold a slight edge.
'Of course, no room for complacency. This arrogant nephew is a monster who wields mana, demonic energy, and holy power all at once.'
Even so, In-ho harbored no illusions.
To him, Shin-hyeok had been just another unremarkable nephew.
The son of his dim-witted younger brother, who had married some worthless woman and fallen out of favor with their father.
True to his pathetic upbringing, the kid had turned out just as useless.
His school days were a disaster, and his player talent was rock bottom.
Of course, In-ho had pulled strings here and there—severing Shin-hyeok's friendships, choking off then releasing his father's funds to ensure he never got his hands on proper elixirs.
But then that nephew changed.
Just days before awakening as a player, to be precise. His delightful little rebellion was anything but delightful to In-ho.
In the blink of an eye, Shin-hyeok had sucked up all the attention and spotlights, transforming into a monster.
A nephew now too vast for even In-ho to handle lightly.
There was no room for carelessness against him.
If anything, he felt even greater tension than when facing the Sword King, Lee Ho-seok—his wariness at an all-time high.
"A loser from the old era should act the part and make a nice sacrifice."
"...What?"
"The cameras are too far to pick up sound anyway, so I'll speak freely. Time to taste your nephew's spicy patricidal punch."
"...How dare you!"
Shin-hyeok declared it outright to In-ho.
A loser from the old era.
An insult In-ho couldn't tolerate.
"Take that back!"
"I'd love to say 'take it back,' but it's the truth, so no urge to retract it. I'll drill a donut hole right through your chest—come at me."
"...Fine. I'll show you why they call me the Flame King."
"Even that gets you scorched by lava, doesn't it, mortal?"
"...Let's see how long that loose tongue of yours keeps wagging."
Words sharper than any blade flew between uncle and nephew—utterly unbelievable as familial banter.
Of course, with Shin-hyeok landing all the brutal hits, In-ho stopped talking and got down to business.
Roarrrrr!
Crimson flames enveloped In-ho's entire body.
They morphed into a robe for spellcasting.
In-ho's signature gear: the Flame Robe.
Boosting affinity and power with fire, it was one of his defining symbols.
Going all-out from the start—Shin-hyeok dropped the taunts and equipped his own gear in response.
Shrrrrk!
The Armor of Absorption cloaked Shin-hyeok from head to toe.
Crunch!
He gripped the God-Slaying Spear and holy sword.
Caw!
Finally, perching his summoned Blackie on his shoulder completed the setup.
The moment both were ready, they unleashed a ferocious barrage at each other.
"Fire Field."
In-ho struck first.
Fire Field.
An A-rank field spell, one of his specialties.
Turning the surroundings into a sea of flames to craft a battlefield tilted in his favor—this skill alone gave him half the fight won.
But In-ho's assault didn't end there.
"Come forth, spirits of fire."
Roarrrrr!
Fire spirits began summoning through the massive blaze of the Fire Field.
Low-, mid-, and high-grade spirits formed an army, spewing flames at Shin-hyeok.
Boomboomboomboom!
The Fire Field's ambient effects.
In-ho's vast mana reserves.
The synergy was undeniably potent.
High-grades were devastating, and even mid- or low-grades hurled fireballs with serious punch.
Slashslashslash! Boom!
Shin-hyeok calmly cleaved and pierced the endless incoming fireballs, pressing forward.
"Blackie. Feather Storm."
Caw!
Whooshwhooshwhoosh!
The fireballs were area attacks.
Shin-hyeok countered with his own wide sweep.
Blackie's Feather Storm proved perfect here.
A whirlwind of feathers battered the fireballs aside or twisted their paths.
Raw power favored the flames, naturally—but Blackie, evolved into a Black Gold Raven and awakened to metal affinity, had grown far stronger.
Splatcrackcrack!
Fireballs detonating nearby with thunderous blasts scattered embers all around, but Shin-hyeok didn't flinch, bulldozing ahead like a madman.
This level of power couldn't breach the triple wall of his Armor of Absorption, auto-defenses, and superhuman body anyway.
Even for In-ho, landing real damage required near-direct hits.
Knowing that, Shin-hyeok focused on closing the distance. In-ho, displeased, frowned and smoothly retreated.
Roar!
Fire Work.
Flames erupted in In-ho's wake, blocking vision and advance.
As a mage, he had endless utility tricks—closing in wasn't easy.
'Not hard.'
For Shin-hyeok, who'd faced Challenger-level foes countless times, this poking was old hat.
Plenty had better denial tools than In-ho; he stayed patient and methodical.
"Can you afford to take it slow? My flames will roast you from the inside out."
"Thanks for the concern. I'll drill that hole in your chest painlessly later."
"...Not broken in yet, I see."
In-ho tossed a barb as Shin-hyeok circled without closing in, but got nothing back and withdrew.
From there, a tedious standoff ensued.
Boomboomboom!
In-ho poured on the pressure to keep Shin-hyeok at bay.
Tat-tat-tat!
Shin-hyeok inched forward relentlessly.
A probing exchange, each revealing cards bit by bit.
It didn't last.
"Invisible Hand."
Having gauged In-ho's hand enough, Shin-hyeok pulled the Divine Archer's Bow from his inventory with his trait: Invisible Hand.
"Enlarge, Compress, Hundred Bullseye, Rapid Shot, Clairvoyance."
He activated the bow's five embedded skills.
A terrifying mana drain hit, nearly buckling his knees—but optimized via Full Facial Hair, he endured.
His mana circuits assisted, and maxed Tai Chi Divine Art rapidly refilled the drop.
Ready, Shin-hyeok drew the string.
Creaaaaak!
Pulled to its limit.
A massive arrow nocked dead on In-ho.
The power packed into this bow, this arrow—In-ho sensed it instantly, face hardening.
Whoosh!
The arrow rocketed toward him, slicing space like a beam.
In-ho swung his staff, chanting spells in a flash.
"Fire Wall, Fire Wall, Fire Wall."
Triple-layered Fire Walls.
The Fire Field had already turned the area into an inferno, slashing mana costs and boosting chant speed to extremes.
In-ho's skill made it feasible.
The colossal flame barriers rose like ramparts—but
Splaaaat!
"...Ngh!"
Even they were mere paper.
The triple walls shattered explosively, scattering fire like fireworks—but not beautiful to In-ho.
Screeeee!
The arrow compressed then decompressed the gap repeatedly, speed barely slowed.
In-ho finally played his trump.
"Fire Spirit's Blessing. Flames' Benediction. Absolute Fire Shield."
A barrier of true flame, affinity maxed via spirit blessing and fire grace.
Sizzle!
True flame delivered.
The arrow melted on contact, like snow over fire.
In-ho smirked at the intact shield after blocking a lethal strike—until
Rumble!
"...What?"
Looking up at the darkening sky, he saw it.
"...Why is a turtle ship here?"
A Goguryeo turtle ship plummeting dragon-head first toward him.
Dozens of tons of ironclad mass—a spell in itself.
"Even the Martial God enjoyed the taste—if you insist, Uncle, try it yourself. Family discount: on the house, no worries about the bill."
"...You!"
In-ho's face twisted at Shin-hyeok perched atop, staring down impassively.
BOOM!
A house delicacy certified by the Martial God.
Shin-hyeok's Goguryeo turtle ship crashed down on In-ho.