Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Rage (2)
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Clang!
Unfortunately, my dagger failed to slice through Gwuiryeong's neck.
Geomryeong, who had snapped back to his senses in an instant, moved two of his swords to block my attack.
It seems things won't be that easy, after all.
Blood gushed from the stump of Geomryeong's severed arm as he glared at me, his expression fierce.
"...You. Where did you come from?"
Geomryeong's pupils were trembling faintly. The same was true for Gwuiryeong, who stood beside him.
They looked as if they'd seen a ghost.
Of course they did.
Right now, neither Geomryeong's 'Survival of the Fittest' nor Gwuiryeong's 'Ghost Eye' could detect my presence.
That was why I'd been able to cut off his arm with my first surprise attack.
The reason their abilities couldn't detect me was simple.
Geomryeong's and Gwuiryeong's abilities were detection skills based on the 'System'.
The standard by which Geomryeong's 'Survival of the Fittest' judged the strong was their stats.
Gwuiryeong's 'Ghost Eye' also identified living beings by detecting their stats.
Of course, I had no intention of giving them a straight answer.
Without answering, I glanced down at Jia, who was covered in wounds and breathing raggedly.
Her injuries were severe.
As I looked at those wounds, I felt something boiling up inside me.
Rage.
Rage at myself for being complacent, even though I knew Jia would be a target,
and rage at the two villains who had done this to her.
Squeeze
I gripped the 'Promosium Dagger' tightly once more.
And then I kicked off the ground.
The scenery blurred past.
"Seoyul!"
"Keuk!"
The Promosium Dagger's first unique ability: 'Body Acceleration'.
A buff-type ability that, as the name suggests, increases the body's agility.
Clang! Ching!
My agility had reached D-rank thanks to the complete embodiment of Predator's Bloodlust, and the 'Promosium Dagger' itself was powerful.
On top of that, 'Body Acceleration' provided an additional boost.
My current agility must have reached the early stages of A-rank.
"This... this bastard!"
My opponent couldn't properly react to my speed.
The proof was that despite his versatile ability to freely control eight floating swords for both offense and defense, he was now completely on the defensive.
Clang! Sccrrrape!
The sound of steel rang out from all directions.
Of course, Geomryeong was a villain powerful enough to overwhelm Jia in a one-on-one fight.
A villain whose physical abilities were close to S-rank, with combat power nearing that of an executive.
His agility was high A-rank.
In other words, he far surpassed me.
"You damn gnat!"
Nevertheless, there were two reasons he couldn't react properly to my movements.
"And what does that make you, who can't even catch a gnat? An amoeba?"
First.
The difference in our abilities.
Even at the same A-rank, combat power varies wildly depending on one's abilities.
And I possessed racial abilities incomparable to normal ones, as well as the 'Master of Arms (Full Bloom)' ability.
I could fight on equal footing even if my stats were slightly lower.
"Why... can't I detect you! Keuk!"
Kaaang!
And the second reason.
Geomryeong and Gwuiryeong's detection skills didn't work on me.
It was like a swordsman who relied on his sight suddenly going blind.
Geomryeong's 'Sword Control' was an ability that couldn't function without the detection from 'Survival of the Fittest'.
Freely controlling eight swords is no easy task.
The fact that he'd lost an arm was another reason, of course.
"Seoyul! Kyaaak!"
Gwuiryeong wasn't a combat-specialized villain to begin with. I could ignore her for now.
I continued my thunderous assault.
Following the path of the wind, I unleashed a dizzying flurry of strikes, and his eight swords tangled together like magnets.
"This bastard, how...!"
The paths of his eight swords, now simplistic and rushed, were completely seen through by the path of the wind.
A single blade blocking eight swords.
A single exchange.
It was obvious who would tire first.
Pshuk!
"Keuk!"
Before long, Geomryeong's body was covered in cuts, large and small.
It all happened in exactly ten seconds.
If I kept pressing him just a little longer, taking his head wouldn't be too difficult.
But I didn't have the time.
Fifty seconds.
That was how long it had been since I'd taken hold of the 'Promosium Dagger'.
In order to find Jia,
I'd had no choice but to equip the 'Promosium Dagger' beforehand for swift travel.
Thirty seconds had passed while I was on the move.
In another ten seconds.
I would have to let go of this dagger.
And thinking about it rationally, finishing Geomryeong in ten seconds seemed impossible.
...I have no choice.
I stopped my attack for the moment and positioned myself in front of Jia.
It seemed I'd have to use that move, just as planned.
"...Hoo."
Feeling a cold rage,
I felt my mind grow even colder.
***
Shin Jia watched Kang Seoyul with a hazy gaze.
His trustworthy back, one she relied on completely. That back was now heaving violently, riddled with rage.
Feeling his anger, Shin Jia felt both apologetic and relieved.
'He's angry because of me.'
For some reason, tears welled up in her eyes.
Was it because she was so certain, so sure, that Kang Seoyul couldn't possibly lose?
She felt her heart gradually grow calm.
"Sorry I'm late."
No. That's not true.
Shin Jia wanted to say so, but her lips only trembled.
The words wouldn't come out.
"If you're tired, get some sleep. Everything will be over when you wake up."
A gentle voice.
At the sound of his voice, the tension slowly drained from her.
Nod, nod.
Shin Jia's consciousness faded and then, finally, snapped.
"..."
After a quick glance at her, Kang Seoyul turned back to Geomryeong, his face once again filled with fury.
Geomryeong and Gwuiryeong were on such high alert against Kang Seoyul that they couldn't bring themselves to move first.
Considering the high-speed battle from moments ago, their caution was only natural.
'...What the hell is that bastard?'
His speed isn't overwhelmingly fast.
No, he's fast, but not so fast that I can't react.
And yet, I can't counter him. He exploits every opening, no matter my stance, and each and every blow is fatal.
On top of that, since my detection doesn't work, I can't even use Sword Control to its full potential.
'Dammit.'
This is the first time I've ever encountered a situation like this.
"Brother. We're out of time."
Gwuiryeong whispered.
There's no way the man before us came here alone without telling anyone.
He must have called for help from an instructor or someone else.
"...I know. The movements in the area have become chaotic."
It seems they haven't pinpointed our exact location yet, but it's only a matter of time.
"Sister. Use Confusing Ghost."
Confusing Ghost.
A barrier-type ability that could distort perception, if only for a short while.
"Got it."
A chilling magic spread out.
It was then that Kang Seoyul began to move.
Geomryeong reacted instantly.
'I'm getting a little used to it!'
I'm getting a little more used to fighting without Survival of the Fittest.
I can see Kang Seoyul's movements a bit better now.
He sent the eight swords flying at once, surrounding Kang Seoyul.
In that moment, magic radiated widely from Kang Seoyul's entire body.
Fwhoooosh!
A translucent flame.
It was so faint, so weak, that one might mistake it for something other than a flame.
I don't know what he's planning, but there's no way he can block 'Sword Control' with this level of magic.
'I've won!'
Just as Geomryeong smiled, certain of his victory.
"Found it."
The corners of Kang Seoyul's mouth curled up as well.
His eyes were fixed precisely on a single sword.
"What!"
And in the next instant, Kang Seoyul's body moved in an incomprehensible way.
With movements Geomryeong couldn't have imagined, he dodged four swords by a paper-thin margin,
Shhhk!
and evaded two more by letting them graze his flesh.
Sccrrape!
Then, he deflected one of the two remaining swords with his dagger at an angle.
He struck the final sword with all his might.
Kraaaang!
With a violent crash, the last sword was driven deep into the ground.
But it wasn't without a price.
Perhaps because he had recklessly struck the final sword,
Kang Seoyul's dagger was sent flying through the air.
And it landed perfectly, sticking into the ground right at Geomryeong's feet.
To block an attack only to lose his own weaponit was a move anyone would have condemned as foolish.
'Idiot!'
Indeed, that was exactly what Geomryeong was thinking.
But Kang Seoyul smiled.
Bzzzt
His right hand.
The hand that had been holding the 'Promosium Dagger' was crackling with residual sparks.
[Error! Error!]
Seeing the familiar error message, I rejoiced internally.
'Just one minute!'
Everything is going according to plan.
***
I looked at the Levitation Sword, stuck deep in the ground and trembling, and roughly tore the 'Pinnacle of Arms' from my neck.
Then, I gripped the sword and lifted it.
"Idiot! That sword is a bound item! It's not a weapon you can...!"
"I know."
Geomryeong's main weapon.
The Levitation Sword.
Its effect, 'Eight Swords,' allows it to split into eight blades.
Like the Flames of Imprint, it is a 'Bound Item' that binds to the user upon acquisition.
And finally.
"It has an ability requirement. Only those with the 'Sword Control' ability can wield it. I know all that."
It's an item with an ability restriction.
I pulled out the Levitation Sword.
The feel of it in my hand was superb.
In that moment, the seven other swords flying through the air vanished.
"...You!"
Gwuiryeong's eyes widened in shock.
"The magic I radiated earlier was to identify the main body of this sword."
A collaboration between the Flames of Imprint and the Flames of the Spirit.
I subtly spread the spirit flames, which burn away magic, to give a slight stimulus to the clones of the Levitation Sword.
The reason I created some distance and stood still for five seconds earlier was to prepare for this wide-area radiation.
As a result, the forms of the clones were minutely distorted, and I didn't miss that fleeting moment.
The rest was simple.
I squeezed out the last of my strength to dodge his swords, struck the main body precisely, and slammed it into the ground so it couldn't move.
"Thanks. I'll make good use of this."
I swung the Levitation Sword around, a smirk twisting my lips.
"You, you bastard! What the hell did you do!"
"What did I do?"
Stat restrictions.
Race restrictions.
Ability restrictions.
I possess the 'power' to ignore them all.
Meaning, I have the power to completely ignore the laws of the System.
And 'bind-on-equip items' are, after all, just another one of the System's laws.
Of course, I had no intention of telling them my secret.
"Something good."
I am the world's only heretic, capable of ignoring those laws.
To think he'd trust in a binding restriction and just toss his item at someone like me.
It's no different from asking me to use it well, is it?
So I decided to do just that.
"Well then, let's start wrapping this up."
I poured as much of my remaining magic as I could into the Levitation Sword.
"Eight Swords."
Zzzzzing!
The sword became two.
Then four.
And finally, it multiplied to eight.
Holding the main body, I sent the seven other swords floating into the air.
"...How can you even use Sword Control!"
Geomryeong shouted, pointing a panicked finger. Gwuiryeong, watching from the side, had the same reaction.
"Have you ever heard of a dragon's reverse scale?"
I spoke, ignoring their panic.
"It means if you touch it, you will be killed. Something like that."
My eyes gleamed coldly.
"You touched my reverse scale."
The tips of the seven swords pointed at Gwuiryeong and Geomryeong.
Geomryeong doesn't carry a spare weapon.
Because he had complete faith in his Levitation Sword and Sword Control.
"Both of you, die."
I shot the swords forward.
Sword Control.
It was my first time using the ability, but how to use it came to me naturally.
"Shiiiit!"
Geomryeong roared as he rolled across the ground.
As expected of Geomryeong.
It was an excellent dodge for someone without a weapon.
"Kyaaak!"
Gwuiryeong, lacking in combat skill, was writhing on the ground with swords stuck in both her legs.
She seemed to have lost consciousness from the unfamiliar pain.
The unsettling magic in the area began to disappear.
Confusing Ghost must have been dispelled.
"How long can you last?"
I even pulled out the swords piercing Gwuiryeong's legs and aimed them at Geomryeong.
Cold sweat beaded on Geomryeong's forehead.
"Dammit! Dammit! Daaammit!"
He probably never imagined he'd be on the receiving end of his own Sword Control.
I sneered at the ridiculous sight.
Farcical.
His struggles were like the antics of a clown.
"If it's come to this!"
I could see a desperate will in Geomryeong's eyes. The eyes of a man who had accepted death.
He narrowly dodged the swords and rolled across the ground.
"I'll make sure I take you with me!"
It was a move to pick up the 'Promosium Dagger' stuck in the ground.
With no weapon, it was a perfectly natural course of action, but...
"Idiot."
Even that was part of my plan.
Did you think I sent the Promosium Dagger flying over there for no reason?
Thump
The moment Geomryeong's hand closed around the Promosium Dagger.
Bzzzzzzzt!
"Gyaaaaaaaak!"
Fierce sparks flew.
Even from a distance, the tremors looked severe.
The rejection phenomenon.
The 'backlash' that occurs when an unqualified person touches an ancient artifact.
"Electrifying, isn't it?"
In severe cases, they can be instantly turned to ash.
Fortunately, the Promosium Dagger's rejection phenomenon didn't seem to be that severe.
It seemed to end with just a slightly powerful electric current.
"Kuh, uhhh... eok."
Thud
Geomryeong collapsed to the ground, the whites of his eyes showing.
"Don't you know you shouldn't carelessly pick up weapons lying on the ground? What if it was a bound item?"
I mocked him as I watched his body tremble.
"You... fu... cking bastard. For you to say that..."
His tongue must have been paralyzed; he couldn't even pronounce the words properly.
"Ha."
He's probably trying to say that I have no right to talk.
I moved two of the Levitation Swords around and twisted my lips into a sneer.
"What a funny guy."
Two swords rose up behind my back.
As the two swords took their aim, Geomryeong's face turned pale.
"Uh... ugh...!"
"I have no right to talk?"
The swords finally stopped, fixed in mid-air as if embedded there.
"You think you and I are the same? You bastard?"
A cold, blue light shone from my eyes.
And in the next moment.
"Gak!"
"Kyaaak!"
The two swords were piercing through the necks of Geomryeong and Gwuiryeong.
"Just go and die."
My rage simmered coldly.