More Demonic Than a Demon (3)
Unique skill Shadowless Chant and 4,000 AP. These were the rewards Choi Yun-seok had earned from this duel(?).
No coin awarded as promotion was not achieved.
Yun-seok checked his new skill first.
Shadowless Chant (Rank F)
Omits commands when using skills.
Unlike One Flash or Weapon Enhancement, it wasn't a physically powerful skill. Even so, Yun-seok judged it to be an excellent ability.
Backstep.
The moment he willed it inwardly, his body reacted instantly.
Counterattack state enabled.
Yun-seok smiled as he confirmed he'd retreated about a meter back without realizing it. Honestly, chanting skill names one by one was annoying, but more than that, it was embarrassing. That wasn't the only reason he was thrilled, though. Yun-seok had instantly grasped the advantages Shadowless Chant would bring in a duel.
Nice score.
Primarily, it was faster than verbal commands. Plus, it blocked information from the opponent before activation. That meant far greater strategic freedom. Unless the enemy was an idiot, they'd prepare as soon as they heard a skill name chanted.
Some might even recognize the skill from the command alone.
A slight edge. There were surely people who'd memorized shop skills to claim it. Yun-seok himself planned to allocate time for it from now on.
Anyone with brains would do the same.
Such people would only increase the higher the floors went. Maybe even veterans like in games who could counter just from hearing the command.
Chanting normally to set up ambushes could work too...
The more he thought, the more endless the utility of Shadowless Chant seemed. For a challenger with such a unique skill to be swayed by mere words and make that choice... Well, he could understand it. In Yun-seok's eyes, Shadowless Chant wasn't that helpful early on either. His opponent had been armed with shield and mace, probably lamenting why his unique skill was so lame.
It was regrettable, but... he wasn't ungrateful. Whatever happened to that guy's future, Shadowless Chant would shine in Yun-seok's hands.
Yun-seok held a brief moment of silence to mourn him.
Come to think of it, my unique skill is insanely broken.
Yun-seok once again felt how great Predation was. Unique skills weren't sold in the shop. And each had peculiar abilities. Predation was a top-tier growth skill that let him acquire those unique skills additionally. Of course, there was the penalty of losing one acquired skill upon defeat.
Still, it's an enormous boon in this system.
Duels matched by total AP score. A perfectly balanced system beyond question. Yet winners and losers were clearly divided. Why? Simple. Total AP was just the sum of earned points—it didn't include the plus alpha.
Combat experience, skill synergies, growth direction, unique skills, strategy, tenacity for victory... The plus alpha had many factors. And Predation made that plus alpha compound like interest with each win.
Don't get cocky, though. Someone might have something even better...
Pondering where to spend the 4,000 AP, Yun-seok decided to boost his basic stats. He chose Agility.
◈ Increases Agility stat below E- rank by one grade upon consumption.
Boosting Mana might've been better for utilizing Weapon Enhancement or One Flash, which consumed it... But,
If I can't hit, it's all for nothing.
Activating both unique skills together produced killer power worthy of a finisher. But if it missed? Useless.
With that in mind, Yun-seok boldly decided.
Once committed, better go all in. Spending a total of 3,000 AP, he raised Agility to F+ rank. The bodily change was immediate. He felt his body grow more flexible and responsive. Subjectively, it was at least twice as different as before.
Downside is it tires faster...
Testing his new body with various movements to adapt, Yun-seok smacked his lips. An unexpected penalty. Next stat up would've been Mana or Strength, but Stamina seemed priority now.
Hmm, nothing jumps out...
Pondering the remaining 1,000 AP, Yun-seok sighed. Not enough for skills or stats. Buying low-rank gear felt wasteful. He'd already realized gear was ultimately consumable. Couldn't sell to shop. Meaning constant upgrades as levels rose.
Just hold onto the rest.
Decision made, system prep was done. But Yun-seok kept browsing the shop, cramming gear and skills into his head. Knowledge is power. It might not help now, but it'd be a variable in duels someday.
He wouldn't do it for hours, though. That'd miss the point.
Time to start.
After about two hours in the shop, Yun-seok picked up sword and shield. As always, he honed his skills. Soon, time came.
Prepare. Duel will begin shortly.
The time to stain his sword with blood, not sweat.
* * *
START!
The brief countdown ended, and Yun-seok raised sword and shield into stance. The pale-skinned man eyed him with interest.
"Seeing you ready to fight means you're not like those idiots, huh?"
The "idiots" were obvious. Suicide hopefuls choosing death based on rumors.
"Kekeke. That's humanity's most fun part!"
The man cackled. Yun-seok felt the disdain. Not that he was sensitive; anyone seeing those eyes would think the same.
Whether Yun-seok replied or not, the man rambled on.
"Some fall for tricks even orcs wouldn't, others like that human devil666 are more demonic than me... And some delude themselves they're different."
No subject in the last, but clearly aimed at Yun-seok.
"Come on! I'll watch your final struggle!"
The man shouted arrogantly. Yun-seok paused briefly. One part nagged him.
...Devil?
The man called himself a devil. Long horns on his forehead suggested non-human, but an actual devil? Felt like the scale jumped, but no need to cower.
Same conditions here. If anything, I'm advantaged.
Horns? So what? For physical intimidation, the green monster from first duel was scarier. To Yun-seok, the devil seemed the delusional one, unaware of reality. No matter past power, here they started equal. Long or short sword? Test it.
"You come? First attack, I'll just take it?"
"Didn't say I'd take it..."
Would've been nice if he'd arrogantly agreed. Pity, the devil corrected.
Yun-seok made a figures face.
Middle-school syndrome full of bravado, but he's got brains.
Chat over. Yun-seok cautiously closed distance. No fear—rather, a will to seize victory through struggle.
The watching man looked surprised.
"Hoo..."
Pulled into Heaven's Tower, power lost, but most quaked at demon horns. Orcs, beastkin, elves—same. Demons' majesty was famous across dimensions.
Soon, he concluded.
"Now I see—you're from Earth's independent dimension?"
Ignorance breeds boldness. Not knowing demons let the human act cocky.
"Though I lost all power, my authority remains mine as a unique skill. Feel the difference in class!"
His shout cut off. Yun-seok dashed at the gap-talking, full-of-holes man, thrusting his sword.
Pfsh!
Sword pierced center torso. Pulled out, blood fountained.
Why so weak?
Yun-seok was stunned instead... But,
"Hup!"
Instant counter—Yun-seok ducked urgently. Instinct. His animal-like senses were right again. As head lowered, blood droplets above exploded—boom!
"..."
Heart pounding, Yun-seok retreated. Hole in body, yet man fine. Just pissed at ambush mid-sentence, face crumpled.
"Insolent brat, good instincts. Don't think you'll die easy."
Yun-seok frowned. Threats didn't matter. Problem: blood soaking ground floated up, returning to man.
Sizzle!
Boiling sound, smoke rose. Stab wound healed rapidly.
Yun-seok was dumbfounded.
"Kuhahaha! Perfect pathetic face for a pathetic human!"
Regaining calm, Yun-seok thought. Blood control for attacks aside, such fast regen? No E-rank or below skill like it.
One possibility left.
Unique skill? Totally broken...
Man strolled toward him casually. Full of openings, but untouchable. Would counter with blood again.
Not attacking wasn't solution either.
"Thought a bit, huh? Blood? I can make more!"
Man slashed palm with claws. Spread hand, sprayed blood at Yun-seok.
Boom! Boom! Boomboom!
Yun-seok rolled nimbly, dodging blasts. Fun watching struggles? Man laughed leisurely.
Now!
Using roll momentum, Yun-seok sprang up, thrusting at man. Poor martial arts? Man barely reacted, like before.
Unique skill Weapon Enhancement
Pfuk!
Weapon Enhancement's red aura pierced man's forehead.
No way he survives head skewered...?
Novels, comics—regen types had that weakness. Even zombies died head-shot.
Yet Yun-seok uneasy. As always, unease became reality.
"Kuhahaha..."
Skewered head, man laughed. Yun-seok's vision darkened.
How to beat a monster that regens from any slash/stab, survives head pierced?