Heaven Breaking Divine Art (5)

"Um, I have a favor to ask."

That was what Namgoong So-so said when he asked again what her business was. Choi Yun-seok tilted his head.

A favor? They'd exchanged a few words and the awkwardness had thawed a bit... but that was it. They weren't close enough for her to come asking for favors like this. Still, Yun-seok decided to hear her out first.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing big... If you happen to run into that Namgoong Cheol guy again, could you ask him where he hid the original Dragon Soaring Qi?"

Dragon Soaring Qi. The unique skill he'd obtained from Namgoong Cheol. She went on to explain that 500 years ago, the family's secret art had been lost due to Namgoong Cheol, and as a descendant, she wanted to retrieve it somehow.

"...But there's no guarantee I'll meet him again."

"Yeah, I know. But if you do happen to cross paths, could you?"

She wasn't asking him to go hunt down Namgoong Cheol and ask. Just, if they crossed paths by chance, could he do it? Namgoong So-so didn't seem to expect much from the request anyway, and Yun-seok nodded readily.

"Sure, if it comes to that, I'll ask."

"Thank you."

That seemed to be all she had to say, as Namgoong So-so returned to the waiting room and sank back into meditation. Yun-seok turned his attention away from her and spent the time sorting through what he'd gained from the duel.

First, let's check the skills.

The Rank C effect was straightforward. The ability to recover by using his summon's blood must have stemmed from this. But he had no idea what Rank B meant.

Is it referring to that magic circle?

It seemed likely, but he couldn't be sure. He'd thought it was a unique skill since no command was chanted, but it might have been an authority.

I'll find out by trying it.

Seeing is believing. Experimenting would be more effective than racking his brains. Yun-seok manipulated the blood dripping from his fingertip and shaped it into the magic circle he'd seen earlier. He was used to handling various powers and forming energy constructs, so it wasn't too hard. Of course, he couldn't replicate it exactly from memory alone, but it didn't matter.

So that's how it works.

Once the frame was set, the details filled in on their own. A hexagram formed, packed with geometric shapes and characters. But that was it.

Now what?

The passage connected to the bloodline had opened. But no wolf leaped out like his opponent had summoned.

After a few more experiments, Yun-seok finally figured out what the "bloodline" did.

It temporarily eliminates the cost.

Opening ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the bloodline consumed blood. But once open, he could manipulate the blood emerging from it for a few seconds at no further cost. That was the entirety of the Rank B effect.

So what about the wolf or the various forms that had burst from the magic circle? The answer was simple. Just as Yun-seok had manually shaped his Blood Demon Sword, the opponent had done the same.

Not particularly powerful, and no real use for it.

He didn't know what Rank A would bring, but it didn't seem immediately helpful.

Maybe as a defensive skill?

With that thought, Yun-seok moved on to the next item.

The highest-ranked gear he'd chosen. For someone who used stamina as a cost via Blood Pact, it seemed pretty efficient. But none of the options were irresistibly appealing. Better than nothing, though.

Time to ditch this thing.

Yun-seok stripped off his full-body suit without regret. It had been useful back when 30,000 AP felt like a fortune, but now it was more comfortable clothing than actual armor. Meanwhile, this evening cloak? Stamina recovery x12. Mana damage reduction 30%. The benefits were clear, and even the last option had its uses.

And it's more comfortable than I thought.

No mirror, so Yun-seok looked down at himself. The thick fabric and clean, unadorned design resembled a uniform more than a cloak. But it felt luxurious—no mass-produced vibe—and wearing it wasn't as odd as he'd feared.

Soon, he melted the discarded suit into iron powder. Naturally, its durability didn't rise. Just like his mana stat hadn't grown from this duel, that level of gear meant nothing now.

Shopping time, then?

Yun-seok opened the shop window. 1,667,000 AP. It didn't feel like much anymore, and it wasn't.

Yun-seok first invested 96,000 AP to raise Yang's Art rank. Luck was on his side—a trait selection appeared.

Yang's Art. A huge help for dual-wielding, and it shone brightest with Blood Demon Sword. Yun-seok's eyes sparkled like a kid's as he checked the options. Then he let out an involuntary chuckle.

Just what traits would appear? The first one exceeded imagination.

—Trait 1: Personality Granting

A random personality is generated and grows with experience.

In other words, multiple personalities... What merit was that? He wouldn't even consider it. Luckily, the second was exactly what he'd hoped for.

—Trait 2: Trinity

Allows three lines of thought simultaneously.

In effect, he could now handle five more swords. No need to look further.

Dizziness hit like when he'd first learned it, but he didn't collapse. After sorting his mind for about three minutes, he adapted. Yun-seok maxed out King of Ten Thousand Swords.

Power x3, strength and agility +1. And denser ghostly energy. Yun-seok's brow furrowed.

What the hell is ghostly energy?

He knew it was the eerie blue aura at the sword tips. But its effect? Still a mystery.

Probably not bad.

Even so, something felt off. Ghostly energy aside, he still hadn't figured out the middle dantian. He couldn't fully utilize what he had, yet pursuing the Heavenly Demon upward felt questionable.

Finish what I started first.

Shaking off the thought, Yun-seok spent 384,000 AP to raise Dispel to B- rank. Now he could block one active skill A- or below without mana cost. Few challengers had higher, so it'd be very useful.

And the trait's not bad either.

Dispel had offered a trait at C rank too. He chose "Spell Predation," absorbing half the opponent's mana spent on dispelled skills.

Next, Yun-seok poured 1,152,000 AP into raising Diamond Arhat Step to A- rank. He'd invested in utility lately; time to boost his ace move. If no trait appeared like at B rank, it'd hurt, but...

It appeared. Yun-seok carefully read with his eyes from a distance, wary of accidentally selecting.

—Trait 1: Immovable Body

No longer leaps backward on use. Teleport to any point within 50m radius, ignore all damage for 3 seconds after.

Not bad. Instant teleport plus potential 3-second invincibility.

But check all first.

—Trait 2: Precept Breaker

Durability drops to F- on landing, mana +2 for 5 minutes.

Yun-seok frowned. Unlike Dispel's traits, both were good. Durability barely mattered, but +2 mana? Temporary, but worth over ten million AP.

One more.

—Trait 3: Heaven-Earth Great Shift

On landing, all beings within 100m have base stats fixed at F- for 20 minutes.

What? But soon, chills ran down his spine. Useless against weaklings, but against the strong...

Drop their stats, then reflect attacks with Diamond Sutra...

No counter. Stats meant everything in the Tower of Heaven. This combo might beat even the dragon called Calamity or the Heavenly Demon. Even if not one-shot, equal stats created variables.

All traits appealed, so some regret, but no remorse. Against an unbeatable foe someday, this would be his trump card.

Time to go.

Only 35,000 AP left—nothing much. Yun-seok headed to the plaza. Less than an hour since their last meeting, but he'd cleared another floor, so time for trial details.

But...

Where had Eshton gone? No sign of him in his room. Outside was noisy, voices clashing passionately. Eshton's was among them.

"Stop this! Even as lord of the Sun and Moon, you have no authority for this!"

Unlike with Yun-seok—sharp and urgent, not his usual gentle tone.

"Authority? You still don't understand this place, foreigner. Without power, law is mere words. Here, I am the law."

What mess was this? Yun-seok leaped out the window. Eshton spotted him, face paling in despair. The man's lit up.

"...Oh ho. Didn't expect you to walk right into it. You're that Choi Yun-seok?"

Yun-seok eyed Eshton questioningly. Telepathy followed, concise.

—That's Sword Demon Jeong Dae-un. Told ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him to keep quiet, but info on you leaked internally. He came here, and now you've returned... Can't talk our way out.

That explained Eshton's gloom at his "help."

"Perfect! Come with me. A noble seeks you."

Sword Demon Jeong Dae-un reached out. Slow, natural... but inescapable. Like a massive wall closing in from all sides.

Yun-seok realized: blunt sword principle in that tiny motion. The space was already his.

But not helpless. Impressive technique—pre-completion Yun-seok might've fallen for it.

Smoothly, as the hand neared his wrist, Yun-seok's arm deflected it sideways.

"Dodging my Golden Catch, and with Flower Touch... Interesting fellow?"

Curiosity gleamed in Sword Demon's eyes. And in that instant—

Clang!

Yun-seok drew without hesitation. 19th-floor duelist, and Eshton's pallor meant no pushover. But Yun-seok wouldn't falter for that.

Fifteen swords floated, King of Ten Thousand Swords buff activating simultaneously. Yun-seok thrust—the tidal wave surged.

Shwaaaaa—!

This range? Hard to dodge. Even then, Judgment of the Destruction Lord remained. Yun-seok gauged reactions, simulating moves.

But...

"...?"

The opponent just stared blankly at the wave. Even as it shredded clothes and flesh.

Shwa—!

The wave subsided. Sword Demon stood firm. Clothes torn, flesh oozing blood—but not life-threatening.

Tanked it barehanded?

And regenerating fast. But the real shock:

...!

Sword Demon's foot moved. No hostility—late notice—but counterattack. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Heavenly Demon had mentioned true killer swordsmen shed killing intent.

Maybe he was one.

Damn!

Yun-seok swung again—then froze.

Simple reason: opponent wasn't hiding intent. He had none.

Suddenly, Sword Demon sheathed his sword and knelt.

And...

"Long live! Long live! Long live eternally!"

He bowed deeply.

"Sword Demon Jeong Dae-un greets the Young Leader!"

"...?"

Now it was Yun-seok's turn to be stunned. Reverse of before.