Opportunity (3)
It resembled the Formless Sword of Sword God Lee Hyun-hak. Impossible to dodge, impossible to block. Could the Sword God use the Middle Dantian as well? He didn't know, but by the time he snapped back to reality, that something had already sliced across Yun-seok's body.
The soul of the ancient hunter protects the user from unrecognized danger.
A burst of blue radiance erupted from his gauntlets. Yun-seok, lost in the flow, realized it too late. He'd nearly died just now.
Without Immortality, if he took that attack again, the pocket watch would activate. '......'
Yun-seok unconsciously fiddled with his bracelet. Activating Pure now would let him crush his opponent instantly. But he hadn't grasped everything yet. What was the natural energy of the Middle Dantian? What was that move the man had just shown? Time was too short to learn it properly.
'Damn.'
Yun-seok weighed his options quickly. Bluff a bit longer, trusting the pocket watch? Or activate Pure right now? Logically, the latter was best. To seize the 'opportunity' Elle mentioned, he needed to climb the tower fast afterward. If the watch went on cooldown, trouble could arise.
Besides, he'd already obtained the clue about the Middle Dantian. With diligent practice, he could reach mastery alone. But one thing nagged at him—a swordsman's regret.
'If I do that, I'll never learn that move he just showed.'
He instinctively knew: that single technique was beyond self-study from one glimpse.
He wanted to see more. Just once more. It might spark insights......
"I won't... lose......"
As he pondered, the opponent prepared his next move. The gauntlets had nullified the attack, but once wasn't enough. Twice, thrice, four, five times. As if endless collision was his lifelong way, he raised his sword again with a roar.
"I'll win and win again. I'll prove it."
In that stubborn voice, Yun-seok sensed hatred. Not just toward him, but a deeper fury at something greater.
"......"
What did this man want to prove? That magic was fake, and only the Middle Dantian's natural energy was real? Maybe. But Yun-seok couldn't agree with such black-and-white logic. To him, now wielding both magic and Middle Dantian, both were real.
System-granted gear and stats were the same. Fake? Then natural energy was too. Honestly, that rage-filled rant just seemed like inferiority complex.
He smirked. Ironic, then: that stubborn sense of mission, that sheer obstinacy, had brought the man here and pushed Yun-seok this far.
Rumble rumble rumble—!
Suddenly, the standoff arena trembled. No need to ask himself. It was coming again. That thing from before. Right now.
Whoosh!
Facing the pouring gale head-on, Yun-seok eyed the man. Having experienced it once, he felt it. The energy overflowing from the man's heart, laden with his convictions.
Cut. The obstacle before him. And prove. That he was right.
Whether those convictions were correct didn't matter. Natural energy responded to human will, belief, emotions—as Yun-seok interpreted.
'People like him grow even stronger in this?'
Even now, a laugh escaped. Truly fascinating. Novel, endlessly so? He hadn't arrogantly thought he'd reached martial arts' pinnacle, but the world was vast. He'd never imagined martial arts like this.
A beat slower, Yun-seok raised his sword too.
"......"
What was fake, what real? Whose thoughts were right? It didn't matter. The opponent sought proof with his sword; Yun-seok's path was set.
Hummm—!
Suppressed Patian energy recirculated from his Lower Dantian. Hazy energy waves rippled over his body—compressed magic that would choke low-stat challengers just by proximity.
Yun-seok didn't stop, gathering Middle Dantian energy too.
"You dare insult me?!"
No. Merely, magic and natural energy—both real to Yun-seok. No need to cling to one.
Clang clash clash!
The blooming gale clashed sharply; the man's sword crossed first. His materialized will: a formless sword. Block it, and it recognized enmity, thorny-sharp.
'Block.'
Could he? No doubt. Such poisoned his natural energy handling. With blocking will, huddled energy emerged from Middle Dantian.
Not a shield, though. Even for defense, that wasn't Yun-seok's style.
Slash—!
As if grasping the invisible sword, Yun-seok lightly swept the air. A basic horizontal cut, practiced millions—no, tens of millions—times alone.
"......"
No whoosh, no impact. Even the winds stilled, silence reigning.
In that instant, the duel ended. Loser: Yun-seok.
'Still not enough......'
He'd tried to cut, but failed. No low sword to slice with newfound natural energy. It embodied his fierce life, raw emotions unfeigned.
Simply insufficient. This time.
Thud.
Yun-seok knelt. A massive hole pierced his torso like an awl stab. Patian energy could heal it, assuming time......
But the opponent, unweary, readied the next strike.
'Did I lose......'
Frustrating. Yet certain: next time atop here, he'd prove it properly.
Yun-seok mustered final strength with magic, murmuring:
"Annihilation."
Light burst from pitch-black Pure. Through blurring vision, the man disintegrated into particles, light-wrapped.
The duel began with this end foretold. If he fought to prove victory, Yun-seok seized strength relentlessly to win.
How long since this message thrilled him? He realized anew: monsters infested this tower.
* * *
Back in the waiting room, Yun-seok sat eyes closed, replaying the duel.
'Lucky.'
Without Pure, defeat loomed. Rewind five minutes with the watch for a rematch? No win. Gear carried him, but in this tower, that was meaningless. His unique skill Ascetic sealing techniques and powers, Middle Dantian—all system parts.
'Good the watch stayed unused. Check first.'
Yun-seok approached the tablet eagerly. Duel-long curiosity: this unique skill's effects.
'Fake, huh? A-rank, stats all high-rank.'
Obvious, really. Rejecting the system as false barred ascent here.
What was the tower thinking, crafting this? Bizarre. Handicap absurdly huge, advantages huger. He foresaw: the man's duels were massacres. Without Middle Dantian or counters, challengers crumpled helpless.
Yet Yun-seok smacked his lips indifferently.
'Not for me, though......'
Magic stat zeroed—not F-, literal zero. Myriad skills useless.
Of course, Heaven Breaking Divine Art remained with Ascetic. But no Patian energy. Counters to Middle Dantian/system intact; rest nullified.
"Hm......"
Decided: discard Ascetic. Rank E failing on foes? Fine. Few challengers under 15 skills now; synthesize on-spot if met.
But: no Predation even on win. Couldn't appraise his sword, dismantle for AP with Alchemy.
'Weakens foes. Can't strengthen me.'
Yun-seok judged Ascetic thus. Unknown floors ahead. Worth climbing sans Predation?
Tower variables abound. That man vaporized by Pure instantly.
'Bit wasteful, but......'
Yun-seok placed Mara King Body and Ascetic on the synthesis altar. Mara King Body excellent, just not needed. Suddenly, two felt wasteful. Add one more for better?
'Tough.'
Synthesis had rules: related skills specialized; unrelated birthed surprises. More skills, better result.
'No third......'
Discarding unique skill? One: mismatched rank, unfit.
Torture Technician. E-rank, ignored post-acquisition.
'For seal removal, not bad.'
Short deliberation, swift action.
Purchased item has arrived.
Please check the lower part of your body.
Spending 4.68 million AP on rank-specific unique skill potions, Yun-seok downed them sequentially. Curious added effects? Combat-irrelevant, as expected. Mind eased—if Torture Technician had valuables, synthesis would've hurt.
Added Torture Technician to altar. Then......
Acquires Death God.
Effects confirmed, Yun-seok nodded calmly, unsurprised.
"......"
Another one like this. No longer shocking.