Namgoong Cheol (2)
No matter how many coins you had, the nature of the Duel Trial meant that winners and losers were divided, and the higher you climbed, the fewer challengers there were—drastically so. Whether it was the Tower's measure to prepare for that or not, his opponent in this grand arena was data from an enemy who had taken the trial on this floor, curated by the administrators.
Thinking of it that way, it wasn't entirely implausible for the Heavenly Martial Artist to appear as an opponent...
He'd snapped at Elle when she showed him a glimpse of the future and charged at him, but there had definitely been something endearing about him, like a bratty kid. Yet there was also that air of an absolute being— an overwhelming dignity that made him untouchable. It didn't quite match up with the current Namgoong Cheol.
Are they really the same person...?
The doubt still wriggled in his gut, but there was no way to confirm it. Even if he straight-up asked Namgoong Cheol if he was the Heavenly Martial Artist, the guy firmly believed this was reality and that he was climbing the Tower. He wouldn't give a proper answer.
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
No way... that couldn't be me too, right...?
The idea that he himself might be a construct recreated by the Tower. It was just a fleeting anxiety. If that were true, the opponent he was facing now wouldn't be a ghost from the past but a challenger from the next cycle.
Of course, he didn't dwell on it because the current situation left no room for leisure.
"Steel Executor."
Yun-seok first activated a totem skill that boosted physical resistance by 50% against nearby enemies. A steel sword plummeted from the sky, burrowing into the ground. And in that instant—
Whoosh!
The sword orbiting him like a satellite dove in like a shooting star. Just as he moved to block it with his own blade, it split into two, exactly like before. No command this time either.
Doubts flooded Yun-seok's mind. Was it a unique skill like Blood Demon Divine Art's Blood Demon Qi, controllable manually? Or just a technique? If it was a technique, what trick was woven into it?
He couldn't tell. But he'd prepared for the phenomenon itself, so Yun-seok abandoned defense, launched his body aside, and dodged the sword in time.
"......"
He readjusted his stance, wary of the blade floating in the air. Namgoong Cheol, on the other hand, was utterly relaxed—casually spilling information just to show off.
"Hahaha! How about it? This is the Namgoong family's swordsmanship, blending Control Sword with Qi and Form Shift Illusion!"
Control Sword with Qi and Form Shift Illusion. Techniques he'd heard about once or twice while learning martial arts from Cheonma. Back then, she'd only said there was no way to use internal energy in the Tower of Heaven and hadn't explained in detail—just that they were profound realms far beyond what Yun-seok could dream of.
And I think Form Shift Illusion was some kind of extreme speed movement art...
That last doubt flickered, but Yun-seok shoved stray thoughts aside. Figuring out the opponent's moves was good, but he had no intention of just taking it lying down.
Boom!
Yun-seok infused Strike Enhancement with Blood Demon Qi and fired it at Namgoong Cheol. The randomly assigned attribute was lightning. But Namgoong Cheol blocked it with his sword, suffering only a brief jolt.
Even so, Yun-seok exploited that tiny gap relentlessly, closing in fast. Just as he wound up for a follow-up barrage—
Damn it.
The floating sword above dove at him. Yun-seok quickly reset and retreated. It felt like fighting not one person, but two perfectly coordinated ones. He'd wondered how dual-wielding worked, but this was a combat style he hadn't anticipated at all.
At least he seems to only handle one properly so far. Small mercies.
The Heavenly Martial Artist of the future wielded seven swords freely, not even holding one in hand. He hadn't needed to.
"Haha! Die, you demon scum!"
Street rat earlier, now demon scum. Whatever. It didn't matter if Namgoong Cheol was over-immersed in his role and enjoying this—Yun-seok's job here remained the same.
"......"
Yun-seok circulated Blood Demon Divine Art to its limits. A bloody aura crept up his body like crawling mist.
Most challengers would cower at the demonic sight, calling it the devil's form. Not Namgoong Cheol. He rejoiced, as if he'd found irrefutable proof that he embodied justice.
"Dragon Soaring Flight!"
Command or flair? The orbiting sword whipped up a storm and charged. Simultaneously, Namgoong Cheol thrust from behind. Childish personality aside from skill? The pincer attack's timing was flawless.
Roar!
Yun-seok chose frontal breakthrough. Cloaked head to toe in thick Blood Demon Qi, he leaped at Namgoong Cheol.
Clang!
Namgoong Cheol parried. As expected. Yun-seok thrust his remaining sword—like he'd been waiting. Not the one from behind, but to sever Namgoong Cheol's neck.
But...
"As if!"
Like the incoming sword that split, Namgoong Cheol's blade divided too. He held one sword, yet two swung from different paths, blocking both.
Whoosh!
No time to ponder the mechanics. Yun-seok rolled across the ground—the most practical dodge for the blade from behind.
Namgoong Cheol, even more triumphant, sneered.
"Fitting for a filthy demon relying on brute strength—how crude!"
Irritation boiled in Yun-seok. He wasn't responding, yet the guy yapped every exchange, always ending in self-praise.
"You think such crude swordplay works on Cheoncheon Divine Sword Namgoong Cheol?!"
Whether Heavenly Martial Artist or descendant, it didn't matter now. Even if it was all an act to provoke him, Yun-seok didn't care. He just wanted that mouth shut.
Ironically, step one was acknowledging the opponent.
Namgoong Cheol was strong. Not just stats or skills—his understanding of martial arts ran deeper than Yun-seok's few days under Cheonma. Maybe inevitable. In a brutal, martial world, he'd swung a sword a decade-plus longer than Yun-seok.
So Yun-seok swallowed the insult, probing Namgoong Cheol's swordplay deeper. Learn what he could. Fill the gaps. That's how he'd won so far.
This time wouldn't differ.
...How does it work exactly?
Yun-seok's cold gaze fixed on Namgoong Cheol—specifically his gripped sword and the one aloft.
Control Sword with Qi. Manipulating a blade with energy? He got that. Hell, he could mimic it now if he tried. Similar to kneeling foes with Blood Demon Qi or levitating his parents.
But Form Shift Illusion? Cheonma described it as extreme-speed movement leaving afterimages. This was different.
Different parallel worlds with varying martial knowledge? Nah...
The gap was that stark. Namgoong Cheol's swords left afterimages and had substance—both real. One illusory? Impossible to block both simultaneously.
What is it?
Wary on all sides, Yun-seok pondered. Something invisible teased his mind. Cheonma's Form Shift Illusion versus Namgoong Cheol's. Grasping the difference might unlock it.
But Namgoong Cheol talked trash, not explanations.
"Think you can block this young master's sword just by pondering?!"
Patience snapped at the silence? He charged with a shout.
Yun-seok didn't mimic. Unlike the fairy swordsman, this foe wasn't slack enough to copy on the fly.
"......"
Two swords from front and back—each splitting, making four effectively. Tricky, but not impossible.
Simple and brute? Yun-seok chose blinding speed.
Boom! Bang!
He closed distance, widening the swords' arrival gap. A fraction of a second—mere instant, but enough.
In frozen time, he parried Namgoong Cheol's first—real or illusion, dual blades smacked aside with his twins. Same for the rear.
Namgoong Cheol's flashy changes lacked raw power, making it feasible.
"......?"
Namgoong Cheol flinched at Yun-seok's afterimage-speed. Yun-seok felt it too. He grasped the real-illusion divide now.
Distinction meaningless. Exist in two spaces faster than perception—past or present irrelevant. To the foe, both real simultaneously.
"......"
Yun-seok externalized Blood Demon Qi, condensing droplets into form. Proficiency short of perfect sword, but pointed tip, blunt end—fine for thrusting.
Not wielding a real blade with Qi. Possible, but Blood Demon Divine Art favored this efficiency. A form of Control Sword with Qi, he figured.
Namgoong Cheol gaped.
"I-Immaterial Sword...?"
Shock filled his eyes. Control Sword with Qi versus Immaterial Sword? Yun-seok barely saw the difference—baffling reaction.
More baffling: the instant rage at him.
"Hiding your skill to mock this young master!"
Truly believed he'd sandbagged? Fury seeped from Namgoong Cheol's voice. Absurd misunderstanding, but Yun-seok chalked it to the guy's personality.
Vmmm!
Yun-seok expelled more Blood Demon Qi, shaping swords. Ample total, but control taxed him—three max at current proficiency. Plenty, though.
Namgoong Cheol had handed the clue himself: wielding one sword as two.
Yun-seok called out.
"Namgoong Cheol."
Still unsure if he was the Heavenly Martial Artist. But if so, one thing to say.
"Then or now... you talk way too much."