What Must Be Protected (2)
The Mission Trial had begun three days prior. Though he prided himself on adapting well to this unfamiliar environment...
Separate from that, Choi Yun-seok realized anew that duels suited his style far better than missions.
Initiating countdown.
The scorching sunlight beat down. A circular arena enclosed on all sides, with empty spectator seats. Was this what they meant by home turf?
"Wh-what the hell?! What did you just do?!"
While the demon panicked in confusion, Yun-seok felt perfectly at ease, as if he'd come home.
3.
Missions were different. Here, there was no need to worry about anything extraneous. Just pour everything into crushing the enemy. That was all a challenger in this place needed to keep in mind.
2.
Yun-seok eyed the demon standing before him. Bloodshot eyes, veins bulging—clearly straining with all his might to move.
"Damn it! You filthy little bug!"
He wasn't trying to intimidate, but the demon suddenly seemed like a fresh recruit, drawing a chuckle from him. Come to think of it, he'd been like that once too.
1.
The final second ticked away. The bindings on their bodies vanished.
START!
Yun-seok immediately circulated the Blood Demon Divine Art to its limits and drew the two swords at his waist. No need to drag this out—he planned to end it as quickly as possible. For a very simple reason.
Unlike the Duel Trial, there was no guarantee time wouldn't pass here.
If he'd known Predation's duel challenges worked this way, he might have hesitated. With even Wellington unconscious, if Yun-seok vanished too, Kanna and the others would be completely defenseless.
Wooong!
Bloody demonic energy roiled violently around his twin swords. Yun-seok steadied his breathing briefly. Hadn't he gained enlightenment last time? Excess was no better than deficiency. True perfection lay in the harmony of rigidity and flexibility.
As he shed the overflowing power from his body and mind, the Blood Demon Divine Art stabilized, growing even more solid. Yun-seok thrust his swords forward. A crimson tidal wave surged forth.
Shwaaaa—!
A single strike even Namgoong Cheol from the 7th floor couldn't dodge or block. However...
The demon escaped in a way Yun-seok never anticipated.
"...?"
Shock at the oncoming wave lasted only a moment. The demon spread his wings wide, then flapped them powerfully, soaring into the sky.
"I don't know how you dragged me here, but that was your biggest mistake!"
No telling how high he climbed. His massive 3-4 meter frame already looked like a speck. His voice, though shouted loudly, was faint—barely audible without focus. Without challenger stats, communication would have been impossible at this distance.
"This is your grave!"
With a mighty flap, translucent spines rained toward the ground. The barrage covered the entire arena, leaving nowhere to hide. Yun-seok had no choice but to bat them away one by one with his swords.
Accelerated by gravity, each spine hit like a heavyweight.
"...?"
Once the bombardment ended, Yun-seok looked up in disbelief. He'd never faced a flyer before, so this was his first time realizing you could go up here. Was the demon smug, thinking he'd lured him to his advantage? Certainly, this open arena favored the demon more than the forest.
Whoooong!
Sword energy fired skyward lost form and scattered before reaching. "Let's see how long you last!"
Confident in Yun-seok's lack of options, the demon laughed and unleashed another volley of spines. Yun-seok mechanically deflected them, his expression troubled.
He could hold out indefinitely if needed. After a day or two, the demon might tire and descend. But wasting that much time was the problem.
This is a hassle.
He'd tried Shaman's Law with a "no flight" clause, but it failed. The range barely reached, but maintaining the wide area lasted only 5 seconds. The demon, plummeting, spread his wings again upon the barrier's end and climbed higher—now a mere dot without focus.
He needed a solution. Fortunately, he had an idea.
Could this work?
He recalled levitating his parents' bodies with Blood Demon Divine Art. A clever application might do it. He tried... and failed.
For some reason, intensifying the energy just made the target feel heavier. But it wasn't a total waste. Inspiration often came from failure.
If I use a sword of will, maybe?
Strictly speaking, not a true sword of will since he wasn't wielding a physical blade. But recalling Namgoong Cheol's deception, calling it an Intangible Sword bruised his pride. No one else would hear, so Yun-seok named it as he pleased.
Blood Demon Sword should do.
Tat!
Infusing his legs to the limit with Blood Demon Divine Art, Yun-seok leaped skyward.
"Just like a puny human worm—hopelessly foolish!"
The demon sneered. But...
"Huh?"
The moment Yun-seok formed a Blood Demon Sword midair and leaped off it higher, the demon paled. For some reason, Yun-seok felt invigorated, as if a hole had opened in his gut.
Thududududu!
The demon fired spines desperately, denser now with narrowed range. No issue—Yun-seok deflected them all while ascending, twin swords whirling.
One more.
As gravity slowed him, Yun-seok stepped on another conjured Blood Demon Sword and leaped again. The demon flapped to climb higher as the gap closed.
No letting him escape.
By Shaman's Law, all beings in the domain are prohibited from flight.
Too far before, but not now. The demon's flapping wings froze, then he began descending. The instant Yun-seok's ascending form crossed the falling demon...
"N-no...!"
Slash!
The duel ended anticlimactically.
Victory.
Unique Skill Predation activated.
Acquired one of the opponent's skills at random.
Acquired Unique Skill Avatar.
Plundered one of the opponent's equipment items at random.
Plundered Mrs. Langerson's Corset (Rank D+).
Absorbed a portion of the opponent's highest stat.
Absorbed Magic stat.
* * *
The intense sunlight vanished from his skin, replaced by the relatively cool night air enveloping his body.
No AP reward since it's not a trial, huh...
Yun-seok quickly shook off the brief regret and surveyed the changed surroundings. It matched exactly the forest clearing where he'd stood before being pulled into the arena.
"Eek! K-keh, kekeke!"
He turned toward the sound. There was James Hamblton—the surprise challenge objective who'd appeared with the demon out of nowhere—coughing violently.
Yun-seok focused on the fresh red marks around James's neck. Looked like they'd come from grabbing his nape earlier...
So time hadn't passed? To confirm, Yun-seok asked, "How much time has gone by?"
"Kek! Kek... Huh? What do you... kgh!"
Even choking, James tried to answer. Yun-seok wanted to offer water but had none, so he gave him time to recover.
James's coughing subsided. Yun-seok repeated, "How much time has gone by?"
"...Wh-what do you mean?"
"How long was I gone killing that demon?"
"Uh, uh..."
James gaped in confusion, unable to grasp the question. From his minor merchant family background, he quickly pieced it together.
...Is he bragging?
Unable to fathom otherwise, James trusted his inherited blood and instincts, flashing a toothy grin.
"Heh heh, not even a second, sir hero! I only saw you smack the monster's jaws with the back of your hand... but something amazing must've happened in that blink. Truly incredible!"
After prattling about wanting to know his name, vowing to repay this life debt since he was nothing without his god-given luck... Yun-seok got the info he needed amid the excess.
No time passage means I can use it anytime, anywhere.
As Yun-seok mulled silently, James grew uneasy and kept talking.
"Whew! But that huge monster's head just sliced off like that, turning into some pathetic goblin... Do you know why, hero sir?"
"...Goblin?"
Yun-seok turned. No horned, winged demon—just a small green monster corpse, head severed from body.
"...?"
He knew goblins. Never fought one, but chatroom chatter: cunning but weak. Easy wins. Weird AP spending habits. Want to meet more. Rare on higher floors—such a shame.
Consensus was that. But why the body swap? Yun-seok didn't wonder. He already knew.
Used a Unique Skill to change appearance.
Details later in the waiting room, but he'd gained Avatar.
If it lets me alter my skeleton completely like that, not bad at all.
Shelving gains for later, Yun-seok turned to the neglected James. Challenge complete: rescue and fulfill request.
"Do you need something from me?"
James dropped to his knees without hesitation. "Pathetically, I've lost all my goods and was chased by that freak. If it's no trouble, could you escort me to Jarisuman Harbor?"
"Sure."
"Once there, I'll richly reward you for saving my life today too! Please... Huh? What was that...?"
"Conveniently, our group's heading there too. Come along."
"Th-thank you. Truly, thank you!"
Where he'd learned it, who knew—but James kowtowed repeatedly from his knees. Lightly, no thudding.
Accepted James Hamblton's request.
Additional reward upon mission success.
Yun-seok led James slowly toward the carriage. James trailed, thanking profusely—worried he'd be abandoned if he annoyed him.
Yun-seok was the grateful one. He'd feared some hassle; just escorting was easy. One more ward changed little. One, two, or three—made no difference to him.
Things are going smoothly.
He quietly pulled Kanna aside, explaining James. She seemed uneasy but agreed.
"We leave early tomorrow, so rest now, both of you."
Sending Kanna to the carriage, he gave James stray blankets from the ground. James casually laid one out and lay down. Oddly, right where Yun-seok had melted goblin corpses with dissection five minutes ago. Sparse foliage, probably why.
Yun-seok held his tongue for James's sleep.
"...?"
Exhausted, James dozed off quickly. Yun-seok climbed atop the carriage silently, planning meditation and watch till dawn.
Before closing his eyes in lotus position, he glanced once more at the already-snoring James.
Hamblton... Rings a bell somewhere...
Just his imagination?