Chapter 221
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Lesson 44. The Strike that Pierces the Gap - 1
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The depth of Star Mark has reached 120.
You have acquired Gap 10. This unique authority temporarily slows the flow of time as it applies to you alone, and only during that span, it forces your opponent to reveal an absolute vulnerability.
Gap was an authority that simultaneously produced two effects—two "gaps."
The first was the gap in time.
It created a rift in time that applied only to him, allowing him to perceive and move within a limited timeframe as if it were stretched out long.
The second was the opponent's gap.
No matter how impregnable an enemy's defense seemed, it forced a crevice through which one could pierce.
That said, it wasn't quite as extraordinary as it sounded. After all, it merely seized and extended a fleeting instant, so the authority's duration wasn't all that long. And even if the opponent's gap was revealed, spotting it and striking within the time limit was a separate challenge altogether.
Unlike mutant authorities that activated automatically upon creation or soul flames that could be detached and bestowed upon others, this was a high-level combat authority that demanded bone-grinding effort to wield properly.
'Of course, that's got nothing to do with me.'
All the combat techniques he'd mastered up to now—what were they based on? Controlling his own movements with Origin Swordplay rooted in Yu-won Energy, while reading his foe's motions to move with maximum efficiency.
Now, if he layered Gap on top to create an opening in his opponent, reading and striking it would be a simple matter.
"Ban Yu-won!"
"Ah."
Even after safely escaping the tower, Ban Yu-won had been lost in thought about his new authority and forgotten his surroundings. He hastily lifted his head at the voice calling him.
Dokgo Yeon stood right in front of him, gripping her black short sword.
The emotion in her eyes was a touch of irritation, and...
"You could've at least said something once you got out safe."
As if denying the emotion Ban Yu-won had read, Dokgo Yeon spoke in a firm tone.
He apologized honestly.
"Sorry. Something complicated came up right before we escaped, so I got distracted."
"...As long as you're fine."
Dokgo Yeon let out a sigh of relief and turned away. Then, she suddenly chuckled softly.
"And I saw something amusing, too."
"Amusing... Ah."
Not just Dokgo Yeon—As Light was nearby as well.
He clutched his holy sword, which blazed with dazzling light, panting as he glared at the crumbling tower.
He seemed to avoid looking at Ban Yu-won, but that did nothing to overcome the power of the All-Reading Eyes.
"You were worried about me, too. Thanks, Light."
"Worried? I just smashed the tower. I figured you'd get caught in it and die, but you somehow survived."
Ban Yu-won couldn't help chuckling at the transparently obvious inner thoughts, just like Dokgo Yeon had.
Even if he looked completely unhinged, As Light was still alive and breathing inside that body.
The holy sword's violent reaction, suppressing him with an unprecedented brilliance, made it clear.
"H-He survived...?"
"He overcame divine punishment!"
"No, that one saved us!"
"The one who challenged the divine seat and triumphed... Maybe he's the real one."
Meanwhile, Ban Yu-won wasn't the only one who'd safely escaped the tower.
The NPCs, who'd been sucked in ahead of him as bait to lure him out, had also made it back thanks to the barrier he'd thrown up at the last moment.
They hadn't heard the conversation between the constellations and Ban Yu-won, but they'd grasped the gist of it. Now, they whispered to each other while gazing at him with eyes full of respect.
That finally allowed As Light to notice them.
"Oh? ...Oh!"
As Light cleared his throat awkwardly, as if he'd completely forgotten their existence, and raised his holy sword high.
"I saved you from those false gods! Now rise once more, take up your swords, and fight alongside me!"
"Ah, y-yes! Understood!"
The NPCs' brainwashing by the holy sword had half lifted amid the constellations' interference and Ban Yu-won's shattering of their authorities. Still, when As Light poured out his power again, they tilted their heads but gathered around him anyway.
Ban Yu-won had no intention of stepping in to break their brainwashing, so he let it be and returned to the rest of his group.
"Welcome back, Master!"
"Good work, Lucelle."
Lucelle, who from the start had believed he wouldn't get hurt, simply greeted him with a warm smile.
Scattered at her feet were the monsters that had lunged out when the humans were pulled into the tower, as if to replace them.
Unlike Dokgo Yeon and As Light, who'd burned with rage thinking humans had turned into monsters, Lucelle had known from the beginning that they were creatures forged by the constellations.
Thanks to her innate senses as one who inherited divine beast blood, plus sharing a sliver of Ban Yu-won's All-Reading Eyes.
"Wow, you got even stronger in that short time!"
"Come to think of it..."
As Lucelle exclaimed with pure joy, Dokgo Yeon's eyes sharpened again as she inspected Ban Yu-won.
"The constellations didn't pull anything shady on you, did they? With all that talk of patronage or contracts..."
"They tried, but... eh, same as always. Seducing, threatening... Spouting all sorts of unbelievable nonsense about the tower, too."
Dokgo Yeon's expression twisted slightly at Ban Yu-won's last remark.
"About the tower..."
"Luckily, one of them was reasonable enough that I snagged a fully owned authority without needing to wreck their schemes."
Ban Yu-won smiled casually, pretending not to notice her change, but Dokgo Yeon bit her lip and spoke firmly instead.
"No matter how benevolent or trustworthy they seem, they're ultimately our enemies. You must never rely on them or trust them."
"Of course. Anyway, looks like the real boss is about to show up."
"The real...?"
Everyone except Ban Yu-won had assumed Room 149's clear condition was destroying the tower. They'd dropped their guard the moment he emerged, but he wasn't fooled.
The sanctuary inside the tower had been a space the constellations created to evade the tower's gaze from the start.
Destroying that device wouldn't clear the room.
Besides, this room was an irregular one reached by ignoring trick room conditions and forcing a shift.
Considering the skipped rooms and shattered conditions, it wouldn't end with just demolishing one structure.
―Fwoooooh...
And sure enough, changes began right after his warning.
The tower fragments, shattered to pieces by the two power attackers, Dokgo Yeon and As Light, writhed and stirred.
Infused with the power of those false gods As Light called them—the constellations—plus occupancy rates, each one held the potential to become a lethal projectile.
And now, they all belonged to a single constellation...
―Impressive instincts. Losing talent like you would truly be a painful blow.
The constellation's voice rang out to the entire group. It was, of course, the Merciful North Wind.
But Ban Yu-won, from Korea, knew better than anyone.
A north wind couldn't possibly be purely merciful.
―You're in the tower's gap right now. If you die here... you might really die.
―And get dragged over to our side.
―Well then, shall I ask once more?
Like a typhoon, the Merciful North Wind's voice hammered into their minds. They gritted their teeth and drew their weapons.
Strands of aura, so dense they'd taken physical form, surged in from the constellation and were absorbed into the tower's debris.
Whirrr—like a spinning top, the fragments floated into the air and rotated all at once.
―Will you accept the contract's terms, human?
"Eat shit."
He spat back with a sneer, gripping the Executioner's Longsword tighter.
What dwelled in the blade was the holy light of Ceron—the partner the constellations had demanded from Ban Yu-won.
Dazzling starlight swirled around the sword in a spiral, mimicking the north wind.
Imperfect starlight, but starlight nonetheless.
On top of that, Ban Yu-won could perform a feat impossible for Ceron in his current state.
'Probably close to the holy light magic Ceron wielded in his constellation days.'
It was adding the source of the constellations' power: Star Mark!
Infusing holy light, which destroyed constellation power, with their very own Star Mark was like a dragon wielding a dragon slayer. But with Yu-won Energy, which could create and manipulate any energy, such a feat was possible.
...Wait, isn't that exactly what the guy next to me is?
―Is that your answer? Then I'll smash you to pieces first!
The typhoon expanded in an instant, engulfing the group!
This was no ordinary natural phenomenon.
It was the Merciful North Wind's avatar, descended using the tower fragments as hosts!
As Light, recognizing its true nature, bulged his eyes and stepped forward.
"I'll handle it!"
"You worked hard saving me, so everyone rest up."
Chuckling as he held As Light back, Ban Yu-won raised the Executioner's Longsword.
He invoked the authority he'd just acquired.
Gap.
No matter how close to perfection this disaster born from a near-flawless being was, it couldn't hide its "gap."
"Hah—!"
In the instant stretched near-infinitely, Ban Yu-won's All-Reading Eyes blazed fiercely as it pinpointed the typhoon's crevice.
With a sharp shout, the Executioner's Longsword thrust forth, trailed by starlight's trajectory.
Schling.
No sound should have been audible, yet the illusion rang out as cleanly as if it had sliced the typhoon in two.
―Ha...
The tower fragments lost power amid the vanishing, severed typhoon, crashing into each other and crumbling.
The Merciful North Wind could only gape in disbelief.
―To wield his authority so perfectly mere minutes after acquiring it...
It seemed poised to say more, but static crackled like a faulty radio, and soon it vanished.
The constellation's presence fully disappeared from Room 149.
You have acquired Divine Wind 10, Destruction 5, and Star Mark 30.
The depth of Gap has reached 15.
For the schemes of multiple gods, the acquired concepts might seem meager as rewards. Yet even the most unremarkable among them, Star Mark, came in at depth 30.
Divine Wind and Destruction were tremendous treasures that could be converted into artifacts for any use.
'Nice. I can put these to good use.'
Ban Yu-won grinned, concluding that the authority from the crevice-master suited him perfectly.
Lucelle clapped as always, delighted by his feat, but As Light gaped with his jaw practically unhinged.
"What... was that?"
"No fun if I tell you everything. Just know it's a new power I picked up."
"...You, really."
Even Dokgo Yeon, who always rejoiced in his growth, stared at him with an indescribable expression.
It was no grueling battle—he'd destroyed a constellation's avatar in one blow. Such reactions were only natural.
"O-Ohhh."
"As expected... He'll be the one to save us!"
The NPCs, whom As Light had somehow reined in, fully turned to Ban Yu-won after his final strike.
Not that luring NPCs mattered now that the chain rooms were over.
Ban Yu-won waved them off casually with that in mind.
But in the end, that was a tremendous mistake.