Chapter 25

25th Episode: Sword Saint Cheon Yuseong (1)

Jinhyuk slowly turned his head. There stood a man holding a very old-looking sword. ...A familiar sword. It was the replica version of a holy relic displayed at the National Central Museum, the 'Iron Sword with Qianlong Inscription'. This meant the man was the persistent challenger Jinhyuk had encountered throughout the Tower of Trials.

Jinhyuk sized up his opponent. A sharp countenance. A solid build over 185 cm tall. He resembled a well-sharpened sword. 'I didn't realize in the game, but this guy looks quite decent in reality.' Or to be precise, he could put models to shame. His perfectly proportioned body and a face like a sculpture were hard to come by even on TV.

"Won't you ever tire?" Jinhyuk clicked his tongue. Wasn't it enough to chase him in the game? Now he had followed him even to the ruins. Sincerely, if I go to hell, he'd probably chase me there too.

"That irritated face... Is that all you see me as?" The man clenched his jaw, brimming with lethal intent. Ah, right. He had a serious grudge about being ignored. Annoying as it was, Jinhyuk had forgotten.

"Think about it logically. Who in their right mind would follow me here? And if you've lost, accept it. Please, just give it a rest."

"This time will be different. Having started over, there's no way I'd be inferior to you."

He's not getting it. Or rather, he never did. Jinhyuk sighed softly and activated 'The Eye of Truth'.

[Skill activation is canceled due to level difference.]

Of course, there would be a level difference. But it didn't matter. He had extra stats from 'The Song of Battle' and his existing luck and adaptation stats.

[Stats effect nullifies level difference.]

[Penetrating the target's status window.]

Name: Cheon Yuseong

Gender: Male

Age: 28

Level: 29

Strength 35 Agility 31 Stamina 18 Magic Power 10

Stat Points: 0

Coins: 0

Job: Swordsman

Unique Ability: Sword's Song

Skills: Lv6 'Soul Chasing Sword Qi', Lv5 'Sage's Eyes', Lv5 'One-on-One Duel', Lv5 'Self-Defense Qi', Lv5 'Battlefield Selection', Lv4 'Soul Chasing Sword Dance', Lv4 'Darkness Barrier', Lv3 'Endurance', Lv3 'Tenacity'...

[Copying Condition: Cheon Yuseong believes he's stronger than anyone in swordsmanship. Defeat him with the weapon he's most confident in - a sword.]

A status window longer than anyone Jinhyuk had seen before appeared.

'Did he recognize me through [Sage's Eyes]? And he's been stalking me enough to follow me here.'

'Cheon Yuseong, huh?'

He was one of the most notorious players Jinhyuk knew in the Tower of Trials. Not only was he skilled, but those who had crossed swords with Cheon Yuseong referred to him with awe as the 'Sword Saint' or feared him as the 'Sword Demon'.

But...

'So this was his extent.'

Jinhyuk read the status window with a nonchalant expression. Level, skills, unique ability, stats. Others might have been astonished, but it was just that.

Of course, Cheon Yuseong had become stronger than before. His build-up to become a Sword Saint was flawless. However...

'The same goes for me.'

The gap had not closed. In fact, it had widened.

"If you really want to fight, I won't stop you. But are you sure? I'm not alone here."

Reacting to Cheon Yuseong's murderous intent, Teresa was quickly approaching. In about 2 or 3 minutes, it wouldn't be one-on-one but two against one.

"A saint... You've made a useless ally."

"Hmm..."

"First, Teresa is not an ally. We're just together for a shared interest. And secondly..."

"I don't carry useless things around."

As Jinhyuk finished speaking, the sound of slicing wind was heard.

Woosh!

A silver shield flew in. Its surface shimmered slightly. A weapon imbued with holy power.

"Kuk!?"

Cheon Yuseong hastily swung his sword.

Clang!

He barely managed to deflect it, but the impact left veins bulging on his forehead.

"I told you not to be too arrogant."

"Before it's too late, why don't you run away? It's not too late."

"I won't let an intruder interfere with our duel."

[Cheon Yuseong activates Lv5 'Battlefield Selection!']

A transparent barrier began to form around Cheon Yuseong. Jinhyuk's lips curled in response. Predictable. The barrier, 'Battlefield Selection,' allowed him to choose his desired battlefield, the most powerful of Cheon Yuseong's barriers.

Woosh!

A space about 50m in diameter was newly formed. A training ground littered with broken marble and half-eaten mural remnants came into view.

'Typical of him.'

His character consistency was almost a talent. Cheon Yuseong gripped his sword with both hands.

"Now, no outside help can interfere."

A world cut off by the barrier. Cheon Yuseong immediately used another skill.

[Cheon Yuseong activates Lv5 'One-on-One Duel!']

[All Cheon Yuseong's stats increase by 10%!]

[The effect of 'Song of the Battlefield' received from Teresa disappears.]

[All stats decrease by 10%.]

Continuous status messages appeared due to the effects of 'Battlefield Selection' and 'One-on-One Duel', resulting in a forced debuff. It was these two skills that gave Cheon Yuseong the confidence to provoke the fight and the same skills that made Jinhyuk not avoid it. '...Caught.' There was a reason he led himself into this disadvantageous situation.

A special condition attached to 'Fusion':

If the situation becomes overwhelmingly disadvantageous compared to the original copying condition, the copying condition will be modified accordingly.

And in this case...

[Copying condition has been modified.]

[First copy, then fulfill the condition.]

[You have 10 minutes to complete the condition.]

The condition had changed. First, the ability is copied, and then the condition is fulfilled.

"I will copy Cheon Yuseong's unique ability."

[Copying the unique ability 'Sword's Song (S)'.]

['Sword's Song': Comprehension of bladed weapons increases by 200%. The body naturally finds the most efficient swordsmanship, and all senses become extremely sensitive.]

[It is one of the essential abilities to earn the title of Sword Saint.]

If before it was a fight relying on experience and reflexes, now with this ability, it became possible to understand and become one with the sword. Jinhyuk adjusted the short sword in his right hand and flicked his left index finger towards Cheon Yuseong.

"Don't pretend to be at ease!"

Cheon Yuseong gritted his teeth and charged at Jinhyuk, closing the distance in an instant. Fast. But Jinhyuk easily parried the attack aimed at his side. Immediately, a series of sword strikes followed, each targeting vital points.

At that moment, Cheon Yuseong's face contorted even more fiercely. "What trickery is this?" "Huh? What do you mean?" "Don't play dumb! Your specialty isn't close combat, but mid-range. Why are you matching me with just a short sword?"

Cheon Yuseong knew Jinhyuk's style well, preferring to fight at a distance rather than close combat. It was a valid point. However... "Right now, this should be enough." Since he had to overpower him with a sword, he couldn't use anything else. Moreover, having obtained 'Sword's Song', a short sword was enough to face him.

"Then I'll kill you!" Cheon Yuseong swung his sword fiercely.

***

Clang! Dozens, no, hundreds of exchanges took place. 'How did this happen?' As time passed, Cheon Yuseong grew increasingly baffled. He was in his optimized battlefield, and his opponent had even abandoned his specialty, engaging in close combat.

Everything was overwhelmingly in his favor. He should have been able to win easily, but the balance remained unbroken. The reason was simple. 'He's using swordsmanship?' Not just imitation, but genuine skill, seasoned as if honed over countless years, and the innovative attacks were astonishing.

Catching his breath, Cheon Yuseong realized the truth. "I don't know what you've done, but it's impressive. To learn such high-level swordsmanship without me knowing."

"I've been learning a lot lately. More fun than I thought." Technically, just a moment ago. And from him, but saying that would push him over the edge.

Cheon Yuseong's face hardened at Jinhyuk's teasing. "Fine. Even if I gave up on long-range, I was wrong to face a monster like you with just swordsmanship. I admit my mistake."

He had to admit it. If he didn't go all out, he couldn't win.

Suddenly, the air shifted dramatically. Cheon Yuseong's sword straightened out. [Cheon Yuseong activates Lv6 'Soul Chasing Sword Qi'!] Blue magic power formed along the sword blade, the ultimate essence, 'Sword Qi'.

"Isn't that a bit much? Using Sword Qi against a beginner who just learned to swordfight?" "Your premise of being a beginner is a ludicrous lie." Cheon Yuseong dismissed it outright and launched an attack with scattering Sword Qi.

Jinhyuk glanced between Cheon Yuseong and his short sword. 'If I face this head-on, it'll be the end of me.' Even a 10-fold forged sword couldn't withstand Sword Qi. Then, the solution was to create it. An ability to counter, even surpass Sword Qi. Jinhyuk grasped a black elixir on a rock.

"I'll fuse 'Sword's Song' with 'Demon Soul Elixir'." A dazzling light burst forth as he spoke. [Fusion successful!] [Acquired the unique ability 'Sword's Tomb (SS)'.] ['Sword's Tomb': Comprehension of bladed weapons increases by 500%. The body finds the optimal swordsmanship, and all senses reach their peak.] [An essential talent to earn the title of Sword Demon.] [The copied ability is stored in the 'Memory of the World'.]

Ideally, this power was meant to be used after absorbing 'Frozen Tears'. But if the opponent forced his hand, he had no choice but to respond in kind.

[Activating the unique ability 'Sword's Tomb'.] Those who saw the end of the sword became Sword Saints, but those who broke it became Sword Demons. The strongest, yet worst talent, forgotten by history. Only a sword remained on an unnamed grave, a tale of that demon.

An unimaginably ominous aura began to undulate. The marble dust on the floor slowly rose. At that moment. [Activating Lv1 'Black Moon Night'!] A black moon cast its shadow over Jinhyuk's short sword, even coloring the barrier's light.

"What is this unbelievable power..." Cheon Yuseong froze in his tracks. This was dangerous.