Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Sword Dragon of the Blue Sky (5)

I had to recall.

A fact that I had forgotten for a moment.

That every challenger awakens an innate ability upon entering the Tower.

Therefore, challengers who were just ordinary people had an innate ability, and Baek Sunhak from the Murim dimension also had an innate ability.

“…”

It was the same with Namgung Hyuk, too.

-A duel area is formed within a radius of 30 m due to the innate ability ‘Force Duel’

Recalling the message that had just appeared, I soon looked around.

And I feigned a smile at the semicircular light barrier around 30 meters tall.

“What kind of ridiculous innate ability is this…”

Perhaps the barrier of light completely cut off the space between the outside and the inside of the duel arena?

Katheryn was yelling something from outside, but I couldn’t hear anything.

I turned my head to look at Namgung Hyuk, who still had flames wrapped around his upper body.

And he looked at me while smirking and then soon said.

“Although I didn’t want to rely on this kind of skill… I had no other choice.”

“Let’s be honest. You just wanted to kill me one-on-one because you thought you couldn’t handle everything.”

I didn’t need to provoke as much as a while ago, so I toned down my sarcasm.

However, Namgung Hyuk frowned as if even that bothered him greatly.

“…How vulgar. It seems like you lack a sense of pride.”

Do all challengers from the Murim dimension have at least one wrong thing in their heads?

I scoffed at Namgung Hyuk as I felt the irritation I once felt with Baek Sunhak.

“I don’t think you have anything like that, either.”

“…”

“If you had such a thing as pride, you wouldn’t have destroyed the city looking for me.”

“Be quiet. How dare a bastard like you who steals others’ swords dares to speak o…”

At that moment, I immediately activated the Lightning Sword Ki and fired a slash at Namgung Hyuk.

I was planning to start by at least successfully striking him once while he was heating up with the conversation, but…

Clang!

“It’s no use.”

Namgung Hyuk effortlessly blocked that Sword Ki and even fired a slash at me in return.

Klaaaang!

I canceled out the slash by making a huge swing with my sword and then gave it a tight grip to suppress my hand trembling from recoil.

‘To think that he’s this much even if some of his skills are sealed off because of the suppression of fire…’

Even until now, seeing Namgung Hyuk’s upper body engulfed in fire, the Suppression of Fire must be activated.

But Namgung Hyuk’s power was stronger than I thought. He was holding on firmly even though he was restricted.

I’ve realized since the moment he blew Kim Seunghoon into the remains of a building in a state of being cast with suppression of fire.

But Namgung Hyuk is still a difficult opponent for me, even though he’s not in the best condition right now.

“Do you think you’ll be able to fully handle Sword Ki when you don’t even know what real martial art is?”

However—

“False Sword Ki won’t be able to catch up with the true Sword Ki.”

I didn’t get discouraged by that and immediately drew the mana from my body.

「 Activating the skill ‘Instant Acceleration.’ 」 

While maximizing the effect of Instant Acceleration by using the mana to the limit.

「 Activating the skill ‘Wind’s Blessing.’ 」 

「 All speeds increased by 80%. 」 

「 Number of stacks – 7/7 」

I also activated the Wind’s Blessing, and I immediately ran out, kicking off the ground.

「Due to the effect of Boots of Swiftness (C+), the instantaneous speed increases.」

Paaang!

I had to admit it.

I couldn’t fold space and run like Namgung Hyuk, and I didn’t have many great skills, either.

However, the essence of this fight is to endure until the moment when Namgung Hyuk’s [Force Duel] is lifted.

There’s no reason to surpass Namgung Hyuk at this moment.

As I ran while ripping through the air, I dashed to a shadowed space made from the leaned building.

Then…

「Skill ‘Clandestine Shadow’s step(C+) has been activated.」

「You’re moving while stepping on the shadowed space.」

「The user’s movement speed is increased by +30%」

One of the abilities of Clandestine Shadow’s Step (C+) was immediately activated.

The ability to increase the movement speed when walking in dark places with the efficient restructuring of the walking method.

Allowed me to catch up with Namgung Hyuk’s movements through synergy with other skills.

I ran towards Namgung Hyuk at a speed that could only be called transcendental.

“It seems you have some cards up your sleeve, but—”

But before I could even realize it, Namgung Hyuk kicked off the ground, leaving a blurry image, and appeared where I was.

In the form of throwing a slash right in front of me, expressionlessly.

Kakaklang!

“If all you’re doing is trying to imitate a martial art, you’ll soon die.”

Namgung Hyuk seemed to be telling me this.

That the hell-like 10-minute duel had just begun.

***

[Translator – Ramen ]

[Proofreader – DVN-L ]

***

Witchcraft.

An ability that relies on external factors rather than the ability to perform with one’s discretion.

Originally, Namgung Hyuk encountered this kind of special ability quite a few times in Murim.

Most of them were just the inferior abilities of the martial arts, and there were hardly any such great witchcraft.

Therefore Namgung Hyuk obviously thought that witchcraft was weaker than martial arts.

It was understandable.

-It’s not even an ability you could use on your own. There’s no way an ability relying on external factors could be stronger than martial arts.

As his grandfather, the sword master, said, martial arts is the only path to transcendence.

By controlling the Ki of the invisible world, gradually twisting the laws of reality, and eventually becoming a transcendental person.

That was a martial art.

There was no way that the kind of ability that wouldn’t endure such a process, and supplemented it from an external source, could be anything good.

However, Namgung Hyuk had doubts about its existence after being selected for the Tower and learning a skill for the first time.

-It’s an ability that you can’t implement on your own, but you can activate it…?

Initially, abilities that depended on external factors were mostly poor or high cost.

However, a skill had no such thing, and it was easily activated when the user wanted to use it.

Namgung Hyuk was confused by the abilities that denied everything he had built up so far.

And while learning the transcendent ability called a skill, Namgung Hyuk came to a realization.

There’s no self-development in just acquiring and using the skills.

-So it’s just an ability bestowed by a transcendent being called the Tower…

Namgung Hyuk realized that it could be used even if it’s impossible to implement on your own.

That this was just an ability bestowed by the Tower, and that it was just a fake that’s different from the real martial arts.

Skills weren’t activated by self-controlling the Ki, but were forcibly activated by the system of something incomprehensible.

Namgung Hyuk, realizing that, scoffed at everyone who used skills.

-What’s the value of those who depend on fakes that can’t match the real ones?

A fake.

It was a fake that didn’t have the strength to do anything of its own will.

It may look like it could become strong on its own like a martial art, but in reality, it’s just like offering a handle of an invisible leash to the Tower.

Therefore, Namgung Hyuk considered skills as witchcraft that are inferior to martial art and an ability that has no possibility of development.

What goes up even if you use a skill is an imaginary number called proficiency, and what changes even if the rank goes up is only the content of the ability.

So he thought that skills were fake and martial arts were real.

“…”

Until he saw Han Sungyeun right in front of him.

「 Activating the skill ‘Ashen Blood.’ 」 

「 All pain inflicted on the user is reduced by 31%. 」 

The man in front of him, whose whole body was full of slashes, was different from the others.

He wasn’t still at a level where he could just conclude that something was different, but…

‘His eyes are different.’

Even though he was driven to the brink of death, Han Sungyeun shone his eyes even more.

As if there was still a chance for him to turn the tables in this hell-like situation.

Of course, in reality, almost one-sided violence continued, so Namgung Hyuk also thought it was just his imagination.

There was nothing special about this man, and he just came this far by relying on fake powers like traits and skills.

But that wasn’t it.

‘Why…? Why is he not dying…?’

He suffered several fatal wounds, and he should’ve lost his will a long time ago.

But Han Sungyeun was struggling to react to Namgung Hyuk’s Sword.

As Namgung Hyuk felt annoyed about this, he further maximized his swordsmanship and fired an attack from a blind spot where Han Sungyeun could never react to it.

Skills are mostly just inferior abilities of martial arts.

Namgung Hyuk tried to overwhelm Han Sungyeun with his swordsmanship under such an extremely Murim-like mindset.

In order to drive Han Sungyeun to the point where he wouldn’t be able to recover, even with witchcraft, using an attack that he wouldn’t be able to see.

Then something surprising happened.

Claaang!

“…!?”

Han Sungyeun easily blocked the Sword Ki that flew from the blind spot instantaneously.

Namgung Hyuk immediately realized how he did it.

「 Activating the skill ‘Mind’s Eye.’ 」 

Han Sungyeun had a skill that could be used in this situation.

‘This is ridiculous…’

But what was even more ridiculous was Han Sungyeun, who blocked the Sword Ki flying from the blind spot.

He immediately blocked the Sword Ki and fluttered as if he was lost, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Namgung Hyuk realized it was an opportunity and collided with Han Sungyeun while scattering around his Sword Ki.

As Namgung Hyuk felt it, Han Sungyeun, with his eyes closed, was driven toward death with more wounds than before.

Until then, Namgung Hyuk thought Han Sungyeun had made a foolish choice because he relied on his skills.

But starting from some point, things suddenly started to change.

“…?”

Before he knew it, Han Sungyeun blocked Namgung Hyuk’s sword as if he could read it while closing his eyes.

And as time passed, his movements were unrestrained, as if he had attained enlightenment, moving like he was dancing.

Even more serious changes occurred around the time when Namgung Hyuk began to feel impatient.

Pssshk!

In an instant, Han Sungyeun’s sword bent and made a piercing wound on Namgung Hyuk’s arm.

This wasn’t only related to skill but clearly an improvement in skill as well.

‘How can an imitation of martial arts do up to this extent…?’

With Namgung Hyuk’s common sense, he couldn’t accept the current situation.

As to why this man could endure his sword and his movements were getting better while getting wounded.

As to why this man could grow so fast while relying on the witchcraft called skills.

As to why this man could match a real power with his fake power.

None of these were things that Namgung Hyuk could accept.

Because this wasn’t a skill but closer to the realm of martial arts.

Enlightenment.

Han Sungyeun has reached the realm of some kind of growth acceleration experienced only by those who have reached the realm of martial arts.

And—

“…”

Namgung Hyuk recognized Han Sungyeun, who was making an arc with the corners of his mouth.

This man wasn’t just someone who depended on fake things, but he turned fake things into real ones.

A ghost blade.

***

The world was dark.

As though walking on the road in a hazy state, my body was heavy, and my sense of balance was breaking down.

It was natural.

Not only did I consume a lot of stamina with the Ashen Blood skill, but I also pushed my mana to the limit.

Moreover, I had to keep my eyes closed to activate the Mind’s Eye skill, causing more dizziness.

But there was nothing I could do.

The Mind’s Eye, which allowed me to perceive attacks flying from out of sight, could perceive all directions if I closed my eyes.

I couldn’t survive without relying on my Mind’s Eye skill.

I didn’t know that just 10 minutes could be this painful.

But—

If you were to ask me if this time was just all about pain for me, it wasn’t.

「 …You’ve realized what the true Mind’s Eye is. 」

「 Skill ‘Mind’s eye(D-)’ ranked up to B. 」

Was it because I was closing my eyes to block Namgung Hyuk’s bizarre swordsmanship?

At some point, I could use the Mind’s Eye skill as though I really had a third eye.

The ability allowed me to recognize attacks from invisible areas.

Now I could see the barrier of light within thirty meters and the remains of buildings scattered in it.

That wasn’t the end of it.

「…You purely relied on your senses to fight for your life.」

「…Skill ‘Sixth Sense (C+)’ ranked up to B.」

As the Sixth Sense skill that I had almost forgotten existed ranked up, the senses became clearer.

「…In the decisive battle with the one who has mastered the Sword, you succeeded in enduring their sword without dying.」

「…Skill ‘Demon Slayer (C)’ ranked up to B.」

And my swordsmanship, which I thought felt shabby, grew unbelievably in a short period.

「…Your body has experienced regeneration beyond its limits through numerous crises in a short period.」

「…Skill ‘Ashen Blood (B-) ranked up to B+.」

While sensing that most of the skills I mainly use had grown, I opened my eyes.

“…”

And soon, I could see Namgung Hyuk staring at me while quietly holding his curved Sword with both hands.

‘What?’

I wasn’t sure how much time was left for the duel, but I was certain that it’d be over soon.

But Namgung Hyuk didn’t use his sword anymore. He just looked at me while holding his sword with both hands.

It was then that I narrowed my eyes as I tensed up.

“Do you think you can surpass martial arts… when you’re just borrowing the power from the Tower?”

Namgung Hyuk said so all of a sudden and then raised his sword upwards.

I was startled when I saw Namgung Hyuk, who was calm although he was in a situation where he should be impatient.

It was understandable.

Unlike a while ago, Namgung Hyuk’s eyes didn’t see me as a simple opponent to get rid of.

A whole different level of hostility was revealed in his eyes than when he was talking about vulgarity or such.

“Your tenacious will, and even that borrowed ability that’s nothing more than a fake, I’ll put an end to it right here.”

And…

Soon, I could see why Namgung Hyuk was able to declare an end to me so calmly.

Before I knew it, the fire that covered Namgung Hyuk’s upper body visibly decreased.

What that meant was simple.

‘The duration of the Suppression of Fire is about to end…!?’

But even before I, in shock, could prepare myself.

“This is the true Sword Ki that can’t be caught up with fake Sword Ki, and…”

The fire on Namgung Hyuk’s upper body was completely extinguished.

And—

“This is the realm beyond Sword Ki, Sword Flame.”

The Sword Flame, which surpassed the Sword Ki, swept over me.

——