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

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.

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.

——

——