CH 316

Chapter 316

Chapter 316 Marionette (1)

It was only one day, but Yoon-seok let go of all his worries and anxiety and spent his time comfortably. It had been a long time. No, maybe it was the first time in his life he laughed and chatted normally with so many people.

“Hahaha! Yoon-seok! You’re not drinking more?”

“You don’t get drunk anyway, do you? It’s not that delicious either….”

“You’re strong, but you’re such a kid!”

It was a little ironic. He was called the Savior, but he was enjoying these mundanities.

’No, in fact, has my normal life become special now?’

He could feel that the goal was becoming clear again. Yoon-seok was fully determined it wasn’t far off.

“Oppa, what are you thinking about?”

“Ah, it’s nothing…”

“You always say that. Anyway, we have to get ready to go back.”

“…Yeah.”

“Everyone is waiting.”

Yoon-seok, who broke from his thoughts at Lee Su-yeon’s call, took a step among the drunk crowds. In this place where the people had completely sobered from the alcohol, their gazes differed from the previous night.

Should he say that they were completely ready?

“It’s time to go fight again.”

“It’s been a while since I had fun.”

“No one among us is going to die, right?”

There were less than three hours left before the duel. Perhaps this could be farewell for some, but all of them were smiling from ear to ear.

“Let’s all meet again.”

“Yes.”

Yoon-seok also smiled, and he prayed.

Please don’t let any of these people be designated as each other’s opponents.

「Move to the waiting room on the 24th floor.」

Returning to the silent waiting room, as if it had all been a dream, Yoon-seok checked the duel timer one more time, sat down, and closed his eyes.

To calm his excited heart. To face his enemy in the best condition. He withdrew himself and meditated. Perhaps, the others were now spending their time like this.

「Get ready. The duel will begin soon.」

To make it to the 25th floor, the final duel to be held at this Tower had begun.

As always, the warm sunshine radiated through his eyelids. Was it because he’d only been seeing invaders erupting from the gloomy sky? He wasn’t quite used to this bright and clear sky.

「Countdown is starting.」

Yoon-seok immediately checked his opponent’s face and breathed out in relief.

「3」

Long red hair flowing down like the burning sun on the horizon, and two swords hanging low across their waist. Although the lower part of her face was covered with a hood, Yoon-seok knew he’d never seen this person before. In other words, he could run toward victory with ease.

Yoon-seok’s narrowed eyes swept over his opponent.

「2」

The race looked to be human. Her tight clothes showed a slim and curvy body shape. Of course, those weren’t very important.

「1」

Based on the magical power, she was at least a top 50 ranker.

’High ranker who uses dual swords….’

Yoon-seok was extremely curious. What principle would this woman use with her sword? Would it be speedy, like Lee Su-yeon? If that were the case, their synergy wouldn’t be that bad…

Was it funny to talk about synergy right now?

「START!」

With so many thoughts interlocking, the duel started. And…

“…”

There was no warning or explosion. Just as he’d arrived here after going through dozens of duels, they both naturally released from their physical constraints and flew up the air.

’So aggressive. Is she trying to get a head start?’

She hadn’t shouted any command yet but simply swung her sword. Nevertheless, Yoon-seok could tell from its sharpness how skilled she was. But…

’Shall we test it out?’

Yoon-seok purposefully took a blow. Just a scratch, in case.

Clang-!

His foe hit him with a loud clang and bounced off. Her blade was unable to pierce b Transcendental Muscles}.

“…Are you a defense expert?”

She retreated with amusement lingering in her eyes.

“Not bad.”

Looks like she thought it was advantageous. Well, there was a good reason for that.

「 Soul Separator’s Interrogative Sword has hit you.」

「Until the end of the battle, your highest-ranking stats will be reduced by 1 level.」

「Magic rank decreases.」

In a way, it was similar to the 21st floor Sephylem. It was able to suck the life out of an opponent with damage. From her eyes, he could see that she thought she could easily wrap up the duel if things dragged out. However…

‘She’s making me feel sorry for her.’

Yoon-seok smiled at the message. Maybe it was in the past, but those things were no longer a threat anymore.

「By Unique Skill {God of Martial Arts}, all conditional effects affect the perpetrator.」

Did a similar message appear for her? The amusement in her eyes faded, replaced by dismay.

“Infinite Repository.”

The sword she was holding was swallowed up in the air, and a new sword appeared. However, she didn’t stop at that but briefly recited a new command.

“Door of Sin.”

Was that a strengthening ability? A black portal swirling behind her back opened, and hundreds of thin threads stretched beyond to wrap around her body as if to bring out the energy of another world.

’Is this her main weapon?’

A sense of dread hung in the air. His instincts warned that this could pose a threat, unlike the previous attack. Yoon-seok had no intention of ignoring that warning. However…

’It’d better avoid this first….’

When he was preparing to widen the gap-

’…Huh?’

Suddenly, a throbbing pain began to spread from his wrist.

’I was slashed?’

He felt a little bitter that he took a blow even though he was concentrating. And unlike before, his opponent’s sword cut his skin too easily. Yoon-seok’s eyes grew cold.

’…I don’t think she’s just that level of high ranker.’

Suddenly, he grew curious about his opponent’s rank. And was it the same for her?

“I was going to kill you, but you’re much stronger than I thought. Who are you?”

“Isn’t it courtesy to reveal your name first?”

“That’s true.”

Different from what he expected, she merely nodded. Unlike his first impression of her being arrogant and aggressive, she proved rather gentle.

“Pareye… no, that name has no meaning in the Tower. It’s Evoir Cartra. In our language, it means the one who chases God.”

He still couldn’t figure out what dimension she might be from given that name alone, but Yoon-seok hardened when she announced her nickname.

“…Evoir Cartra? You?”

“Hmm, do you know me?”

How could he not? Yoon-seok couldn’t hide his shock and stared, and his opponent nodded in understanding.

“Still, most of the challengers tend to believe in the rankings. Is that so important?”

Yoon-seok shook his head. Certainly, rank wasn’t absolute. Synergy, personality, a little luck, technique. Such trivial things often caused lower rankers to beat upper rankers. But…

‘Interesting.’

But things were different if the opponent was in 1st place.

The sky beyond the sky. Even right below at 12th place, he felt the huge gap between them. That’s why he was a little dumbfounded.

’In the end, the day comes when you meet someone like this.’

Yoon-seok could feel the Tower’s intent. They don’t think to let him ascend comfortably even here at the end. Were they telling him to overcome this hardship and grow stronger?

“But I’m still a little curious. What’s your ranking?”

Yoon-seok shrugged.

“What rank do you think I am?”

“Well, you’re relaxed after knowing my rank, so I think it’ll be quite high.”

He smirked. Saying that it was likely to be high, but she never thought they would be equals. Was this the 1st place special pride? Most likely so.

Yoon-seok also thought she would be below him before he heard her nickname.

’…I knew she was strong, but I didn’t expect her to be No. 1.’

Yoon-seok knew she would at least be a high ranker, but he didn’t feel the overwhelming presence of Cheon-ma and the Heavenly Buddha. But why? Why didn’t he notice as soon as they met?

Just because he’d grown strong enough to be on the same line as them? Or simply because they were unrivaled in the first place?

“…”

Hmm, maybe it was both. Cheon-ma, who had been the No. 1 standard, now actually surpassed the sky and universe by obtaining a new cheat key.

「Unique Skill b God of Martial Arts} completes the analysis of a new type of power. Permanently immune to the absolute Amputation ability of Door of Sin.」

Anyway, while they were talking, his Unique Skill was activated. He worried it wouldn’t work because it wasn’t a skill or power.

‘I didn’t know it had this weakness.’

It seemed he needed some time to gain immunity. In terms of time, it was about three minutes. Also, this wasn’t the only handicap.

“That’s an interesting skill.”

Judging from her immediate reaction, it seemed that if he gained immunity, a notification would appear for his foe as well. Well, even considering that, it was ridiculous enough.

“Did you purposely buy time for this?”

Not really. Furthermore, wasn’t it her who tried to converse?

’But I don’t have to tell her that.’

What if it was a little unfair? It was better than saying he wasn’t used to this new ability with his mouth.

Whoosh.

Did she not want to give time now that she knew his hidden intentions? She stretched out her sword and let her questions die. Although he didn’t know what her agility was ranked at, she was so fast he couldn’t even chase her with his eyes.

Whoosh.

Her sword reached him before he could even blink.

Clang-!

Well, although it was pointless.

“…It doesn’t work.”

But was checking her purpose from the start? When the attack failed, she only smacked her lips and stepped back. It must have been hard to believe even when she saw the notifications. No, she must be wondering why such ability even existed.

’Even I think it’s fraudulent, too….”

That was the case now by looking at the skill exchange. Yoon-seok did nothing in particular, but as a result, wasn’t his opponent’s core skill now useless? Even Yoon-seok would have felt hopeless if someone else had this ability.

“Okay, I’m pretty much done figuring you out.”

“…?”

“It’s an interesting skill, but it’s not like there’s no destruction method.”

…Destruction method? Was there something like that? Honestly speaking, Yoon-seok couldn’t imagine it. However.

“From now on, it’s going to be a little different.”

He realized one thing from the way she looked at him.

‘…As expected, she’s not going to let me off easily.’

Yoon-seok wasn’t the only one who knew how to cheat.