A Swordsman’s Stream

Chapter 74

In Duel, after each round, there’s a brief time given to change traits.

Since the matching was random, it was inevitable that one would start the first match at a disadvantage.

That’s why they provided an opportunity to overturn the situation.

This waiting time introduced a strategic element to what could have been a simple physical duel.

– Impressive to see you subdue them so easily.
– This is real skill!
– Seriously, at this level, shouldn’t you go pro?
– Even tired of being amazed lol.
– Easily dealing with the best of the best.
– Did you really imitate that step in the middle?”

The opponent’s body vanished from the front, and Sojun was also summoned back to the starting point.

The next round was to begin in 2 minutes.

“Did you really imitate that step in the middle?”

Responding to the inquiry, Sojun opened his trait window.

– Why are you opening it?
– Want to show off?
– Honestly, it feels awkward doing nothing.

Viewers naturally assumed that Sojun would not change his trait. It was hard to believe that the person who hadn’t changed traits even during raids and escort missions suddenly felt like changing it for no reason.

“Hmm, I’m thinking of trying a different trait. Why am I suddenly changing it?”

Sojun pondered the reason.

Certainly.

During the waiting time, one had to anticipate the opponent’s moves.

Rankers, familiar with nearly all builds and their counters, considered matchups as a rock-paper-scissors game unless one employed an OP faction naturally superior in compatibility.

Even in a disadvantageous matchup, pushing through with a well-executed build was an option.

But what if someone who only threw rocks suddenly threw scissors?

“The opponent would probably think I won’t change, so changing it now might be very effective, don’t you think?”

The reason for taking a new trait was simple.

“Others would stop targeting easily, too. Hehe.”

He hoped it wouldn’t be misunderstood as a mere whim since it was a strategic change favorable to him.

– Evil lol.
– This is strategy.
– The intellectual prowess of Korea University!
– Not endurance but intelligence lol.
– Did you finally invest in int!
– The opponent, preparing to flee, looking startled.

Sojun first selected from the sub-traits.

Options available without selecting the core trait.

For example, things like basic attack power increase.

These were options that don’t vastly affect playing style and remain purely within the realm of personal preference.

– Grandpa, trimming builds on.
– What kind of precious build will he bring this time?
– Where did this build even come from……
– Let’s go Long Range with Black Sword!

“Oh. Everyone, I’m going to do something traditional this time.”

Sojun’s fingers moved towards the core trait at the far end of the branch of traits.

『Imperfect Heavenly Demon Arts.』

“Let’s try experimenting with this.”

Heavenly Demon Arts, often portrayed as martial art used by the Heavenly Demon, was described as an unparalleled martial technique.

It could not be absent in the world of “For Justice” where the Demonic Cult existed, and the developers included it, but it wasn’t popular among players.

The game’s effect true to its title allowed everything done with internal arts to be enhanced.

When sword ki clashed, it would devour the opponent’s, and by gathering inner ki at one’s feet as in high jumping, one could cause stuns and area damage.

Although it didn’t destroy the setup of being an unparalleled martial technique, it carried an issue due to the prefix before the Heavenly Demon Arts.

– Well, it’s strange the Heavenly Demon hasn’t been using it till now.
– Ultimately pulling out the Heavenly Demon Arts…
– ???: I tried not to use this.
– Old-timer… sorry.
– Curious what penalty he’ll choose lol.

Imperfect.

Because it was not properly passed down, selecting the Heavenly Demon Arts required choosing a penalty beneath it.

‘Such is the Demonic Cult, I suppose.’

He felt balanced adjustments came with it.

Players truly despised these penalties.

“What should we do, then?”

There was a term called a glass cannon.

It combined the words glass body and cannon, describing something that was powerful like a cannon but had the durability of glass, meaning it was only strong in delivering damage.

By choosing the first penalty of the Heavenly Demon, one could experience becoming this glass cannon.

The name of the trait was:『Collapse of the Body』

Because it was incomplete or something like that.

Choosing this trait meant that taking even a single hit could leave one in a critical state.

Even abilities like the Absorption Technique, which could restore health, were useless, so even the rankers of the Demonic Cult wouldn’t pick this trait unless the skill gap in the game was significantly large.

“I’m still not sure about the second one since I don’t know what it feels like.”

The second trait was even more absurd,『Dull Perception』

It was the perfect side effect of an incomplete martial art.

In his past life, losing sanity and causing chaos was common among those of the Demonic Cult.

Wouldn’t the leader of such a cult be even worse?

Of course, it didn’t literally slow down one’s perception but instead made their body dull.

In other words, choosing this option resulted in experiencing a state where one’s body felt heavy and didn’t move as intended.

Imagine being under a constant slow debuff.

“I heard that it’s not to the extent that you can’t fight, is that true?”

The maximum speed you could achieve was explained to be at the level of fully relaxing your arm and swinging a sword.

-Sojun. Most people would say that means you can’t fight.
-It would be better to go with the glass body and avoid getting hit even once.
-The Streamer-nim’s skills might make it possible not to be hit at all.
-If you don’t actually like suffering, don’t choose the second one.
-That trait makes even the viewers frustrated, lol.

‘Hmm.’

“There’s one minute left. Shall we think about it?”

Sojun lowered his hands and turned entirely towards the chat window.

-???
-Do you think a minute is a lot?
-Aren’t you thinking about the other detailed traits?
-Here we go again, only we will be frustrated.

Sojun smiled brightly and said, “Actually, I’ve saved it in a preset.”

A preset, simply put, is a convenient feature that allows you to save and recall settings in advance.

-It’s like he already decided on the answer, lol.
-What kind of debuff did he pick?
-Preparedness level = legendary
-We got tricked even in the detailed settings at the beginning.
-And yet, what if it turns out not to be the Heavenly Demon Divine Art!

Sojun smirked and pressed the preset.

How much time was left again?

“It is indeed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”

The preset settings appeared and the debuff chosen by Sojun was revealed.

『Dull Perception』

“I’ll show you a properly dull sword.”

『The game will start in 10 seconds.』

-What kind of preference is this?
-Why does he like suffering, lol?
-Looking forward to it.
-What is a dull sword?

* * *

Sojun swung his arm slowly without moving even a step from the starting point.

Although the starting point wasn’t a safe zone, he first had to adapt to the body with the applied traits before facing an enemy outside.

“…….”

With a silent shout, Sojun swung his arm from left to right with maximum force.

*Whooooosh.*

The sword tip reached the final point slower than usual.

“It’s faster than swinging underwater but slightly slower than swinging without effort,” he said as he got used to the feeling of increased air resistance whenever he moved.

-Have you swung a sword underwater?

-What kind of training have you been doing in real life…
-Is there a game where you swing a sword underwater?

“It seemed unlikely, haha. If the background was the sea, would they bring a spear?”

*Whoosh.*

*Whoosh.*

There was no difference between swinging lightly without force and swinging with all one’s might.

“Well, it’s much better than I anticipated.”

Sojun stepped out from the starting point surrounded by rocks.

*Step, step.*

Fortunately, his movement speed remained unchanged.

‘So the attack speed was the only thing affected.’

It was said that using martial skills would make him even faster.

Utilizing inner ki allowed him to reap the benefits of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

As he turned the corner, an open expanse of green vegetation and an enemy came into view.

“Come at me once more.”

Sojun clasped his hands behind his back and raised his sword before his eyes.

This time, Unrighteous Dignity, who ranked fifth, chose to approach cautiously rather than charging hastily.

The enemy was more prudent than before, their vigilance heightened.

Sojun waited calmly.

It would be reckless to move first.

When the distance closed to nearly an arm’s reach, and he could touch the enemy’s neck, Unrighteous Dignity suddenly increased speed and swung a sword, which Sojun blocked.

*Clang!*

A battle commenced between the fastest attack speed and the slowest one.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The enemy, as if wielding three swords, attempted to slash and stab Sojun with rapid speed, left and right, up and down.

To avoid being harmed, Sojun blocked using the simplest and shortest path to move his sword slowly.

Naturally, his movements became more restrained.

In stark contrast, the enemy began to assault with increased strength and speed.

Clenching teeth, controlling his speed to the limit, Unrighteous Dignity pressed on.

-Wow, the speed difference should be significant, but honestly, it’s hard to notice.
-But there’s no other choice but to defend?
-Use the sword ki!
-Isn’t he thinking about the sword ki? Heavenly Demon Divine Art enhances inner ki!

*Crrrack!*

Sojun’s sword pushed the enemy’s extended blade aside by supporting it with his hand placed on the blade’s back.

*Slice!*

Yet, Sojun’s cheek was grazed slightly. The mild pain allowed by the capsule added a thrill.

It was thrillingly close.

The attack speed felt more significant than expected. Perhaps it was more pronounced due to the enemy’s killing intent.

‘Whatever it is, it’s fine.’

While Sojun rejoiced at being hit by the sword, the enemy didn’t appear pleased even after landing an attack.

Instead, they looked increasingly cautious.

The enemy.

‘They are timing it.’

Timing for what?

‘They’re attacking fiercely yet aren’t stepping in deeply.’

Sojun’s eyes captured every detail of his enemy in those moments.

The movement captured in the enemy’s field of vision, the position where they placed their feet, the angle of their elbows, their wrist.

Even while analyzing the enemy, Sojun consciously discarded every unnecessary movement, adapting progressively to the current speed and disciplined combat style.

*Clang!*

The swords clashed and parted.

In the brief pause, Sojun found an opening amidst focused defense.

An opening he could pierce regardless of not using fast speed.

Sojun wouldn’t miss such a crack.

The soft movement emerging from a firm base ensured he wouldn’t overlook the gap.

Sojun’s sword moved slowly.

Or rather, it appeared to move slowly.

Even though it was not that slow, relatively speaking.

Having inadvertently concealed slow speed through efficient minimal movement, Sojun’s sword now intertwined with Unrighteous Dignity’s fastest assault weapon.

In the moment when every viewer’s attention concentrated entirely on Sojun’s sword, they felt it.

It was slow.

The current large arc traced by Sojun’s sword seemed excessively slow.

Thus.

Viewers naturally wondered.

‘Why can’t they evade such a slow sword?’