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Chapter 65: Arena (3)
In a calm, serene, traditional home…
Sitting on the wooden awning, a white-haired woman let out a muted smile.
“To think that he can already use sword ki to this extent…”
It was all due to the challenger being reflected in a small pond in her backyard.
「 Challenger Han Sungyeun 」
He seemed to know exactly what he was capable of doing with his ki as he sliced through the hurling fireballs.
She felt immense satisfaction in the fact that he was so masterful with the sword ki.
It was a feeling that she hadn’t felt since becoming the White Crane Sword Saint.
‘You wouldn't think that this was a mere 10th-floor challenger by looking at him.’
In some aspects, he even surpassed her previous contractor, Baek Sunhak.
‘I mean, I guess that’s how he killed him…’
Of course, Sungyeun’s powers were pretty effective against Baek Sunhak…
But it was still unexpected that he was able to overpower him.
Even if she didn’t consider Baek Sunhak as a real contractor and just as someone who gave him a couple of powers, he was still a formidable challenger.
‘This challenger is definitely going to get stronger.’
And in just a bit, he’d pass the 30th floor and gain the ability to be an administrator as well.
She knew that the moment he beat Baek Sunhak.
And that’s why she gave him the ‘Sword Ki Master’ power.
“Maybe… If it’s him…”
He’d be able to fulfill my ‘desire.’
Her black eyes gleamed just at the thought of that.
‘I have to gain more favor from him.’
If not, I won’t be able to ask him to fulfill my ‘desire.’
‘He’ll come up to the 11th floor soon.’
She mumbled to herself staring at Han Sungyeun’s reflection in the pond.
“I’ll have to call him here soon.”
***
Reaper Scans
***
After splitting Katheryn’s flames with my sword ki…
「 Activating the skill ‘Instant Acceleration.’ 」
I had to keep jumping around the arena without a second to even catch my breath.
After deflecting her first attack, Katheryn completely changed her tempo and started a barrage of attacks.
「 Power ‘Sword Ki Master’ has been active for 1 minute. 」
「 Mana cost increases by 2% 」
KRAAA…!
‘She’s not even conversing with me anymore.’
There didn’t seem to be an end to the blazing balls of fire that kept following him around.
Even deflecting them with sword ki had its limits.
Dodging her attacks was tough even with Instant Acceleration activated.
‘I was gonna use the cloak since Wind’s Blessing was still in cooldown but…’
The first thing she did was burn down my cloak.
‘What should I do?’
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ looks at the fire with interest. 」
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ has high expectations for you. 」
「 Administrator ‘Black Devil’ bursts out into laughter. 」
These fireballs that were following me around seemed to be a ‘power’ and…
The fact that they didn't stop chasing me until I cut it down was bothersome.
It was then—
「 Skill Instant Acceleration (D+)’s proficiency reached 100%. 」
「 Skill Instant Acceleration (D+) ’s ranked up. 」
“…?”
Was it because it was one of my main skills?
Instant Acceleration ranked up to D+ and I suddenly sped up.
‘Nice…!’
It was just a slight improvement, but it was a massive relief.
With the couple extra seconds, I finally took this time to absorb Baek Sunhak’s soul.
If I allow an attack from her, it could get consumed as the passive protective ability.
「 Permanently increasing your stats using the Baek Sunhak’s soul. 」
「 Strength increased by 2. 」
「 Agility increased by 1. 」
「 Stamina increased by 3. 」
「 Mana increased by 3. 」
「 Tenacity increased by 2. 」
As energy flowed through my body with the stat increase, fr(e)e
「 Acquiring one of Baek Sunhak’s skills. 」
‘Oh…?’
「 Acquiring the skill ‘Lightning Sword Ki (B)’. 」
‘Lightning sword ki…?’
I thought back to the moment when Baek Sunhak’s sword was enveloped in lightning.
The skill seemed to have been canceled at the time, but it looked like I had absorbed it.
KRAAANG—!
I checked the skill as I jumped away from another fireball and…
「 Skill - Lighting Sword Ki (B) 」
「 Proficiency - 0% 」
「 Explanation - The Flickering Lightning Clan’s signature ability. 」
「 Basic effect - Lighting imbues itself onto your sword ki. This effect cannot be activated by those who can't use sword ki. 」
「 Additional effect - Upon activation, your ability to control the sword ki increases greatly and also allows you to discharge the sword ki. 」
As soon as I read the explanation, I knew.
‘I can discharge the sword ki…?’
I found a way to get out of this inferno.
It was then—
“You still have time to get distracted?”
Katheryn’s eyes flared as she let out another explosion of fire through the palms.
VRRRRRRR…!
Seeing the smoldering waves made the hairs on my back stand up.
‘Can I do this…?’
I was wondering if this lightning ki would be able to get through this fire but…
「 Activating the skill ‘Lighting Sword Ki’. 」
Well, I didn't have much of a choice.
I could only run for so long.
Pzzzzt…!
The sword ki instantly started thrashing with lightning.
‘Is this what it means to have it imbued with lightning…?’
Not only that, the sword ki now felt as if it was an extension of my body.
And…
I finally realized what the second half of the skill meant.
That this overwhelming control of the sword ki would allow me to project where I wanted to.
When I swung my sword toward the engulfing flame wave…
Szzzztt—!
「 Administrator ‘White Crane Sword Saint’ is surprised at the use of your sword ki. 」
「 Administrator ‘Iron-blooded Monarch’ giggles at her contractor’s accomplishment. 」
「 Administrator ‘Black Devil’ cannot believe their eyes. 」
The swing cleanly split the wave of fire in half and it didn't just stop there.
It would have reached Katheryn if it hadn’t just…
KRAAA…!!
Been nullified by the second wave of fire.
But that was enough to test the power of this new skill.
‘It matches Triple Laceration in terms of pure firepower…’
There’s no way I could lose with this new skill that upgraded my newly-gained power.
“No way…! How can you even do that with…!”
As Kathyrn Benett’s blue eyes started wavering, I sent out a barrage of sword ki into the air.
Shshshshtt…!
Seven separate stands of ki branched out like the roots of a tree and…
“Ugh…!”
Katheryn reacted by releasing more flames from her hands.
Kwakwakwkaing—!
As the ki soared through the air, I followed close behind.
And…
「 Power ‘Sword Ki Master’ has been active for 2 minutes. 」
「 Mana cost increases by 4% 」
「 Power ‘Sword Ki Master’ has been active for 3 minutes. 」
「 Mana cost increases by 6% 」
「 Power ‘Sword Ki Master’ has been active for 4 minutes. 」
「 Mana cost increases by 8% 」
My mana circuit was starting to overheat from the overuse of my mana.
There was barely any mana for anything else after pouring everything into the sword ki.
And if you calculated the amount I was spending on instant acceleration, I wasn’t going to be able to last much longer.
‘I have to finish this faster.’
I closed the distance as soon as I finished my calculations.
“Uh…!?”
Katheryn noticed and tried to step back to send out another explosion but…
Clack…!
“At this range?”
My blade was already on her throat.
Normally, I wouldn't have hesitated to slice her neck off, but I decided against it.
The arena wasn’t a trial and I felt like I could win the battle without actually killing anyone.
‘The help text did say that the battle would end if one party surrenders.’
So I wanted to give them an opportunity to give up.
“…”
I stared straight into her eyes and saw that she also accepted her loss.
She let out a big sigh while shaking her head.
“The ability where you threw that projectile… were you hiding that the whole time?”
Did she think I was hiding my full power against her?
She scowled at the thought of being ridiculed by me.
“No, it’s not like that. I happened to stumble upon it mid-battle.”
“Did your skill evolve while we were fighting?”
“Well, I guess so.”
“Sighhh…”
Of course, that wasn't exactly what had happened but…
I don't think I had to explain that to her.
It was then—
“I lost, so I’ll surrender, but… can I ask you something?”
“…?”
“Why was I the first one you challenged in the arena?”
“Because I thought your skill looked useful.”
There was no other reason.
I wanted the ‘Gust Blade’ skill that she put up.
I was pretty sure it’d be a good catalyst for skill combination.
“T-that’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“Then do you not know who I am…?”
“…?”
I scrunched my face in confusion but finally realized what she was talking about.
This blue-eyed beauty was probably a famous hunter in another country.
‘A high-ranked one at that.’
Unfortunately, I wasn't very knowledgeable about foreign hunters.
I didn't even know all the A rank hunters in Korea…
So there was no chance I’d know anyone below an S-rank in other countries.
‘And I was busy training all those years.’
Of course, all that hard work was basically for nothing but—
‘Kathryn…’
Maybe I’d look her up once I got back.
“I thought you knew who I was and had an ability that would be effective against me or something…”
She let out a scoff and just stared at me.
“I didn’t think someone would just challenge me just for the reward.”
Her stare morphed into a semi-glare and continued to speak.
“You said your name was Han Sungyeun?”
“…?”
“I’ll go find you later. Just you wait.”
“What the…”
But before I could finish, she muttered something about surrendering under her breath and…
「 Challenger Katheryn has surrendered. 」
And she disappeared instantly.
“…”
「 Victory. 」
「 As a reward, you have received the skill ‘Gust Blade (C+).’ 」
「 The battle has ended. You are now being transported back to the 10th-floor arena. 」
“She came and left like a hurricane…”
Not only that.
‘Come find me soon…’
I didn't think there was any malicious intent there but…
I guess it was more like she saw an interesting animal?
Basically, the same emotion that I was feeling right now.
‘Interesting.’
I guess this skill wasn't the only thing I gained from this battle.
——
Mc starting a harem now?
——