Chapter 164
Thud-.
Seo-jin walked past the natives frozen in fear and stood in the middle of the Central Corridor bridge.
Ju Won-jae stood opposite Seo-jin.
As always, he wore simple attire with just a single sword at his waist.
Ju Won-jae’s voice echoed through the silent cavity.
“Are you ready?”
Seo-jin rolled his stiff shoulders with quick movements and said.
“Yeah, I’m feeling better thanks to that.”
After three days of recuperation, he had shaken off most of the burden and side effects accumulated in his body from the battle with Choi Gang-hyeon.
Though he wasn’t in perfect condition, his state wasn’t bad.
As representatives from both sides stood on the bridge, the magic activated.
Crumble-.
Piles of dirt and rocks clung to both sides of the bridge, which was about 10 meters wide, soon forming flat ground.
It was a battle stage that Grand Mage Gu-ren and Taebaek’s guild leader So-yul had painstakingly created.
Since there was no place underground with the durability and width for the two to fight freely, they had created an artificial arena.
Once a stage comparable to a sports field was completed, the protective spells created by Nam-gung Rin and Rei spread over it.
Spells that combined enhanced durability for the area with automatic recovery functions.
Of course, this alone would be insufficient to withstand the earth-shaking power of Nova and the Sword Star, so they gathered all the nearby ley lines to use as a mana source.
As both representatives stepped onto the stage, the Saintess Kwon Ha-yeon, who was appointed as the referee for this duel, spoke.
“Now, before the duel, I will keep both sides’ totems.”
Soon, the fifteen totems held by Reverse Heaven Society and the one totem Ju Won-jae possessed came into her hands.
After handing all the totems to Ha-yeon, the referee, Francesca returned to her position and asked bluntly.
“……Are you sure it’s okay to let that woman be the referee?”
Though the Saintess had been cooperating with Reverse Heaven Society until now, that wasn’t necessarily a reason to trust her.
What if the previous cooperation had been manipulation for this duel?
There was a possibility they could lose all the totems and have their allies wiped out in one fell swoop.
They were spectators in name only, but their forces that had been holding the narrow passage were now scattered defenseless around the wide arena.
At those words, So-yul slowly shook her head.
“Ha-yeon unnie is trustworthy, so don’t worry. That’s true even setting aside our friendship.”
Ha-yeon might be a bit eccentric, but she was definitely not someone who would devise wicked schemes.
Her secret cooperation with Reverse Heaven Society this time also started from caring for the natives, separate from self-interest.
And if not Ha-yeon, who could mediate and referee the duel between those two?
‘The only other person I can think of would be Nimrod.’
But he was someone who appeared only when he felt like it, with unpredictable intentions, so he was out of the question.
Having gathered the totems from both forces, Ha-yeon carefully stored them in her bosom.
Then she explained the rules to the two men on stage.
“First, there’s something you need to know well – this duel is not a fight to the death. Don’t fight with your lives on the line, keep it moderate, moderate. And in case of emergency, I can intervene and stop it, so keep that in mind.”
Ha-yeon glared at them with stern eyes as a warning. It was both advice for their safety and a kind of threat.
Ju Won-jae averted his gaze without saying anything, and Seo-jin nodded slightly.
“Mm.”
“Next. The side that loses consciousness or indicates surrender loses. And if I stop the duel under my judgment, I’ll determine victory or defeat based on the progress of the battle and damage situation. You must follow this unconditionally.”
With so many eyes watching, biased judgment was impossible.
Since a decision that everyone could accept would be made, both agreed to Ha-yeon’s words.
“Also, not only you two but members of both teams must accept the results of this battle. Do you all agree? If anyone objects, raise your hand.”
Ha-yeon looked around to check if anyone expressed opposition, and naturally, no one raised their hand.
“Good. Then I’ll start.”
When Ha-yeon gave a look, a nearby native struck a large gong.
Deeeng-!
With the gong sound echoing through the arena, the duel between Nova and the Sword Star began.
“……”
Though the duel had started, the cavity was silent as a mouse.
In that heavy silence.
Seo-jin measured the distance to the Sword Star and gauged the power difference between them.
‘The level difference and artifact gap aren’t even worth thinking about.’
He had climbed the tower years before Seo-jin and possessed the strongest artifacts in existence with support from corporations and nations.
Next was the battlefield.
‘Even if the stage has widened, it’s still inside a cave.’
Considering the threat of collapse, he couldn’t use large-scale magic or super-giant summons like Antarea.
On the other hand, for Ju Won-jae who only wielded a sword, most of his cards were effective.
Even considering the matchup disadvantage between mage and swordsman, it was true that he was at a disadvantage.
However,
Clench-.
‘I don’t think I’ll lose.’
Seo-jin silently clenched his fist and raised his mana.
Perhaps because he had previously defeated the Director, he wasn’t particularly afraid of dueling with the Sword Star.
Moreover,
‘I know all of his skills, traits, and combat habits.’
He had seen that sword technique countless times in his life before regression.
Though it wasn’t complete since he had encountered it superficially before learning martial arts, now he could see and respond to it.
Furthermore, he knew both the sword technique that had advanced from his current one and the sword techniques he would learn in the future.
So it wasn’t that disadvantageous.
While Seo-jin was organizing his thoughts, Ju Won-jae showed both hands and said to Seo-jin.
“I’ll yield the first move. Since I’m the senior in the tower, that is.”
“If you’re yielding it.”
Seo-jin wasn’t the type to refuse such things.
‘I’ll go straight to full power.’
***
Whoosh-.
Ju Won-jae watched Nova silently with his hand on his sword hilt.
After yielding the first move, Nova began chanting a spell.
[Transcending Heaven True Scripture (Wolcheonjingyeong). Reverse Root Flood (Yeokgeunsese)]
Kwaaa-!
Simultaneously, he burst forth with explosive energy and his aura completely changed.
Nova truly wrapped in fierce energy like blazing fire.
Ju Won-jae narrowed his eyes watching that sight.
‘Is it a type of magic that explosively increases physical abilities?’
Since he had to face a swordsman with a mage’s body that lacked physical condition, it was a natural measure.
Shing-.
Ju Won-jae drew his sword and used his trait [Swift].
Swish-.
His vision turned black and white as his thoughts accelerated.
Originally Swift was a trait that raised agility stats, but through trait editing by consuming Achievement Points, he added an ‘acceleration’ function.
While Swift was active, his thoughts and body accelerated.
In other words, an effect where the entire world except himself flowed about 30% slower.
It was the best trait that allowed the Sword Star to not lose to anyone.
Pabam-.
Nova kicked off the ground and charged at the Sword Star.
At the same time, blue chains burst from beneath the Sword Star’s feet trying to bind him.
But Ju Won-jae’s eyes clearly saw all those movements.
[Whirling Heaven (Hoecheon)]
Kagagang-.
He lightly swung his sword like a whirlwind and deflected all the chains.
Then he tilted his sword diagonally toward Seo-jin who was charging.
[Transforming Force (Hwagyeong)]
Spin-.
Ju Won-jae smoothly deflected Seo-jin’s attack through the sword’s angle and posture.
Kwagwagwa-!
The Primordial Unity fist only struck the ground in vain.
The Sword Star deflected the attack and seized the opportunity, just as he swung his sword to cut down Seo-jin.
Hesitate-.
Ju Won-jae’s body instinctively stopped upon detecting danger.
Because a ray of light struck down on his head from the dark sky above.
[Heaven’s Thunder (Cheonroe)]
Flash-.
Though it was impossible to react and dodge after seeing lightning, his Sixth Sense warned him of danger faster than light.
Pat-.
The Sword Star instantly withdrew his sword and dodged the lightning striking down on his head.
Kwang-!
A strike containing such powerful force that it shook not only the arena but the entire surrounding area.
Ju Won-jae dodged Heaven’s Thunder and simultaneously swung his sword to release gang-qi.
[Severing Moon (Chamwol)]
Pababang-.
Gang-qi resembling a crescent moon surged toward Seo-jin.
Instead of dodging it, Seo-jin.
Piing-.
Extended his hand and created a shield of white gang-qi.
Small shield-shaped gang-qi that orbited around Seo-jin like satellites.
It blocked the gang-qi that Ju Won-jae had launched and exploded.
Peobeobeong-.
‘That just now……’
The white shield-shaped energy that Seo-jin had just created wasn’t a barrier generated by magic.
It was energy of the same nature as the gang-qi that Ju Won-jae had launched.
Though the form was different, it was clearly Body-Protecting Gang-Qi.
‘Just how many fields has this mage dabbled in?’
Not satisfied with engaging in close combat against a swordsman, he even used gang-qi clumsily.
It was impressive talent, but it was also an insult to martial arts.
‘Martial arts without will are just empty movements.’
If one was born with overwhelming talent, they could imitate or produce similar effects after seeing it once.
But martial arts without will imbued through enlightenment were just castles built on sand.
When clashing with real martial arts, that shallow foundation would be exposed.
Pabat-.
Swish-.
The exchange continued.
Seo-jin continued ultra-close combat relying on his temporarily exploded physical abilities.
Because it was actually safer to penetrate inside the sword’s range.
Ju Won-jae noticed this intention and tried to maintain proper distance.
Flash-.
But each time, lightning struck from the air, restricting his movements.
“Tsk.”
Ju Won-jae clicked his tongue.
Since ultra-close combat and long-range bombardment were possible simultaneously, it was difficult to continue the battle with just simple evasion or defense.
But he wasn’t an opponent whose attacks landed easily either.
Kkaang-.
Ju Won-jae’s attacks were repeatedly blocked by the Body-Protecting Gang-Qi orbiting around Seo-jin like satellites.
Swish-.
Powerful attacks that were hard to block with Body-Protecting Gang-Qi were dodged by teleporting with Blink.
Ju Won-jae frowned watching Seo-jin unfold the troublesome battle.
‘……Indeed, there was a reason Robert was defeated.’
He wasn’t just outstanding at black magic – his method of conducting battle and his sense itself were extraordinary.
A troublesome combat style like a veteran of countless battles. He truly wasn’t someone to take lightly.
That’s when it happened.
Pububuk-.
From beneath the ground, jet-black mana spear tips surged up and attacked him.
Kugwagwa-!
Simultaneously, black storm clouds formed overhead and began spewing countless bundles of lightning.
Crimson-black malice pouring from above and below.
While continuing the meticulous exchange with the Sword Star, Seo-jin had separately gathered mana and inscribed magic circles in the ground and sky.
However, Ju Won-jae didn’t panic even in the downpour of black magic baptism.
Swish- swoosh-.
Relying on the power of [Swift] and [Sixth Sense], he evaded and blocked all the pouring magic with minimal movements.
Of course, Ju Won-jae had physical abilities to endure most attacks even when hit directly.
‘But each attack of that black magic contains fierce and ominous power.’
He narrowed his eyes looking at the pouring lightning and spears of malice.
If he relied only on durability to endure that ominous magic, burden would accumulate on his body and who knows what might happen.
But he couldn’t just keep dodging like this either.
‘Let’s get serious.’
How dare a mage set foot in the domain of martial arts.
He would teach what true martial arts were.
Pat-.
He raised the energy in his body and expanded his realm of consciousness.
Wuung-.
A web of will and mana spreading spherically centered on him.
Within this unique radius, he was close to divine.
All mana flow within the radius was under his control.
The structure of the mana cloud floating in the air and the black magic spears surging from underground were all clearly caught in his realm of consciousness.
Controlling mana flow meant he could reorganize the structure of mana according to his intention.
[Break (Pa).]
He used his will to shatter the structure of mana that Seo-jin had cast.
And this immediately led to the destruction of the magic.
Crack-.
This was precisely why the Sword Star held absolute superiority against mages.
It was also why he had no fear of dueling with Seo-jin, called Nova.
The form of magic, the complexity of its structure, and the mage’s inherent strength were all no problem.
Because all magic below a certain level was dispelled under his control.
Even Grand Mage Gu-ren couldn’t dare oppose Ju Won-jae within this domain.
At most, he could respond with similar space-dominating techniques like Mana Burn.
Next,
[Divine Punishment (Cheonbeol)]
Ju Won-jae extended his hand toward the sky and concentrated the energy under his control.
Wuuung-.
Energy concentrated in the sky where Seo-jin’s mana cloud had disappeared, and the forms of giant swords gradually revealed themselves.
Giant gang-qi blades filling the sky.
“Take this.”
That baptism of swords surged toward Seo-jin.
