Chapter 8 Darker than the Devil (2)
Active and Passive.
Skills were largely divided into these two categories.
The ‘Counter Weapon Shield’ is activated only when its full name is shouted while consuming an enormous amount of mana and also has to wait before reusing it. Making the skill fall under the category of an active skill.
But on the other hand, passive skills had no such restraints.
For example, the skill ‘Sword Mastery’. As long as the sword is being used, the attacking speed increases each and every time.
「New Skill has been acquired.」
But after much consideration, Yoon Seok decided to choose ‘Backstep’ as he felt that he absolutely required it as of now.
This skill was under the category ‘Active Skills’.
Though it was an active skill unlike normal active skills, ‘Backstep’ had no such requirements such as consumption of mana and cool down.
“Backstep!”
Soon as he shouted the command, Yoon Seok’s body moved 1 meter back on its own. And when the skill usage was over, his feet landed back onto the ground.
「Under the state for counterattack」
A message screen flashed through his mind reminding of counterattack.
“It felt wonderful!”
Backstep is a skill specialized in retreat and counterattack.
He thought he had spent his AP only for a skill that could be used for dodging but…
It’s hidden power lied in the counterattack.
This effect alone made the skill worthwhile.
And if he adds <Weapon Enhancement> and <Multiply> over the counterattack, the combination itself was a deadly technique on its own.
So, Yoon Seok decided to look into the skill for a long time.
‘Hmm, for now even though it’s only 1 meter, with my level-ups, it will keep on increasing.’
Furthermore, contemplating using ‘Backstep’ in various situations, he found it to be more useful than he thought.
‘I especially like the fact that I can use it in any position.’
And what about the time when he would be out of his physical constraints?
Even in that position where he couldn’t back out, just by shouting ‘Backstep’ he could widen the distance between him and his opponent.
The skill was also inclusive in the midst of a rush or while he was in acceleration.
The skill has a huge advantage in an one-on-one duel.
Perhaps it was even better than <Multiply>…?
Yoon Seok, who was familiarizing himself with the skill in the waiting room, finally shifted his attention to his other skills.
<Weapon Enhancement> and <Multiply>.
Both the skills consumed mana.
“Multiply!”
When he shouted the name while wielding his sword, a translucent film appeared. Seeming that with a single slash, the weapon cut through the air.
Yoon Seok felt the sensation of something inside his stomach was trying to get out of his body.
It was his mana.
“Weapon Enhancement!”
As soon as he murmured those words, the sword suddenly glowed in red.
Again like the previous time, he felt that his mana was escaping from his body.
‘That’s weird. I didn’t feel it when I did it in the waiting room…’
But he decided not to think too deeply.
Good things are good.
But he also thought that, if he knew how much mana was consumed every time he used the skills. That might make him duel more efficiently.
Yoon Seok felt like he needed to know more about mana, as he had two skills that required mana.
‘Seems like it takes about 10 minutes to recover.’
So in terms of percentage, 10% of mana used every minute is used in healing. He came into the conclusion that he’d have to be careful while using mana during a duel.
Well, it’s a problem that could be solved by either raising his mana or learning some mana recovery skills, but…
Still, money is the main problem, whether it was here or back on earth.
*Mercenary Boots (Rank F+) – Leather boots sought-after by mercenaries. The sole is hard and the front is lined with iron plates.
SALE: 500AP
And so he bought shoes with the remaining AP.
Although it was a F+ rank, it was much cheaper compared to a 1500AP weapon.
Though Yoon Seok wanted to buy a chest armour, right now, he could only have the F-ranked leather armour, as he couldn’t afford with his 500AP.
Now he was left with 0 AP.
Now that he was finished with all his preparation, it was time to focus on the next step.
Whoo! Whoo!
Yoon Seok continued to practice imagining various situations and moved his body to tackle those circumstances.
Even when swinging the sword, he’d stick out his shield, or sometimes use the backstep, and in severe cases, he’d roll on the floor.
Even if Yoon Seok was in the waiting room, his appearance was as fierce as if he was engaged in a fierce battle with someone invisible.
But in fact, Yoon Seok was fighting with someone else!
It was none other than Cheonho, the romantic.
‘This is how you…no, the slash was softer.’
Shadow training.
After fighting with the imaginary enemy for a long time, Yoon Seok suddenly stopped. It was because he wasn’t able to move as freely as he had imagined.
Yoon Seok felt dry.
‘I think I’ll do better if I fight with him once more…’
Then the existence of the chat room came to his mind.
Just like him, Cheonho, who was very talented, had arrived at ‘The Tower of Heaven’ not long ago.
So he should have revived himself with the remaining coin.
If only he could ask the man himself, he would solve what was wrong with his way of wielding the sword.
But…
‘I’m on the second floor, so I can’t talk to him…’
Yoon Seok defeated Cheonho and reached the second floor.
If Cheonho wins his next duel and enters the second floor, then they could freely converse with each other.
Though it was unclear if Cheonho would help Yoon Seok without a hitch.
‘Guess, I have no choice but to do it on my own.’
Thinking so, Yoon Seok continued his training.
The whole place was silent as if there was no one alas a man alone wielding his sword.
When one looked at him from afar, he looked like a madman, but…
His mind was getting clearer with every move.
‘I can’t exert much force, but I shouldn’t be soft either. What matters is the proper harmony between the two…’
It’s not just a plain repetition of slashing and stabbing.
Every time he repeated, his control was getting better.
There was no visible progress, but Yoon Seok knew his efforts would not betray him.
As time went by, his moves were slower than before but no doubt Yoon Seok’s stance gradually improved.
‘It’s fun!’
At first, he raised the sword to increase his chances of staying alive.
But now that might not be the case.
Because no matter how much his body recovers, it would have been boring, but now wielding the sword Yoon Seok was genuinely happy.
Whether it was to strive, compete, win, or to stay alive.
Not only in the Arena but also outside in his world, everyone unrelated to Yoon Seok lived in striving for better. But he, who had his neck cuffed with a leash by his owner named Kang Hyung-woo, couldn’t.
He thought it would never let go of him.
Yoon Seok fell in love with his perseverance with self-development, something that happened for the first time in his life.
He was deeply lost on his own that not until the last minute, he came back to his senses.
「Prepare. The duel will begin soon.」
Soon, Yoon Seok’s body, who was preparing and waiting for this moment, teleported.
The venue is still that same arena.
What kind of opponent would he encounter this time?
「Countdown starts now」
During the three seconds, Yoon Seok focused to look for his enemy.
The opponent is human.
He was holding a shield and a staff in his hand.
The weapons were quite different from Yoon Seok, who chose a sword, but of course, their initial strategy seems to be the same.
It was their fighting ability which decides on who would be the winner or the loser.
Yoon Suk made the plan on how he will proceed in the duel
But…
START!
The moment their body’s restraint was lifted with the announcement the duel started.
His opponent dropped his weapon.
“I surrender!”
“…?”
“I’m going back home. So kill me without pain.”
He was one of those hopeful suicidals who fell into the trap of Devil 666.
*
「Victory」
Looking at the firecrackers at the sky, Yoon Seok was dazed.
Although his opponent surrendered and asked him to give a painless death, Yoon Seok didn’t let his guard down.
He was on alert, suspecting that this might be some sort of a trick.
However, the opponent was sincere.
The opponent was closing his eyes until the moment the blade touched his neck and even sneaked a smile at the moment blade was through his neck.
He seemed to be quite confident in his beliefs.
「4000AP has been rewarded.」
「Unique Skill <Formation> is activated.」
「Acquired random skill from the opponent.」
「Obtained Unique Skills.」
「Teleporting to the waiting room on the second floor.」
「Prepare for the next battle.」
Yoon Seok, who had made quite a meticulous plan on how to defeat his enemy, returned to his original waiting room in just three minutes.
Yoon Seok hurriedly opened the chat room.
-The 39th Master of Volcano: I was at a loss while fighting, but now that I have given up, I feel comfortable.
-Duel_Coins: One more to go! Then, let’s go home!
-Chocobasac: I’ve never felt 24 hours would be this long.
Looking at the chat, he could finally feel the madness in the chat room. But there were few, who weren’t faltered by this.
-Ethan Carlyle: Stupid fools, can’t you see it’s all his plan?
-James Dean: Why are you angry? Anyways aren’t we the ones who are benefiting from this?
No one was willing to let go of this situation.
They could try, but seeing the mayhem, it would be almost impossible to calm down the current situation.
-Foreman Elysee: Come to think of it, is Devil 666 not online?
-Black-Cow: Oh, I think, perhaps, he returned back after using up all his coins?
-Foreman Elysee: Huh? Didn’t you say you only have one coin? But how…
-Black-Cow: Don’t mention it, the other person killed himself first. Thanks to that, I’m here for another day.
‘Devil 666’, the one who ignited the rumour, no longer appeared in the chat room.
This could either mean three possibilities.
Either he is intentionally remaining silent, or perhaps, met an opponent like Yoon Seok, and surrendered and asked to be killed. Or most probably he was already on the third floor.
Yoon Seok left the chat room feeling disgusted and could no longer bear this situation.
He felt like, he just had a glimpse of what human nature is from this incident.
“Everyone’s crazy…”
It’s not that he didn’t understand what cornered them to come into such a conclusion.
But still no matter how much…
He couldn’t believe his eyes on what he had experienced.
And this was the second floor.
Meaning that every challenger has at least fought two battles and won. Assuming that they could have died several times on the way and used coins, so the number of duels would increase even more.
He couldn’t believe that small stir caused by a single man had come this far…
“Are they crazy? How can they be sure that after losing all the coins they could return back to their world?”
They may be either right or wrong.
But at this point, such suspicions are likely to arise.
He shook his head.
No, they’re wrong!
‘Only if you win, there is a chance to go back.’
Return tickets were being sold at 200k AP.
He knew that only buying the ticket was the way out.
Well, if they fail, then they could clearly see if Devil 666’s words were true or not.
Nevertheless, using one’s life for gamble, was still foolish.
‘Leave them be, I’ll just do what I have been doing.’
That is, prepare for the next duel, by training himself.
It was as if he engraved such resolution in his heart, Yoon Seok clenched his fists tightly.
Then proceeded to confirm the rewards he received from the last duel.