Jin-hyuk slowly turned his head.
A man stood there with an old-looking sword.
…A sword he recognized.
A replica of it was displayed in the National Museum of Korea.
An iron blade engraved with the Qianlong symbol.
Right.
This meant that the man holding it was that guy — the lunatic who stalked Jin-hyuk in-game for years.
Jin-hyuk evaluated him.
Solid build. Tall — well over 185 cm.A sharp, polished impression.
The aura of a well-forged sword.
'I didn't know much about him in the game. He was just a psychopath stalker… but in real life, he looks pretty damn good.'
Actually, "good" was an understatement.
Even a model would look shabby next to him. His body and face were sculpted to perfection.
"Aren't you tired of this?" Jin-hyuk clicked his tongue.
Was chasing him in the game not enough?Now this bastard chased him into the ruins in real life, too.
At this point, he'd probably follow Jin-hyuk into hell itself.
"That annoyed look… You won't be looking at me like that anymore," the man growled, murderous intent spilling out.
Right.
This guy hated being ignored more than anything.From his perspective, Jin-hyuk's attitude was unforgivable.
"No, think about this rationally. What kind of crazy bastard chases someone all the way here? And if you want to fight, shouldn't you at least ask politely for acknowledgment?"
"It will be different this time. Now that we've all been reset, I will not be pushed around by you."
Nonsense.
It never worked for him.
With a small sigh, Jin-hyuk activated Eye of Truth.
[Skill activation canceled due to level difference.]
Of course. But it didn't matter.
His stats could override that now.
[Your stats neutralize the level difference.][Target's status window will be displayed.]
Chun Yuseong — Status Window
Name: Chun YuseongGender: MaleAge: 28Level: 29
Strength 35 / Agility 31 / Stamina 18 / Magic 10Stat Points: 0
Occupation: SwordsmanUnique Ability:Song of the Sword
Skills:
Lv6 Sword Spirit Qi
Lv5 Eye of the Ancient One
Lv5 One Hit Combat
Lv5 Self-Defense Qi
Lv5 Battlefield Selection
Lv4 Chasing Sword Dance… and more.
[Copy Condition: Chun Yuseong believes he is unrivaled in swordsmanship. Hit him using the 'sword' he is most confident in.]
A status window longer than any he had seen so far.
Maybe Chun Yuseong recognized him with Eye of the Ancient One.If he stalked him enough back then, it made sense he'd chase him to this extent now.
'Chun Yuseong…'
A good name.
The Tower of Trials.Among the veterans—
Chun Yuseong was one of the few players Jin-hyuk genuinely had a bad relationship with…but also one he sincerely acknowledged.
People who fought him were all awed by his swordsmanship.He was feared as the Sword Spirit.
But—
'Was his level always like this?'
Jin-hyuk read the status with a disappointed expression.
Level, stats, unique abilities, skill levels.
Anyone else would have fainted from shock.
Jin-hyuk admitted — he was stronger than before.
His swordsman build was perfect.
But…
'It's the same for me.'
The gap hadn't narrowed.
If anything, it had widened.
"If you want a fight, I won't stop you," Jin-hyuk said, "but are you sure? I'm not alone here."
Teresa, sensing Chun Yuseong's killing intent, was running toward them.Two or three minutes at most.
After that, it'd be a 2-on-1.
"Saint… you brought useless companions."
Well—
"I need to correct two things. First, she's not my companion."
They were only cooperating temporarily.
"And second—"
Jin-hyuk smirked.
"I don't bring useless ones."
The moment he finished speaking—
Woong!
A silver shield materialized.
Divine power shimmered across its surface.
"Kuhk?!"
Chun Yuseong quickly raised his sword.
KWAANG!
He barely blocked it in time.
The shock rattled his nerves.
"Why not run before she comes? It's still not too late."
"…I will not allow an outsider to interfere with our confrontation."
[Chun Yuseong activates Lv5 'Battlefield Selection']
A transparent veil expanded around him.
Jin-hyuk's lips curled.
As expected.
Chun Yuseong responded violently to even the smallest provocation.
A unique barrier technique that allowed him to choose the battlefield.
The strongest among Chun Yuseong's barriers.
Woong!
A new space appeared — a 50-meter arena with cracked marble floors.
A training hall.
'Such a manly aesthetic… so consistent.'
Chun Yuseong gripped his sword with both hands.
"You can no longer get help from outside."
A barrier that isolated the world.
He launched his skills immediately.
[Chun Yuseong activates Lv5 'One Hit Combat'][All stats +10%]
[Effect: Teresa's 'Song of Battle' has been canceled][All stats -10%]
The forced teleportation had removed Jin-hyuk's buff.
Chun Yuseong's eyes gleamed with confidence.
But Jin-hyuk wasn't avoiding anything.
'…Got you.'
This unfavorable situation triggered a special clause of Fusion.
[The situation is overwhelmingly more unfavorable than the original copy condition.][Copy condition has been adjusted.]
[Pre-copying and post-condition fulfillment are now allowed.][Time limit: 10 minutes.]
The conditions changed.
He could copy the ability first.Fulfill the condition later.
"I will copy Chun Yuseong's unique ability."
[Copying Unique Ability: Song of the Sword (S)]
Song of the Sword (S)
Understanding of swordsmanship +200%.Your body instinctively seeks optimal sword movement.Your senses become extremely sharp.
One of the core abilities required to earn the title of 'True Sword.'
Up until now, he fought with experience and reflexes.
But now—
He understood the sword.
Puak!
Jin-hyuk gripped his dagger.
Then flicked his finger at Yuseong.
"Don't pretend you're fine."
Chun Yuseong gritted his teeth.
KWAANG!
He lunged.
The distance disappeared instantly.
Fast.
However—
Kaka!
Jin-hyuk dodged the first attack and read the next.
Kakang!
Dozens— no, hundreds of slashes in mere seconds.
A storm of sword aura.
But…
Chun Yuseong's expression twisted.
"What… what trick is this?!"
"Huh? What?"
"Don't play dumb! Your specialty is mid-range combat. Why are you fighting me with a dagger!?"
Because he stalked Jin-hyuk before, he knew Jin-hyuk's usual combat style.
He wasn't wrong.
"Just feels like the best choice right now."
Any other weapon would break copying conditions.
But with Song of the Sword, the dagger was enough.
Of course, that explanation only made Chun Yuseong angrier.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
He swung madly.
KANG! KAKANG! KAKAKANG!
Dozens of times.Hundreds of times.
'What the hell is happening?'
The battlefield favored him.Jin-hyuk gave up his preferred range style.Everything was advantageous to Chun Yuseong.
He should be winning.
But the balance did not tilt.
Only one explanation remained.
'He's using… swordsmanship?'
Not imitation.
Not copying.
But mastery — honed discipline.
And something more terrifying…
Anomalous efficiency.
Chun Yuseong leapt back to catch his breath.He had burned through a lot of skills already.
"I don't know what you did… but it's impressive. I didn't even notice you picked up swordsmanship."
"I've been grinding lately. Learning new things. It's fun."
He'd learned it moments ago.
He learned Chun Yuseong's swordsmanship… and adapted instantly.
If he said that, Chun Yuseong would faint from rage.
"Right… Even if you'd lost your organs, trying to beat me with my own swordsmanship is a mistake. I was too relaxed facing a monster like you."
He admitted it.
He needed to go all-out.
The air sharpened.
[Chun Yuseong activates Lv6 Soul Chasing Sword Qi!]
Blue energy surged from his sword.
The intention to cut down everything ahead.
"Seriously? You're going to use that on someone who just started swordsmanship?"
"From the moment you called yourself a beginner, I knew your mouth was full of crap."
KWAANG!
Sword qi erupted.
He closed the distance.
Jin-hyuk glanced at his dagger.
'Can this blade survive sword qi?'
Absolutely not.
So—
He made it capable.
He reached toward the pile of relics.
Picked up a black pill.
"I will fuse Song of the Sword with the Demon Soul Pill."
Woong!
A burst of blinding light.
[Fusion successful!]
New Unique Ability Acquired: Sword Grave (SS)
Understanding of swordsmanship +500%.Body finds perfect sword paths instinctively.All senses reach their peak.
The core talent to receive the title of Sword Demon.
He wanted to do this after absorbing the Frozen Tears.
But the opponent was too heated.
A good warm-up wasn't bad either.
[Unique Ability 'Sword Grave' manifests.]
The one who mastered swordsmanship was called the True Sword.
The one who broke the path entirely—
The Sword Demon.
A forgotten calamity.
Only a sword impaled in a nameless grave remains of that legend.
Kukukuku!
A horrifying aura erupted.The marble floor floated up like dust.
Then—
[Lv1 Black Moon Night activates!]
A black crescent moon coated Jin-hyuk's dagger.
It devoured even the light within the barrier.
"W-What absurd power is this…?"
Chun Yuseong froze mid-charge.
This—
Was dangerous.
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