Episode 67 To Protect (2)

The third day since the mission trial began. He was pretty sure that he was well-adapted to unfamiliar situations, butapart from that, Yoon-seok realized that the duel trials fit his style better than the missions.

Countdown is starting.

A scorching sun over a circular arena with a blockage and empty stands. As expected, maybe because the home ground was different?

W-what?! What the hell have you done?

Unlike the confused creature, Yoon-seok was feeling comfortable as if hed returned home.

3.

It was different from a mission. There was no need to care about your surroundings, only bringing down your enemy with all your might. The two challengers stood still while keeping that in mind.

2.

Yoon-seok looked at the creature. Judging by the veins bulging out of his eyes, it was obvious that he was struggling to move his body.

Damn itttttttt! You fucking parasite!

He wasnt trying to be mean, but suddenly he reacted like a recruit who just joined the army, so he burst into laughter. Come to think of it. There was a time he also did the same.

1.

After the last second, the restraints on their body disappeared.

START!

Yoon-seok immediately summoned Bloodseekers Energy and drew his swords, determined to get this over with as soon as possible. The reason was simple: there was no guarantee that time would stop here like a normal duel trial. Yoon-seok wouldve thought twice if hed known that the duel application for b Predation} was going to proceed like this in the first place.

Now that Wellington was unconscious, and even Yoon-seok disappeared, Kanna would be vulnerable.

Whoooooosh!

Bloodseekers Energy rose ferociously across his blade. Yoon-seok took a short breath. Hed learned his lesson previously that what was overflowing wasnt as good as what was lacking.

The most important element to reach perfection was the harmony between strength and fluidity. When his body and mind relaxed, the energy stabilized and became more robust. Yoon-seok extended his sword forward. At the same time, a fiery tsunami swept toward his foe.

Swaaaaaaaaa-!

Even Chul Namgoongl, whom hed met on the 7th floor, couldnt avoid nor stop it. But

The creature escaped in a way that hed never thought of.

He was only flustered for a moment at the tsunami of fire. The creature spread his wings outwards and soon rose to the sky.

I dont know how you led me here, but thats your biggest mistake!

He didnt know how high he flew. However, he already looked like a small dot in the sky. Compared to his shout, Yoon-seok could barely hear it even if he tried. Both of them would never have been able to communicate if they werent challengers.

This is your grave!

As the creature flapped his wings, translucent thorns fired off to the ground, covering the entire stadium. Yoon-seok had no choice but to use his sword to cut them away. Perhaps because of the acceleration of the fall, each thorn felt heavy against his blade.

After one bombing, Yoon-seok looked up at the sky incredulously. He had never met an opponent who could fly, so he found out it was possible to fly above the arena for the first time. Should he say that it was a mistake to bring him here? This place was more advantageous to the creature than the forest.

Whoooooosh!

He tried to send sword energy through the air, but it had already lost its shape and faded before it could reach him.

Lets see how long youll last!

Convinced that Yoon-seok couldnt attack him, the creature laughed and fired another volley of thorns to the ground again. Yoon-seok looked exasperated while mechanically cutting the thorns down. If he had wanted to endure, he could do it. After a day or two, he might be exhausted and descend to the ground.

However, the problem was that he was wasting too much time.

Thats annoying.

He tried to use Ladys Commandment to set the condition as No Flight, but it didnt work. The range was covered somehow, but given it was spread so wide, five seconds was the limit. The creature, having fallen to the ground, spread its wings again as soon as the law disappeared and ascended higher than before.

Now, if he didnt concentrate, he couldnt even see a dot. He had to find a way.

Fortunately, he had a clue.

Will this work?

Yoon-seok recalled levitating his parents bodies using his energy. If he could use it on himself, there might be a way. So he gave it a try, but

A failure. Somehow, when he tried to increase the concentration of his energy, he could only feel a stronger force in that area. But he was sure that it wasnt just a meaningless attempt. They say inspiration comes from failure.

I think its gonna work out if I use Sword Manipulation.

Technically speaking, it wasnt Sword Manipulation. He wasnt personally dealing with the sword. However, it hurt his pride when Chul Namgoongl angrily said hed deceived him and called it Invisible Sword. Well, it wasnt like he was going to tell anyone about it, so he just decided to call it whatever he wants.

Bloodseeker Sword will do.

After gathering energy in his legs, Yoon-seok leaped into the sky.

As if no one could tell youre a parasite bastard, youre so stupid!

The creature laughed wholeheartedly. But

Huh?

The moment Yoon-seok drew sword energy in the air, he stepped on it and made a huge leap. His foes complexion turned yellow.

Shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo, shoot!

The creature hurriedly fired thorns. The density was even higher as the scope had narrowed, but it wasnt a big problem. Yoon-seok cut all of it down.

One more time.

Due to the effects of gravity, his speed slowly decreased. Yoon-seok hurriedly stepped on the energy hed quickly created and jumped again. The creature flapped his wings to ascend higher. He wasnt going to let him run away.

To Ladys Commandment, all beings in the realm cannot fly.

It was too far back then, but not now. The flapping wings of the creature stopped, and soon he began to fall back. Then the creature met Yoon-seok, who was surging upwards.

N-no!

Slashhh!

The duel ended anti-climatically.

Victory.

Unique Skill {Predation} is activated.

Acquire one of your opponents skills at random.

Acquired Unique Skill b Avatar}.

Loot one of your opponents equipment at random.

Looted Mrs. Langersons Corset (Rank D+).

Absorb some of your opponents highest stats.

Absorbed magic stats.

The intense sunlight swirling around his skin disappeared, and the relatively cold night air surrounded him instead.

Since its not a duel, theres no AP reward.

Yoon-seok quickly cleared up the disappointment that bloomed briefly inside of him and checked his surroundings first. It was the same forest and position before he was taken to the arena.

Gasp! Cough, cough!

Yoon-seok turned his head in the direction of the sound. In the place where hed taken the creature, James Hambledon was coughing non-stop. Yoon-seok observed the red marks on his neck. He thought it might be caused by pulling the back of his neck a while ago

So time didnt pass? Yoon-seok asked to be more clear.

How long has it been?

Cough! Coughwhat? What do you meanhmm!

James tried to answer while he was choking. He wanted to give him water, but sadly, he had nothing. So he decided to give him some time to calm down. Waiting for a while, James stopped coughing, and Yoon-seok asked again.

How long has it been?

I, I dont know what youre talking about.

How long has it been since I killed the creature?

Uh, uh

James opened his mouth flustered. He couldnt quite understand why he asked that question. Being from a small merchant family, he quickly grasped the situation.

Is he trying to brag about it?

There was no other reason to explain why he was asking such a question. In the end, James grinned as he decided to believe in the blood of his parents and intuition.

Hehe, it took less than a second. Although Id only seen you slap the monster with the back of your handsomething incredible happened in the meantime, right? Youre great!

Saying that he wanted to take the chance to know his name, and he would repay his kindness no matter what. He made a lot of unnecessary comments, but hed laid out the information he wanted.

So time hadnt passed, it means I can use it anytime, anywhere.

When Yoon-seok was silently thinking, James began to make endless small talk as if he was anxious.

Gosh! But suddenly, my throat was! And the big monster turned into this little goblin thingdo you know why Mr. Hero?

Goblin?

Then Yoon-seok turned his back. The body of a small green monster whose head and torso was separated instead of a creature with horns and wings behind him.

Yoon-seok knew about Goblins. Hed never met them, but hed heard about them several times in the chat room. Clever but weak, and one could easily win against them when encountered. They had a habit of buying weird things with AP. It was too bad that they were nowhere to be seen as one ascended the floors.

Goblins judgments were generally this way. However, Yoon-seok didnt question why the body was reversed because hed already known the answer.

So he changed his appearance with the Unique Skill.

He would have to go back to the waiting room to check the details because the skill hed acquired was b Avatar}.

Its not bad to completely change appearances.

However, deciding to think over his rewards later, Yoon-seok shifted his attention back to James, whom hed neglected. The challenge was to rescue him and grant his request.

Do you happen to have a favor to ask?

At Yoon-seoks question, James knelt without hesitation and said.

Unfortunately, I lost all my luggage and ended up being chased by a strange monster. If you dont mind, could you take me to Jarisman Harbor?

I will.

If we get there, Ill make sure to compensate you handsomely for saving my life today! So, pleasewhat? What did you just say?

Coincidentally, my groups destination is Jarisman Harbor. We can go together.

T-thank you. Thank you so much!

Not knowing where hed learned it from, James fell onto his knees and hit his head on the ground again and again. Of course, not hard enough to make a thud sound, but weakly.

You have accepted James Hambledons request.

Additional rewards will be given if the mission is successful.

Yoon-seok walked slowly and led James toward the carriage. As he followed, he thanked him continuously. It seemed like he was worried that hed be left behind in case he got on his bad side

It was Yoon-seok who wanted to say thank you. He was worried he would ask for a tedious favor, but it turned out he just wanted accompaniment. Well, there was one more to guard, but nothing much had changed. Either way, whether it was one, two, or three, it didnt make a difference to Yoon-seok.

Feels like things are working out.

Yoon-seok only called Kanna out to talk about James. She looked a little uncomfortable but soon agreed to his decision.

Im thinking of leaving early tomorrow, so both of you, please go to sleep.

Kanna headed back to the carriage, and he handed over the blankets she laid on the floor to James. He laid down on the floor without much consideration. Surprisingly, it was the same place where bodies were gathered and melted down just five minutes ago. He thought he would choose a spot with more bushes

Yoon-seok didnt say it so he could get some sleep.

Perhaps he was very tired as James quickly fell asleep, and Yoon-seok quietly climbed onto the wagon and sat down. He decided to meditate until dawn to remain aware of his surroundings. Before closing his eyes to meditate, Yoon-seok looked at James, who had already started snoring.

Hambledon, I think Ive heard it somewhere.

Was it just his imagination?