Chapter 75: Song Gyujung - (2)
'Always a punching bag. Whether it was Shin Taeri or the stage where the God of Storms tested me.'
Having arrived at the special training ground following Lee Daehyuk and Song Gyujung, Sanghyun had a bitter expression.
In terms of fighting style alone, Sanghyun leaned towards extreme offense.
Rather than waiting for a counterattack, he would launch a relentless assault while luring the opponent into an opening.
However, today’s task was completely contrary to that style.
He had to endure Song Gyujung’s attacks for ten minutes.
The criterion for success would be determined by an artifact provided by the Eden Guild for training purposes.
It was a full-body tights-like artifact, officially called the Protector.
The Protector’s strength was that it perfectly protected the body until its durability reached zero.
As long as the durability remained intact,
its strong binding state was maintained, preventing any harm from cuts or stabs.
So, they could check the artifact’s durability status through the large monitor installed in the special training ground.
The test would conclude once the durability reached a pre-set limit before hitting zero.
'Wearing an epic-grade clothing-type artifact like this for the first time. Expensive things are definitely nice.'
Sanghyun thought as he put on the Protector in the designated changing room.
Currently, the only epic-grade artifact Sanghyun possessed was the Belt of Rising Airflow.
As for legendary or almighty-grade artifacts, he had never encountered them in either his past or present life.
However, the Eden Guild reportedly possessed artifacts of the two highest grades.
He felt a bit envious. It was still a world that felt far away from him.
Since the test allowed the use of actual weapons, it was practically a real battle.
Looking out the window in the changing room, he noticed several officials had gathered.
Since Sanghyun had requested limited external participation, it seemed Lee Daehyuk had selected only the necessary personnel.
'Those three are inseparable.'
Sanghyun chuckled, seeing Kim Miso, Shin Taeri, and Jo Jinho sitting together at the spectators’ table.
A mix of people in their 20s, early 30s, and mid-30s. They truly looked like siblings.
'On the other hand, in a different sense, Song Gyujung might end up being the punching bag today.'
Sanghyun reviewed the skills he had significantly upgraded during his trial by the God of Storms.
From Defensive Sword onward, several of his skills had experienced explosive growth.
Just in terms of skill levels, what would take an ordinary player at least two years had been accomplished in an instant.
He had saved an immense amount of time. All because he had caught the attention of a Divine Throne.
Step. Step.
Hearing footsteps from the center of the training ground, it seemed Song Gyujung had finished preparing and was entering.
Sanghyun was ready as well.
“……”
Sanghyun closed his eyes briefly.
He envisioned a few hypothetical scenarios and filled them with his movements. It was image training.
Song Gyujung was a master of dual-sword techniques.
His level was incomparably higher than Sanghyun’s. The gap was nearly fivefold—something that couldn’t be overcome by luck.
'As always, give it my best.'
There was only one answer.
Never letting his guard down and fighting with his full strength.
That was respect for himself and his opponent—the ultimate truth. Sanghyun had never forgotten that, even for a moment.
At the same time.
Kim Miso, sitting at a nearby table, raised her voice sharply while looking at Song Taejung.
“Taejung, didn’t you say you injured your leg? You’re already out of that cast? I’ve never seen a full cast removed in less than a week.”
“Got a problem with that?”
“No, I was just wondering if you have some kind of insane regeneration ability. You were injured so badly that you had to drop out of the battle, saying you couldn’t participate in the subjugation war.”
Kim Miso was certain of one thing.
During the 4-10 route attack, Song Taejung had pretended to be injured because he lacked the confidence to face the Divider.
He didn’t want to die but still wanted the mission to proceed, so he made his teammates struggle on his behalf.
Back then, he had claimed his injury was so severe he could barely stand.
And yet, just a few days later, he had removed the cast and was walking without even a limp—utterly ridiculous.
“I recovered, so I’m walking.”
“Truly amazing.”
“Whose side are you on, anyway? Why are you so eager to tear down a fellow guildmate?”
“Me? I’m on the side of justice. Just because we’re in the same guild doesn’t mean I’ll turn a blind eye to wrongdoing.”
“Geez, all thanks to that Shin Sanghyun guy, your judgment is getting clouded… That guy needs to be put in his place.”
“Hey, Song Taejung!”
“Just keep that in mind. Lately, people have been seeing you in a really bad light.”
“You…”
“Stop it, Miso.”
Shin Taeri stopped Kim Miso.
Their antagonistic relationship had been well known for a long time, so no one took it too seriously.
Kim Miso also seemed to think any further argument was meaningless, as she shook her head and shifted her gaze away.
Before anyone realized it, Sanghyun and Song Gyujung stood face to face in the center of the training ground, fully prepared.
On the large monitor, the durability of the protectors they were wearing was displayed in real-time.
[Shin Sanghyun: 1000]
[Song Gyujung: 1000]
There was no way the durability would drop significantly in a single attack.
However, considering Song Gyujung's skill, if he allowed just three effective attacks, it would likely be over—that was the shared thought among the three spectators.
Start!
With Lee Daehyuk's voice through the microphone, the test began.
Paaat!
The one who seized the initiative was Song Gyujung.
As soon as Lee Daehyuk's voice rang out, he kicked off the ground and charged fiercely at Sanghyun.
“If he gives up the initiative, it'll be tough.”
Jo Jinho evaluated coldly.
He was one of the few who had faced Song Gyujung before. The best way to counter his aggressive style was to suppress his offensive momentum.
Just then—
“Keurgh!”
With a cry, Song Gyujung, who had been rushing at Sanghyun, suddenly came to a halt as if something heavy had pressed down on him.
“W-What...?”
Even Shin Taeri and Kim Miso, watching from the side, were just as bewildered.
Song Gyujung's swift movement had stopped in place as if nailed to the ground.
It was Sanghyun's Crushing Airflow.
“He improved again while I wasn't looking...”
Kim Miso's mouth fell open.
She instinctively realized that Sanghyun had acquired a new skill.
Like an endless fountain, Sanghyun always seemed to add a new skill each time they saw him.
It was an absurd, continuous abnormality, yet it was gradually becoming expected from Sanghyun.
Song Gyujung himself was just as flustered.
Sanghyun had merely swung his sword lightly, yet it felt as though a massive weight had slammed onto his shoulders.
It was as if he were standing in a space where gravity had increased several times over. Everything required much more effort than usual.
Just then—
While Song Gyujung was distracted by the enhanced gravity effect of Crushing Airflow, Sanghyun swiftly unleashed an Rising Airflow.
“Uwaaah!”
This time, his body was lifted into the air.
Just moments ago, his body had been forcibly pressed down, but now, suddenly floating, his balance was completely thrown off.
Not only that, but as his shoulders were pulled upward, an unexpected impact was delivered.
“Pinned down, then launched upward... Hell has begun. Those status effect options... They're insane.”
Jo Jinho clicked his tongue in disbelief.
He himself was a renowned player known for inducing Stiffness effects better than anyone.
But even he was now being challenged for that title by Sanghyun.
And Sanghyun didn’t just induce Stiffness—he had an array of debilitating effects. That was what made Jo Jinho wary.
Even Song Gyujung, who outranked him in hierarchy, was already struggling against these status effects.
At that moment—
『Whisper of Darkness』
Sanghyun used a skill to induce blindness on the completely disoriented Song Gyujung.
Unlike other skills, Whisper of Darkness manifested as a visibly distinct black projectile.
As soon as Kim Miso and the others saw the black sphere forming at Sanghyun’s fingertips, they were all shocked.
“...He can use magic skills now?”
“Is it a status effect skill, perhaps?”
Kim Miso and Shin Taeri's eyes wavered. Jo Jinho remained silent, analyzing the skill.
“I can’t see...!”
But the mystery was quickly resolved when Song Gyujung shouted in frustration.
Of course, one of the artifacts he wore reduced status effect durations by 50%.
So the blindness wouldn’t last long, but the real issue was—did Sanghyun know that?
As expected—
Kwaaaah!
A greatsword, infused with fighting spirit, sliced through the air and brutally struck Song Gyujung’s back.
While in an accelerated state, Sanghyun had thrown his greatsword at Song Gyujung, who was still floating in midair.
“Aaaaagh!”
The timely activation of Knockback Burst, combined with the impact, was the finishing touch. Song Gyujung flew through the air for quite some time.
As the disgraceful scene continued to unfold, Song Taejung, who was watching, turned pale.
He had thought that Sanghyun would be trampled with proper discipline from the start, but instead of disciplining him, it seemed like he was the one being disciplined.
'Unless Song Gyujung is a fool.'
Even as things were going well, Sanghyun did not let his guard down at all.
Swish!
As expected, while Song Gyujung was falling, he pulled out a dagger from his bosom and threw it at Sanghyun.
This was also a trait of skilled fighters.
They would always have a counterattack ready to overturn the situation when they found themselves in a disadvantageous or dangerous position.
Since Sanghyun had already anticipated this, responding was not difficult.
Clang!
He easily blocked the dagger with Defensive Sword, causing it to drop weakly to the ground.
Now that he could use Defensive Sword without restrictions, he could move freely while maintaining his shield.
"That defensive skill was originally a stationary one that followed Sanghyun oppa, but it seems to have changed into a mobile type."
"Is it an upgrade?"
"He must have enhanced the skill or acquired an option that allows for modifications."
While Kim Miso and Jo Jinho looked at Sanghyun with amazement, curses spilled out from the side.
"Damn it..."
It was the anger of a younger brother watching his older brother being completely overpowered. Song Taejung's face twisted into a scowl.
Meanwhile, Lee Daehyuk, maintaining a blank expression, was diligently taking notes.
His gaze was fixed solely on Sanghyun, suggesting that he was analyzing him.
'Interesting, isn't it? I felt the same way.'
Regardless of his intentions, Shin Taeri believed that Sanghyun had made a lasting impression on Lee Daehyuk.
"Damn it all...!"
Bang! Bang bang!
Song Gyujung struck the ground with his two swords, venting his anger.
If his pride was going to be shattered, it had been shattered completely.
Even if he had been caught off guard, it was unthinkable to be bested by a mere fledgling who had barely surpassed level 100!
It was an intolerable situation.
Song Gyujung immediately activated his Awakening Skill.
Like Sanghyun's Over Psychedelic, it was a skill that rapidly boosted his physical abilities.
The first plan to toy with Sanghyun while managing his stamina was completely scrapped.
『Over Psychedelic』
Not to be outdone, Sanghyun also activated Over Psychedelic.
With about 10 meters between them, both in a heightened state of awakening, they observed each other in silence.
Ordinarily, Song Gyujung would have charged in without hesitation, but after being thoroughly beaten, he had grown more cautious.
At that moment.
Wiggle wiggle.
Sanghyun, with a bored expression, flicked the edge of his palm towards Song Gyujung, taunting him.
"What are you doing? Time is passing quickly."
"You little...!"
The silence did not last long.