Chapter 76: Song Gyujung - (3)
Half-Moon Slash.
It was the ultimate skill chosen by Song Gyujung, who had fallen for Sanghyun’s provocation.
"So, he’s finally using Half-Moon Slash."
Jo Jinho noticed that Song Gyujung had finally drawn the card he had been saving, considering his stamina and mana conservation.
The same went for Sanghyun.
Even though he didn’t know much about Song Gyujung, he was at least aware of his main skills.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each time Song Gyujung swung the longswords in both hands, crescent-shaped sword auras shot forward sharply.
Each sword aura had a different color, representing various elemental attributes—fire, water, earth, and wind.
In comparison, it was similar to the Small Flame skill Sanghyun used, except that elemental power was added to it.
『Defensive Sword』
『Back Step』
Sanghyun blocked the Half-Moon Slash with Defensive Sword while simultaneously retreating backward.
The purpose of this test was to withstand Song Gyujung’s attacks.
If this were a battlefield where he had to kill his opponent first, his approach would have been different.
For now, solely focusing on defense was enough.
Thus, he slowed down the trajectory of the sword aura using Defensive Shield and then evaded with Back Step.
Once its momentum was disrupted, the incoming sword aura was easy for Sanghyun to deflect.
Of course, he didn’t only show responses that were easy for Song Gyujung to handle.
"Haa!"
With a spirited shout, Song Gyujung unleashed Grand Half-Moon Slash toward Sanghyun.
If the previous Half-Moon Slash had released small sword auras shaped like the blade of his longsword,
Grand Half-Moon Slash projected sword auras twice the size of the blade of Sanghyun’s Soul-Burning Greatsword.
"Already?"
Shin Taeri was startled.
Though the aura’s size was merely twice as large, its power was at least five times greater.
It was no longer just an ultimate move—it deserved the title of a super-finishing move, meant to kill in one strike.
If the distance had been far, dodging upon seeing it would have been somewhat possible.
However, this attack came as Song Gyujung closed the distance before unleashing Grand Half-Moon Slash, leaving no time to react.
Moreover, just like Shin Taeri’s ‘Shadow Grab’ skill, it had a tracking function, making careless evasions even more dangerous.
‘This is exactly the moment when skill training shines.’
Sanghyun checked his Defensive Sword skill, which had gained an additional option upon reaching level 5.
By consuming 10 extra mana, the thickness of the existing barrier could be tripled.
Of course, this alone wouldn’t be enough to block Grand Half-Moon Slash.
However, it was enough to build a defensive blueprint within the scope Sanghyun had anticipated.
『Defensive Sword』
Boom!
The giant sword aura clashed with the barrier the moment it was deployed. As expected, the shield shattered instantly.
At that very moment—
『Full Charge』
Sanghyun was already preparing his next move.
Despite the sword aura still being intact, Sanghyun remained in place, gathering power.
"Why…?"
Kim Miso couldn’t understand.
It was the perfect setup for Sanghyun to be swept away.
That assumption was immediately shattered.
Flash!
The sword aura, having consumed the shield, shifted slightly upward in its trajectory. It rose instead of staying level.
Meanwhile, just as Sanghyun had gathered maximum propulsion, he crouched low and activated Full Charge.
Swish!
With the sound of slicing wind, Sanghyun narrowly slipped past the lower part of the sword aura.
It was an incredibly close maneuver, with less than the width of a fingertip between him and the blade.
This was not just an evasion—it was a charge aimed directly at Song Gyujung.
"Wow, he broke through."
Jo Jinho let out an exclamation.
He had expected Sanghyun to have several contingency plans.
He had considered the possibility of extreme defense or evasive maneuvers since this was just a test where survival mattered most.
When Sanghyun first blocked the attack with Defensive Sword, Jo Jinho had thought, ‘Ah, he’s taking the straightforward approach. Solid defense!’
But that expectation was shattered.
Sanghyun had blocked Song Gyujung’s trump card once and immediately transitioned into a counterattack.
Even Jo Jinho hadn’t envisioned this outcome.
The risk of failure was too great.
In an actual battle, it would have meant death, and in this test, immediate disqualification.
Sanghyun's momentum began to wane just as he reached the limit of his Full Charge dash distance.
『Acceleration』
『Brave Charge』
He linked the two skills in an offbeat manner.
"Damn!"
Rather than overwhelming Sanghyun, Song Gyujung ended up handing him the advantage instead, his face twisting in frustration.
However, there were many ways to counter Sanghyun’s frontal assault. He hadn’t gained his level for nothing.
Taaang!
Song Gyujung crossed his swords into an X shape, successfully blocking Sanghyun’s attack.
Though the impact, powered by both acceleration and rush, pushed him backward, that was all. It wasn’t particularly threatening.
At that moment.
Tuk!
"Kuhk?!"
An unexpected situation unfolded.
Sanghyun suddenly lowered his body and swept his right foot across the ground like a broom, knocking Song Gyujung’s ankle out from under him.
It was an unforeseen ambush.
From the moment Song Gyujung had blocked his attack head-on, Sanghyun had already planned his next move.
Among all professions, maintaining balance was most crucial for a swordsman.
Since his lower body was so easily exposed, it was only natural to exploit it.
Thud!
Song Gyujung crashed to the ground, unable to execute a proper landing, and spat out a thick glob of spit in a disgraceful manner.
The moment he reflexively tried to push himself up, Sanghyun's Demon Bash was already right in front of his face.
Thwack!
Crunch.
‘Damn it. Stiffness.’
The moment he took the unexpected hit, Song Gyujung felt his entire body seize up.
He was well aware of Sanghyun’s ability to induce stiffness.
Thanks to an artifact that reduced status effect duration, the stiffness that should have lasted 3.0 seconds was cut down to 1.5 seconds.
But even that was more than enough time.
Thwack!
"……!"
The stiffness duration was extended.
For Sanghyun, this was a certainty, so he felt no particular excitement, but for the one on the receiving end, it was hellish.
Slash! Slash! Slaaash!
Taking advantage of the opening, Sanghyun relentlessly slashed at his opponent. His strikes, persistently hammering Song Gyujung’s protector, were ruthless.
"You cowardly bastard! No matter how badly you want to win, tripping someone like that?!"
At that moment, Song Taejung, who had been watching, could no longer contain his anger and shouted.
Seeing his trusted older brother struggling had ignited a deep fury within him.
But his outburst was immediately met with a cold rebuke from a man burning with his own anger—Lee Daehyuk.
"Song Taejung."
"Yes?"
"Would you call it cowardly if a monster attacked you from behind?"
"M-Master. But..."
"Stop making a fool of your brother. Think before you speak. Do you even realize how much your words are devaluing him?"
"I'm sorry. I’ll correct myself."
No matter how hot-blooded Song Taejung and Song Gyujung were, they couldn't defy Lee Daehyuk, the guild master.
"Winning and losing. That’s all that matters. There’s nothing wrong with any means or methods. Gyujung was just careless."
No one objected to Lee Daehyuk’s decisive conclusion. It was the truth. Song Taejung knew it well.
At that moment.
‘Why isn’t the stiffness ending?’
The second stiffness extension was applied to Song Gyujung. The 90% success rate of the extension was almost too high.
‘It’s about time.’
Sanghyun was watching for the timing.
Even now, the durability of Song Gyujung’s protector was dropping fast.
A player of Song Gyujung’s caliber was bound to have an artifact that could remove status effects.
Even Kim Miso had an artifact that granted complete immunity to status effects.
If Song Gyujung didn’t have one, that would be even more surprising.
With about 1.5 seconds of leeway from the stiffness extension.
『Full Charge』
Right in front of the completely rigid Song Gyujung, Sanghyun openly began preparing Full Charge.
A silent demand to remove his status effect before it was too late.
If he didn’t, he would take the Full Charge head-on—a direct warning.
'You're going to time it?'
But Song Gyujung was also clever and did not immediately use status effect removal.
It looked like he was trying to remove the status effect right when Sanghyun's full charge was completed.
'I've used tricks like that a lot. And I got severely punished for it.'
Sanghyun grinned and flinched forward. It wasn't a charge—he only pretended to charge.
Shyaaa!
At the same time, a blue light wrapped around Song Gyujung's body, releasing the stiffness that had been tormenting him.
But Sanghyun remained in place, and his full charge activated in an offbeat rhythm. It was the perfect moment for his plan to succeed.
Puh-eok!
"Krrgh!"
//s_win
//win_h ◎ Freeze
◎ Duration: 0.25 seconds.
//e_win
The freeze effect was immediately applied.
The option that guaranteed a 0.25-second freeze regardless of skill resistance was fatal for Song Gyujung.
Since full charge was already in motion, Sanghyun preemptively followed up with the next chain attack based on the freeze effect.
『Knockback Burst』
It was the skill that had humiliated Song Gyujung multiple times before.
Paaang!
Following the freeze state, the almost consecutive Knockback Burst sent Song Gyujung flying in an unsightly manner.
Of course, Song Gyujung also created his own variables.
He used a dagger that had fallen to the ground during the chaos, making it fly toward Sanghyun's side.
It was a surprise attack that Sanghyun, who had been focused on Song Gyujung, failed to notice.
However, it was far less significant than the damage Song Gyujung had sustained, which even reduced his protector's durability.
Kukung! Kung! Kukung.
"Kheook... Damn it! F***!"
Song Gyujung finally cursed and pounded the ground.
It was confusing who was testing whose defenses at this point.
Song Gyujung realized it.
It wasn't just luck that allowed Sanghyun to push him this far.
Sanghyun was smartly observing his movements and coming up with optimized responses in real time.
That made it twice as infuriating.
If Sanghyun were a true expert, Song Gyujung might have at least admired his keen insight and tried to learn from him.
But in Song Gyujung's eyes, Sanghyun was a rookie with a much lower level and far less named career experience.
Song Gyujung glanced at the monitor.
780 to 390.
He was losing by a double score difference.
If this kind of damage exchange continued, he would undoubtedly lose. And his pride would be shattered in the process.
"Huaaa!"
With an enraged roar, Song Gyujung pulled out an aggressive measure.
Skill name: Rending Strike.
Unlike his previous dual-sword skill, this one involved a direct rush toward Sanghyun with a close-range attack.
It was similar in concept to Brave Charge, but it had much higher defensive barrier durability.
At the same time, it rapidly circulated cooled air around the user, inducing a freeze effect.
『Small Flame』
Sanghyun observed Song Gyujung's approaching form and the surrounding skill effects, searching for a counter.
Since the freeze effect of Rending Strike could slow his movements.
He planned to use a fire-based skill to prevent that possibility beforehand.
Fwooosh!
'He knows how to use elemental swords?'
Seeing the threatening flames engulf Sanghyun's sword, Song Gyujung's expression twisted as if he had eaten something foul.
The same went for Song Taejung, who was watching from the sidelines.
Sanghyun had already reached a level far beyond what he dared to covet. Even in terms of skill versatility.
Something had gone wrong.
Terribly wrong.