Level Up Machine

Chapter 77 “I accept that proposal (5)”

– *Chaaang!*

When Yeong-sik drew his blade, Cheon Tae-hwang pulled out the sword at his waist. A long sword with a bluish hue emerged from his belt.

The Cheongwol Sword. It was an A-rank rare item, a weapon Cheon Tae-hwang had received when he first joined the Leviathan Guild.

The sword, which emitted a beautiful blue light, was known for its ability to easily slice through steel and had a special skill called ‘Moonlight.’ This skill gave it a significant reputation among A-rank rare items.

As he drew the Cheongwol Sword, four other swords at his waist floated into the air.

Each one was a powerful sword of A-rank or close to that level.

Yeong-sik lowered his body and activated his boost.

His body shot towards Cheon Tae-hwang like a bullet.

– *Kang!*

The blade and the Cheongwol Sword clashed.

A clear metallic sound resonated, and Yeong-sik felt a heavy rebound through his hands.

– *Syuuk*

The four swords floating in the air aimed at Yeong-sik and shot towards him.

Yeong-sik twisted his body and swung his blade, deflecting the four swords aimed at him.

– *Kang! Kang! Kang! Kang!*

A series of loud metallic sounds echoed. Utilizing his agility stats, which were not lacking even when compared to a level 100 ranker, Yeong-sik deflected all the swords in less than a second.

“Hmm…?”

Cheon Tae-hwang’s expression hardened as he watched Yeong-sik’s movements.

‘Is that really level 73?’

Cheon Tae-hwang, who was level 95, looked at Yeong-sik, who moved faster than him, with an incredulous expression. That speed was not something a level 73 could achieve.

“Haaa!”

– *Kwoong!*

Yeong-sik let out a short cry and stomped his foot. The dirt of the training ground dented as his body shot forward.

As Yeong-sik shot forward, he concentrated his boost on his left foot.

With a powerful jet propulsion, Yeong-sik’s body spun around.

“Kuh!”

Cheon Tae-hwang let out a short groan at Yeong-sik’s movement, which seemed to defy inertia. He raised the Cheongwol Sword to defend himself against Yeong-sik’s rapidly spinning body.

– *Chaaak!*

Yeong-sik’s blade grazed Cheon Tae-hwang’s forearm, which was holding the Cheongwol Sword. Dark red blood flowed down Cheon Tae-hwang’s left arm.

Without panicking over his injury, Cheon Tae-hwang controlled the four swords to attack Yeong-sik, who was floating in the air.

The four swords targeted Yeong-sik’s body suspended in midair.

Cheon Tae-hwang’s eyes gleamed as he watched.

‘It’s over!’

He was certain that Yeong-sik, who was still floating in the air, would not be able to dodge his attack.

However.

– *Shuuuuung!*

A bright light burst from Yeong-sik’s feet as he floated in the air. His body instantly moved backward.

“What?!”

Cheon Tae-hwang’s face showed astonishment. Being able to move freely while airborne! It was an ability that could almost be considered cheating for a warrior class.

“……Are you really level 70?”

Before the battle, Cheon Tae-hwang had a slightly bored expression, but now he looked at Yeong-sik with wary eyes. Yeong-sik gave a slight smile and nodded.

“Yes, I am. If you’re doubtful, you can confirm with a level detect scroll.”

“How can someone at level 73 have this kind of power…”

Cheon Tae-hwang’s face showed disbelief at Yeong-sik’s calm response.

Level wasn’t everything, but it was the most reliable indicator of strength because stats increased with levels.

In other words, if a level 70 summoner fought a level 90 summoner, the level 90 summoner would dominate in strength, agility, stamina, and most other stats, making it easier for the level 90 summoner to win.

Of course, this wasn’t always the case. If the level 70 summoner had exceptional skills or high-grade items or skills, they could still stand a chance against the higher-level summoner.

‘But…

Cheon Tae-hwang looked at Yeong-sik with an expression that showed he couldn’t understand. He wasn’t losing to Yeong-sik in skills or techniques. He was being outmatched in pure ‘physical ability.’

This wasn’t a fight between a mage class and a warrior class; it was between the same warrior class, with a 20-level difference, yet he was being physically outdone. It was unbelievable.

“Level isn’t everything.”

Yeong-sik shrugged off Cheon Tae-hwang’s doubt with a calm demeanor.

U ≪

Cheon Tae-hwang, hearing Yeong-sik’s words, silently lifted his sword. As Yeong-sik said, level wasn’t everything. It was just the best measure of strength.

‘To think there would be someone like this among the 61st round summoners…’ A tension appeared on Cheon Tae-hwang’s face. He realized he had been arrogant. He had thought there couldn’t be anyone among the 61st round that could compare to him.

‘I was wrong.’

Cheon Tae-hwang’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Yeong-sik.

Thump.

Excitement filled his entire body at meeting a strong opponent. His mouth went dry, and all his nerves focused on Yeong-sik’s movements.

“Hmm.”

Yeong-sik swallowed as he watched Cheon Tae-hwang, who was now burning with fighting spirit. He recalled their first encounter in the Lizardmen habitat.

At that time, to Cheon Tae-hwang, he was a ‘nobody.’

An opponent that didn’t need tension or fighting spirit. Just one of the countless people he passed by.

He recalled the strange, inexplicable sense of defeat he felt back then.

Cheon Tae-hwang, who once seemed unreachable, was now right in front of him, no, behind him, desperately reaching out to touch him.

“Haha.”

A light laugh escaped from Yeong-sik’s lips.

In reality, there was no animosity between him and Cheon Tae-hwang. It was just that Yeong-sik had felt an overwhelming sense of defeat and had been conscious of Cheon Tae-hwang.

‘How childish.’

Yeong-sik thought his feelings were childish.

He wasn’t from a warrior tribe that couldn’t tolerate anyone stronger than himself, nor did he have any reason to be consumed by inferiority simply because someone was overwhelmingly stronger.

It was literally a childish act, driven by jealousy.

However.

Despite knowing all that.

‘It’s not a bad feeling.’

A deep smile spread across Yeong-sik’s lips. A thrilling shiver ran through his body.

The feeling of surpassing what he once thought was unreachable wasn’t bad at all.

No, it was quite a pleasant feeling.

“Well then.”

Yeong-sik lowered his body.

– *Shuuuuuuu!*

With a loud noise, a bright light burst violently from his back.

“Let’s start again.”

– *Kwoong!*

Yeong-sik’s body, now a streak of light, shot towards Cheon Tae-hwang. Cheon Tae-hwang’s eyes gleamed as he watched Yeong-sik with wary eyes.

“Moonlight!”

With Cheon Tae-hwang’s shout, a blue light emanated from the Cheongwol Sword. Cheon Tae-hwang lowered his body, taking a drawing stance, and swung the Cheongwol Sword towards Yeong-sik.

– *Chaaang!*

With a clear sound, the blue sword aura flew towards Yeong-sik as if to split him in half. Yeong-sik extended his right arm and shouted.

“Radiance!”

With a short shout, two brilliant shields of light formed in front of him.

During his battle with the ogre, his skill level had increased, resulting in an additional shield.

– *Paang!*

Cheon Tae-hwang’s attack hit the light shield and was deflected. As if he had anticipated his attack being blocked, Cheon Tae-hwang immediately launched four swords in succession towards Yeong-sik.

“Frost Strike!”

With a short shout, one of the four swords glowed with a blue light. The cold was so intense that white breath emanated, swirling around.

– *Paang!*

Cheon Tae-hwang’s attack was blocked by one of the remaining shields.

Yeong-sik’s body reached right in front of Cheon Tae-hwang. Using his momentum, Yeong-sik swung his blade downward towards Cheon Tae-hwang’s shoulder.

*Kang!*

Cheon Tae-hwang’s sword intercepted Yeong-sik’s blade. Yeong-sik, with swift movements, slightly lowered his body and continued to swing his blade.

-*Kang! Kaga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang!*

An intense exchange of attacks and defenses, indistinguishable to the naked eye, ensued between Yeong-sik and Cheon Tae-hwang. Sparks flew from the clashing swords, filling the air.

‘What is this?’

Yeong-sik’s expression showed surprise as he continuously swung his blade at Cheon Tae-hwang. He could feel Cheon Tae-hwang’s sword gradually overtaking his blade’s movements and pressuring him.

He was certain that he surpassed Cheon Tae-hwang in both strength and speed.

In terms of skill, he wasn’t significantly outmatched either. In some areas, he even excelled beyond Cheon Tae-hwang.

Nonetheless, Yeong-sik was increasingly being pushed back.

Cheon Tae-hwang was adapting to Yeong-sik’s attack patterns during the fight, like a sponge absorbing water or dry land soaking up moisture, adjusting his swordsmanship accordingly.

‘He’s not called a monster for nothing.’

Yeong-sik showed a resigned expression as he swung his blade. Yeong-sik’s skill with the blade was far from low.

The reason he had mainly used the blade until now was because his body seemed naturally accustomed to it, as if he had handled it in the past.

Cheon Tae-hwang’s sword increasingly made it difficult for Yeong-sik to swing his blade. Yeong-sik’s eyes deepened with resolve.

‘It seems I can’t get through this without using other weapons.’

He didn’t want to use other weapons besides his blade in front of so many summoners, but there was no other choice now.

If he continued like this, Cheon Tae-hwang would become more ‘familiar’ with him.

‘I can’t hide my true strength forever.’

Yeong-sik sharpened his gaze, watching Cheon Tae-hwang’s movements. There were countless enemies he would have to face in the future. He couldn’t rely on just a blade to deal with them all.

“Shotgun.”

-*Chuk.*

Yeong-sik’s right arm lowered, revealing two gun barrels.

“What?!”

Cheon Tae-hwang gasped in astonishment at the sight of a gun barrel emerging from Yeong-sik’s arm as if it were a toy. Yeong-sik didn’t miss this opening and aimed the barrels at Cheon Tae-hwang.

-*Taaang!*

Gunshots rang out from the two barrels, and dozens of bullets targeted Cheon Tae-hwang.

“Hmph!”

-*Ting ting ting ting ting!*

Cheon Tae-hwang blocked the bullets with the four swords he controlled, overlapping them in front of him.

Yeong-sik retracted the shotgun and extended his right arm forward. Blue energy bullets gathered in his palm.

-*Paang!*

“Ugh!”

The blue energy bullets, imbued with immense power, clashed with the four swords in front of Cheon Tae-hwang. Cheon Tae-hwang’s body was violently thrown back, rolling across the ground.

“Wait! Stop!”

Kang Ha-rin hurriedly intervened between Cheon Tae-hwang and Yeong-sik with an urgent expression. She looked at Yeong-sik with disbelief.

“You, you just… used a gun?!”

Yeong-sik glared at her with a hardened expression.

“Isn’t it a clear violation to interrupt a one-on-one duel?”

“N-no, that’s not the issue here…

Kang Ha-rin looked at Yeong-sik with a bewildered expression.

“If you don’t want to end this with a futile forfeit, step aside.”

Yeong-sik’s cold voice followed.

“The duel isn’t over yet.”

Yeong-sik murmured softly as he watched Cheon Tae-hwang rise from the ground.