Boom…
Boom…
Shin Yu appeared with a sword in his hand.
Oof…
Seol took a deep breath.
Tests were similar to speed bumps—you must check your pace before approaching them. Moving too fast or too slow could make crossing them difficult.
In that sense, Shin Yu's test was a crucial process for Seol to check if he was progressing properly.
Swoosh…
Shin Yu's momentum changed.
'He's coming… Be ready.'The slash he had witnessed before was about to come. The same terrifying attack that once effortlessly took down the Darkness Dweller.
Swoosh…
Slash—!
With an explosive sound, as if the air itself had burst, Shin Yu froze mid-swing.
The slash had already been launched.
If that was the case…
'It did it…'
With its sword raised horizontally, the Darkness Dweller was trembling.
'It's still standing!'
Shin Yu looked surprised at the Darkness Dweller, who had blocked the attack.
Whir…
Taanng—!
Although the Shin brothers had left their marks all over the Darkness Dweller's body, it impressively managed to deflect their attacks.
Seol clenched his fist.
[Darkness Dweller used Sun Shower.]
[Consecutive defenses convert 20% of the mitigated damage into fixed-damage for your next attacks.]
Swoosh…
The Darkness Dweller tried to attack for the first time.
It did the first movement of the Rainfall Sword Shin Hyun had taught it—that vicious thrust.
Paanng—!
Upon seeing the Darkness Dweller use Shin Hyun's sword technique, Shin Yu deflected its strikes with a surprised look.
'As expected…'
Paanng—!
Paaannngg—!
The Darkness Dweller's sword shook not only Shin Yu but also itself.
The frightening thing about Sun Shower was that focusing on defending could leave one drenched in wounds, like clothes soaked by rain.
Swoosh…
Paanng—!
Whir…
Paanng—!
One of them was focused on defense, the other on evasion.
There was no way Shin Yu, Shin Hyun’s younger brother, didn't know the Rainfall Sword. This was the textbook response for countering it.
'This is troublesome…'
The sword technique the Darkness Dweller excelled at was Shin Hyun's Sun Shower, thanks to its body, which was capable of exerting strength comparable to a wolf.
However, its attack had been perfectly blocked.
Seol recalled Shin Hyun's words.
- Hmm… It seems that it will perfectly be able to learn up to the 2nd form. However, it will probably only be able to execute the 1st one.
- What? Why…
- It would be better if you realize it on your own. After all, even if you know it, you won't be able to prepare for it.
It took Seol over three months to grasp the meaning behind Shin Hyun’s words.
'The Darkness Dweller has already become too strong with just a single ability.'
This wasn't the power of the Exceptional Skill itself.
When Karen's Incomplete Combustion evolved into Complete Combustion, she became strong enough to defeat Yaksha—Yoo Hyun—with a single strike. Naturally, the current Darkness Dweller would also be incinerated without a trace if hit by her attack.
'In short… He was talking about strength appropriate to the rank.'
Seol's rank was still a mystery.
Karuna probably absorbed part of the enlightenment Karen gained by breaking through the Supreme-rank’s wall. After all, they were connected through the traits of their souls.
Thus, Karen, Jamad, and Karuna attained enlightenment after passing through the tunnel radiating light.
Seol realized that the wall existed through the experiences of Karen and Jamad. He also knew that he had yet to set foot on that threshold.
If he were to compare himself with his summons, he would probably be between Transcendent and Immortal.
So it didn't make sense for his Exceptional Skill to be able to deal more damage than Jamad or Karen.
'I've reached my limit.'
That meant he was doing as much as possible.
There was no denying he had done his best.
While Seol was seriously analyzing the battlefield, an unforeseen situation arose mid-battle.
WHOOM…
The ground suddenly started shaking.
'What?!'
Clap—!
Paf—!
Startled, Seol clapped his hand, signaling the Darkness Dweller to retreat. He assumed it was Shin Yu's doing.
However, Shin Yu also seemed puzzled.
'It wasn't him?'
All that happened was a single tremor. There were no further anomalies.
The two resumed their clash.
Paaf—!
Upon realizing that Sun Shower wasn't effective, Seol gave the Darkness Dweller another command.
The Darkness Dweller unsheathed its sword covered with the Skin of Origin.
Whoosh…
"…!"
Upon noticing the Darkness Dweller’s next move, Shin Yu abandoned his defensive stance and tried to retreat.
[Darkness Dweller used Iaido: River Split.]
[Swiftly draw your sword from its scabbard into a strike that deals massive damage to a single target.]
[This attack cannot be dodged.]
[50% fixed damage is applied to large opponents.]
From Shin Hyun's Sun Shower to Shin Rip's Iaido.
It seemed Shin Yu concluded it was too late to dodge, so he decided to block instead.
BOOM—!
The impact of the clash made the surroundings reverberate.
Seol looked at the dust rising from the battlefield.
'Tsk…'
Exhausted, the Darkness Dweller planted its sword into the ground, and Shin Yu's body, which had taken the blow, was covered in cracks.
'It isn't enough…'
But that was it.
Not even Shin Rip could use Iaido consecutively due to its immense energy consumption.
In a prolonged battle, Shin Yu, with his overwhelming fundamentals, would undoubtedly defeat the Darkness Dweller.
'I must end it here.'
Claap—!
Creak…
At Seol's command, the Darkness Dweller's body groaned.
However, it didn't matter, even if it did break.
'Darkness Dweller, burn it all.'
The time he had spent in the labyrinth flashed past his mind like a panorama.
This strike was the best Seol could do.
Creak…
The Darkness Dweller's sword soared upward again, slashing diagonally.
[Darkness Dweller used Iaido: Downpour.]
[Iaido can be used consecutively three times.]
[Downpour chains seamlessly with other Iaido skills.]
[This attack cannot be dodged.]
[Downpour deals 55% fixed damage to large targets.]
[The cooldown for Iaido increases by 300%. Your stats decrease by 20% during the cooldown.]
An attack only the Darkness Dweller, with lungs capable of sustaining movement without losing consciousness and immense strength, could execute.
Although incomplete and imperfect, it was a technique developed by studying Shin Hyun and Shin Rip's sword.
Slash—!
As the second slash approached, Shin Yu mirrored the technique the Darkness Dweller was using.
'Ah…'
The incomplete sword Seol had devised had already been perfected by someone else.
Slash—!
The Darkness Dweller's body was sent flying.
With its sword in hand, the Darkness Dweller’s body had split into two once again.
'Shin Yu…'
He had lost again.
However…
Thud…
"…"
Thud…
Shin Yu's body also started to crumble.
'I see…!'
Shin Yu had forcibly taken over the body of a wolf. It was an inferior shell compared to the Darkness Dweller.
In other words, while his swordsmanship was flawless, his body was bound to break.
Thud…
Amidst the collapsing darkness, something dark emerged.
【Agh! What is that?!】
What startled Agony was a black hand.
The ghostly hand was Shin Yu's true form.
While skittering like a spider, Shin Yu wrote on the ground.
- You're amazing!
"What…?"
- You're amazing! That was awesome!
To Seol, Shin Yu's compliments weren't particularly pleasant. After all, he lost, and Shin Yu's body breaking wasn't his doing.
- So, what are you planning to do from now on?
"I don't know… Try again, I guess."
- The unyielding spirit of a swordsman! I like it! I think that's good!
Agony looked at Seol.
It was probably holding back something it wanted to say.
'He probably wants to say that he's a chatterbox.'
Seol was aware of Shin Yu's talkative nature, so he sighed and wanted to leave.
However…
- Are you going? Are you going now?
"…"
- I need someone to talk to…
Shin Yu trailed off the last part of the sentence.
Since going back wouldn't solve much anyway, Seol sat down on a nearby rock to humor Shin Yu.
- Are you going to keep me company?
Seol sighed.
"Oof… That last fight made me think I might get stuck in this labyrinth. So, sure."
If he were going to be stuck in the labyrinth, it wouldn't hurt to at least get used to talking to him.
Although he was joking, of course.
- Where are you from? I'm curious about you.
Shin Yu's question made Seol hesitate.
Would this tiny hand comprehend a world like Earth?
"Well…"
Without giving up, Seol explained Earth and the concept of a Transferee—how he came from a world called Earth and that all of Pandea was accepting Transferees.
- What? Really? Strangers came to this world?
It seemed Shin Yu found their conversation fun. The hand was hitting the ground in excitement.
Finding that reaction amusing, Seol kept talking.
He explained that he was a summoner and began recounting his experiences from start to finish.
Even when he tried to skip some details, Shin Yu's persistence made him sweat.
- Jamad! He sounds amazing! Karen too! No, you're all incredible.
Seol felt as if he could see the chattering young swordsman in front of him.
'Shin Yu…'
A conversation was a strange thing. Sometimes, as you talk, things you have buried deep inside unexpectedly come out.
"Yes, they're amazing. Although I can't keep up with them."
Just like now.
Shin Yu began writing something on the ground.
- Do you really think that?
"Huh? Ah…?"
Shin Yu snapped his fingers.
- Ah! I know! A wall!
"A wall…?"
What was he talking about?
- Kang hyung once said that he felt he became weirder upon encountering a wall.
'He became weirder?'
Seol thought for a moment before speaking.
"I have to prove it. That I…"
- You've already proven it.
"What…?"
- I made you get a new home in just a year. So you've already proven it.
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