Chapter 24 of 100
Chapter 24
7 min read1,763 words
Chapter 23. Accepting the Mission (3)
What the hell is going on here?
It was impossible not to feel puzzled.
The situation where both a golden opportunity and a warning appear simultaneously.
▶ Attack.
▷ Approach the opponent closely.
9...8...
▶ Counter.
▷ Defend.
▷ Flee.
9...8...
Two status windows are appearing and the time is decreasing simultaneously.
A situation where a choice must be made.
Time does not wait for one to just stand and watch.
‘Would it be better to turn back the 3 seconds of time?’
Seohui began to analyze hurriedly.
Choosing to attack allows for a brief reversal of time.
Then, one should be able to see the enemy's movements.
‘The problem is my own vulnerability.’
While finding the opponent's weakness, it also allows for one's own vulnerability.
Seohui was worried about Shinbi's counterattack.
Not knowing how the methods of countering, defending, or fleeing would proceed.
‘Alright. Let’s try this.’
Seohui made a decision and turned his gaze to the text.
<You have chosen ‘Attack.’ Time will be reversed by 3 seconds. Move immediately.>
<You have chosen ‘Counter.’ The enemy is right in front of you. Respond quickly.>
“Gah!”
The moment Seohui selected the two texts, Shinbi staggered back.
As expected, it was 3 seconds ago.
Seohui realized this intuitively upon seeing the scene.
This was both an opportunity and a crisis.
Pfft.
Seohui leaped instantly, approaching Shinbi closely.
However, he did not swing his sword.
Instead, he took a step back, preparing for the opponent's attack.
The vulnerability window that appeared to him felt like a thorn in his heart.
And that thought was strikingly accurate.
Slash!
A faint aura, like a wave, suddenly extended.
Strangely, his movements were not visible.
The flow of time felt unnatural, not just fast.
‘This is...’
Seohui brought his hand to his face, doubting his eyes.
Drip.
A cut-like bloodstain formed below his temple.
This is a sword aura.
It only grazed him this time, but if it hit directly, it would surely be fatal.
“Damn...”
Shinbi's voice, tinged with exasperation, echoed.
Shinbi [Black Gold Captain of the Seventh Organization of Taihuang Pavilion]
Internal Energy 4,365 (↓4,230) / 12,000
Just now, the numbers in front of him were changing due to his attack.
Especially, the massive internal energy consumption of Shinbi was noticeable.
If he hadn't prepared for the worst, he would have been killed by Shinbi's fatal move.
‘If I had charged...’
Death.
Even if he had been cut by the sword, it would have been a mutual death.
If he had been lucky, he might have killed first, but he wouldn't have survived either.
How could he have imagined that the opponent would use a sword aura right away?
‘He won’t be able to use it again easily.’
Seohui thought.
Shinbi had just consumed a tremendous amount of internal energy.
Even if he could generate a sword aura again, it wouldn't have the same power as before.
That meant Seohui had a clear advantage in terms of stamina and internal energy.
“Who the hell are you, kid?”
Shinbi finally asked about Seohui's identity.
“Who do you think I am? Just a kid under you.”
“A kid under me? Are you part of the Taihuang Pavilion?”
Confusion, tension, and curiosity mixed in Shinbi's eyes, giving Seohui a great sense of satisfaction.
“You don’t need to know.”
Seohui spoke and pressed forward recklessly.
Clang! Slash! Slash! Clank!
After several exchanges, a stalemate was formed with minor injuries.
Seohui [Low-Rank Squad Leader]
Stamina 6,226 (↓1,200) / 7,708
Internal Energy 1,672 (↓618) / 7,070
Shinbi [Black Gold Captain of the Seventh Organization of Taihuang Pavilion]
Stamina 3,768 (↓852) / 15,000
Internal Energy 3,485 (↓880) / 12,000
‘I’ll push forward first.’
Seohui judged by looking at the status window.
His stamina was higher than Shinbi's, but his internal energy was relatively low.
If he allowed the opponent to land a hit, it could be dangerous, but there was no time to hesitate.
Seohui turned around and used Soheemagong to pressure him.
Clang! Slash!
[Defense Failed! Stamina decreased.]
[Attack Successful! Shinbi was damaged.]
[Evade Failed! Stamina decreased.]
[Critical Hit! Shinbi was damaged.]
[Draw! Both were damaged.]
[Combat Failed! Stamina decreased.]
[Combat Failed! Stamina decreased.]
[Draw! Both were damaged.]
“Gah! Gah!”
It was a fierce battle unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.
Even with wounds on his shoulder, thigh, and left arm, the opponent did not retreat.
Instead, he became even more aggressive.
In a single breath, he changed direction six times, pressing Seohui relentlessly.
‘If this continues... I’ll lose.’
Seohui [Low-Rank Squad Leader]
Stamina 1,354 (↓4,872) / 7,708
Internal Energy 622 (↓1,050) / 7,070
Shinbi [Black Gold Captain of the Seventh Organization of Taihuang Pavilion]
Stamina 994 (↓2,774) / 15,000
Internal Energy 1,980 (↓1,505) / 12,000
The gap in stamina was gradually closing with each fight.
The more this happened, the harder it became to block the opponent's sword skills.
“Where are you going!”
Perhaps he thought Seohui was distracted for a moment.
When Shinbi's sword lunged at him, Seohui quickly blocked it.
“...!”
But the sound of the swords clashing was not heard.
The opponent had used a feint to divert his attention and then moved again.
‘Eek!’
Seohui's sword aimed for the opponent's chest.
Judging that his stance had collapsed and given the opponent an opening, he attempted a counterattack.
‘Huh?’
But the opponent had taken a step back.
It was a feint.
A move that saw through Seohui's intentions.
[Warning! Shinbi has discovered your vulnerability. How will you respond?]
‘Damn it!’
Seohui's hair stood on end.
If he made the wrong choice this time, it would be over.
▷ Counter.
▶ Defend.
▷ Flee.
The three texts differ in the enemy's distance and movement.
‘Counter’ is a dangerous choice if you are not superior to the opponent at close range.
‘Defend’ is a bit further away.
It is a relatively ideal choice considering the enemy's distance and movement.
‘Flee’ makes it easier to avoid the enemy's attack, but exposes your back to the enemy, making you vulnerable to fatal attacks.
<You have chosen ‘Defend.’>
The fight continues.
“Gah!”
Seohui's eyes widened.
He was prepared, but the thrust was much faster than expected.
It came at him three times in quick succession.
[Defense Failed! Stamina decreased.]
Seohui took a few large steps back, his face pale.
He failed to block two of the three thrusts, and blood streamed down his body, but still.
He was still alive.
Seohui [Low-Rank Squad Leader]
Stamina 273 (↓1,081) / 7,708
Internal Energy 542 (↓80) / 7,070
Shinbi [Black Gold Captain of the Seventh Organization of Taihuang Pavilion]
Stamina 994 / 15,000
Internal Energy 1,660 (↓320) / 12,000
‘Damn...’
This attack reversed the stamina numbers.
In reality, there was no way to win now.
“Can you feel it? The difference between you and me.”
Shinbi's voice, breathing heavily, had changed.
It was confidence.
After several exchanges, his tone had a sense of ease.
“Maybe you got a lot of treasures here, but that’s all. There’s an unbridgeable gap between a chosen one like me and a rejected one like you.”
It wasn’t just boasting.
Shinbi had a considerable sense of battle and was battle-hardened.
After all, he was the Black Gold Captain, responsible for the core missions of the Taihuang Pavilion and guaranteed a promotion among the six units.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think only you were chosen?”
Seohui smiled faintly.
The status windows floating in the upper right corner of his vision.
They don’t appear clearly during combat, but so what?
The numbers and items were indirectly influencing this fight.
“Enough with the word games.”
A faint luster flowed from the blade of Shinbi's sword, reflected in the window.
A famous sword, rarely seen in the school, seemed to reveal the dirty class system within.
‘Left? Right.’
Seohui was extremely tense.
The opponent's stance and the moment he moved meant that the outcome would be decided in some way.
Pfft.
‘Front!’
The moment Shinbi leaped, Seohui spun backward.
Facing Shinbi's frontal charge, he planned to retreat and stab the vital points.
“...!”
But Shinbi's movement was strange.
In the blink of an eye, the sword was already close.
Clank! Thud!
Shinbi's sword pierced Seohui from the shoulder to the side, slicing through to the left shoulder.
[Critical Hit! Shinbi inflicted a fatal wound on Seohui.]
Seohui did counterattack, but the damage to the opponent was minimal compared to his own.
[Attack Successful! Shinbi was damaged.]
Seohui [Low-Rank Squad Leader]
Stamina 30 (↓243) / 7,708
Internal Energy 542 / 7,070
Shinbi [Black Gold Captain of the Seventh Organization of Taihuang Pavilion]
Stamina 914 (↓80) / 15,000
Internal Energy 550 (↓1,110) / 12,000
“Gah!”
Perhaps due to the large amount of blood loss, Seohui's vision was blurry from a sudden dizziness.
He realized he had retreated to the wall when he felt something touch his back.
‘He’s coming again.’
He couldn’t see clearly.
He could only sense something coming towards him from his distorted vision.
‘Now!’
Seohui's eyes flashed.
The moment he felt the opponent was almost within reach, he moved reflexively.
He didn’t charge at the enemy.
He leaped to the window behind the wall.
“Die!”
Shinbi didn’t stop.
To end Seohui's life, he also jumped from the third floor.
‘If my guess is right!’
Crack.
Seohui falling through the broken window frame.
Shinbi approaching at an even faster speed.
But suddenly, his vision became clear.
This was because of it.
[A Golden Opportunity! Shinbi's vulnerability has been discovered. How will you respond?]
▶ Attack.
▷ Use a martial art.
▷ Use the tool box.
▷ Approach the opponent closely.
‘Aaaah!’
Seohui's eyes flashed.
The vulnerability window.
Regardless of the situation, this window appears if the enemy shows a vulnerability.
It matched Seohui's expectations perfectly.
However, there was something that went beyond his expectations.
‘Time has stopped!’
It wasn’t incomprehensible.
With almost no stamina left and falling from the third floor, he would have died before making a choice.
This vulnerability window considered that variable.
‘In this situation, attacking means certain death. I don’t even have the strength to lift my sword.’
Seohui's gaze moved to the third option.
The tool box.
<You have chosen ‘Use the tool box.’ Look below and choose.>
▶ Healing
▷ Equipment
Seohui chose healing after seeing the neatly organized list.
[Healing]
▶ Yongyanggang (one bite)
▷ Gold Wound Medicine 2
‘Wait. Let’s check the equipment once...’
Seohui canceled to check other options first.
▷ Healing
▶ Equipment
He chose the equipment.
[Equipment]
▶ Dan Yeong Sword [Weapon]
▷ Moon