Chapter 71

071. The Ordeal of the 10th Floor (2)

I looked at the flustered man with a cold smile.

This man, who ranked 6th in the final standings, was someone I had seen in the waiting room on the 4th floor.

'His real name is Kim Seung-jun.'

I also didn't forget that he was the one who had frozen the community by suddenly emphasizing that the theme of the 4th floor ordeal was 'competition.'

Of course, thanks to that, I was slightly better prepared for the shock of murder...

'Now I understand why he revealed the theme of the ordeal like that.'

The challenger in front of me didn't reveal the theme of the competition out of pure intentions.

He did it to actively create a competitive structure that would maximize his own benefits.

The fact that I was prepared for murder was merely an additional element I gained by using the setup he created.

In other words, there's no reason for me to remain silent about Kim Seung-jun's dog-like actions.

And...

"Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Monarch' is enraged at those who harm the contractor."

"Administrator 'Glutton' tilts his head, wondering what's going on."

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal' looks forward to your decisive actions."

Since the administrators, who had started watching me, seemed to dislike Kim Seung-jun quite a bit, there was no need to hesitate.

"..."

I glared at Kim Seung-jun, who was tightly closing his mouth and looking at me, and smiled slightly.

"Mr. Kim Seung-jun."

As I casually spoke, I saw Kim Seung-jun flinch and take a step back, and I continued.

"The talk you were just spouting was quite interesting."

Although the theme was cooperation, since we could become competitors later, it was intriguing that he suggested we cooperate to kill me, who could be killed without consequences.

To the point where I had to consider the absurd idea of whether I could take on all three at once and kill them, it was even more interesting.

However, Kim Seung-jun's reaction was lackluster, as if he didn't think it was a big deal.

"T, That was... I can explain it through conversation..."

"No, no. How can we resolve this situation through conversation?"

"..."

"Didn't you just say that you have the ability to take responsibility for your words?"

But why would you suggest resolving it through conversation at this point?

As I added this, I saw Kim Seung-jun's pupils shake violently.

It was understandable.

Most challengers' combat abilities improve in proportion to their final ranking.

Since Kim Seung-jun's final ranking was 6th and mine was higher at 3rd...

It was easy to predict that the burden Kim Seung-jun felt due to the two challengers who declared they wouldn't interfere was severe.

However, like a cornered insect, Kim Seung-jun was no different.

He opened his mouth in a panic as he saw me slowly approaching.

"Wait...! Calm down and think about it! Fighting each other will only result in losses!"

"?"

"Can you really be sure that the two behind us won't attack!?"

"..."

"I'm also ranked 6th. If I'm attacked, I won't just stand by, and that will affect Mr. Han Sung-yun as well."

"So what?"

"If they take advantage of the situation and barge in to kill both of us, it would be the worst ending possible."

Although Kim Seung-hoon and Oh Chun-seok frowned in disbelief at his words...

Kim Seung-jun, glancing at them, continued with a servile smile.

"If we fight and weaken each other, Mr. Han Sung-yun won't benefit either. They might attack us while we're weakened, or the 10th floor ordeal might be stronger than expected, causing fatal injuries due to accumulated wounds..."

I found his words increasingly disgusting.

"I don't understand what kind of nonsense you're spouting."

"What do you mean...?"

"Ultimately, you're talking as if I'm going to receive a significant reward... That's not going to happen."

"..."

"To suffer major damage from a guy who can only play politics and then be restrained by other challengers..."

It's a story that would make even a passerby laugh.

As I said this with a sneer, Kim Seung-jun seemed to finally get the hint and took a combat stance.

A book appeared out of nowhere, spreading a purple aura.

He was taking out items from his inventory to prepare for a serious fight.

Swish...

The book in Kim Seung-jun's right hand opened on its own, emitting a stronger aura.

He then sneered, completely discarding any pretense of civility, and shouted.

"Son of a bitch... You don't seem to realize the gravity of the situation. I'm not just a nobody...!"

However, Kim Seung-jun's words were cut off in shock.

"Skill 'Instant Acceleration' is activated."

Instant Acceleration, which had grown to the next level during my duel with Catherine Bennett, activated, and I began to charge at him.

Of course...

"Swamp Spirit's Wind wraps around the user's feet."

"Temporary magical acceleration is sealed."

Since Kim Seung-jun didn't just climb the tower, he immediately blocked my threatening feet.

However, I had long prepared for such weakening abilities.

"Skill 'Anti-Magic' is activated."

"Swamp Spirit's Wind completely dissipates."

Without needing a skill for forced breakthrough, I immediately regained my speed with Anti-Magic.

"What the hell, what kind of crazy Anti-Magic is this...!"

As Kim Seung-jun vented his frustration, I reached him without hesitation.

Crack.

The moment I arrived, I kicked Kim Seung-jun's abdomen without hesitation.

I didn't immediately attack with my sword to see if he had any hidden cards.

If he blocked the sword and then attacked me in the gap, it would be a difficult situation.

Bang...

A loud noise echoed as my kick hit, and Kim Seung-jun's body flew backward.

"Ugh...!"

Although he seemed to have received a slight shock, he didn't seem to have taken significant damage.

Kim Seung-jun, who flew backward, didn't fall to the ground but glared at me while groaning.

...Of course, the fact that he was drooling made his glare less threatening.

The sensation in my foot clearly indicated that I had pierced and destroyed something, but seeing him intact, it seemed he had used some trick.

'Now I understand why he was wearing a red suit. It was an item, as expected.'

Since it was within my expectations, I wasn't particularly surprised.

It seemed to be a protective item, but it didn't seem to directly mitigate the impact.

The sensation of piercing and attacking with my foot suggested that it was an item that created a shield to absorb the impact when attacked.

'If I had immediately thrown my sword, it might have been blocked by the shield.'

By making a short attack and then retreating, I was able to confirm what cards he had.

Although he was weaker than me, it was important to understand Kim Seung-jun's abilities, given that he was a top-ranked challenger.

However...

Since I realized that he didn't have many abilities to protect his body, I didn't hesitate.

The kick I just delivered wasn't a gentle one; it was intended to break at least a few ribs.

In a battle, a broken bone is almost equivalent to death, so he must have used all his defensive means.

This meant that the defensive abilities he used to block my attack were all he had.

'If this is all his defensive means, there's no way I can lose.'

With a deeper smile, I immediately activated a skill.

"Skill 'Blessing of the Wind' is activated."

"All speeds increase by 40%."

"Current skill stacking progress - 4/7"

Whoosh...

The sudden activation of Blessing of the Wind accelerated my feet, and my body moved like a gentle breeze.

I didn't use my full strength because I needed to prepare for a second battle, as Kim Seung-jun had mentioned, with the two observers behind me.

I needed to make them think that this speed was my best to prepare for any contingencies.

However, Kim Seung-jun, after taking a hit, seemed to no longer care and immediately went all out.

"Son of a bitch... Die, you bastard...!"

Despite drooling, he revealed his malice clearly, gripping the book in his right hand and extending his left.

A chain of lightning erupted from Kim Seung-jun's left arm, violently sweeping the front.

Crackle...

'He said we could fight and still be fine, but he had a point.'

Seeing the blue chain that seemed to engulf the space, his words didn't seem like mere bravado.

"Administrator 'Iron-Blooded Monarch' advises not to touch the chain of lightning."

"Administrator 'Glutton' watches your battle with interest."

"Administrator 'White Crane Sword Immortal' expects you to display your sword skills."

The administrators, who were watching, seemed to know this and sent messages to me.

However, I didn't feel a significant sense of crisis from the lightning.

That's because...

"Skill 'Counter Shield' is activated."

I had prepared for such a situation in the waiting room.

Swoosh.

As I extended my left arm and activated the skill, a large shield with a red glow appeared beyond my palm.

And...

Crash!

The chain of lightning Kim Seung-jun emitted collided with the shield and scattered, and I could feel the lightning being absorbed by the shield.

Of course, the power was significant, and I had to consume a lot of mana to strengthen the shield, but it had accumulated a considerable amount of impact.

Counter Shield is a skill that absorbs a certain amount of damage and then reflects the accumulated damage.

In other words, the shield that blocked the technique Kim Seung-jun had just unleashed with full power now contained a portion of his power.

"What... How did you block this technique so easily...!?"

Given this, what I needed to do was clear.

I reduced the size of the shield to fit my palm and smiled at the shocked Kim Seung-jun.

"I'll return exactly what I received. Try to block it."

And simultaneously...

"Skill 'Counter Shield' releases the accumulated damage."

Crash!

A bolt of lightning flashed from the small shield floating in my palm, and a circular beam of light shot out.