Chapter 33

00033 Boss Monster. =========================================================================

Hanbyeol never took her eyes off me. Her gaze urged me to get up quickly and run, but I had no intention of doing so.

It seems that the party members had a serious misunderstanding.

Finally, with a flash of blue light from the warp gate, I could see that everyone except me had been teleported.

Gone?

Gone?

Gone.

Before I knew it, a dark shadow had enveloped me. The boss monster, seemingly unconcerned about losing its prey, was growling at me. I placed both hands on the ground and slowly got up. After rolling around for so long, my whole body felt stiff. I twisted my body to loosen up my back, and I heard the cracking sound of my joints.

I gazed at the crossbow I had used so well and dropped it on the ground. I no longer needed it. With a thud, the crossbow rolled on the dirt floor. Without hesitation, I stepped on the dropped crossbow with my foot.

Crack!

Seeing the crossbow break in half, I extended my hand toward the spot where the party had dropped their belongings. I summoned my magic power and activated the skill of telekinesis. The longsword that Anhyun had dropped spun and landed firmly in my hand.

And finally, I held the longsword in my hand.

One of the things that felt strange throughout the rite of passage was the lack of a weapon in my hand. In Hol Plain, I treated my sword as if it were my life. I always kept it by my side, whether I was sleeping, eating, or even bathing. That’s why, when I handed the sword to Anhyun, I felt as if I had lost a comrade.

Now it’s all over. I can return to Hol Plain. How much I had wished for this moment. How much I had desperately hoped to return. What I once thought was a dream became reality when I obtained the Zero Code, and now I was just one step away from that reality. I felt my heart swell with emotion.

My passionate feelings seemed to awaken the dormant fire spirit in my heart. My heart pounded roughly, and the blood flowing through my body burned hot. My breathing, which had stopped, and my heart, which had been dead, began to burn fiercely again. It was the prelude to a long war about to begin.

Roar!

The boss monster’s roar echoed. I quietly gazed at the sword in my hand before striking it. Although I had acquired skills surpassing my past self, there was no guarantee that I was the strongest. But I had no fear. Even if I fell into the abyss again or suffered great wounds, I firmly resolved not to give up. Without a trace of worry, I raised my sword and aimed it at the boss monster.

The moment I sincerely held my sword, the air around me changed completely.

『Special Ability: Sword and Spirit Unification (Rank EX) activated. When holding a sword, all actions using the sword receive additional positive modifiers. Due to years of experience and numerous achievements, as well as job modifiers, there is a 2-rank positive modifier.』

『Potential Ability: Close Combat (Rank A+) activated. This is an ability that surpasses the limits of handling melee weapons. In close combat, you will never be outmatched. Due to years of experience and job modifiers, there is a 1-rank positive modifier.』

I used to be a Sword Master, and now I am a Sword Specialist. I have abilities related to swords and a job related to swords. The difference in power between holding a sword and not holding one was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth. While before it was like a fleeting cloud, now a storm of killing intent, clearly stating "I will kill you," surrounded the monster.

In my eyes, the monster was so insignificant, like something less than a bug. When I took a step forward, the boss monster took a step back. It was inevitable. No matter how cunning it was, as a monster, its wild instincts were still alive. Recognizing the vast difference in class, it had already lost its fighting spirit.

The foundation of my swordsmanship lies in the principles of Tai Chi. Instead of overwhelming with brute force, I often use techniques that leverage my own strength and the opponent's strength. It was the only way I could respond, given my lack of physical strength compared to top-tier users. In more detail, it involves the principles of "softness overcoming hardness" and "using softness to defeat hardness," with the key being to suppress movement with stillness.

I slowly lowered my sword. Since I couldn’t expect the monster to make the first move, I planned to attack first. This stance was a preparatory position for my unique sword-drawing technique. Of course, I knew it might appear vulnerable.

However, the opponent couldn’t predict the direction of my first strike. If I swung my sword at lightning speed in this state, the opponent would either be hit before they could read the strike or would often give up the initiative.

I looked at the trembling boss monster in front of me and immediately drew my sword.

Soon.

My sword cut through the air and advanced relentlessly toward the monster.

*

"One strike, kill. It was a splendid sword-drawing technique. User Kim Suhyun. Congratulations on surviving the rite of passage. As of 16:42:27 on the 6th day, you have qualified to enter Hol Plain."

I split the boss monster in two with one strike. After returning to the Summoning Room, Seraph’s first words to me were these. She still stood on the small altar, her shining wings gently fluttering as she calmly looked at me. Although it had been less than a week, it felt like a long time since I last saw her. I nodded and slumped down.

“The kids?”

It was a vague question, but the rite of passage was different from Hol Plain. It was a space where users could be observed without restrictions. Since they had seen my play, I assumed they had also seen the other users who acted with me.

"Providing information about other users is not permitted."

“I’m not asking for their three sizes. Just tell me if they made it through safely. You’re being really sensitive about this.”

Hearing my words, Seraph sighed deeply and then answered calmly.

"Users Anhyun, Ansol, Lee Yoojeong, and Kim Hanbyeol were normally teleported to the Summoning Room. They are currently waiting with their assigned angels."

“I see. They’ll get half a day of training before entering Hol Plain, right?”

“The training doesn’t take that long. However, we need to open jobs and abilities that match the users’ characteristics. User Kim Suhyun completed this process smoothly under your own initiative, but please don’t compare yourself to other users.”

I fell silent at her words. When I survived for seven days and returned to the Summoning Room, I learned the basic knowledge of Hol Plain and completed the initial settings before entering. The time it took felt like half a day.

"All users will be teleported to Hol Plain in a batch. Therefore, we need to wait for the users who qualify on the 7th day of the rite of passage."

“So, even I can’t enter right now...”

“Absolutely not.”

It wasn’t good news for me, who wanted to enter as soon as possible. I had even dealt with the boss monster quickly. I asked just in case, but Seraph cut me off before I could finish.

“So, I have to stay here for almost a day and a half. Just wait around? Maybe we can play rock-paper-scissors?”

Despite my irritated tone, Seraph answered clearly.

“If you wish, I can. We usually provide more detailed information about Hol Plain to users who pass early.”

“I don’t need that.”

“Then, would you like to play rock-paper-scissors?”

“Huh... No. Let’s just talk.”

Seeing Seraph’s serious expression, I shook my head. She was a completely humorless angel. Since we were here, I decided to ask a few questions I had been curious about during the rite of passage. Of course, I would use a confrontational tone. Seraph tilted her head at my suggestion and then nodded slightly.

“While playing the rite of passage, I felt like you guys didn’t think about balance.”

“Yes.”

Seraph’s short answer.

“...Let’s say the forest and the race are fine. But what’s with the boss monster in the summoning spell? It’s like you’re playing favorites. How can anyone pass this rite of passage?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Without me, our party would have been wiped out. I can’t understand why you would unleash such a monster.”

Without hesitation, Seraph replied.

“The rite of passage automatically balances the difficulty based on the level of the users participating in each session. This time, it was special because User Kim Suhyun was excluded. Still, among this year’s users, there were many who could be counted on one hand for their potential.”

“No matter how many, I can’t understand the boss monster. The users can’t even use magic. How are they supposed to defeat it?”

“It’s impossible to defeat. There’s a different strategy. The boss monster is randomly summoned between 200 and 300 meters from the warp gate. It’s impossible to face it alone, but with a minimum of five people, at least one can reach the warp gate.”

I understood what Seraph was saying.

“...So, you’re saying up to four people are used as bait to escape.”

“Correct.”

I was speechless. On the other hand, I now understood why the boss monster was placed near the warp gate. The users who passed had to experience the pain of losing their companions. Since such events were common in Hol Plain, it seemed the intention was to give a similar shock from the beginning.

It seemed like a cruel idea, but I had no argument. After all, my return was partly due to a similar sense of loss. I sighed inwardly and decided to change the topic when Seraph spoke first.

“I acknowledge that it had a certain level of difficulty. By the way, the first four to arrive were given a set amount of gold points as a reward.”

“...Oh? So, there were people who passed before us. What about me?”

“User Kim Suhyun passed in 5th place. The four who arrived first are tied for 1st place. As a reward, each will receive 2,500 gold points.”

Oh, that’s good news. 2,500 gold points in the early stages would be a significant help. Gold points, which could be used in the user-exclusive shop, were extremely useful in the early stages. My eyes sparkled as I spoke.

“Oh, gold points. Give me some too.”

“Unfortunately, it’s only given to the 1st place. Originally, 10,000 points were to be given to one person, but this time, it had to be divided among four. User Kim Suhyun is not eligible.”

I see. Disappointed, I swallowed and nodded. 2,500 points would mean I wouldn’t have to worry about money in the early stages of Hol Plain. Or I could buy a beginner’s weapon. Sensing my disappointment, Seraph spoke with a puzzled look.

“User Kim Suhyun, you seem quite disappointed. It’s only 2,500 points.”

“Gold points don’t grow on trees.”

“That’s true. However, User Kim Suhyun currently has exactly 3,784,720 gold points. There’s no need to be fixated on 2,500 points.”

...Huh?

============================ Author’s Note ============================

1. Typos corrected.