BXBX NOVEL Chapter 213: Holy War (1)
Before the battle started, Yoon-seok first registered his opponent on the list. For reference, his opponent’s nickname was Asnat, and his dimension was Killian.
Amusement reached Yoon-seok’s eyes as he checked the information.
‘Asnat…’
It was a memorable nickname. 13 people ranked first at Rank SSS+, and below them, 81 people ranked in 14th place received the SSS ranking. Asnat recently ranked 95th with SSS- at the same as Yoon-seok.
‘This is not going to be easy.’
Well, it was nothing new because he predicted this much from the energy alone. However, one thing bothered him.
Predator?’
Asnat knew his nickname. Therefore, it was highly likely that he knew their ranks were now the same. But why was he expressing such confidence?
‘Well, I’ll find out when we fight.’
Most of the strong opponents he met were like this. Before starting, they couldn’t even imagine their defeat, but their lives ended in disbelief.
Whoooosh-!
The first technique, Heavenly Reign. As soon as Yoon-seok extended his sword, a black tsunami began to flood around him. It was a light test to confirm his opponent’s response. However, Yoon-seok didn’t expect his foe to respond this way.
Gulp-!
Asnat’s mouth opened wide, and he swallowed up that magic. Then, Asnat smiled and licked his lips.
“10,000 AP… it’s not bad as a breath freshener.”
10,000 AP? What did that mean? Did it mean that every time he blocked an attack, he received points? He wondered if such a fraudulent skill existed, but Yoon-seok’s eyes soon narrowed. The magic used now should recover in seconds. However, the problem was it wasn’t recovering at all.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind. Are you afraid of me?”
Asnat returned Yoon-seok’s line.
“No way.”
Rather than responding hastily to the provocation, Yoon-seok fired sword energy to test the waters. Was it an ability that swallowed anything as long as it contained magic? Perhaps there was no cooldown as Asnat swallowed Yoon-seok’s sword energy.
‘Are there no restrictions on how long it lasts…?’
He couldn’t check if there was a limit as the penalty for trying was big. Yoon-seok stopped attacking, and Asnat smacked his lips.
“You give up fast.”
Yoon-seok didn’t answer but waited for his opponent to move. He was going to give him the right to attack first and take measures to respond accordingly. However, Asnat seemed to have a lot to say.
“You know what? From the moment you were selected as a challenger, the Tower gives you a rating.”
“…”
“The rating is what the Tower expects from the challenger. But you were F at first, right?”
Yoon-seok, who wasn’t quite listening, flinched. Yoon-seok also knew that he was graded only F after hearing from the admin (?) in charge of the auction. But how did he know? Yoon-seok replied as if it was no big deal.
“Because I didn’t know anything back then.”
“Bahaha! Do you think you had a low rating because you were weak?”
Yoon-seok’s brow furrowed at Asnat’s laughter.
It hurt his pride to admit it, but he was right. He thought the only reason he was ranked F was because he had a Unique Skill b Predation} in the early days. But that wasn’t it?
“Listen carefully, half-breed. The Tower sees your fate and rates you according to your potential. It’s not definite, but there’s never been a person who’s deviated as much as you.”
In short, it meant that they rated him after seeing his future. Then, why did he get Rank F? Yoon-seok predicted the reason.
Before Lee Su-yeon returned, the life he had was a pathetic one.
“Is that why you keep calling me half-breed?”
“No way. The reason why I call you half-breed…”
Asnat smiled and raised his magic. Yoon-seok’s nerves stood on edge.
“It’s because you’re a scum who is neither this nor that!”
Asnat disappeared. It wasn’t time suspension like the woman he met in the last duel; it was just fast enough for him to miss the movement.
“…!”
Yoon-seok hurriedly turned his back and swung. He held no weapons, so was bare-handed fighting his specialty? A large fist was flying toward his face.
Boom-!
‘What power…’
Yoon-seok was pushed back mercilessly though he managed to block the fist. Even with his Rank S strength, which was corrected by magic, it was a force that he could not withstand.
‘Our magic power is equal. But his strength and agility are above mine?’
He couldn’t understand. b Predation}, b Metallurgy}, Transcendence, and more. Yoon-seok had several growth-type abilities. Therefore, his basic stats had always exceeded challengers on the same floor. However, this time, the opposite was happening.
Well, it did make sense if the other person focused only on investing in their stats…
‘Seeing that, I don’t think that’s the case.’
He devoured everything that invoked magic. In all respects, that was the strength of power or skill. Not only that, but each time his fist was swung, various attributes such as flame, lightning, and ice were infused.
“I know about you, Predator.”
Yoon-seok used b Demonify}. Perhaps it would work so long as he didn’t consume any magic.
“You have a similar ability to me.”
Crackkkkkkk-!
Yoon-seok’s body began to swell as infinite magic circulated through his body. Compared to his foe, he was trying to somehow cover his strength and agility with magic.
“So out of curiosity, I followed everything you did…”
Boom-!
Yoon-seok finally blocked Asnat’s fist without being pushed back. But, Asnat only laughed.
“It’s pathetic.”
He talked too much. Could he not fight when his mouth wasn’t open? It was the first time in his life he met an opponent that kept complaining while fighting. What on earth was he so dissatisfied about?
“In the 6th-floor plaza, in Killian, in Seheranbad, and even the admin who signed me…!”
Smoke began to bloom from Asnat’s body. Whatever magic it was, the balance of power temporarily achieved through {Demonify} collapsed.
Crackkk-
A crack formed through the Judgment Sword despite its indestructible characteristic. Break something that can’t be broken; his opponent must also have this kind of effect.
“I ate everything I could eat. And I got the strength I have now.”
‘Damn it.’
“But what did you do in the meantime?”
Thinking that he couldn’t lose his weapon, Yoon-seok quickly stepped back. But there was no way that this foe would leave him alone.
Boom-!
Yoon-seok had no choice but to move his blade again to prevent the attacks targeting his vitals. Although he was in the b Demonify} state, it would be dangerous to hit that punch that ignored the indestructible characteristic.
Crackleeeee-.
In the end, his blade could not withstand his strength and broke. It was fortunate that it was the Harmonious Sword, not the Judgment Sword, however. Well, Asura, who had hoped it would become his someday, did not think so.
“Growl!”
Yoon-seok abandoned the useless sword and blocked Asnat’s fist with his hands.
Clench-
“What have you done all this time?”
If he’d killed everything around him recklessly, he might have become much stronger than now. He also had a similar kind of growth-type skill to b Predation}. That was why it was meaningless…
“I don’t think you should be the one saying that.”
His understanding of the opponent was concluded. From his arrogant way of speaking, he was all bark, no bite. If all he did was suppress enemies with overwhelming stats, Yoon-seok only had to get rid of that ability.
Swaaaaaaaaa-!
The bracelet in Yoon-seok’s hand shone and turned into a sword, the Saint of Ruin.
Zzzzzzzz.
Was it because the Skywrath Energy circulating in his body had sacred properties? Although his blood vessels stung from the collision with {Immortality}, Yoon-seok didn’t care and activated the power regardless.
「 To Lady’s Commandment, the agility level of all beings in the realm is demoted.」
Although he would like to equalize all stats, unfortunately, it was impossible. This prerequisite was only possible due to b Heart of the Destructive Monarch} as his powers doubled. Well, if it weren’t for the b Demonify} state, he would have maintained it for only a few seconds.
Whikkkkkkk-!
After the battle began, the Duke of Carpaine and the King had already fled far away. This head-on match was too much because of the strength difference… but that could be closed by skills.
Yoon-seok wouldn’t be beaten by such a fist if their weight class was the same.
Clack! Clack!
Yoon-seok, blocking Asnat’s remarkably slowed fist, hit him twice in a row with his sword. Although he couldn’t break through his durability and hurt him…
Yoon-seok smiled. The true value of this weapon was elsewhere.
「Carton’s Punishment Sword has hit the enemy.」
「Until the battle ends, all the opponent’s stats will fall by 1 level.」
「The existing punishment effect will become stronger.」
「Until the battle ends, all the opponent’s stats will fall by 2 levels」
Asnat’s eyes changed. Since those phrases appeared, he must have noticed what he was aiming for. Asnat, who had been actively rushing in with faith in his stats, began to step back. He thought it would be dangerous if the overlap continued, and his stat superiority would disappear.
“Are you suddenly afraid of me?”
“…These tricks can’t last forever.”
Unfortunately, provocation didn’t work. Asnat was already aware of Yoon-seok’s thoughts.
How did he have the upper hand? As he said, it was only temporary. It was Yoon-seok who was at a disadvantage after b Demonify} ended. Not only would his magic continue to be consumed, but from then on, his agility levels could no longer be equalized with Lady’s Commandment. Before it ended, he had to reduce his stats as much as possible with the Punishment Sword.
“I know what you’re up to. As long as I don’t fall for it, I’m fine.”
Asnat behaved wisely and began to focus on defense instead of attack. Having no time to waste, Yoon-seok used the Light of End without hesitation.
「Ignore all damage within the radius.」
「Time within the radius flows 20 times slower.」
「If all enemies within the radius are killed during the duration, the reuse waiting time is reset.」
A barrier of light surrounded them. Yoon-seok, gaining a temporary invincibility effect, boldly approached.
“…!”
Even with the same agility level, Yoon-seok took the lead by moving his sword brilliantly. Asnat tried hard to avoid his blows, but…
Whikkkkk-! Whik!
It didn’t last long as Yoon-seok was an expert in close combat. At some point, Asnat began to flag.
Punch! Punch! Punch! Punch!
His expression was one of question. He looked like he didn’t understand why he was being suppressed by such a slow blade. It was impossible for him, who had been fighting only with his stats, to know what the blunt sword was.
“You asked me what I was doing, but I guess you’ve been playing without training.”
Yoon-seok excitedly beat Asnat to relieve all his resentment. Lady’s Commandment was no longer needed.
「Until the battle ends, all the opponent’s stats fall by 9 levels.」
「Until the battle ends, all the opponent’s stats fall by 10 levels.」
The ranking of their stats had reversed. There was no way he could avoid now that their abilities were similar.
Whoooosh-!
The effect of the Light of End was lifted, but Yoon-seok didn’t change the shape of his weapon.
Punch! Punch! Punch! Punch!
He was going to take this opportunity to knock him down until he was demoted to Rank F.
Punch! Punch! Punch! Punch!
How many times did he hit him?
“W-wait!”
Now that he gave up on evasion, Asnat shouted.
“S-suggestion! I have a suggestion! Aren’t you curious? How I came to know this!”
Yoon-seok did not reply; he just kept punching Asnat. Although his stats had returned to the level of a 1st-floor challenger, it was an inevitable choice since his stats would be restored after the battle.
Punch! Punch! Punch! Punch!
Indeed, there was no regret. There was no way he would let go of the fish he had just caught.
‘By the way, how much time do I have left?’
When he calculated the cooldown of b Predation}, unfortunately, there were about 14 days left. Yoon-seok looked down at Asnat.
“S-stop…! I would rather die than suffer this humiliation!”
Although he said that… didn’t he say he had a similar ability to Yoon-seok? As a worker in the same industry (?), he could understand this with his generous heart.
Punch-!
Of course, he was sure it was generous.