ăGet ready. The free fight is about to begin.ă
There was no matching. This meant that the opponent wasnât at least a present challenger. That aside, what did free fight mean? If he hadnât heard about the trial from the Sword Demon in advance, Yoon-seok wouldâve been caught off-guard.
ăCountdown is starting.ă
An arena that was at least ten times larger than the previous 8th-floor Infinite Duel. A total of eight figures, including Yoon-seok, stood set at regular intervals.
ă3.ă
According to Sword Demon, they were challengers who had been subjected to this trial in the past. There wasnât a standard on who will be present, and it was said to be random. Thankfully, no one seemed particularly dangerous.
ă2.ă
He was worried. What if a monster like Cheon-ma appeared? Well, he would always be happy to be up against a strong opponent, butâŠonly to a certain extent.
ă1.ă
After the last second, a new notification appeared.
ăSurvive for 30 minutes.ă
Yoon-seok wasnât surprised because heâd heard about it in advance. However, the other challengers who thought this was real were different.
âWait!â
As soon as it started, everyone stopped in unison.
âIt seems that we only need to survive 30 minutes, so we donât necessarily have to see blood, right?â
A man who appeared to be from Moorim spoke up. He wore neat attire and an antiquely styled beard. With his elderly appearance, he emitted a very gentle atmosphere.
ââŠâ
Did he think he couldnât jump to conclusions? No one agreed to his argument. But no one ignored his opinion and pulled out a weapon either. Come to think of it; the Sword Demon said this was how it went. A minute after the start, until this phrase appeared.
ăRewards will be paid based on the number of people killed.ă
ăSpecial compensation will be given if the duel ends within 15 minutes.ă
It was different from the other trials. It wasnât a fight to survive or die, but a choice. Peace would come if everyone gave up their greed, but.âŠ
âThatâs never going to happen.â
In an instant, the challengersâ eyes changed. What was a little funny was that the man who made the initial suggestion also changed.
ââŠâ
He was sure everyone also saw the notification, but no one said anything. The heavy silence, like the calm before the storm. The stadium was heated up by everyoneâs desire to kill.
âBut is this also a coincidence?â
Yoon-seok, who was casually observing the challengers, discovered a new fact. Two mythical creatures, two human beings, two beast-people, and two elves. Coincidentally, the eight challengers gathered here had the same ratios, and Yoon-seok wasnât the only one who noticed this.
âLook, Iâm not sure because youâre wearing a mask, but seeing how all of them are teamed up, I thought you are one of us. Why donât we join forces?
He heard it as if someone whispered next to him. It was clear whose voice this was. Even if they didnât state that they were human, he could feel the sound waves vibrating off through the manâs inner power, the same man who first sought peace.
âOh, do you not know how to use Sonic Casting?
Yoon-seok had never heard of this technique before. At first, he thought it might be a skill, but seeing how it vibrated off his internal energy meant it was a technique.
âThen you donât have to answer. Just nod your head if you agree.
Cheon-ma didnât teach him this. Perhaps she didnât feel the need to tell him. But he just hadnât learned; it wasnât that he couldnât.
âIs this how you do it?â
Instead of expressing oneâs opinion with body language, Yoon-seok spoke after channeling inner energy on his lips. Then, he manipulated the sound waves to prevent them from spreading and sent them straight to the person he wanted.
âSeems like there are many loopholes as the principle is simple.â
Anyone sensitive to Qi would notice if someone were using sound waves, and if one decided to take that path, he would be able to eavesdrop easily.
âHow do I know I can trust you?â
Maybe Yoon-seokâs voice was properly transmitted as he received an instant reply.
âAs expected, weâre from the same place. Under the circumstances, I canât tell you my name, but Iâm from Jeonchang Sect. And I donât intend to betray a junior here.
Jeonchang Sect. Yoon-seok, who wasnât from Moorim, didnât know where it was. However, seeing how he was asking for his trust with confidence, it must be a sect association. He was dumbfounded.
âIâll distract them. And if I see a chance, Iâll kill the mythical female creature with sharp ears first. She appears the most threatening. Donât lose the opportunity; just kill one person.
Stating a strategy like that so casually. Well, he didnât blame him. If he could overcome the 5th-floor, he could overcome this too. Nevertheless, these people here chose to risk their lives to go through trials to kill their opponents. Therefore, Yoon-seok never had any sympathy or mercy in this place, and he could understand the man who used simple tricks to win.
ButâŠ
âHow can he ask me to believe him and say things like thatâŠ.â
Wasnât that absurd? In Yoon-seokâs eyes, the man seemed like someone who would put a knife in his back if given a chance. Perhaps he took Yoon-seokâs silence as an agreement; the man continued as planned.
âHey! Everybody calm down! Even if we fight, letâs talk first!â
âTalk? Youâre kidding.â
The creatures snorted, the elves remained silent, and beast-people held up their weapons and stayed on guard.
âKill and earn rewards. Itâs no different than now. Everyone chose a grand trial with their own hands, so why would we hesitate?â
âNot everyone thinks the same thing as you. Hey, girl! What about you? Thereâs a way for all of us to survive. Do we have to shed blood?â
The man, talking to the mythical creatures, naturally shot a question at the elf woman he had targeted earlier. She couldnât answer immediately, as the man shouted while pointing at Yoon-seok.
âThat man said heâs with me. Please lend your strength to me, lady!â
At first, he asked for an opinion, but not anymore. He persuaded her by clearly stating his goal. Did he think it was good to be in the majority? The fairy nodded after much thinking.
âOkay, if thereâs a way for everyone to survive, Iâd love to see that.â
In an instant, three challengers joined forces. Perhaps this side was more advantageous, as another beast-person joined.
âAll of you donât look easy, and we donât know what the extra rewards are, so thereâs no need to take the risk. Let me join.â
So four of them gathered. The rest of them couldnât move hastily. Two mythical creatures, one fairy, and one beast-person. It was foolish to go against the majority unless they were united.
âTsk. If this was bound to happen, then I shouldâve relaxed.â
Soon after, the fairy and beast, who didnât belong to this side, also laid their decision down. In the end, only the two aggressive mythical creatures were left. They remained on guard, but they didnât make the first attack.
Yoon-seok was stunned. It was a talent that the man was able to turn the tables to his influence. It seemed that they finally came to have peace. Like the common saying that nuclear weapons inhibit war, the first thing needed for peace was power. That was why a bitter taste remained in his mouth.
He felt that the man was looking for an opportunity to carry out the previous plan, even in this situation.
âIn the end, it was just a trick from the start.â
Even before the rewards were announced, the man proposed to maintain peace. But now, it was suspicious whether he even meant it or not. Yoon-seok drew his Judgment Sword slightly from its sheathe, and he scanned each challenger in order.
ăYouâve encountered evil.ă
There were a total of three people who had the mark. Two oppressed mythical creatures who couldnât seem to fight in this situation andâŠthe guy who created all this.
This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org
âWas he just a madmanâŠ?â
He almost let out an exasperated laugh. It would have been better if he had hidden intentions or needed the rewards. But looking at him, he was enjoying the whole situation. Even the fact that he came from Jeonchang or whatever sect also seemed like a lie.
âWho is this guy?â
Yoon-seok remained silent while questioning such things. However, as if heâd sensed something wrong when Yoon-seok suddenly pulled out his sword, the man asked.
âBrother, please keep your sword! In this situation, we donât have to shed blood. So donât trigger it. The same goes for everyone. I know youâre all nervous, but please lower your weapons!â
The man said so not only to Yoon-seok but also to the others. But no one put down their weapons. The man didnât even care about them.
âLady, please lower your weapons! Didnât you say you wanted to see if there was a way to survive? Let me help you!â
He clung to the elf woman. The reason was simple. As he said earlier, unlike her gentle-looking personality, she had the most threatening presence.
ââŠOkay.â
The woman reluctantly lowered her arms. And just then.
âNow!
With a single word, the manâs body disappeared. Power? Skills? He had no idea. However, just like Yoon-seokâs Enhanced Speed, his body moved next to the fairy woman instantly, and the moment he tried to stab his sword into her heart.
Yoon-seok sliced the air with a sympathetic smile.
âWell, I might look the craziest here, butâŠ.â
The second tactic of the Heavenly Sword, Traverse.
Slash-!
A solid line formed across the elf womanâs neck, and her head slid down and fell to the floor.
ăOne enemy is killed.ă
Surprisingly, it was not by the manâs sword. But Yoon-seokâs.
ââŠ?â
The man stood frozen at what just happened before the sword reached. He couldnât seem to understand the situation at all, butâŠall he did was observe because he was curious about the manâs next move. Thatâs what he expected all this while.
âIâm sorry, everyone.â
Yoon-seok apologized to the other challengers. They all chose to take on the trial of their own will, and he didnât intend to rationalize just because they were recreated by the Tower.
ââŠB-brother? What are you talking about all of a sudden? D-did you do this, too?â
Yoon-seok didnât reply to the manâs words. He didnât feel the need to do so. Instead, he looked at the other challengers and continued.
âI need to be stronger.â
He realized it again today. If he wanted peace, he needed to have power. Absolute power that could suppress anyone. Of course, no one would die if Yoon-seok wanted that to happen because he had to be powerful enough to accomplish that.
But how long would that work? He couldnât accomplish what he wanted without it. To reach the goal by bearing everything without avoiding anything was the definition of Demon Path for Yoon-seok.
It wasnât decided by anyone else but himself.
ă To Ladyâs Commandment, the range of Judgment of the Ruined Monarch is increased by 10 times within the realm.ă
Soon after completing all the preparations, Yoon-seok looked at the man again and said.
âI donât know if youâve overcome this trial or not. But if we meet againâŠ.â
Yoon-seok chanted the command internally, then continued under the instantly darkened sky.
âIâll kill you again wherever you are.â
Whooooooooosh-!
With the roar of space tearing apart, the Light of Destruction sank throughout the arena. Yoon-seok muttered in a small voice.
âWell, you wonât even remember.â
ăVictory.ă
ă1,500,000 AP will be paid as a reward.ă
ăAll enemies were killed. 3.5 million AP will be paid as an additional reward.ă
ăThe duel ended within 15 minutes. Special rewards will be given.ă
ăUnique Skill {Predation} has been activated.ă
Was it because he killed as many as seven challengers all at once? As {Predation} activated, the notifications stacked up. Regardless, Yoon-seok looked at the bracelet on his wrist. The gray beads somehow looked a little darker.