Chapter 83: The Origin (2)


    I looked into Kim Aras deep eyes.


    Click.


    A sound, like something activating in my mind, echoed, and the worlds colors began to blend like watercolors.


    Its difficult to even consider escaping.


    I was a natural enemy to magicians.


    The magic cast by magicians could bepletely negated by the energy of Defying Heaven.


    This principle held true between me and Kim Ara.


    No matter what I did, she countered my power with the force of physics.


    Even the ck Scales, with its formidable defensive ability.


    But before her physics, its not very effective. Although its strong against physical attacks, its core was the energy of Defying Heaven, which makes it stronger against other abilities.


    I dont want to fight.


    Yet, Kim Ara appeared eager to engage with me. In her eyes, I sensed more frustration than a desire to battle.


    Had I somehow neglected Kim Ara?


    -Its karma.


    -That seems like Lee Seo-has karma, doesnt it?


    ck Heaven and Eternal Heaven murmured quietly.


    I felt it was unjust. What had I done


    I did quite a bit.


    I had indeed neglected Kim Ara somewhat. I was preupied with the other children, but Kim Ara was an exception.


    Transcendent, The Overlord.


    She possessed the potential to exceed him, and The Overlord invested the most energy in her training.


    Will you fight?


    Cant we agree to a draw?


    Will you fight?


    The Giants Sword in Kim Aras hands grew evenrger.


    With her origin power reacting, the already over 2-meter Giants Sword extended beyond 5 meters.


    It should have been difficult to lift due to its size, yet, amusingly, her power altered its weight, making it manageable for her.


    And her talent, Pacheon, could slice through both the tangible and intangible. If she fully harnessed it, her opponents would struggle to use the terrain to their advantage.


    This will be challenging.


    I lifted my hand, clutching the White Rouge, and readied for the sword draw.


    Kim Ara effortlessly hoisted the Giants Sword.


    Kwang!


    She stepped forward. The firm ground shattered as Kim Ara swung her sword.


    Swoosh-!


    Faster than that, the sense of the Sword Demon caught the gap. Drawing the ck Heaven like a streak of light, I unsheath my sword.


    The sword draw was often ssified as an assassination technique.


    This was because drawing the sword from its scabbard was no simple feat. Some swordsmen even dismissed it as a mere disy.


    In reality, most practitioners of the sword draw were assassins.


    But this world was different.


    Here, there were mad swordsmen who mastered the superior strike with a single draw, attacking faster than their opponent, oveing them with the power of artifacts.


    ck Heaven, drawn from White Rouge, collided with the Giants Sword.


    Jeeeoong!


    The sh of the swords unleashed a tremendous shockwave.


    Crazy.


    I gritted my teeth.


    The power of ck Heaven, which maximized the output of White Rouge, surpassed the impact of a normal superior attack. The reason I had obtained White Rouge from the tower master was to gain the upper hand with a preemptive strike.


    If I can trigger the explosive power that is unique to the talent of the Sword Demon, I thought, I was confident I could seize the initiative even against a superior strike, unless my opponent specialized in preemptive attacks.


    Yet, it was only an equal match. No, I was slightly at a disadvantage.


    I was pushed back by Kim Aras overwhelming physical power, unable to gain the upper hand with a single strike.


    I moved swiftly.


    With my other hand, I drew the Winters Sword from subspace and slotted it into White Rouge.


    An artifact?


    Kim Ara inquired expressionlessly and made another expansive movement.


    A movement full of openings.


    However, I couldnt exploit them due to the advantage of distance. Fueled by her source power, the Giants Sword grew another meter. The range of her sword strike was now a whopping six meters.


    Gasp!


    Kim Ara swung her sword. The Giants Sword struck thebyrinths wall.


    Swoosh.


    Kim Aras talent, Pacheon, activated. The Giants Sword she wielded tore through space, slicing through thebyrinths wall.


    ck sh Sword Technique.


    I dove toward Kim Ara. Pulling out a ck sword from my ck bracelet, I sent it forward as a feint, infused with the subtlety of the ck sh Sword Technique.


    Swoosh!


    Kim Ara dodged with minimal movement. She turned her head and shifted her arm, but there was a slight gap.


    I activated ck Heavens internal skill.


    Internal skill activation, Soulbreaker.


    An intangible wave pressed down on the surroundings. Kim Ara frowned. Then, I activated the Ring of Sun and Moon.


    Internal skill activation, Extreme Heat.


    Internal skill activation, Extreme Cold.


    Whoosh! Jeejejeje!


    Intense heat and cold condensed into a sphere, which soon gathered into a pinnacle.


    Kwaaaang!


    It burst forth in the form of a beam. Kim Ara, taken aback, swung the Giants Sword.


    In the moment she blocked the freezing, scorchingser with the Giants Sword, I swung my sword with ck Heavens might.


    Soul Capturing Sword Technique.


    Soul Stealing Strike.


    Jeeeoong!


    Kim Ara pulled out a dagger from her bosom. She bit her lip.


    As expected, youre strong.


    I can handle it.


    I clicked my tongue inwardly and retreated. Since I couldnt use Extreme Heat and Extreme Cold for a while, I aimed to at least secure some advantage.


    Want to continue?


    I asked Kim Ara, maintaining aposed expression.


    Thats enough.


    Kim Ara sheathed the Giants Sword. It signaled her intention to cease fighting. I sighed and levitated ck Heaven with Nyeom. With the Conceptual Stat Energy of Defying Heaven at 30, adding a retrieval function meant that continued fighting posed no trouble.


    Then, shall we join forces this time?


    Form a team together?


    I extended my hand with a smile, offering a handshake.


    Kim Ara seemed to consider it for a moment, then nodded and took my hand.


    Okay, lets team up.<hr>


    This is cheating.


    Subordinate B of Hong Yu-hwaughed helplessly. About 15 students had gathered, all eyeing each other, vying for the relics.


    Suddenly, two people barged in.


    Lee Seo-ha and Kim Ara.


    Both were top-tier existences. Although Kim Aras rank was in the 200s, most knew she deliberately didnt climb higher.


    There was amon belief that if Kim Ara really tried, she could easily be in the top 5.


    And those two joined hands.


    Kim Ara!


    Got it!


    Kim Ara stomped her foot with all her might. Thebyrinth floor, which didnt break under normal impacts, caved in.


    Then, the enormous sword () she wielded, condensed with all her power, grew to 10 meters and she swung it.


    Block it!


    Mages, what are you doing! Cast your magic quickly!


    The students panicked as the warriors rushed in. The mages were within the 10-meter attack range, so they forcibly blocked it. Then the mages began casting their magic.


    Fireball, Wind Seal, Lightning Shock, Water Sword.


    From at least lower to mid-level, dozens of spells were unleashed.


    It could have been a situation where Kim Ara would have retired if Lee Seo-ha hadnt been there.


    Wow.


    Lee Seo-haughed leisurely.


    Whoosh.


    The energy of Defying Heaven from ck Heaven surged. Visibly to the eye, a power that negates everything gathered in ck Heaven.


    Screech.


    It began slicing through all the magic.


    Crazy Really crazy


    Slicing magic.


    It was a simple phrase. But the warrior ss knew its significance wasnt light. Why protect mages? Because they have the power to turn the tides of battle.


    In other words, a single warrior usually couldnt block the firepower of mages.


    But the top student of the year easily blocked it, as if it was nothing.


    Lets go again, Ara.


    Okay.


    At Lee Seo-has words, Kim Ara switched to attacking. Some warriors panicked and stepped back, while half gritted their teeth and stepped forward to block Kim Aras attack.


    But the onught that was barely held back by everyone rushing in couldnt be contained by half as many.


    Kwaaaang!


    The colossal 10-meter sword descended upon the warriors.<hr>


    Easy, so easy.


    I hummed a tune while collecting the relics.


    We had already gathered three relics.


    Kim Ara would attack, and I would defend. If the opponents attack was solid, I would step in to create an opening, and then Kim Ara would strike.


    This strategy was simple, yet at the level of first-years, it was unbeatable.


    What about the second year?


    First-years were known as the Golden Riders.


    The difference in ability between first and second years is often discussed; the first-years tend to be more exceptional, with a higher average value as well.


    But since third-years were also called the Golden Riders, I anticipated a challenging battle with them.


    Thinking about the second year.


    It seemed that we would tackle that in the second semester.


    Joint training.


    A ss where you trained with seniors who were a year ahead.


    In the second year, they mentored the first-years, showing them what they could achieve in a year, and the first-years learnedbat techniques from the second-yearsthats the purpose of the training.


    I was really looking forward to it.


    My second favorite character was definitely Seo Ga-yeon. The third was Kim Seo-hyun.


    And the first was a second-year student and the current student council president.


    Finally found them.


    A voice tinged with excitement rang out. At the same moment, I sensed numerous presences.


    The viins are ruining our grades. Justice will pass judgment on you.


    Saint was leading a group of about 30 students.


    This might be a bit difficult.


    I smiled and casually stretched.


    Of course, victory wasnt out of the question.