Chapter 9
When a player from a higher floor descended to a lower floor, all of their stats, skills, and traits were adjusted downward.
They would be lowered to the average level of the players on that floor, or even below it.
The clone's stats should have been adjusted to around my current level.
Maybe even lower.
Even so, the aura coming from it was overwhelming.
And then there were those three traits.
They were all things I had obtained in the Murim world on the 50th Floor during my previous life.
That meant, at the very least, I was fighting against the version of myself from the 50th Floor.
“Ha.”
A dry laugh kept escaping my mouth.
The pressure coming from the clone was so overwhelming that it felt impossible to win.
“Six points into Agility and six into Strength.”
Clench.
Every muscle in my body tightened.
Strength surged into my grip.
But I wasn't stopping there.
Now it was time to use everything I had prepared.
[ You have used the ‘Elixir of Growth’. ]
[ All stats increase by +20 for 10 minutes. ]
[ The muscles throughout your entire body begin to surge. ]
[ You have exceeded the limits of the Tutorial. ]
Grit.
I clenched my teeth and stared at the clone.
Deep, pitch-black eyes.
The instant our gazes met, my instincts screamed at me.
…It's coming.
The clone kicked off the ground.
The force shattered the earth beneath its feet.
Cracks spread outward like broken glass, and a deep footprint was carved into the ground.
At the same moment, a tremendous boom spread through the entire area.
BOOM—!
For an instant, my body moved on its own with only one thought in mind.
Block it.
I tightened my grip around the dagger.
Whoosh!
The clone spun its body at incredible speed.
It sliced through the wind as gracefully as if it were performing a sword dance.
Dark-red fighting energy surged like waves over the clone's arm.
Screeeeech—!
“Ghk!”
Our blades collided with a deafening grinding sound.
Sparks exploded from where the edges met.
The pressure from the clash was powerful enough to affect the entire surroundings.
The floor of the training ground crumbled like tofu.
“…That makes one exchange—”
At that moment, the clone's black hair fluttered.
“……!”
Swaaash!
Kagagak!
It pressed forward with savage force, as though trying to tear me apart.
My waist, which had been supporting the pressure, slowly bent backward under the overwhelming strength.
Grrrrrk.
The clone didn't stop there.
While still in the air, it rotated its body once again.
The slash was sharp enough to cut through the air itself.
I couldn't take that attack head-on.
Grit.
I clenched my teeth.
I redirected the repeated sword strikes to the side, throwing the clone's previously stable balance off.
Now.
For just a moment, the clone staggered.
I swung my blade down.
But in that instant—
Its figure vanished.
Where did it—
A chill ran down my spine.
Killing intent.
From behind me.
I immediately turned around.
Black energy poured from the clone's hand, forming into sharp spikes.
They shot straight toward my head.
“……!”
Whoosh!
Just before one pierced between my eyebrows, I barely managed to avoid it.
The spike passed less than an inch above my head.
I had only survived because I instinctively lowered my body.
Warm blood trickled from near my scalp.
Drip.
Drip.
“…….”
The blood slowly flowed down my face.
The metallic smell of blood reached my nose.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It was a trait I had obtained after fighting the Heavenly Demon in the Murim world on the 50th Floor.
That was why I knew.
If the clone's stats had been even slightly higher…
That single attack might have killed me.
My fingertips trembled violently.
Only two exchanges.
And I had already been pushed this far.
…For now, I have no choice but to endure.
I only need to survive eight more exchanges.
Around seven minutes later.
Countless sword wounds covered my body.
I desperately held onto my fading vision while breathing heavily.
“Haa… Haa….”
Meanwhile, the clone didn't look tired in the slightest.
Like a machine, it simply continued swinging its sword at its enemy.
A horrifying killing intent poured from its body.
Then it simply brought its sword down.
Wooooong!
A dark-red sword aura sliced through the air as it descended toward my head.
For some reason, an ominous chill passed through me.
If I block that…
I'll die.
In that split second, I twisted my body and barely managed to defend myself.
BOOOOM—!
Wooooong!
The collision sent a huge vibration through my sword.
The impact smashed my body downward.
The ground cracked and caved beneath me.
“Cough!”
I didn't even have time to recover.
The previously expressionless clone suddenly smiled wickedly.
Then it raised its sword vertically and stabbed downward.
CRACK!
I twisted my body to the left.
Then I kicked off the ground and leapt away, creating distance between us.
“…….”
Drip.
Drip.
The right sleeve of my shirt slowly turned darker.
I had avoided the attack in a hurry, but the blade had still cut deep into my arm.
My legs were beginning to collapse.
I forced them upright again.
I pointed the tip of my sword toward the clone.
After calming my breathing, I gave it a provoking smile.
“Hoo… One exchange left.”
The clone's expression turned cold.
Dark-red energy exploded from its entire body.
Then a hand made of shadow sliced through the air toward me.
Tak!
It grabbed onto my sword blade and began cleverly wrapping around it.
Like a snake coiling around its prey before swallowing it, the shadow twisted around my blade.
Hissss—!
Then it shot toward the hand holding my sword like a venomous snake.
Flash.
Suddenly—
Everything around me seemed to slow down.
It was as if the entire world had entered a simulation where everything except me moved in slow motion.
A world where everything had slowed.
Meanwhile, my thoughts accelerated to their absolute limit.
I forcibly contracted every muscle in my body.
My thigh muscles had already reached their physical limit.
I forced them beyond it.
“Hup!”
I released a short breath.
Then I tightened my grip on the sword handle.
My supporting foot pushed against the ground.
Moonlight scattered across the blade as I silently swung downward.
Slash!
Slash!
Slashslashslash!
A sharp arc was drawn through the air.
The blade smoothly cut through everything in its path.
All of this happened in less than a single breath.
The shadowy hand was cut apart so thoroughly that its original shape could no longer be recognized.
Pieces scattered across the ground.
For the first time, surprise appeared on the expressionless clone's face.
“With this… it's over.”
[ The conditions for Trait Plunder have been fulfilled. ]
[ Traits - Lee Suhyeok (Clone) ]
- Sword and Body as One (S)
- Heavenly Demon Divine Art (S)
- Protective Aura (S)
[ Remaining duration of the Elixir of Growth: 00:59 ]
I had barely one minute left.
I had to kill the clone in front of me within that time.
All three traits were things I needed.
However, I didn't have enough internal energy to freely use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art right now.
The same applied to Protective Aura, which required constant maintenance.
This is it.
[ You have plundered the Trait ‘Sword and Body as One (S)’. ]
- If you completely break down an opponent's sword technique, you can learn that sword technique.
- Internal Energy greatly increases.
- Swordsmanship proficiency greatly increases.
[ The Special Stat ‘Internal Energy’ has been added. ]
[ Due to the Trait effect, all stats greatly increase. ]
