Chapter 76 To know the enemy and the self (2)

The opposite of efficiency was waste. In other words, the less waste there was the more efficiency. Yoon-seok had been trying to reduce his waste as much as possible, but it wasn’t easy compared to other challengers.

Although it was reduced due to Skill Synthesis, Yoon-seok still acquired many skills from b Predation}. Therefore, he thought that it would be beneficial to continue ascending instead of stopping to increase his proficiency. His proficiency was bound to be filled in someday, and he improved way faster in trials. Of course, now that he was against himself, that judgment was returned to him with interest…

‘That’s great.’

He was willing to accept this trial. If he could identify his shortcomings, he just had to make up for them since time would solve them through trial and error. What’s more, he had a clear textbook before him, so all he had to do was watch and learn.

Yoon-seok admitted it coolly. He still lacked confidence compared to his opponent. Thus, he would have to drag it on as long as he could.

「By Lady’s Commandment, no healing effects will be lost within the realm.」

That’s why he canceled the suppression of healing first. He wondered what would happen when the two conflicting premises were combined, but they were completely offset.

“Avatar.”

Next, Yoon-seok rose to the sky using Avatar’s wings to buy time. The opponent also followed using Avatar, but the distance remained constant due to their similar speeds.

‘Let’s start with b Azure Dragon’s Energy}….’

In terms of strength, he was at a disadvantage. Therefore, that part needs to be addressed first.

Whoooooosh!

Yoon-seok infused Azure Dragon Energy into the sword lathered with Bloodseeker Energy. As if in protest, the two refused to mix. It was blocked just like the times he tried before. But…

‘There’s no need to mix.’

His clone revealed a new way. Water and oil didn’t have to be mixed. If they could synergize…

Then that was enough.

‘…Done.’

After a few trials, Yoon-seok succeeded. Azure Dragon’s Energy contained the Bloodseeker’s Energy that was always difficult and violent to control by coating it. If Bloodseeker’s Energy was an active volcano on full blast, now it looked right before the explosion.

‘Then…’

Now his last preparation for combat was done. Yoon-seok immediately stopped his ascent. Turning downward, he confronted his other self beneath him.

Whikkkkkkk!

Boom, boom, boom!

Their swords clashed with a loud whistle. However, this time, he didn’t lag in strength and achieved a tie. No, Yoon-seok, who came down from the top, gained a slight advantage with his acceleration and weight.

But when they were approaching the ground…

‘So I could use it this way.’

A hand suddenly popped out of the opponent’s chest and grabbed Yoon-seok’s neck. He knew as soon as he saw what skill was applied. Avatar’s ability to transform his body was being used and controlled in real-time.

‘If he can do it, I can do it too.’

Believing so, Yoon-seok also responded with the same tactic. The important thing was to embody the image in your head.

Plorkk!

Sharp thorns sprouted out of Yoon-seok’s neck, mercilessly shredding the hand around his neck.

“…”

Even though enhanced pain was added through b Torture Technician}, his opponent didn’t let out a single whine of pain. However, he wondered if his concentration was dropping. Yoon-seok created and threw 5 Bloodseeker Swords, but only three formed in response. However, those three blades began to divide into several pieces.

It was a profound mixture of Bloodseeker Sword and Shifting.

‘So this is something I can do.’

For the first time, he wasn’t pushed back. Yoon-seok was pleased and struck back with the same method.

Boom, boom, boom!

In an instant, dozens of Bloodseeker Swords collided, and soon most of them were equalized. Then, the few surviving swords headed for his opponent.

‘Now, what is he going to do?’

They were battling each other with the Judgment Sword, and Yoon-seok proved more dominant during the Bloodseeker Sword match. In this situation, what choice would his clone make?

The answer was simple.

Swoooooooosh!

Not the best option, but second best. He used Moonlight Sword to intercept Bloodseeker Swords from a long distance with b Trajectory Enhancement}.

Not bad except for the fact that Yoon-seok’s Moonlight Sword was now freely held in his other hand.

“…”

He didn’t intend to miss his winning chance now. The moment Yoon-seok’s opponent blocked the Bloodseeker’s Sword, slipping through the gap, he stabbed his sword through their heart. But…

“Force Shield.”

Rank B- skills he acquired from the demon. Yoon-seok’s sword was blocked by Force Shield. However, Yoon-seok didn’t think it was a pity.

‘It’s the same whether he induces or blocks a blow anyway.’

After gaining b Bloodseeker’s Ultimatum}, he’d crushed his heart, smashed his brain, and cut off his neck, yet he still didn’t die. But that didn’t mean he was immortal. Bloodseeker’s Energy was consumed in healing his body. In other words, Bloodseeker’s Energy was vital to his life force, and Force Shield consumed magic in proportion to the impact.

‘After all, the question is who will fall on the ground first.’

After all the meaningless struggle, he attempted to retrieve his extended sword.

Yoon-seok frowned. The sword remained stuck as if it had glue on it.

“…Sticky?”

The fundamental technique of the Flowing Sword restricted the opponent’s sword by relaxing when the opponent was flexing and flexing when the opponent was relaxing. But it was a little different from what Yoon-seok knew.

Just as he tried to twist the flow and stop using the technique.

‘Graft?’

Yoon-seok’s sword was bent at a vertical angle, then headed for Yoon-seok’s neck.

“Force Shield.”

Yoon-seok used Force Shield as a defense, consuming a lump of his energy.

‘It is good as a defense, but the consumption rate is too high….’

The blows exchanged midair resulted in a tie. But, considering how his opponent didn’t lose the gloves’ effects in the first combat, he still had the upper score. Soon, Yoon-seok used his wings to cover his opponent’s body.

He then accelerated down to the ground.

Whikkkkkkkkkk!

The two bodies shot rapidly down to the ground. It seemed obvious that neither of them would be safe if they collided with the ground. Each of their heads would burst, and a large chunk of their energy would need to be consumed to heal. His opponent struggled to get out of his grasp, but Yoon-seok put more strength to hold him tighter.

‘Not yet…’

30m, 20m, 10m…

Yoon-seok continued to check the distance as the ground approached at a rapid pace.

‘Now.’

Right before their bodies reached the ground, Yoon-seok lifted Lady’s Commandment. At the same time, the premise that his opponent had cast was restored.

「 To Lady’s Commandment, all beings within the realm lose healing effects.」

Now he was satisfied with the conditions. If his head exploded, he would die. But, Yoon-seok didn’t intend to die together. It was just part of a one-sided combat technique.

Yoon-seok took out the last card he had prepared.

‘Enhanced Speed.’

As they reached the ground, Yoon-seok’s body moved twenty meters mid-air in an instant. The re-use timer was six hundred seconds. That guy used it earlier, so it wasn’t yet available.

Boom!

A loud crash was produced as his body collided with the ground, but no injuries were visible on his body. Yet, Yoon-seok smiled. He saw a blue light shining out of his gloves.

“This is a real tie.”

In the first round, that guy had the upper hand. In the second round of air combat, he barely caught up and tied the game. Now was the time to start the next round.

Whoooooosh!

There was no break just because one round was over. Yoon-seok, who teleported mid-air, threw the Bloodseeker Swords at his opponent.

“This again?”

Graft. He wasn’t sure, but that guy used a skill similar to the technique the Heavenly Devil mentioned.

‘How does he do it?’

He couldn’t tell even though he’d been watching carefully. He thought he would try to imitate the boomerang-like energy, but…

It was only possible to drop it sideways, proving to be impossible to send it back again.

‘That’s difficult.’

Maybe if he’d shown the same movement over and over again and gave him enough time to process it in his head, he would figure it out. It was quite challenging to follow right away, however. Even more so, with every passing second, another attack flew in.

Boom!

A fierce battle that was difficult to decide who held the upper hand. Yoon-seok bit his lip.

‘Does he still think he had leverage?’

His opponent still maintained Lady’s Commandment, the whole territory still suppression of healing. Considering the use of Bloodseeker’s Energy in maintaining the law…it was clear how much his opponent was expecting their victory.

‘Sure, there’s more he hasn’t shown yet….’

A hidden move. He didn’t know what it was, and, frankly speaking, he couldn’t even guess. But his intuition yelled at him that soon, something huge would come.

Don’t let your guard down.

“…”

After one attack, two, three, four…

Their intense battle continued as they soared through the air. That was just a superficial appearance, though. When he looked deep into it, it was monotonous. Attacking repeatedly in the same way, defending in the same way. It was only for a moment that he felt unfamiliar with the fact that he was competing with himself.

Yoon-seok could find himself slowly getting used to the fight. That was when he started to pay more attention.

It was then.

‘…Huh?’

He saw the opponent’s heel was gently lifted, a small movement that he wouldn’t have noticed if he was careless. It looked like he was trying to move back to widen the distance…

Why? It didn’t make any sense.

The question was left unanswered. Yoon-seok kicked off the ground and narrowed their distance. He believed that even though he didn’t know what it meant, he shouldn’t let it be.

But at that moment.

Was it an illusion that his opponent’s eye brightened under the mask? No, it couldn’t be.

‘Don’t tell me that this was a mind game…?’

It sounded ridiculous, but he had to face it. The fact that such an assumption had already occurred in his mind was no different than proving it as fact. This time, his opponent was himself.

Swaaaaaaaaaaa!

His foe swung his dual sword in the air. From the tip of the swords, red tidal waves began to flood out.

‘The Heavenly Devil’s Sword…’

Yoon-seok’s face turned to an expression of distress. If only their distance were a little wider, it wouldn’t have been much of a concern. He could use the same move to stop it.

Yet, there was the momentary gap from the narrowing distance.

It caught Yoon-seok’s ankle.

‘Vajra Step.’

It was the first solution that came to mind. However, Yoon-seok decided that he should save it for later.

‘In the end, I have no choice but to try it.’

It was make-or-break. Yoon-seok told himself to at least give it a try and moved his sword in response.

Swaaaaaaaaaaa!

Red tidal waves began to pour off Yoon-seok’s sword. However, the size was small because it was urgently spread out.

Thrum, thrum, thrum, thrum!

The red tsunamis clashed between the two. The entire stadium shook and rumbled as if the sky was collapsing. Yoon-seok remained attentive as he watched every moment until they bumped into each other.

“…”

As expected, he was no match for that power.

The tidal wave that Yoon-seok fired late was engulfed by his opponent’s. However, the momentum eased from the clash. He predicted that he could block it once more.

“Force Shield.”

A slightly red-colored shield unfolded around him. And then…

In the tidal wave that seemed to fade away, something blue wriggled and leaped.

“…”

The moment it revealed its identity, he was speechless. If Yoon-seok’s memory was correct, that was called…

Mounting Azure Dragon.

It was the technique Chul Namgoong demonstrated.

‘Is anyone even ascending through this crazy level of difficulty?’

He thought he just needed to make good use of himself, but wasn’t this too much? It had been a long time since Yoon-seok wanted to shout so badly.