Chapter 74

In duels, there’s a brief waiting period between rounds to change traits.

Since matchups are random, starting the first round at a disadvantage is unavoidable.

That’s why they give you a chance to turn things around.

This waiting time was an important element that made duels include strategy beyond simple physical combat.

-That effortless takedown was impressive

-This is true skill!

-But seriously, shouldn’t someone this good go pro????

-I’m getting tired of being amazed lol

-The skill with which he easily destroyed that high-level veteran

-Did he really copy the Assassination Guild technique in the middle?

The body of the enemy lying in front disappeared, and Seo-jun was likewise summoned back to the starting point.

The next round would begin in 2 minutes.

“Yes, I copied the Assassination Guild technique in the middle.”

While giving an answer, Seo-jun opened the traits window.

-Why are you opening that?

-Want to browse around?

-Honestly, it would feel awkward to just sit still

The viewers naturally assumed Seo-jun wouldn’t change his traits.

Since he hadn’t changed them for raids or escorts, it wasn’t easy to think he’d suddenly opened the traits window to actually change them.

“Hmm, I’m thinking of trying a different playstyle this time. Why am I suddenly changing, you ask?”

Seo-jun pondered the reason.

After all.

During waiting periods, you need to predict your opponent’s moves.

Rankers know all the common builds and their matchups, so unless you’re using an OP sect that has the upper hand regardless of build, this fight becomes rock-paper-scissors.

You can choose to push through with a build you’re good at even if it’s disadvantageous matchup-wise.

But what if someone who’s always thrown rock suddenly throws scissors?

“My opponent probably thinks I won’t change, so wouldn’t this be the perfect time to switch for maximum effect?”

The reason for selecting a new trait wasn’t anything special.

“And it’ll make other people abandon their plans to easily snipe me. Hehe.”

He was changing because it benefited him, not out of simple mischief—he hoped there wouldn’t be any misunderstanding about that.

-He’s diabolical lmao

-This is strategy

-The intellect of Korea University!

-Intellect, not stamina lol

-Did you finally put points into INT!

-The opponent is probably getting ready to run away with a grin, then BAM!

Seo-jun first selected the minor traits.

The ones you could choose without selecting a core trait.

Like basic attack power increases and such.

These were purely personal preference areas that had minimal impact on playstyle.

-Build-analyzing grandpa mode: ON

-What kind of masterpiece build will he bring this time

-Where did this whole ‘build’ thing even come from…

-Dark sword! Let’s go ranged!

“Ah, everyone, I’m going to do something orthodox this time.”

Seo-jun’s fingertip moved toward the core trait at the very end of the trait branches.

[Imperfect Heavenly Demon Divine Art]

“Let’s experiment with this once.”

Heavenly Demon Divine Art is a peerless martial art mainly depicted as being used by the Heavenly Demon.

Naturally, it couldn’t be left out of For the Murim, which features the demonic cult faction, so the developers included it, but it wasn’t particularly chosen by users.

The in-game effect, befitting the greatest ascension martial art, was that all actions performed using internal energy were enhanced.

When sword energy clashed, it would devour the enemy’s sword energy, and when you gathered internal energy in your feet like using lightness skills and stepped down with force, it could deliver stuns and area damage.

While this didn’t break the setting of being a peerless martial art, there was a problem—specifically, the modifier attached before Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

-It was strange that the Heavenly Demon hadn’t used it until now

-So you’re finally bringing out the Heavenly Demon Divine Art…

-???: I tried not to use this one thing

-Master… I’m sorry

-I’m curious what penalty you’ll choose lol

Imperfect.

Due to the setting that the proper teachings hadn’t been fully transmitted, selecting Heavenly Demon Divine Art required choosing a penalty below it.

‘Well, that’s how the demonic cult is.’

It seemed this was how they balanced things.

This penalty was something people really detested.

“So, what should I pick?”

There’s a term called glass cannon.

It combines “glass body” and “cannon”—usually applied to cases with powerful damage like a cannon but durability as fragile as glass.

Selecting the Heavenly Demon’s first penalty would let you experience being this glass cannon.

The trait name was,

[Body’s Collapse]

Something about being imperfect.

If you selected this trait, you could fall into critical condition from a single hit.

Since health recovery like Absorption Technique was also impossible, even demonic cult rankers absolutely wouldn’t select this trait unless the skill gap was enormous.

“I’m not sure what the second one feels like yet, so I’m torn.”

The second trait was even more problematic.

[Cognitive Dullness]

Perfect as a side effect of imperfect demonic arts.

In his previous life too, demonic cult members were originally full of people who lost their reason and went completely insane, causing all sorts of trouble.

Wouldn’t the head of such a demonic cult be even worse?

Of course, it didn’t actually slow cognition—instead, it dulled the body.

In other words, selecting this made your body heavy and difficult to move as you wished.

Think of it as having a constant slow debuff.

“But I heard it’s not so bad that you can’t fight at all?”

He’d been told the maximum speed you could achieve was about as fast as swinging a sword with completely relaxed arms.

-Seo-jun, my friend. People usually call that ‘can’t fight at all.’

-Better to go glass body and avoid getting hit even once

-With the streamer’s skill, never getting hit once seems possible

-If you don’t really like suffering, don’t choose the second one

-Even watching that trait is frustrating lol

Hmm.

“One minute left. Should I think about it?”

Seo-jun lowered his hand and turned his body completely toward the chat window.

-???

-You think one minute is a lot?

-Aren’t you going to consider the other minor traits?

-Again, only we’re left frustrated

Seo-jun smiled broadly as he spoke.

“Actually, I saved it in a preset.”

A preset is simply a convenience feature that lets you save and load settings in advance.

-This was completely rigged from the start! Lol

-What debuff did he choose?

-Preparedness level: maximum

-Even the initial minor settings were just bait

-This whole time it wasn’t just regular Heavenly Demon Divine Art!

Seo-jun chuckled and pressed the preset.

How much time was left?

“It is Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”

The configured values appeared, and Seo-jun’s chosen debuff was revealed.

[Cognitive Dullness]

“Let me show you proper heavy sword technique.”

[Game starts in 10 seconds]

-But his temperament?

-Why does he like suffering lol

-This should be interesting

-What’s heavy sword technique?

* * *

Seo-jun didn’t move a single step from the starting point and slowly swung his arms.

The starting point wasn’t a safe zone, but he needed to adapt to his debuff-affected body before going out and immediately encountering an enemy.

“……”

With a silent kiai, Seo-jun swung his arm from left to right with maximum force. ^[1]

Whooom.

The sword tip reached its final position slower than usual.

“It’s faster than swinging underwater but slightly slower than swinging with relaxed arms.”

While adapting to the feeling that air resistance had increased with every movement, Seo-jun spoke.

-Have you ever swung a sword underwater?

-What kind of training have you been doing in real life…

-Was there a game with underwater sword fighting?

-Doubt it lol. If the setting was underwater, you’d carry a harpoon lol

Whooom.

Whooom.

There was no difference between swinging lightly with relaxed force and putting serious effort into it.

“Well, it’s much better than I expected?”

Seo-jun left the starting point surrounded by rocks.

Step by step.

Fortunately, movement speed remained the same.

‘Only attack speed was affected.’

Using lightness skills would apparently be faster.

Since it involved using internal energy, it benefited from Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s effects.

Turning the corner, the open green slopes and an enemy came into view.

“Come at me again.”

Seo-jun held one hand behind his back and raised his sword in front of his eyes.

Ranking 5th Unorthodox Faction’s Dignity chose to approach slowly this time instead of rushing in impatiently like before.

More cautious than before. His wariness had intensified.

Seo-jun waited quietly.

Moving first would be difficult.

When the distance had closed to about two steps—close enough that extending an arm could reach a throat—Unorthodox Faction’s Dignity suddenly accelerated and swung his sword, which Seo-jun blocked.

Clang!

The battle between the fastest attack speed and the slowest attack speed began.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The enemy attacked Seo-jun from left, right, and vertically, striking and thrusting with the speed of wielding three swords.

Seo-jun moved his sword along the shortest, simplest paths to avoid damage at his slow speed, blocking each attack.

Naturally, his movements became minimally restrained.

In contrast, the enemy began pressing even harder and faster, creating a stark contrast with Seo-jun.

Gritting his teeth, pushing his fast speed control to its limits.

-Wow, there should be quite a speed difference, but honestly I can barely tell

-Still, being limited to defense can’t be helped

-Use sword energy!

-Aren’t you thinking about sword energy? Heavenly Demon Divine Art enhances internal energy!

Crack!

The enemy’s extended sword was pushed away by Seo-jun’s sword with his hand braced against the blade.

Scrape!

But Seo-jun’s cheek was shallowly cut. The slight pain allowed by the capsule was thrilling.

Close call.

The attack speed difference felt larger than expected. Maybe it was maximized because the enemy was Assassination Guild.

‘Whatever the case, this is good.’

While Seo-jun felt pleased despite being cut by the sword, the enemy didn’t look particularly happy despite successfully landing an attack.

Rather, he seemed intensely wary.

The enemy was,

‘Waiting for his timing.’

Timing for what?

‘He’s pressing hard, but his feet aren’t stepping deep.’

Seo-jun’s eyes were analyzing everything about his enemy moment by moment.

The enemy’s instantaneous actions within his field of view, foot placement, arm folding angles, wrists.

And while analyzing his enemy, he gradually grew accustomed to discarding every movement that could be eliminated, adapting to his current speed and restrained combat style.

Clang!

Swords clashed and separated.

In the brief gap hidden within that short opening, Seo-jun, who had been focused on defense, found a crack.

A gap he could slip through and slash apart, even without fast speed.

Seo-jun wouldn’t miss such a fracture.

The soft movement emerging from a solid center wouldn’t let him miss that gap.

Seo-jun’s sword moved slowly.

No, it appeared to move slowly.

Despite not actually being that slow.

Speed is relative.

Because right until the previous moment, viewers had seen Seo-jun intentionally concealing his slow speed through efficient, minimal movements, and had watched the fastest Assassination Guild sword intertwining with his.

Now, with their vision completely focused on Seo-jun’s sword, the viewers felt it.

That it was slow.

Seo-jun’s current sword, drawing a large arc, was far too slow.

Therefore.

The viewers naturally developed this question,

‘Why can’t he avoid such a slow sword?’