Episode 217 Test (1)
* * *
Sanghyun and Frederic met immediately.
Neither side had any reason to delay. For Sanghyun, it was also very welcome news.
The meeting took place at Frederic's villa.
Frederic had personally invited Sanghyun, but it felt more like a massive theme park than a villa.
Even after passing through the entrance filled with all kinds of security devices, it took several minutes to go further inside.
Without an internal map, it felt like one might even forget the way they had come.
So, for a brief moment, he even wondered what he would do if he were kidnapped.
Inside the villa.
In the reception room designated for VIPs, he ended up having an unexpected tea time with Frederic.
Just inhaling the scent sent a surge of energy through him; it seemed to have quite a stimulating effect.
He didn't think it was some kind of drug. On the contrary, Frederic is someone who detests narcotic stimulants.
Frederic spoke.
“I would like to express my gratitude once again for this gate raid. Sophia spared no praise. She said the raid wouldn't have even worked without you, Sang-hyun.”
“That is exactly what I would like to say back to you. Your presence was absolute to me.”
“You are humble?”
“It is important to know when to be humble. I simply stated the facts as they were.”
“Those words seem to elevate your stature even further, and watching them makes me feel proud.”
“You are too kind.”
Compliments were exchanged.
However, neither Sang-hyun nor Frederic had lied out of politeness. Everything they said was sincere.
That is why Frederic had personally arranged a meeting with Sang-hyun.
Had he not shown this level of interest, he would have sent a subordinate or simply ended things at the level of building a casual acquaintance.
“The deposit should have just been made. I checked it myself. It includes the additional 5 billion won for the cleanup of byproducts.”
“Thank you.”
Sang-hyun checked his banking app and saw that his balance had reached 257.2 billion won. Considering that this
amount included the sale of even legendary-grade magic stones, he suddenly wondered if it was really okay to have this many zeros.
It was money that could be spent quickly if he wanted to, but it was certainly a jaw-dropping sum until he actually spent it.
“You can request a walkthrough for the Endless Dungeon at any time. It’s not a place where you need to take a specific turn.”
“Is there anything else I should keep in mind?”
“I won’t tell you the internal strategy even if you ask. It’s like an unspoken rule.”
“That goes without saying. I didn’t intend to ask, but even if you offered to tell me, I would refuse.”
“There is a reason for that. You might not believe it, but every single player who received a tip on the strategy died. Not a single one of them.”
“Is it something like a mental restraint…?”
“I don’t think there are any debuffs or attack mechanisms activated for that reason. Could it be a coincidence?”
“Actually, since it is implemented differently for each player, I think strategy tips could actually be detrimental.”
“I think so too. Because we rely on the knowledge we possess, we end up being slow to react to variables.”
They nodded at each other.
True to what he had just said, Sang-hyun had no intention of asking for help. That wasn't what the dungeon was meant for.
However, as human greed knows no bounds and we repeat the same mistakes,
it seemed quite a few players had died trying to take the easy way out. If Frederick was offering advice personally, that was to say it.
“Very well. Then the settlement is done, and the discussion about the Endless Dungeon is over…”
“Shall we leave?”
It didn't seem likely that he had invited him all the way to the villa just to have a cup of tea and part ways.
But just as he was about to leave without hesitation, wondering if there was a reason Frederick was stalling, he heard this.
“If you don't mind, how about we have a sparring match as a test? Make sure we wear safety gear.”
“It would be an honor.”
Sang-hyun immediately responded to Frederick's suggestion without a moment's hesitation. He
hadn't thought for a moment that he could beat him.
That was nonsensical. In terms of a novel, it would be like the story suddenly coming to a conclusion.
Sanghyun's thoughts were focused on how long he could withstand and counter Frederick's attacks.
He was a player more than twice his level. He was also a veteran who had been through thick and thin.
Of course, Sanghyun did have experience from a past life,
but it was highly likely that Frederick had gained even more experience just by living his current life.
"Shall we move to the training grounds? I have set up top-of-the-line safety equipment, so you won't feel any pressure."
"I'm nervous."
"Thank you for agreeing. I just can't stand resisting my personal curiosity."
Sanghyun smiled at Frederick revealing his honest feelings.
Simply put, it meant he was interested in Sanghyun's skills. In other words, he wanted to know and see.
Sanghyun knew better than anyone how precious an opportunity it was to receive the attention of a "Named" and how it meant being recognized. Just
being able to have a private audience with him right here and now was a significant recognition in itself.
If a one-on-one sparring session were added to this, it would be safe to say that he had become one of his key figures of interest. 'It doesn't feel real.' It felt so unreal that he couldn't quite grasp it. Frederic was a skilled fighter who ranked far above the five known as the nation's "Named" swordsmen. If his heart would race even with just a little attention from them, the interest of someone of even greater stature… On one hand, he was worried that his flaws or weaknesses might be exposed, but he immediately shook off those distracting thoughts. He just needed to do his best. Even if there were shortcomings, he would simply humbly accept and acknowledge them. Frederic surely wasn't expecting Sanghyun to surpass his own perfection, either. So, he decided to let go of the pressure. As if he were facing a battle with nothing to lose! * * * Soon, the two arrived at the training grounds and immediately changed into their safety gear. It was a suit that perfectly covered the entire body except for the face, yet contrary to its appearance, it was quite flexible. Movement was not uncomfortable at all. How should I put it? It felt like wearing it, yet not wearing it at all. “You will be surprised when you hear the production cost per suit.” “Shall we… say around 50 billion won?” “Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have to quote double that.” “…Does that mean the price of the suit I’m wearing right now is almost on the level of an Epic-grade artifact?” “That is correct.” I was startled. I had never worn such a high-end training or practice suit even in my previous life. Although time had passed and I had become a fairly skilled swordsman player, I had not lived a luxurious life. So, I was completely clueless about such things, but to think a single training suit costs 100 billion won. Moreover, there were at least 10 such suits on display inside this training ground. My understanding of economics was dizzying. We stood in the center of the training ground. Sanghyun was holding the Nameless Sword, and Frederick was holding a long spear. Judging solely by length, Frederic's spear was long, and with the added glowing effect, it exuded a considerable sense of intimidation. 'I think this is the first time I've properly faced a spear since my regression.' It was certainly not a familiar weapon. That is precisely why Frederic is called an even greater player. It is because he handles tricky weapons exceptionally well. “An alarm will sound if durability drops below 20%, so you can end the session immediately.” “Understood.” “Also, if the use of a skill exceeding a certain output is detected, interference will occur throughout the entire training ground.” “By interference, do you mean skill usage will be suppressed?” “That is correct. So you don't need to worry about any accidents caused by being swept up in emotions.” As Frederic gave a reassuring answer that erased even the slightest remaining anxiety, Sanghyeon felt his burden lift. He could just relax and fight to his heart's content until his durability dropped! “Let's begin!” At Frederic's shout, Sanghyeon charged forward first. He wasn't sure if the saying "first strike wins" would work on Frederic, but he wanted to approach the situation aggressively. He was also a melee dealer wielding a spear. Since close-range combat was inevitable, he believed that striking first would be advantageous. But… Whoosh! “……!” Frederic had the exact same thought as Sanghyeon. He appeared in front of Sanghyeon in an instant. It seemed he possessed a short-range movement skill similar to Blink. As a result, Sanghyeon’s stance was disrupted. With his prediction shattered, his reaction was delayed by half a beat. Clang! “Ugh!” As Frederic’s spear struck Sanghyeon’s Nameless Sword, his body was pushed back. The pain spreading through his entire body was an added bonus. For a moment, he almost let go of the hand gripping the Nameless Sword. Sanghyeon thought. What did it mean that Frederic had clearly demonstrated his power right from the start? Frederic couldn't possibly be unaware that he already held the upper hand in terms of level or firepower. Sanghyeon was the same. 'I'm not telling you to block and hold back. I'm not asking you to show that side either. I'm ordering a more aggressive approach.' Ultimately, a swordsman must demonstrate what they can do with their sword. It is not that defense is unimportant, but relying solely on defense cannot yield a result beyond a draw. This could be his first and last chance! Sanghyeon cast aside the last ounce of courage he had held in his heart. 'Since I won't get a status effect anyway, I'll just leave that out of my calculations!' Sanghyeon immediately used his Over Psychedelic skill and approached Frederick alongside his frontal charge skill. The blood boiling through his entire body mingled with Sanghyeon's fighting spirit, creating a heat bordering on madness.
Frederic paused slightly at the sight. The level of awakening was higher than he had expected.
'So, he can unleash such an awakening skill the moment he starts, even without specific conditions.'
It was intriguing.
Awakening skills that are not merely moderate but border on a berserk state like Over Psychedelic often require specific conditions.
They demand handicaps such as having stamina below a certain level or being bleeding… This
is because the purpose is to feed on pain and stimulate the mind to the point of overworking it to unleash superhuman strength.
However, Upper Moon had entered a berserk state immediately and was charging forward without any particular issues.
Clang!
Swords crossed.
At that moment, Frederic's body was pushed back for a very brief instant. Simultaneously, Upper Moon unleashed his next skill.
It was a combination that seemed to have been executed with the certainty that Frederic would be pushed back. Or perhaps he had judged it very quickly.
Kuaaa!
A piercing sound echoed as the valiant charge skill was unleashed, and Upper Moon's body collided directly with Frederic.
He had generated momentum after the initial collision to trigger a second impact.
This meant that the defender, already pushed backward, would be pushed back once more.
In other words, instability would be greatly amplified in an instant, leaving no time to regain balance.
“……!”
The tactic had worked.
Frederick’s right toe lifted more than halfway off the ground, and his body lurched backward slightly.
In fact, during a normal engagement, this might have been a minor opening. It was a change that didn't hold much significance.
But.
Whoosh!
Upper Rank, having transformed his sword into a blazing blaze, was thrusting forward menacingly. It
was a sharp attack, striking more than half a beat faster than Frederick had anticipated.
'This is fun.'
Was that it?
A smile appeared on the corners of Frederick’s lips, which had remained expressionless throughout.
