Episode 218 Test (2)
* * *
Afterwards, the back-and-forth battle continued.
As Upper Rank fought Frederick, he realized that Frederick was intentionally holding back some of his strength.
Simply put, Frederick had adjusted his level to match Upper Rank, which only fueled his determination further.
Certainly, perhaps thanks to Over Psychedelic, he had no trouble launching an aggressive offensive.
Needless to say, he could not overwhelm Frederick in battle.
If that were possible, Upper Rank would be in a different place than where he is now.
Therefore, Upper Rank was not resentful about being subjected to fierce counterattacks or taking effective hits from Frederick.
Even though he was at a disadvantage, he enjoyed it. It was because he could understand why he was being pushed back and collapsing against this person.
Just like a young athlete improves their skills through the guidance or mock practice of an older athlete.
It was the same for Upper Rank.
The blows Frederick inflicted on him, the counterattacks, the exploitation of his weaknesses, and so on—all of it was a lesson.
'It's fun. It doesn't come often to get a chance to fight a player like Frederick.' "Why is this so much fun?"
Throughout the practice sparring, Sanghyeon could not control his pounding heart. He trembled and trembled again.
Perhaps that was the reason.
Ironically, as the tension eased, Sanghyeon’s offensive began to intensify.
He tracked down Frederick, who was trying to hide his appearance with invisibility, using Gaia’s Breath.
He also brilliantly blocked the continuous spear techniques flying through the front using his Defensive Sword.
Furthermore, he immediately used Recovery to break free from the knockback caused by the slash of his spear and counterattacked.
As a result, Frederick lost about 10% of his suit's durability once.
Had he allowed this attack on the battlefield, it could have left a fairly deep wound.
"He is certainly clever. At level 400, I would be completely overwhelmed; it seems I need to be at level 500 to hold my own."
As he exchanged blows with Sanghyeon, Frederick finished his calculations regarding him.
Regardless of Sanghyeon's current level, the depth of his skill is roughly equivalent to Level 500.
In other words, it means he can hold his own against a Level 500 player without being intimidated.
While this doesn't necessarily mean victory, it certainly implies that it is a fight worth taking.
The level Frederick heard from Sanghyeon was in the low 300s. He
has already surpassed his own level and is demonstrating sufficient "overpower.
" "I thought he tended to rely only on status effects, but his fundamentals are quite solid."
What Frederick admired most was Sanghyeon's basic swordsmanship.
When people mention "basics," they often ask why something so obvious needs to be considered important. They
also question whether basics are truly necessary when most players rely on skills and clearly fight using them.
However, Frederick thought differently.
When skill is indistinguishable, or when mana is depleted and one can no longer produce skills,
it is the basics that determine the boundary between life and death. For a swordsman, that is what basic swordsmanship signifies.
Frederic, having been through thick and thin, knew the importance of fundamentals better than anyone.
He had witnessed too many players live or die because of that difference; it was enough to make his mouth ache to say it.
However, Sanghyeon possessed solid basics, as if he had been honing his swordsmanship for a very long time.
Yet, he did not use a standardized style; he appeared to have his own established technique.
If he had a master, he must be a highly skilled player, and if he was self-taught, it was truly astonishing.
Just then,
Frederic spotted an opening in Sanghyeon and swung his spear with all his might, striking his weak point.
Sanghyeon was sent flying backward, and an alarm sounded. His durability had dropped by more than 20%.
“Ah…”
Sanghyeon wore a look of despondency.
That strike was executed in an instant, worthy of the description “Flash!”
Usually, such speed would diminish firepower, but instead, it struck his abdomen with a heavy weight. It
had even chipped away at his durability by more than 30%.
In other words, it wasn't difficult to tell that this was one of Frederick's ultimate skills.
If this had been a battlefield, his internal organs would have exploded, and he would have died. He might have looked fine on the outside, but his insides would have been a rag.
It was disheartening, but he was glad to feel that he had gained a lot.
He felt he had discovered a weakness that other players or monsters hadn't noticed before—one that, consequently, he himself hadn't been aware of.
As Sang-hyun bit his lip tightly at the lingering regret despite everything, Frederick extended his hand for a handshake first.
"That was a good duel." "Didn't you go easy on me?" "In this case, 'adjustment' is a more accurate term than 'going easy.' After all, we weren't trying to settle this with a winner and a loser,
were we ?" "That is… true."
“First off, I’d like to start with a compliment. Your fundamentals are incredibly solid. Among the Swordsman players I’ve seen recently, you are by far the best.”
“The best?”
“Let me tell you in advance, I don’t speak for nothing. My cousin Sophia is the same way. Just take it at face value.”
“Aha.”
“Besides, some harsh words are coming out soon anyway.”
As Frederick wore a mischievous smile, he felt more like a neighborhood older brother than a famous figure. Perhaps
it was because he seemed pure only when discussing skills as a player, rather than engaging in business conversation.
It felt as though there were two distinct sides to Frederick: the businessman and Master, and the player.
“Your skill set also seems to have quite a few skills that can be utilized effectively, regardless of status effects.”
“My repertoire isn’t simple. I have quite a few directions I can choose from.”
Sanghyun nodded.
Sanghyun always considered that to be his strength.
Of course, a diverse composition alone isn’t enough. The proficiency to use each skill skillfully is essential.
“However, there is something you need to improve. If your opponent is looking for a balanced offense and defense, or plays defensively, your skill set and strategy are effective. But…”
“…….”
I swallow hard.
This is feedback coming from a name like Frederic. Missing even a single word could lead to lasting regret.
“It could be dangerous if your opponent is an extreme offensive type. Your overall skill set isn't specialized for agile defense.”
“That is true.”
“Furthermore, your movements are just as slow. It is likely because you have defensive skills prepared like insurance to protect yourself.”
Frederic hit the nail on the head. Sanghyun
possesses an invincibility skill like *Song of the Sword*. It is true that it always feels like a reliable insurance policy.
It seemed that this psychological stability influenced his physical movements as well. It was a subconscious effort.
Until now, this hadn't really surfaced much. After all, he hadn't had to fight against top-tier players.
But Frederic recognized it immediately. That he could be defeated if he encountered an opponent who could properly counter his offensive.
“I got goosebumps for a moment.”
“I hope that didn’t sound bad.”
“Not at all. Where else would I hear feedback like this? I will never forget it.”
“Let’s see each other often. If I have any requests or suggestions, I will contact you with appropriate compensation.”
“You are welcome anytime.”
And so, the short but intense practice sparring session with Frederic came to an end.
For Frederic, it might have been just a chance to satisfy a small curiosity, but
for Sanghyun, it held significant meaning. It was because he had sensed a vulnerability hidden in his subconscious.
Furthermore,
meeting a skilled player like Frederic had allowed him to realize exactly where his own weaknesses lay.
His promise to Frederic that he would never forget it was sincere.
* * *
Later.
Returning to his lodgings, Sanghyun reviewed the sparring session with Frederic very slowly from the beginning.
He wondered if he would remember, but perhaps because he had fought with such concentration, every movement and thought came back vividly.
His strategic move had clearly worked when Frederic moved loosely.
This was because Frederick also had to utilize defensive skills to block Sanghyun's skill combos.
In such a situation, Sanghyun could at least maintain his pace, and the next turn was predictable.
Regardless of how strong Frederick was, he had a clear picture of how he should fight.
However, the situation changed when Frederick deliberately abandoned defense and pushed forward solely with offense. There are many
players who approach battles with the mindset of taking one hit in exchange for two or three.
It is not that they dislike shedding blood; rather, it is a mindset of, "I will make you shed more blood than I do."
If one gets entangled with a player of this style, the current situation is structured in a way that inevitably puts him on the defensive.
"It is a huge relief that this
didn't happen." I didn't use the expression "spine-chilling" for nothing. It was because I had a sudden realization.
"I am not invincible, nor am I omnipotent. This is why you must not let your guard down! The world is wide, and there are indeed many strong opponents."
It served as motivation.
I now had a reason to devote myself even more diligently to personal training going forward.
I couldn't help but feel that my basic defensive training had slacked off lately due to my hectic schedule.
I thought I should use this as an excuse to train hard, even if just for myself.
Just then,
I turned up the volume on the TV news, which I had been playing on silent, as an interesting domestic story came on.
"The Yeouido Fireworks are just around the corner!
The government has announced that this year's display is set to be on a record-breaking scale!
A Player Market featuring a large number of players from Korea, China, and Japan is scheduled to be held at the Yeouido fireworks venue!"
As a result, many players are showing great interest, aren't they? When do you plan to come to the fireworks?
The excited voice of a female reporter can be heard. The atmosphere at the scene is already bustling with activity.
Although the event hasn't started yet, it appeared that staff members were crowded about with preliminary preparations.
Just then.
“Ah!”
Sang-hyun stood up from his seat as a memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
Usually, certain memories are recalled in connection with incidents, accidents, or weather issues that occurred at the time.
This was exactly that situation. It
was the time when the Yeouido Fireworks were held.
And unlike before, it was the time when the so-called 'Three Kingdoms Market'—which featured a large number of players from Korea, China, and Japan—was specially held! The
'Amsa Station Rift' had occurred.
It was an incident caused by a rift that had taken place in a past life, but the Association had strictly controlled information about it.
The reason was that while there were almost no civilian casualties, a large number of the Association's forces deployed to the scene had perished.
Following the Amsa Station Rift incident,
the Association's influence deteriorated rapidly after losing a significant number of its core forces.
With leadership also faltering, a large number of players belonging to the Association resigned.
The argument was that they absolutely did not want to be a part of an organization where they could not be certain it would protect them.
In the process, a large number of players joined the guild, and the Association's influence diminished significantly.
Since then, they have continuously attempted to improve their external image, but bound by past karma, they failed to find a turning point.
The incident that triggered it all!
The Dark Rift, the event that would ultimately sever the Association's lifeline, was right around the corner.
There was not much time left.
