by Yoo Seong
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Wiing! Woong! Woong! Wiing!
The swords were raising a storm. A blade of wind occurred whenever the sword cut through the air and a storm swirled. Once that vortex disappeared, another one would occur and this repeated over and over. The storm of hot air had an infinite(∞) cycle! It wasn’t just one vortex. While bullets and blades were relentlessly crossing the Silver Star, the red and blue light in the centre clashed and made two narrow hurricanes.
Pajik! Pajik! Pajik! Pajijijiji!
Sparks flew everywhere! Dozens of storms seemed to occur at the same time like a shotgun explosion. Pain shot through the hands holding the sword each time. This didn’t mean that the enemy’s sword was faster but that it dealt a fatal blow!
–You’ve become a little better than last time.
The Red Slaughterer’s voice was heard from the other side of the flying sparks. Ark twisted his lips and declared sharply.
“That’s good seeing as last time I won.”
–I don’t think so.
“I’m sorry. You don’t think I won?”
He questioned the Red Slaughterer’s words. If Ark looked back at that time, he was inferior to the Red Slaughterer in all aspects including level, equipment and skill. Therefore Ark had abandoned the losing battle and lured the Red Slaughterer into a trap before blowing him up. Perhaps that was why the Red Slaughterer couldn’t admit defeat. Because it wasn’t in sword skills. However Ark never considered himself cowardly.
–I need to desperately figure out a way to win!
And he did win! Ark thought it was fair. The power of words was the ability to have different meanings. Knowing his own strength to determine when to run away from an opponent was smart, not dumb. Ark desperately tried to find a way to win and the result was the defeat of the Red Slaughterer. There was no point in being ashamed but……
‘Damn, not yet?’
Ark bit his lip. The battle between the Red Slaughterer and Ark was significant. To be honest, at that time Ark hadn’t just been pushed by the level and equipment. He hated to admit it but the Red Slaughterer’s skills had overwhelmed Ark. If they were users just passing by each other than that wouldn’t matter. But the Red Slaughterer was Lucifer!
The enemy that Ark had to defeat. They were both aiming for the ultimate goal so they would end up fighting several times in the future. And he couldn’t use tricks like the one on Athamas every time. If they were going to fight in the future then his skills needed to at least be equal to the Red Slaughterer. During the time that passed after that battle, Ark neglected sleep while raising his level and polishing off his sword skills.
‘I’ve definitely become stronger……’
–Let’s see how long you can last.
The Red Slaughterer laughed and sent a diagonal slash towards Ark. It was followed by a shower of a sword attacks. Despite the fact that Ark quickly recovered and raised his sword, red sparks still flew from his side.
‘This guy has also become stronger!’
It was natural. The amount of time wasn’t equal for everyone. The Red Slaughterer wasn’t just killing time while Ark was growing. Furthermore, the Red Slaughterer’s identity was Lucifer. While Ark had to sleep, the Red Slaughterer was an artificial intelligence so he didn’t need sleep in the first place. And he was also burning with vengeance for his previous encounter with Ark so it was natural for him to grow more than before!
‘But his sword is easier to fend off than before. That means my growth rate is slightly faster. But there is no meaning in growing faster if I don’t win. Damn, I wanted to avoid a confrontation with this guy…..’
He had improved but there was still a slight difference. The Red Slaughterer was still overwhelming Ark. Nevertheless, Ark had been able to hold on for 20 minutes because of his battle suit. The battle suit had upgraded to Lv. 2 on Amara so the enhancement ability rose from 30% to 35%! He also became perfectly synchronized with it thanks to the gene rearrangement in the secret laboratory. And the greatest effect he could from the genetic adjustment…..
‘Stop it, Aegis!’
Ark’s eyes sparkled as he saw the red light. A small object rapidly rotated and soared over Ark’s head. It was a hexagonal shield made of a blue light!
-The body coating skill Mind Shield has been converted by the battle shield.
Armed Mind Shield (Intermediate, Active): When the battle suit is perfectly synchronized, the body coating skills can be enhanced. Instead of a shield that wraps around the whole body, it will be changed into 2 pieces of Aegis shields. The shields might be smaller but its defensive powers are far higher and can be freely controlled by the user.
Mental Power consumption: 300 Cool down time: 30 minutes
The synchronization converted it to Armed Mind Shield! In fact, he had been quiet disappointed when he first saw the information window. The shield that protected the whole body had changed into 2 small shields. He thought the defense range had shrunk. However that idea hanged when he actually tried them out. The defense range of Armed Mind Shield might be narrower than before but that didn’t mean the enemy’s attacks weren’t stopped. Armed Mind Shield could move as he desired.
‘Stop it!’
The moment Ark sensed an enemy attack. The shield moved around Ark in circles like a satellite and blocked the enemy’s attacks. Additionally, the shield that wrapped around the entire body had become a compressed shield so the defense was boosted! The shield could even withstand 3~4 melee hits despite that being the weakness of shields. Aegis was a system that responded to the users’ will to prevent enemy attacks!
There was a disadvantage of course. Ark could only respond to enemy attacks that he detected. If there were bullets fired than he couldn’t read the orbit of every attack. The Aegis Shield didn’t help in that situation. However in a 1 on 1 sword fight, its effect wasn’t a joke.
Snap! Chwajijijijijik!
The Red Slaughterer’s sword stopped the moment it hit Aegis!
‘The level difference will be obvious in close combat. Furthermore, his battle suit if the agility type. His attack speed is also faster than me. If I’m pulled into a fight of power and speed then the odds aren’t in my favour!’
Ark got close to the Red Slaughterer and tried to kick his knee.
“Take this…..eh?”
But Ark’s knee just hit air. The Red Slaughterer just avoided it like it was expected and smirked.
–I thought that your leg movements were somewhat unnatural. How disappointing. Did you think something like this would get me? Detection!
The sword shot out a red light! Ark hurriedly raised his sword but the Red Slaughterer’s Detection was a shock wave attack like Sonic Sword. He felt a pain in his chest and his body was thrown back several metres.
“Heok! Son of a bitch!”
Ark cursed as he was pushed to the end of the deck. Once again, Ark and the Red Slaughterer were fighting on the Silver Star’s deck hundreds of metres in the air. If he was pushed off the deck then he would fall several hundred metres! He would be crushed like a tomato even if his health was at 100%.
“Hyper Booster!”
Ark shouted in an urgent voice. The jet devices emerged from his heels. Flames spewed out and Ark’s body shot forward like a projectile. However the Red Slaughterer was right in front of him! A red laser light was fired from the Red Slaughterer’s sword.
–Take this! Dragon Fury!
“Sheesh, Welcome to the alter ego!”
Ark’s feet moved like lightning and his alter egos appeared. One of them disappeared when hit by the red laser while the others passed behind the Red Slaughterer. But the Red Slaughterer had already seen Welcome to the alter ego.
–No way! Chakra!
Light gathered in the Red Slaughterer’s left hand. And his body rotated to block the combined attack from Ark. The Red Slaughterer was about to fight b
ack when he frowned and stopped his action.
-……What are you doing?
“What?”
–I’m wondering why you’re not attacking.
“I don’t know what you’re saying. Welcome to the alter ego is a skill to deal an unexpected attack to the enemy! But you’ve seen Welcome to the alter ego before and expected my next movement. And I moved like you expected! Isn’t that why you blocked my attack?”
Ark laughed from far away and answered
–That’s not what I’m saying!
The Red Slaughterer shouted angrily.
–Did you think I wouldn’t notice? This wasn’t the only time. You’re not fighting seriously. You are just pretending to fight.
“Why do you think that?”
–You’ve had a few opportunities to launch a counterattack against me. But you stepped back each time. It is the same this time as well. If I expected the hit than you would’ve changed the attack. There is no reason to abandon attacking from a profitable position. No, I know that you’re not such a passive guy. Then there is only one answer. You aren’t fighting seriously. Am I wrong?
It was like the Red Slaughterer said. A battle between two users of a similar standard wouldn’t be easy. But once a battle was started, there was a moment where there would be a chance for victory or defeat. So far the Red Slaughterer and Ark had engaged a few times. No, it was just before they were about to engage. Each time Ark would receded and avoid the confrontation. Naturally he had a reason for it.
“Busted.”
Ark sighed and nodded. He scratched his head and laughed.
“In fact, I haven’t been thinking about fighting with you. I understand you have bad feelings for me. I smashed you in New World and you got stuck in the government’s computer so it is natural to hold a grudge. But isn’t that in the past? So let’s try to move on. I’ve already prepared a place for you to live.”
–A place for me to live?
“A state of the art cell phone! You can enter with the 16 GB external memory. But there’s even more? There’s also a game where you can foster relationships with beautiful girls. There are a total of 16 character styles! If you enter my phone then you can have a beautiful girlfriend. Huhuhu! How about it? Interested? If you stop your threat to blow up the nuclear power plant and enter my cell phone then you can live a happy life with a girl.”
-Talking like that…..
“Why? You don’t like it? Okay! Then 64 GB! I can’t do anything more. That is the biggest memory possible for a cell phone. Instead I will down 10 beautiful girl games. 10 games would be at least 100 people. 64 GB and 100 girls! Wah! How envious! Damn, I should’ve been born as an artificial intelligence. I’m envious! What a hateful bastard!”
–Stop talking nonsense!
The Red Slaughterer shouted angrily.
–Do you think I’ll believe that nonsense?
“No.”
Ark replied with a straight face.
“Are you stupid? Nonsense like that can’t be true.”
-What?
“If you really want to know. The whole reason why I’m avoiding a confrontation with you…..”
Ark looked at the Red Slaughterer with a firm expression as he revealed the shocking truth.
“It is like you thought!”
The Red Slaughterer’s face distorted at his answer. Ark sighed and continued.
“It hurts my pride but I have to admit it. I thought I raised my level quite a lot but I knew immediately. It will be hard to win against you. Right now there is only a 30% chance. So why should I bother to fight you?”
–Aren’t you mistaken about something?
The Red Slaughterer stared at him foolishly.
-This is your ship. There is nowhere for you to flee. What are you going to do if you don’t fight? Give up and surrender?
“Of course not.”
Ark smiled and replied.
“Fighting isn’t the only way to distinguish between victory or defeat. “Hyper Booster!”
Ark turned his body and shouted. Then Ark rushed across the deck towards the area where Slayer, Kaya and the others were fighting the Rama warriors. When Ark suddenly rushed there, the Red Slaughterer flew forward like a bullet and caught up with him instantly. And he raised his red lightsaber!
–Don’t be mistaken! Your opponent is me!
“Armed Stealth!”
Ark turned and shouted. A tremendous flash emitted from Ark’s body!
-The body coating skill Stealth has been converted by the battle shield.
Armed Stealth (Intermediate, Active): Stealth is a technique where light bends around the body to hide the user from the enemy. However it can’t be used during a fight. It is the same even when wearing a battle suit. However, once the battle suit becomes perfectly synchronized than it is possible to boost the visible light around the body by tens of thousands of times. This light is powerful enough to make the enemy blinded.
Mental Power consumption: 200 Cool down time: 30 minutes
Stealth had been converted after the body synchronization! It didn’t hide his body but it would blind the enemy. The reason why he used Stealth rather than a flash bullet…..
–Ack! T-this bastard……
The Red Slaughterer who had been chasing Ark slammed the brakes and closed his eyes. He wasn’t the only one. The Red Front had reflexively turned as Ark and the Red Slaughterer neared so they also closed their eyes.
“Now!”
Then Ark’s yell was heard in their ears. The Red Slaughterer reacted to his voice and shouted.
–Dammit! Prepare for the enemy’s attacks!
He thought Ark’s yell was a signal to attack. But contrary to the Red Slaughterer’s expectations, the gunshots actually stopped after Ark’s yell. Despite the fact that they lost their eyesight, the opponents didn’t take the opportunity to shoot bullets. The Red Slaughterer soon realized the reason once his eyesight was restored.
–What on earth……
Ark’s team had climbed up the Silver Star’s deck. While the Red Slaughterer and Rama warriors had lost their eyesight, they were gathered near the tentacles. And it was struggling to hold onto the ship? The Red Slaughterer screamed as he saw the scene.
-Red Front! Launch towards the deck!
“You fools, it is too late!”
Ark smiled and muttered. Once again, the Silver Star had been immobile because the Asura’s tentacles were holding on to it. The tentacles from the Asura emitted a strong electronic signal that paralyzed the Silver Star’s electronics. There were two ways to block this electronic jamming signal.
The first way was to cut off the tentacles sending the electronic jamming signal. And the second way was to make a conflicting signal to neutralize the electronic erosion. The first way couldn’t succeed thanks to the interference of the Red Slaughterer and the Red Front……
–Hyung-nim, I’ve succeeded in jamming the signal!
Ark had received that communication from Hegel just before he used Armed Stealth. This was the reason Ark dragged out the battle against the Red Slaughterer. There was a 30% chance. It wasn’t just Ark and the Red Slaughterer’s duel.
This number also applied to his team members fighting with the Red Front. Of course Slayer, Leon, Kaya, Sadain and the gunner weren’t being pushed by the Rama warriors but it was getting difficult for Ellain, Kurakan and Hedro as the battle lengthened. If they continued to battle, almost all the team would be wiped out even if they won! Anyway, there was no reason to fight.
“Milan, turn!”
Wiiiing! Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
Then there was a roaring sound and the Silver Star revolved. The erosion had been counteracted but the Silver Star was still being held by the Asura’s tentacles. The Silver Star had to take some damage when it rotated.
Kwadududuk!
The tentacles embedded in the armour were torn out. But th
e sacrifice was worth it. The moment the Silver Star rotated!
–Cough! Unbelievable!
–No! Waaaaak!
The Rama warriors on the upper deck started falling. However this wasn’t enough to take out the Rama warriors. The Red Slaughterer had noticed Ark’s plan just before the Silver Star turned so Keiko and the remaining 7 warriors instantly fired wire hooks into the Silver Star, causing them to hang upside down.
–Captain-nim!
–Don’t panic! Those guys are hanging from the armour as well. That can’t last long in that state, let alone attack. So it will soon turn upright again.
The Red Slaughterer told his subordinates with a growl.
–Dammit! Ark! Doing something cowardly again! Even if this happens……
The Red Slaughterer then realized something strange. Ark’s team were clinging to the ship’s armour. But Ark wasn’t there with them. No, he couldn’t find any traces of Ark at all.
–Did he fall off?
Then a strange substance stuck to the Silver Star’s armour caught his eye. It was a red slime that stuck to the armour like chewing gum.
–What it that?
The Red Slaughterer wrinkled his forehead and murmured. All of a sudden a blue light emerged from the slime.
-Is that Ark holding a lightsaber? But how…..?
Surprisingly Ark had emerged from the slime while holding his lightsaber. However the scene afterwards was even more amazing. The lightsaber spun in the air and started floating towards the Red Slaughterer and the Red Front. And the lightsaber started passing over the wires attaching them to the hooks!
Wing wing wing wing! Seokeok!
–Hik! T-this…..!
The Red Slaughterer screamed as he watched the wire being cut. He wasn’t the only one. The remaining Rama warriors tried to rush forward. Their one lifeline was being ruthlessly cut. And there had already been 4 Rama warriors crushed like rotten tomatoes after they had fallen off onto Impeltus’ surface.
Chwaaaaak! Chwaaaak! Chwaaaak!
The moment the Red Slaughterer and Rama warriors were about to fall. 5 tentacles rapidly flew out of the Asura to grab the Red Slaughterer, Keiko and the Rama warriors.
–Ack! This is……