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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Cheat
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'I'd rather face a thousand high-level players at once.'
It wasn't an exaggeration at all.
In fact, if you only considered sheer firepower, a thousand players might even be easier.
Even Lee Cheongi couldn't unleash a thousand skills simultaneously.
But for Rimon, those ten skills from Lee Cheongi were far more annoying than a thousand scattered ones.
Like how one boss is harder to take down than a thousand trash mobs.
Lee Cheongi, buffed up with all sorts of skills and chaining them into combos, was a tricky opponent precisely because of that.
'A combo of Precognition and Space Transition? Isn't that just cheating?'
His defense was especially impressive.
He foresaw incoming attacks with precognition.
Then instantly warped space to dodge.
That simple combo alone had let Lee Cheongi evade Rimon's sword several times already.
And Rimon couldn't even assume that was his full defensive arsenal, which left him clicking his tongue in frustration.
"The more I see, the less sense it makes."
"What doesn't, you punk."
"How someone who's not even a player can be this strong."
Lee Cheongi shook his head in disbelief too.
No, he was even more baffled.
The barrage he'd unleashed so far would have killed even top-tier players multiple times over.
Yet Rimon wasn't using any skills, tanked it all, and even landed several lethal counters.
By the common sense of this Iron Age, Rimon was the illogical one.
"Players my ass. In my eyes, you lot who pull off this crap just from contracting with some constellations are the real freaks."
"By that logic, most of humanity's abnormal."
"Then the world's the one that's fucked up, punk!"
Rimon stepped forward before he could even finish.
One step, slicing through the golem Lee Cheongi had summoned.
Another, piercing a storm of lightning.
And yet another.
A surprise attack exploiting a gap mid-conversation.
Especially with those eerie three steps—drop your guard, and no distance was safe.
"Space Transition."
But it didn't work on Lee Cheongi.
He hadn't let his guard down to begin with, and he'd seen himself getting slashed via Precognition this time too.
"Dumbass punk."
It happened right then.
Before Rimon could take his third step.
Spotting Lee Cheongi who had warped in, Rimon twisted his body with a cold smile.
Ting!
He pulled back the foot about to hit the ground mid-twist.
Instead, he slammed his sword into the earth to spin himself around, then used the momentum to step in the opposite direction.
Toward where Lee Cheongi had appeared!
And with that final step.
Rimon finally closed in on Lee Cheongi without hesitation, swinging his sword.
No room for evasion.
It shot out like lightning—a sure-hit strike.
A blade fast enough to chase and cleave bullets.
"Equipment Swap."
Kaang!
But the blade didn't connect.
It swung futilely into a block.
Rimon wore a surprised look at his sword being stopped—something he hadn't felt in ages.
"Why so shocked?"
White suit swapped for golden armor.
Glasses for a jeweled crown.
Rings for a long, ornate greatsword.
Using Equipment Swap, Lee Cheongi had instantly changed gear and parried with the greatsword, speaking calmly.
"Did you think out of my thousands of skills, I wouldn't have a single swordsmanship one?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Coldly assessing it.
Lee Cheongi being skilled in swordsmanship was only natural.
Among the Ten Lords, none lacked countermeasures for close combat, even if some weren't excels at it.
No one with such a weakness could reach level 100.
Especially not Lee Cheongi, the most versatile of the Lords.
Chaeng, chaerejaejaeng!
"So a guy who swings a sword this well was just running away?"
Rimon gripped and thrust.
Aiming for the heart.
A swift, sharp strike like a beam of light.
"Adapting tactics to the foe is Player basics. No reason to fight at your range, right?"
The greatsword deflected the thrust.
Standard defense: grab his blade with gauntleted hand, twist slightly to angle the sword and slide it aside.
"Then why swordplay now?"
"First reason: to give you no room to retreat."
"Hm, fair."
He closed distance, slashing rapidly.
Not expecting lethal wounds.
Just light flurries to deny any Space Transition escape.
Those weightless strikes slammed simply into the greatsword.
"So what's the second?"
"I don't think I'll lose fighting like this."
That moment.
Even as he poured out calm attacks mid-chat, Rimon's face twisted in disbelief.
"...You just said you'll beat me with swordsmanship?"
If it was a joke, admit it now.
He'd let it slide as having zero sense of humor.
But Lee Cheongi slashed that mercy away.
"Think I can't?"
Kang!!
Keeping the tip fixed in air, he rippled the greatsword's hilt like waves.
Rimon's sword bounced off the tricky shake.
A surprise upward slice exploited the gap.
Rimon blocked it by flipping his wrist, countering in turn. Observing his technique, Lee Cheongi continued calmly.
"Your swordsmanship is impressive, no doubt. Few top-tier players could handle it."
Lee Cheongi, master of more skills than anyone, was certain.
Rimon's prowess surpassed top-tier.
Barring rare exceptions, even level 90+ players weren't his match.
"But that's all it is."
No surprise in his words.
No awe or fear.
Just thorough analysis.
Like observing a boss monster's pattern for the first time, probing in a skirmish, then locking in the strat.
Pure Player conviction.
"If I can wield swordsmanship equal to or better than yours, no problem at all."
"Ha...!"
That calm demeanor only fueled Rimon's exasperation.
A scoff of absurdity.
He gripped his sword tight.
Staring with cold golden eyes, he growled.
"Fine, punk! Show me if you can!"
Pababababat!
Fierce assault unleashed simultaneously.
As if prior swings were mere probes.
Slash the chest, stab the throat, shift trajectory mid-block to pour more attacks—a storm of blades.
Truly the pinnacle of swordsmanship, a fantastical barrage.
Lee Cheongi didn't retreat.
Anyone could see keeping distance was wiser.
Absolute's pride?
Or victory assured?
He stood firm, clashing swords to weather the onslaught.
Kagagagagang!
Advanced Swordsmanship boosting attack power.
Taiji Swordsmanship raising counter chance.
Six Harmonies Swordsmanship deflecting attacks probabilistically.
Primordial Chaos Sword piercing defenses unconditionally, and more.
Complementing or alternating countless sword skills to max effects—his technique was a miracle.
The ultimate swordplay only Lee Cheongi could unleash.
The moment their blades met.
Superiority of the two peaked arts was decided.
Chwaaak!
Deep gash on the armor, sliced forearm, blood trickling from the throat.
Lee Cheongi drenched in blood in an instant.
Rimon smirked at the sight.
"What're you doing, punk? Gonna crush me with swordplay?"
"Yes, that's the plan."
"Still talking like that?"
"The fight's not over yet."
"Looks over to me."
Undeniable reality.
Lee Cheongi bloodied everywhere, Rimon unscathed.
But Lee Cheongi showed no shaken.
As if all within calculations.
Deflecting Rimon's strikes with the greatsword, calm reply.
"We'll see."
"See what..."
Stubborn pride?
Or madness from defeat?
Rimon sneered at the unyielding Lee Cheongi.
Chaeng!
"...?"
But upon clash.
Doubt rose on his face.
A discrepancy only he could sense, unnoticeable to others.
But that was just the start.
Chaerejaejaejaejaeng!
As if prior defense was a feint.
Lee Cheongi now parried Rimon's sword evenly.
Slash down with greatsword, twist shoulder to turn into thrust; flick wrist to revive a would-be deflection.
Growing faster, more precise with each clash—Rimon widened his eyes.
"You sneaky bastard...?"
"Too late to notice."
Anger? Dismay? Shock?
Undefined emotions mixed on Rimon's face as Lee Cheongi pointed out.
"No chance to retreat, won't lose anyway? I wouldn't clash swords with you just for those reasons."
Lee Cheongi had said it.
Adapting tactics to foes is Player basics.
Thus, his actions were contradictory.
Facing Rimon— of all people—with swordplay was the dumbest choice, skill aside.
Yet if deliberate, two reasons.
He had to.
Or he could win anyway.
No need to ask which.
His sword proved both.
"Been curious since hearing you took down 150 high-level players. How swordsmanship alone made it possible."
Even talking, Lee Cheongi never stopped.
Not missing a beat.
Swinging the greatsword relentlessly, watching Rimon's responses, he continued.
"And fighting you today confirmed it. Your swordsmanship surpasses unique skills in itself."
No hyperbole.
Even Lords couldn't solo 150 high-level players.
Rimon's blade alone enabling it held value rivaling Lords' absolutes—even exaggerated a bit.
Not showing full power didn't matter; holding this long against him was proof.
"But I can't just let a fine 'technique' pass me by."
Smile on his ever-calm face.
Eyes glinting oddly at Rimon.
Satisfaction at the long-awaited system message filling his words, Lee Cheongi declared.
"I'll take that Sword Master swordsmanship."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Experience accumulated on the target has met the conditions. Unique Skill 『Skill Acquisition』 activated. Acquired Rimon Asfelder's swordsmanship, 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』.