Chapter 28: Acquire

『Technique Duplication』.

A skill that allows one to duplicate other skills.

Its utility was so immense that it was called the most broken among the skills of the Lords.

However, people did not know one thing.

There was a derivative skill within it that had become redundant because the original’s utility was simply too high.

That was 『Technique Acquisition』.

It was a skill that allowed one to learn a ‘technique’ as a ‘skill.’

To Lee Cheon-gi, this skill was practically useless.

Whether it was the performance of a renowned master, the acting of a world-class actor, or the tricks of a legendary gambler—no matter how great a person’s technique was, it fell short of a high-level Player’s skill in this Iron Age.

Rather than learning such techniques as skills, it was far more efficient to duplicate existing skills like 『Instrumental Performance』, 『Perfect Acting』, or 『Art of Gambling』.

Therefore, after trying it a few times, Lee Cheon-gi judged it a useless skill and buried it.

But at this very moment, Lee Cheon-gi was realizing once again that 『Technique Acquisition』 was by no means useless.

“You thieving bastard! How dare you steal my swordsmanship?”

“Calling it stealing is a bit much. I’d prefer to think of it as receiving instruction.”

“Instruction, my ass!”

Whether he was enraged because his swordsmanship had been stolen or not, Limon swung his sword like a madman, the veins on his forehead bulging.

If it had been the Lee Cheon-gi of just a moment ago, it was a fierce assault that would have taken an arm or two in an instant.

But that was the story of a moment ago.

Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!

He met the sword aiming for his fingers with his own blade, twisting his wrist to wrap his sword around Limon’s like a snake, countering by aiming for Limon’s fingers instead.

Limon flicked his sword to shake off the blade and slashed toward Lee Cheon-gi’s chest, but Lee Cheon-gi spun his body to evade and lunged forward.

Limon leaned his upper body back to dodge the blade.

As the sword swung down toward his lower body, Limon struck the ground with his own sword, using the recoil to pull himself back.

The explanation was long, but the process happened in an instant.

It was a high-speed clash that even high-level Players, let alone the original Lee Cheon-gi, would have barely been able to keep up with.

But now, it was different.

He possessed a speed that was in no way inferior to Limon’s!

The thing that made this possible was the 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』 he had just acquired from Limon.

“It truly is a marvelous swordsmanship.”

Lee Cheon-gi was impressed.

He had known Limon’s swordsmanship was great ever since he saw him countering all his various skills.

However, after actually acquiring it, he had to admit his misjudgment.

The 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』 was several times more incredible than Lee Cheon-gi had imagined.

The various correction effects alone were proof enough.

Of course, it was natural for swordsmanship skills to have corrections.

But the utility of the 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』 was on a different level.

From strength and speed corrections to accuracy, critical hit probability, and a massive increase in all resistances—those were just the basics.

On top of that, it included bonus damage against demonic and dragon-kin attributes, a high chance of instant death on a critical hit, crisis detection, skill destruction, and various other special effects.

Even if he combined the corrections of all the swordsmanship skills Lee Cheon-gi had acquired until now, they wouldn’t even amount to half of the 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』.

At this point, comparing them was almost insulting.

It was a gap that made him realize poignantly why a Sword Master was called a Sword Master.

Furthermore, the true terror of the Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword did not lie solely in its various correction effects.

“I didn’t know it was possible to achieve predictions more accurate than foresight through swordsmanship alone.”

The subtle shifts in the fingers gripping the sword.

The minute twitches of the muscles.

The movement and contraction of the pupils.

The position and angle of the feet.

Just as a Go grandmaster reads the flow of the game until the very end just by looking at a few stones on the board, Limon predicted the opponent’s next move and unleashed his sword simply by observing every single movement.

It was no longer just insight; it was mastery. It was a prophecy that never missed and a formula for certain victory that cut down any possibility of defeat.

The 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』 was like a culmination of those formulas.

Lee Cheon-gi accepted it.

He understood why Limon was called an absolute being.

Because even with this swordsmanship alone, he would have been peerless in the era before Players existed.

No, at this level, he might have been able to put up a decent fight even against a Lord.

As long as the opponent wasn’t someone like himself, that is.

Lee Cheon-gi felt a surge of euphoria at that fact.

“You may take pride in this. Your swordsmanship has a value that surpasses a thousand skills.”

“Oh, really? When did I ever ask you to grade my swordsmanship?”

“It is not a grade, but an acknowledgment.”

“What was that?”

Lee Cheon-gi was certainly one of the strongest people of the current era, but he was not without limits.

The fact that unique skills could not be duplicated.

That was the limit of 『Technique Duplication』.

At the same time, it was Lee Cheon-gi’s limit.

Skills like 『Absolute Defense』, 『Deification』, or 『Constitutionalism』.

Unique skills that only one person could wield possessed a power that no other skill could mimic.

Even if one could produce a similar result by combining numerous skills, it was impossible to replicate their unique characteristics.

That was why Lee Cheon-gi was merely one of the ten Lords.

He could never become a truly singular absolute being.

Because an absolute skill, the power of a Lord, could overturn thousands of other skills with just one technique.

But now, the story was different.

‘With this, it’s possible.’

The effects of the Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword were superior to most unique skills.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it bordered on the realm of an absolute skill.

In other words, he had now become an unprecedented existence possessing two absolute skills.

He was now confident enough to believe that even against the Lords, whose victory he couldn’t easily guarantee before, he would surely win if he could drag them into a melee.

‘Once I get my hands on the treasure of the Black Dragon Clan on top of this…!’

His target had only been the Black Dragon Princess.

He hadn’t even cared about someone like Limon.

To think he would obtain such a treasure from someone he had considered nothing more than a relic of a bygone era.

While feeling a thrill from this unexpected luck, Lee Cheon-gi calmly began to organize his plan to obtain the treasure of the Black Dragon Clan afterward.

All while completely ignoring Limon in front of him.

“You crazy bastard, are you seriously thinking about something else while fighting me?”

“Because the result has already been decided.”

“And what is that result?”

“You should know. You can no longer defeat me.”

“Say that after you’ve actually won, you punk!”

Limon spat out a savage curse.

As if unaware that his sword path had become simple due to his excitement, his speed simply increased recklessly. Lee Cheon-gi calmly parried the sword and thought to himself.

‘A foolish struggle.’

The moment he stole the 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』, the level of swordsmanship between him and Limon became equal.

Furthermore, unlike Limon, who was a normal person, Lee Cheon-gi had the level corrections of a Player and additional corrections from several other swordsmanship skills.

If two people use the same technique but have a difference in stats?

The outcome is already decided.

That was also why Lee Cheon-gi wasわざと fighting Limon with only swordsmanship.

If it was a fight he was going to win anyway, crushing him with his own swordsmanship would be the ultimate show of respect for a Sword Master.

‘It will end in 17 more exchanges.’

Lee Cheon-gi predicted.

The conclusion of this fierce battle.

He visualized the entire process, from dodging the final attack to thrusting his sword into Limon’s heart.

Limon would likely sense that ending as well.

But nothing would change.

Just as there is no way to save a King once checkmate has been declared, this was a confirmed result.

At least, that was how Lee Cheon-gi judged it.

Clang!

The moment they reached the 17th exchange, which should have been the end.

That was, until he failed to dodge Limon’s attack.

‘…What?’

Thanks to 『Precognitive Foresight』, Lee Cheon-gi managed to block Limon’s attack by a hair’s breadth, but he was bewildered.

The timing of the attack.

The speed at which the sword was swung.

Even the power contained within it.

Nothing had deviated from his prediction.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been able to dodge such an obvious strike.

Still, Lee Cheon-gi did not panic.

He simply thought the conclusion had been delayed slightly and, as they exchanged blows again, he predicted the end once more.

After 21 exchanges, a slash to the neck.

After 34 exchanges, a strike to sever the arm.

After 79 exchanges, a counter to pierce the knee.

Each attack was one he was certain would be a fatal blow, having thoroughly calculated Limon’s swordsmanship.

However, the slash that should have hit missed.

The strike aiming for an opening was blocked.

The perfectly executed counter was parried back.

A mystery where the results deviated despite his clear predictions.

The more they clashed, the more that deviation grew, causing Lee Cheon-gi’s expression to gradually stiffen.

“What are you doing?”

As if sensing Lee Cheon-gi’s agitation, Limon jeered as he swung his sword.

“I thought you said you stole my swordsmanship? So why is your sword-work so pathetic?”

“What kind of trick are you using?”

“You’re the one playing tricks here.”

Limon played completely innocent.

Seeing that, Lee Cheon-gi became even more certain.

The one causing his predictions to fail was definitely him.

From that point on, instead of trying to end the fight, Lee Cheon-gi focused more on observing Limon.

“…I see, so that’s what it was.”

“What do you mean ‘that’s what it was,’ you punk?”

“It’s no use feigning ignorance. I have already seen through your trick.”

“What is this bastard babbling about?”

Employing various skills such as 『Observation』, 『High-Speed Thought』, 『Great Detective’s Reasoning』, and 『Polymath』, Lee Cheon-gi finally realized the trick after dozens more exchanges and wore a cold smile.

[Unique Skill 『Technique Acquisition』 activated.]

[Acquiring 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: Counter』.]

[『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: Counter』 has been integrated into the similar skill 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』. Skill effects have increased significantly.]

The cause behind why his sword missed at every crucial moment.

Having duplicated the 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: Counter』, Lee Cheon-gi was honestly impressed.

‘As expected of a veteran.’

To think he had prepared a counter-swordsmanship that acted as the polar opposite of the 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』 in case his own techniques were leaked.

It was the thoroughness typical of a legendary hero who had lived for a long time and experienced all sorts of battles.

“The games end now.”

Now that he had seen through the trick and even acquired the counter-method that was Limon’s trump card, Limon was no longer his match.

Lee Cheon-gi did not doubt that for a second.

That was, until they exchanged dozens more blows and he once again felt doubt at the fact that he still couldn’t overwhelm Limon, leading him to observe his swordsmanship again.

[Acquiring 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: Revised』.]

[『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: Revised』 has been integrated into the similar skill 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』. Skill effects have increased significantly.]

Even then, Lee Cheon-gi merely furrowed his brows at Limon’s paranoiac level of preparation.

However, he soon realized.

That this was only the beginning.

[Acquiring 『New Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』.]

[Acquiring 『True Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』.]

[Acquiring 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: Supplemental Version』.]

[Acquiring 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword: EX』.]

[Integrated into the similar skill 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword』…, skill effects have increased significantly, increased significantly, increased…]

No matter how many times he stole through 『Technique Acquisition』.

Lee Cheon-gi could not hide his bewilderment at the new swordsmanship that kept appearing endlessly—the ultimate of the ultimate, a counter to a counter, a solution to a solution.

This had already surpassed the level of paranoia or thoroughness.

[Acquiring 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword Version 3.7』…]

[System error, error number xi111a0o44. A bug has occurred where the technique to be acquired from the target does not exist.]

[Acquiring 『Demon-Dragon Slaying Sword Version 3.8』.]

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

As if it were now too bothersome to give them individual names, the versions just changed one after another.

While he was frantically using 『Technique Acquisition』 on the swordsmanship, a bug message popped up.

Seeing it, Lee Cheon-gi spat out a curse.

It was behavior uncharacteristic of him.

But he couldn’t help it.

It was because he had finally realized the truth.

Limon hadn’t created things like counter-methods in advance for a rainy day.

“You… don’t tell me you are creating new swordsmanship in real-time right now?!”

He was simply inventing new swordsmanship that countered the stolen techniques faster than Lee Cheon-gi could acquire them as skills.