‘I’d rather face a thousand high-level players at the same time.’
It was by no means an exaggeration.
In terms of sheer total firepower, a thousand players might actually be better.
Even Lee Cheon-gi wouldn’t be able to use a thousand skills simultaneously.
However, for Limon, Lee Cheon-gi using ten skills in sequence was far more annoying than a thousand skills firing haphazardly.
It was the same logic as a single boss being harder to raid than a thousand mobs.
Lee Cheon-gi, who buffed himself with all sorts of abilities and used multiple skills in combos, was a truly troublesome foe.
‘A combination of [Predictive Foresight] and [Space Transference]… isn’t that a total cheat?’
His defensive capabilities were particularly impressive.
He used foresight to perceive a future where he was attacked, and then immediately shifted through space to evade.
With that simple combo alone, Lee Cheon-gi had already evaded Limon’s blade several times.
Limon clicked his tongue, unable to be certain if that was even the extent of the man’s defensive skills.
“The more I see, the less I understand.”
“What is it, you bastard?”
“That someone who isn’t even a Player can be this strong.”
Lee Cheon-gi was also shaking his head.
If anything, he was the one more dumbfounded.
The attacks he had poured out so far were enough to kill a Duke-class player several times over.
Yet Limon was not only enduring all those attacks without using a single skill, but he was also launching lethal counterattacks.
By the common sense of this Iron Age, it was actually Limon who was the nonsensical one.
“Player, my ass. From where I’m standing, you freaks who can use these powers just because you signed a contract with a Constellation are the ones who are abnormal.”
“By that logic, most of humanity becomes abnormal.”
“Then the world is just crazy, you bastard!”
Limon lunged forward before he even finished his sentence.
One step as he cut through a golem summoned by Lee Cheon-gi, another step as he pierced through a storm of lightning, and then one more step.
A surprise attack aimed at the opening during their conversation.
Given the nature of those peculiar three steps, it was an attack that would inevitably hit no matter how far away the target was, provided they let their guard down.
“[Space Transference].”
But it didn’t work on Lee Cheon-gi. Not only had he not let his guard down in the first place, but he had once again seen the future of being cut down through [Predictive Foresight].
“Stupid bastard.”
It happened in that exact moment.
Just before he took the third step.
Seeing Lee Cheon-gi use his teleportation, Limon, wearing a cold smile, twisted his body.
*Ting!*
He pulled his foot back just as it was about to touch the ground.
Instead, he struck the earth with his sword to spin his body, using that momentum to step in the exact opposite direction.
Right toward the location where Lee Cheon-gi emerged from space!
And so, the final step.
Having finally succeeded in reaching Lee Cheon-gi, Limon swung his sword without a moment’s hesitation.
He acted as if he wouldn’t give his opponent even a breath to escape.
It was a strike that stretched out like a bolt of lightning—a blow that never missed.
An ultra-high-speed blade capable of chasing down and cutting a fired bullet.
“[Armament Exchange].”
*Clang!*
However, the blade did not land. It was swung only to be blocked in vain.
Limon’s expression turned to one of surprise, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time, as he realized his sword had been stopped.
“Why do you look so shocked?”
Instead of a white suit, he wore golden armor. Instead of glasses, a jeweled crown.
Instead of a ring, he held a long, ornate regalia sword.
Having swapped his equipment in an instant using the [Armament Exchange] skill and blocking Limon’s blade with the regalia sword, Lee Cheon-gi spoke calmly.
“Did you really think that out of the thousands of skills I possess, I wouldn’t have a single one related to swordsmanship?”
***
Judging things coldly, it was natural for Lee Cheon-gi to be proficient in swordsmanship.
Among the ten Lords, there might be those who weren’t exceptional at close-quarters combat, but there were none who lacked countermeasures for it.
The level 100 stage was a realm that those with such glaring weaknesses could never reach.
This was especially true for Lee Cheon-gi, the most versatile among the Lords.
*Clang, cla-cla-clashing!*
“So a guy who can swing a sword this well has just been running away?”
Limon pulled his sword back and lunged. He aimed for the heart.
It was an attack as fast and sharp as a ray of light.
“Changing tactics according to the opponent is the basic rule for a Player. There was no reason for me to fight within your range, was there?”
The regalia sword parried the thrust. It was a textbook defense—catching the blade with a gauntleted hand, slightly twisting the body, and tilting the sword to deflect the strike.
“Then why the swordplay now?”
“The first reason is that you aren’t giving me any room to retreat.”
“Hmm, I’ll give you 그건 인정.”
Limon closed the distance, swinging his sword rapidly.
He didn’t expect a fatal blow.
It was merely a light flurry of consecutive strikes intended to prevent Lee Cheon-gi from escaping via [Space Transference].
Those weightless attacks were easily blocked by the regalia sword.
“So, what’s the second reason?”
“Because it doesn’t feel like I’ll lose even if we fight like this.”
It was at that moment. Limon, who had been coolly pouring out attacks even while talking, made an absurd expression.
“…Did you just bark that you’re going to beat me with swordsmanship?”
If it was a joke, he should admit it now.
It was a kindness, an offer to let it slide by simply acknowledging that his sense of humor was bottom-tier.
However, Lee Cheon-gi cut through that kindness.
“Do you think I can’t?”
*Clang!!*
While keeping the tip of his sword fixed in the air, he moved only the hilt, making the regalia sword ripple like a wave.
Limon’s sword was knocked away by the subtle vibration.
Limon observed the surprise upward slash that dug into that opening and countered it by simply flipping his wrist.
As they clashed, Lee Cheon-gi continued calmly.
“Your swordsmanship is certainly incredible. Very few Duke-class Players could handle it.”
Because Lee Cheon-gi was proficient in more skills than anyone else, he could be certain.
Limon’s capability was above the Duke-class.
With a few exceptions, even Players over level 90 would be no match for him.
“But in the end, that is all it is.”
There was no surprise in his words.
There was no admiration or fear either.
Instead, they contained a thorough analysis.
It was as if he had observed the patterns of a first-time boss monster and, after a probing battle, had finalized the strategy for the raid.
There was only the absolute certainty characteristic of a Player.
“It means that if I can use swordsmanship equal to or greater than yours, it won’t be a problem at all.”
“Ha…!”
Perhaps he was even more dumbfounded by that calm attitude.
Limon let out a hollow laugh. He gripped his sword tightly.
Then, staring at Lee Cheon-gi with cold golden eyes, he growled.
“Fine. If you can do it, then try it, you bastard!”
*Swish-swish-swish-swish!*
An onslaught began immediately.
It was as if all the swordplay until now had been mere probing.
He slashed at the chest and stabbed at the throat, changing the trajectory of his blade before the attack was even blocked, pouring out a storm of steel.
It was a fantastic sequence of strikes that could be called the ultimate realization of swordsmanship.
Even so, Lee Cheon-gi did not back down.
Even though anyone could see it was wiser to fight from a distance.
Whether it was out of the pride of an absolute being or because he was certain of victory, he stood his ground and swung his sword to meet Limon’s fierce assault.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
[Advanced Swordsmanship], which provided a bonus to attack power.
[Taiji Sword Art], which increased the success rate of counters.
[Six-Harmonies Sword Art], which deflected attacks with a certain probability.
[Hunyuan Sword], which dealt unconditional armor-penetration damage, and so on.
His swordsmanship, which maximized the effects of numerous skills by sometimes complementing them and sometimes alternating between them, was a miracle in itself.
It was another extreme of swordsmanship that only Lee Cheon-gi could manifest in the entire world.
The moment those two blades collided, the superiority between the two peaked sword styles was decided.
*Slashing sound!*
From armor marked with deep cuts to a sharply slashed forearm and a bleeding neck.
In an instant, Lee Cheon-gi was covered in blood.
Seeing this, Limon gave a short, mocking laugh.
“What are you doing, bastard? I thought you were going to crush me with swordsmanship?”
“Yes, that is the plan.”
“You can still say that?”
“The match isn’t over yet, is it?”
“From where I’m standing, it looks like it’s already over.”
It was an undeniable reality.
Unlike Lee Cheon-gi, whose body was stained with blood, Limon’s form remained uninjured.
But Lee Cheon-gi did not waver.
As if everything was within his expected range, he simply continued to swing his regalia sword to receive Limon’s strikes, responding with a calm face.
“Well, you’ll see if you wait and find out.”
“Wait for what? You’re—”
Whether he was being stubborn out of pride or had gone mad from the shock of defeat, Limon sneered at Lee Cheon-gi for refusing to retreat until the end.
*Clang!*
“…?”
But the moment their swords met, a look of doubt appeared on Limon’s face.
A sense of incongruity that others would never have noticed, but which he could not help but feel, triggered his suspicion.
However, that was only the beginning.
*Clang-clatter-clang!*
As if the previous defensive struggle had been a lie, Lee Cheon-gi was now meeting Limon’s sword as an equal.
He would slash downward and then twist his shoulder to change the strike into a thrust, or flick his wrist to revitalize an attack that should have been parried.
Limon’s eyes widened at the swordsmanship that became faster and more sophisticated the more they clashed.
“You… you bastard, could it be?”
“You’re far too late in noticing.”
Whether it was anger, bewilderment, or shock, Lee Cheon-gi pointed it out as he watched Limon’s face, which was twisted with indefinable emotions.
“I had no chance to retreat, and I didn’t think I would lose. You didn’t really think I would cross swords with you for those reasons alone, did you?”
Lee Cheon-gi had clearly stated that changing tactics based on the opponent was the basic rule for a Player.
In that sense, his actions were contradictory.
Facing Limon—of all people—with swordsmanship was the most foolish choice, regardless of one’s skill level.
Yet, if Lee Cheon-gi had done so intentionally, there were two possible reasons.
Either he had to do it, or he was confident he could win anyway.
There was no need to ask which was the correct answer.
Both were the answer, as Lee Cheon-gi’s sword was making clear.
“Ever since I heard that you defeated 150 high-level players, I was curious. How such a thing was possible with just swordsmanship.”
Even while speaking, Lee Cheon-gi did not stop his sword.
As if a single moment was too precious to waste, he swung his regalia sword incessantly and continued talking while watching Limon’s swordsmanship as it countered him.
“And after fighting you directly today, I am certain. Your swordsmanship is a technique that surpasses unique skills in and of itself.”
That was by no means an exaggeration.
Taking on 150 high-level players was impossible even for Dukes.
Limon’s swordsmanship, which made that possible with just a single blade, was worth comparing to the absolute skills of the Lords with only a slight bit of hyperbole.
Even if Limon hadn’t shown his full strength, the fact that he was holding his own against a Lord was proof enough.
“However, it just so happens that I have the kind of temperament that cannot simply pass by a magnificent ‘technique’ when I see one.”
With a smile on his usually calm face, and looking at Limon with strangely glittering eyes, Lee Cheon-gi spoke with the satisfaction of seeing a system message he had been waiting for throughout the entire fight.
“The Sword Master’s swordsmanship… I’ll take it now.”
[Experience accumulated on the target has met the requirements.]
[Unique Skill: Technique Acquisition activated.]
[Acquiring Limon Aspelder’s swordsmanship, 『Demon-Slaying Dragon-Killing Sword Style』.]