Chapter 32: 10-Second Weakness

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Emergency Check!]

Thud! Kaaang!

In the blink of an eye, the Sword Demon flew in.

It was fast.

The Sword Demon passed me in an instant and was already behind me.

“Hoo. You really are something. I couldn’t even see which direction you came from.”

I lowered my shield and said.

I crouched and defended, but somehow the demon had slashed my thigh.

Was the burn on my thigh some kind of special trait?

If I hadn’t had the shield, my neck or vital points would have been struck.

“10 seconds.”

“Huh?”

“This body’s strike is not finished yet.”

The Sword Demon turned its head and answered.

Not finished yet?

You’re saying you’re going to use the strike again?

“Form 2. Regular Check (定期點劍)!”

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Regular Check!]

Whoosh!

The Sword Demon spun its body and charged.

Its blade spun like a windmill and struck toward my neck in a flash.

Kaaang!

But I raised my shield and blocked it.

Maybe because it relied on the strike, it felt much slower than the usual Sword Demon.

“Hahaha! You blocked both strikes! You truly are exceptional!”

“It was visible! It was slower than usual, so there was no way I wouldn’t block it!”

“But it’s not over yet! Form 3! Extended Check (延長點劍)!”

“Form 3?”

I was shocked at the Sword Demon’s words.

Another strike followed.

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Extended Check!]

Kraak!

“Ugh!”

The sharp blade came crashing down from above.

It was heavy.

If I hadn’t supported it with both hands, my stance would have collapsed.

“My lord! This strike holds a secret!”

“What is it?”

“10 seconds!”

“10 seconds?”

“Extended Check!”

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Extended Check!]

Kaaang!

Before I could doubt my ears, the blade struck again.

What is this?

Why do you keep using it?

“This strike can be used again within 10 seconds!”

“What!”

“Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

“You can continue using it in succession! That is the secret of this strike! Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

The Sword Demon slammed its fierce blade down.

You mean if it’s used again within 10 seconds, it can keep going?

No wonder its words got shorter.

I shouted at the Sword Demon as I parried with my shield.

“So! How long are you planning to keep using this?”

“Until you lose your temper! Until curses spill from your mouth… Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

…until then! Hahaha!”

The Sword Demon attacked relentlessly while moving.

After using the strike, it ran quickly, aiming for my back or sides,

“Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

And when 10 seconds passed, it struck again.

It was a truly annoying strike.

Normally, a strike hard to control, but it was being broken up and swung every 10 seconds.

“Lee-yeon!”

“What’s the matter!”

“Let’s rest for just 10 seconds!”

“Hahaha! That’s impossible! Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

“You say you can’t use it after 10 seconds, so why should I stop? Extended Check!”

The Sword Demon swung its blade without tiring.

Damn it.

It wouldn’t fall for my words.

I tried to stop it with reasoning, but it clearly didn’t care.

“Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

The Sword Demon chased me at high speed.

To stop this strike, I had to make it unable to use it for 10 seconds.

Would Rose’s ‘Root Bind’ skill work?

But I didn’t have that skill.

If there was no way, then only a frontal showdown remained.

Kaaang!

I dropped the Uruk Slayer I was holding.

Then adjusted the grip on my left arm’s shield.

Lowering my stance, I relied solely on the shield.

“Hm? Hahaha! You’re discarding your sword again? Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

“If other Swordmasters saw this, they’d be saddened! Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

The Sword Demon circled and pressured me.

Focusing on my shield, I blocked without a single gap.

“Exactly! Right now, it’s just getting in the way!”

“Hahaha! Any ordinary Swordmaster would try to find a way with their sword! Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

“You truly are special! Extended Check!”

Kaaang!

Two strikes slammed down.

Still relentless attacks.

‘But…!’

There was a chance.

The moment this fast Sword Demon slowed down.

That moment it used its strike.

I decided to counterattack and break through head-on the moment it struck.

“Extended Check!”

The long-awaited strike slammed down.

Next strike in 10 seconds.

I tensed up and swallowed my breath.

The Sword Demon also moved, trying to gauge my openings.

“You seem to be waiting for something! Have you figured out my weakness?”

The Sword Demon asked as it moved.

Of course, I had no time to answer.

‘5 seconds… 4 seconds…’

I counted in my head.

To stop the strike, I had to intercept it.

‘2 seconds’

I looked into the Sword Demon’s eyes and thought.

Will it not come in?

Is it trying to end it here?

“Extended Check!”

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon: Extended Check!]

Only when the 10 seconds were up did the Sword Demon’s strike slam down.

This dreaded check was the last one.

I blocked the strike by raising my shield,

Kaaang!

“Hm?”

I met the Sword Demon’s surprised face.

I slammed down the raised shield.

Kkaang!

“Ugh!”

[★★★ Dancheong Blazing Passion Sword Demon]
[43/100%]

Bright red blood splattered.

Finally, I landed a hit.

Was it a little cruel?

Too harsh for a friendly match?

“Hmph!”

Kaaang!

[26/100%]

• Interest

There was no time to care.

Moreover, the Sword Demon’s trait was that the lower its health, the stronger it got. If I missed this moment, it would swing at me again.

Kaaang!

I swung the shield without rest.

[13/100%]

Ssshk…!

Steam rose from the Sword Demon’s body in an instant.

I grit my teeth, looking into the Sword Demon’s eyes,

“Haste!”

Whoooosh!

A white gust countered the demon’s flames.

I mercilessly struck its face revealed through the crimson flames.

Kaaang!

[4/100%]

The Sword Demon’s health rapidly drained.

Wasn’t it like this when it injured its shoulder before?

Did it basically have low health?

Is that why it depleted so quickly?

Amid many thoughts, the staggering Sword Demon collapsed.

“Hahaha… I lost! You win!”

Then it declared its defeat.

[4/100%]

‘Phew’

I exhaled and stopped swinging my shield.

The Sword Demon had 4% health left.

I had defeated that fast Sword Demon.

I couldn’t tell if it had gone easy on me or if I really won.

“Hoo… are you alright? I went overboard expecting a counterattack.”

“Hahaha! No! Even in friendly matches, it’s proper manners to give a kill! I surrendered thinking it was over! I thought I could use the strike and run away, but I was too careless! Hahaha!”

The Sword Demon, its face covered in blood, answered.

I brushed the blood off my shield and approached the Sword Demon.

“Hoho. You were just waiting for that moment, weren’t you?”

“That was my secret! Even discarding my sword was a flawless decision. This body admits complete defeat!”

“You flatter me. Let’s get you up.”

“Thank you!”

I grabbed the Sword Demon’s hand and helped it up.

Its eyes were swollen and barely open.

I felt a little sorry even though I had caused this.

“How will you heal? Is there a recovery facility nearby?”

“Just go outside the arena! Could you help me out a bit?”

“Of course.”

“Hahaha! How embarrassing!”

Thud!

Once outside, the Sword Demon recovered.

Its face and cheeks, once swollen red, and even its severed left arm were restored.

“I have a question.”

“Hm! What is it?”

“Your health… isn’t it abnormally low? It seemed to deplete very fast.”

“Hahaha! That’s just balance! Valhalla’s balance nerfed this body!”

“Balance? Nerf?”

“Balance means the forced equilibrium Valhalla imposes. Nerf means weakening heroes to fit that balance. It’s true I’ve reached a high level in Valhalla, but for a 3-star rank, I have an excessively high level. So I get nerfed during the game. If I level up, I’d be free from that, but I don’t have that level! Hahaha!”

The Sword Demon laughed exaggeratedly.

Valhalla’s balance weakened the Sword Demon?

Its tremendous speed came at the cost of its health?

I learned a lot from this—your flexibility and judgment are all beyond me. Truly a lesson, my lord Sid. Thank you, Lord Sid.”

The Sword Demon bowed its head briefly in thought.

“No, I learned more. Thank you for the teaching at my level. You even let me lose on purpose at the end, didn’t you? You showed a gap.”

I bowed in surprise as well.

“Hahaha! Why would I lose on purpose? Anyway, I’ll head back in! Thanks to you, I have a lot to talk about on the channel. Will you go in too?”

The Sword Demon asked, tilting its head.

Actually, I had come here to rest.

[Mission Clear!]
[+100 Gold]
[Pet Bonus!] [+40 Gold]
[Pet Bonus!] [+30 Steel Shards]
[+3 General Cards]

The screen showed farming was complete.

I sent Flowerdol and the Tyrant out farming and took out the dictionary I had in my arms.

Since I was at the plaza, I might as well stop by the channel.

“I should go in too. Thanks for your hard work.”

“Hahaha! Then see you next time! I hope we can meet in the game too!”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

“Go on in!”

The Sword Demon chuckled and stepped back.

I watched it for a moment, then headed the other way.

It felt a little awkward to meet again after just greeting.

Swoosh…

Nearby, I saw a fountain where I could quench my thirst.

Was this fountain milk?

I reached out, grabbed a cup,

Pop!

And leisurely filled it, then drank.

Now no one would think I’m a newbie.

[Mission Clear!]
[+100 Gold]
[Pet Bonus!] [+30 Gold]
[Pet Bonus!] [+40 Steel Shards]
[+3 General Cards]

I took a breather as the dungeon cleared.

I just needed to collect 100 cards.

Manipulating the screen, I continued farming.

While reading the dictionary and walking, I arrived at the channel entrance.

“Huh? You’re here! Captain!”

“Oh! The captain’s here?”

“Welcome!”

“Captain! Means ‘leader’!”

Familiar voices greeted me as I entered the channel.

Those guys again.

Drinking again?

Even if it was break time, training should…

‘Heh.’

Forget it.

Like Treya said, if I was treated like a subordinate even after dying, that’d be harsh. So I let it slide.

“Huh? Really the captain? Our captain? Oh my god!”

A thunderous voice rang out suddenly.

Whose voice was that?

I flinched and turned around, only to be lifted up by someone.

“Hahaha! Really the captain? Treya was telling the truth! Welcome! Hahaha!”

“Baraks?”

“That’s right! It’s me! Hahaha!”

A familiar bulk smiled.

Right.

This guy came too, didn’t he?

Knight Order Vice-Captain Baraks.

He said he wasn’t here because he was in the game, but he must have returned after the game ended.

He was my right hand who died in the frontal battle with the demons.

“Pfft. But is it okay to touch the boss? Back in the day, that was unthinkable.”

“Hahaha! It’s not back then, so we can even have a little insubordination! Come on! This isn’t the time! You have to drink with me! I’ve been waiting for this day so long! Let’s enjoy it while there’s no nagging woman around!”

“Nagging woman? Oh, Treya’s not here?”

“Yes! She was called by a user! Complaining she didn’t know when the captain would come! Come on, sit down! Let’s drink! Hahaha!”

Baraks laughed as he filled the cup.

So Treya wasn’t here, nor Diablo or the Emperor?

All three must have been called away.

I sat down quietly and took a drink.

“But Baraks.”

“Yeah! Ask me anything, captain!”

“‘Yeah’ is casual speech. Ah, just do whatever. Anyway, what about Sadaniel? Didn’t he come? So he really didn’t show up?”

I asked what had been on my mind.

Sadaniel, who should have died with me.

That demon was nowhere to be seen.

“Sadaniel? What kind of guy is that?”

“Oh, you mean that! El Diablo’s thirteenth son! The demons bragged about him!”

“Ah, that? Pfft, why bother with that? He didn’t come! Just drink! Hahaha!”

Baraks answered after confirming with the others.

So he really didn’t come?

I felt a small twinge of regret and downed my drink.

Then there was no choice after all.

[Mission Clear!]
[+100 Gold]
[Pet Bonus!] [+30 Gold]
[Pet Bonus!] [+40 Steel Shards]
[+3 General Cards]

As we enjoyed the banquet, the dungeon cleared.

‘100 cards.’

I had secured 100 cards.

Orcs and Flowerdol worked hard too, so I’d call it a day.

[End]

“Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! The alcohol’s flowing! Chug chug chug chug! Chug chug chug chug!”

“Look at my shoulder! I’ve grown horns!”

“That’s because you’re a demon!”

“ōtōtōt!”

I glanced around my channel for a moment.

Half a day since arriving in Valhalla.

Considering it was the first day, I’d spent it fiercely enough.

All the cards could be flipped with Rose and Gobori tomorrow.

I’d also do my enhancement tomorrow.

It had been a day full of so many experiences.