Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Friendly Rival - (4)

It started off smoothly.  

Leaving behind the Sword Demon–Sword God team engaged in a full-on battle in the rear.  

Sanghyun and Do Kyungsoo had reached the 20% mark on the path leading to the Altar of the Defeated at the summit of the snowy mountain.  

It was a new record, cutting the previous time by more than half, so Do Kyungsoo was brimming with excitement.  

However, just as expected, an obstacle appeared in the section where the path was forced into a single route with no detours.  

“Abomination.”  

If one were to ask for an example to describe the word “disgusting,” this would be the first thing that came to mind.  

Its rotten form quivered with a stench-ridden mass of flesh, without a single intact part on its body.  

Added to that were randomly attached lumps of flesh and wrinkled, oozing skin that leaked pus without the creature even realizing.  

It looked exactly like something hastily molded into human form from mud in just two seconds—an abomination, no doubt.  

In fact, it was more commonly known by its nickname “Trash Golem” than its official name—abbreviated as “Trash Go.”  

“Go for the neck.”  

“Yes. The chain around it is just a decoy.”  

The two agreed without hesitation.  

The neck, thick and heavily wrapped in chains, appeared to be its weak point.  

Do Kyungsoo’s Sword God Possession!  

Seven swords shimmered behind him, merging with the sword aura of his offensive barrage.  

At the core of the aura filled with killing intent stood a real, sharply manifested sword holding the center.  

Shuaaaa!  

Pussh! Pussh! Pussshusshuk!  

With sounds of slicing wind, the seven sword auras mercilessly targeted the overlapping section of the abomination’s thick neck flesh.  

At first, thick chunks of flesh splattered in every direction, followed by blobs of fatty tissue bursting apart.  

At a glance, the flesh looked so thick that it was hard to imagine this part could actually be pierced.  

But rather than hesitate, Sanghyun’s body moved first.  

Activating Weak Point Reinforcement in advance, he landed four basic strikes while closing in on the abomination.  

Then, layering it with Whisper of the Sage, he focused all the destructive force into a single point and unleashed the skill, Blade of Ruin.  

Sanghyun had his reasons for confidence.  

The destructive force of the fatal combo was formidable in itself.  

And he relied on the passive skill Holy Crusade, granted by the SS-grade title, “Guide of the Holy Spirit.”  

Against undead, it added 200% extra damage—that meant triple the original damage.  

“I’ll assist with another barrage!”  

Do Kyungsoo’s support call rang out.  

Knowing Sanghyun’s attack alone wouldn’t be enough to kill the abomination, the call for support was only natural.  

The next moment.  

Puuuuk!  

The sword of frenzied slashes pierced through the abomination’s neck flesh, burrowing deep inside.  

Crack!  

‘Nice!’  

A maximum critical strike was triggered, followed by the sound of thunderclap from the activated lightning. A flash flared from within.  

『Wrath of the Mortal』  

He immediately followed up with an extra strike.  

It was a blow that absorbed all the damage from Do Kyungsoo’s previous Sword God Possession and barrage combination.  

Zzzzeek!  

At that moment.  

Sanghyun could hear it.  

The loud, leathery tearing sound running along the abomination’s neck.  

With maximum damage already inflicted and Holy Crusade also applied, the abomination had no chance of withstanding it.  

Gugehgehgehge……  

A deflating hiss leaked from the abomination’s mouth.  

The moment the seemingly indestructible neck was cleaved in half, a vacuum of sound emerged.  

“Was that a one-hit kill?”  

Do Kyungsoo, who had been readying the next barrage, stopped in his tracks.  

Sanghyun had finished it.  

There was no need to prepare a follow-up—he had cleaved through the layered, thick flesh of its neck in a single blow.  

“Let’s move right on! It’s trash anyway, doesn’t even drop a Magic Stone.”  

“Y-yeah, let’s do that.”  

Do Kyungsoo stuttered for a moment, dazed.  

Of course, he preferred stacking multiple hits over one-shot-kill skills.  

Still, he didn’t think Sanghyun’s skills would be more powerful than his sword aura.  

After all, there was a difference in level and a limit to maximum damage—logically speaking.  

But the damage from Sanghyun’s recent strike far exceeded what Do Kyungsoo had calculated.  

While Sanghyun had fully accounted for the abomination’s death, for Do Kyungsoo, it was completely unexpected.  

It was an “accident” he hadn’t foreseen.  

Of course, a lucky accident—but now it was clear that he had to reevaluate Sanghyun’s combat strength.  

‘The abomination section, where I got held up several times, is now no issue at all.’  

Do Kyungsoo’s gaze changed.  

Thanks to Sanghyun, the strategy became significantly easier.  

But at this rate, Sanghyun’s contribution to the raid would increase explosively.  

Friendly competition was fine. But that didn’t mean he could just laugh it off if he lost out.  

Do Kyungsoo’s pride wouldn’t allow it.  

‘Now it’s your turn to owe me, Shin Sanghyun!’  

Spurred on by Sanghyun’s performance, Do Kyungsoo accelerated drastically and surged ahead.  

A charge born from mutual stimulation—a race-like advance! The two men’s assault caught fire.  

* * *  

Contrary to Do Kyungsoo’s expectation that they might face a few setbacks, the climb proceeded smoothly.  

Part of it was because Do Kyungsoo’s concentration during battle had reached a level far higher than usual.  

But it was also because Sanghyun’s skills blocked every troublesome delay at just the right moments.  

Counter Barrier easily deflected the magic spears thrown by the “Spear Mage” hiding behind defensive structures.  

In past attempts, Do Kyungsoo had struggled with movement in this section, but not this time.  

On top of that.  

Sanghyun used Cold Blast while passing through the path to freeze pesky enemies.  

The freeze only lasted around two seconds, but that was more than enough to widen the gap by dozens of meters.  

What surprised Do Kyungsoo wasn’t just Sanghyun’s countering or his ability to inflict status effects.  

It was when Sanghyun took a stray magic shot from somewhere mid-charge and came out totally fine.  

Thanks to the Witch Hunt skill, Sanghyun received 50% reduced damage—so for him, it was a minor mishap.  

‘No matter how I look at it, Shin Sanghyun is a burst-damage melee swordsman like me. But his tanking surpasses even the defensive skills I possess.’  

However, Do Kyungsoo couldn’t brush it off as just a fluke. Because Sanghyun had a clear edge over him in some areas.  

Even when taking into account all his equipped Artifacts, level, and titles, this shouldn’t have been happening.  

There should never be an asymmetry or reversal in objective combat power—because their differences were clear.  

However, with Sanghyun handling all the troublesome aspects of tanking and countering, Do Kyungsoo felt his own contribution was starting to seem quite ambiguous.  

‘He’s turned the tables.’  

At this rate, he’d end up riding the bus, basking in the comfort Sanghyun provided.  

Just like how Lee Gah Hee and Jung Junhyuk had been engrossed in Sanghyun’s smooth driving through Phases 1 and 2 earlier.  

Do Kyungsoo, who had heard of Sanghyun’s accomplishments during his talk with them yesterday, couldn’t simply let it go.  

‘This won’t do.’  

His urgency surged.  

In the end, Do Kyungsoo used “Sword Demon–Sword God,” both his team’s name and an ultimate skill that drew out his extreme combat power.  

It was a fusion of Sword Demon Possession, Sword God Possession, and Psychedelic, now with added damage reduction.  

‘That’s too soon. Getting through the section is important, but you won’t be able to use that skill again for a while.’  

Sanghyun didn’t think it was the best choice, but since Do Kyungsoo had already made it, he didn’t show it outwardly.  

Paaang!  

With a sonic-boom-like roar, he followed behind Do Kyungsoo, who had burst ahead. It was now his moment.  

* * *  

Two hours later.  

‘Two hours left. My level’s up to 175. All in all, this was a profitable run.’  

Arriving at the final destination, the Altar of the Defeated, Sanghyun checked the changes that had occurred in Phase 3.  

First, his level had risen dramatically—to 175. Now just 25 more levels, and he could enhance his skills.  

This was the 100-level renewal milestone all players eagerly awaited!  

Back when he hit level 100, he had enhanced Psychedelic. Now, which one should he enhance this time? It became a pleasant dilemma.  

Enhancing his main skill would naturally yield the best effect.  

“So that’s the true form of the boss we’re up against.”  

Feigning ignorance, Sanghyun looked at the boss monster.  

Its official name was Crown Prince Saize.  

He was the one guarding the altar.  

There was a reason the term used was not the “Conqueror (霸者)” but “Degenerate Son (悖子),” both pronounced the same in Korean.  

That’s because he had killed his parents—the emperor and empress—and sold the empire to an undead legion.  

In other words, a literal bastard.  

He gained immense power in return, but for some reason, ended up sealed within the Altar of the Defeated.  

Most likely, the undead legion had used him and then discarded him—that much was Sanghyun’s guess.  

Saize had two major traits.  

First, as a berserker type, he grew stronger the more HP he lost. Second, he used skills based on HP.  

He could be considered similar in nature to the Marquis Blood Blade Sanghyun had fought before when acquiring the Blood Devil Sword.  

Saize’s entire body was radiating crimson energy, boiling over like blood and evaporating from his skin.  

Clutching a jet-black greatsword in his right hand, and clad in pitch-black armor, his image evoked the name “Dark Prince.”  

‘I’ll need to be ready to use Undying.’  

The reward for defeating a high-level boss monster like Saize would be beyond imagination.  

He was prepared to use one of his three lives if necessary in exchange for that reward.  

【Isolation: Saize. No allies present within a 5-meter radius. “True Duelist” instinct activates.】  

The Isolation effect from his “True Duelist” title was working properly. Saize was completely alone.  

‘One of the most troublesome things about Saize’s attacks is that they often inflict Silence.’  

Every one of Saize’s attacks had a Silence effect—just like Sanghyun’s did.  

However, Saize’s activation rate was much higher, and he came with his own built-in debuff.  

This was a debuff automatically applied to anyone within 50 meters of Saize—completely unavoidable.  

Do Kyungsoo’s expression darkened as soon as he realized the severity of the Suppression debuff.  

But.  

‘It’s a different story for me.’  

Sanghyun turned his gaze to one of his solid SS-grade titles, “Conductor of Illusions.”  

That was it.  

As the Conductor of Illusions, he was completely immune to Silence—there was no need to worry about Saize’s silencing effects.  

There was one more title Sanghyun had his eyes on. The perfect wild card to fluster Saize.  

It was none other than—  

A counter title that lowered the enemy’s defense by a fixed amount, no matter what.  

And thus, the curtain rose on the battle.