Chapter 21 (1/2)

SoJ Episode 2 Chapter 21

Episode 2: Exodus / Chapter 21: Berserkers (4)

TL: Myoni

Edited: Myoni, Yoni

Sponsored: Arlos and R.D.

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[Soaring Slash]

Rank: C

Release a blade condensed from karma.

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The only skill Choi Hyuk had, Soaring Strike. Its description was simple but it was an incredible C rank skill.

The most players could obtain from the [Throne Game] were E rank weapons and skills and the Predator’s Blade he received as a reward from a secret rule was the only D rank weapon which was a level above the others.

It was similar to that. The regular items and skills that would drop from killing normal monsters in the game, [Survive and Escape], were E rank while to the special ones who hunted mid-bosses would normally receive D ranks.

But since ‘Soaring Slash’ was a C rank, like the Predator’s Blade, it was a reward that exceeded the norm.

So Choi Hyuk wasn’t able to use the skill yet.

[Failed. To use C rank skills, you must have at least one stat and Retribution Point at C rank (3-star).]

Choi Hyuk recalled the moment he obtained the skill.

That day was the day he met Lee Jinhee.

Four days after [Ring of Rebirth]. They were on their way to destroy their third portal. Although he was low on stamina, he thought that he could end the day after this. However, his opponents were stronger than he thought.

“Boss! I’m going to die!”

Choi Hyuk was clearing the monsters approaching Baek Seoin but due to the monsters who went around him, Baek Seoin was in a critical situation. However, he was unable to recklessly go save Baek Seoin either. If he did, then the monsters he was currently blocking would gather around Baek Seoin as well and that could put him in more danger.

There were around 40 monsters which were similar to the number of monsters at the previous portal… but it was different. Usually, there would be one type of monster protecting a portal but this place had various monsters and they moved according to the mid-boss’s orders. They were monsters that used tactics.

On top of that, to hide this fact, only the mid-boss and around 10 large [Boulder Bears] were guarding the front of the portal while the rest waited in ambush. “Huh? What the? Something feels off?” Baek Seoin hesitated but Choi Hyuk didn’t pay him any heed. And they were currently in a difficult fight surrounded by a combination of tanks, close ranged and long ranged attackers.

‘We can’t continue like this. I have no choice.’

Choi Hyuk resolved himself. He was worried about Baek Seoin but he decided to believe in him.

‘Since he has Intuition, he probably won’t die.’

He felt that dragging the fight any longer would be more dangerous. Choi Hyuk decided to take the chance that more monsters would gather around Baek Seoin and attack the mid-boss.

The mid-boss had the appearance of a 3m tall bat but since it was wary of Choi Hyuk, it never stepped onto the frontlines. An annoying existence that only controlled monsters from behind and cast debuffs on Choi Hyuk and Baek Seoin.

Choi Hyuk instantaneously overloaded his karma. If he did this, his Stamina and Recovery would rapidly decline but he had no choice if he wanted to offset the debuffs and surprise it.

Choi Hyuk took a deep breath.

Bang!!

He kicked off the ground.

“Are you okay?!”

The moment Choi Hyuk shot up was the same moment Lee Jinhee ran over to save Baek Seoin.

Stab!

Lee Jinhee stabbed the head of the monster that was targeting Baek Seoin. She then swung Baek Seoin who lost strength in his legs after taking a hit and kicked the wall. She jumped over the heads of the incoming monsters.

The scene of Choi Hyuk piercing the forehead of the giant bat was reflected in Lee Jinhee’s eyes.

“Wow…”

A perfect takeoff, the artful movement of putting all his strength into the tip of the blade. She was truly amazed.

Thud. The moment she landed on the ground, the flow of the battle had already reversed.

The monsters became a herd of sheep with no shepherd. Choi Hyuk chose the most effective method and branded the heads, throats, chests and joints of the monsters with his blade. He was like a lion that had pounced on a herd of sheep.

Lee Jinhee couldn’t take her eyes away from Choi Hyuk. There were plenty of movements that she wanted to film and repeatedly view and practice.

“Uhh… I’m fine now so can you let go?”

She didn’t even hear Baek Seoin’s words. Even while carrying Baek Seoin and stepping on the swinging arm of a Boulder Bear, rolling to avoid a charging Crook and kicking off the subway wall to reach the edge of the battle, she never took her eyes off of Choi Hyuk’s fight.

The situation finally settled.

Choi Hyuk was reading a message.

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[Additional Rule Revealed]

After half a month, the monsters start to move in a more organized manner.

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[First to defeat an army-like group of monsters. Calculating… You have obtained more than two additional rules. Cleared more than five portals. More than one Qualifications to be a Sovereign… Satisfied the conditions. Granted the hidden reward, a C rank skill ‘Soaring Slash’.]

Two peculiar messages appeared.

Lee Jinhee approached while Choi Hyuk was deep in his thoughts. Along with the haggard Baek Seoin.

Only then did Choi Hyuk remember he was helped and gave his thanks.

“Ah, than…”

However, Lee Jinhee cut him off and said.

“Hyung! You’re the best! How did you do that?”

“… Hyung[1]?”

Choi Hyuk was taken back. A girl who looked like she was in university was calling him hyung…

“Yeah. Yeah. Hyung. Hyung, teach me! Especially that takeoff you used to kill the bat monster! That was amazing!”

Lee Jinhee who was a parkour otaku[2] was deeply moved by Choi Hyuk’s concise movements which used his momentum (mobility) to the maximum. Though it was different from parkour, it was cool.

Not das.h.i.+ng in an open area but a dash that narrowly brushed pa.s.sed monsters by a paper-thin margin, a non-stop dash where if there was no room, he would make it by cutting down and pus.h.i.+ng monsters away! Not running around the outside of a group of monsters but freely moving within! Strength!

However, Choi Hyuk was dazed.

“… I am hyung?”

“Or course! The one who’s better is the hyung! I’m asking you, please teach me!”

The conversation between Lee Jinhee who had her eyes wide open asking Choi Hyuk to teach her and Choi Hyuk, a genius who didn’t know anything besides ‘just do it, went nowhere.

At some point, they ended up talking about the ‘Wyvern of Destruction’.

“What? You’re going hunt an apartment-sized monster?!”

Lee Jinhee’s eyes s.h.i.+ned brightly. This time, it was worse than before.

“As expected… Hyung! I respect you!”

To challenge an apartment-sized monster… Lee Jinhee panted heavily from the excitement.

‘Okay! Weren’t we the ones who climbed walls with only our hands? If we have karma, shouldn’t we be able to take down an apartment-sized monster?’ were Lee Jinhee’s thoughts. ‘This is a revolution!’

Like this, that day… Choi Hyuk obtained a skill and a new follower.

“Ha…”

Even when he thought about it now, she was a weird person. Lee Jinhee.

However, he had to end the fight now, so he cleared himself of distracting thoughts and yelled.

“Mid-boss, portal, confirmed!”

“Come back before I die!”

Baek Seoin said as he smashed the head of an oncoming Crook. Baek Seoin became experienced after fighting monsters for a week. He was currently able to fight normal monsters without difficulty.

“Speed, Vigor.”

Choi Hyuk coolly activated the skills of the [Ring of Speed] and the [Ring of Vigor] he obtained. Each increased his Speed and Power by 10% for 1 minute. There was no additional consumption of Stamina.

Karma condensed throughout his whole body.

Grip.

Choi Hyuk gripped the [Fang Saber].

Bang!

He shot forward at full speed.