Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77. Time to Leave the Arena
Hyunwoo sheathed Cheonbyeondo and recalled the Master Event of the 3-Star Veluma Swordsmanship he had just performed.
Spears and blades thrusting from all directions.
Even knowing it was an illusion, it was a ruthless onslaught that sent a chill down his spine!
But as his hands moved with fluid grace, the situation changed dramatically.
Whoosh—
A hemispherical defensive barrier spread out, enveloping his surroundings without a single gap.
The densely packed spears and blades shattered futilely.
This was the power of the mastered Veluma Swordsmanship.
‘I can hardly call this a sword-screen anymore.’
Before mastering it, the Veluma Swordsmanship could only block the front, but after mastering it, it was closer to a shelter than a sword-screen.
The translucent, hemispherical barrier did not tolerate the enemy's assault.
However, there was also a downside.
‘The range has widened… but the strength it can block is similar.’
A defensive barrier of a certain thickness was deployed regardless of Hyunwoo’s mana amount.
With this level of barrier strength, it could block attacks of the same 3-Star swordsmanship level, but anything higher could be dangerous.
Then again, if a 360-degree barrier was also strong, it wouldn't be a 3-Star swordsmanship.
Hyunwoo gave a small nod, shaking off his disappointment, and examined the changed status window.
Having gained many new things by mastering the Veluma Swordsmanship, several windows had popped up, filling his vision.
⌜Veluma Swordsmanship (3-Star)—Unfurls a sword-screen in a fan shape. As proficiency increases, a sword-screen covering a wider range can be deployed. A sword-screen coated with mana can block any attack.
Proficiency: 100%(M)(New!)
Trait: Balance II (New!)⌟
By achieving 100% proficiency in the Veluma Swordsmanship, he had been able to obtain the trait ‘Balance II’.
⌜Trait: Balance II
Description: ‘The precision of a body balanced like a blade's edge.’
The ability to maintain the body's balance transcends the laws of physics. The center of balance will not collapse under any circumstances.⌟
‘Furthermore… a title I obtained by achieving II in all three physical abilities.’
Physique II, Swiftness II, Balance II.
The moment all three general traits reached II, a series of messages popped up in the system window, announcing that he had obtained a title.
⌜Title: Trinity
Effect: Mana recovery ability is slightly increased.⌟
Thanks to this, his mana recovery ability had increased.
Although the mana recovery ability could only be properly utilized after obtaining Mana II, which increased the maximum mana, it was still a gain.
Now, Hyunwoo was one step closer to being a true ‘demon’ in a meaningful sense.
All that was left.
Was the synthesis into a 4-Star swordsmanship.
⌜There is a synthesizable swordsmanship.⌟
⌜Crux Swordsmanship (3-Star)—100%(M)⌟
⌜Veluma Swordsmanship (3-Star)—100%(M)⌟
⌜Synthesis Synergy: High⌟
⌜Would you like to synthesize?⌟
Hyunwoo nodded without hesitation.
At the same time, along with a brilliant, five-colored light, the long-awaited 4-Star swordsmanship was created.
⌜Volones Swordsmanship (4-Star)—A fast-drawing sword technique. It is faster to see the sword being sheathed than to see it being swung.
Proficiency: 0%
Trait: None⌟
“Finally…!”
To obtain this single 4-Star swordsmanship, he had mastered no less than six different swordsmanships.
The Volones Swordsmanship he had just obtained was a good swordsmanship, as befitting one obtained through a ‘High’ synthesis synergy.
A drawing sword technique of extreme speed.
The sword best suited for drawing techniques was a Hwando with a thin blade.
Fortunately, it was included among the basic forms stored in Cheonbyeondo.
Hyunwoo transformed Cheonbyeondo into a Hwando and closed his eyes.
He slowly engraved the movements of the Volones Swordsmanship that came to mind, and when he felt he was ready.
Flash—!
The moment Hyunwoo's eyes flashed open, the Volones Swordsmanship was activated.
The Volones Swordsmanship unfolded with the speed of a flashing lightning bolt.
It was a breathtaking speed where only the moment of drawing and sheathing the sword was visible.
Only the blue afterimage imbued with mana, left behind as it cut through the air, proved that the swordsmanship had been performed.
Swoosh—
The training dummy in front of Hyunwoo slid down at an angle.
The surface cut by the sword was cleanly divided.
Speed, sharpness, and precision.
With extremely efficient movements, even the mana consumption was not high.
Hyunwoo was satisfied with the swordsmanship that combined all these advantages and nodded his head.
He repeated the same movement several times.
⌜Volones Swordsmanship (4-Star)—1%⌟
1% proficiency gained from the first demonstration of the swordsmanship.
Although he performed the Volones Swordsmanship several times, unlike before, the proficiency remained at 1%.
It seemed he was not receiving the proficiency effect of the title ‘Champion of the Bellatus Arena’ at all.
At this result, Hyunwoo clicked his tongue briefly.
“Stingy.”
He knew it, but he had held out a sliver of hope….
From the 4-Star swordsmanship onwards, he could no longer receive the proficiency increase effect in the Arena.
As expected, hope is bound to be betrayed.
‘Still, thanks to this title, I was able to obtain the 4-Star swordsmanship smoothly, so I should be satisfied.’
Hyunwoo looked at his changed status window, with the 4-Star swordsmanship as the final addition.
⌜Name: Kim Hyunwoo
Titles: Champion of the Bellatus Arena, Calamity Hunter, Trinity (New!)
Skills: ■Volones Swordsmanship (4-Star)—1% (New!), ■Skirma Swordsmanship (2-Star)—100%(M), □
Unique Traits: Swordsmanship Synthesis, Master of Copy, Swordsmanship Genius, Pain Tolerance, Oxygen Tank, Mana Circulation, Hoshea's Five-Colored Shield
General Traits: Physique II, Swiftness II, Balance II (New!), Mana I⌟
In addition to the 4-Star swordsmanship, a new title and a new trait.
It was full of new things.
Just looking at the many new abilities that filled his status window was satisfying.
‘Well then…’
The last reason to stay in the Arena had also disappeared.
The time was also up; the one month promised to Lionel had passed.
It was time to leave the Arena.
‘Shall we go outside?’
Hyunwoo came out of the training room and called for Lucas and Van.
He could see Van often as they trained together, but it had been a while since he had seen Lucas.
It seemed he had been holed up in his room preparing something.
“What have you been doing in your room all this time?”
“A mage is a being who prepares. I have prepared something to use in a crisis.”
“And that great mage was about to run off as soon as he was freed from his slave status.”
“……”
Seeing Lucas let my sarcasm slide in one ear and out the other as usual, he seemed to be in good condition.
Hyunwoo let out a smirk, took his eyes off him, and looked at Van.
“Lucas seems to be ready, so let’s go now.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll tell you when we get out. Have you packed your things?”
“Here.”
Van held out a subspace pocket to Hyunwoo.
Inside were the items he had asked Pierre to prepare.
Various daily necessities to be used in the Demon World, tools for camping, and a small amount of mana stones to be used outside.
Hyunwoo took the pocket from Van, put it in his bosom, and looked around.
Having stayed for quite a long time, there was a lot of furniture.
The most eye-catching of them all was the living room.
A shelf with various teas and teacup, a table, and the plush sofa surrounding it.
The scene of them gathering and chatting when there were no matches or training naturally came to mind.
A scene that would probably not be seen after today.
“Aren’t we going?”
Lucas, who had already gone far ahead by himself, and Van, who was holding the doorknob and waiting for him.
The contrast between the two made him laugh.
Enough with the useless sentimentality.
“Let’s go.”
Hyunwoo headed to the Market’s Request Center to leave the Arena.
* * *
As if Lionel had given instructions, as soon as Hyunwoo’s party entered the Request Center, an employee immediately approached them.
“Follow me.”
After following the employee for a while, they were guided to a room with a gate deep inside the Request Center.
It seemed they were using a separately prepared gate to hide the fact that the Champion was leaving the Arena.
“You can exit through here.”
“Where does this gate lead to?”
“You will know when you go out.”
He didn't think Lionel would have pulled any tricks at this point.
Seeing the gate leading to the outside, it really felt like he was leaving the Arena.
Hyunwoo, who had slowly approached the gate, muttered softly just before entering.
“Let’s never see each other again. You damn Arena.”
The endless struggles in the Arena and the growth that resulted from them.
The original purpose of ‘growth’ had been faithfully achieved.
Thanks to that, he felt a mix of relief and sadness.
Even in the Demon World, the struggle and growth would continue.
Hyunwoo let out a smirk and passed through the shining gate.
* * *
As soon as he came out from beyond the gate, the sound of rain greeted him.
Pitter-patter—!
Hyunwoo looked around.
A dark, small warehouse.
The rain was coming down so hard that the sound of it echoed loudly from beyond the closed door.
Creak—
Hyunwoo approached the door and opened it slightly.
Rumble—!
The pouring rain, as if a hole had been punched in the sky, and the weather with thunder and lightning came into view.
Creak—
He closed the door again.
Hyunwoo blinked and looked at Van and Lucas, who were feeling dizzy from the aftereffects of passing through the gate.
“…Should we sleep here for a day and move tomorrow?”
“What will be different tomorrow? It might snow tomorrow.”
Van, who had shaken his head vigorously and come to his senses first, answered.
He was right.
Because the Demon World had the damn ‘random weather effect’.
No one knew if tomorrow would be any better.
“Are you okay?”
Hyunwoo spoke as he looked at Lucas, who was catching his breath.
A moment later, Lucas opened his eyes.
“…I’m fine. So where are we?”
“It looks like a warehouse… wait a minute.”
Hyunwoo opened the door again and looked outside.
It wasn't just rain; the wind was also blowing, so his vision was not clear.
However, he was able to figure out where this place was right away.
A huge structure that could be seen from anywhere in the city.
A statue holding a sword and shield, the very symbol of a gladiator, stood tall.
It was a statue symbolizing the self-proclaimed ‘City of Struggle’.
“It’s Bellatus City. They could have sent us a little farther away. Tsk.”
That petty Lionel.
“What’s the plan now?”
Van, who had come up beside Hyunwoo, asked.
“First, we have to do what we can here.”
“Have you been here before?”
“Well, I’ve seen it. I even made a few things myself.”
“…? Did you work as a carpenter at some point?”
“Something like that.”
Since Hyunwoo, the developer, had designed and built the city himself, it would be fine to think of him as a carpenter.
Not that he intended to give a detailed explanation.
He confidently stepped out the door.
Pitter-patter—!
Leaving the warehouse and looking around, it was a narrow, deserted alley.
The alley was on low ground.
Water kept flowing into it.
If the alleys of the Market were like winding, confusing snakes, this place felt neatly organized.
Of course, the vagrants that existed within it were similar.
The sound of them whispering among themselves flowed in, breaking through the sound of the rain.
“Isn’t that the warehouse we were told not to approach…? Strange guys are coming out.”
“Can we get mana stones from them?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. An alarm used to go off even if you just got near that warehouse, but look how quiet it is. They must be something.”
The guys who had been talking among themselves moved to the inner part of the alley when Hyunwoo looked at them.
Besides the vagrants who had moved away, there were many others lying around anywhere, not caring about the rain.
None of them showed any interest in Hyunwoo's party, which had suddenly appeared.
It wasn't the kind of weather to be interested in anyone.
Pitter-patter—!
He couldn't even see well in front of him due to the pouring downpour.
The weather was so unpleasant that his body, soaked to the underwear, was uncomfortable.
As they left the alley where the warehouse they had come out of was located, the true form of the city was revealed.
This was the city of Bellatus, where the Arena existed.
Looking at the streets, it finally sank in that he had really left the Arena.
There was no bomb collar around his neck.
A completely free body.
That meant he had been thrown into the Demon World, away from the cozy embrace of the Arena.
‘Is this the real beginning?’
Hyunwoo stepped out into the street.