Throughout human history, only one cold weapon reigned from East to West, and that was the spear—a weapon that even beginners could wield to lethal effect.
Then came great shields.
Wide, tall, and thick—such shields could repel even a spear thrust delivered on horseback. At that time, those skilled in shield arts were as immovable steel walls on the battlefield.
In the present era, the tactical advantage of shields had resurged once more. Leveraging their inhumane strength, players could wield shields that weighed tens or hundreds of kilograms and boasted unique attributes, making them a menace to kill.
It was for this reason that the Guardian Guild had become one of Korea’s top guilds. Their defense, near impenetrable, was the perfect vanguard in player parties. But that was not to say that members of Guardian were toothless themselves—they also wielded swords or other weapons, and their immense shields could just as easily crush bone to powder.
Jae-Hyeok’s sword was a blur—the massive tower shield before him flashed with sparks as he probed again and again for openings in Jeong Jae-Uk’s guard.
There are no blind spots.
Jeong Jae-Uk’s shield was so tall and wide that he was easily covered from head to toe. Moreover, the eye hole was lined with metal grills. Paired with Jeong Jae-Uk’s proficiency, Jae-Hyeok found no way to bait an opening from the front.
Is that it? Jeong Jae-Uk thought.
Jae-Hyeok cut a half circle and thrust at Jeong Jae-Uk’s ribs.
Jeong Jae-Uk parried with his longsword. Smiling, he activated his Skill, Rift Blade, and a condensed blade of mana appeared behind Jae-Hyeok.
Blood gushed from the back of Jae-Hyeok’s neck. He wouldn’t die, as there wasn’t much force behind the blade, but the Skill was potent in its own way.
Sure enough, Jae-Hyeok clapped a hand to his bloody neck, wide-eyed and wide open.
He only knows how to talk calmly.
Everyone hit in the neck by Jeong Jae-Uk’s Initial Skill had the same reaction: they reached for the wound, worried their carotid artery was cut.
The reaction was instinctive. Unlike other arteries, the carotid artery was only three to four centimeters beneath the skin, so even what felt like a shallow injury could be fatal.
This kid might be surprisingly strong, but he can’t overcome the difference in our experience.
Jeong Jae-Uk activated his second-slot Skill.
The air pressure plummeted around Jae-Hyeok. The wind moaned as a whirlwind took shape with him at its center.
Jae-Hyeok's feet left the ground as he was pulled inexorably up. A top-tier crowd control Skill, and it’s even a targeted one.
Jeong Jae-Uk’s Skills and combat style were built around using the shield as protection while gradually wearing down his opponent. In other words, he was uniquely specialized in one-on-one duels. In PVP, he could win even against someone stronger than him—let alone a boy.
Jae-Hyeok wasn’t his match.
In the first place, Jeong Jae-Uk was S-class. Even ignoring his advantages, the fact that a sixteen-year-old boy dreamed of fighting and besting him was beyond fanciful.
Let me remind him of reality.
Jeong Jae-Uk threw an aura sword at Jae-Hyeok, who floated defenseless in the air. It was a devastating blow and his favored follow-up to Whirlwind, a perfect combination.
The sword aura drew a gushing red line across Jae-Hyeok’s chest.
Jeong Ru-Han stood up and laughed wildly. “You bastard. How does it feel? This is karma!”
For a moment, Kang Jae-Hyeok’s aura had been so overwhelming that he had doubted if his father would win. Jeong Ru-Han felt silly. That was clearly nothing but a fluke.
“How dare a crazy bastard attack my dad? Did you think my dad is like your useless father? Haha! ”
Yang Jun swallowed. Shit, what will happen to me once he dies?The sub-master will never forgive me!
One was elated, the other was nervous—both Jeong Ru-Han and Yang Jun were certain of Jae-Hyeok’s defeat.
Meanwhile, Hae-Rin was calm. The more Jae-Hyeok was on the defensive, the more she relaxed.
He’s smart.There must be a reason he created this situation for himself. I just need to trust and find ways to support.
She scanned her surroundings and registered the VIP elevator at the back of the office.
A red “43” was scrolling across the information panel above the elevator doors, indicating it was currently stopped on the forty-third floor. Coincidentally, that was where the Finance and Accounting Department was located. The department was directly managed by Jeong Jae-Uk and filled with his closest aids.
Jeong Jae-Uk’s people are still working there...
While the rest of the guild members had rushed down to the lobby floor, the people on the forty-third hadn’t.
What I have to do now is...
Hae-Rin took a deep breath and stood with her back to the VIP elevator. She didn’t look away. She calmly watched as Jae-Hyeok became covered in wounds.
The sound of blades clashing with each other sounded more dangerous every second.
Suspended in the air, Jae-Hyeok’s swordsmanship had lost its root and was more unstable than usual. Meanwhile, Jeong Jae-Uk continuously threw out aura swords from below.
Just as his Whirlwind Skill neared its end, Jeong Jae-Uk stabbed his tower shield into the ground and grabbed his sword with both hands. “It would be boring if you died from this, so try not to.”
Vast amounts of mana flowed toward Jeong Jae-Uk’s sword. The mana—originally translucent and gaseous—condensed until his sword seemed as if it were dipped in a vaporous paint.
The blade radiated an aura that could only be described as atom-splitting.
Jae-Hyeok snorted. No way in hell I’m eating that attack.
Ceasing his resistance, Jae-Hyeok allowed himself to revolve with the Whirlwind. Once, twice... Soon, he adjusted to the twisting winds and rotated his surrounding mana accordingly—neutralizing most of the wind currents while amplifying only those that carried him where he liked. Through this, he regained his movement.
Jeong Jae-Uk, unaware of Jae-Hyeok’s subtle change, finished his preparations and released his overcharged aura sword with a swing.
Jae-Hyeok’s body, which was spinning randomly, suddenly stopped. It was only for a moment, but that was all he needed. A few feet ahead, a massive arc of razor-sharp mana whizzed past Jae-Hyeok.
Jeong Jae-Uk’s eyes were wide.
Before Jeong Jae-Uk could retract his sword, Jae-Hyeok dropped low and harnessed the power of the whirlwind to shoot toward Jeong Jae-Uk like a bolt of lightning.
Jeong Jae-Uk threw back his head and narrowly dodged. When he straightened, he couldn’t help but gulp. His neck felt cool from the wind off Jae-Hyeok's sword. Had his reaction been even 0.1 second slower, he would’ve lost his head.
Blood cooling, Jeong Jae-Uk reached for his shield as the whirlwind fizzled out. It’s best to take things slow. I’ll use my shield until Whirlwind is off cooldown. He needs time to adapt to Whirlwind; it isn’t too late to press him hard next time.
Jae-Hyeok read his intentions and clicked his tongue.
Seriously? How did this guy reach S-class with a single attack pattern?
Above all, S-class players were revered because of their vast combat experience gained over the course of reaching and exceeding level 100. Even without Skills or stats, they could flexibly respond to any situation in battle.
However, as far as S-class players went, Jeong Jae-Uk fit an entirely different mold—he was depending wholly on his shield and Skills. It seemed his Skill set was so efficient that relying on it had become a habit.
In a sense, Jeong Jae-Uk’s strength had become his weakness.
Unfortunately for him. I’m not some dumb monster who will fall for the same move twice. Jae-Hyeok landed and sheathed his sword before falling into a low stance. Jeong Jae-Uk raised his shield, prepared to receive his next attack.
Jae-Hyeok drew, and two scythe-like auras flew out—only to split around Jeong Jae-Uk and shatter the glass panels behind.
Skyscraper windows were sealed for a reason. The higher one was, the more violent the winds. And tonight, it was rainy and windy.
Jeong Jae-Uk, the closest to the window, was buffeted by the violent winds and staggered as chairs and files flew past him.
Yang Jun, unable to move due to his severed tendons, rolled helplessly toward the broken window.
Jeong Ru-Han grabbed the furniture for support.
As expected. Jae-Hyeok approached Jeong Jae-Uk, who was fighting for balance, and said, “Did you think that because your life went according to plan, it would be the same with battles? Real battles aren’t games.”
Again, Jeong Jae-Uk staggered, and Jae-Hyeok plunged his sword into Jeong Jae-Uk’s side.
Jeong Jae-Uk screamed and swung his shield around, wanting to knock him back. But Jae-Hyeok clung close and drove his blade deeper.
Jeong Jae-Uk sensed his crisis and chopped wildly with his sword.
It was far from refined swordsmanship. However, his stats were very high: with every swing, dozens of afterimages appeared.
Unwilling to step back, Jae-Hyeok’s wounds rapidly multiplied. At this point, it was a battle to see who would die first.
In moments, blood poured from Jae-Hyeok. His vision darkened, and the ground seemed to spin.
Jae-Hyeok gritted his teeth. Damnit, come on Thunderbolt Sword!
Had this passive of his triggered even once as he’d wished, then even Jeong Jae-Uk’s impossibly thick tower shield would’ve been torn apart, and he could’ve seized the upper hand.
Jeong Jae-Uk’s wavering eyes flashed sharply. He clearly felt that Jae-Hyeok’s sword was losing strength, even as it tore through the insides of his stomach.
Yes, in an exchange of blows, there was no way an S-class player like him could lose...
Jeong Jae-Uk regained his morale and prepared to increase his offensive when—
Yang Jun, who’d been tumbling around the room like a bug, suddenly rolled into their feet.
This guy... don’t tell me?
Jeong Jae-Uk’s heart sank, having vaguely guessed why Jae-Hyeok had left Yang Jun alive in such a state.
He quickly raised his shield, but it was too late.
Before he could cover Yang Jun, Jae-Hyeok brought a foot down on Yang Jun’s head.
A pillar of light enveloped Jae-Hyeok, and time seemed to reverse as his flesh reknit. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
[Your level has risen.]
“Ruthless kid! You are truly the son of the Yaksha!”
“I merely punished him for trespassing on my Kang family’s grounds.”
Then, as if blessing Jae-Hyeok’s level up, Thunderbolt Sword activated.
Jeong Jae-Uk’s eyes bulged.
Shrouded in crackling light, Jae-Hyeok's hwando cut as much as it melted its way through Jeong Jae-Uk’s waist.
A moment later, Jeong Jae-Uk, sub-master of the prestigious Guardian Guild, fell to the ground in two halves.