Max Talent Player

was probably to see how the ‘True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain’ would react.

‘If it’s the True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain I know…’

This Guardian had freely asserted his identity as the Lord of the Million Heavenly Demonic Cult.
He was a demon among demons who dominated the heavens with overwhelming strength as his foundation, a hero who pursued simple strength while disdaining injustice and cowardliness.

‘A disposition that disdains betraying someone’s trust.’

Still, he was on the rather simple side when it came to his fundamental disposition.

‘So I’m sure he just got ahead of himself because of the fun in front of his nose.’

In any case, to them, our Playing was merely an ‘amusement’, a ‘game’.
It was difficult to really argue about faith or trust with them.
However, the situation would change if you called out a being in the middle of this amusement by name.

‘Even if it’s only out of pride, they can’t defy their own standards and rules.’

So, what will you do, oh True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain?

‘To make this duel fair and even, he’ll either strengthen me or weaken Yeonseo.’

However—

‘Weakening Yeonseo doesn’t suit the True Master’s disposition, so he’ll strengthen me.’

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I fit all the puzzle pieces together.

‘As far as they know, Yeonseo and I are the same level.’

If our levels were the same, in order to have a fair and even duel, he would have to give me some sort of buff on the techniques side of things.

[The True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain wishes to bestow on you a temporary skill.]

[You have been given the temporary skill ‘Single Hit Finisher’.]

[The temporary skill can only be used within the PVP zone.]

I almost laughed in spite of myself.

‘He really did it.’

I simply made a deduction based on the True Master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain’s disposition, but that deduction hit the bullseye.
It was essentially like I had a strategy guide in my hand.

‘Her Single Hit Finisher and my Single Hit Finisher, they’re the same.’

I wasn’t very scared of the battle with the Sword Empress Shin Yeonseo, the woman who was called the Ruler of the Sword.
It was a PVP zone where no one would die, anyway.

“Well, then, shall we have some fun?”

* * *

Reaper Scans

Translator – Lei

Proofreader – Ash

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* * *

“I won’t hold back.”

Yeonseo leveled her sword at Hyukjin.
The moment she had her sword in her grip, the look in her eyes changed.

The difference when she was holding her sword and when she wasn’t was obvious.
That was the trait that defined the Sword Empress, the martial spirit acknowledged by the Heavenly Demon who was the true master of the Heavenly Demonic Mountain. 

A genius of PVP with a natural-born talent for the sword—that was Hyukjin’s evaluation of Shin Yeonseo.

‘My whole body is tingling.’

He could feel it through Eye of Perception.
Yeonseo’s aura was fierce.
She was facing him with the intent to kill him.
In other words, this feeling was bloodthirst, an intense energy seldom felt from a low-level Player not even at level 20.

However, Hyukjin was not cowed by Yeonseo’s aura.
His ‘Eye of Perception’ was an innate ability with a base function of ‘Calm Observer’s Eye’, a catalyst that could maintain a cool head in any situation and allow him to take a step back to look at the situation objectively.
‘Eye of Perception’ was very helpful in allowing Hyukjin to maintain his composure.

‘She’s coming.’

Shin Yeonseo slightly lowered her body.
Every movement of her body, her aura, her flow, he saw all of it.

‘Here.
To the left.’

Hyukjin took one step back and swung his Iron Sword, defending to the left.
At this moment, he didn’t see anything else.
Here, there were only Yeonseo and him, him and Yeonseo.
Only the two of them existed.

Clang!

Sword clashed on sword.

‘With a little less strength.’

There was no need to expose all his cards.
In terms of physical stats, Hyukjin was head and shoulders ahead.
However, he didn’t show that.
To Yeonseo, the two of them were equally matched in strength.

Her attack flowed organically, almost like a living snake.

‘The trajectory is going for my side.’

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But he had already seen through her with Eye of Perception.

‘But her real target is my throat.’

That blade seemingly coming for his side would instantly switch its trajectory and aim for his throat.
He read that naturally, with ease.
This was, by all accounts, the influence of combat sense.
It was a sense for instinctively reading the opponent’s movements.

Even so, there was no gap in Shin Yeonseo’s attacks.

‘I can’t see a way to counterattack.’

In that brief moment, Hyukjin jumped backwards, almost like he was pulled by a magnet.
It was a fluid, natural movement that widened the distance to a point where sword and sword could no longer touch.

Yeonseo asked, “You haven’t learned swordsmanship, have you?”

To Yeonseo, it felt like their physical abilities were equally matched.
However, her sword technique was far superior.
If so, she should be overwhelming him.
That was how it should be, but she hadn’t been able to land a single real blow.

‘To make such a result, it must be…’

It could only be explained by one thing.

‘The difference in sense.’

Or the difference in their talent.
Yeonseo judged that this result could only be categorized as those two things. 

“I’ll be getting serious now, too.”

“You weren’t serious before?”

“To be honest, I was feeling a bit apologetic.
It might be a PVP zone, but it still hurts and is scary to get stabbed.”

Such an expression probably didn’t suit the situation, but Yeonseo smiled brightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
At least right now, Yeonseo saw Kim Hyukjin as her rival.
At least in this moment, he was an opponent she wanted to overcome without fail.
She recognized that.

Hyukjin adjusted his sword position.

‘How in the world can a fierceness like that come from an appearance like that?’

He still had a hard time believing that such an aura could come from such a cute and adorable appearance.
Hyukjin found himself relaxing a little more.

‘Now, I’ve got the advantage.’

It seemed she had judged that their physical abilities were similar, and she would come in with an attack befitting that evaluation.
Hyukjin’s prediction was right on the mark.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their swords clashed.

The distance between their swords widened and decreased as they fought a battle that could hardly be called a battle between regular people.
Although there were no flashy skills, martial arts, or foot techniques, it was, without a doubt, a battle of a level that was a rare sight in the ‘beginner’ stage.

Both Hyukjin and Yeonseo panted raggedly.
Neither of them had been able to land a lethal hit.
Hyukjin had been slashed twice in the sides, Yeonseo twice in her left arm.
Neither of them had injuries that would impede fighting.

As the battle continued, Yeonseo had a feeling.

‘It’s my victory.’

At this very moment, her desire to win was set ablaze.
She did not want to lose.
She wanted to win. The driving force that had resulted in her growth into the Sword Empress, her desire to win, was endlessly spurring her on.

Her eyes fixed themselves on Hyukjin’s throat.

‘Now!’

She grasped a chance that wouldn’t come again—an opening.

[Using the Innate Ability ‘Single Hit Finisher’.]

She had moved nonstop and had struck with her sword all this time for this one opening.
For this moment, she had saved Single Hit Finisher.
She could see an opening, and she aimed precisely for it.
Her experience so far told her.
This fight was her win.

‘Huh…?’

But just then, a situation so very different from Yeonseo’s expectations occurred.
A situation so very different from her expectations, but was exactly in line with the picture Hyukjin had drawn.