Chapter 142: Duel (2) |
How could one deflect a sword with bare hands, even in movies this is a hard move to pull!
Then, a welcome notification appeared.
[Blade Dance cooldown is over.]
‘This time. Try blocking this!’
Go Nam-cheol’s sword danced once more.
His momentum was such that it seemed he would leave no flesh uncut, but.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap-!
All were deflected with the palm, leaving Go Nam-cheol with the same incredulous expression as before.
To Ryu Min, this wasn’t surprising at all.
With agility at 300, dodging bullets was feasible.
With the rune of foresight, blocking such swift attacks was not difficult.
‘Mentally he looks already crashed, might as well finish this.’
After deflecting the second attempt, Go Nam-cheol no longer chalked it up to coincidence.
As if stamped with defeat he meaninglessly swung his sword.
Crack-!
“Kek!”
Dodging the sword and delivering a body blow, the sound of ribs breaking was heard.
But the pain was momentary.
[The duel has ended. You win.]
[Nickname ‘Busan Warrior’ has lost, thus initiating the correction of dialect and recognition as a commander.]
As soon as the message appeared, it was as if time rewound, and the pain vanished. The broken ribs were back in place as if nothing had happened. Though the wounds healed, the mental scars did not.
Feeling a profound difference in their capabilities, Go Nam-cheol hung his head in defeat.
“I lost. As promised, I’ll recognize you as the commander and correct my dialect.”
“Good. I appreciate your acknowledgment.”
Ryu Min let out a smile, turning to the other squad members. All of them had their mouths agape, still processing the duel they had witnessed.
– Did I just see that right? He deflected all attacks with his hand?
– Insane. Is this the might of the Black Scythe we’ve heard about?
– How could he not have a single scratch on him?
– He didn’t even wear any items and fought barehanded, and he’s this powerful?
– Is this what being level 89 means?
They internally marveled at the unbelievable feat of strength, but their moment of awe was brief.
“Hey, the one who said it’d be nice to have popcorn?”
“Yes? Me, you mean?”
“Yes, come closer. It’s your turn to duel.”
“Ah, no thank you. Seeing your overwhelming power, it’s clear you’re the Black Scythe. Haha…”
“Hmm, already disobeying your commander?”
“Uh?”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
“…I, I’ll come.”
With a reluctant heart, the squad member approached Ryu Min.
“Everyone else, stand by. You’ll all have to face me one-on-one after him.”
“…”
The faces of the squad members fell.
*
Ryu Min dueled with each of the 10 squad members, displaying a ghost-like skill by deflecting attacks with his palm, just as he did with Go Nam-cheol.
As a result, the squad members couldn’t even look Ryu Min in the eye.
No matter if they used skills, fakes, changed their attack patterns, whatever they did.
He blocked everything with his bare hands, leaving them with a sense of helplessness beyond imagination.
“You all worked hard dueling. It must be tiring, so sit and rest.”
“…”
There was no physical exhaustion. It was all mental.
The squad members looked at Ryu Min with eyes full of reverence.
Though his face was hidden behind a mask, it was clear.
Their commander hadn’t sweated a single drop.
– He’s a monster, really.
– Even without items, we stood no chance.
– The number 1 rank is truly beyond reach.
The insurmountable gap made the squad members naturally bow their heads.
A sense of defeat and powerlessness enveloped them. Some even resented the Black Scythe for toying with them as if bullying.
“Since I won the duels, you all recognize me as the Black Scythe, right? I suppose this proves my qualification as a commander?”
“Yes…”
Although they acknowledged him, he still dampened their spirits and earned their resentment in the process.
But it was too early for resentment.
“Now everyone, sit and listen to what I have to say. Starting with Go Nam-cheol.”
“Me?”
“Movement, judgment, momentum, everything is good, but your skill utilization is lacking. Blade Master’s skills aren’t meant to be used that way. You applied Sword Qi and Swift Blade buffs before using Blade Dance, but those buffs don’t affect the skill. It only causes a delay in executing the skill. So, you should’ve used Blade Dance first, or applied the buffs and waited for the right timing to use the skill. Personally, I recommend changing your attack pattern to the latter. Using Blade Dance when retrieving the sword helps reduce delay.”
“…”
“Next, Hwang Man-gi. As a Gladiator, your movements are good, but you rely too much on rage skills and neglect defense. Lowering your weapon below your chest during combat is like asking to be killed or surrendering. It’s not just carelessness; it’s a habit that needs changing.”
“…”
“Then, Kang Si-hyuk. In terms of skill utilization, judgment, and combat sense, you’re superior among the squad members. You mix skills with fakes well. However, you give up too easily after gauging the opponent’s strength. I understand, but I wish you’d show more perseverance at least until you’ve tried. That’s regrettable.”
“Ah… Thank you. I will correct it.”
Kang Si-hyuk responded sincerely.
Meanwhile, the squad members were all stunned.
– He knew our names and jobs without us telling him?
That wasn’t the surprising part. It was expected for the commander to know his squad members.
What truly amazed them was something else.
– He didn’t duel just to assert dominance but to provide feedback?
– Wasn’t this all just to establish discipline?
– No wonder he didn’t finish us quickly…
They hadn’t expected the duels to carry such intentions. It felt like receiving an unexpected gift.
At the same time, the squad members’ perceptions shifted.
Until a moment ago, their eyes showed loss and resentment. Now, they looked at him with admiration and fondness.
They realized the man known as the Black Scythe wasn’t just about brute strength.
“This duel was to reflect on your shortcomings and learn… Well, looking at your faces, it seems there’s no need to worry. Shall we then move on to theory lessons?”
“Yes! Commander!”
“Please teach us!”
Ryu Min grinned.
The squad members, now full of spirit unlike before, were ready to learn.
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