100 Floors All Master - Chapter 32

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

All Master of 100 Floors Episode 032

 

 

Two Guilds (3)

 

 

“So you were hiding a place like this.”

Kim Tae-yeon muttered as if finding it interesting.

They had now left Kang Jun-hyeok’s house and moved to a nearby training center. Hidden underground, no one knew about it except for Baekdusan and his secretary.

The reason they came here was simple. Baekdusan asked with a reluctant expression.

“…Are you really sure about this?”

“I’m fine.”

Kang Jun-hyeok, standing opposite him, answered while lightly warming up his body.

“You must want to know how strong I am.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Their average achievement rate was at most around 10 to 20%. At best it was in the 40% range, and there were quite many cases below 1%.

But Kang Jun-hyeok had achieved 100% clear on all floors up to the 4th floor.

Simply put, it meant he had gained 100 times more than an equivalent 4th floor player.

But the problem was still his opponent.

“I’m a 27th floor player. And you’re a 4th floor player, Kang Jun-hyeok.”

Baekdusan is strong.

He was currently a top-tier player in Korea who had cleared the 27th floor.

In contrast, Kang Jun-hyeok was on the 4th floor. No matter how perfect a player he was, the difference in floors was too great. The higher you climbed the floors, the greater the rewards became.

Even for someone like Kang Jun-hyeok, it was hard to judge that he could reach him.

To such a doubtful remark, Kang Jun-hyeok said calmly.

“We can find that out by testing it directly. Both of you can come at me together if you want.”

“No. No. There’s no need for that. I’ll go first.”

Baekdusan stepped forward. Kang Jun-hyeok drew out a great sword. A great sword of strange and alien form. Baekdusan’s eyes grew serious.

‘…I’ve never seen a great sword like that.’

It was probably a reward obtained through the process of perfect clearing.

Kang Jun-hyeok possessed things and power they didn’t know about.

Baekdusan’s expression became serious. He gripped a sword in one hand.

“Then.”

[Duel begins.]

Along with the system window, Baekdusan immediately charged forward. At his beast-like speed, Kim Tae-yeon let out a small gasp of admiration.

‘Fast.’

Looking at pure individual player strength rather than guild power, Baekdusan was definitely above her.

Baekdusan, who approached in an instant, had a very serious expression.

He wouldn’t let his guard down. Kang Jun-hyeok surely possessed several powers he didn’t know about.

If so, he would utilize the strength where he definitely had the advantage.

‘Power and speed!’

His strength and agility stats were 26 and 22.

No matter how perfectly Kang Jun-hyeok had cleared, there was a high possibility he couldn’t do anything about pure stats themselves. Using power and speed to face him. That was Baekdusan’s judgment. The judgment itself was clear and intuitive.

It was just the wrong answer.

Kang Jun-hyeok raised his great sword and swung it.

Claaang!

“Kuh… urgh!”

Baekdusan’s body was knocked back along with his sword. Baekdusan, who staggered and barely managed to regain his stance, had rabbit eyes.

“Wh, wh, what?”

In terms of power, he was pushed back.

And completely at that.

Kang Jun-hyeok said calmly.

“Your strength stat appears to be roughly in the mid-twenties. It’s a number befitting your floor.”

“B, but how…”

“My strength stat is 32.”

“…Huh?”

Kang Jun-hyeok moved his feet. He quickly charged forward and brought his great sword down toward Baekdusan. Baekdusan hastily raised his sword to block.

Kwaaaang.

“Kruuugh!”

Baekdusan’s knees mercilessly buckled.

Baekdusan’s strength was 28. And Kang Jun-hyeok’s strength was 32.

It was only a difference of 4.

But at the same time, it was also a clear gap.

Claaang!

Though Baekdusan defended, his body was pushed backward. While pushing Baekdusan back, Kang Jun-hyeok continued speaking.

“Raising stats is difficult. But the efficiency is extremely good. It would be good to properly understand that point.”

Kang Jun-hyeok stepped forward boldly. Baekdusan frantically moved his sword trying to push Kang Jun-hyeok away. But Kang Jun-hyeok neither defended nor blocked. He simply took all those attacks while advancing forward.

“A player’s body is immutable. You don’t get injured. If the conditions are met, this kind of method is also possible.”

Just not defending and pushing forward with his body.

It was the method he had used when facing Alessandro.

Baekdusan frantically swung his sword down toward Kang Jun-hyeok’s head. Kang Jun-hyeok caught the blade with his bare hand and twisted his wrist as is. He kicked the staggering Baekdusan.

“Kuhek!”

Baekdusan dropped his sword and slid backward.

Despite taking considerable attacks, Kang Jun-hyeok’s health had barely decreased.

The reason was his defense.

Having several pieces of intermediate equipment, his defense was very high. With Baekdusan’s attack power, it was difficult to inflict meaningful damage.

Kang Jun-hyeok threw the seized sword back to Baekdusan. Baekdusan awkwardly caught the sword. Kang Jun-hyeok approached again.

“And, let me tell you one more thing.”

“Eeeeek!”

Lightly dodging the swinging sword and stomping on Baekdusan’s foot. Baekdusan flinched momentarily due to the pain. Due to that, his reaction was delayed and he couldn’t defend against Kang Jun-hyeok’s attack.

“A player’s body doesn’t get injured, but you feel pain as is. It would be good to develop the habit of ignoring pain.”

Kang Jun-hyeok poked Baekdusan’s eyes with his fingers. Baekdusan reflexively closed his eyes. Due to that, he got kicked in the stomach again. With a retching sound, his body was about to fall forward. Kang Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue.

“That’s why I’m saying you don’t get injured.”

“You… bastard!”

‘I know that, but!’

Baekdusan desperately held back the rising nausea.

What Kang Jun-hyeok was saying now was definitely something Baekdusan knew too. Having climbed to the 27th floor, there was no way he wouldn’t know.

But knowing something and putting it into practice were separate matters.

Even if you don’t get injured, you instinctively protect vital points and have no choice but to close your eyes.

‘It’s not as easy as it sounds!’

Baekdusan got emotional and thrust his sword toward Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes. And soon his eyes widened.

Kang Jun-hyeok really didn’t close his eyes.

He simply accepted the attack indifferently and counterattacked as is. Baekdusan rolled on the ground. Kang Jun-hyeok watched that sight indifferently.

These people are definitely strong and talented.

But they haven’t adapted to the Tower’s system yet.

‘I should properly imprint it on them while I’m at it.’

“…Wh, what.”

Kim Tae-yeon was watching the two’s battle with her mouth agape.

What is this.

Baekdusan.</

Korea’s top-tier Player. Even she couldn’t reach him. Those evaluated as capable of overwhelming victory against him were hard to find, except for Yu Jin-ha.

That Baekdusan was being toyed with like a child.

She felt like she was dreaming.

“Ugh, urgh!”

Baekdusan’s face, who was being attacked, suddenly turned green. He made an expression as if about to vomit, and his movements began to noticeably slow down.

Kang Jun-hyeok spoke with an understanding expression.

“You’ve been afflicted with poison status ailment.”

The reward from the 4th Floor. The effect of the Queen’s Poison Needle Necklace. It inflicted poison status ailment on opponents with a certain probability.

“There are various status ailments, so it would be good to prepare for those as well.”

“How, how could you possibly have this…”

It was equipment that even Baekdusan, who was on the 27th Floor, couldn’t obtain. Baekdusan was pushed back, sweating profusely.

“Eeeeek!”

Baekdusan, who had only been taking hits, took a stance as if he couldn’t endure it any longer. He charged forward as if using his trump card.

[Slash.]

Active Skill.

A Low Grade Active Skill that Baekdusan barely unlocked upon reaching the 25th Floor and purchased by emptying out all his Gold. It was his finishing blow.

Kaaaang!

And meaninglessly, it was blocked by Kang Jun-hyeok’s great sword.

“…Huh?”

“The performance of Active Skills up to Low Grade isn’t that impressive. If you want to use them, you’ll need to use them in a completely different way.”

For example, like this.

Kang Jun-hyeok took a stance and thrust his great sword. Baekdusan was startled and barely dodged.

[Thrust.]

In that state, Kang Jun-hyeok activated his Active Skill.

Clearly, Kang Jun-hyeok who had thrust with his great sword should have needed to correct his stance to attack again. But Kang Jun-hyeok’s posture moved strangely, and he stabbed at Baekdusan once more.

Zzzzzing!

Baekdusan’s body flew away as if bouncing and rolled on the ground. It was incomparably more powerful than before. Seeing this, Kang Jun-hyeok muttered as if belatedly remembering.

“Come to think of it, my skill proficiency had increased.”

“How… how do you have Active Skills?”

He had clearly heard that only those on the 25th Floor or above could obtain them.

Kang Jun-hyeok answered lightly.

“If you have Achievement stats, the conditions get unlocked.”

“…”

“There isn’t just one way to find a path. It’s better to think broadly.”

After that, a one-sided fight continued. Eventually, Baekdusan reached a state where he could no longer get up.

Baekdusan was finished.

Kang Jun-hyeok turned his head.

“Then, Ms. Kim Tae-yeon. It’s your turn.”

“Hiiik.”

Kim Tae-yeon flinched and trembled as she made a sound.

And dozens of minutes later.

Kim Tae-yeon also ended up sprawled on the floor in a tattered state like Baekdusan.

 

 

Both Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon, who had returned to Kang Jun-hyeok’s house, had blank faces. They wore expressions of feeling empty about everything they had done so far.

Kang Jun-hyeok spoke to the two.

“Well then, thank you for your hard work. Please contact me again when the gems are ready.”

“Yes…”

“Thank… you.”

The two tried to leave dejectedly. At that moment, Kang Jun-hyeok opened his mouth as if remembering something.

“Mr. Baekdusan.”

“Y-yes?”

“Your secretary doesn’t climb the Tower, right?”

“…That’s correct.”

Baekdusan nodded.

While Baekdusan was the owner of Baekdu Mountain Guild, his secretary was practically in charge of all guild operations and management.

Since he handled such a huge organization almost single-handedly, there was no time to climb the Tower.

Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Baekdusan.

Baekdusan.

An excellent and talented Player. Though his floor was low due to his obsession with power, his talent was certainly enough to survive until the end.

But Baekdusan had died midway.

The reason was that his heart was broken by the death of his companion.

That’s why Kang Jun-hyeok said.

“If you truly care about your secretary, it would be better to have him climb the Tower even now.”

“…”

As if those words struck something, Baekdusan’s expression hardened.

The two left. Kang Jun-hyeok sat on the bed. Manbyeonggi, who had been quiet, spoke up.

[Kim Tae-yeon. You seemed to have complaints about that child.]

“Really?”

[When dealing with that child compared to when dealing with Baekdusan, your movements were definitely more emotional.]

“That showed too? I tried to restrain myself as much as I could.”

[You cannot deceive my eyes. And that complaint seemed closer to self-loathing rather than being directed at that child.]

“Self-loathing.”

It wasn’t wrong.

Kim Tae-yeon had said she would protect people.

She said she would enable them to live stable lives without having to climb the Tower.

In his previous life, Kang Jun-hyeok had done his best with her to establish order. He had tried to protect weak people. He had worked so hard that he couldn’t properly climb the Tower.

But not long after, with the first test that occurred, all of that collapsed.

Then he realized that he had made worthless efforts, that he had failed.

It was the first of his countless failures.

Manbyeonggi’s words about self-loathing weren’t far off.

What he hated most wasn’t Kim Tae-yeon, but his past self who had made such choices.

“But not anymore.”

He would no longer fail. For his sake, and also for Milarepa High Monk who had sacrificed himself for him.

Manbyeonggi quietly watched him.

Kang Jun-hyeok opened the system window he had turned off.

 

[Duel ended.]

[3,561 Gold has been paid from Kim Tae-yeon to Kang Jun-hyeok.]

[2,542 Gold has been paid from Baekdusan to Kang Jun-hyeok.]

 

“About 6,000 Gold total.”

It was a considerable amount.

They had probably been diligently saving without spending Gold beyond the 10th Floor to purchase Low Grade Skills. He had taken all of that as payment for the trade.

Still, what he had taught them was worth tens of thousands of Gold, so they would be sufficiently satisfied.

Kang Jun-hyeok organized his current status.

His current Gold holdings were about sixteen thousand Gold. And his Achievement stats were over 20.

He let out a hollow laugh. No matter how he thought about it, these weren’t things a 4th Floor Player could possess. Even among Earth’s top Players, only a handful could accumulate ten thousand Gold.

And if this was the case, there was something he could purchase from the shop. Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes gleamed.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————