100 Floors All Master - Chapter 53

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master of 100 Floors Episode 053

9th Floor. White Sword Gate (3)

Near-Universal Key.

It can unlock almost all locks.

The fact that the System said this meant there was truly nothing it couldn’t open unless it was a really special lock.

Even doors that could only be opened by understanding and comprehending the trajectory of a sword could be opened.

Kuguuuuung!

The door opens. Inside, Baek-hwa was waiting with a face full of excitement.

[Finally! You’ve come to this place! You’re the first to make it this far!]

No.

He wasn’t the first. The Greatest Martial Artist. That bastard must have already achieved a Perfect Clear.

Baek-hwa had already fulfilled his wish.

He was simply bound to this floor, forever unable to realize that fact. Unaware of this, Baek-hwa spread his arms with a face full of smiles.

[Then now the final test remains!]

The test of the Ten Gates. He naturally knew what its contents would be.

Kiiing!

The Formation operates with a strange sound. Power is imbued into Baek-hwa’s translucent soul. It captures that spirit and materializes it.

“…Huu!”

The breath of life resonates. Baek-hwa’s feet, now with substance, step on the Ground.

“This is the first time activating it, but it works better than expected without problems! Though my body and Internal Energy are pitiful compared to when I was alive, it’s not bad!”

Baek-hwa extended his hand. A sword that had been lying over there flew over with a swoosh and landed in his grasp.

“The content of the final test is simple!”

Baek-hwa, who had gained substance and appeared in the World, shouted.

“Face me! Then you will be able to obtain Everything of White Sword Gate!”

The final test of the 9th Floor.

It was to face Baek-hwa who had gained substance through the power of the Formation.

Baek-hwa opened his mouth as if to correct himself.

“Ah! Of course, I don’t mean you should defeat me. That would be impossible in the first place. What you need to do is gain my recognition.”

“Recognition.”

“That’s right. Show me your full power. Show me your talent, your resolve! Then I will recognize you and pass on everything!”

The Greatest Martial Artist had passed that standard.

He had shown his talent and gained Baek-hwa’s recognition to receive Everything of White Sword Gate.

But unfortunately, that was an impossible method for Kang Jun-hyeok. His talent for martial arts wasn’t that remarkable.

So.

Kang Jun-hyeok smiled slightly.

“That seems too boring.”

“Hm?”

“Just receiving your recognition as the end? What’s that about? Isn’t that boring? So how about we add one more condition?”

“What condition?”

“Defeating you.”

Kang Jun-hyeok spoke calmly. Baek-hwa hesitated.

“Sorry, but that’s impossible.”

Baek-hwa shook his head. As if it were absolutely impossible, like hearing that a chicken could fly across the vast sky.

“You never know until you try.”

“…How arrogant. But good! A Murim warrior should have that much confidence! I accept!”

Baek-hwa grinned and raised his sword.

“Then let’s begin! Show me your talent!”

* * *

The cave’s size was adequate. About the size of a basketball court. There was no problem moving around. Kang Jun-hyeok drew a great sword from Manbyeonggi. Baek-hwa flinched.

“…What? It looked like a great sword appeared from thin air.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Is that so? Hmm. Since I barely materialized through the power of the formation, my senses aren’t accurate. That could be it.”

Baek-hwa muttered as if puzzled.

“Then, I’m coming.”

Baek-hwa smiled faintly and stepped forward.

In that moment, his body accelerated. He reached Kang Jun-hyeok with speed that left afterimages. A sharp sword strike aimed for Kang Jun-hyeok’s neck.

Clang!

The great sword moved.

It barely blocked Baek-hwa’s sword. Baek-hwa let out an exclamation.

“Good reflexes!”

Kang Jun-hyeok stepped forward and counterattacked. Baek-hwa’s sword moved. Like water, smoothly.

Clang clang clang!

The great sword swayed back and forth and was deflected. Beyond just neutralizing that force, it was turned against him, causing Kang Jun-hyeok’s body to lean forward. He rolled on the ground to dodge the sword aiming for his back.

“Lazy Donkey Rolling! Some say it’s shameful, but that’s foolish talk! It’s a very effective technique!”

Kang Jun-hyeok gripped his great sword and thrust forward.

His Greatsword Mastery was currently D-rank.

A level that a talented person could only reach after years of effort. He had reached one step higher than when he faced Alessandro.

But it couldn’t reach Baek-hwa. The sword moved as if bouncing.

Despite the light movement, the force contained in the great sword was perfectly neutralized. No. Beyond that, a rebound struck Kang Jun-hyeok. Even though he had the advantage in strength, a force rebound occurred due to pure technique.

Thud!

Kang Jun-hyeok’s body was pushed backward. Manbyeonggi muttered quietly.

[Though I see inexperienced parts, he has the qualifications to be called a sect leader.]

Baek-hwa was the sect leader of White Sword Gate.

One who led a sect.

He was one of Murim’s ten great masters.

In terms of sword technique alone, Alessandro, who had overwhelmed Kang Jun-hyeok, would look like a child.

Right now, through the power of the formation, his body was unstably manifested, most of his Internal Energy had been lost, and his physical form was also in a deteriorated state, but even so, he could maintain an advantage against Kang Jun-hyeok.

That was precisely Martial Arts.

Through normal methods, even if he trained for a lifetime, he would never reach that realm.

Baek-hwa frowned as if sensing something strange.

“Hmm, hmm…?”

“Do you feel disappointed?”

“No. No! You passed the test magnificently and came here! How could I be disappointed!”

Baek-hwa desperately denied it, but doubt lingered in his eyes.

It was natural. He must have thought that Kang Jun-hyeok had passed the test using exceptional talent.

But what Kang Jun-hyeok was showing now was moderate physical ability and moderate Sword Technique level.

D-grade Greatsword Mastery was a level that a talented person would need to train ten years to reach, but it would hardly satisfy Baek-hwa’s standards.

After pondering for a moment, Baek-hwa made a decision.

“…It seems you’re too bored with this duel right now to show your true talent! I should get serious too!”

Along with that, Internal Energy surged forth. White energy rippled and extended along his sword.

Centered around Baek-hwa, literally white swords were manifested. Their number reached one hundred. Baek-hwa shouted loudly.

“This is White Sword Gate’s first secret technique! Hundred Swords Covering Heaven. Since you passed the test, you should be able to understand this principle!”

Baek-hwa charged forward. The white swords all traced trajectories in unison, pouring toward Kang Jun-hyeok.

Kang Jun-hyeok quietly observed the trajectories.

‘As expected, I don’t understand.’

Contrary to Baek-hwa’s expectations, Kang Jun-hyeok couldn’t understand that technique at all.

His talent for Martial Arts wasn’t that remarkable.

He might be gifted, but he wasn’t a genius. Just because he had returned to the past didn’t mean some talent would suddenly bloom.

So, he would face this with what he could do best, with his talent.

Kang Jun-hyeok drew out a Staff in the hand opposite to the one holding his Great Sword. While the System normally only allowed one weapon to be drawn, his restriction was removed due to the Passive Skill Ten Thousand Weapons Control.

[Fireball.]

And an explosion occurred.

* * *

Whoooosh!

Flames rippled and burned through the space. The hundred sharp swords that had flown forth were consumed by the explosion and disappeared.

“What!”

Baek-hwa, who had been charging, hastily swung his sword. He deflected and dispersed all the heat. The heat couldn’t even touch his body.

But shock filled Baek-hwa’s eyes.

Just now, flames had erupted from Kang Jun-hyeok’s hand.

With Baek-hwa’s knowledge, he could tell what that was.

“Samadhi True Fire!”

The ultimate technique that only those called masters could use. Those who reached the pinnacle realm could begin to use it, but at best it was merely a spark. To handle it properly, one needed to be at the transcendent level.

But even transcendent masters couldn’t create flames as massive as what Kang Jun-hyeok had just produced.

Thud.

Cutting through the flames, Kang Jun-hyeok reveals himself. Though Baek-hwa was greatly flustered, he responded instinctively. Dozens of swords manifested simultaneously, attempting to pierce through Kang Jun-hyeok’s body.

Kang Jun-hyeok kicks off the ground and launches his body into the sky, then kicks once more.

[Air Jump.]

“…Void Walking!”

A supreme technique that only those called transcendent masters could handle.

Kang Jun-hyeok, who had leaped into the air and positioned himself above Baek-hwa’s head, thrust his great sword straight down.

[Sword Energy Wind Blade.]

Intense sword qi strikes down heavily. Baek-hwa hastily raises his sword.

Kwaaaaang!

An explosion occurs and dust rises. Kang Jun-hyeok lands. The dust slowly settles and Baek-hwa’s figure becomes visible.

“He blocked this too?”

“Something that is merely heavy and strong easily breaks against attacks that follow the grain. This is Needle Piercing Stone Breaking, one of the techniques of White Sword Swordsmanship.”

Kang Jun-hyeok clicks his tongue.

Despite it being a near-perfect surprise attack, Baek-hwa had no serious injuries. His shoulder was scratched, but that was all. Kang Jun-hyeok took his stance.

However, instead of counterattacking, Baek-hwa stood still in place. His eyes, which had been filled with confusion, gradually calmed down.

“…What are you?”

Internal energy does not exist within Kang Jun-hyeok.

Though he was initially flustered, once he calmed his heart, he could tell. What Kang Jun-hyeok had created was not Samadhi True Fire made from internal energy. It was something different, something alien.

The same went for Void Walking and sword qi.

But the results were certainly close to the techniques he knew.

“Sorcery? No. No, it’s not. Such a thing would be impossible with mere sorcery. What exactly… are you?”

It was a natural reaction. Players were beings that transcended existing common sense. Baek-hwa would never be able to understand Kang Jun-hyeok.

But there was one thing that was certain.

“You didn’t pass my test through sword technique and talent.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“You made defeating me the condition because you couldn’t receive my recognition from the beginning.”

Baek-hwa realized that he had been deceived by Kang Jun-hyeok. Kang Jun-hyeok smiled slightly.

“A man’s word is worth a thousand gold. Surely the great eighth sect leader of White Sword Gate wouldn’t change his words now?”

“…Ugh.”

As Kang Jun-hyeok said, he couldn’t change the conditions now. After much deliberation, Baek-hwa made his decision.

“Though you deceived me, I promised with my own mouth. The condition remains the same. If you defeat me, I will give you everything of White Sword Gate. But if it comes to this… I will no longer see you as one who passed the test.”

Killing intent suddenly erupts.

“I will see you as a grave robber who dares to covet White Sword Gate’s legacy, and I will kill you.”

A cold voice rings out. Unlike before, this was truly dense killing intent. The air becomes needles that constrict Kang Jun-hyeok. An overwhelming pressure that makes it difficult to breathe rushes in.

Before that pressure, Kang Jun-hyeok laughs joyfully.

“Good.”

Kang Jun-hyeok drew a sword with his other hand. Gripping a great sword in one hand and a sword in the other, he tenses his entire body.

Kwaaaaang!

There was nothing more to probe. He explodes with the full power he had been conserving. The ground shakes and undulates. That body charges toward Baek-hwa.

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