I Stepped on Their Shadows and Skills Started Copying Like Crazy - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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51
[Please select a skill to use.]
“I gave it some thought, you know.”
In the end, there was only one answer.
The one that felt most effective in combat.
The one I used most often.
And the one I was most eager to try.
“Cardia Sword Art. That’s my choice.”
The moment I finished speaking, a crack spiderwebbed across the Shadow Crystal in my grip.
Crack.
Through the fissure, a thick, viscous black energy oozed forth and seeped into my shadow.
[Shadow Attribute has been granted to the Cardia Sword Art.]
[You have acquired the Unique Skill ‘Shadow Dance’.]
[Shadow Dance]
Grade: Unique
Description: Taking every third strike as one cycle, a ‘Shadow Blade’ is automatically generated at the first strike of each cycle. The generated Shadow Blade delivers an additional hit to the enemy.
The generated Shadow Blade inflicts an extra strike on the target.
▶ Shadow Blade: Your shadow solidifies and takes the form of a blade.
The moment I read it, I grasped the general idea.
“So….”
When three strikes are grouped as one bundle of ‘strong, weak, weak,’ an extra hit attaches to each ‘strong’ one. That’s what it seemed like.
‘In other words, it’s not clapping on three-six-nine, but throwing an extra punch on one-four-seven.’
That’s how I understood it, but I wasn’t a hundred percent certain.
“Well, I’ll figure it out as we go.”
“Human, shrieeek. What did you do?”
Sla thrust forward with his spear, letting out a low growl—his voice laced with wariness.
“Beats me. I just got it. So why don’t you help me test it out? I’m curious what this thing can do too.”
“Lies! Shrieeek!”
Sla charged, bristling with fury.
The tip of his spear pierced through the bog’s mist, aimed straight at my heart.
Whoosh!
I twisted my body desperately, and the spear blade tore past, shredding the fabric at my side.
A moment slower and I’d have had a hole between my ribs.
“You’re impatient. Trust me—I’ll give you a show.”
Swish!
I closed the distance immediately, aiming for his throat.
Of course, he wasn’t the type to stand still and offer his neck.
Clang!
With his split spear point, Sla caught the Night Song and blocked it.
Between the locked metal blades, the screech of steel echoed in an instant.
“Human, shrieeek. Nothing’s changed… shriek!”
In that moment, a shadow rose up beneath his feet, sweeping toward his waist.
Startled, he leaped backward.
Because of that, what had been an attack meant to cleave him in half only caught his shin with a glancing blow.
“Oho, so that’s how it feels. Not bad.”
“What—shriek. What is it! Human, what are you—!”
He asked in surprise, but there wasn’t much point in answering.
“Stop asking so many questions. I don’t really know either.”
Though thanks to this, I was starting to understand it a bit—there was no obligation to explain it to him.
Just as the description said, after that one extra strike, the shadow that had been poised to split him in two went quiet as if nothing had happened.
So what’s next?
This time, a straight thrust.
Clang!
The three-pronged spear tip rushed forward, but Sla caught and deflected the Night Song.
The shadow didn’t manifest this time.
‘That makes two.’
Whoosh!
Followed by the third attack.
This time he leaned back, dodging it.
Again, the Shadow Blade didn’t appear.
“Hiss! Human. Is that trick of yours finished?”
A sharp screech.
The creature came charging back with undiminished fury.
It had mistaken the Shadow Blade I’d just used for some trump card I’d been holding in reserve.
If that’s what it believed, then I should give it what it expected.
“You’re right. Perfect timing, actually.”
If my instinct was correct, the Shadow Blade would make another appearance.
I drove forward at full speed and thrust the Night Song straight at its heart.
A metallic ring.
This time too, the creature shed the Night Song without effort.
But the Shadow Blade, arriving on its own cycle, was a different matter.
A harsh scrape.
The Shadow Blade that suddenly erupted tore a deep gash across Sla’s flank.
“Shrieeek—!”
It shrieked in agony and bounded backward.
Where it had been standing just moments before, only a severed tail remained, thrashing with violent energy.
“I cut off its tail clean, yet it leaves a pristine one behind?”
Either way, my experiment had worked. My hypothesis had been correct.
I’d spent considerable effort explaining something about cycles and three sword strikes.
But really, it was simple—like counting three, six, nine: when the moment came, the blade came out instead of clapping hands.
“I’ve learned enough, I think. Time to wrap this up.”
At first, I’d deliberately held back to see how far I could go with swordplay alone; then I’d tested the new skill’s power the same way. Now there was no reason to continue.
It was time to send it off. The creature had done its part.
That’s when Sla, wounded and seething, came charging again.
“Hiss! Flea-ridden wretch! How dare you strike a noble scale warrior—!”
Flea-ridden? I’ve heard all sorts of insults in my time.
“By that logic, you’re just a bald lizard.”
A presumptuous creature, attacking without measure.
I matched its tempo, raising my own pace.
Clash! Clash-clash!
Rough percussion rang out, and sparks flew.
The Night Song and Trident Spear clashed in rapid succession.
“Shriek!”
But the result was different this time.
Until now, only the Shadow Blade had landed effective blows, but now the Night Song pounded against Sla’s body again and again.
It came charging in eagerly but retreated first, as before.
“Human—hiss. Your strength… you were hiding it?”
“Quick to notice.”
The creature had almost nowhere left unscathed, having narrowly avoided a fatal blow.
It had been more than enough just to focus on me, yet after taking a few more hits—glancing at the floor, sparring with shadows and practicing Shadow Boxing—it had ended up like this.
“But what does it matter? The fight’s already decided.”
“Silence, hiss!”
The wounded creature lunged forward, gripping the Trident Spear with both hands.
This was not the refined spearwork it had shown until now.
With defeat closing in, it threw every last ounce of strength into a final, desperate struggle.
A mutual destruction gambit that ignored its own survival.
It seemed to think I would retreat before such a charge….
“That won’t work.”
There were some things in this world that sheer willpower alone could not accomplish.
I surged forward to meet the incoming spear point and drove straight past its guard, threading the Night Song between the three prongs.
Just a few dozen centimeters separated spear and blade.
But it was a distance the blade could not easily cross—one that demanded a wager of life itself. Yet in that moment, the gap closed as though it were nothing, and the spear became nothing more than a long stick.
“…?!”
Its yellow eyes went wide.
‘Too late for understanding now.’
I twisted the intertwined blade and spear upward as a single entity.
The spear point, pinned by the Night Song, wrenched from its original trajectory.
What had originally aimed at my abdomen now barely grazed my right shoulder as it passed.
A slight sting, nothing more.
The Night Song, freed and thrust toward Sla’s now-exposed upper body, sang through the air.
Screeeech―!
“Shriek―!”
Thud.
Sla crumpled with a death cry.
Those hard scales had somehow kept the thread of life hanging by a thread.
Whether one could truly call it a “blessing” when the upper half was split open and dangling, unable even to die, was another question.
Step.
He approached the creature slowly and gripped Night Song with both hands, adjusting his stance.
They were locked in a kill-or-be-killed struggle, but there was no reason to let it writhe in agony.
“Thanks to you, I got my feel for it. Go.”
Thwack! Squelch!
The crimson-soaked Night Song shattered the creature’s spine and pierced its heart in one motion.
“The rain… hiss… does not… cease…….”
The lizard warrior breathed its last, leaving behind words none could comprehend.
He drew the blade free and flicked the blood from it.
“‘Shadow Dance’ trial passed.”
* * *
[Additional objective completed.]
[Steel-Scale Sla eliminated.]
[Acquired unique spoil: Steel Scale Trident Spear.]
“Huh.”
This time it was a spear.
Opening his inventory, he found a trident spear that bore a striking resemblance to the one Sla had wielded.
“Better than that rusted junk Barg gave me. This might fetch something decent.”
Of course, it would never be converted to currency.
Until that hundred million was filled, everything was provisions for Bigo.
Well, he could think about that later. For now, there was this matter.
The moment Sla fell, the remaining Lizardmen had already vanished without a trace.
“They run fast enough, I’ll grant them that.”
He didn’t bother pursuing them.
The objective from the start had been to rescue the slaves.
Turning his gaze toward the mine with that in mind, an unexpected scene came into view.
“What’s this?”
Roga was already gathering the goblins.
But not merely gathering them.
The injured ones he’d set aside; those trying to flee he blocked; those cowering in fear he lifted up and patted gently to soothe them.
“Krrk! Keru! Kee!”
The words were incomprehensible, but the intent was plain enough.
Calm yourselves. Don’t run. Everything’s alright now. Something along those lines.
‘If Snig were here, he’d blow this story up ten times over with his own embellishments.’
Fortunately, Snig wasn’t present.
Roga couldn’t speak his language, hadn’t received a single direct order, yet was handling everything flawlessly on his own.
He watched in silence, understanding that his own presence would only frighten the goblins further.
“He’s getting better at this.”
Roga—he’d thought the intensity in the creature’s eyes came from having killed a troll in that sneak attack, but clearly he was pulling his weight.
Though he still had a long way to go.
“Keru…!”
Clumsy. His voice trembled.
And whenever the frightened goblins moved in a sudden rush, he floundered right along with them.
‘But he’s trying.’
Not fleeing, not turning away.
Finding the task he could do and doing it—that pleased him.
“Hey, Roga.”
“Keru?”
Roga, busy managing the goblins, turned his head.
His entire body was caked in dirt, marked here and there with fresh scratches.
He’d taken several hits somewhere.
“You did well. Good work.”
…….
Roga blinked slowly, as though mystified by the praise, then his mouth curved awkwardly upward in a tentative smile.
“Ke… ru?”
Did the creature understand that I was praising it?
Or had it simply read my expression?
I couldn’t be sure.
But I had a feeling I knew what was on its mind now.
Its gaze had already shifted toward the goblins over there.
“Fine, go on. Get to work.”
I waved my hand dismissively, and only then did the creature bow and turn back toward the goblins.
“Keruk! Keru!”
“Nice. At least it’ll clean up after itself without being asked.”
Just as I was muttering to myself while watching its receding form, a message flickered across my vision.
[Special Trial ‘Trial of Observation’ has been completed.]
[Clear Evaluation: EX]
[Special Trial completion rewards are being distributed.]
Floor 13 was done.
“Roga, time to head back…”
I started to call Roga out, then stopped myself.
I didn’t want to interrupt him while he was surrounded by the freed goblins.
“That beast, it’s putting in the work.”
To be honest, I couldn’t yet say I trusted it completely.
“Ke… keru…?”
Even now it was flustered, cradling someone’s injured arm and whimpering, at a loss for what to do.
“All right, let’s wait a little longer then.”
The creature didn’t look like it would be leaving anytime soon today.
* * *
Somewhere in Seoul, a safe house overlooking the Han River.
Shin Yu Sung had a visitor at his home, and they’d brought fine tea leaves with them.
“The aroma really is excellent today. It seems the person who brewed it has considerable skill—whenever I’ve prepared tea with the leaves the director gave me, I’ve never managed quite this flavor.”
Shin Yu Sung, who had been savoring the aroma by bringing the cup to his nose, set it down and smiled softly.
“Well, hearing you say so makes all the effort worthwhile, truly.”
Jeong Jin Hyeok set his own cup down on the table beside his host’s.
The tea leaves, and the guest bringing them to brew the tea himself—all of it was a pretext.
As always, today’s visit had a different purpose entirely.
“Congratulations again on a successful Clear, and thank you. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to protect South Korea’s precious daily life once more.”
A conversation the two men had repeated countless times from past to present.
Usually by this point, Shin Yu Sung would play along, dividing credit with Jeong Jin Hyeok and engaging in a bit of mutual face-saving, bringing the exchange to a close. But today was different.
“I’m not so sure…”
“…?”
Shin Yu Sung turned his gaze quietly toward the Tower outside the window.
After moistening his lips with tea, Shin Yu Sung spoke on with measured calm.
“This time, I’m not certain I deserve this gratitude. It was not a success of mine alone.”
A mysterious Awakener who had aided Shin Yu Sung’s ascent? It seemed unlikely such a thing existed, yet the two men seated here already had the same person in mind.
Without Shin Yu Sung needing to name names.
Pung Yo Jwa—the unknown Awaker who had gifted seven days to South Korea’s Tower.
And the person who, single-handedly, had brought down the unthinkable blessing of the “Golden Age” upon the Tower itself, making Shin Yu Sung’s conquest of Floor 75 possible.
The Tower Control Bureau had been pursuing him for some two weeks now. But the results had been disappointing.
All the Tower revealed was general announcements.
What happens within the Tower stays within the Tower.
Without the person themself disclosing it, no information could be learned from outside.
That was precisely why the nation had taken to publicizing Awakener registration itself.
And so the entire nation—perhaps the entire world—was chasing someone whose identity remained an enigma.
Save for one person. Shin Yu Sung himself, sitting before me now.
“…It seems you’ve already met this person, sir.”
A question posed as something less than a question.
But Shin Yu Sung was no ordinary man either.
“I’ve seen someone similar.”
An answer that was neither affirmation nor denial.
Jeong Jin Hyeok nodded, as though those few words were all he needed.
“I see. And what manner of person were they?”
Shin Yu Sung fell quiet, lost in thought.
“Hmm… that’s a rather difficult question to answer.”
From the moment we first met, he was an exceptional and peculiar junior.
Somehow he read my presence and approached with sharp intuition.
Then when his true nature was exposed, he played dumb without blinking an eye, and when I pressed harder, he responded with such bold nerve—”But why? What are you going to do about it?”—that I could only marvel at his audacity.
That wasn’t all. When I first met him, he seemed like a wild man, but the second time we met, he appeared as a dignified swordsman.
‘And then there’s that impossibly vast Subspace, and those companions of his too.’
It was nothing but a succession of surprises.
I couldn’t imagine he was merely an Awakener climbing around Floor 10.
Most of all, what astonished the Sword Saint was his talent.
‘Teach one, apply it ten.’
I’d teach him one thing, and he’d immediately apply it elsewhere.
A man who’d barely held a sword for a few days.
So to sum it all up…
“He was an unusual friend.”
“Unusual?”
Jeong Jin Hyeok’s expression showed bewilderment, while Shin Yu Sung merely smiled knowingly.
“Yes. I meant he’s strong. Everyone I know who’s powerful has something odd about them.”
The words carried weight.
When South Korea’s strongest spoke of being “strong,” it wasn’t casual praise.
“For you to say such a thing, Teacher?”
“He’s weaker than me.”
“Ha, well, that goes without saying. That’s quite the bland joke, Teacher…”
The moment Jeong Jin Hyeok took it as a jest and let out a laugh.
“For now.”
Unexpected words tumbled from his lips.
From the Sword Saint.
Just stepping on a shadow copied the skill
Author |
Killing Part
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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