Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 15

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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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Skill Devouring to the 666th Floor Episode 015

15. Duel

When I accepted the duel, Isaac bowed his head.

“I apologize on behalf of my son’s rudeness. This kid has some odd quirks… You too, hurry up and apologize. What kind of discourtesy is this toward someone who might become our partner…”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all.”

“I hope you’re not feeling offended…”

“Not at all. Rather, it seems like it’ll be a good change of pace. I’m prepared to indulge in a brief entertainment.”

It was a comment that scratched at his pride, but Joshua didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

Instead, he raised the corners of his mouth with an intrigued expression.

“Are you really going to duel…”

“We have to. I need to win this for my unreasonable negotiation to succeed, don’t I?”

“Hmm…”

Since I was being proactive, Isaac couldn’t dissuade me any further.

As for Joshua, his mouth was practically reaching his ears.

“There’s a gymnasium right next to here. Let’s go right now.”

“Wait a moment, let me discuss this with my son…”

“Please do.”

Isaac hurriedly took Joshua, who was eager to duel, outside.

***

“Son! How can you suddenly do this?”

“Why? Amon said it was fine too.”

“Still, a duel? That’s too rude.”

“He offered 6,000 dollars first. Rather than just accepting it readily, we need something to push back on, don’t we?”

“Then you should use other methods, not a duel!”

Isaac was about to burst with frustration.

His son was originally stubborn, but this time was especially severe.

It felt like he’d gotten worse since awakening as an Apostle.

He keeps dueling with friends at the gymnasium every time.

“Even Jason asked me to stop you! Why are you doing this?”

“Why? Because I want to confirm his strength.”

“Even so, doing this to someone who might become our partner isn’t right! What if he got offended and went to another corporation?”

“It worked out well in the end. Though I’ll have to see after we duel. You’re not worried that I might lose, are you?”

Of course he was worried.

Not about his son, but about Amon.

“I know your skills well, but… what if Amon loses? What if he gets upset about losing and the deal falls through?”

“From our conversation earlier, he doesn’t seem like that type of person. He thinks very highly of our corporation.”

“Still, you never know when people might change their minds. If he’s skilled enough to reach Floor 24, his pride must be just as strong.”

Joshua’s mood improved at his father’s words.

“That means there’s a possibility I could win?”

“You’re going to duel without skills, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you have a chance too.”

“How much?”

“About 40%?”

Was it because he was his son?

He was being quite generous.

Joshua had estimated it at 30%.

‘Considering the difference in stats, that should be about right.’

Anyway, it was a good opportunity to face a strong opponent.

For Joshua, it didn’t matter if he lost.

“If I lose, we’ll go with 6,000 dollars.”

“Will there really be profit even then?”

“There will be. It’s an exclusive contract anyway. If he continues selling the Magic Stones that come out later to us, the profits will be more than enough.”

“Hmm.”

Isaac nodded.

The father and son who had reached an agreement started walking.

Pat pat.

“Make sure you win, son.”

As Isaac patted his shoulder.

“Yes. I’ll show you my skills.”

Joshua answered confidently.

***

When the Labyrinth incident first occurred.

[Someone sets foot in the Labyrinth Underground 1st Floor for the first time.]

Joshua read the message and let out an exclamation of admiration.

‘They went in that quickly?’

Someone, whoever they were, had taken the first step to save humanity.

As a former Special Forces member, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

[You have entered Labyrinth Underground 1st Floor.]

The Labyrinth, entered for the first time in an ordinary person’s body.

Despite his fear, he fought against the Dark Slimes.

‘What? They’re so soft that my punches don’t work?’

How was he supposed to catch them?

Eventually, he found a way.

He got the idea from the fact that darkness is weak to light.

When he shone his phone flash on them, they hardened and became bodies that could be hit.

Crack!

Crack!

He quickly filled up the numbers by cutting the Dark Slimes into pieces.

At this speed, he was confident he’d be first place.

However.

[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground 1st Floor!]

[Labyrinth Underground 2nd Floor is now open.]

‘What? Already?’

He was catching his 60th one, but someone had already conquered it.

‘That person. The one who entered first.’

He thought he was catching them faster than anyone else.

How had they already finished conquering it?

He cleared the 1st Floor with this question in mind, and the result was?

[1st Floor Clear Time: 1 hour 17 minutes 13 seconds]

[You did not surpass the Hall of Fame record.]

‘Hall of Fame?’

Soon, an unbelievable record appeared.

【Labyrinth Underground 1st Floor】

【Conqueror: Amon】

【Clear Time: 47 minutes 47 seconds】

‘Wow… 47 minutes?’

He was far from breaking Amon’s record.

‘His name is Amon? Wasn’t Amon the name of the God of Destruction?’

Why would he use the name of the Labyrinth’s final boss?

It was puzzling, but from this moment, he began to take interest.

In this person called Amon.

‘Later, I became an Apostle of the God of Time and conquered up to the 10th Floor. With help from Amon’s conquest methods.’

But now.

He was about to duel with Amon, whom he had dreamed of meeting.

‘I wanted to fight him once. To think an opportunity like this would come.’

He was excited.

He wanted to see his skills quickly.

“Here it is. This is the gymnasium our company employees use.”

“Don’t you usually make them about the size of a fitness room?”

“I made it with the hope that they could exercise freely in a spacious environment… though my personal desires were involved too, haha.”

“As expected of a global corporation, the benefits are top-notch.”

They were exchanging pleasantries, but the two would have to fight soon.

“Let me explain the duel rules. First, no items or skills allowed, and you lose if you’re subdued or surrender. How does that sound?”

“Sounds good.”

“Then let’s get ready. Here’s the headgear and fighting gloves…”

“I don’t need the headgear. I won’t be getting hit anyway. I’ll just take these.”

Amon only took the gloves.

‘Look at that? He’s quite confident, isn’t he?’

Just how strong was he to act like that?

‘If he conquered up to Floor 24, he must have received quite a lot of stat rewards.’

Joshua opened his status window.

《Name: Joshua Everett》

《Race: Human》

《Patron: God of Time》

《Conquest Complete Floor: Labyrinth Underground 10th Floor》

《Credits Held: 0》

【Achievement】

▶None

【Exclusive Skills】

▷Time Regression (SSS)

【Acquired Skills】

▷None

【Stats】

●Strength : 7 / Penetration : 7

●Durability : 8 / Agility : 8

●Life : 7 / Magic : 7

●Regeneration : 7 / Resistance : 7

Around 7 to 8, overall decent stats.

This level should be manageable.

‘If he’s conquered up to Floor 24, Amon’s stats should be around 10.’

Either way, being at a disadvantage was a fact.

That’s why he only estimated his chances of winning at about 30%.

However.

“But you know, thinking about it, this seems unfair.”

Amon suddenly made a proposal.

“I have the advantage in stats, don’t I?”

“That’s right.”

“So I think I should have some kind of penalty too.”

“What kind of penalty…”

“I won’t use skills. Joshua, you can use yours.”

What? He’d allow skill usage?

“This should balance things out, don’t you think?”

“Are you sure? Even if only I use skills?”

“Yes. No problem at all.”

“Amon. I can’t go into details, but my skill is incredible. You could get hurt.”

“If I get hurt, that’s my fault.”

What kind of confidence was this?

‘If I use skills, it’s 100% my victory.’

He was well-versed in how to utilize Time Regression, which could turn back time by 3 seconds.

Including how to use it offensively.

‘If I turn back time and strike immediately after, winning won’t even be an issue.’

The presence or absence of skills had a tremendous impact on victory or defeat.

Did he know this and still act like that?

‘This is kind of insulting to my pride.’

I was planning to fight fairly without skills, but that wouldn’t work now.

Since he provoked me first, I’d have to teach him a lesson.

“Understood. Thank you for your consideration. But you should be careful since you might get hurt.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Confident to the very end…

‘I’ll flatten that nose of yours, Amon.’

Isaac, who had appointed himself as referee, raised his hand.

“Ready… Begin!”

***

Just as the duel was about to begin.

The Three Gods were watching this situation.

[Isn’t that American my first apostle?]

[What are those two doing right now?]

[Don’t tell me they’re going to fight?]

From listening to their conversation, it seemed that way.

[Looks like they’re going to duel.]

[They’re both on our side though?]

[I don’t understand why allies would fight each other pointlessly.]

It was an incomprehensible situation.

They had only just started observing the situation.

[That Lee Tae Seong human must have started the trouble first. That’s why they’re fighting!]

[It’s not time to make hasty judgments yet.]

[What do you mean it’s not? I figured it out long ago! I didn’t like that human from the start!]

[As Kairos said, let’s wait a bit. A duel isn’t about hurting each other, right?]

[Let’s watch for a moment. There doesn’t seem to be any malicious intent.]

The Three Gods were also watching their duel with interest.

***

The first person to move was Joshua.

Swoosh!

He threw a quick punch, but it didn’t connect.

‘He dodged to the left.’

He hadn’t expected to land the first strike anyway.

So.

Whirl!

I could unleash a quick follow-up Back Kick.

But.

Thwack!

‘Ugh!’

Amon, as if he had anticipated it, dodged and drove his fist into my side.

With tremendous force at that.

‘Mother…’

I almost let a curse slip out.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah… yes.”

I barely managed to straighten my hunched body and took a fighting stance again.

I need to be careful.

If I take another hit from that fist, I won’t have the confidence to get back up.

‘The moment I see his fist, I’ll use the skill immediately.’

That way I can dodge the attack while also finding an opening to strike.

“Huu, here I go.”

After taking a deep breath, I kicked off from my position.

While precisely tracking where my opponent and I were 3 seconds ago.

Whoosh! Hook!

I threw two quick Straight Punches, but.

‘I missed.’

Incredible reflexes.

Now it’s time for his counterattack.

If I try to dodge by watching with my eyes, it’ll be too late.

I need to watch his shoulder movements.

‘Here it comes!’

The moment I confirmed Amon’s shoulder twitching, I immediately used my skill.

‘Time Regression.’

Time rewinds to 3 seconds ago.

I had memorized where my opponent and I were positioned.

What stances we were taking too.

‘Perfect position to strike!’

I immediately threw my punch.

From his perspective, a fist would be flying at him the moment he blinked.

‘It’s over…’

Or so I thought for a moment.

Crack!

A dull impact resonated through my skull.

I can see Amon’s fist that he threw while simultaneously dodging my attack.

‘He… countered Time Regression?’

Joshua collapsed helplessly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

From the beginning, this was a fight with not even a 1% chance of winning.

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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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