Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 41

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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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One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 41

Episode 41. Corpse Exhibition (7)

Whoooosh-!

The dark red aura leaking from the Life Vessel enveloped my entire body.

My vision grew dim.

At the same time, an inexplicable floating sensation quickly consumed me.

And then.

‘Where is this…’

When I came to my senses, I had fallen into a completely different world.

An endlessly sprawling wasteland.

Above in the sky, colorful auroras were rippling.

This surreal backdrop showing the boundary between death and life indirectly revealed the theme of this “trial.”

“…”

Camillo von Taribas.

And the illusory world created by the Evil God who made a contract with him.

Unlike other trials created to gauge a challenger’s qualifications…

This was the worst stage, designed solely to ‘kill’ challengers.

Ding-!

〔The trial begins.〕

〔Survive for half a day.〕

Along with the message appearing before my eyes, the trial finally began.

Pwoooosh-!

Skeleton Soldiers began emerging from the ground one by one.

The undead, armed with sturdy armor and weapons, showed blind hostility toward the living.

Graaaaar─!

The Skeleton Soldiers roared and charged at me as soon as they spotted me.

Their crimson eye sockets flashed like predators who had found their prey.

‘There’s no end in sight.’

Shing-!

I drew my Feather Sword and looked toward the horizon.

Undead continuously rising beyond the wasteland stretching far into the distance.

The concept of this trial was simple.

Survive just half a day against endless monster waves and it would be over.

〔Time Remaining〕

〔11 : 59 : 29〕

〔11 : 59 : 28〕

…

‘Of course, as simple as the test method is, the content is extremely challenging.’

This trial basically features enemies of higher level than the challenger.

For example, if the challenger is a level 90 expert?

It meant they would face high-level undead of at least level 91 or higher.

‘…It’s truly the worst difficulty.’

At high levels, a 1-level difference was like an insurmountable wall.

And they want you to endure this for half a day?

For experts, it was structurally an impossible mission to succeed.

Even I could count on one hand the times I’d cleared this trial while playing Roel, so that said it all.

‘But…’

【Lv. 5】

【Lv. 5】

【Lv. 5】

‘…In my case, the situation is a bit different.’

Pfft-.

As soon as I saw the level windows of the enemies before me, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Was it because I’d been constantly facing terrifying enemies with levels ranging from 80 to 100, and suddenly saw such pathetic numbers?

I just felt my tension completely drain away.

‘Complete rabble.’

Right.

My level was only a mere ‘3’.

That meant the enemies I would face in this trial would also have ridiculously low levels.

As I’ve said many times, in Roel the gap between low and high levels was extreme. The difference between Lv. 90 and 91 was greater than between Lv. 70 and 80.

But if you think about it the other way?

It meant level differences weren’t significant at low-level stages.

‘Then…’

…Level 3 and level 5, just how big would the gap between these two be?

‘Practically nonexistent.’

Moreover, I’m one of the few irregulars in The World of Loel.

Considering that in Labyrinth Village I easily achieved victory against level 20+ enemies without skills.

‘It’s a piece of cake.’

A trial that would be nothing short of a terrible nightmare for high-level players…

For me, it had become an incredibly convenient easy stage.

* * *

Whoooosh-!

Gaon’s body was sucked into the Life Vessel.

It meant the real trial had begun.

If he passed the test, Camillo’s Immortality that had lasted for hundreds of years might be broken.

[Kekeke…!]

However, Camillo von Taribas appeared endlessly relaxed.

[To actually challenge the trial. What an insufferably arrogant person.]

His tone suggested his own death wasn’t even a concern.

At this, Sikan Bauer’s expression crumpled as he retorted.

“What makes you so confident?”

[Ha.]

Camillo burst into a hollow laugh.

[Those who couldn’t even make a peep until just now are acting quite bold?]

“That’s…”

[Enough. Let’s see if you can remain so confident even after that person dies in the trial.]

Woom, wooooom-!

As the Life Vessel that had swallowed Gaon emitted an eerie red light.

Camillo’s sinister laughter filled the exhibition hall.

[Kekeke, it would have been better if one of you had challenged the trial instead.]

“…What do you mean by that?”

To Sikan Bauer’s question, Camillo answered with a mocking voice.

[This trial is structured to become more difficult the stronger the challenger is. You might have been able to endure the trial, but….]

Camillo’s tone was dripping with confidence in his victory.

[The swordsmanship that man showed was more powerful than any Sword Master I’ve encountered in hundreds of years.]

“….”

[So the trial will be that much more brutal, kekeke.]

Drip-.

At those words, Adelia and Sikan Bauer had no choice but to fall silent.

All they could do was quietly wait for the result.

Time slowly passed in the silence.

Only the red light emanating from the Life Vessel illuminated the dark interior of the room.

“…An hour has already passed.”

How much time had passed like this?

Sikan Bauer, who had taken out his pocket watch, muttered quietly.

Tick, tick-.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed since Gaon entered the trial.

If the challenger lost their life, the light of the 「Trial」 would normally fade, but the Life Vessel was still emitting an intense red light.

Bewilderment crept into Camillo’s voice.

[Hmm…?]

1 hour.

It was enough time for most strong warriors to die unable to endure.

However, the red energy of the Life Vessel, far from fading, was only emitting an even more intense light.

[Ha, hahaha! To think he’d endure this long! There was a reason for his arrogance!]

* * *

…Time passed quickly.

[Th, this is strange. Why is it still….]

By the 2nd hour, Camillo’s voice began to tremble gradually.

[Wh, what? Why won’t it end?]

By the 3rd hour, there was no trace of composure left in Camillo’s voice.

[….]

And finally, the 4th hour.

Heavy silence descended upon the exhibition hall.

Camillo’s confident laughter could no longer be heard.

Instead, the red light emitted by the crystal sphere grew increasingly intense, creating an ominous feeling.

Gooooo─!

Adelia and Sikan Bauer also held their breath as they stared at the Life Vessel.

As Camillo’s anxiety deepened, their hope only grew brighter.

Tick, tick, tick─.

The clock’s second hand moved slowly but without stopping toward the predetermined end.

The immortal’s final moment was drawing ever closer.

* * *

〔2 : 52 : 01〕

…How many hours had I been moving continuously?

‘I don’t know.’

My entire body was screaming.

I had already reached my physical limits long ago.

Even so, my sword and body continued to mercilessly cut down the enemies before me, following instinct.

Whooom─!

I swung the Feather Sword horizontally.

It wasn’t a conscious action. My body and mind had been operating separately for a long time now.

It felt like when I played Roel, watching my character move beyond the monitor. Like watching myself fight from a third person’s perspective.

The tip of my sword moved, cleanly shattering the neck bone of the skeleton soldier visible through my blurred vision.

Kraaaaa-!

The skeleton soldier screamed as it fell.

But there was no time to feel relieved. Dozens of enemies were surrounding me.

There was no time to rest.

I desperately held onto my fading consciousness and forced myself to continue fighting.

Ding-!

〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ demonstrates superhuman will.〕

〔Resisting unconsciousness.〕

〔Resisting physical pain.〕

…

Ding, ding, ding-!

Notifications continuously poured down from the corner of my vision.

They didn’t interfere with combat. The message windows only appeared where they wouldn’t bother me at all.

…Was this also part of the game system’s convenience?

That thought crossed my mind briefly, but useless distractions couldn’t last long.

The physical fatigue that had reached its extreme crushed all distracting thoughts.

“Haa, haak….”

My breath rose to my throat.

My head was spinning. My entire body trembled as if I could collapse at any moment.

I was enduring all of this with nothing but indomitable mental strength.

‘…Should I use the 「Heart of the Toryong」 even now?’

It was a thought that had been constantly tempting me since the trial began.

If my basic physical stats increased, dealing with those skeleton soldiers would become much easier.

‘No.’

Clench-.

But I firmly suppressed the rising desire.

I bit the inside of my lip and gripped the Feather Sword’s handle tightly.

‘…I must endure to the end.’

No matter how difficult it was, I couldn’t use the Heart of the Toryong.

Not until I obtained the reward from the Corpse Exhibition.

Wasn’t the reason I came here in the first place to maximize the effect of the Heart of the Toryong?

But if I consumed the item right now, all the effort I’d put in so far would turn to nothing.

‘So….’

Just a little more, just a tiny bit more, let me endure.

“Krrgh!”

I gritted my teeth.

I brainwashed myself that all this pain was absolutely not meaningless.

After all, to obtain something, don’t you have to endure the corresponding hardship?

Ding-!

〔You have endured terrible pain for a long time.〕

〔Passive skill 【Lower Pain Resistance】 is enhanced to 【Mid-Lower Pain Resistance】.〕

…And Roel was a world where rewards followed precisely according to how much the player suffered.

‘Ah.’

My head became much clearer.

The screams my body had been letting out also gradually subsided.

Had my physical condition improved?

No. It was just that my pain threshold had risen much higher.

You could understand it as being given painkillers as a temporary measure.

‘But even that alone is enough.’

Swoosh-.

Through my much clearer vision, I gazed at the enemies surrounding me.

The skeleton soldiers who had been only level 5 when the trial began…

【Lv. 15】

【Lv. 15】

【Lv. 15】

…Before I knew it, their levels had already reached 15.

“Ha, hahaha.”

A weak laugh escaped. A genuinely pleased smile hung on my lips.

Why am I laughing when the opponents got stronger?

Simple.

As I said before, this trial’s difficulty was measured according to the challenger’s level.

‘In other words…’

Ding-!

〔Stamina increases slightly.〕

〔Strength increases slightly.〕

〔Perception increases slightly.〕

…

〔Level has increased. (10→11)〕

‘…It also means I’ve grown that much.’

That’s right.

I, who had been only level 3 when I first entered the trial.

Had already surpassed level 10 and reached level 11.

‘Thank you, Camillo.’

Thanks to you, I’m growing this rapidly.

* * *

〔0 : 00 : 03〕

〔0 : 00 : 02〕

〔0 : 00 : 01〕

…

Ding-!

〔You have cleared the trial arranged by ‘■@■#!?■%’.〕

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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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