Chapter 74
[Before we start, let me explain the rules. The match will end when one side surrenders or becomes incapacitated. Do you understand this point?]
Ju Kyung-soo and Kang Hye-rim nodded their heads at the same time.
[Good. And this duel is not just a simple one-on-one fight. There are also other rules that you should be well aware of, right?]
Kang Hye-rim also knew the other rules. She had heard them from Yu-hyun before she came up here.
The duel was not decided by fighting alone.
There were other factors that could influence the outcome of the collector’s duel.
People knew it from the beginning.
That the fight between Kang Hye-rim and Ju Kyung-soo was not fair in the first place.
That’s why they added other elements to this match to give Kang Hye-rim, who was at a disadvantage, a chance to win.
[When the duel begins, a field will be deployed. The location is a forest and there are various monsters living there.]
Points are awarded for killing monsters.
The points vary depending on the level of the monster, and especially if you defeat the boss-level monster that exists in the field, you get the most points.
[There is a time limit for the duel. The time is three hours. If the match is not decided by then, the result will be based on the points you have.]
This was a kind of opportunity for a reversal for those who were relatively disadvantaged.
If you think you are inferior to your opponent in a one-on-one fight, you can choose to avoid fighting and hunt monsters instead.
At least you won’t lose miserably.
[Killing is strictly prohibited. If you violate this rule, you will receive the most severe punishment under the guidance of the association. Please be careful about this point.]
Unlike the death match of Shi Hwa Daejeon, killing was forbidden here.
That was fine if you only looked at that part, but it also implied that anything was allowed as long as you didn’t kill.
[Well, then let’s start the duel!]
As soon as the referee declared, the scenery of the stadium changed in an instant.
The place that was a decent size for a sports field grew larger as if the space was expanded, and trees grew on the empty ground to form a dense forest.
The sound of beasts and the noise of leaves shaking echoed everywhere.
Even the faint breeze made it feel like they were really in a forest.
‘No. It’s not an illusion. It’s real.’
Kang Hye-rim sensed that the scenery touching her skin was not fake.
This place was another field formed by [the power of stories].
It was very similar to [the world of thoughts].
She heard that it was created by one of the senior collectors affiliated with the government.
She had to fight Ju Kyung-soo here.
***
“Wow, shit. It finally started.”
“I’m so excited.”
The audience sitting in the stands could see various spaces through cameras installed everywhere.
They focused on Kang Hye-rim and Ju Kyung-soo’s appearance.
“But honestly, it would be hard for them to face each other head-on, right?”
“No matter what, there’s a difference. If Geomhu wants to win, he has no choice but to avoid Artist and farm monsters.”
“Yeah. That’s probably the best way to win.”
People had already erased the idea that Kang Hye-rim would fight Ju Kyung-soo head-on.
They believed that Kang Hye-rim would choose to collect points and endure for three hours.
That was not only for ordinary people who didn’t know much about collectors, but also for experts who had keen eyesight.
“Of course, if Artist decides to compete with points as well, Geomhu will be at a disadvantage.”
“But that’s annoying for him. He’ll definitely try to find Geomhu somehow, or try to lure him out.”
“Will he fall into a trap or hold on? Is it a game of wits?”
It was inevitable that the progress would lose its momentum compared to the expected duel.
It wasn’t a fair match in the first place.
But there was still something that attracted people’s expectations.
It was not only the fun of this match itself, but also the possibility of something unexpected.
The weak overcomes the disadvantage and defeats someone stronger than himself.
This picture was the ideal one that both spirits and masses wanted most.
As expected, Ju Kyung-soo started to show off as soon as he started.
He first found the closest monster and deliberately scattered his magic and fought loudly.
Red magic swirled around his body and he slashed wildly at a gorilla covered with thorns all over his body.
Trees were cut down and fell, making noise all over. Dust rose up and the monster fell in an instant.
Wow!
“Kyaaah! Oppa, you’re so cool!”
“Artist! Artist! Artist! Artist!”
People cheered and admired his flashy appearance, and Ju Kyung-soo seemed to have expected such a reaction, posing and enjoying his small victory.
On the other hand, the reaction of those who had keen eyesight was the opposite.
“Is that Artist guy deliberately showing off himself?”
“He’s taking it easy. He’s advertising that he’s here.”
“That means he’s looking down on his opponent.”
I’m here. Come if you can. Or run away like a coward.
Ju Kyung-soo was clearly saying that to Kang Hye-rim.
All the collectors here heard it that way.
‘Then what about Geomhu?’
‘What is Geomhu doing right now?’
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People’s eyes naturally turned to the screen that showed Kang Hye-rim.
Kang Hye-rim was still standing still in her place even though the duel had started.
Rather, she looked like she was in a deep meditation with her eyes closed.
It looked like a picture in itself, but the officials tried their best to read her intentions.
‘Did she give up?’
‘What is she planning?’
Those thoughts crossed their minds, but no answer came.
It was then.
Ju Kyung-soo’s loud noise was heard from the screen where Kang Hye-rim was shown.
And.
Flash!
Geomhu opened his eyes that he had closed.
Crackle!
Yu-hyun smiled silently as he watched the scene.
‘Ju Kyung-soo. You just made a big mistake.’
He thought that Kang Hye-rim would focus on collecting points and protecting herself as soon as the duel started.
He was sure that she would avoid him and focus on hunting monsters, and that her goal was to last for three hours.
He thought that he would win by slowly showing off his power and putting pressure on Kang Hye-rim mentally.
She would get tired and fall apart on her own.
Like that.
‘He was delusional.’
But he was wrong.
‘Rather, the one who had to protect himself was you.’
A change occurred in Kang Hye-rim, who Yu-hyun was watching.
Zap!
Currents began to flow around her body.
At first, it was a very small spark.
It grew over time, one after another, forming a stream.
Flames and flames connected and became a line.
The line that emitted a brilliant light grew bigger.
Before long, her whole body was wrapped in blue lightning.
“…!”
“Tha, that is…!”
The collectors gasped at the sight.
Some of them couldn’t control their emotions and jumped up from their seats.
Their eyesight recognized that the anomaly that occurred in Kang Hye-rim was extraordinary.
Blue lightning wrapped around her body.
It was an ability they had never heard of before.
Everyone was shocked and couldn’t accept the situation.
And Kang Hye-rim moved.
Zap!
A huge blue lightning bolt cut through the forest.
A blue line was drawn on the green forest.
It didn’t matter what blocked her way.
She broke rocks, cut down trees, and burned monsters.
Kang Hye-rim ran straight ahead.
Her destination was where Ju Kyung-soo, who didn’t hide his presence at all, was.
“Could it be, she’s going for a head-on fight!”
“All of a sudden?!”
People were confused, but Kang Hye-rim didn’t stop.
The distance was over 2km, but her speed with blue lightning wrapped around her body was beyond imagination.
She didn’t even leave a proper afterimage, only sparks left in the air along her moving trajectory drew her path.
Boom!
A giant dragon made of lightning opened its mouth and approached Ju Kyung-soo.
“What, what is this?!”
Ju Kyung-soo panicked at the huge noise he felt from afar.
And he realized that it was coming this way with a terrifying speed.
Something is coming!
He instinctively realized that and quickly pulled out his power from inside his body and released it outside.
Red energy covered his upper body.
Red mana also filled the swords in his hands.
It looked like he had put on a red shirt over his clothes.
Trait [Red Shirt Revolutionary]𝚗𝗼𝘷𝙚𝒍𝚋𝓲𝖓.𝑛ℯｔ
It was the only trait related to combat among the three traits he possessed, and it helped him rise to an intermediate collector even though he didn’t fight often.
Giuseppe Garibaldi, a famous hero and revolutionary in Italy
The trait that contained his story gave Ju Kyung-soo a tremendous power.
Zap!
At the same time, a storm of huge currents that broke through the dense forest engulfed Ju Kyung-soo.
The dragon of current opened its teeth and pushed its mouth toward Ju Kyung-soo.
Ju Kyung-soo clenched his teeth and swung his twin swords.
He belatedly realized that the enemy who attacked him was Kang Hye-rim.
Surprise turned into anger.
“How dare you!”
She came to fight him head-on instead of running away!
Ju Kyung-soo thought that her action was taking him lightly and got furious.
“I’ll make you regret it!”
His red energy-filled sword collided with Kang Hye-rim’s sword wrapped in lightning.
The two energies collided and created a huge impact.
A storm-like wind blew around, turning the ground upside down and throwing trees in all directions.
Ju Kyung-soo’s legs, which were standing on the ground, were buried in the ground.
Kang Hye-rim was the one who gained the upper hand in the seemingly equal struggle.
“Wha, what…!”
Crackle!
Ju Kyung-soo felt his arm sting and his strength drain as the intense power of lightning flowed through his sword.
That was not all.
His legs, which were firmly planted on the ground, were tingling.
The [Red Shirt] that he raised to the maximum was pierced by holes by the Thunder Sword and allowed one attack after another.
‘Where did this ridiculous power come from…!’
Ju Kyung-soo looked at Kang Hye-rim with eyes filled with horror.
He was desperately raising his energy and resisting, but Kang Hye-rim’s expression didn’t seem very urgent.
She was just as she always was, cold and aloof.
Ju Kyung-soo couldn’t help but get angry. He didn’t even have the time to express his emotions.
Zap!
The current that wriggled like a worm grazed his cheek. His calf, thigh, arm, waist.
Kang Hye-rim’s power pierced through various parts of Ju Kyung-soo’s body as if he was soaked in rain.
Boom!
Ju Kyung-soo blocked Kang Hye-rim’s sword that swung vertically with his crossed swords.
She swung with one hand, but Ju Kyung-soo couldn’t stand it and knelt on one knee.
Boom!
The shock that he couldn’t release spread out from Ju Kyung-soo as if drawing a concentric circle on the ground.
A cloud of dust rose up and cracks like spider webs appeared on the ground.
Ju Kyung-soo couldn’t counterattack.
He didn’t have the time.
His legs were shaking and his arms felt like they were going to explode.
Kang Hye-rim’s attack continued without stopping.
Ju Kyung-soo hastily flew back.
Kang Hye-rim followed him as if she had predicted his movement.
There was almost no time difference.
She pressed him hard without giving him a chance to rest, and Ju Kyung-soo’s face turned pale.
[Ah! Oh my! Ladies and gentlemen! Do you see it! The close-range fight that suddenly broke out! And contrary to expectations, Geomhu is taking the lead! What is that blue lightning that fills his whole body!]
The announcer shouted with a vein popping in his neck.
The audience couldn’t react to that, and watched their fight as if they were bewitched.
The collectors and clan members who watched the fight couldn’t take their eyes off Kang Hye-rim’s swordsmanship.
“What on earth is that ability?”
“Geomhu. I thought he was just a rumor that he was amazing.”
“I can’t believe it.”
But they were too early to be surprised.
Kang Hye-rim’s fight had just begun.
