<Chapter 79: The God of Martial Arts Regressed to Level 2>
* * *
At the midpoint of the cloud bridge.
Beyond the midpoint of the bridge, which was wide enough for dozens of people to walk side by side, lay countless crushed monster corpses.
Their number exceeded a thousand.
This was the result of the efforts of the Chief Warden alone.
-Phew... The Chief Warden is indeed powerful.
-He gave up his appearance to gain strength, hahaha.
-Where's the strength? Just a thousand people who gave up their appearance, hahaha. -Suddenly getting bony; why the fuss?
-It wasn't directed at you... If you feel hurt, sorry... hahaha; hahaha!
The Chief Warden, who had been recognized for his strength by the viewers, still frowned whenever he saw Seong Jihan.
The Chief Warden flicked his fingers with a look of dissatisfaction.
"Hey! Parasite brother! Throw the spear!"
...Is there such a thing as a parasite in this world?
Seong Jihan, shrugging off the provoking remarks, threw Yunrye to the Chief Warden.
Swoosh!
When throwing the spear, the weight was considerable due to Yunrye returning to its full size.
However, to Seong Jihan, who already possessed considerable martial prowess, it was not much of a constraint.
"Hmph!"
The giant Chief Warden, receiving the enlarged Yunrye, instantly became serious and planted the spear on the cloud bridge.
"Yunrye Seven Techniques 雲雷七式, Heavenly Net Lightning Array 天網雷陣."
Rumble!
From the previously calm sky, lightning suddenly struck the cloud bridge.
The Yunrye, which had been planted on the bridge, lost its spear form and transformed into a massive electrical mass, which was then absorbed into the cloud bridge.
During this time, the Chief Warden warned Seong Jihan with a sneer.
"Survive if you can."
Zzzz...!
Soon, electric currents began to wrap around the middle of the massive cloud bridge, causing the entire bridge to glow with a bluish light.
Flash! Flash!
Along with the electric currents, light particles burst forth from all around the Chief Warden.
Before long, seven lightning spears had formed on the bridge.
In a one-against-many battle, this was the most outstanding martial technique the Chief Warden could use.
The effect of the Heavenly Net Lightning Array, which dominated a certain area with lightning energy.
Meanwhile, Seong Jihan watched the Chief Warden's display of martial prowess with a nonchalant expression.
'Can't control his strength.'
Or, is he not trying?
The lightning energy from the Heavenly Net Lightning Array rapidly extended towards where Seong Jihan was standing.
The blue electricity, which did not spare even allies, seemed ready to consume Seong Jihan at any moment.
'...Why does he seem to hate me even more than before?'
Normally, the Heavenly Net Lightning Array wouldn't have been extended to where the player was.
This time, it was a bit too much.
No matter how much he disliked Seong Jihan, this was an excessive act of hostility.
While thinking this, Seong Jihan used a martial technique perfectly suited to the current situation.
Unnamed Divine Technique 無名神功
Heavenly Lightning Divine Technique 天雷神訣
Lightning Body 雷身
Zzzz...!
Sparks began to rise from Seong Jihan's entire body.
The Lightning Body, which harmonizes with lightning energy, was a technique essential for reaching the pinnacle of the Heavenly Lightning Divine Technique.
Soon, the electric currents from the Heavenly Net Lightning Array enveloped Seong Jihan's body.
[Accepting the Heavenly Net Lightning Array.]
[Lightning energy is enhanced.]
The malicious electric currents from the Chief Warden's Heavenly Net Lightning Array, instead of harming Seong Jihan, further strengthened his power.
At that moment, Ariel's voice was heard.
[Master... This lightning energy is antagonistic to me. It's impossible to summon Eclipse in this state.]
"I'll summon you at the entrance next time. Understood."
Although he couldn't handle the shadow power that opposed the lightning energy, the lightning energy from the Heavenly Net Lightning Array was still substantial.
At least twice as strong as usual.
It was the optimal environment for using the Heavenly Lightning Divine Technique.
-Why did Seong Jihan suddenly become a lightning man? Is he using a million-volt attack?
-The constant flashing is hurting my eyes, hahaha.
-What's this guy's gift?
-If you're curious, check the good comments, please.
-If you're Korean, please mobilize your family and friends to subscribe!
Seeing Seong Jihan transformed into a lightning man, the viewers were curious about his gift.
The Chief Warden looked at Seong Jihan with a slightly softened expression.
"Hmm... Seeing how you handle lightning energy to this extent, you're not a spy from the Feng Empire."
[The Chief Warden has a bit more trust in the player.]
I thought he hated me so much, but it was because he thought I was a spy?
'In my previous life, I was never suspected of being a spy...'
While Seong Jihan was puzzled about why such suspicion arose,
[The first wave of the invasion has begun.]
Swoosh...
As the area beyond the bridge was instantly shrouded in darkness, he put aside his doubts.
First, he needed to deal with the immediate threat.
'Fortunately, I've almost used up this artifact.'
The A-grade artifact from the outer world, purchased to boost his stats.
Although the artifact was of a higher grade compared to the C-grade Holy Sword from before, the efficiency of absorbing its power had decreased.
This was because Seong Jihan's stats had significantly improved.
[Understanding of the outer world's faith deepens.]
[All the power contained in the outer world's artifact is absorbed.]
[Divine power slightly increases.]
[The item grade changes to F.]
The A-grade artifact ultimately increased his divine power by 10,000 and then dropped to F-grade.
The average price of an A-grade artifact was 25 billion.
Considering that 3 points of divine power were needed to increase his force by 1, at least 75 billion would be required to boost his stats.
75 billion.
To an ordinary person, it was an unimaginably large sum.
'Too cheap.'
From Seong Jihan's perspective, it was an incredibly cheap deal.
He wanted to invest all his earnings in buying artifacts!
'However, once I absorb a certain amount of divine power, the system will suggest buying higher-grade artifacts, like last time...'
The Battle.net system wouldn't let this honey pot last forever.
Last time, there was a limit.
So, when buying artifacts, Seong Jihan took three at a time.
Of the three artifacts he bought this time, two could be "understood" and their divine power absorbed just by holding them all day.
The remaining one could not be absorbed this way.
"Inventory."
Seong Jihan took out the A-grade artifact from the outer world again.
[Outer World Artifact - Toe Bone of the Divine Bird (A-grade)]
- On the planet that worships the Divine Bird, the bird's bone fragments are considered precious artifacts.
- The toe bone is the least valuable among them.
The item description was simple, but the bone in Seong Jihan's hand was a large, blue bone, almost the size of an average adult.
Given the size of the toe, the Divine Bird must have been enormous.
'How can I use this bone...?' Seong Jihan decided to use it as a weapon.
The toe bone was quite large but had a long, rod-like shape, making it usable as a staff.
'If a few attempts don't work, I'll have to buy something else.'
Meanwhile,
"What's that toy-like... Hmm?"
The Chief Warden's eyebrows twitched when he saw the blue bone Seong Jihan was holding.
He seemed about to say something but then,
"Well, it doesn't matter."
He crossed his arms, indicating it wasn't worth the trouble.
Meanwhile, a black-armored unit was advancing in formation on the other side of the cloud bridge.
Thud! Thud!
With each step, the ground shook.
They were an elite force, with no room for error.
The faces visible through their helmets were nothing but bone, devoid of flesh.
A single bridge, the first wave of monsters, the Death Knight unit.
Scream!
At the same time,
From the cliff beside the bridge, translucent gray ghosts were flying over.
The first wave of the invasion, the Undead Legion.
The Death Knights were advancing on the bridge,
and the ghost unit was flying over the cliff to attack the base for intercepting aerial enemies.
"Support me from behind, soldier."
The Chief Warden glanced at the ghosts flying over the cliff and prepared to charge towards the Death Knight unit.
However,
"Wait."
Seong Jihan stepped forward, stopping the Chief Warden.
* * *
"What are you doing?"
"Please intercept the aerial enemies, Chief Warden. I will take responsibility for the front."
"Are you... insane?"
Seong Jihan's words made the Chief Warden's face turn red.
[The Chief Warden is wary of the player.]
All the points he had earned through multiple tests were lost in one go.
But Seong Jihan had a reason for this.
'At the Gold level, I can't handle the first wave.'
While the Death Knight unit was stronger than the ghost unit in terms of power,
the soldiers guarding the cliff were too weak to stop the ghosts.
To defend against this, the players' strength was essential, but the Gold-level players were only as strong as regular soldiers and offered little help.
'If the cliff is breached, the Chief Warden will destroy the bridge and self-destruct.'
If the first wave can't be stopped, how can the Epic Quest be completed?
It was more efficient for the Chief Warden to intercept the aerial enemies while Seong Jihan handled the ground enemies.
The only question was whether Seong Jihan could handle the Death Knight unit alone.
'Not a problem.'
Seong Jihan was confident.
"Move out of the way! How can a mere soldier stop Death Knights!"
As the Chief Warden shouted,
Seong Jihan responded with action.
Unnamed Divine Technique 無名神功
Heavenly Lightning Divine Technique 天雷神訣
Thunderbolt Flash 霹靂閃雷
The blue staff, the toe bone of the divine bird, was imbued with the power of the Heavenly Lightning.
Sigh...
Seong Jihan, taking a deep breath, shot the blue staff into the sky.
Rumble!
The energy of the Thunderbolt Flash, combined with the enhanced lightning energy from the Heavenly Net Lightning Array,
transformed into a massive bolt of lightning that struck the center of the Death Knight unit.
Boom!
The center of the Death Knight unit began to disintegrate under the destructive power of the Thunderbolt Flash.
The power of the Heavenly Lightning, unparalleled in demon slaying, was fully unleashed.
The Thunderbolt Flash completely annihilated half of the Death Knight legion, leaving no trace of bone dust.
Sizzle...
Smoke rose from the blue staff, which had been planted in the center of the Death Knight unit.
Seong Jihan, now lightning-empowered, approached the blue staff.
'Heavenly Lightning Divine Step.'
Flash!
In an instant, Seong Jihan appeared in the center of the Death Knight unit, where the blue staff was planted.
Despite the remaining half of the Death Knight unit,
Seong Jihan, with a completely relaxed expression, pulled out the blue staff.
"Chief Warden, is this proof enough?"
"Ugh! What are you...!"
"I'm not good at aerial combat, so..."
Swoosh...
Before Seong Jihan finished speaking, Death Knights charged from all sides, swords drawn.