Woong
Seol-Hwi endured a brief lapse in vision.
Swish! Wheik!
What followed were successive scenarios in which he would be pushed backwards by something before it disappeared.
It was during these moments that he understood, he was viewing things from a first person perspective rather than a third person perspective like when the AI had taken control of his body in the past.
The difference, of course, was that it still was not he himself who was moving his body but the AI.
Jjkkk!
In that moment, the ice wall shattered, revealing Shin Yaja’s sword lunging towards Cheon Miryo.
The distance…
Even at a first glance, it was clear that stopping the opponent would not be easy.
Shin Yaja’s sword was markedly quicker than the AI’s movements, and it was then—
Swish!
Suddenly, a surge of lightning burst from the tip of the AI’s sword, an Absolute Supreme Demonic Art without any preparation.
The power surged instantaneously, heading straight for Shin Yaja.
Such speed with the Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts!
Seol-Hwi concluded it was an accurate assessment.
Intercepting and altering the deployed internal energy seemed virtually impossible.
Therefore, if Shin Yaja landed the first blow on Cheon Miryo, he would have no choice but to retreat immediately and switch to defense if he wished to avoid death.
The AI’s attack was too fast to dodge, making blocking it the only viable response.
Uh?
Yet, Shin Yaja did not seem inclined to defend. Despite experiencing the AI’s power, he chose to pursue Cheon Miryo.
The reason became apparent soon enough.
Shhhh
When Shin Yaja gestured with his unarmed hand, the air shimmered deceptively, and a haze materialized beside him.
Ah!
Confusion took hold of Seol-Hwi.
Space warped, revealing yet another trick up the opponent’s sleeve. Caught in this alteration, the crackling flash of lightning veered in a new direction.
Chak!
In that instant, an astonishing spectacle unfolded before their eyes.
The AI, with his sword lowered, gestured with his free hand. The lightning danced to his command, splitting into four separate arcs. One of them collided with the energy released by Shin Yaja.
Swish!
Thud!
At that moment, an explosion erupted before Cheon Miryo. She had to use the energy of nature to suppress the potent force of Shin Yaja, which had already penetrated her two breastplates.
He executed such an aggressive technique… and managed this?
It was incredibly shocking, as it was his first time witnessing such a thing. To employ one of the finest techniques and to generate such a result?
Once an arrow is released, its direction cannot be altered.
Nevertheless, there exists a skill within the realm of swords known as Air Swords.
It was due to this fusion of sword technique and a certain martial art that Shin Yaja was the one being attacked.
Tsssss…
“Such…”
But, should he not be considered as someone who had reached the pinnacle?
Shin Yaja lost much of his power due to the spatial distortion. He could not fully deflect it, resulting in a long wound on his face from which blood was trickling down.
He, too, seemed quite taken aback.
Drip.
“As anticipated… the senior became an AI as the one with the highest score.”
Shin Yaja extended his tongue to catch the blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth.
A warrior who had achieved such an advanced level of enlightenment could manage to blend two or three martial arts styles together. This was his first encounter with the technique of individually combining each martial art’s power.
Of course, with this newfound knowledge, he might manage to experiment with it on several occasions.
“Don’t bullshit me. What do you want?”
Sa Yu-kang fixed his gaze on him, demanding an answer.
“Pardon?”
“Don’t play ignorant. I know you didn’t create this situation single-handedly.”
“…”
“I’ll ask once more. What are your intentions behind these actions?”
Sa Yu-kang locked eyes with him, convinced this was not a mere accident, but a deliberate act.
Having worked with the AI on numerous occasions, this was the first time he ha’d encountered such a standoff. Evidently, someone must have engineered it.
“Hehehe.”
As Shin Yaja chuckled, his face gradually hardened, becoming as expressionless as if void of life.
“He probably wanted to witness it.”
“…?”
“That person hasn’t seen us even once since we transitioned to an AI, correct?”
“Enough with this nonsense. This was his plan all along, wasn’t it? Isn’t this precisely what he hoped for?”
“How can I, a mere warrior, understand his heart? Regardless, it seems he did feel this way. Since the two of us have never met, what kind of answer will emerge once we put it all together?”
Crack
Sa Yu-kang clenched his teeth.
The unparalleled player, a man not worth the effort of killing.
Sa Yu-kang had never been… truly challenged despite the many lives Seol-Hwi went through. After Sa Yu-kang’s countless challenges though, in the end, he wanted to somehow defeat him, even if it meant becoming an AI.
Meanwhile, how much frustration did he endure seeing countless talentless and hopeless players?
He had barely made it this far… battling one another should be entertaining. Was that the only reason?
Tsssss
Energy slowly swirled around the angered Sa Yu-kang. A common occurrence when harnessing the energy of nature involved was it originating from the depths of the dantian.
The source resembled lightning.
Lightning was considered the most powerful force in the lands and in the heavens, famously intensifying with anger.
Similarly, Sa Yu-kang’s anger was now growing to an extent that it started to manifest.
“Do you genuinely believe you could win in combat?”
“Have you forgotten? My aggregate score is superior to Sa Yu-kang’s.”
“Aggregate score, huh… yet, you still haven’t crossed the boundary set by the system for us.”
“Sa Yu-kang, aren’t you in the same predicament?”
Shhhh
This time, the air flow began to shift around Shin Yaja’s body.
However, from Seol-Hwi’s perspective, it was different from what the AI had done.
While this one enveloped the lower body, the adversary’s seemed to whirl around the chest.
“But… how do we deal with that now?”
With a grim smile, Shin Yaja continued to talk,
“Perhaps I emerged because of your breakthrough from the inadequate AI level… it appears the player hasn’t yet attained Peak God level. So…”
“…!”
The instance Sin Yaja moved, the surrounding space fragmented, bringing him instantly face to face with the AI.
“Do you still wish to challenge me?”
Kwaaang!
A basic punch and palm technique, simply that.
But the strike held a terrifying strength, akin to a storm, capable of demolishing a dozen houses.
Pat
Shin Yaja held his head high, knowing this confrontation wouldn’t cost him.
“Hmm. You have impressive reflexes.”
Sa Yu-kang instantly put distance between them, his nervousness now quite evident.
If he can manipulate space like that, wouldn’t it be safer to step into an area devoid of his internal energy…
Seol-Hwi pondered.
If this territory belonged to his adversary, would he not only need to force the man out or leave the area under the opponent’s control?
Most importantly, if such turmoil arose, would the Earth Demon not also discover their location and rush towards them?
Kuak! Kwang! Kwang!
However, was it from then?
Seol-Hwi started to feel overwhelmed, grappling with devising an escape from the ensuing chaos. The haze, the clash, the dazzling lights, and the chase.
Before he had a chance to assess the situation, comprehending it proved challenging.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
-Ugh!
Then, three consecutive blows.
Seol-Hwi grasped the physical disparity between him and his adversary through the pain pulsating in his body.
Everything was overwhelming, making it impossible to even consider a counter attack or a block.
“You stand no chance against me! He will be furious when he sees this!”
Hehehehe
Drip
Blood dripped from his mouth. His vision blurred, signs indicative of internal injuries.
Euk!
Struggling for air, Sa Yu-kang managed a mumble.
“…Found the… weakness?”
Seol-Hwi could not believe what he was hearing.
-Weakness?
“Fool… can’t you see…”
Sa Yu-kang’s vision had returned to normal. Seol-Hwi scarcely noticed it. The crumbled space. the grid-like pattern.
He pondered what it could be and why it was put there, and Sa Yukang coughed before speaking,
“As the man mentioned, your body has yet not reached its strongest state. Once you attain Peak God status, you will even be able to trap nature’s energy within your body.”
-…!
“Then, the pathway to put out a power capable of absorbing this energy will open up. This intangible energy comes into existence. In other words, all three dantians would merge together.”
Seol-Hwi found it challenging to comprehend.
Even under these circumstances, Sa Yu-kang wished to relay some information to him.
Unification of the lower, middle, and upper dantian?
Was it implied that by ascending to the ultimate position, one accomplished this dantian unity? Has he accomplished even that?
“When you attain the Peak God level, your physique will have the capacity to amass unlimited natural energy. The immaterial energy is then released, thereby controlling space.”
-Hmm.
“On first impression, it might seem nearly invincible, but in truth, it’s the most foolish move. Because if the core collapses, the natural energy within the body disperses in all directions immediately. Subsequently, phenomena such as space distortion will not occur.”
-Despite one’s command over space, there will still be openings.
“Correct. And we can manage to obliterate the space he’s trying to harness, which is both his strength and significant vulnerability.”
If you continuously strike a turtle’s hard shell, eventually, it will break.
Once broken, the shell can no longer provide the defense it once did. Similarly, with enough force, a stab can weaken it to the point of breaking.
-… So, how can we discern that?
“Feel it. All the way to the brink of death.”
-…
After much thought, Seol-Hwi came to understand.
This guy, his ascension to Peak God was far from easy.
It was an impossible task, the epitome of absolute strength and flawless defense. It was only through challenges like this that he would learn and advance.
“Despite the massive disparity in our physical abilities, I am not daunted. Instead, I am focused on discovering a solution to surpass this obstacle.”
-…Impressive. I won’t blame you, even if I meet my end in the process.
Seol-Hwi spoke with genuine warmth. His gratitude towards the AI that had helped him sustain the fight was immense. Anything beyond this was beyond his capabilities. Without the aid of the AI, Seol-Hwi would never have made it this far.
“What are you suggesting?”
Sa Yu-kang asked, a smile plastered on his face.
“I. Will. Win. If I was destined to lose to him…”
Thud!
His words hung in the air like he had sprinted off.
“I didn’t choose to become an AI because it was my last choice!”
Roar
A thunderous sound erupted as the ultimate form of the Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts was unleashed.
He prepared himself, ready for another head-on collision.
