Chapter 1082: Rohen Continent (2)

[Would you like to choose the God of Sunset as your GENIUS?]

[YES / NO]

“

Roooooooooooar!

”

[Would you like to choose the God of Sunset as your GENIUS?]

[YES / NO]

‘Stop asking me, you jerk.’

“

Argh!

”

[Would you like to choose the God of Sunset as your GENIUS?]

[YES / NO]

‘Is there anything around me that I can use? Is there anyone who can help me?’

'Shit. Damn it.'

I had no idea what a GENIUS was, but I quickly made a decision. I still had no idea why Kim Hyun-Sung was watching me, what coins were, and why I was suddenly getting these messages.

‘Rohen's basic settings?’

Was this a system where the gods could sponsor the players?

Were they allowed to intervene more than us?

I thought about it, but I couldn’t organize my thoughts at the moment. If I were in a safer place, I'd immediately organize the information I had gathered so far and come up with a simple plan, but the most important thing right now was defeating this monster.

“

Krr! Roooooooooar!

”

The monster crawling on the floor kept sinking its claws into me and was baring its teeth at me. I wanted to put my hand on the wound that was so painful I felt like crying, but if I were to press my wound, this monster's teeth would surely reach my neck.

At the moment, all I could do was push against the monster’s neck for as long as possible.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

It had been a long time since the tutorial dungeon started, so I couldn't see even a single human being at the entrance. In fact, there wasn't even an ant. My arm was getting tired, and the monster's saliva kept dripping down onto me, making it hard for me to breathe.

‘What’s a coin? How do I open the shop?’

Was there a way to use the coins that Kim Hyun-Sung had donated to me in the tutorial? Would that help me in taking down this monster? Where was the shop?

“

Krrr… roooooooooooar!

”

“

Ahhhhhhhh!

”

“

Krrr… rooooooooooooooooar!

”

“Yes! Yes…

argh…

Yes!” I shouted.

“

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

”

“Yes! Yes!

Argh!

Yes! Yeeees! Yes! Yeeeeeeees!” I yelled.

“...”

[YES]

[You have chosen the God of Sunset to be your GENIUS.]

[The God of Sunset…]

[Your…]

Messages popped up in my head, and I instantly felt a faint increase in my Strength and Agility. Afterward, the monster before me roared as I pushed it away. Actually, I didn't push it away. It retreated and covered both of its eyes, seemingly blinded by the radiant sunset that erupted from me.

“

Roooooooooooooar!

”

“You bastard!” I shouted.

‘A weapon, a weapon!’

I looked around, but there wasn’t anything I could use as a weapon besides the stones.

And that was when another message appeared...

[The God of Sunset has bestowed upon you the Sword of Sunset.]

‘Nice.’

The sword's effects were awesome. The sword’s handle was visible through the bright sunset, and I reached out slowly toward the sword. There was a

swoosh

, as I unsheathed the Sword of Sunset.

The sight of the Sword of Sunset gradually revealing itself was a spectacular sight.

When the sword finally revealed itself to the world, the monster roared again.

“

Roooooooooar!

”

“You bastard!” I cursed.

I had learned how to use a sword. I had never actually used my swordsmanship on a monster, but I could still remember Kim Hyun-Sung applauding me whenever I showed improvement in my swordsmanship. Rafael complimented me as well and said that I could use my sword techniques in a real fight.

The sword in my right hand felt heavy, but it wasn’t

so

heavy that I couldn’t swing it.

In addition…

‘I see it.’

I could see its movements, and I still had access to Mind’s Eye. I could see the type of monster it was, its form, its Agility and Strength stats, and its movements.

It had been a while since I held a sword, so the sensation of having a sword in hand felt foreign to me.

‘Rafael.’

When Rafael's sword technique popped up in my head, I swung the sword in my hand.

“

Urgh.”

I chose this sword technique because the sword was quite heavy. Unlike its appearance, Rafael’s sword was really heavy. The reason it was so heavy was that the sword had to be durable enough to withstand Rafael's overwhelming mana.

He once learned swordsmanship from Kim Hyun-Sung, but ironically, he ended up learning a technique that was different from the latter.

“

Rooooooooooooar!

”

The monster started running on its two legs. Its remaining two legs made a beeline for my chest…

‘But I can block it.’

If I used the sword's weight, I could easily block the attack.

Rafael’s sword valued the power of one's core more than one's proficiency at the sword. It was impossible for me to use Rafael's sword techniques, but I could still imitate them. I just had to put strength into my back and move my legs. I gripped the sword with both hands to prevent it from bouncing off before swinging my sword.

Clank!

“W-What the?!” I shouted.

I was sent staggering backward instead of the monster.

‘Is this monster stronger than I thought?’

Of course, it affected the monster as well. I assumed that was the reason it used its claws instead of its arm. It had to have felt the weight of the sword because I saw the monster rushing in without any delay.

‘I have a longer reach.’

I was reminded of Thronus, and I was familiar with his sword technique. He made good use of his long reach, and I knew that because I once used him.

Thronus' sword technique could be the best fit for me. I used to use a spear, so I was used to using tactics that utilized weapons with a long reach. After stepping backward, I started measuring the distance between me and the monster.

My sword technique did not damage, but I immediately thrust my sword forward. An explanation was meaningless, but it was the right thing to do here.

‘The important thing is…’

The follow-up attack after the sword thrust. To attack with my sword again, I needed to retract it quickly. There were many sword techniques in mind, but Thronus’ sword was strong, even while retracting it. He…

‘Doesn’t retract his sword carelessly.’

After a thrust, he would slash before performing a downward strike. Of course, I didn't have his muscles, so there was a limit to how much I could imitate. In the end, the important thing was how fast I could retract my sword after thrusting it and how fast I could create distance between us.

After thrusting with my sword…

‘This is a fake.’

I immediately retracted it, but that wasn't all. I stepped back as if it were all part of one move.

“

Ack!

”

My movement would have been perfect if I hadn't accidentally stumbled on some stones, but it wasn’t a problem, as I had already created sufficient distance between us.

“

Rooooooooooooar!

”

‘Why is the bastard so fast?’

The monster immediately caught up to me, but I knew I wasn’t in a position to use Thronus’ sword technique, so I had no choice but to prepare the next technique.

‘Templar Gen.’

The basics of the sword. Templar Gen's swordsmanship was so focused on the basics that it was the epitome of it. Perhaps I was too focused on the techniques. I felt like I was trying to learn how to run before I could even walk.

“

Haa!

” I shouted.

“

Roar!

”

The basics were important, so I had to learn how to wield a sword properly first, as I wasn’t really used to wielding a sword. I was obviously uncomfortable, but I still needed to wield it because that was the right thing to do here.

The stance seemed unimportant, but my physical stats were lacking, so a proper stance was important.

“

Aaaaah!

” I yelled.

The monster’s claws grazed my arm.

‘Bahamut. Bahamut.’

My Strength was higher than the monster, as it was just a weak monster in a tutorial dungeon. Of course, its actual Strength and how much force it could exert were two different things. Even if two people had the same Strength points, how much force they could exert would vary based on their level of training.

As for Bahamut, he had mastery over a sword technique used by the military, and it allowed him to make use of his full strength. I could probably use only twenty percent of my full strength, but if I used Bahamut’s sword technique, it'd be a different story.

‘I could probably use a maximum of 62.7%.’

Bahamut had overwhelming strength that was as hot as the heat of the midsummer sun.

The essence of his sword technique was to put strength into every movement.

Ironically, the most important thing in Bahamut’s swordsmanship wasn’t in the arms but in the lower body that supported the whole body. He had personally corrected my swordsmanship back then.

'Let me remember the memories of that summer. It’s like I’ve gone back in time and was now with him. I feel like his large hands are supporting my lower body and waist. He grabbed my hands to fix my stance, and I felt like his soul has enveloped me.'

"An unwavering heart is what’s important."

“Yes, Templar Bahamut,” I said.

"Priest of Prophecy, think of that wooden doll as your enemy. You must put more strength into your lower body. Bring your arm this way… You’re doing great."

“Got it.”

It was summer.

"It’s important not to let go of the sword. Hold it tightly to the point that it feels like the handle is going to break."

It was clearly summer.

"Right."

“Now. Your feet."

“

AAAAAAH!

” I shouted.

“

Rooooooooooooooooooooooar!

”

“

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

”

“

Roooooooooar!

”

“You bastard!” I yelled.

Had Kim Hyun-Sung only taught me things I ought to avoid using? The sword technique he taught me was one he told me to use only when he was around because it was dangerous. Was I supposed to use that lethal sword technique now?

“

Ahhhhhhh!

”

“

Roooooooooar!

”

A well-matched battle. This was a fight between a tiger and a dragon.

“

Eeeek!

”

“

Grr!

”

“

Haaaaaa!

”

“

Groooooooowl!

”

This was a competition between two proud geniuses.

It was such a fierce battle that I thought this could happen again if Hyun-Sung and Hee-Ra noona were to fight each other.

There were no rules nor laws. It was a battle where the goal was to kill each other. Whenever I cross over a wall, the monster would cross its own wall. It felt like I was growing stronger while fighting, but at the same time, it felt like I hadn't improved at all.

‘Why is this bastard so strong? Is it because it’s a hidden boss monster?’

“

Rooooooooooooooooooooar!

”

As the battle continued, the monster realized that this fight wasn’t going to end soon.

‘Is this monster a hidden boss?’

My arms and legs were shaking. The monster was getting exhausted as well. Just brushing each other was fatal to each other. In the end, we stretched out our arms and sword. Then, just like in movies, we swept past each other.

“

Haa… haa…

”

In the end, I was the last one standing.

“

Gr… owl…

”

“

Haa… haa… haa…

”

[You have completed an achievement.]

[Defeat the low-ranking monster in the tutorial dungeon. (1/1)]

“S-Shit… a low-ranking monster?”

[By accepting the God of Sunset as your GENIUS, you have obtained a job.]

[You have obtained the Novice Swordsman of Sunset.]

“Damn… it…” I mumbled.

“...”

“Damn it!!! Lethal sword technique, my ass!” I shouted.

I couldn’t help but throw the sword in my hand to the ground.