The Veteran Swordmaster’s Stream (Novel) - Chapter 74

Chapter 74

In a martial duel, once a round ended, a short amount of time was given to change traits.

Since matchmaking was random, it was unavoidable to start the first round at a disadvantage.

So an opportunity to turn things around was given.

This waiting time was an important element that allowed a martial duel to contain strategy rather than being a simple physical battle.

– I was deeply impressed by the way you lightly subdued them.

– This is real skill!

– But seriously, shouldn’t you turn pro at this rate????

– I’m even tired of being surprised lol

– The skill to lightly crush a veteran among veterans.

– Is it true you copied the Assassination Guild in the middle?

The body of the fallen enemy in front of him vanished, and Seo-jun was likewise summoned back to the starting point.

The next round would proceed in two minutes.

“It’s true I copied the Assassination Guild in the middle.”

Providing an answer for now, Seo-jun opened the trait window.

– Why are you opening that?

– Do you want to take a look?

– Honestly, it is awkward to just stand still.

The viewers naturally assumed that Seo-jun would not change his traits.

It was not easy to think that he, who had not changed them even during raids and escorts, would suddenly open the trait window to change his traits.

“Hmm, I’m thinking of trying to change to a different trait. Why change all of a sudden?”

Seo-jun thought over the reason carefully.

After all.

During the waiting time, one had to predict the opponent’s moves.

Since rankers knew almost all builds and their corresponding match-ups, no matter what build they brought, unless it was an OP sect with a match-up advantage, it was safe to view this fight as a game of rock-paper-scissors.

It was also possible to choose to push through with a build one was good at, even if it had an unfavorable match-up.

But what if someone who had only been throwing rock suddenly threw scissors?

“The opponent probably thinks I won’t change, so wouldn’t changing at a time like this have a major effect?”

There was no grand reason for choosing a new trait.

“Other people will also discard the thought of easily stream sniping me. Hehe.”

He hoped they would not misunderstand that he was changing it just out of spite, but rather because doing so made it advantageous for him.

– You’re so malicious lol

– This is strategy

– This is the intellect of Hankuk University!

– ‘Intellect, not potential’ my ass lol

– Did you finally put points into INT!

– The opponent, who was smiling and preparing to flee, must be startled!

Seo-jun first selected the detailed traits.

Things that could be chosen even without selecting the core trait.

For example, options like an increase in basic attack power.

These were entirely in the realm of personal preference, having only a minimal impact on one’s playstyle.

– The build-crafting old man is on

– What kind of gem-like build will he bring this time

– If you ask where this concept of ‘build’ came from…

– Black Palm! Let’s go ranged!

“Ah. Everyone, I’m going to do something standard this time.”

Seo-jun’s fingertip moved toward the core trait at the very end of the trait branch.

[Incomplete Heavenly Demon Divine Art.]

“Let’s experiment with this once.”

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art was a peerless divine art mainly depicted as a martial art used by the Heavenly Demon.

Naturally, it could not be left out of For Chivalry, which featured the Demonic Sect, and the developers had included it, but it tended not to be chosen by users.

Its in-game effect had the benefit of strengthening every action performed with internal energy, living up to its reputation as the finest supreme martial art.

If sword qi clashed, it would swallow the enemy’s sword qi, and if one gathered internal energy in their feet to perform a stomp as if using a Lightfoot Technique, it could even deal a stun and area-of-effect damage.

Thus, it did not destroy the setting of being a peerless divine art, but there was a problem: the modifier attached in front of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

– Indeed, it was strange that the Heavenly Demon hadn’t used it until now

– Are you finally bringing out the Heavenly Demon Divine Art…

– ???: I tried not to use at least this

– Old man… I’m sorry

– I’m curious what penalty you will choose lol

Incomplete.

Because of the setting that the oral formula was not properly passed down, if one selected the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, they had to choose a penalty underneath it.

‘That’s how the Demonic Sect is.’

He thought that they even adjusted the balance in this way.

People genuinely detested this penalty.

“Indeed, what should I choose?”

There was a term called ‘glass cannon’.

It was a compound word of ‘glass body’ and ‘cannon’, and this term was usually applied when the damage was strong like a cannon but the durability was weak like glass, meaning only the damage was high.

If one selected the Heavenly Demon’s first penalty, they could experience becoming this glass cannon.

The trait’s name was:

[Collapse of the Body]

Apparently, it was because it was incomplete.

If one selected that trait, they could fall into a near-death state from being hit just once.

Since health recovery like the Great Art of Absorbing Stars was also impossible, it was a trait that even the Demonic Sect’s rankers never selected unless it was a game with a truly massive skill gap.

“I don’t know what the second one feels like yet, so I’m hesitant.”

The second trait was even more absurd.

[Slowed Perception]

It was perfect as a side effect of an incomplete demonic art.

Even in his past life, the Demonic Sect bastards were completely full of those who lost their reason and went out of their minds to cause trouble.

Wouldn’t it be even worse for the leader of such a Demonic Sect?

Of course, it did not literally slow down one’s perception, but instead slowed down the body.

In other words, if one made this choice, they could experience a state where their body grew heavy and did not move as they wished.

It was easiest to think of it as having a permanent slow debuff applied.

“But I heard it’s not to the point of being unable to fight, is that correct?”

They explained that the speed of swinging a sword with completely relaxed arms was the maximum speed one could produce.

– Child Seo-jun. People usually call that being unable to fight.

– I’d rather have a glass body and try not to get hit even once

– If it’s the room master’s skill, not getting hit even once seems possible

– Unless you really like suffering, don’t choose the second one.

– That trait is frustrating even for the viewers lol

Hmm.

“One minute left. Shall I think about it for a bit?”

Seo-jun lowered his hand and turned his body completely toward the chat window.

– ???

– Do you think one minute is a lot?

– Aren’t you going to think about the other detailed traits?

– Once again, we’re the only ones getting frustrated

Seo-jun spoke with a bright smile.

“Actually, I saved it in a preset.”

Simply put, a preset was a convenience function that allowed one to save settings in advance and load them.

– So you already had your mind made up from the start? lol

– What debuff did he choose?

– Preparedness is top-tier

– So even the detailed settings at the beginning were a bait

– What if it turns out it wasn’t even the Heavenly Demon Divine Art!

Seo-jun smirked and clicked the preset.

How much time was left again?

“It is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”

The configured values popped up, and the debuff Seo-jun had selected was revealed.

[Slowed Perception]

“I’ll show you a proper slow sword.”

[The game will begin in 10 seconds.]

– Wait, your preferences?

– Why does he like to suffer lol

– I’m looking forward to this

– What is a slow sword?

***

Without moving a single step from the starting point, Seo-jun slowly swung his arm.

Although the starting point was not a safe zone, it was because he had to adapt to his body with the trait applied before heading out and immediately facing the enemy.

“…….”

With a silent shout, Seo-jun swung his arm from left to right with maximum force.

Swoooooosh.

The tip of the sword reached its final point more slowly than usual.

“It’s faster than swinging in water, and slightly slower than swinging with completely relaxed muscles.”

Adapting to the feeling of air resistance growing stronger every time he moved his body, Seo-jun spoke.

– Have you ever swung a sword in water?

– What kind of training have you done in real life…

– Was there a game where you swing a sword in water?

– Probably not lol If the ocean is the background, they would bring a harpoon lol

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

There was absolutely no difference between swinging lightly with relaxed muscles and swinging with full intent.

“Well, this is much better than I expected?”

Seo-jun walked out of the starting point surrounded by rocks.

Step, step.

Fortunately, his movement speed remained the same.

‘So only attack speed was affected.’

They said it would be faster if he used the Lightfoot Technique.

Since it was an action that used internal energy, it was thanks to receiving the effect of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

As he rounded the corner, a wide-open ridge of green vegetation and his enemy came into view.

“Come at me once more.”

With one hand behind his back, Seo-jun raised his sword in front of his eyes.

The 5th ranker, Dignity of the Unorthodox Faction, chose to walk over slowly this time instead of rushing forward hastily.

He was more cautious than before. His level of wariness had intensified.

Seo-jun waited quietly.

Moving first was out of the question.

When the distance narrowed to nearly two paces, close enough that a stretched arm could reach the neck, Dignity of the Unorthodox Faction suddenly surged in speed and swung his sword, and Seo-jun blocked it.

Clang!

The battle between the fastest attack speed and the slowest attack speed began.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

As if holding a rapier, the enemy attempted to slash and stab Seo-jun vertically, left, and right at high speed.

To avoid taking damage with his slow speed, Seo-jun blocked by moving his sword along the simplest and shortest paths.

Naturally, his movements became restrained to the absolute minimum.

In contrast, the enemy began to press his attacks harder and faster, in stark comparison to Seo-jun.

Gritting his teeth, controlling his rapid speed to its limit.

– Wow, the speed difference should be quite huge, but honestly I can’t really feel it

– Still, is being on the defensive unavoidable

– Let’s use sword qi!

– Can’t he think of sword qi? The Heavenly Demon Divine Art strengthens internal energy!

Screeech!

He pushed away the enemy’s thrusting sword with his own sword, which was supported by his hand on the blade.

Slice!

However, Seo-jun’s cheek was shallowly cut. He felt a thrill from the slight pain permitted by the capsule.

It was a close call.

The attack speed felt even greater than expected. Perhaps it was further amplified because the enemy belonged to the Assassination Guild.

‘Whatever it is, it’s good.’

While Seo-jun was pleased to be grazed by the sword, the enemy did not look particularly pleased despite succeeding in his attack.

Rather, he gave off the feeling of being heavily on guard.

The enemy.

‘He’s biding his time.’

What was he biding his time for?

‘He’s attacking fiercely, but his steps don’t come in deep.’

Seo-jun’s eyes grasped everything about the enemy moment by moment.

The actions of the enemy captured in his sight in an instant, the positioning of his feet, the angle of his bending arm, and his wrist.

And even while analyzing the enemy like that, he discarded every single movement that could be omitted, gradually becoming accustomed.

To his current speed and restrained style of combat.

Clang!

The swords clashed and parted.

While focusing on defense, Seo-jun suddenly discovered a gap hidden within a brief pause.

A gap that could be wedged into and split open even at a speed that was not fast.

Seo-jun was not one to miss a rift.

The smooth movement emerging from a solid center ensured that he would not miss that gap.

Seo-jun’s sword moved slowly.

Or rather, it appeared to move slowly.

Despite the fact that it was certainly not that slow of a speed.

Speed was relative.

Because they had just witnessed the entanglement of Seo-jun’s sword, which had unintentionally concealed the sense of slowness through efficient minimum movements until a moment ago, with the sword of the Assassination Guild which had the fastest basic attack speed.

At the moment their vision was entirely focused on Seo-jun’s sword, the viewers felt it.

It was slow.

That the speed of Seo-jun’s sword, which was now drawing a large semi-circle, was far too slow.

Therefore.

The viewers naturally came to harbor this question.

‘Why can’t he dodge a sword like that?’