Ascension Through Skills

Chapter 28

The God of Struggle and Death (2)

 

TL: handCream

PR: Kasaix

 

Lakiratas let the knight regain what he had.

 

[The powers of Lakiratas. In return, the area Lakiratas can interfere has been decreased.]

 

[The Servant of Lakiratas [Fake] regained their intelligence. The servant of Lakiratas [Fake] recovered their skills]

 

[The reward of the ordeal will be greatly enhanced.]

 

‘What?’

 

Suddenly, Tae-san’s view was blocked by the emergency system window. Red light suddenly flashed from the dead eyes that were hidden inside the blood-red helmet.

 

[You have encountered the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

The name [Fake] that was attached to the title of the knight had disappeared. 

 

Jangle!

 

The knight held the sword with both hands. Tae-san tried to stop him, but he lowered his posture. On the contrary, the knight completely stood straight. He thought the knight couldn’t get any taller, but he was wrong.

 

The knight held his sword and got into a stance. Pointing the tip of the sword towards Tae-san’s head.

 

Realizing what could happen, Tae-san didn’t stick around. He retreated. The knight lifted his sword again and swung it.

 

A strike that was perfectly straight. It couldn’t be stopped because of the raw power it held. Tae-san barely managed to escape.

 

Using his full power, the knight advanced and struck again.

 

It was not a random swing like before, but a perfectly controlled strike.

 

Unable to escape, Tae-san pushed in his sword. He tried to twist the trajectory of the knight’s sword with his own.

 

“Ugh”

 

The knight pulled off his wrist. And in return, so did his sword, that was when Tae-san’s sword began to feel under pressure. He tried to push it in somehow, but it was completely blocked.

 

With this opportunity, the knight raised his sword once again!

 

Whoosh!

 

Right at this moment, Tae-san realized he was weak. He didn’t have the opportunity to dodge the attack with brute strength. He wouldn’t be able to handle it.

 

But, suddenly, the knight moved his feet. Seeing that Tae-san quickly wrapped his body with his hand. Immediately afterwards, he got kicked.

 

“Ugh!”

 

[12 damage was dealt to you]

 

The damage was not that big as it was the knight’s foot, not his weapon. However, he was kicked and his posture had collapsed.

 

The knight didn’t miss his beat. He ran fast and swung his sword. Tae-san rolled on the floor.

 

Kaak!

 

The sword got stuck on the floor. It took a little time to get it out. It had gotten stuck pretty deep. But thanks to this brief opportunity, Tae-san was able to widen his distance and maintain his posture.

 

‘Damn it. What is he going to do?’

 

Tae-san ground his teeth, the situation suddenly changed. Even with just the incredibly high stats, the knight was ridiculously strong. Now he was Intelligent to booth.  

 

Above all, the quality of his skills were very high. The knight was at such a level that Tae-san was starting to feel helpless, even with his newly acquired sword.

 

Back in his first life, in terms of skills, Tae-san never saw anyone that surpassed him.

 

The knight who just regained his Intelligence was ready to carry out his master’s order. He ran towards Tae-san.

 

The knight pushed forward like a storm. Barely blocking the sword he was wielding.

 

Kaang!

 

The moment two swords collided, the knight’s wrist shook. He pulled down his blade and tried to cut off Tae-san’s wrist.

 

In a hurry, Tae-san tried to widen the distance.  But he couldn’t shake off the weapon as if it was glued to him.

 

“Argh!”

 

[20 damage was dealt to you]

 

His forearm was cut Tae-san swung the sword widely to shake off the knight. And checked his condition.

 

‘There’s no problem.’

 

Neither his muscles nor bones were injured. Although he was bitter, it was an injury that would not affect his strength.

 

‘Come on, show me what you got?’

 

Whoosh!

 

What is that? A skill. It is truly the swordsmanship of a systematically trained knight.

 

Tae-san never saw such a skill before. Most of the players called the experience they had gained in battle as a weapon-skill. And that skill being used by the knight in front seemed so high levelled that Tae-san never saw anything remotely close to it. But it wasn’t enough to make him falter.

 

Because it was the same for Tae-san.

 

All the skills he had used till now were random swordsmanship he used without bothering to actually learn them accurately. He usually moved based on his experience on the battlefield. Right now, this was a new variable for him. He didn’t know how to deal with it.  

 

The knight continued to swing his sword. The two of them faced each other harshly. Swords clashed with each other and a loud sound resounded.

 

The knight pushed forward. Tae-San tried to counterattack by seizing the direction of the force, but the knight easily managed to overpower him and kicked Tae-San again.

 

[11 damage was dealt to you]

 

 ‘Damn’

 

He couldn’t help but admire his opponent.

 

It’s the weapon in his hand, but he thought the knight wasn’t able to control it. He went through a lot of battles and didn’t think the knight’s skills were that great. But right now, he had changed his mind.

 

Only when a skill reached its limit, such an upgrade was possible. It’s just that Tae-san didn’t know of this fact. He didn’t know this was possible. The knight in front of him was an opponent with excellent sword technique. And Tae-san didn’t know how he would win even if clashed against this sword a thousand times.

 

“I want to learn.”

 

Tae-san muttered.

 

His eyes were filled with greed.

 

***

 

Every action in the labyrinth was evaluated, and if it exceeds a certain level, it was expressed as a skill that player learnt.

 

The swordsmanship in front of him crossed that line. So it must be a skill. This was at least an advanced skill.

 

He wanted to learn it.

 

Learning that sword skill could break through many difficulties he expected to face in the future.

 

He was already going to get a lot of skills, but there was no swordsmanship in his mind that he wanted. He was greedily looking with so much lust in his eyes that even the knight stepped back for a moment feeling creeped out.

 

‘I’ll admit that you are a great swordsman.’

 

But he was a player. Someone who was bound to break through the labyrinth.

 

‘But that doesn’t mean I’ll back down.’

 

He had skills.

 

Until now, the picture was pretty simple, the knight would continuously attack Tae-san and he would be pushed back overwhelmingly. The difference in their swordsmanship was clear.

 

But this time, Tae-san rushed in. He had a red wand in his hand and not his sword.

 

[You have casted a Fireball]

 

The red sphere flew in and Tae-san pulled the sword out of his inventory and held it in his left hand. Following the fireball, he ran to the knight. The knight lowered his sword.

 

Slash!

 

The fireball was cut by the sword in half and disappeared. Taking advantage of the sword’s descent, Tae-san swung his own sword.

 

[6 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

[You have activated [Slowed Breathing Attack]. For the next 10 seconds you don’t have to take a breath without any consequence]

 

Immediately, he stabbed the right hand of the knight. And he took in 6 damage.

 

The knight who corrected his posture repelled the sword. But Tae-san didn’t stop it. Rather, he rushed toward the knight. His hair flowed in his run.

 

[You have activated [Sense Enhancement]. You are ready for the next attack]

 

The moment the sword reached the edge of Tae-san’s head, its trajectory was shifted. As if the blade was trying to avoid Tae-san by force.

 

The bewildered knight desperately pulled back his sword, but Tae-san didn’t remain still. The sword slightly grazed Tae-san’s shoulder.

 

[15 damage was dealt to you]

 

The knight’s body was dragged by the sword beyond his control. Tae-san then moved his sword wildly towards the knight who had become completely defenseless.

 

[6 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

[5 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

[……]

 

He was cut six times in less than two seconds. Because of the [Slowed Breathing Attack], he could attack without adjusting his pace.

 

Twak!

 

The knight kicked his feet to knock Tae-san down. But Tae-san retreated by kicking his feet upward into the air.

 

He pulled out the red wand into his hand.

 

[You have activated the Fireball]

 

Red spheres appeared in the air. The knight tried to block them, but this time it was made too close.

 

[13 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

[In the process of judgement…]

 

[Judgement Successful! The Servant of Lakiratas has been affected by the status condition burn]

 

“Good!”

 

He didn’t know if it would work because of the armor, but thankfully his judgement was successful. The knight began to suffer continuous damage.

 

Jangle!

 

But the knight did not lose his goal. He rushed toward Tae-san and swung his sword. It was literally like a bullfight. If he was faced head-on, the knight would win.

 

And Tae-san knew that. So he wouldn’t accept such a request.

 

[You have activated [Block]. The next attack will be blocked]

 

Jangle!

 

The sword was forced to twist its trajectory. The knight used more strength thinking that he would not be beaten this time. Raw Strength. If one was hit directly, the sword containing the power would directly repel the strength of the opponent in one go.

 

But it went wrong 

 

The sword passed through Tae-san’s chest.

 

[11 damage was dealt to you]

 

Skills were absolute in the labyrinth.

 

Block is the technique of letting the opponent’s attack be blocked.

 

Even if Einzhar hit Tae-san, he would have been hurt. As long as the player doesn’t fight an opponent with higher skills, there was no way to stop it.

 

The sword got bent and the knight’s body was finally exposed! 

 

Tae-san drew his sword.

 

[You have activated [Slowed Breathing Attack]. For the next 12 seconds you don’t have to take a breath without any consequence]

 

6. 5. 5. 6.

 

[You have succeeded in attacking your opponent in a row. The special activation skill [Continuous Combat] has been acquired.]

 

A skill acquisition window appeared along with a long damage window.

 

‘When are you going to die?’

 

There was no way a humanoid being could have a higher health than the Giant Rat. But the knight was showing no signs of death.

 

His mana was almost used up.

 

Intelligence reduces consumption, but not so much when a player’s was only level 20. He only had about 5 mana left. He wouldn’t be able to use more than one or two skills.

 

And Tae-san’s remaining Health was 71.

 

There was no place to retreat. Tae-san dug deeper and stabbed with the sword again.

 

[5 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

The knight, with his sword, hit Tae-san with his pommel. 

 

[You have activated [Counter].  The opponent’s next attacks will be counterattacked.]

 

Tae-san’s body visibly shook as he avoided the pommel. Then proceeded to swing his sword towards the knight. First he swung towards the hand and the neck of the knight. 

 

[22 damage was dealt with the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

[22 damage was dealt with the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

But still the knight didn’t die. The knight kicked Tae-san.

 

“Argh!”

 

Tae-san grit his teeth and endured it. If he were to fail this time, he could die. He forced all his strength to his stomach and endured it.

 

As a result, he did not step down.

 

Tae-san swung his sword haphazardly. And suddenly the knight’s armor began to crack.

 

The knight also didn’t stay still. He swung his sword in a diagonal line. Tae-san leaned back and avoided it by the breadth of his hair. He almost fell onto the ground.

 

He forced himself up and used all his force to stab the knight under the neck. And the helmet finally fell.

 

A pale face was revealed.

 

Although the knight had a beautiful appearance, he had no time to admire this face calmly.

 

Tae-san threw his sword at the knight. The knight also counterattacked and stabbed Tae-san right in the stomach!

 

Tae-san repelled it with his other sword. Due to lack of strength, he couldn’t damage the knight. But he was barely able to deflect it.

 

[32 damage was dealt to you]]

 

[15 damage dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

Once again Tae-san aimed at the throat and the knight struck back.

 

This time he didn’t avoid it.

 

The sword dug deeper into Tae-san’s chest.

 

[65 damage was dealt to you]

 

[You have activated [Endurance]. A Fatal attack was nullified. All damage becomes zero for one second.]

 

Endurance.

 

Invalidation of all damages, this was his last chance.

 

[16 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]

 

[15 damage was dealt to the Servant of Lakiratas]