Chapter 27 - Cheat

'I'd have an easier time fighting a thousand high-level players at once.'

That was no exaggeration. In terms of sheer firepower, a thousand players might actually be stronger. Even Lee Cheon-gi couldn't use a thousand skills simultaneously. But to Limon, the ten skills Lee used were more troublesome than a thousand skills flying at him every which way. It was the same reason one boss was harder to beat than a thousand trash mobs. Lee was a difficult opponent: he enhanced himself with all manner of skills, then combined others into combos.

*'Future Foresight and Spatial Transfer together? Isn't that cheating?'

His defenses were particularly impressive. He foresaw a future in which an attack struck him, then immediately crossed space to evade it. That simple combo had already let him dodge Limon's sword several times. And Limon couldn't even assume those were all his defensive skills. It was enough to make him click his tongue.

"The more I see, the less I understand," Lee said.

"What don't you understand, asshole?"

"How you can be this strong without even being a player."

Lee shook his head too. If anything, he was more baffled. He had unleashed enough attacks to kill even an archduke-class player several times over. Yet Limon had not only survived them all without using a skill, but launched several potentially fatal counterattacks. By the standards of the Iron Age, Limon was the one who defied common sense.

"Players, my ass. Far as I'm concerned, you freaks are the abnormal ones, getting powers like this just by making contracts with constellations."

"By that logic, most of humanity is abnormal."

"Then the world's fucked up, asshole!"

Before he had even finished speaking, Limon stepped forward. One step as he cut through a golem Lee had summoned, another as he passed through a storm of lightning, and then one more. It was a surprise attack aimed at an opening in their conversation. Given the peculiar nature of those three steps, anyone caught off guard would be struck, however far away they stood.

"Spatial Transfer."

But it didn't work on Lee. He hadn't let his guard down in the first place, and Future Foresight had once again shown him a future in which he was cut down.

"Dumbass."

At that very moment, before taking his third step, Limon saw Lee teleport and twisted around with a cold smile.

TING!

He twisted his body and lifted the foot that was about to touch the ground. Instead, he struck the earth with his sword to spin himself around, then used the momentum to step in the opposite direction—toward the spot where Lee had reappeared!

With that final step, Limon reached Lee at last and swung without a moment's hesitation, as if determined not to give him time to dodge. The sword flashed out like lightning, a strike certain to hit. Its blade was fast enough to chase down and cut a bullet already in flight.

"Equipment Switch."

CLANG!

But the blade did not reach him. Its swing was stopped short. Limon looked startled: it had been a long time since anyone had blocked his sword.

"Why so surprised?"

Golden armor had replaced Lee's white suit, a jeweled crown his glasses, and a long, ornate sword his ring. He had changed equipment in an instant with Equipment Switch and blocked Limon's sword with his own. He spoke calmly.

"Of the thousands of skills I possess, did you really think I wouldn't have a single swordsmanship skill?"

* * *

On sober reflection, it was only natural that Lee was skilled with a sword. Of the ten Monarchs, some might not excel in close combat, but none lacked a way to deal with it. No one with a weakness like that could ever reach level 100. That was especially true of Lee Cheon-gi, the most versatile of the Monarchs.

CLANG, CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

"You can use a sword this well, and you've been doing nothing but run away?"

Limon drew his sword back and thrust at Lee's heart, the attack swift and sharp as a ray of light.

"Changing tactics to suit your opponent is basic practice for a player. Why would I fight you at your preferred range if I don't have to?"

Lee's ornate sword deflected the thrust. With a gauntleted hand gripping his own blade, he turned slightly and angled the sword to guide the attack aside—a textbook defense.

"Then why use a sword now?"

"First, because you won't give me an opening to retreat."

"Hmm. Fair enough."

Limon closed the distance and swung rapidly. He wasn't expecting a fatal wound; these were light, successive attacks meant only to deny Lee the chance to escape with Spatial Transfer. Lacking weight, they were easily stopped by Lee's sword.

"So what's the second reason?"

"Because I don't think I'll lose even if we keep fighting like this."

For the first time, Limon—who had continued his measured assault throughout their conversation—looked dumbfounded.

"... Did you just say you're going to beat me at swordsmanship?"

His expression offered Lee a way out: admit it was a joke, and Limon would let it pass as a terrible one. But Lee cut that offer down.

"You think I can't?"

CLANG!!

Keeping his sword's tip fixed in the air, Lee moved only the hilt, making the blade ripple. The deft motion knocked Limon's sword aside, and Lee seized the opening with a sudden upward slash. Limon blocked it by simply turning the wrist of his sword hand and counterattacked. Watching him, Lee continued calmly.

"Your swordsmanship is certainly remarkable. Few archduke-class players could handle it."

Lee, who knew more skills than anyone, could be sure of that. Limon's ability exceeded archduke class. Apart from a few exceptions, even players above level 90 would be no match for him.

"But that's all it is."

There was no surprise in Lee's voice, nor admiration or fear. Only thorough analysis—as though, after observing the patterns of a boss monster he'd encountered for the first time and testing it in combat, he'd settled on a way to defeat it. It was the confidence of a player through and through.

"Which means that if I can match or surpass your swordsmanship, you won't pose a problem at all."

"Ha...!"

Perhaps that calm attitude made the claim even harder to believe. Limon gave one incredulous laugh, gripped his sword tight, and fixed Lee with a cold stare from his golden eyes.

"Fine. Let's see you do it, asshole!" he growled.

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

A furious assault began at once, as though every swing until now had been a mere probe. Limon slashed at Lee's chest, thrust at his throat, and changed his sword's path before an attack could even be blocked, pouring on yet more blows. It was a storm of steel, a dazzling display worthy of the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Still, Lee did not retreat. Keeping his distance would plainly have been wiser, but whether out of pride in his supreme power or certainty of victory, he held his ground and swung back to meet Limon's assault.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

Advanced Swordsmanship, which boosted attack power. Taiji Swordsmanship, which increased the chance of a successful counter. Six Harmonies Swordsmanship, which had a chance of deflecting attacks. Primordial Sword, which guaranteed Defense Penetration damage. By combining countless swordsmanship skills to complement one another or alternating between them to maximize their effects, Lee performed feats bordering on the miraculous. It was another pinnacle of swordsmanship, one only he could achieve.

When the two swords met, the contest between those two supreme styles was decided.

SLASH!

A deep gash scored Lee's armor. His forearm had been sharply cut, and blood trickled down his neck. In an instant, he was covered in blood. Limon gave a derisive chuckle at the sight.

"What's this, asshole? Weren't you going to beat me at swordsmanship?"

"Yes. That's what I intend to do."

"You can still say that?"

"The fight isn't over yet."

"Looks over to me."

The evidence was undeniable: Lee was bleeding from wounds all over his body, while Limon didn't have a scratch. But Lee showed no agitation. As though everything was going as expected, he kept meeting Limon's blows with his ornate sword and answered calmly.

"Well, you'll see."

"See what...?"

Was Lee being stubborn out of pride, or had the shock of defeat driven him mad? Limon was still sneering incredulously at his refusal to back down when their swords struck again.

CLANG!

"...?"

A question arose in Limon's mind. He had felt something off—something no one else would have noticed, but he could not miss. And that was only the beginning.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

As though his earlier disadvantage had been a lie, Lee now met Limon's sword on equal terms. He brought his blade down, then twisted his shoulder to turn the slash into a thrust; a flick of his wrist revived an attack that should have been knocked aside. With every clash, his swordsmanship grew faster and more precise. Limon's eyes widened.

"You bastard. Don't tell me—"

"You've taken far too long to notice."

Anger, confusion, surprise—Lee could not have named the emotions mingling on Limon's face. Looking at him, he pointed out, "You didn't really think I'd cross swords with you merely because I had no chance to retreat and thought I wouldn't lose, did you?"

Lee had said that changing tactics to suit one's opponent was basic practice for a player. By that measure, his actions were contradictory. Whatever one's skill, choosing to face Limon of all people in a sword fight was the most foolish option. If Lee had done it deliberately, there were only two possible reasons: he needed to, or he was confident he could win anyway. There was no need to ask which was right. Lee's sword was telling Limon that both were.

"Ever since I heard you defeated 150 high-level players, I've wondered how that was possible with swordsmanship alone."

Lee never stopped swinging as he spoke, as if every moment was too precious to waste. He watched Limon's swordsmanship as Limon met his ceaseless attacks.

"And fighting you myself today has convinced me. Your swordsmanship is a technique that surpasses a unique skill in its own right."

That was no exaggeration. Even archdukes could not take on 150 high-level players. Limon's swordsmanship had made it possible with a single sword; with a little exaggeration, it could be valued alongside the Monarchs' Absolute Skills. The fact that Limon had fought Lee this well, even without showing everything he could do, was proof enough.

"The trouble is, I'm not the sort of person who can pass up an excellent 'technique.'"

A smile appeared on Lee's habitually impassive face. His eyes gleamed strangely as he looked at Limon. With the satisfaction of someone seeing the system message he'd awaited throughout the fight, Lee said, "I'll be taking your Sword Master swordsmanship."

[Experience accumulated from the target has met the required conditions.]

[Unique skill 『Technique Acquisition』 activated.]

[Acquiring Limon Aspelder's swordsmanship, 『Demon-Cleaving Dragon-Slaying Sword』.]