I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 191

In the meantime, Song Ha-Young once again used the Sanctuary Trait to buy more time.

Seated in the chair, Makendra scowled. “You’re quite the trickster. But how about this?”

She snapped her fingers again. The Paper Soldiers began to spin, with groups of three joining hands.

However, Cha Jin-Hyeok simply ignored them.

Standing beside Jin-Hyeok, Kim Jeong-Hyeon asked, “Why aren’t you attacking them?”

“It’s not gentlemanly to attack during a transformation.”

Jeong-Hyeon had a profound realization.

‘I was just blindly focused on defeating the Paper Soldiers.’

He had thought he was fighting better than expected and even hoped to earn praise from the notoriously strict Jin-Hyeok.

‘I was too inadequate to earn his recognition.’

Jin-Hyeok wanted not just to fight, but to fight stylishly. This meant he was engaging in fights that were one step further than the mere efficient fighting style that Jeong-Hyeon had been preoccupied with.

Jeong-Hyeon quietly muttered to himself, fueling his fighting spirit, “I need to fight stylishly.”

He also stopped attacking the Paper Soldiers, and the battle entered a temporary lull. The Paper Soldiers stretched out and transformed into individual sheets of paper. The sheets then folded into heads, bodies, and legs, connecting to form new entities.

“The transformation looks quite impressive. A new type of monster has appeared,” Jin-Hyeok said.

The new Paper Soldiers revealed themselves, twice the size of the previous ones, with their number exceeding dozens.

“Then, I will transform as well.” Jin-Hyeok pulled out a card he had been saving until now.

[At the Summit of That Path, One Shall Look Down.]

For those unaware of the Mythic-Grade Card, he added a direct link about the Mythic-Grade Card to his livestream. Jin-Hyeok used the effect of the back of the card to increase his Level from 159 to 179. After that, he immediately utilized the ability on the front of the card.

[To Stand at the Summit of that Path.]

“Those who fall and crumble, unable to reach the summit, will sing a song of despair as they face the unreachable summit.”

This Mythic-Grade Card allowed him to completely duplicate an ability of one targeted individual during a focused livestreaming session. Jin-Hyeok had chanted the real incantation, and he was now ready to say his own line for the added flair.

“Power of the destructive fist, grant me the strength promised to me.”

Since Jin-Hyeok had confirmed that Martial King Jeong-Hyeon’s physical attacks were highly effective against the Paper Soldiers, copying the latter’s abilities for combat was the efficient choice.

“This is my first time fighting with fists, so this is quite thrilling,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Before his regression, Jin-Hyeok used to extensively spar with Jeong-Hyeon. He knew the Martial King’s techniques better than the Martial King himself, and he had to, if he wanted to win a spar against Jeong-Hyeon.

Holding the Treasure Gem, Jin-Hyeok copied Jeong-Hyeon’s abilities and exhibited an extraordinarily unique level of physical skill.

‘I feel lighter,’ Jin-Hyeok thought. His eyes reddened as he charged toward the transformed Paper Soldiers.

‘I can feel the power...! I can!’

The synergy between Broadcaster’s Barrier and his newly acquired physical attacks was significant. It was a new experience for him, and he felt like he were flying through the air.

‘So, this is the physical ability of a Martial Artist.’

Jin-Hyeok had just experienced a new world. With such physical capabilities, wielding a sword would take him into another realm. This was another enlightenment he had experienced through his body. As he got lost in a trance, swinging his fists, Makendra rose from her seat.

“A pathetic fly seems to be putting on quite a show.” The Paper Soldiers were valuable assets for Makendra. She could not just leave them be. So, she snapped her fingers again. “Now, I will face you with all my strength.”

The remaining Paper Soldiers transformed back into paper and flew toward Makendra. The papers gathered around her started to spin, then transformed into two objects.

“This is my sword.” Makendra grasped the paper sword in her left hand. “And this is my spear.”

Holding a spear in her right hand, she said, “Nothing escapes my sword and spear.”

***

Makendra was quite cunning. She put on a show, drawing all attention to her sword and spear with fancy lines, but Jin-Hyeok knew better. The most dangerous thing about her was her shoes. Those shoes made her incredibly light. Her fast and precise steps made it difficult for her opponents to properly fight her at a distance.

‘Especially since I am in the position of a Martial Artist now.’

Closing the distance against someone possessing a weapon as long as a spear was not easy. Even if Jin-Hyeok managed to close in, her sword was waiting for him.

‘I feel like I am just a bit away from gaining more enlightenment.’

Regrettably, the time to stop playing the role of a Martial Artist came to an end soon.

“I will face you with all my strength too.” Jin-Hyeok took out the Greatsword of La’kan once again.

[You have applied the ?Treasure Gem (Crafted)? to the Greatsword of La’kan.]

Jin-Hyeok engaged in several exchanges with Makendra and suffered various minor and major injuries to his arms and legs.

Jeong-Hyeon, who was fighting beside him, was in a slightly worse state.

‘It seems like his cruciate ligament is torn.’

Somehow, with his muscle and willpower, Jeong-Hyeon had managed to block Makendra’s spear, but it was not easy. He grasped for breath.

“She... is... too... fast.”

“I know.”

At least Broadcaster’s Barrier allowed them to continue fighting her somehow.

“Is that all you’ve got to challenge me?” Makendra asked.

“...”

She swooped in like she had wings. Swinging her paper sword close, she inflicted a deep wound on Jin-Hyeok’s stomach.

‘I shall sacrifice my stomach to take her neck.’

Jin-Hyeok let her hit his stomach and slashed at Makendra’s neck. However, she was too fast, and he could not land a proper hit. It was just a very light wound, barely noticeable.

“Is that all you can do, trying to take me down along with yourself?” Makendra smirked.

“I don’t need to do that to kill you.”

“I will cut off your tongue before I kill you!”

Jin-Hyeok shrugged and pulled out another item. The real fight was about to happen now. “Isn’t this what you’ve been searching for?”

It was Picasso’s Brush. This was the item she had been fervently searching for on the Earth Server.

“Just so you know, it’s bound to me.” Jin-Hyeok purposely laughed. “Do you think you can take it from me if you kill me?”

“There are plenty of ways to take it after killing you.”

“Of course, there would be.”

Certainly, some Players with rare abilities could extract bound items. However, capturing Jin-Hyeok alive would be much easier than killing him, and that was what Jin-Hyeok was aiming for.

‘She has completely seen the gap between us now. I have succeeded in making her let her guard down.’

Jin-Hyeok had made Makendra think of not killing him. Thanks to this, he could attack her more boldly. He landed a few more hits on her, but took more damage too.

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy.” Jin-Hyeok had lost a lot of blood. He had no idea when the others would arrive. He believed it was going to get better once Cha Jin-Sol came, but for now, he had to fight Makendra, assuming Jin-Sol was not coming.

‘I’m not even acting... This battle is genuinely tough.’

Jin-Hyeok poured all his strength into it. Yet, he could inflict only a few minor wounds on his opponent.

“It’s about time to end this fight.” Makendra approached him.

Jin-Hyeok also sensed that the moment had come.

[You have activated the Inherent Trait Skill ?Persevering Genius?.]

He used the Trait Skill inherent in the All-Rounder Trait. Persevering Genius significantly reduced the mental energy consumption when manifesting any Traits or Skills. It similarly worked on Mysteries as well.

[You have activated the Mystery ?God of Luck?.]

Suddenly, Jin-Hyeok’s vision swirled, and he nearly collapsed. He swung his sword, but Makendra caught it between two fingers.

[The Achievement effect ?Instant Kill? has been applied.]

Then, he said, “After a perilous journey, I have obtained great power.”

Unable to support himself any longer, he planted his sword on the ground and leaned on it as if it were a cane. Before him lay Makendra, now a corpse.

‘Seven percent probability is lower than I thought.’

Even though Jin-Hyeok had successfully landed a dozen minor attacks on Makendra, the Instant Kill effect had never triggered. He had no choice but to overexert himself, combining the God of Luck Mystery with his attacks, and ultimately Makendra had lost to the Instant Kill effect.

‘I can’t... I can’t lose consciousness just yet.’

He still needed to do some more things. He could not forget Jeong-Hyeon’s cool line about his destructive fist. Being a Streamer, Jin-Hyeok wanted to be cooler than Jeong-Hyeon.

“I want all Players to enjoy the freedom of being a Player. Although I cannot guarantee freedom to every Player, at least those related to me should be free to roam the Fields as they wish.” Jin-Hyeok painfully lifted his head and looked in the direction of Ha-Young, far away.

Makendra had shattered several branches of the Black Rose Alliance. Fortunately, this served as a good pretext.

“And I had promised. I had vowed to ensure the freedom of my comrades who are with me. It was a solemn oath and my pledge.”

Ha-Young looked in his direction at perfect timing. He caught her expression in a close-up.

“Unfortunately, the freedom and rights of my comrades were threatened.” He shifted his gaze toward Makendra. “Today, I had to uphold that vow.”

Jin-Hyeok had no recollection of what happened after that. It seemed he had fainted, leaning against his sword.

***

The viewers of KimKnowItAllTV were in a frenzy of excitement. They were particularly focused on Chul-Soo’s new ability, Instant Kill.

-Instant Kill... That sounds so cool!

-So amazing!

-Makendra got owned, LOL.

-I never expected he had the Instant Kill Achievement!

-Isn’t it overpowered for a Streamer to have an Instant Kill ability?

A renowned user from the Korean Region Minor Gallery analyzed the video in real-time and posted a brief comment.

[This victory was not achieved due to just Instant Kill. It was possible because of Chul-Soo’s thorough setup. There were immense details throughout the battle. I will post a detailed analysis later.]

[Written by: Encyclopedia.]

Furthermore, people on the Earth Server were moved by Jin-Hyeok’s speech at the end.

-Wooow! That was so moving!

-So he fought Makendra for the Black Rose Alliance?

-It makes sense that Angel Girl was there.

-This is so crazy and so cool! Please marry me! (I’m a guy).

Ha-Young, a direct party involved in the issue, trembled.

‘What...?’

She had always known that Makendra and Jin-Hyeok would eventually clash. However, she had never imagined that this was why Jin-Hyeok wanted to fight Makendra.

‘He... fought that hard... for me?’

Jin-Hyeok could have easily run away. He could have sought help from his allies of the Trinity Club. Perhaps, that could have been a better choice for him.

“Today, I had to uphold that vow.”

Still thinking about Jin-Hyeok’s words, Ha-Young bit her lip.

‘Now... I can’t betray him.’

She had always resolved to stab him in the back once he lifted the curse of the Golden Headband, but even that determination crumbled. Tears welled up in her eyes.

‘He cared for me, and us, to this extent?’

It felt like they had truly become one. She felt a sense of security at being affiliated with Jin-Hyeok.

Seo Ji-Soo and Seo Ji-Ah, who had reimagined their composure, faintly smiled.

“We... won...!”

Streamer Chul-Soo had won another battle against an invader from another Server.