The Knight pushes forward like a storm. He barely blocks the swinging sword.
Kagak!
The moment their swords clash, the Knight’s wrist trembles. He tries to slide his blade down Taesan’s and cut his wrist. Taesan hastily tries to create distance, but their weapons don't separate, as if stuck together with glue.
“Keuk!”
[You have taken 20 Damage.]
His forearm was cut. Taesan swung his sword wide to break free and checked the condition of his arm.
'No issues.'
The muscles and bones were unharmed. It stung, but it was an injury that wouldn't affect the battle. 'What the hell is this?'
He was dumbfounded. What in the world was that? It was a technique.
It was the Swordsmanship of a systematically trained Knight. Taesan had never seen such a technique. Most Players called the experience they built up in real combat their martial arts, but they didn't possess something as sophisticated as the Knight before him.
The same was true for Taesan. Every technique he used was a formless, haphazard Swordsmanship learned from real combat. He moved based on experience.
He had no idea how to face this type of opponent for the first time. The Knight swings his sword. Taesan roughly meets it.
A grand sound rings out as their swords clash. The Knight presses forward. Taesan tries to deflect the force and counterattack, but he is easily overpowered and kicked by the Knight.
[You have taken 11 Damage.]
"Wow."
Now, a sound of admiration escaped him. The weapon in his own hand, yet he couldn't control it. Having gone through many real battles, he never thought much of techniques, but now his mind was changed.
That such things were possible when a technique reached its peak. It was a fact he hadn't known. The Knight before him was an opponent he had no answer for with a sword.
Even if he clashed swords a thousand times, he couldn't see a way to win.
"I want to learn it."
Taesan muttered.
His eyes were filled with greed. Every action in the Labyrinth is evaluated, and if it surpasses a certain level, it is described with the name of a Skill. The Swordsmanship before him had crossed that line.
It was definitely a Skill. A highest-grade Skill at the very least. I want to learn it.
If he learned that Swordsmanship, he could break through many of the difficulties he anticipated. He already had many skills and was scheduled to get more, but Swordsmanship wasn't among them. Like a dissatisfied old Scrooge, he stared greedily at the Knight.
Faced with his intense craving and desire, the Knight momentarily stepped back.
"Your Swordsmanship is superior. I admit it."
He was a Player. One who clears the Labyrinth.
"But that's not everything."
He had Skills. Until now, the picture had been the Knight attacking and Taesan retreating. It was natural, given the clear difference in their Swordsmanship.
But this time, Taesan rushed forward. In his hand was not a sword, but a red Magic Staff.
[You have activated Fireball.]
A red orb flies forth. Taesan immediately switched his weapon back to a sword. He followed right behind the Fireball, rushing towards the Knight.
The Knight swung his sword down.
Fwoosh.
The Fireball is cut by the sword and vanishes. Seizing the opening as the sword came down, Taesan swung the sword in his left hand.
[Dealt 6 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[You have activated No Breath Attack. You are free from the need to breathe for the next 10 seconds.]
He immediately thrusts with the sword in his right hand. An identical 6 Damage is dealt. The Knight, having corrected his posture, thrusts his sword.
Taesan didn't block it. Instead, he rushed towards the sword. If he stayed still, it was on a trajectory to perfectly pierce his head.
[You have activated Deflection. The next attack will be deflected.]
The moment the sword neared Taesan's head, its trajectory twisted. It was forcibly made to graze past Taesan. The flustered Knight desperately tried to pull the sword back, but it wouldn't listen.
The sword scrapes Taesan's shoulder.
[You have taken 15 Damage.]
The Knight's body was pulled along by the sword that had escaped his control. Towards the completely defenseless Knight, Taesan moved his swords fiercely.
[Dealt 6 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[Dealt 5 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[...]
He slashed six times in less than two seconds. Thanks to No Breath Attack, he could attack without pacing himself.
Fwoom!
The Knight moved his leg to push Taesan away. Taesan obediently retreated from the knee that flew towards him, violently striking the air. In his hand was the red Magic Staff.
[You have activated Fireball.]
A red orb appears in the air. The Knight tried to block it, but this time it was too close.
[Dealt 13 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[Burn Judgment in progress...]
[Judgment successful! The Servant of Rakiratas is now in a Burn state.]
'Nice.'
He wasn't sure what would happen because of the armor, but he succeeded with the Burn Judgment on the first try. The Knight began to take continuous Damage.
Clank!
The Knight did not lose his target. He rushed towards Taesan, swinging his sword. It was truly the spirit of a bullfight.
If they clashed head-on, Taesan would have no chance of victory. So he had no intention of taking it head-on.
[You have activated Deflection. The next attack will be deflected.]
Screech.
The sword's trajectory is forcibly twisted. The Knight puts even more strength into it, as if determined not to be fooled this time. It was practically his full power.
Enough force was in the sword to wipe out his remaining Health in one hit. But it misses. The sword grazes past Taesan's chest.
[You have taken 11 Damage.]
Skills are an absolute power in the Labyrinth. Deflection is a technique that diverts an opponent's attack. Even if Ainzhar were to deliver a blow that could shatter a mountain, it would be deflected.
Unless countered by a higher-level Skill, there is no way to block it. The sword is twisted, and the Knight's body is exposed. Taesan moves his sword.
[You have activated No Breath Attack. You are free from the need to breathe for the next 12 seconds.]
6. 6. 5. 5. 6. [You have attacked the opponent consecutively. You have obtained the Special Active Skill [Consecutive Attack].] Along with the long Damage log, a Skill acquisition window appeared.
'When is it going to die?' There was no way a humanoid would have more Health than a Giant Rat. But the Knight showed no signs of dying.
He had used up almost all his Mana. Intelligence reduced the consumption, but it wasn't significant at a level in the 20s. He only had about 5 Mana left.
Enough for one or two more Skills, and that was it. And Taesan's remaining Health was 71. There was no place to retreat. Taesan pushed in even deeper and thrust his sword.
[Dealt 5 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
The Knight raises his sword. He drops to his knee and brings the pommel down on Taesan.
[You have activated Counter. You will counter the opponent's next attack.]
His body moves automatically. He dodges the descending pommel. He moves his sword along the direction of the Knight's force.
He moves both hands, plunging one sword into each side of the Knight's neck.
[Dealt 22 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[Dealt 21 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
But it doesn't die. The Knight kicks Taesan.
“Ugh!”
Taesan grits his teeth and endures it. If he gets knocked back this time, there's really no hope. By forcibly tensing his stomach and holding on, he did not retreat.
Taesan swung his sword haphazardly. Cracks began to form on the Knight's armor. The Knight didn't stay still either.
The sword drew a diagonal line. Taesan lowered his posture to dodge. He bent down low enough to touch the ground and used that momentum to stab under the Knight's neck.
The helmet shattered. A pale face is revealed. He was rather handsome, but there was no time to calmly appreciate it.
Taesan thrusts his sword towards the head. The Knight also counters, stabbing at Taesan's stomach. Taesan parries with his other sword.
Due to a lack of strength, he couldn't parry it perfectly, but he managed to make it a glancing blow.
[You have taken 32 Damage.]
[Dealt 15 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
He plunges it into the neck once more. The Knight counters. This time, he doesn't dodge.
The sword pierces Taesan's chest.
[You have taken 65 Damage.]
[Your Fortitude has been activated. The fatal attack has been nullified. For 1 second, all damage becomes 0.] Fortitude.
Nullification of all Damage. This is the last resort.
[Dealt 16 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[Dealt 15 Damage to the Servant of Rakiratas.]
In that moment, the Knight's armor shatters. Life returns to his face. The Servant, having regained his sanity, gave Taesan a small smile.
His lips moved.
[It was a good fight. Brave one.]
Taesan felt that was what the Knight had said. The Knight's form scattered into mist and rose to the ceiling of the Labyrinth. Soon, the scenery of the Labyrinth returned to normal.
[You have been victorious against the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[Rakiratas is greatly pleased.]
"Pleased my ass."
Taesan clicked his tongue. The Knight, once he regained his sanity, was incredibly strong. His Mana was depleted, and his Health was on the verge of running out.
"Where's the sense in suddenly changing the Quest? Isn't he just a thug?"
Lee Tae-yeon had said that all gods were bastards. He felt like he was starting to understand why. Taesan irritably checked the System Window he had turned off.
[You have been victorious against the Servant of Rakiratas.]
[You have received a large amount of Experience.]
[Health has been restored by 30.] [You have acquired 253 Gold.]
[You have single-handedly defeated a difficult opponent. Strength permanently increases by 2. Agility permanently increases by 2. Mana permanently increases by 2.] [Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 4. Agility permanently increases by 3.] [Your Level has increased.]
[You have entered Optimal Condition.]
[As a reward for Leveling Up, Health has increased by 25.] [As a reward for Leveling Up, Strength permanently increases by 3. Agility permanently increases by 3. Mana permanently increases by 3. Health permanently increases by 5.] "Hah," Taesan let out a dry laugh.
The Stat increases were insane.
"A simple calculation gives 17 Stats? 30 Health and 5 Mana? This is no joke."
It clearly showed what kind of opponent the Servant of Rakiratas was. In Taesan's assessment, it was an opponent that wouldn't have been out of place as a Boss on the 15th Floor or higher in Normal Mode. He could tell just by the fact that his experience bar was empty, yet he had Leveled Up instantly.
"Status Window."
[Kang Taesan] [Level: 6] [Health: 190/190] [Mana: 22/22] [Strength: 27] [Intelligence: 25] [Agility: 40] [Attack Power + 5] [Defense Power + 2] [The target is in Optimal Condition.]
His Stats had suddenly skyrocketed. The endlessly rising numbers made him forget even his anger as a hollow laugh escaped him.
"Equipment... there's none."
A look of regret crossed Taesan's face. The weapon and armor the Knight used. Both were pieces of equipment with overwhelming performance.
He had expected it, as Quest Monsters usually don't drop equipment, but it was still a shame. A reward that would soothe that regret was waiting for him.
[You have passed the Trial of Rakiratas. A reward will be given to you according to Rakiratas's evaluation.]
[Rakiratas was greatly pleased with your struggle. Rakiratas wishes to give you a fitting reward.]
"Pleased my ass."
What kind of god changes the contents of a Quest so suddenly? If he had made even the slightest mistake, he would have been the one to die. Hostility towards Rakiratas began to sprout in Taesan's heart.
Whether it knew this or not, Rakiratas began processing the rewards.
[Rakiratas's domain of interference has shrunk.]
[Rakiratas grants you a reward. You have received [Rakiratas's Ceremonial Blade].]
[You have cleared an enhanced Trial. Additional rewards will follow.]
[You have obtained the Special Passive Skill [Proof of Struggle].]
[Rakiratas proposes an Apostle's contract to you.]