“No defense? You mean I just have to take hits while I fight?”
[In theory, yes.]
“Doesn't sound like a very good Swordsmanship.”
To begin with, you can't call something without defense Swordsmanship. The Ghost explained step by step.
[Just listen for a moment. I said there's no defense, but that doesn't mean you don't block attacks at all. You know the saying, 'the best defense is a good offense'? It's like that. You preemptively cut off the opponent's moves. You attack the spot where the opponent is about to move their sword, stopping them from your end. If I had to put it in words, it's an offensive defense?]
“Hmm…”
Taesan had used swords a lot, so he could understand what those words meant.
“But there are bound to be attacks you can't block.”
Using attacks that predict the opponent's movements to prevent them from attacking. It sounds nice. But in the end, it's still an offensive movement.
It's impossible to block perfectly.
[You just take the hit.]
[Instead, you attack even more. There are tactics prepared for that as well.]
“It's not a stable Swordsmanship.”
[It is dangerous. But its power is certain. I couldn't learn Magic deeply. The God was terribly picky. The Talent I had was also lacking, so I stopped at Basic Magic.]
But the Ghost had descended to The Depths. He broke through this place trusting in his Swordsmanship alone.
[It would be impossible with a pathetically weak Swordsmanship. What will you do?]
“There's no 'what' about it.”
Of course I'll learn it. Besides, Taesan also enjoyed playing a game of chicken, betting their Health against each other. He had Fortitude and Attack Nullification, so it was a Swordsmanship perfectly suited for him.
[Good.]
The Ghost spoke with a hint of relief.
[Then I'll begin the lesson.]
“Should I use honorifics?”
[As I said before, there's no need. This is a kind of deal.]
“But how are you going to teach me?”
The Ghost has no body. As one of the dead, he is an existence that cannot interfere with the living.
[Don't worry about that. I received permission for this much.]
The Ghost placed a hand on Taesan's shoulder. A weight he had never felt before could be felt now.
[A raging storm. Like the mark of a claw, a scar.]
A sunken voice echoes.
[The Sword of the Storm Scar. The only remnant left in my world.]
[You have learned the Sword of the Storm Scar from the master of the Sword of the Storm Scar. You have learned the Advanced Skill [Sword of the Storm Scar].]
Advanced Skill.
A level of Skill he had never seen before.
[You may be learning Airak Martial Arts, but my Swordsmanship follows a different path. It won't be integrated.] …Nothing was felt.
When he learned Airak Martial Arts, some concepts and theories entered his mind, but this time, he only learned the Skill and nothing of the sort existed.
[Advanced Skill: Sword of the Storm Scar] [Proficiency: 0%] [A Swordsmanship passed down from a Dying World. Currently, only one person has mastered it.]
The Proficiency was 0%. Considering all the Skills he had obtained started at 1%, this was clearly out of the ordinary.
[I am a Sword Master. The owner of a Title received only by those who have dominated the sword. In the Labyrinth's terms, my Proficiency is 100%, but... I'm a dead man. I wasn't granted permission for that much.]
“Does this mean I have to learn it on my own?”
[Still, verbal transmission is possible, so I have to try as much as I can.]
The Ghost began his explanation. The Ghost explained kindly. From one to ten, what stance to take, how to respond in what situation, all of it.
It was a kindness to the extent that even a Master wouldn't teach this much.
[So, it's not about blocking the attack, but responding to it. You have to maintain the line. If it crosses that line, just abandon it and stab the opponent.]
“……What do you mean?”
But Taesan couldn't understand. The Ghost was explaining something fervently, but it was either too abstract or too specific, making it difficult to understand what he was saying. He could understand a sentence or two, but they weren't particularly meaningful words.
Many were things Taesan already knew.
[Ugh.]
The Ghost let out a groan.
[Explaining Swordsmanship with words is a nonsensical thing to do.]
Swordsmanship is ultimately a skill of moving the body. It's much faster to learn by moving and sparring directly than by hearing hundreds of words. But the Ghost was already a dead being and couldn't interfere.
In the end, he could only convey it through words, but it was too difficult for Taesan to understand those words.
“When attacking the opponent's chest, I have to bend my arm, move to the left, and then use the elasticity of my whole body?”
[Yes. Do you get the feel of it?]
“I don't get it.”
He tried moving his body, but only strange movements came out. As time passed with no progress, the Ghost clicked his tongue in frustration.
[As I thought, we're stuck here. What should I do about this.]
Taesan shut his mouth without a word. The Ghost said urgently.
[This isn't an issue of you having no Talent or anything like that. This just doesn't make sense. Swordsmanship is something you do with your body. Even things written in text are written by those who've learned it based on their experience of moving their bodies. So until you actually move, you can't know what it means.]
He spoke at an extremely fast pace, as if worried Taesan would give up or feel pessimistic about himself. Unlike the Ghost's worries, Taesan wasn't giving up.
“Can Proficiency be considered experience?”
[Huh? Since it's something you have to accumulate by using it yourself and learning it through your body, it is experience, right?]
The Ghost answered, flustered by the sudden question. Taesan organized his thoughts. Proficiency is something gained by accumulating experience.
Then conversely, if you raise Proficiency, do you gain experience? It was worth a try. Taesan took out a potion from his Inventory.
[Proficiency Increase Potion] [Increases the Proficiency of one Skill by 5%.]
[Oh, that thing.]
The Ghost also noticed belatedly.
[Is it... possible?]
Taesan drank the potion.
[You have used the Proficiency Increase Potion.]
[The Proficiency of Sword of the Storm Scar has increased.]
In an instant, all sorts of information floods his mind. The way to handle a sword. The way to fend off attacks.
The way to use strength. All of it falls into place, one by one. Taesan stood up.
When attacking the opponent's chest, bend your arm, move to the left, and then use the elasticity of your whole body. Just a moment ago, these were words he couldn't understand. Taesan gripped his sword and moved his body.
He thrust the sword, bent his arm, turned his body to the left, and used the reactive force to whip his arm around as if it were bouncing. His body naturally spun around once. Whoosh— The sound of the wind being cut rang out fiercely.
It was a clean movement he couldn't perform earlier.
“It works.”
[Oh... so this kind of shortcut works.]
[Kang Taesan has invited Kang Jun-hyeok.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Is it still like that these days?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Yes. It's driving me crazy. Whenever I try to talk, they keep interrupting and picking fights. Why are these crazy bastards acting like this?]
His anger could be felt through the text. There was only one reason Kang Jun-hyeok was this angry.
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Why on earth are they calling us enemies in Easy Mode? I just don't get it at all, you know?]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Because the Labyrinth is too big an enemy. They need an enemy that's easier to understand.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: I mean, why are they even doing that?]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: I don't know what they're thinking either. They might be doing it because they think it's profitable.]
He knew why Choi Jung-hyuk was acting that way. But that was information the previous Taesan knew. He couldn't tell him.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Just ignore them like you are now. The ones making noise are probably always the same people.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: It's just Choi Jung-hyuk and a few of his lackeys making a racket. Sigh. It's so frustrating.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Anyway, how's the Labyrinth?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: We're exploring the 2nd Floor for now. It's tough, but we manage by taking them down one by one. I leveled up recently, so it's gotten a bit easier.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Then that's good. Don't touch the Altars.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Tsk. It's tempting... but I guess it can't be helped.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: You're going to fight the Boss soon, right?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: We'll go once we've explored everything. We have to beat it.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Then be careful. That thing uses Mental Magic.]
The Boss of the 2nd Floor is a Goblin that uses a Magic Staff. Taesan was half-immune to mental attacks, so he passed without any issues, but the situation was different for others.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: It would be good to buy some immunity potions from the Shop.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Yep. Thanks as always. My stats are pretty high, so as long as I can deal with the mental part, there shouldn't be a problem.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: What are your Stats at right now?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Around 15 overall? I'm telling you, it's higher than Tae-yeon noona's?]
All Stats at 15. As Kang Jun-hyeok said, those weren't weak Stats.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Yeah. That's good.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: What about you, hyung?]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: You want to know?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: ... No, I think it's better if I don't know.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: See you later.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: You said that last time too, are we really going to see each other later? I feel like I'm going to die before then.]
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: We will.]
As long as Kang Jun-hyeok doesn't do anything crazy, they could definitely meet. Taesan closed the community forums.
[Are you done?]
“Yeah.”
Taesan grabbed his sword and stood up. It wasn't the brilliantly decorated ornamental sword he always used or Rakiratas's blade, but two Rusted Swords with 1 Attack Power. He went back to the Shop and bought them.
The Dwarf looked at him with an expression that said, 'why are you buying this?', but for Taesan, it was a necessary weapon. Besides that, he took off all his equipment that had Attack Power. His current Attack Power is 2. He moves to the next room.
“Karuk!”
[A Lizardman Warrior has appeared.]
Warrior.
A Monster one rank below a Fighter. It uses either a sword or a spear.
[This is perfect.]
Taesan recalls the memories in his head and kicks off the ground. The Lizardman swings its sword.
Kagagak!
The sword blades shake wildly, creating a shower of sparks. He doesn't evade the attack aimed at his whole body and digs in even deeper. The first real battle using the Swordsmanship.
So, first, he'll try to fight in a standard way.
Kagak! Kakang!
He presses on. He circles around the Lizardman. The Lizardman grits its teeth and moves its hands.
Taesan attacks towards the trajectory where the sword is about to move. Kaang— The swords clash, and the Lizardman's movement, which was meant to be an attack, turns into a defensive one instead. Seizing that opening, he plunges his sword into its chest.
[5 Damage dealt to the Lizardman Warrior.]
[6 Damage dealt to the Lizardman Warrior.]
“Kak!”
The Lizardman grabs its sword and raises it. Taesan had never been able to respond to the attack of slamming down with the pommel. But now he knows.
How to respond. All that information was inside his head. Taesan similarly pulls up his pommel.
Pommel clashes with pommel.
Kang!
“Kiik!”
He cuts it down just like that. The Damage Window noisily obstructs his vision.
“Kaaaak!”
But since he took off the equipment with Attack Power, the Damage is very low. The Lizardman was still vividly swinging its weapon. Taesan also responds in kind.
He organizes the vast information echoing noisily in his head and expresses it with his body. And so, after a fight lasting over an hour, he was finally able to win.
“Kaaaa...”
[You were victorious against the Lizardman Warrior.]
[The Proficiency of Sword of the Storm Scar has increased by 1%.]
The Proficiency increased. The Ghost pointed out Taesan's movements.
[Pressing the attack is important, but pulling back is also important. You must make even that withdrawing motion a part of your offensive movements.]
He understood the theory, but his practical application was still clumsy. Taesan finished confirming.
‘It's a good Skill.’
Without the Sword of the Storm Scar, it would have taken two hours. In terms of instantly cramming in Damage and attacking consecutively, it was a superior Skill. Even now, when he was still inexperienced, it was this good; if he raised its Proficiency, its value would only increase.
He made a decision. He will clear the 7th Floor like this. He will raise the Proficiency as much as he can.
It's well worth the effort. Taesan gripped the Rusted Swords and moved to the next room.