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 [Chapter 166]

[The Beginning of the End (4)]

The graduation match between Noh Eun-ha and On Tae-yang.

People were full of expectations, thinking it was Noh Eun-ha's last match as a student.

However, contrary to their expectations, the match was filled with disappointment.

"Is this what they call a match?"

"What did I come here to see?"

"Who is that? If you're not skilled enough, why did you come out here? They should have had Mok Min-ho or Choi Eun-hyuk fight one more time instead..."

Their disappointment was all directed at On Tae-yang.

He dropped his sword as soon as the match started.

At that point, the graduation match was as good as over.

But Eun-ha gave him a chance.

People decided to overlook On Tae-yang's ridiculous mistake.

They thought he would do better from then on, but he showed terrible skills.

"Is that the kid Dangun Clan was boasting about? They really have no eye for talent anymore. They're finished."

"Come to think of it, didn't Jang Bong-jeon, the Dangun Clan Lord, come today?" "He was boasting to the other Clan Lords earlier. Saying On Tae-yang is really a talent to look forward to in the future?" "For all that boasting..."

It's not that On Tae-yang was incompetent.

He just didn't meet expectations.

People thought he must have something special since Eun-ha designated him as his match opponent.

Moreover, Dangun Clan had been widely promoting On Tae-yang's potential through Dangun Ilbo recently.

Even the Twelve Seats <Big Data> Mo Ra-yul had evaluated that his future in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years was promising.

However, unlike the inflated marketing, On Tae-yang's abilities didn't exceed the category of a promising talent.

"Noh Eun-ha's group was worth watching. They attacked relentlessly, but what is this guy doing?" "He looks like he's given up. That's rushing to die, tsk."

"Look at the Dangun Clan Lord hanging his head. That's what happens when you boast so much and end up being publicly humiliated."

Moreover, On Tae-yang was showing skills inferior to Noh Eun-ha's group.

People jeered.

It wasn't worth coming.

It was a waste of time.

They were about to leave one by one.

But then─

─Gift <Berserk >

People who were about to leave stopped in their tracks, feeling an inexplicable sensation.

They shifted their gaze.

To the arena.

On Tae-yang, who had been barely supporting himself with his sword, was now charging at Noh Eun-ha with a beast-like roar.

"...What's this?"

"The person suddenly changed..."

""""...."""

The atmosphere reversed.

On Tae-yang abandoned his previous tactics and was just recklessly charging forward.

Extremely aggressive and reckless.

Nevertheless, he was overcoming risks with ghostly speed and quick judgments to attack Noh Eun-ha.

People couldn't take their eyes off On Tae-yang due to the suddenly changed situation.

"...Noh Eun-ha stepped back."

"The person has become completely different." "Is it a Gift?"

"Look at Jang Bong-jeon. He's cackling with delight now."

"He's probably bragging to those around him that his eye for talent was right." "But... I might understand now. Why Noh Eun-ha chose On Tae-yang as his opponent."

One move, two moves, three moves...

After each attack, On Tae-yang kept growing.

His growth rate was truly astonishing.

People focused on On Tae-yang with disbelieving eyes.

Meanwhile, at that time─

"─Wouldn't it be better to stop them?"

"Hmm..."

The instructors were in a state of confusion.

They could tell that On Tae-yang wasn't in a normal state.

So while they were surprised, they were also worried that an unfortunate incident might occur on graduation day.

Originally, the match's outcome was as good as decided when Noh Eun-ha first made On Tae-yang drop his sword.

It's just that before the instructors could say anything, Noh Eun-ha continued the match, so it couldn't be ended.

So they asked Shin Seo-young in a tone suggesting it might be better to end the match now.

"─It would be better to end it. Looking at this, it seems he might cause a mana explosion if something goes wrong."

Shin Seo-young, who had been lost in thought.

After watching the match for a while, she soon made her judgment.

On Tae-yang's condition was dangerous.

Killing intent was flashing in his eyes.

It looked like he might kill someone at this rate.

Of course, his opponent was Noh Eun-ha.

Such a thing wouldn't happen.

The problem was Noh Eun-ha's temperament.

What if Tae-yang crosses a line? With Eun-ha's personality, who knows what he might do.

If an accident happens on this good day, it could be big trouble for both him and me.

Shin Seo-young agonized inwardly.

For Noh Eun-ha's sake as well.

Above all, for On Tae-yang's sake too, the match needed to be stopped immediately.

On the other hand─

─What is that Gift? It seems like the type of Gift that gets stronger by consuming mana, but...

I've never seen a Gift like that before.

Shin Seo-young observed On Tae-yang.

Mana was flowing out from his body and rippling around him.

One of the characteristics of enhancement-type Gifts.

Indeed, he was noticeably getting stronger each time he manifested mana.

But unlike what she knew, it seemed that not just a part, but all of On Tae-yang's abilities were getting stronger.

The growth rate was also exponential.

Ordinary enhancement-type Gifts have a limit to how much they can strengthen, no matter how strong they become.

But he was rampaging as if there was no limit.

Above all─

─Enhancement-type Gifts only strengthen physical abilities.

They don't enhance mental aspects like judgment and coping abilities.

That part... is similar to when Eun-ha showed me his Gift before.

The abilities of the Gift On Tae-yang was activating were not just one.

Not only did it increase physical abilities, but it also enhanced combat coping abilities.

As people in the stands were saying, he was using tactics as if he was a different person.

Only after thinking this far could she grasp the changes that had occurred in On Tae-yang.

It's not that his mental aspects have grown.

His learning ability has become exceptionally high. In exchange for losing reason, his strength increases, and learning ability takes the place of reason?

She felt like she had heard of a similar case.

She seemed to have come across a story in the Player Library before about a Player in the United States using such a Gift.

Regardless, she now decided to signal the instructors to stop the match.

Right then─

"─Wait."

"Yes?"

"It might not be bad to leave it to that child. It seems he wants to confirm something too."

<Sword Empress> Hwang Jin-hee stopped her.

Shin Seo-young hesitated.

Eventually, although anxious, she decided to follow Hwang Jin-hee's words.

"That child probably has his own thoughts, so he's leaving it like this." "...I just hope Eun-ha doesn't cause any trouble. To think I have to clean up after him until graduation..."

It wasn't Noh Eun-ha's fault, but.

Shin Seo-young laughed dryly.

Hwang Jin-hee shrugged her shoulders.

Then she closely watched the match between the two.

"─What an interesting Gift. Looking at that, it seems like humans could even surpass their limits of strength. Is that why he lost his reason?"

If there's no end to the mana in his body.

Wouldn't he keep getting stronger endlessly?

And thus, wouldn't he reach a realm that could be called godlike?

No, that's probably impossible.

But he might reach the threshold.

Hwang Jin-hee muttered while watching On Tae-yang's Gift.

☆

What's going on here?

Why does On Tae-yang have <Berserk >...

Gift <Berserk >.

The Gift that made Noh Eun-ha be called by the title <Berserker > in his previous life.

Eun-ha couldn't hide his shock at confirming that Gift in On Tae-yang.

It could be an effect of <Brave >...

No, it's definitely <Berserk >.

Eun-ha denied reality.

But the more he denied reality, the more reality made him acknowledge it somehow.

The attack that just grazed past.

The combo attack that followed.

On Tae-yang had learned Eun-ha's attack, quickly dodged, and immediately followed up with his next attack.

Moreover, the attack On Tae-yang demonstrated was quite similar to how Eun-ha had swung his sword just before.

He's not just avoiding attacks, but learning patterns while dodging.

He's trying to imitate my techniques.

The ability of Gift <Berserk >.

A Gift that brings unparalleled learning ability and combat ability in battle, in exchange for the holder losing their reason.

"KUAAAAA!!"

On Tae-yang roared.

He was in a state of lost reason.

When <Berserk > is activated, one can't distinguish friend from foe.

He only harbored endless hostility towards the target in his sight.

Just like he was doing to himself now.

Thousand Steps

Madness

Eun-ha avoided On Tae-yang who was rushing at him and widened the distance.

He shouldn't engage recklessly.

Because when <Berserk > is activated, one doesn't fear death.

They can make irrational judgments like sacrificing their own limbs to kill the opponent in front of them.

If he wasn't careful, On Tae-yang might attack even while sacrificing himself.

Eun-ha couldn't welcome that.

I can think about why On Tae-yang's Gift changed after ending the match.

With this, Eun-ha made his decision.

He gripped "Winter Blooming Coldly".

"...!"

Did he sense his atmosphere?

On Tae-yang flinched.

The guy showed a cautious stance.

Then he attempted to enter Eun-ha's domain while leaving his sight.

Right Step

But Eun-ha didn't leave his attempt alone.

He decided not to check On Tae-yang's skills anymore.

He had seen enough of his skills.

And he knew Gift <Berserk > best.

The way to cancel <Berserk > is simple.

Either make the opponent disappear from sight, or

Exhaust all the mana used to activate the Gift.

Or physically knock them unconscious.

In his previous life.

Adding Lee Yu-jung, the Misty Flower party members had sought various methods to stabilize him when he activated the Gift.

So he knew how to deal with <Berserk >.

"KUAAAAA!!"

On Tae-yang charged.

Right Step again.

Eun-ha, who deliberately moved far away, put "Winter Creeping in Snowflakes" in its sheath and threw "Winter Blooming Coldly" upwards.

At the same time, Eun-ha took off his blazer.

This exposed a weakness, and On Tae-yang immediately bared his teeth and rushed in.

Right then─

─Burst Counter

The sword falling from the sky.

The moment the sword stuck into the ground with a thud.

The mana thickly spread around reacted.

High-level control technique.

Eun-ha, who had controlled the sword with Igear Sword and further stimulated the mana spread in the area, showed a smile of satisfaction.

KWAKWAKWANG!!

The area exploded.

On Tae-yang was caught in the explosion.

But Eun-ha wasn't worried.

<Berserk > was paradoxically a power that maximized survival ability.

On Tae-yang would have survived somehow.

That's why Eun-ha vigorously jumped into the explosion.

Srrng

He drew "Winter Creeping in Snowflakes".

He maximized his sensing ability.

In the smoke where he couldn't see ahead.

He swung his sword according to what his sensing ability told him.

"Grrrr...."

As expected.

On Tae-yang had sensed his presence and was looking for an opportunity.

Eun-ha, who blocked his sword, quickly delivered a roundhouse kick.

On Tae-yang wouldn't fall for an attack he had experienced once before.

He blocked it by deploying a barrier.

But Eun-ha didn't panic and immediately counterattacked with "Winter Creeping in Snowflakes".

He trapped On Tae-yang's sword inside the hilt shaped like the character for mountain (山).

Eun-ha twisted his hand just like that.

On Tae-yang resisted.

Spirit

High-level control technique.

The spirit that slithered out of Eun-ha's body attacked On Tae-yang's body.

"KUAAAAA!!"

Magic that ignores defense and causes confusion in the target's mana.

On Tae-yang screamed.

Eun-ha used that moment to knock the sword in On Tae-yang's hand far away.

"NOOOOH EUUUUN-HAAAAA!!"

On Tae-yang's action was predictable.

On Tae-yang, who had activated <Berserk >, would surely reach for the closest weapon.

It was "Winter Blooming Coldly" that had fallen near Eun-ha.

Even this was within Eun-ha's expectations.

On Tae-yang passed by his side while avoiding the attack.

Eun-ha seized that moment─

"─Sorry, but this is my sword."

Igear Sword.

Eun-ha stimulated the residual mana in "Winter Blooming Coldly".

Then the sword flew into Eun-ha's hand, avoiding On Tae-yang's grasp.

On Tae-yang, who had turned his back, wavered.

But Eun-ha struck the back of his head with the pommel of "Winter Creeping in Snowflakes" without hesitation.

"...Kuhek...!"

On Tae-yang fell to the ground.

Eun-ha immediately stepped on his back.

Then he used his spirit to take away On Tae-yang's consciousness so he couldn't escape.

"Stay still for a bit."

Then Eun-ha covered On Tae-yang's face with his blazer uniform.

On Tae-yang struggled.

Eun-ha hit him while he was screaming and tightly tied the blazer around his head.

"...!!"

His sight was blocked.

On Tae-yang resisted.

He tried to struggle.

But Eun-ha didn't let him move his hands.

Then─

─It's not easy to faint in the <Berserk > state. It's hard to make him faint by hitting the back of the head in the orthodox way.

Eun-ha unfastened all the sheaths at his waist.

And he looked down at On Tae-yang with the swords in their sheaths.

"─It would be better for you to faint quickly."

With a thud.

Eun-ha struck down with the sword in its sheath.

Then he struck with the other hand.

Thud thud thud!!

Eun-ha showed no mercy.

He shouldn't underestimate <Berserk >.

So he alternately hit On Tae-yang with both hands.

Thud thud thud!!

It was effective.

On Tae-yang, who was resisting at first, soon showed signs of going limp.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha continued to beat him until he judged that On Tae-yang had definitely fainted.

And so─

 "Phew.... Ah, that feels refreshing somehow."

After On Tae-yang fainted,

While people were in a daze,

Eun-ha ended the match.

☆

The graduation match ended.

People didn't know how to express what they had just witnessed, with Noh Eun-ha beating On Tae-yang like a dog on a hot summer day.

"Is that the Pandora Clan Lord...?" "Seems he's not to be trifled with. It'd be better not to mess with him."

People seriously wondered if Noh Eun-ha might be a madman succeeding <Yamma > Kang Hyeon-cheol.

And Jang Bong-jeon, the Dangun Clan Lord who had been watching the match until now─

"─Are you... deliberately humiliating me? Do you have any sense at all?"

Jang Bong-jeon was openly furious.

He had thought On Tae-yang would lose.

But he expected Noh Eun-ha to show a match that would elevate On Tae-yang's value, like he did with Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk at the cultural festival.

But to be rolled up like a mat?

This wasn't the match he had expected.

Jang Bong-jeon's eyes blazed with anger, and the Players around him were busy watching his reactions.

"Let's go, everyone!"

""""Yes, sir!!""""

Despite having fallen from grace long ago,

Dangun Clan, unable to forget its heyday.

Jang Bong-jeon, unaware of how people were looking at him, ordered his clan members.

Eventually, he left the stands with his clan members.

The remaining people finally recalled Jang Bong-jeon's disgraceful behavior today and giggled.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha─

"─Why did the Gift change?"

As he came down from the arena,

Eun-ha was lost in thought.

Why was On Tae-yang's Gift different from before the regression?

The future has changed.

...Has it changed?

What changed the future?

Eun-ha couldn't understand.

Gifts were originally powers that everyone was born with.

In short, Gifts were innate qualities determined at birth.

So they shouldn't change.

Even if Eun-ha had changed the future, it didn't make sense.

After all, when he was born at 1 year old, he couldn't do almost anything.

Even assuming there was a butterfly effect, it shouldn't have affected On Tae-yang's birth.

Then he─

─Was it not <Brave >?

Eun-ha suddenly had such a thought.

Perhaps On Tae-yang had misunderstood his own Gift.

The one who named <Brave > was On Tae-yang himself.

He was the first discoverer.

Therefore, defining the Gift was entirely up to On Tae-yang.

He who named the Gift <Brave > might not have properly understood his own Gift.

Maybe he did so to hide information as much as possible.

"─No. That can't be."

Eun-ha soon shook his head.

He denied the very low possibility.

On Tae-yang must not have properly understood his Gift.

Because─

─The Gift On Tae-yang used today was <Berserk >.

If the Gift hadn't changed, then On Tae-yang must have had the same Gift as himself.

<Brave > was <Berserk >, and

<Berserk > was <Brave >.

And <Berserk > was revealed to be <Unknown > in this life.

That means <Brave > might also be <Unknown >.

If On Tae-yang had properly understood his Gift in his previous life, he would surely have used not only <Brave > but also <Unknown >.

But he didn't use it.

It must be proof that On Tae-yang didn't properly understand his Gift.

"Or is it my misunderstanding? That the three are actually the same Gift..."

<Berserk > = <Brave > = <Unknown >.

It was just a hypothesis.

That the three Gifts were actually one, and it was a Gift that activated under certain conditions.

But if his hypothesis was really correct─

─If the conditions are right, could I also use <Brave >?

Eun-ha had such a thought.

But he unknowingly sighed at the thought that yielded no answer.

What exactly is my Gift?

There's no reference material.

In the end, he had to figure it out alone.

Eun-ha placed his hand on his heart.

His heart was beating thump-thump, but

It didn't give him an answer.