Turns Out To Be a Genius Duelist

“…!”

Something weighed down on his shoulders. He couldn’t breathe, and his head went blank. When he came to his senses, he was kneeling with his arms and forehead pressed against the floor.

Flop.

The difficulty he chose was Proficiency. It started with the effect of the last expedition in which all his stats increased by two and overcoming, which increased his fear resistance by 90%. Nevertheless, he couldn’t last for a second before he began to tremble with terror.

Who was this person? He didn’t even have time to consider that. By the time he realized it, answers were already pouring from him.

“What do you think?”

The Cheonma-style socializing method was successful, so she turned back to Yoon-seok with a triumphant look. Yoon-seok answered honestly.

“It seems like a comfortable and fast route.”

In other words, a method only unbound demons could use. He instinctively rebelled against the idea of suppressing the innocent and weak with force. The only difference was that she didn’t enjoy it, but otherwise, this was what Kang Hyung-woo did to Yoon-seok. Without Cheon-ma, Yoon-seok would have collected information by eavesdropping.

However…

‘In fact, it’s funny to feel this way now.’

He had ended numerous lives with his own hands, and there would only be more blood going forward. He never hurt anyone out of convenience, but if there was a good reason, he killed relentlessly. Yoon-seok felt like he knew what she was trying to say to him now.

‘Is she telling me to be a little more certain?’

Yoon-seok, feeling embarrassed, brought up a question he was curious about to change the topic.

“…How did you know?”

Cheon-ma chose one out of many, but this challenger surprisingly knew a lot. The final goal of this expedition, the detailed processes leading up to that point, and even the situation outside the gate. Like Miller, whom he met on the 14th floor, who heard information from challengers who had gone through the mission prior.

“I know when I look into their eyes.”

“Eyes…?”

“He had a strangely relaxed look. As if he knew everything.”

He had no clue, but one thing was for sure. She preferred the easy way because she had the power to take it. Her insight was formidable.

“I… can I go now…?”

As the conversation between Yoon-seok and Cheon-ma continued, the man, drenched in sweat, carefully chimed in.

“What do you think I should do…?”

“I think I’ve heard everything, so it’s okay for you to go.”

“If we still have questions, we can catch and ask him later. Go ahead.”

“T-thank you!”

Honestly, he didn’t know if there was anything to be thankful for, but the man bowed and ran away.

“At least he has manners. He’ll live longer.”

Cheon-ma smiled, watching the man leave. With that, their preparations were over.

“There is no more time to delay. Hurry up and get in formation!”

The challengers moved quickly under the instruction of expedition leader Zrayburn, and the mission began in earnest. Yoon-seok walked in line with Cheon-ma.

“Found an enemy at 1 o’clock!”

“Go ahead and provide support!”

“Hey, you devil! You pushed me on purpose, didn’t you?”

Occasionally, there were battles with invaders from outside, but they were quickly resolved. Yoon-seok wasn’t sure if this was because they had just started or the level of the challengers was too high. But, as a result, Cheon-ma and Yoon-seok, set in charge of the rear, didn’t have to get involved.

“Huhu. This is fun.”

Fortunately, Cheon-ma looked quite happy, portraying the image of a child who came on a picnic to a theme park where everything was unfamiliar and amazing. Meanwhile, Yoon-seok reviewed the information he had obtained from the interrogation (?) earlier.

There were more than a couple of interesting things.

‘World before destruction.’

There was no more appropriate way to say it than that was this mission’s background. Moorim, Seheranbad, and Kilian. No matter how they tried to close the rifts, again and again, it became difficult to handle the opening of the new one, so the three dimensions joined forces.

Leading to this:

‘The Final Expedition.’

About 500 top challengers were selected from the three dimensions. They entered beyond the rift with the mission of killing the Queen, who had the power to create new dimensional cracks.

‘All or nothing.’

It was a gamble. If successful, all dimensions would have a chance to counterattack, but if they failed, that was it.

‘Well, it became a mission since they succeeded…’

The results could be predicted. If they failed, Yoon-seok wouldn’t have learned about Moorim or Seheranbad. Nevertheless, he felt a little strange. The year 526, based in Seheranbad. The period was about three years after the appearance of the Tower of Heaven. It was about two years ago that they had the first challenger on Earth.

‘In other words, did it become this serious as early as half a year or at least a year later…?’

Of course, it was an assumption. As that man said earlier, the three dimensions appeared to have lost all their rankers, and the dimensional suppression system disappeared.

Tuk.

Yoon-seok woke from his thoughts at the icy cold energy he felt wash over the nape of his neck.

“We’ve come all the way here. How long will you stay like that?”

Cheon-ma poked at his back. She appeared to be tired of looking around and was slowly growing bored.

“Still, if we stay like this, our contribution won’t accumulate. Next time, I’ll tell the expedition leader to let us take the lead.”

“…”

“Is there something you don’t like?”

“It’s not fun to play with these trivial things. More than that…”

Cheon-ma trailed off and walked past him.

“…Your story. No, I’m curious about stories of Earth.”

Come to think of it, Cheon-ma liked to explore. Until she met Yoon-seok, she traveled as much as she could in Moorim.

“What is the Earth-like?”

It was incomparable to Taklan, but the Earth was a dimension of scientific civilization. Whether it was about automobiles, architecture, or famous sayings of war heroes and philosophy, he said whatever came to mind.

“I want to go there someday.”

“Please visit sometime. I’ll guide you around.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

Cheon-ma continued to nod. Then, her expression became shy.

“By the way, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask…”

“Please go ahead.”

“…Your pocket… what’s that cute thing?”

Cute thing? Yoon-seok glanced down to follow Cheon-ma’s line of sight. Perhaps he was suffocating as Asura stuck his head out of his front pocket and was looking around.

“Are you talking about this…?”

“Obviously. What else is there besides that?”

She called Asura cute. He blanked out, but when he thought about it, this wasn’t the first time something like that had happened. Elle had said much the same, too, and Namgoong So-so treated Asura like a puppy.

Was Asura popular among women? Yoon-seok’s common sense began to collapse.

“He’s my summoned creature. He’s now miniaturized.”

“H-his name is…?”

“Asura.”

“Asura… his name is as cute as he looks.”

He was better when small, but to say he was cute… and the name Asura at that…? However, it was impossible to argue with Cheon-ma’s taste.

“Is it okay if I touch it?”

“…Yes. Well, go ahead.”

Yoon-seok picked up Asura by the scruff and handed him over. As he did, however, Cheon-ma freaked out.

“What are you going to do if his head bursts and he dies?!”

“What?”

Yoon-seok doubted his ears. She wouldn’t react like this if she saw this monster holding the Sword Demon’s head.

“Ahem! Treat it carefully. He’s still your summoned creature, right?”

“Yes…”

Afterward, Cheon-ma placed Asura on her palm and smoothed him out with her finger. Asura tried to escape from her ministrations, but Cheon-ma laughed as if she was having fun.

“This reminds me of the time when I tamed the White Flying Tiger. He was such a good boy.”

“…Did you raise a tiger?”

“I did. At first, it was a handful because it kept trying to defy me, but when I pulled out its eyes and toenails, it listened well from then on.”

“…Growl?“

Asura tilted his head. Then, suddenly, he stopped and began to purr, rolling over in Cheon-ma’s palm. Asura didn’t have sharp claws to pull off, but he did have six arms.

“There you go.”

Cheon-ma’s attitude changed, and she caressed the obedient Asura. She looked happier than Yoon-seok had ever seen her.

“Ptui! The front is working hard, yet these bastards came here to play.”

In the middle of that, a man ahead of them muttered loudly for them to hear. It wasn’t aimed at anyone, but it was obvious who he meant.

‘This crazy bastard.’

He was a challenger who stood in the middle of the line, but his injuries marked that he had been at the frontlines for a while. This guy would die if Yoon-seok snapped his fingers without a need for Cheon-ma’s help. That was why he needed to be careful.

The system announced there would be a big penalty for killing expedition members in this mission. Since various races gathered, it was a consideration offered to reduce conflict. Yoon-seok bit back his retort and looked to Cheon-ma. But…

‘…Did she not hear?’

Cheon-ma was still playing with Asura, but there was no way that a talented person like her hadn’t heard.

‘Maybe she doesn’t think it was directed to her…’

It was a reasonable guess. Why would she get involved in a pointless fight? It was better to move on as if it was white noise. However, the problem was…

“Seeing how she’s playing with that stupid toy, is she stupid?”

That guy didn’t know his luck and continued to push it.

Flinch.

Cheon-ma’s hand froze. At the same time, Yoon-seok stiffened.

Shift.

Cheon-ma’s eyes slid over and fixed in one place.

“Did you just say that to me?”

Of course, the man couldn’t answer. He began to stutter with a rapidly paling complexion as her energy washed over him.

“…”

The march stopped under her overwhelming presence. Neither the challengers nor the invaders fighting moved. They froze as if time had stopped. All there looked like one to Cheon-ma.

“Cheon-ma…?”

One challenger from Moorim recognized her despite her hat. His murmurs sent ripples through the crowd.

“If it’s Cheon-ma, could it be the No. 1 in the duel rankings?”

There were a total of 13 people tied in the first place. Each of their names was already famous among the challengers, so those not from Moorim also regarded her with shock. But the most annoying thing was…

“Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!”

Some of the expedition members were from the Demon Cult. The water that had already spilled could not be recovered.

Yoon-seok approached Cheon-ma.

“We don’t know what the penalty is. You can’t kill him.”

He had to stop her from committing any violence. But then, the Moorim challenger, who first recognized Cheon-ma, shouted while pointing at Yoon-seok.

“Heavenly Destroyer! There’s also the Co-Sect Leader, the Heavenly Destroyer!”

“The Heavenly Destroyer of Horizon Lake?”

Had the incident at Horizon Lake already spread? His nickname in Moorim had changed at some point from Bloodseeker to Heavenly Destroyer.