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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Acquiring
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『Skill Replication』.
A skill that could replicate other skills.
Its utility was immense, to the point where it was called the most overpowered among the Monarchs' skills.
But people didn't know.
That this skill had a derivative skill—one so superior to the original that it rendered it obsolete in reverse.
That was 『Skill Acquisition』.
A skill that allowed one to acquire 'techniques' as skills.
In truth, this skill was no different from a hot potato for Lee Cheongi.
Be it the performance of a renowned master,
or the acting of a world-famous star,
or the tricks of a legendary gambler.
No matter how impressive their techniques, in this Iron Age where high-level players existed, they paled in comparison to player skills.
Thus, it was far more efficient to replicate existing skills like 『Instrument Performance』, 『Perfect Acting』, or 『Art of Gambling』 than to acquire such techniques as skills.
That was why Lee Cheongi had tried it a few times before deeming it useless and shelving it.
But at this very moment,
Lee Cheongi was realizing anew that 『Skill Acquisition』 was anything but useless.
"You thieving bastard! You dare steal my swordsmanship?"
"'Steal' is a bit much. I'll think of it as receiving instruction."
"What kind of instruction is this?!"
Whether furious at having his swordsmanship stolen,
Rimon, veins bulging on his forehead, swung his sword like a madman.
It was a ferocious assault that would have cost Lee Cheongi one or two arms in an instant if it were moments ago.
But that was the old story.
Cha-jae-jae-jae-jae-jaeng!
He matched the blade targeting his fingers, twisted his wrist to wrap it like a serpent, and countered by aiming for Rimon's fingers instead.
He flicked the sword away to shake off the blade, spun his body to dodge the chest-slashing strike, and thrust forward.
Rimon leaned his upper body back to evade the blade.
Targeting his lower body, Lee Cheongi slashed downward, but Rimon struck the ground with his sword, using the recoil to pull back.
The explanation was long, but the exchange happened in a flash.
It was a super-high-speed clash that even most high-level players—not to mention Lee Cheongi himself—could barely follow before.
But now, things were different.
A speed that didn't fall short of Rimon's!
What made it possible was the 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 he had just acquired from Rimon.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Unique Skill 『Skill Acquisition』 activated.] [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』.]
"Truly astonishing swordsmanship."
Lee Cheongi marveled.
He had known Rimon's swordsmanship was exceptional from the way it parried all his various skills.
However, after actually acquiring it,
he had to admit his misjudgment.
『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 was several times more extraordinary than he had imagined.
Just the correction effects alone proved it.
Of course, any swordsmanship skill came with corrections.
But 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 was on another level.
Strength correction, speed correction, accuracy correction, massive boosts to critical hit chance and all resistances were basic.
On top of that, bonus damage to demons and dragons, high chance of instant death on critical hits, crisis detection, skill destruction, and various special effects.
Even combining all the swordsmanship skills Lee Cheongi had ever acquired wouldn't reach half of 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』's corrections.
It was at a level where comparison itself felt rude.
A gap that let one truly feel why the Sword Master was the Sword Master.
Moreover, the true terror of 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 wasn't just its correction effects.
"I never imagined swordsmanship alone could predict more accurately than foresight."
The subtle changes in the fingers gripping the sword.
The faint twitch of muscles.
The movement and contraction of the pupils.
The position and angle of the stepping foot, and more.
Like a national Go master reading the endgame from a board with just a few stones placed,
by observing each movement, one could predict the opponent's next action and strike accordingly.
It was beyond mere insight—it was mastery. An infallible prophecy, a formula for certain victory that severed all possibility of defeat.
『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 was swordsmanship that embodied that formula.
Lee Cheongi nodded in understanding.
Why Rimon was called the Absolute.
With this swordsmanship alone, he would have been invincible in an era without players.
No—even against a Monarch, he might have held his own to some extent.
If the opponent weren't himself, that is.
At that fact, Lee Cheongi felt a thrill of ecstasy.
"You can take pride in it. Your swordsmanship holds value surpassing a thousand skills."
"Oh? When did I ask you to evaluate my swordsmanship?"
"It's not evaluation. It's acknowledgment."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Lee Cheongi was undoubtedly one of the strongest in the current era, but even he had limits.
Unique skills couldn't be replicated.
That was the limit of 『Skill Replication』.
And of Lee Cheongi himself.
Skills like 『Absolute Defense』, 『Deification』, 『Rule of Law』, and others.
Unique skills wielded by only one person held power no other skill could imitate.
One could combine countless skills for similar results, but replicating their unique traits was impossible.
Thus, Lee Cheongi was merely one of the ten Monarchs.
He could never become a true Absolute.
For a single skill to overturn thousands was the domain of Absolute Skills—the power of Monarchs.
But now, the story had changed.
'This makes it possible.'
The effects of 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 surpassed most unique skills.
No—it wasn't an exaggeration to say it encroached on the realm of Absolute Skills.
In other words, he had become a being with two Absolute Skills.
Even Monarchs whose victory he couldn't easily predict before, he could now confidently claim victory against in close combat.
'And if I obtain the Black Dragon Clan's treasure as well...!'
His goal had been only the Black Dragon Princess.
He hadn't cared about Rimon at all.
Yet, to think this relic from a bygone era would yield such a treasure.
Feeling ecstasy at this unexpected fortune, Lee Cheongi meticulously organized his plans to seize the Black Dragon Clan's treasure afterward.
All while completely ignoring the Rimon in front of him.
"...You crazy bastard. Are you fighting me while lost in thought?"
"The outcome is already decided."
"And what's that outcome?"
"You know it already. You can never beat me now."
"Save that talk for after you win, you punk!"
Rimon spat curses viciously.
Seemingly oblivious to how his excitement had simplified his sword path.
Calmly parrying his blindly accelerated strikes, Lee Cheongi thought,
'Foolish struggling.'
From the moment he stole 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』, his swordsmanship prowess matched Rimon's.
Unlike the ordinary human Rimon, Lee Cheongi had player-level corrections and additional boosts from various sword skills.
When using the exact same technique, a stat difference meant the outcome was sealed.
That was why Lee Cheongi insisted on fighting Rimon with swordsmanship alone.
Since it was a fight he would win anyway, crushing him with his own swordsmanship was the highest respect for the Sword Master.
'In 17 more exchanges, it ends.'
Lee Cheongi predicted.
The conclusion of this fierce battle.
From dodging the final attack to thrusting his sword into Rimon's heart—every step.
Rimon would sense that conclusion too.
But nothing would change.
Just as there was no saving a king after checkmate, it was already a foregone result.
At least, that's what Lee Cheongi believed.
Kang!
The moment they clashed in what should have been the decisive 17th exchange.
Until the instant he failed to dodge Rimon's attack.
'...What?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Counter (破解)』 acquired.]
Thanks to 『Preemptive Foresight』, he barely blocked Rimon's attack by a hair's breadth, leaving Lee Cheongi puzzled.
The attack's timing.
The speed of the swing.
The power within.
None deviated from his prediction.
Yet, why couldn't he dodge such an obvious strike? It was incomprehensible.
Lee Cheongi didn't panic, though.
It was just a slight delay in the conclusion, he thought, countering again and predicting the end once more.
21 exchanges later: a neck-slashing strike.
34 exchanges later: an arm-severing slash.
79 exchanges later: a knee-piercing counter.
Each calculated precisely against Rimon's swordsmanship, guaranteed to be fatal blows.
But the strikes that should hit missed.
The slashes exploiting gaps were blocked.
The perfectly executed counters were parried.
Predictions that should have been spot-on kept failing inexplicably.
The growing discrepancy with each clash hardened Lee Cheongi's expression.
"What's wrong with you?"
Sensing his agitation,
Rimon taunted while swinging his sword.
"You stole my swordsmanship, didn't you? But your swings are looking pretty sloppy."
"What trick are you pulling?"
"The trick's the one you pulled."
Rimon played innocent.
Seeing that, Lee Cheongi became even more convinced.
That Rimon was behind his failed predictions.
From then on, instead of ending it, he focused more on observing Rimon.
"...I see. So that's how it is."
"How what is, you punk?"
"No use pretending. I've already seen through your trick."
"What the hell are you babbling about?"
『Observation』, 『High-Speed Thinking』, 『Master Detective's Deduction』, 『Encyclopedia』, and more.
Mobilizing various skills and clashing dozens more times, Lee Cheongi finally uncovered the trick and smirked coldly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Unique Skill 『Skill Acquisition』 activated.] [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Counter (破解)』.] [『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Counter』 merges with the homologous skill 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』. Skill effects greatly enhanced.]
The reason his sword deviated at crucial moments.
Having replicated 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Counter』, Lee Cheongi was genuinely impressed.
'As expected of a veteran.'
To prepare a counter-swordsmanship that perfectly countered 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 in case it leaked.
It was the thoroughness of a legendary hero who had lived long and experienced countless battles.
"Now the games are over."
Having seen through the trick and acquired even his trump card countermeasure, Rimon was no longer a match for him.
Lee Cheongi believed that without a doubt.
After exchanging dozens more strikes.
Until he realized he still couldn't overpower Rimon, and observed his swordsmanship again.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Revision (改)』.] [『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Revision』 merges with the homologous skill 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』. Skill effects greatly enhanced.]
At that point, Lee Cheongi merely furrowed his brow at Rimon's paranoid preparedness.
But soon he learned.
That it was only the beginning.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Acquiring 『New (新) Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』.] [Acquiring 『True (眞) Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』.] [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Improved Version』.] [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword EX』.] [『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword』 merges with homologous skills... Skill effects greatly enhanced, greatly enhanced, greatly enhanced...]
"...!"
No matter how much he stole via 『Skill Acquisition』,
new sword arts kept emerging endlessly: counters to counters, countermeasures to countermeasures, revisions to revisions—Lee Cheongi couldn't hide his bewilderment.
This went beyond paranoia or meticulousness.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Version 3.7』...] [System error, error code xi111a0o44. Bug occurred: No acquirable technique exists on target.] [Acquiring 『Subduing Demon Dragon-Slaying Sword Version 3.8』.]
"...This is insane."
As if too lazy to even rename them one by one,
the swordsmanship versions updated sequentially, and while frantically using 『Skill Acquisition』 on them, a bug message popped up.
Seeing it, Lee Cheongi cursed.
Out of character for him.
But he couldn't help it.
He had finally realized the truth.
Rimon hadn't prepared countermeasures like counters in advance for emergencies.
"You... don't tell me you're creating new swordsmanship in real time right now?!"
He was simply inventing new sword arts faster than Lee Cheongi could acquire them—counters tailored to the stolen ones.