STCB 102🔐

Chapter 102  …

 6th Floor Test (5)

Tsuzuzuzuk—!

“……!”

“W-What is this?”

“……Huh?”

It had been exactly one week since Lee Jin-hyeok had begun teaching Kaelion.

The training ground was completely turned upside down.

“Are you seriously stopping the flow over such a wide area?”

“No way even an experienced instructor could do this…”

“Uh—what?”

Watching the flow of such a large area freeze, everyone began to look for the culprit in shock.

What the…?

Among them, the most surprised was Choi Do-gyeom, who had come here briefly to observe the swordsmanship.

Could it really be that Lee Jin-hyeok did it again? No, he’s only been practicing the Form (制) for two weeks—there’s no way he could stop such a huge flow.

For some reason—whether it was due to less training or something else—Lee Jin-hyeok’s growth had seemed stagnant recently.

Even so, he had already mastered up to the 4th Form faster than any other player.

Did he… awaken again?

As Choi Do-gyeom shifted his gaze to where Lee Jin-hyeok was standing, the first thing he noticed was Kaelion, sniffling with tears.

What…? What happened?

Kaelion.

She was a trainee Choi Do-gyeom knew well. An elf who only cared about nature or spirits, a high elf with an extremely small population. And she was someone who hadn’t even succeeded at the 1st Form in twelve years.

She was unforgettable because of that.

And now… she was crying.

“What’s wrong…?”

Before he could finish, Kaelion ran to Lee Jin-hyeok and threw herself into his arms.

“……!”

“Thank you……”

“……No need.”

What’s going on?

Choi Do-gyeom tilted his head.

Did they have a fight because of a relationship? No… this is…

Then he felt the flow.

It was clear.

The one who had stopped this flow was Kaelion.

Kaelion, the trainee, stopped the flow herself.

Realizing this sent chills down his spine.

Wait…

In just one week… she awakened a trainee who hadn’t even achieved the 1st Form in twelve years?

And while Lee Jin-hyeok himself completed up to the 4th Form?

Lee Jin-hyeok was not just a genius progressing alone. He was a leader, a teacher, bringing those around him forward. His talent overflowed as well.

[<Descended Wind>: To awaken someone so untalented in just a week…?]

[Constellation <Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess> is amazed at your skill.]

[<King of the Rising China>: Haha. As expected, Master is Lee Jin-hyeok.]

[<Flame of Eternity>: Step back! I said step back! (ꐦ◣‸◢)]

[Constellation <Flame of Eternity> issues a new <Constellation Edict>.]

<Constellation Edict>

▶ Goal: No physical contact.
▶ Reward: 100,000 points.

[The <Constellation Edict> by <Flame of Eternity> lasts only during the 6th floor test.]

What the…? Is this jealousy?

Lee Jin-hyeok let out a small sigh at the absurd condition of the edict.

No. Constellations with such strong will and power wouldn’t feel jealousy. This is probably just a roleplay thing.

In any case, he gently removed Kaelion from his arms and said:

“This kind of display could cause misunderstandings.”

“……Ah.”

Only then did Kaelion blush and twist her body.

“I’m sorry. I was just too happy……”

“No, this is a trade.”

Lee Jin-hyeok smiled at her reaction.

“I’ll make use of you that much later.”

“As long as I can get out of here.”

Kaelion clenched her fists, determination blazing.

“Use me as much as you want!”

After being blocked for twelve years, her breakthrough had her almost uncontrollably excited.

<Wave Tide Sword Technique (波潮劍法)>
<1st Form>
<Form (制)>

She continued executing the 1st Form as if she couldn’t believe the reality.

Not bad to watch.

Kaelion’s harmonizing power would eventually allow her to dominate mana and spirits alike. Awakening her strength now and teaching her all sword forms would be extremely helpful—both now and in the future, especially against <Pure Radiance>.

Even the World Tree Mother she followed would eventually oppose <Pure Radiance>.

“Then let’s take a short break.”

He smiled.

“Shall we move on to the next one?”

Tap tap!

After a short rest, Lee Jin-hyeok patted the eggs he had visited elsewhere, then spoke to Kaelion.

“The next form. You know what the 2nd Form is, right?”

“I do.”

Wave Tide Sword Technique, 2nd Form: Steal (奪).

Kaelion, having barely mastered the 1st Form, could now feel the flow and stop it, but that was only the beginning.

Even just stopping the flow of mana could be used in combat. But true Wave Tide Sword Technique went beyond stopping—it had to reverse it.

“If you just stop the flow and stand there, you’ll inevitably be swept away by the regenerated flow.”

“……”

“The 2nd Form, Steal, isn’t just defensive or for disruption. It’s a technique to completely steal the opponent’s mana flow and merge it with your own.”

“Merge it…?”

“Yes. First stop the flow, then mix your flow with the opponent’s to gain the advantage.”

Once again, in only a swimsuit, Lee Jin-hyeok jabbed with his wooden sword.

<Wave Tide Sword Technique (波潮劍法)>
<2nd Form>
<Steal (奪)>

Shhhrick.

Simultaneously, the flow Kaelion had stopped began moving around Lee Jin-hyeok again. Mana gathered around his sword like forming an <Aura Blade>.

“What the….”

Clearly far more difficult than the 1st Form.

This sword technique…

Lee Jin-hyeok mastered all of it in less than a week.

Now that Kaelion could sense mana, she realized even more clearly how monstrous he was—breaking from 1st to 4th Form in two weeks.

“I can only teach you up to here, the 2nd Form.”

“……”

“Now let’s move on to actual combat.”

“Already…?”

Seeing Lee Jin-hyeok silently raise his wooden sword, Kaelion shivered slightly.

There was a reason he always said “combat” instead of “sparring” during training.

He’s going to beat me up again…!

He was her benefactor and unparalleled teacher, but that didn’t make his strikes any less painful.

Painful enough that she wondered if it wouldn’t be better to escape the 6th floor a little later.

“C-Could we… rest a bit more…?”

“You’ve rested enough.”

Tap tap…

Al, sensing her feelings, approached and gently nudged her. Kaelion pouted.

“……Y-Yes……”

Thud—!

“Khrghh…!”

“An absurd attempt.”

Like trying to grab the ocean barehanded, Kaelion’s wooden sword simply bounced off. She didn’t even touch Lee Jin-hyeok’s sword.

“Kaelion, your mana is shallow. To deflect my sword, you must not only use your own mana flow but also absorb and utilize mine.”

Despite sweating profusely, Kaelion swung her sword while Lee Jin-hyeok stood calmly with his wooden sword.

Yet the one struggling was Kaelion. Her breathing became difficult under Lee Jin-hyeok’s overwhelming presence and flow.

Stopping the 1st Form was already difficult, and now I have to take his flow as my own…

Stopping the flow with the 1st Form was manageable. But stealing the opponent’s mana flow and making it hers was double… no, several times harder.

And the opponent wasn’t an ordinary player. It was Lee Jin-hyeok, using the “Sacred Flame,” heavier and more intense than mana.

Not only that, he was now a full Sword Master, able to channel his sword with surrounding energy, flow, and even intention.

Stealing his flow was no easy task. Impossible, even.

Lee Jin-hyeok wasn’t holding back at all.

[<King of Muspel>: Why isn’t he holding back?]

“……”

[<King of Muspel>: With your current skill, you could never surpass him, even if you died and came back.]
[<King of Rising China>: Agreed. Not wasted 12 years lol.]
[<Grand Duke of Gluttony>: Elf or not, just absorb the flow here and leave. What a waste of time.]
[<Golden Smile>: Foolish. Don’t you see he’s feeding the flow and mana here into Al?]

The constellations’ reactions mirrored what anyone else would think.

A slow learner, lost here for twelve years—there was no way she could overcome a full Sword Master using all his power.

Training only has meaning if the wall can be scaled. Too high a wall, and you fall and get hurt. Or die.

They don’t understand.

Lee Jin-hyeok’s reaction was clear:

Kaelion’s potential isn’t just this.

It took 25 years, but Kaelion had reached Sword Master alone—only with Wave Tide Sword Technique, which has just five Forms.

Her intention could dominate surrounding mana and spirits, forcibly harmonizing them as her own.

Her intention perfectly matches Wave Tide Sword Technique, 2nd Form: Steal.

This meant her greatest strength lay in this 2nd Form.

And one more thing.

If she uses her power in the 2nd Form at my level, she will truly become a help to me.

Lee Jin-hyeok’s goal was her 2nd Form power—stealing the opponent’s flow and making it hers—for both his growth and hers.

He had to force her to overcome this seemingly impossible wall.

But it wasn’t impossible for Kaelion. Her talent could not only scale but break it entirely.

Tsuzuzuzuk…!

Even now—see—

…As expected.

In only three days of training, she was already stealing Lee Jin-hyeok’s power. Truly a monstrous talent.

“Krgh… Haaah…!”

Thud.

Yet she couldn’t fully handle Lee Jin-hyeok’s massive energy and collapsed.

Tap tap!

Al, now used to it, came to support her.

“Th-Thank you……”

Thud.

Leaning on Al, Kaelion collapsed exhausted once again.

“Hmm…”

Watching her, Lee Jin-hyeok narrowed his eyes.

[Skill <Heal> activated.]

Tsuzuzuzuk—!

He healed Kaelion, shaking his head.

It won’t be easy for a while.

[<King of Muspel>: I told you, it won’t work.]
[<King of Muspel>: Mortal beings have innate limits on how much power they can contain.]
[<King of Muspel>: Some call it a ‘vessel’.]

“Then what if she dies?”

Lee Jin-hyeok looked directly at Surtr, the King of Muspel.

Finding him was not difficult—a star burning brightly like fire, visible even in this mana-filled place, <Haedong>.

“Then what will happen if she dies?”

[<King of Muspel>: That’s it. Her vessel.]

“……”

[<King of Muspel>: You expect to expand your vessel without risking death? Ha. There’s no law like that.]

Lee Jin-hyeok knew Surtr was right.

The problem was this:

Am I… sacrificing Kaelion to surpass Wave Tide Sword Technique with my sword?

His goal was to protect the tower from <Pure Radiance> and save as many lives as possible.

Was it right to put a living player like Kaelion in danger to grow stronger?

[Constellation <King of Muspel> issues a new <Constellation Edict>.]

Huh?

At that moment, Surtr issued a new edict.

<Constellation Edict>

▶ Goal: Guide player Kaelion to break her limits and expand her ‘vessel’.
Challenging this edict gives the ‘Trial of Lava’ from <King of Muspel>.
The edict applies to both Lee Jin-hyeok and Kaelion. Success will open a new path in swordsmanship for Kaelion.
▶ Reward: ???

[<King of Muspel>: Still… it’s been a long time.]
[<King of Muspel>: A being risking their life to break their vessel…]

“……!”

At that moment, Lee Jin-hyeok saw it:

Kaelion’s eyes, burning like molten lava.

[<King of Muspel>: High Elf forsaken by the spirits.]
[<King of Muspel>: I grant you this chance—to wield the Muspel power, far beyond mere spirits.]