STCB 104🔐

Chapter 104 …

 Sixth Floor Trial (7)

“So, what exactly do you want me to do?”

“For now, help this guy a little.”

Thunk?

At Lee Jin-hyuk’s words, the egg next to him tilted slightly.

“It’s gotten too big. You’ll need to use the power of your sword techniques to shrink it a bit.”

[<Flame of Eternity>: Diet… is this really happening? (⁰□⁰)]
[<Duke of Gluttony>: Why bother shrinking it when all it does is eat?]

Thunk…?

Having absorbed countless blessings of the constellations, along with the scales and energy of the dragon, the egg had now grown as large as Lee Jin-hyuk himself.

While it would still be convenient as a shield (?), carrying it around had become extremely impractical.

Kaelion needed to use her newly acquired <Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship>, Third Form: <Compression Flow>, to reduce its size.

There was no risk of losing strength or energy.

Kaelion’s technique worked by compressing the existing power, making it even stronger in the process.

“Hmm… not sure if it’ll work, but I’ll give it a try.”

“While we’re at it, let’s do it now. Go on, you know what to do.”

Thunk… Thunk?

“Stand here.”

The egg was slightly anxious, but what could it do?

When the master commands, it must obey.

In the end, the egg became the first victim (?) of Kaelion, who had awakened her new power.

“Here we go. Got it.”

Thunk-thunk!

<Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship >
<Third Form>
<Compression Flow >

Tsss-!

Kaelion swung her sword, and a ripple in the flow, visible only to Lee Jin-hyuk, enveloped the egg.

Gradually, the egg began to shrink.

“Don’t stop the waves. Accept them. Tighten the flow.”

Thanks to Kaelion’s power, the egg shrank effectively.

Thunk-thunk!

[<Flame of Eternity>: Even a grub can roll… (-_-)]
[<Golden Smile>: This doesn’t look like simple rolling anymore.]

“Thank you. And…”

Lee Jin-hyuk picked up a wooden sword and smiled.

“This time, you’ll help me with my sword training.”

“Me…?”

Kaelion tilted her head in confusion.

From her perspective, Lee Jin-hyuk was an overwhelmingly skilled master compared to her.

Not only did he instantly master the swordsmanship she had struggled with for 12 years as if by magic, but he also caught the attention of the constellations, paving a new path.

He was simultaneously her teacher and benefactor.

And now, he would be learning from her?

It didn’t make sense.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely be of help.”

Kaelion’s newly developed <Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship> consisted of five forms, like <Tide-Flow Swordsmanship>.

The final form—the secret technique—was the Fifth Form: <Fusion Flow>.

This was the power Lee Jin-hyuk needed.

“After absorbing all flows and energies, you forcibly fuse them and enhance them further—this is Kaelion’s ultimate technique.”

For someone like Lee Jin-hyuk, who possessed multiple powers, this was essential.

“I’ll show you the sword technique now.”

“…Yes.”

“During our sparring, activate <Fusion Flow>. Then my technique will blend with yours.”

“So… I’ll use my <Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship> to…”

“You’ll gain new insights into swordsmanship and move forward.”

Swish.

“I’m a Sword Master too. I’m already stronger than most instructors. Now.”

Grin.

“I won’t give in easily.”

“That’s exactly what I want. Then, let’s go.”

Whoosh…!

“Let’s start.”

[Several constellations watch the disciples’ duel with interest.]
[Constellation <Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess> pretends not to watch the battle.]
[Constellation <Descending Wind> strokes its beard, concentrating.]

At this moment, Lee Jin-hyuk had not equipped powerful items like the <Eternal Rune> or <Emperor’s Sword>.

He relied purely on his body, swordsmanship, and the power of the Flame Dragon to face Kaelion.

It made sense—sword techniques blend more naturally in a pure state.

[Skill <Air Boost> activated.]

Bang!

The power of the air erupted from Lee Jin-hyuk’s feet, propelling him forward.

<Air Boost>

Kaelion activated <Air Boost> as well.

The wooden swords of the two airborne players clashed swiftly.

Dong!

A distortion appeared in space itself—a phenomenon caused by colliding flows.

Tsss-!

Kaelion’s <Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship>, wielded at Sword Master level, had become noticeably harder to counter.

There was one reason.

Lee Jin-hyuk’s body and the mana dispersed throughout the tower flowed into her body and sword.

She wasn’t just stopping the flow.

She absorbed it into a massive vortex, which strengthened her body.

Her body became as hard as steel that had been heated and cooled by a blacksmith.

<Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship (熔流劍法)>
<Third Form>
<Compression Flow (壓縮流)>

Moreover, she compressed this power further, making her body even harder.

‘Hrm.’

Lee Jin-hyuk felt as if he were striking solid iron and began serious swordplay.

<Tide-Flow Swordsmanship >
<First Form>
<Control>

Lee Jin-hyuk extended his sword toward Kaelion while controlling the flow.

Against Kaelion, who strengthened her body by absorbing flow, he simply stopped the flow itself.

<Tide-Flow Swordsmanship >
<Second Form>
<Restrain >

Within the halted flow, Lee Jin-hyuk began drawing Kaelion’s mana away.

“I won’t go down easily!”

Kaelion refused to give in.

A war of flow and counterflow unfolded.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Thud!
Ziiiiiing…!

Flows twisted chaotically.

[Skill <Cosmic Vistara> activated.]

Tsss-!

Lee Jin-hyuk could now analyze all flows in his vision.

Like a spiderweb, or the world itself fracturing like glass.

‘Good.’

Until now, it had been evenly matched.

By pushing and pulling these flows, he took a step further.

<Tide-Flow Swordsmanship >
<Third Form>
<Collapse >

Crack-crack-crash!

Flows collided violently and began collapsing like a shattered window.

Clang-crash!

‘The flows…’

Gulp.

‘They’re collapsing!’

Kaelion panicked and drew more power.

She tried to absorb the tangled flows to heat and strengthen her body.

Lee Jin-hyuk tried to destroy these flows to gain the advantage.

Though only wooden swords, the two Sword Masters, perfectly controlling mana and flames around them, caused surrounding objects to crack.

‘Not enough yet.’

Using <Cosmic Vistara> to observe, Lee Jin-hyuk muttered,

‘Still, still sloppy.’

He could clearly see Kaelion was falling behind.

Even with help, she had created her own path as an extraordinary genius swordswoman.

Still, she could not surpass Lee Jin-hyuk.

Her lack of experience made it impossible.

‘Not even 12 years could beat this?’

To reach the Fifth Form in both <Dragon-Flow> and <Tide-Flow> Swordsmanship, one must execute the prior forms in order.

Thus, Lee Jin-hyuk deliberately controlled his power to counter Kaelion’s sword.

“Ugh…!”

<Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship >
<Fourth Form>
<Reverse Chain Flow >

Unable to stand it, Kaelion activated the Fourth Form first.

Reverse Chain Flow.

It follows the opponent’s attack flow backward, draws it to its source, binds it, absorbs it, and swallows it.

Now, Kaelion was trying to devour Lee Jin-hyuk’s Flame Energy.

[<Duke of Gluttony>: Hoh, interesting power.]
[<King of Neutrality>: Not bad.]
[<King of Muspel>: Hehe.]

The Fourth Form was highly refined, impressing the constellations.

Seeing Surtr with shoulders raised, Lee Jin-hyuk executed his own form.

<Tide-Flow Swordsmanship >
<Fourth Form>
<Fury >

Paaaaah!

The collapsed flow became a single stream again.

Like waves merging or a dragon ascending.

All flows gathered into Lee Jin-hyuk’s wooden sword, forming an <Aura Blade>.

Saaaah!

The flows absorbed Kaelion’s flow too, threatening vital points like her neck.

“This is the last one!”

<Dragon-Flow Swordsmanship>
<Fifth Form>
<Fusion Flow >

Rising.

For a moment, all surrounding flows halted.

‘What is this?’

Simultaneously, a massive blazing circle formed behind Kaelion.

It was overwhelming, like a miniature sun.

Chaaaaah!

The sun began sucking in everything—flows, mana, and flames.

It was as if the sun were a furnace, melting and fusing all.

The wooden sword in Lee Jin-hyuk’s hands shook violently as his own power was momentarily absorbed.

[Several constellations are watching you.]
[Constellation <Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess> thinks you lost this time.]
[<World-Encircling Serpent>: This might be dangerous.]
[<Flame of Eternity> watches tensely.]

Even the constellations were tense—the power of <Fusion Flow> was incredible.

‘Alright.’

But Lee Jin-hyuk smiled.

‘This is it…!’

Before regression, when Kaelion used a sword imbued with the will of “fusion,” a giant tree had appeared behind her.

It absorbed all nutrients and merged into one as a tree.

Back then, harmony between them was emphasized; now, forced fusion was key.

Though he wouldn’t gain the title “Noble Elf” like before,

‘It’s much stronger now.’

Moreover, it was excellent for merging his own powers.

‘Now!’

[Skill <Nightmare Lightning> activated.]

Crackle!

Golden lightning struck Lee Jin-hyuk amidst the fire hell.

And at that moment…

*[Warning! <Status Effect: > applied.]
[ ***.]
[Skill <Indomitable> frees all abnormal states.]

Two message boxes appeared, seemingly competing with each other.

It was as if the conflicting effects were vying for dominance.

The important point here: Lee Jin-hyuk’s own will.

[Temporarily cancel skill <Indomitable>.]
*[Warning! <Status Effect: > applied.]
[ ***.]

Crackle!

His consciousness began to descend along with the golden lightning.

‘It’s come. A nightmare.’

Nightmare.

A status effect that shows the target the world they desire.

In this case, Lee Jin-hyuk targeted himself.

This meant he could see the world he wished to see.

At this moment, his desired world was clear:

‘A sensation of time flowing extremely slowly.’

While Kaelion’s <Fusion Flow> continued, he slowed the perception of time.

During this, he fused the skills and sword techniques he wanted into a new form.

“Good.”

Grin.

“Let’s go.”

Watching Kaelion’s <Fusion Flow>, Lee Jin-hyuk poured in his skills and sword techniques.

[Skill <Air Boost> activated.]
[Skill <Stellar Annihilation Sword> activated.]
[Skill <Flame Dragon> activated.]

<Stellar Annihilation Swordsmanship >
<Second Form>
<Flaming Dragon Wings >

Fshhhh-!

Everything began merging into the <Fusion Flow>.

The wings behind him, the white flames enveloping his body, the double slashes—all fused.

Chaaaah!

His intent and swordsmanship manifested as wings spreading even larger behind him.