RG 16

Following me, Kwon Taehyeok also drew a weapon from his inventory, and eight blades appeared behind him, hovering in the air.

Kwon Taehyeok’s skill was ‘Blade Rush.’ It was the ability to manipulate sharp double-edged blades freely. It closely resembled the ‘Swordplay of Surpassing Skills’ often seen in martial arts novels.

The longsword I wielded was fine as long as it remained in my grip, but any weapon detached from my hand would inevitably get entangled in Kwon Taehyeok’s skill.

‘If my sword slips out due to force, it’s a certain defeat.’

I only had this one weapon, so if it were taken from me, I’d be left defenseless. Even if I had brought another weapon, I’d likely lose the moment I was overpowered.

Shiiing! The blades that floated in the air spread out. The circular arrangement of blades behind Kwon Taehyeok formed a halo around him.

“I’m a beginner, so please go easy on me,” I asked, just in case, but Kwon Taehyeok only snorted. It seemed there was no room for negotiation. Yet, he stood still and observed, seemingly willing to yield the initiative to me. I gratefully accepted the consideration from the opponent who clearly had the upper hand.

As I lamented, I dashed towards Kwon Taehyeok rapidly, swinging my sword, but one of the floating blades intercepted between my sword and Kwon Taehyeok.

Clang! One of the eight blades behind him blocked my attack. The official Ranking Match had just begun, and cheers erupted from the spectators.

“Wow!”

“Go, Hunter Kwon Taehyeok!”

“The anonymous challenger takes the lead! Kwon Taehyeok, skillfully defending!”

My hand gripping the sword felt tingly. It was only the first clash between my sword and Kwon Taehyeok’s moving blades, yet my wrist was already starting to strain.

The longer this drags on, the greater my chances of losing. I gritted my teeth and moved my arm.

Clang, clang! As I moved the sword, Kwon Taehyeok’s blades followed suit. Clang! The blades blocked the top, the center, and the tip of my sword.

“Whoa…!”

I quickly turned my head in fear as I desperately sought an opening. There was a hissing sound of air splitting, accompanied by a murderous aura passing through my head.

‘Damn, that was too close.’

Besides the three blades blocking my attack, other blades began attacking my body. The thought that I could have gotten a deep cut to my head if I had reacted even a little late made cold sweat trickle down involuntarily.

I swiftly stepped back and checked Kwon Taehyeok’s face. His eyes, staring at me while holding the ninth blade attached to the handle, were chilling beyond measure.

‘Is he seriously not giving me any leeway? That’s too much.’

He’s really dug in his heels. Feeling relieved that my true appearance wasn’t revealed to him, I readied myself.

“The challenger narrowly dodges Hunter Kwon Taehyeok’s attack! Sweating bullets, aren’t you? Who’ll launch the next attack?” The excited reporter’s voice came from behind me. The cheers directed at Kwon Taehyeok from the surroundings grew even louder.

Everyone else is thrilled except for me, but I understand.

Exhaling deeply, I raised my sword again. Then, with force on my thigh, I fiercely kicked the ground and leaped up.

Blades flew towards me, aiming for my airborne form. I forcefully moved my stiffened body due to tension and barely managed to deflect those blades. A few blades I couldn’t deflect perfectly grazed past me. Despite blood trickling from my shoulder, the back of my hand, and my thigh, I resiliently descended over Kwon Taehyeok’s head without altering my course.

‘The blades aren’t the crucial part.’

Ultimately, the menacing wielder of the moving blades was Kwon Taehyeok. If I kept solely deflecting the blades until I exhausted myself, I wouldn’t have a proper fight and would likely lose. Rather than that, even if it was somewhat risky, I needed to pierce through the blades and close the distance with Kwon Taehyeok. That was the only way.

Swish!

A blade that had grazed me changed direction hastily, following behind me. However, it fell short of catching up with my rapid descent.

Looking at the surprised Kwon Taehyeok, I smiled as if to say, “There you go,” pulling up the corners of my mouth.

Crash!

As Kwon Taehyeok caught my falling body mid-air and collapsed to the ground, a loud thud echoed. Amidst the swirling dust, I hastily moved. Pressing my knee against Kwon Taehyeok’s abdomen, I raised the tip of my sword. Then, the moment I attempted to thrust the sword into his right shoulder—

Clang! Even amidst the impact of the fall, Kwon Taehyeok had been alert and blocked my sword’s tip with the ninth blade he held in his hand.

‘Insane.’

Blocking an attack at such a close range? As I realized again what a monster he was, sharp pain surged through my side, causing my vision to blur.

“Urgh…!”

Receiving a direct hit from Kwon Taehyeok’s swinging leg, I tumbled and rolled on the ground.

“A perfect counterattack by Hunter Kwon Taehyeok! Is this the end of our challenger?”

Wow!

The shouts and the reporter’s cries were disorienting. Pain surged from my side with every breath.

But this wasn’t a time to lie idle. As I lifted my head, I spotted a barrage of blades heading my way, prompting me to get up and dash swiftly.

Crash!

Five blades consecutively struck where I had been moments ago. Observing this, I altered my plan to widen the distance and rushed towards Kwon Taehyeok instead. I couldn’t miss the opportunity with five blades gone. Swish! As I bent my upper body, another blade whizzed above me.

Only two blades remained—one floating next to Kwon Taehyeok and the one he held. I had to decide the outcome before these blades returned and reached me again.

Clang!

Swallowing ragged breaths, I swung my sword horizontally with all my might. Kwon Taehyeok’s blade clashed with mine in an X-shaped intersection. Zing, the clash resonated with intense force, causing the blades to tremble.

Our gazes met as Kwon Taehyeok’s confusion was momentarily revealed beneath his disheveled hair. In that fleeting moment, I sensed the perplexed emotion in his eyes.

If he’s faltering for any reason, it was advantageous for me.

I twisted my wrist and redirected Kwon Taehyeok’s blade downward, exposing his upper right side. I twisted my sword and thrust it into the gap. My blade accurately grazed over his shoulder, drawing blood. Finally, my attack landed. It wasn’t an illusion; red blood spurted, confirming the hit.

‘If I keep this up…!’

Maybe I could win. When my anticipation swelled…

“Huh?”

Kwon Taehyeok, disregarding the wound on his shoulder, suddenly reached out to me. He swiftly grabbed my collar and lifted me before forcefully slamming me onto the ground.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

The impact against the hard ground left me unable to gather my senses; my face and body were planted firmly in the dirt.

Still gripping my collar, Kwon Taehyeok bent his knee and forcefully pressed on my wrist that held the sword with his foot. “That’s enough playing around,” he uttered in a cold, measured tone as he extended his hand toward my face. Coughing and spluttering, I panicked as his hand swiftly closed in on my face.

“No, wait…!”

Even though I wanted to flee, the foot restraining me didn’t budge. Reflexively, I used my empty left hand to push away Kwon Taehyeok’s hand just as it was about to grasp my face.

Ding!

《Specialty: Stay Exactly Where You Are (Class F) activated!》

《Stuns the opponent!》

“Uh?”

Before I could react to the sudden floating status window, Kwon Taehyeok’s body swayed heavily.

“Gah… Wha… what’s…”

With a bewildered expression, he staggered, closed his eyes, and collapsed towards me as if falling asleep. Reflexively, I caught his collapsing body without hesitation.

“This is…”

As Kwon Taehyeok leaned against me, the status window continued to pop up behind his slumped shoulders.

Ding!

《Main Quest: Defeat the current Rank 1 Hunter ‘Kwon Taehyeok’ and claim the Rank 1 position cleared!》

《Main Quest cleared. Rewards are granted.》

《Kwon Taehyeok’s interest increases!》

“Whew…”

The unforeseen turn of events utterly took me aback. Holding Kwon Taehyeok in my arms, I helplessly stared at the status window. The excited voice of the reporter echoed loudly across the arena, “U-unbelievable! Did you all see that? Hunter Kwon Taehyeok has fallen! The challenger defeated Kwon Taehyeok, rising to the new #1 rank!”

Wow!

Responding to the reporter’s exclamation, the onlookers cheered and applauded. Suddenly, a bright spotlight shone down from above.

Having become the new #1 while Kwon Taehyeok lay perfectly unconscious, I was under the spotlight, letting out a bewildered laugh.

“Ha… Ha… Ha…”

Of all the times for my ability to make the opponent faint to kick in—with just a 0.3% chance?

I looked down at Kwon Taehyeok with mixed emotions, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He lay there, peacefully asleep, unaware of why he had fainted, his face serene.