Published at 24th of November 2020 12:58:01 PM
Chapter 288
Chapter 288
“You can’t go?” Hyeonu’s eyes widened and filled with a strange expression .
Mason avoided Hyeonu’s gaze as he scratched his head and replied, “I’m stuck . I feel sorry to see Master . ”
“Where are you stuck?”
Hyeonu wanted to give some help, but the answer he received was unexpected .
“I am stuck at stage 8 . I don’t think I can clear it right now,” Mason denied it firmly .
The Mason that Hyeonu knew wouldn’t give up so completely .
‘How difficult can it be?’ Hyeonu wondered . Laek’s stage 8 was the stage where a monster appeared . Based on what Hyeonu remembered, it wasn’t too difficult . He asked curiously, “What came out?”
“A lycanthrope . It is in human form and very fast . I can’t use any magic . It just ends in the blink of an eye . ”
“It reminds me of the old days . Is it like back then?”
Hearing the word ‘lycanthrope’, Hyeonu remembered that time when they went, at Mason’s request, to a dungeon where lycanthropes appeared .
“That’s exactly what is happening now . There is nothing different from that time . In fact, it’s harder because the lycanthrope has also grown in strength,” Mason said, shaking his head .
It wasn’t at a level he could clear with effort . He would be stuck here for the rest of his life unless he got an item or skill that drastically reduced his casting time .
‘I can’t be like Brother . ’
If it were Hyeonu, he would’ve cleared it . He had the talent to do so .
“Then try this . ” Hyeonu held out a small box . Mason took the box and opened it . The box contained clothes, including a small helmet . The smell of a set item came out instantly .
“What is this?”
“It is what I used previously . You can use Blink seven times when you’re wearing it . Isn’t this enough?”
The Great Canyon Wind leather armor set had a surprisingly low stats limit . Mason had high stats due to his level, good class, and various accessories, so he could wear the Great Canyon Wind leather armor set .
“Blink?” Mason was instantly lost in his thoughts . In his mind, the battle was already underway .
The lycanthrope rushed quickly at Mason . As a result, Mason hurriedly cast magic . The narrow space allowed the lycanthrope’s claws to hit Mason first before he could complete the magic . However, Mason didn’t die . The place where Mason reappeared was quite far from the lycanthrope, and he continued casting the magic .
Finally, the completed fire magic hovered around Mason . The lycanthrope turned its head and found Mason . Then it once again rushed toward him . However, this time it wasn’t easy for the lycanthrope to get to Mason’s side as blazing flames threatened the lycanthrope .
In the gap, Mason once again cast magic . Blue ice spears embedded themselves in the lycanthrope’s body . Then fireballs struck it over and over .
It was the end . The lycanthrope had strong attacks and fast movements, but its defense and physique were low . This prevented it from enduring Mason’s successive magic .
“Brother, if this is the case, I think I should be able to clear it?” Mason smiled brightly after the short simulation .
“Really? Then I’m glad . I’ll give it to you . In the future, you should give it to someone who needs it . ”
“I know . Then I’ll see you next time . ” Mason hurriedly ripped the scroll and disappeared from the capital .
‘I will go to Senu . ’ Hyeonu also had an academy he needed to attend .
It was an academy superior to Laek—Senu .
***
Sunny, Lee Hoon, Yuri, and Dwayne all easily passed through Laek’s stage 2 . However, due to their level, the experience value gained as the clear reward wasn’t large . Stage 3 was the problem . It was a gateway to test magic power control . Hyeonu had passed through it lightly enough to say it was ‘easy’ .
‘What? Isn’t this easy?’ This was the common thought in the minds of the four people . Their confidence lasted for less than five minutes .
-In Stage 3, we will test magic power, which is the basis of everything .
Inject magic power into each of the three spheres in front of you according to the specified pattern . The given time is 60 minutes .
[Time remaining - 59:59]
A familiar voice rang in their ears . The content of this stage was quite different from the previous stages, but it was familiar to the four people . It was one of the missions of the competition for the arena players . This meant it was difficult . The stage’s difficulty had increased in an instant .
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The four of them had a common reaction . They all sighed and frowned while placing their hands on the beads . It couldn’t be helped . Sighing wouldn’t allow them to enter the next stage . Still, this increased difficulty didn’t mean they could clear it . They just injected magic power meaninglessly, without even grasping the right pattern .
“Ah, shit! I can’t do it!” Sunny was the first to give up, and she flopped down onto the ground .
Just then, a friendly voice like that of a neighborhood grandfather rang out in the space: -The companion of a monster isn’t a monster .
Sunny was amazed and spun around, but no one could be seen . Then she heard the voice again .
-You won’t be able to see me . It looks like you’ll be coming this way soon . In the meantime, try hard . Isn’t that the only way there will be any gains?
The voice reminded Sunny of her determination .
‘I have to work hard so I don’t cause an inconvenience . ’
However, having determination was different from creating results . After an hour of hardship, Sunny was eventually summoned to the space where Suped was located .
***
“Everyone’s here?” Sunny said .
She had been forced to move spaces while the voice announced her failure . There were familiar people in the new space . They were Yuri, Dwayne, and Lee Hoon . Everyone was gathered here except for Mason .
“Sunny is here too . Then all of us failed?” Lee Hoon murmured without any strength . He had failed on the verge of success . This made it even more disappointing and frustrating .
“Heder, did you fail? Yuri as well? Everybody?” Sunny asked .
Yuri and Dwayne nodded . It was a failure . Yuri had given up almost halfway through, while Dwayne had given up a little earlier than that . However, both had definitely still done better than Sunny . She hadn’t even gotten a proper start and merely injected her magic power like a gas pump at a gas station .
“Has everyone finished? As expected, my disciple is good . That person was just a monster,” a familiar voice rang out .
It was the same voice they heard during stage 3 . The four people turned their heads and looked at the source of the voice . It was an old man with white hair and a white beard . Suped greeted them, “It is nice to meet you . I am a great-magician of the Yusma Empire, Suped . I am also Mason’s master . ”
The moment Suped appeared, Dwayne asked something he was curious about—something that had harassed him terribly in the stage 3 mission: “Who is the monster? Why did you keep comparing me to it and saying you were glad?”
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“That’s right . Who is the monster you’re talking about?” Sunny added .
She was curious as well . Who was the monster? Yuri and Lee Hoon didn’t bother asking . They already guessed who it was .
‘Alley Leader . ’
‘Hyeonu oppa . ’
The only person who could be called a monster was Hyeonu .
“A monster is a monster . The one who gave you the return scroll to come here—that person is truly a monster . He broke through this place with a single challenge . Look . ” Suped flicked his finger, and a video started to play on one wall .
A blond magician was fighting against a human covered in white fur .
“My apprentice, Mason, is now challenging Laek’s stage 8 . He is using Blink to cleverly lead the battle . Maybe he’ll reach stage 9 today,” Suped said . Contrary to his original intentions, Suped started bragging about Mason, but he soon calmed down and expressed what he intended to say: “Mason’s accomplishment was by no means achieved quickly . In addition to this challenge, he has challenged it close to 50 times . It is only after challenging it 50 times that he can go beyond stage 8 . It wouldn’t have been possible without Blink . Yet that person passed it in one challenge . ”
The faces of the four people were astonished by Suped’s words . 50 times—that was half of 100 . It would never have been easy . Constantly challenging and facing continued failures—they knew how much patience it needed .
“Ah, he passed . Well done, Mason,” Suped stated .
Just then, the lycanthrope fell to Mason’s magic . Suped was as delighted as a child, but this didn’t last long . Surprise and regret took the place of his joy .
“Why is that monster there . . . ?” A sigh emerged from Suped’s mouth .
“Isn’t it Alley Leader?”
“It’s Mister Gang . ”
“What is the mission? Why is Oppa there?”
Several people spoke at once . They were all words referring to Hyeonu .
“Stage 9 is to fight your acquaintance . It can also be a loved one . Friends, family, and even your master can come out . But he . . . ”
A man wearing a child’s mask and holding a long sword against his shoulder—anyone would recognize him as Hyeonu .
“Don’t hesitate to use magic . That way, there is a glimmer of hope, Disciple . . . ” Suped continued to speak pathetically .
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His eyes were filled with tears like he was watching a sad movie . It was as if he was looking at his disciple’s sad fate .
“Mason used magic . It is a magic I often see while we’re hunting . It is very powerful magic,” Lee Hoon murmured .
Mason was aiming his staff at Hyeonu . Then a red tornado was fired from the staff .
“Oppa is just watching? Why isn’t he attacking?” Yuri commented .
Despite the incoming attack, Hyeonu didn’t move . There wasn’t the slightest movement from the sword on his shoulder .
“There is no way Alley Leader would just look,” Lee Hoon said .
He was right . Just before the fire tornado engulfed Hyeonu, he moved . A dark light emerged from the sword and cut through the tornado . The tornado split in two and hit both the ceiling and the ground . Yet the sword didn’t stop there . It was like a greedy black hole . Eventually, Mason was eaten up by the sword .
The video ended with this . The Mason missing from the video appeared in the space where Suped and the party were located .
“Oh, Brother is truly strong . I guess Stage 9 can’t be cleared?” Mason was casual about it .
He wasn’t frustrated . It was a solid mindset brought about by 50 defeats .
“He is just a monster . It isn’t that you are lacking, Disciple . There is still a lot for you to learn and a long way for you to go . You can win . ”
“Thank you for your words, Master . ”
After comforting Mason, Suped turned and spoke to the four people staring into the air: “Did you see it? This is the greatness of the monster . Be thankful for being with the monster . Be thankful that you are his companions . Once again, be thankful . There is nothing scarier than when he is an enemy . ”
The four players were thrilled and empathetic at the same time .
‘A monster . . . ’
‘Monster’ was a word that matched well with Alley Leader . They were grateful that they were his teammates and could go to the professional league with him . Simultaneously, they made a promise that they weren’t going to hold him back .
“Suped, please let me challenge it again . There is no time . ”
“Me too!”
“Me as well . ”
At this moment, a training frenzy struck Suped’s laboratory .