Chapter 85: Enlightenment


    I tolerated you because youre a nonbat ss, but theres no second chance for you, you piece of shit.


    So what was he gonna do about it? PVP with a nonbat ss yer?


    Though by future standards, thatspletely out of the question.


    Before I regressed, there were many cases where nonbat sses yed a more active role thanbat sses. Be it detoxification, heals, or buffs, there were fewer nonbat ss yers thanbat yers, and they were rare.


    In addition, the worth of a yer had massive differences depending on their proficiency and type of ability. With that in mind, each of the guilds made tacit rules to preventbat ss yers from persecuting nonbat ss yers.


    Abat yer sending a nonbat yer a PVP request?


    That was ridiculous. If guilds were a little more well-established, Kim Taechun wouldve probably gotten dragged away and beaten by his guildmaster.


    Especially because I was a yer with a ss called Observer and yed a role close to a sovereign.


    Well, its not like he knows.


    Among the nonbat sses, the sses that received the best treatment were the ones in the sovereign category. It was a little embarrassing to say it myself, but there was a reason why Yeonseo constantly praised me, saying that the perceived difficulty was worlds apart when I was there versus when I wasnt. Sovereign sses were literally noble sses. They were hard to raise, hard to pull off, and even harder to be a high-level Ranker with. But once they made it there, they were nobles who stood above all others.


    Notices came in.


    [You have received a PVP request.]


    [If you ept, a PVP Zone will be dered.]


    From this, I inferred one more thing.


    A beginner yer under level 30 sent the PVP request on his own ord.


    In order to send a PVP request, you had to receive the permission of a high-level sovereign yer, or receive the help of an Intermediate Administrator, like what Percy did earlier. Or a Guardian would have to intervene.


    The courage-lover stepped in again.


    It seemed our little courage-lover bestowed Taechun the right to make a PVP request. That was how much he wanted to see this fight between us.


    Im certain Ive already told you many times that Im a nonbat ss.


    So what? Gonna run away like a coward?


    He openly sneered at me. His eyes were full of scorn, as well as the confidence of a predator. The current Kim Taechun was convinced thatbat yers are the true yers.


    No, thats not what I mean. Im just a little worried.


    Dont worry. You wont die, Taechun said, guffawing. This dumb brick waspletely missing my point.


    How will you have the face to walk around after getting beaten up by a nonbat ss?


    <i>Im not worried for myself, but for you.</i>


    * * *


    Senia. Notarize the fact that Im a nonbat ss.


    Senia showed herself, which drew a round of astonished murmurs.


    So beautiful.


    ying must be so amazing if you do it with that kind of Intermediate Administrator


    Both Senia and Hyukjin ignored the trivial mutterings of the crowd. The stage was set, a stage where even an Intermediate Administrator had stepped in.


    Hyukjin continued, This is definitely a proposal made by a yer to another yer, yes?


    An Intermediate Administrator hadnt mediated it. Percy, the Streamer who had spat a ball of highly acidic green saliva, was likely streaming the scene in invisible mode. The fact that Percy hadnt appeared yet despite the situation having developed to this extent meant that an existence ranked higher than Percy was involved. Hyukjin was sure that existence was the Courageous Lion King.


    That was why it was necessary to make things very clear here.


    Yes, that is correct. The results of my check show that yer Kim Taechun personally made a PVP request to yer Kim Hyukjin.


    Then that means this is a matter between humans unrted to System-made scenarios.


    Only then did Senia realize Hyukjins intent.


    A matter between humans.


    Hyukjins sentence precisely defined this fight as a matter unrted to the System.


    [The Lady of the Scales nods.]


    [The Whispering Devil is having fun.]


    [The Nameless Observer observes.]


    They were now, to a certain degree, exempt from the Systems rules.


    yer Kim Hyukjin has made a nominal pretext to not act as an observer.


    It was decided with one sentence. Hyukjin would no longer move like an observer, but like abat ss yer taking on a PVP. He made it seem like he was talking to her, Senia, but his actual intent was clear and defined.


    The Nameless Observer said that they would observe.


    With that, all of Hyukjins bases were covered. There wasnt a single hole in this tightly weaved scenario. Now, Hyukjin had the freedom to y out his own role in the scenario he himself crafted.


    [epting the PVP request.]


    [A PVP Zone has been dered.]


    A space free of death, the PVP zone, was established. Kim Taechun smiled broadly.


    Good.


    He was certain he could wreck Hyukjin. He was humiliated twice earlier, but thankfully, an opportunity to recover his facended in hisp. He had finally grasped a good opportunity for him to prove his courage.


    Here Ie.


    The match began. Taechun took out his massive axe, the weapon that had made him stand out in the Hill of Blowing Wind.


    Hyukjin wasnt all that intimidated by that imposing weapon. He read Taechuns entire body with Observers Eye, seeing everything with his eyes.


    His bnce is passable.


    From the looks of it, Taechun would step with his right foot before approaching.


    Hes underestimating me, so hell make a direct approach.


    He woulde close enough to put Hyukjin inside his range. Observers Eye read every single one of Taechuns movements. It felt distinctly different from when he was observing Yeonseo or Yoohyun.


    Its like watching a video in 0.5 speed.


    When he was reading Yeonseo or Yoohyun, a constant stream of information came in at real time, and he had to quickly derive new analyses. But it was different with Kim Taechun. It looked to Hyukjin that the hulking man was moving slowly to fulfill an already predetermined action.


    This is a new feeling.


    It was true that Taechun was lower level, but reading an average yers movements felt so much easier after reading only top yers all this time. It felt enlightening, somehow.


    I can see it.


    He could see it preciselyTaechuns fight pattern.


    Yeonseo watched the PVP closely.


    Lets focus. Simply watching Hyukjin move will be a big lesson for me.


    She had the feeling that something about Hyukjins movements was odd. While Taechun was moving in, Hyukjin moved one small step to the right, far more slowly than normal.


    He should be able to instantly subdue the opponent if he used sh Step.


    He wasnt using it on purpose, and she understood why.


    It would be idiotic to show off your skills in front of this many people.


    This was different from when he killed the Bigmouth Lizard earlier. There was no need to expose all his abilities. Yeonseo had instinctively realized that showing 70% of ones abilities and hiding the remaining 30% was favorable for a yer.


    <i>Whumpf!</i>


    Therge axe grazed past Hyukjins forehead. Taechun swung his axe in quick session.


    <i>Whumpf!</i>


    <i>Whumpf!</i>


    He attacked Hyukjin, his axe creating loud noises as it swung by, looking extremely threatening.


    Kuhahahaha!


    Taechun felt a rush of exhration and triumph. His opponent was busy scrambling to dodge. He knew as well as anyone that his attack speed wasnt very fast. But the fact that he could attack to his hearts content like this meant that his opponent was just that slow.


    Just how long are you gonna keep running away?


    <i>Whumpf!</i>


    He kept swinging his axe. After making an opening, he would crush Hyukjins head with a single downward swing. He was sure of his victory.


    This guy has a big mouth, but it looks like hell be one hit KOd?


    Confidence bubbled up within him. Many of the yers watching the match were also unable to discern Hyukjins movements.


    As I thought a nonbat ss is different from abat ss, after all.


    He was super confident, so I thought there would be something special about him, but nope.


    Yeah, hes gonna get wrecked.


    But among all the yers gathered here, some were outstandingly skilled. These yers, the top 10%, felt that something was weird.


    Jo Sunghyun was the same.


    Theres something more to those movements.


    It was hard to exin in concrete terms, but something was strange. He could feel it through the wind. The wind that Hyukjins movements created, the movement of the air, was extremely peaceful.


    Ah!


    When he focused, he realized it. His ss was Child of Wind. He analyzed the information he got through the wind, the movement of the air.


    I get it.


    He understood why it felt so odd.


    Does this make any sense?


    It shouldnt make any sense, but it was happening in front of his very eyes.


    Hyukjin hyung is dodging <i>before </i>Kim Taechuns attack?


    Hyukjin wasnt seeing the attack and then dodging. He was moving in advance to a position where he wouldnt get hit even before the attack started. He didnt move while Taechun was actually moving his axe.


    Almost like he already knows where the axe will go.


    He was like a speedrunner who had the game memorized, someone who knew exactly where and what kind of attack would ur. That was why he was able to dodge even without seeing the attack. There was no doubt about it. There was hardly any time dyunless you looked closely, you wouldnt notice it at all. But Jo Sunghyun could feel it keenly.


    Hah, hah!


    After a furious flurry of attacks, Taechun gasped for breath, showing his failure to regte his stamina. He looked like someone who had never once considered what it meant to pace himself.


    On the other side, Hyukjin briefly forgot he was fighting Taechun. His thoughts were focused wholly on the strange sensation he was experiencing. When fighting an opponent far weaker than himself, a function of Observers Eye seemed to be kicking in. It felt like something was being sketched out in his head and fading away, over and over again.


    Like I can almost grasp it, but its gone the next moment.


    He intentionally provoked Kim Taechun.


    Try attacking some more, why dont you?


    You slimy little rat!


    Hyukjin purposefully kept dodging Taechuns attacks. He read Taechuns fight pattern and the trajectory of his axe. Instead of doing it fully consciously, he partly entrusted that mysterious sense to his instincts. He entrusted his body to the flow.


    Almost like a person born with a god-given gift for battle.


    Ah!


    He had a sh of understanding.


    This.


    The hazy feeling that had been bothering him became a little more concrete.


    This is it.


    It was like a dam bursting and overflowing. At the same time, the notices came in.


    [You have be cognizant of a new enlightenment.]


    [The grade of Eye of Perception has increased.]


    [You have reached a new stage.]


    The PVP match with Kim Taechun gave Hyukjin apletely unexpected new stage.


    A new stage!


    Hyukjin realized instinctively what that was.