# Player with Maxed-Out Talent, Episode 30
Kim Hyukjin had been sketching his strategy till now.
A sword-to-sword fight which could have been disadvantageous, he overca the gap in skills with his basic physical abilities. He did not exert all his strength, but maintained a slight reserve of power.
“Now is the ti.”
At this very mont, Kim Hyukjin moved faster than Shin Yeonseo. He lowered his stance and surged forward like he was attempting a tackle, resembling a wrestling technique. To Shin Yeonseo’s eyes, it appeared as if Kim Hyukjin had vanished suddenly.
“So fast…!”
The movent was different from before; much faster than anything he had demonstrated until now. There could be only one explanation.
“Was he holding back his strength?”
While she fought earnestly, it seed Kim Hyukjin had not. It appeared he had been conserving strength for this precise mont.
“I’ve been had.”
Shin Yeonseo couldn’t move her sword. One-Strike Kill—a unique skill signifying the power to kill the opponent with a single blow.
A piercingly swift attack aid to penetrate a single point. But that strike had not reached Kim Hyukjin. The sword aiming for his throat was now lodged in a roadside tree.
This was what Kim Hyukjin had intended. In this sword fight, he knew how to utilize the surroundings. Bit by bit, inching towards the roadside trees during the fight. All to draw this picture, to fight not a duel, but a combat.
“One-Strike Kill is fast.”
Fast and precise. If the opponent moves within the predicted range, the targeted point can be pinpointed perfectly.
“And it has lethal power.”
aning, much body weight is channeled into the strike.
“As fast and powerful as it is, there’s a risk when it fails.”
A proper hit would be a sure kill, but in case of a miss, the likelihood of a counter-attack was high. The movents, being large and swift, took ti to regain balance. In the present situation, a counter-attack was inevitable since Shin Yeonseo’s sword was stuck in the tree.
A spot caught Kim Hyukjin’s eye—Shin Yeonseo’s vulnerability was crystal clear.
“Now it is my turn.”
One-Strike Kill—a fleeting unique skill granted by the true owner of Cheonma Mountain, Cheonma, for a mont.
[Temporary Skill. Using One-Strike Kill.]
The target was right in front of Shin Yeonseo’s throat.
“Eek! Mom!”
Although possessing qualities of a future swordmaster, Shin Yeonseo, with little actual combat experience, fell down backwards.
Kim Hyukjin smiled cunningly.
“I win, right?”
“…”
Shin Yeonseo’s face reddened. She was ashad of being stuck trying to pull her sword out of the tree, and equally embarrassed about her recent fall.
“…Yes.”
Shin Yeonseo knew. If Kim Hyukjin had truly struck her, she would be dead without question. Though PVP zone ant dying was acceptable, being human, no one is free from the fear of death.
“I lost.”
[Player Shin Yeonseo acknowledges defeat.]
[The first to win in the PVP zone, PVP battle achieved.]
“If the lady Han Minghee had seen this, she would’ve been shocked. It’s my first ti calling for Mom since elentary school.”
Shin Yeonseo muttered embarrassingly. Kim Hyukjin didn’t catch her words and tilted his head curiously.
‘The first PVP zone, PVP battle?’
Was there such an announcent?
‘No, there wasn’t.’
April 28th, 2028. A mo he always carried, now treasured in his inventory. Whenever he had ti, he would organize strategies and future developnts, creating a new guidebook. However, ‘the first victory in the first PVP zone’ was not ntioned.
Kim Hyukjin helped Shin Yeonseo to her feet.
‘The first victory was likely to belong to Shin Yeonseo.’
Kim Hyukjin assessed. Swordmaster Shin Yeonseo, who had never lost a one-on-one PVP except to ‘Typhoon Kwak Tae-woon.’
‘It must’ve been kept secret.’
[A title ‘First Opponent’ has been created.]
“Thanks. But you’re really strong. Haven’t you learned sword fighting?”
“…”
How could soone who hasn’t learned fight like this? And you held back in the middle, right? Your final movent was completely different; I feel like I’ve been hit in the back of the head. Shin Yeonseo’s rambling didn’t reach Kim Hyukjin’s ears.
‘Another title?’
Titles, difficult even for the high-rankers to obtain, yet he had gained another.
‘First Opponent.’
This was presumably a title that should have belonged to the swordmaster.
──────────
[First Opponent]
The title conferred to the first player to win in player-versus-player combat.
‘Opponent’ can provide a considerable advantage in combat against other players.
Attack speed:
7%
Movent speed:
4%
Special Skill: Skill of Transposition available.
──────────
Kim Hyukjin was certain now. The Skill of Transposition appeared, a concept completely different from instant-movent magic like ‘Blink’ or ‘Warp.’ Without any trace of mana flow or movent, the ability allowed him to instantaneously switch positions before the opponent realized it.
A marvelous step-technique that brightly illuminated the swordmaster’s PVP battles. Now that power, the Skill of Transposition, was bound to Kim Hyukjin.
‘It should have been the swordmaster’s ability.’
Shin Yeonseo, now all smiles uncovered by shyness, was in sight. Sothing about that na??vely cheerful smile felt complicated in his heart.
‘Now I have it.’
With knowledge of the future, he has taken a power that rightfully belonged to the swordmaster.
‘I’m not sorry.’
Though he didn’t feel entirely at ease, nor was he uncomfortable. The swordmaster had her path, Kim Hyukjin his—each was giving their best.
Each was responsible for their own results following their best efforts. It was a simple and straightforward principle. And Kim Hyukjin’s victory also surprised the guardians.
[‘The Anonymous Watcher’ expresses amazent.]
[‘The Anonymous Watcher’ sponsors coins.]
[ 400COIN]
The Anonymous Watcher had sent another 400COIN.
[‘The Lady of the Scale’ admires your chivalry.]
Here, chivalry likely ant he hadn’t killed Shin Yeonseo.
‘If you’re amazed, you could give so coins too.’
One of the ‘Eight Heroes’ of South Korea, ‘Typhoon Kwak Tae-woon’ received a bounty lavishly. Just admiration without giving coins seed unfair.
[‘The Whispering Demon’ likes your stratagem.]
[‘The Pearl of Cheonma Mountain’ begins to notice you.]
Kim Hyukjin felt amused.
‘Four guardians are starting to send
ssages.’
The number of guardians who can send ssages is limited to five. Though not precisely known, it’s said the guardians compete among themselves to be within this ‘five.’
‘It takes a considerable amount of coins to be among the four.’
While he didn’t know all of the system’s details, he was aware that the guardians also competed to send ssages. In other words, the guardians sending ssages are the ‘real deal’ among the ‘nad’ guardians.
‘Just one more, and the five would be full.’
However, the alerts continued.
[‘The Valiant Lion King’ mocks your petty tricks.]
It was almost laughable to think about the competition among guardians to send that ssage.
‘They must not like
much.’
Nevertheless, they couldn’t keep their eyes off him. If compared to famous guardians like ‘The Lady of the Scale’ or ‘The Pearl of Cheonma Mountain,’ it might be a notch below. Yet, the persistent ssages suggested,
‘Could that one be a tsundere?’
It felt like they had entered a relationship of love and hate. Then Shin Yeonseo’s voice ca through.
“What are you thinking so hard about? In 3 minutes, the PVP zone will be deactivated.”
“Ah.”
Right. Shin Yeonseo was in front of him. Too caught up in various thoughts, he had forgotten about her.
“Um… hey.”
Shin Yeonseo’s cheeks reddened slightly. Kim Hyukjin sensed an awkward emotion.
‘What’s this?’
Difficult to articulate, a sort of ticklish feeling, an emotion, swept through him like a spring breeze.
“Can you give
your phone number?”
“Why?”
“Well… knowing a player of your caliber in advance could co in handy for partying… Ah. Not a drinking kind of party, but like… you know, the system-based party and…”
Shin Yeonseo rambled on before cutting herself off,
“Just give
your number, okay?”
She chose to be direct.
“I like you. That’s what I’m saying.”
She bit her lip slightly and looked up at Kim Hyukjin, eyes full of expectancy, her face resembling a pink peach.
Her voice softened.
“Give
your number.”
* * *
I had to experience a fierce back smacking. After the PVP zone was lifted, my sister with swollen eyes was all I could see. My sister’s back smacking, although I had awakened as a player, still hurt quite a lot. My senses warned
of the danger, but I didn’t avoid it.
‘She must’ve been very worried.’
She had even tried to report it to the police to no avail. This ‘Play’ was a mystery even to the police, unable to do anything about the BJs, and reports related to gates or the play were not being properly processed. It was too early in its stage.
‘The only thing she could do was wait here, I guess.’
If I had known this would happen, I would have explained in more detail before leaving. It seed she had waited outside for about 7 hours. After a long while, my sister finally cald down.
“Don’t worry. I won’t die before treating the family better.”
“…”
Inside a taxi, my sister just gazed endlessly out the window, as if to express she had never been worried about soone like . As we approached ho, she offered sothing to .
“Eat it or not.”
It was chocolate. Kana chocolates, my favorite. I accepted the chocolates. Knowing full well about her own battle with leukemia, she worked three shifts in a factory just to support
behind the scenes. Her sincerity and love were packed into these chocolates, or at least, that’s how I felt about it.
‘I will do well, sister.’
All the past debts, I’ll pay them off. I have a ho now, and money.
‘It should take about 3 days to get settled.’
In three days’ ti, we would be moving into our new sanctuary. Those experiences of sweltering sumrs, frigid winters, insects scattering at the flick of a light switch – they’ll be things to reminisce about one day as mories and experiences.
Another day passed. The news articles burst forth.
-Global conglorate Seongshin expands into ‘new treasures’ business.
Seongshin announced its focus on ‘Play,’ naming the obtained items ‘new treasures,’ pouring full effort into this ‘new treasures business.’ Shortly after, ‘Tutorial Fields’ began to pop up worldwide.
I knew it.
‘More than 20 million people will die globally.’
It was beyond my control. I’m no hero, not a deity. I can’t save them. The people right in front of , those on the second floor of D Tower, I couldn’t save them either. It’s the inexorable flow of the tis.
‘The vitality of Seongshin. Along with the world’s introduction to tutorial mode.’
The world flowed as I had known it would.
Another day went by.
I ca across ‘juvenile orcs’ at a ‘mini-gate’ near my ho. Their level was around 15. Although not fully grown, it was necessary to diligently handle them.
‘Soon, I will need to hunt orcs.’
And not just one, but a considerable number.
Yet another day passed.
[Level has increased.]
[Current level: 25]
[2 bonus stats awarded.]
[1 random bonus stat awarded.]
‘Level 25.’
I’ve achieved level 25. The first milestone. Before traversing the devilish leveling-up period of 30-40. In other words, before reaching level 40, the 25th level marked the first ‘turning point’ of this play.
‘I should be receiving a notification.’
I waited for the level 25 notifications.
‘Huh?’
But sothing felt off.
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