Pick Me Up!

The main event of the third major competition.

The individual finals had begun.

“Crazy dog! Cut that bastard into pieces!”

“Looks like he’s about to die anyway.”

“The Demon Sword and the Mad Dog should’ve clashed in the finals! Not this weakling!”

Booooo!

The audience continued to jeer.

I stepped forward.

[Tazza11: F$ck!!! jhwaemuraengnlinri!! My bet!!!!!! Aaaahhh!!]

[Tazza11: Kill him! Kill him!!!]

How noisy.

There are too many low-level spectators.

I loosely gripped my sword and took another step forward.

Aaron stood motionless in place.

Of course. Just standing there must be hard for him. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was already dead.

“Ah… Urgh…”

Aaron groaned heavily.

Barely using his spear as a staff to support himself,

His arms and legs trembled incessantly, and sticky blood dripped from his mouth.

“Do you resent me?”

“…No, Hyung-nim.”

“Don’t lie. I know everything.”

I sneered.

If I hadn’t persuaded him, Aaron wouldn’t have to endure this pain.

He would have lived comfortably as a trainer in Townia. Though he once struggled with being behind others, if I didn’t run my mouth, now he would be content with his life like Dika.

I knew.

What kind of end did the heroes who went there with high hopes meet.

What despair and loneliness they faced,

I could see it clearly as a Master.

Even knowing that, I persuaded him. I made Aaron like this.

There were countless challengers.

Those who laughed through grueling training, who didn’t blink an eye at anything, who wanted to sell their soul to become stronger.

They easily lasted a year.

Many lasted ten years without difficulty.

But when it went beyond a hundred years…

‘It’s easier said than done.’

The moment they realized they had no achievements in all those years.

The moment they realized that there were others who negated their hard work in just a few months.

“Aaron.”

“……”

“Give up. You have no talent.”

I let my sword hang down.

“Return to Townia. I’ll give you the trainer’s position. Live comfortably there.”

“……”

“Your path is a thorny one. There’s nothing there. If you choose it, you’ll never change until you die. You’ll live in pain all your life.”

Aaron wavered.

I took a step closer to him.

“What’s the point of becoming stronger? To show off to others? To act superior? Don’t seek what is beyond your capabilities. Everyone has a suitable place.”

“……”

“If you do your job, you’ll naturally rise up with us. I’ll save your sister too. You can go back home. You don’t have to dirty your hands.”

Aaron’s lips moved, but only blood-mixed saliva flowed out.

“Just nod your head. I’ll make it easy for you.”

I looked ahead.

Above the audience, near the ceiling, a boy sat by the ventilation.

Wearing a pressed-down hat, the boy looked down at Aaron on stage.

“Answer me, Aaron.”

I said.

Aaron’s lips moved again.

“…No.”

“What? I can’t hear you.”

“No… Hyung-nim…”

‘Is that your answer.’

I smiled faintly.

Then I aimed my sword at him.

“……”

At that moment, I realized Aaron had lost consciousness.

He still stood upright, but his eyes had already lost their light.

My figure, reflected in his eyes, pointed the sword.

‘Let me show you.’

I scraped the floor with my sword.

Whoosh! Blue flames sparkled brilliantly.

[‘Han (★★★★)’ has entered Ascend state!]

Crack!

The marble tiles tore apart like tofu.

The swirling flames burned fiercely to the end of the stage.

Boom!

I stepped forward strongly.

The ground caved in, and spiderweb-like cracks spread in all directions.

Maximum output.

No holding back.

Despite top-grade potions, wounds opened, and blood burst from my body.

Crack. Muscles tore, bones broke, and the sound echoed in my ears.

Time slowed.

1/100 of a second. 1/1000 of a second.

Aaron’s eyes still lacked light.

Toward the half dead Aaron,

A great sword enveloped in blue flames swung down.

[Skill, ‘Soulblade Fusion’ activated!]

You and I started from different points.

Though both are 1-star we were incomparable.

I mastered all the strategies of this world, had talent, willpower, and even an invincible force behind me. But you…

‘You had nothing.’

At first, you cried at the back, unable to fight.

Later, you tried desperately, but even that didn’t work out.

Whoosh!

Space itself was being torn apart.

Flames devoured everything they touched, burning fiercely.

‘Show me.’

Just before the flames engulfed Aaron.

“……”

He moved.

Grasping the spear with his blood-soaked hand.

Empty eyes reignited.

Hundreds of shadows appeared on the stage.

The shadows, each in a different stance, wielded spears like Aaron. But it was a fleeting moment. The illusion that filled the stadium returned to Aaron’s body.

‘……’

Aaron thrust his spear.

Thousands of shadows appeared near the spear blade.

Not thousands.

I widened my eyes.

Tens of thousands.

Whoom.

The shadows, like bees’ wings, surrounding the spear blade soon merged with it.

I knew it.

Condensing tens of millions of thrusts into a single one…

Myuden’s secret technique, a deadly spear art.

‘Did he perfect it?’

Bang!

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