Leveling with the Gods

[The Magatama Jewel Sky extends]

[All statistics decrease by 15%]

[Pain tolerance decreases by 90%]

[Trait: Confusion is granted]

That was the message that came to YuWon's mind.

Magatama Jewel Sky.

It was one of the abilities of the Magatama Jewel that could inflict a curse on the target.

Of course.

[Cinder Eyes resist the Magatama Jewel].

[Predator resists the Magatama Jewel].

[Uranus Heart resists the Magatama Jewel].

[Resistance succeeds]

YuWon had enough means to resist the power of the Three Sacred Treasures.

On the contrary...

"The Magatama Jewel Sky extends"

[All statistics increase by 15%]

[Pain resistance increases by 1000%]

[Berserker attribute is granted]

For the other players, except YuWon, the message was exactly the opposite.

"What is this?"

"The Magatama Jewel?"

"The Three Sacred Treasures! The Three Precious Children have arrived!"

The hesitant players erupted in cheers.

The effect of the Magatama Jewel was twofold.

One was the enhancing effect of the object itself.

The other was the confidence that Amaterasu, the owner of the Magatama Jewel, was with them.

That gave them the confidence that they could fight against YuWon.

"This is the power of the Three Sacred Treasures..."

"With this, we can win."

"It's only 15%, but I feel full of strength."

They were impervious to pain, and their stats increased.

Moreover, the 'Berserker' power granted by the Magatama Jewel's abilities had turned them into warriors who feared neither death nor defeat.

"The reward is...!"

"Mine!"

"No, mine..."

Scott-.

Everyone lunged at the same time, including YuWon.

And a single red line was drawn across their throats.

A single line, swift and sharp. Their bodies flew forward with the same force with which they lunged.

Chia-ak-!

A fountain of blood gushed as their throats were cut.

A few drops of blood also splattered on YuWon's body.

YuWon didn't bother to dodge or block them.

Right now, a little blood would seem much more intimidating on the outside.

Scott-.

His red sword drew a line on the ground.

A two-meter radius centered on YuWon.

A fairly large circle was drawn.

"If you step inside this circle..."

The boys froze, looking at their dead comrades.

He wasn't sure if he was aware of it, and although he was doing the same thing as in the Tutorial, the confrontation was very different (but his approach was completely different).

"I guess I don't need to tell you."

Despite not giving the complete warning, they were aware of the danger and stopped.

They knew it by instinct.

They knew that if they entered that circle, they would end up like those they had just seen.

And that was a result that none of them wanted.

No matter how good the reward is, what good are points if you die in the end?

YuWon thought that this one action alone would buy him enough time.

But at that moment...

Kwak-.

One by one, they moved, still knowing they were going to die.

'The Rankers.'

Swish-.

YuWon's gaze shifted to those moving their feet.

Those who were close or had reached the Ranker level began to move. However, they should have also witnessed YuWon's sword strike at this moment.

It didn't contain Arcane Power, but it was still a swift and strong strike.

A sword that even most Rankers couldn't easily see. But still, they were moving.

There was only one reason.

'The Magatama Jewel is terrifying. It not only removes pain but also removes fear.'

An object that drains the power of those who oppose you and amplifies the power of your allies.

It was one of the many abilities possessed by the Magatama Jewel.

And that ability shone when borrowing the power of a group. There was nothing more terrifying than the power of a fearless group.

It was probably the effect of Berserker.

'Of course...'

YuWon's gaze landed on the line he had drawn on the ground.

Scott-.

A foot that stepped in was cut.

It was the foot of one of the guys who surrounded YuWon closely.

'The only thing that has changed is their way of acting—after all, moths are still moths.'

Although they did not fear death, their stats did not suddenly increase several times over.

The fact was that there were no enemies who could pose a threat.

Furthermore, time was on his side.

Ung-.

The Kusanagi Sword trembled slightly.

YuWon's head turned.

'It's impossible for you not to recognize this...'

In the distance.

The corners of YuWon's lips twisted upward as he locked eyes with Amaterasu, who was watching him.

'What are you going to do now?'

"Kusanagi..."

He had never been so excited.

He couldn't believe it even as he saw it with his own eyes, as it seemed impossible.

But now it was true.

What he had desired so much was right in front of him.

The Kusanagi Sword, the Yata Mirror.

The Three Sacred Treasures were gathered.

Squirm-.

He felt like his body would leap forward at any moment. He wanted to break Kim YuWon in front of him into ten or a hundred pieces and gather the Three Sacred Treasures he desired so much.

But compared to that...

'He had Kusanagi from the beginning.'

His suspicions and mistrust towards Kim YuWon grew.

'That guy took Susanoo's treasure.'

He himself was surprised by that.

Why did he distrust him so much when he could be leaping forward right now?

Why, he wondered.

Woo, woo, woo~

The Magatama Jewel resonated. When the Three Sacred Treasures were gathered, they began to react to each other.

Kwak-.

'If I gather all these, I'll be able to leap over him.'

Susanoo.

A tall and enormous wall that stood in his way every time.

Although he had surpassed it in the Ranking, Amaterasu always seemed to be able to see his back.

But if he could get his hands on the Three Sacred Treasures...

'I can't bear it.'

Kak-.

No matter what the opponent had prepared.

No matter the traps they had set for him, as long as he could overcome them all.

If he could just get his hands on the Three Sacred Treasures.

That would be enough.

Scott-.

Chaaaaahhh!

The Kusanagi Sword once again became stained with blood.

The crimson hilt, resembling blood itself, was barely noticeable no matter how much blood it had on it. Now, YuWon wondered if the Kusanagi Sword had absorbed too much blood.

And as he expected...

[You have killed 100 people]

[Kusanagi absorbs the blood]

[Stats temporarily increase by 10%]

The more he killed, the more Kusanagi's stats increased.

His body felt lighter. He was confident that he could move much faster than before.

'This is dangerous.'

YuWon felt increasingly intoxicated.

The feeling of cutting people with a sword was becoming more enjoyable. It didn't even feel like he was cutting something living as he watched their bodies being sliced like tofu.

Everything felt like a game.

And he was just having fun.

YuWon was disgusted by the feeling, but at the same time, he enjoyed it.

'A hundred now.'

The decapitated bodies of players were scattered everywhere.

Despite many of them being killed, they didn't stop running towards YuWon.

He still had plenty of energy.

The fight had only just begun, and there was still a long way to go.

But...

'How long do I have to feel this disgusting feeling...'

A part of him wanted to put away Kusanagi as soon as possible.

After all, this kind of Demon Sword/Cursed Sword didn't suit him.

'Maybe Susanoo can use it.'

Scott-.

Chaaaaack!

YuWon cut another player in half who charged at him.

[Kusanagi absorbs the blood]

[Absorbs Arcane Power]

[Consumes part of your stamina]

Blood seeped into the sword, absorbing YuWon's Arcane Power once again.

The blood absorbed his Mana and drained his health. Under other circumstances, this wasn't a good trade-off for the current YuWon.

'Fortunately, it doesn't drain much stamina/health.'

Scott-.

Kwak-!

Another one.

YuWon looked beyond the player's body, which had been split in half, to the place where Amaterasu had disappeared.

A situation he had been monitoring through his Cinder Eyes. If not for that, he wouldn't have noticed that Amaterasu had started to move.

'I recognize it by being a pain in the ass to move.'

Now, where will he move?

If that cautious type is on the move, it means they've thought things through.

'Once someone like that starts moving, they don't stop. It's a sign that their eyes are already prepared for everything.'

Bum.

YuWon stomped the ground with his foot.

'So now, I'll move too.'

Karak-.

YuWon unsheathed another sword.

Two swords.

Seeing YuWon holding a pair of swords, the players rushing forward hesitated for a moment.

"Twin swords?"

"Did Kim YuWon originally use two swords?"

"Who cares, keep pushing forward!"

They said it, but they weren't serious.

No matter how effective the berserker state was, they weren't lacking basic thinking and vigilance.

At that moment...

YuWon looked at the Edge of Nightfall in his other hand and raised an eyebrow.

"As expected, this way is much more comfortable."

Kusanagi is definitely a great sword, but Hephasto's work was much more stable.

The discomfort from a moment ago had subsided.

This was the power of his sword.

It's not just a sword you hold in your hand, it's an extension of your hand.

Still, YuWon didn't let go of Kusanagi.

Not to hold it, not to swing it, not to stab with it.

He had other uses for it.

Pooh-.

YuWon struck the Kusanagi sword against the ground.

The sword sank in smoothly, like soft tofu.

No, no.

There was more to it than that.

Swoosh-.

The Kusanagi sword was sucked into the ground. In a round circle with a radius of about two meters, exactly where YuWon was standing.

"Eh?"

"What is he doing?"

"The sword..."

The players gathered around and checked the marks on the ground.

Indeed, the sword must have hit the ground a moment ago, but there were no marks on the ground.

"Where did it go?"

"What is he going to do..."

The state of alertness intensified.

The sword had suddenly disappeared.

It wasn't even an ordinary sword; it was a sword with strangely great cutting power.

The strange aura emanating from Kusanagi had already been sensed by the players around.

After dropping Kusanagi to the ground, YuWon turned his head, unperturbed by the reactions around him.

"At this point, their eyes must have turned inside out."

It wasn't them who were surprised to see the sword disappear.

The most surprised person was....

"Kim YuWon!"

Hwarrrrrr-.

The color of the red sky darkened. The temperature around him heated up, and black flames burst forth, centered on YuWon.

'Well, he even came out screaming.'

YuWon turned his head and met the falling eyes of Amaterasu.

He was quite surprised to see Kusanagi had disappeared.

Fire-!

An enormous flame approached closer and closer, like a meteor falling from the sky.

Rank 52.

Amaterasu, the leader of the Three Precious Children, had turned into a meteor and fallen to the ground.

Kwaaaang-!