NOVEL WEB Chapter 162 - Ranking (1)
Chapter 162: Ranking (1)
As soon as Segyung left, Poppy and Arin quickly ran over to Yuri’s side.
“What was that? How did you get it right?”
“I’m hungry.”
After witnessing Yuri’s victory in the bet, their minds were filled with curiosity.
How on earth did he manage to distinguish those iron bars?
Eager to hear the secret, they rushed over, but Yuri ignored their barrage of questions.
Instead, he focused on his senses.
He feared that if he wasted any more time, he might forever lose the sensation he had just experienced during his sudden enlightenment.
He erased the presence of those around him from his mind.
Then, he focused on his beloved sword, White.
‘I’m feeling it.’
The unique mana wavelength of the White Steel Sword began to draw vividly in his mind.
Not the artificially amplified and distorted wavelength, but the pure resonance inherent in the White Steel Sword.
Yuri channeled mana into the White Steel Sword.
This mana wasn’t intended to amplify the wavelength, but rather to connect himself with the sword.
Ssssss—.
At the same time, he adjusted the wavelength of his mana core.
Doom— doom—.
Like a heartbeat, the wavelength of his mana core surged, gradually aligning with that of the White Steel Sword.
In the blink of an eye, the synchronization rate reached 80%.
Crackle—.
The White Steel Sword, gleaming with a transparent sheen, began to contain lightning.
Meanwhile, Theresia, who had been watching Yuri, quietly pulled Arin and Poppy back.
“Senior Tessa?”
“Shh, he’s undergoing his first embodiment.”
Enlightenment belongs to the realm of the mind.
Theresia knew how crucial the first step of refining it to suit the physical body was, so she quieted Arin and Poppy.
During this time, the synchronization rate reached 90%.
Zap—!
As the sword, now blazing like it was heated in a furnace, emitted strong lightning, Theresia’s expression grew complicated.
‘The realm of the Flame Sword…’
It was she who had taught Yuri the system of sword techniques, of which he had been completely ignorant.
But now, Yuri had already leapt far beyond her, reaching a new level.
A realm even she had not yet attempted, the realm of the Flame Sword.
And…
‘Perhaps… today, you might show me even more.’
A few days ago, she had witnessed Yuri reach the realm of the Flame Sword when he faced the Demon King.
Now, he was undergoing enlightenment and embodying that realization.
Therefore, it was only natural that he had stepped into a realm beyond the Flame Sword.
As if responding to Theresia’s expectations, Yuri’s sword began to transform.
Sizzle—.
From the blade’s base, near the guard, a small spark ignited.
This was the starting point.
Synchronization rate 95%.
The flame that began at the blade’s base rapidly spread, swirling around the sword’s body.
Whoosh—.
Golden flames infused with blue lightning.
Crackle—.
Seeing the translucent, burning sword, Theresia muttered quietly.
“…The Fire Sword.”
The representative realm symbolizing the official third level.
A realm that still felt distant to her, yet now reached by a junior who had only been in the cradle for four months.
Poppy and Arin also looked at the Fire Sword Yuri had created with astonished eyes.
However.
Whoosh—.
The transformation of the sword didn’t stop there.
The synchronization rate, which seemed to have stalled, began to rise again.
Synchronization rate 96%.
The golden flames nearly doubled in size in an instant.
At the same time, the once calm flames stirred with turbulent waves.
Synchronization rate 97%.
The golden flames, violently thrashing, roared as if in anger, spewing blue lightning wildly in all directions.
Synchronization rate 98%.
Then, the wildly blazing golden flames vanished.
Ssssk—.
The flame shrank rapidly, as if suddenly deprived of oxygen, being absorbed into the blade and vanishing.
However, the flame hadn’t disappeared; it had merely withdrawn in preparation for a new evolution.
Finally, when the synchronization rate reached 99%.
Pop—.
The golden flames that had receded burst forth, enveloping Yuri’s sword.
A moment later.
Crackle—.
The pure white White Steel Sword was now encased in a translucent golden aura, with faint blue lightning wrapped around it.
The sword’s stunning appearance left Theresia, Arin, and Poppy entranced.
Then, as if in a trance, Theresia muttered softly.
“Ma…gic Sword?”
If her eyes were not deceiving her, that was undoubtedly a Magic Sword.
A symbol only achievable by those who reached the official fourth level.
‘My God, a Magic Sword?!’
For someone with considerable talent, reaching the official fourth level usually occurred in their mid to late thirties.
Occasionally, those who were a bit faster would achieve the fourth level in their twenties.
However, not all who reached that level could wield a Magic Sword.
Many who attained the fourth level in mana power couldn’t wield a Magic Sword due to failing to achieve a high enough synchronization rate.
While mana could be enhanced through elixirs, potions, and superior magic body techniques, raising the synchronization rate relied more on talent than effort.
Therefore, even those who received their fourth-level certification in their twenties might still be unable to wield a Magic Sword well into their fifties.
Yet Yuri had completed his Magic Sword at just sixteen.
But what was even more astounding was something else entirely.
‘This kid, who didn’t even know what a Strong Sword was, completed a Magic Sword in less than four months?’
The Cradle had produced countless geniuses over the years.
Among them, there were likely some who completed a Magic Sword even earlier than Yuri.
But all of them had been systematically trained and had practiced synchronization since childhood.
None of them, however, had progressed from a Strong Sword to a Magic Sword in just about four months.
‘Even more so, he completed both the Flame Sword and Magic Sword today… in a single day. Even if Yuri’s synchronization rate was 94%, he would have had to increase it by at least 5% in a single day.’
Raising the synchronization rate by at least 5% in one day?
Was that really possible?
However, denying this feat was impossible given the undeniable evidence right before her eyes.
‘What kind of talent does one need to perform such an unimaginable feat?’
At this point, Theresia was less envious of Yuri’s talent and more terrified of it.
As Theresia stared at Yuri’s Magic Sword with a grave expression.
Fsss—.
The brilliant Magic Sword, like a flame extinguished, flickered with golden smoke and vanished.
“Ah….”
Yuri, opening his eyes with a small sigh, gazed wistfully at the wisp of golden smoke dissipating into the air.
Arin and Poppy, not noticing Yuri’s expression, hurried back to him.
“What was that? Why was your Magic Sword so pretty? Show us a little more!”
“I’m hungry!”
The moment Arin finished speaking, Poppy nodded eagerly in agreement.
Theresia’s thoughts weren’t all that different.
‘It was indeed… beautiful.’
Though she hadn’t seen many Magic Swords, Yuri’s Magic Sword had something distinct from others.
The combination of golden light and blue lightning looked like an ancient piece of art.
With her keen sense of aesthetics, Arin felt her heart racing.
“Show it again!”
“I’m hungry!”
As Arin and Poppy continued to pester him, Yuri remained silent.
Their insistence grew stronger.
“Show us!”
“I’m hungry!”
Under the mounting pressure, Yuri finally spoke up.
“No.”
“Why not? It’s not like it will wear out just by showing it a bit more. Come on, show us!”
“No.”
“Why not!”
“No.”
“Why!”
“…I can’t.”
“Uh?”
“…No mana.”
“……?”
“My mana tank is completely empty.”
Yuri’s face immediately fell as he gave this answer.
The three people around him blinked in surprise.
“What?”
“I’m hungry?”
“…For something like that? Really?”
Seeing Yuri confirm this with an even gloomier expression and silence, Theresia tilted her head.
“Hmm… Didn’t it last about 10 seconds?”
“No, it wasn’t that long. About 5 seconds? Hmm… even 5 seconds is too long. More like 3 seconds?”
Poke— poke—.
Arin’s words struck Yuri right in the chest, causing his shoulders to slump.
In reality, the Magic Sword had only been maintained for about 3 to 4 seconds.
Just like a candle snuffed out, the Magic Sword didn’t vanish because Yuri chose to, but because his mana had actually run out.
Theresia inwardly clicked her tongue at the situation.
‘To think he can’t sustain the Magic Sword due to lack of mana….’
Isn’t it usually the other way around?
As Theresia watched Yuri with a curious expression.
Tap—.
Poppy placed a hand on Yuri’s shoulder.
“I’m hungry…”
Poppy patted Yuri with a face full of pity.
Yuri’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘…What’s this? Why does it feel like I understand even though I don’t get it?’
And it was quite an unpleasant feeling.
That broad face staring at him as if pitying him was inexplicably poking at his pride.
At the moment something surged angrily from his gut, Arin unnecessarily translated Poppy’s words.
“Poppy is calling you a pathetic quickshot…”
Before Arin even finished speaking.
“Argh! You muscle pig bastard!”
Enraged, Yuri slammed both feet into Poppy’s chest.
April 17.
Ssss— ssss—.
In the dim cave, the long breaths echoed at regular intervals.
The rhythmic breathing, calming to those who heard it, continued throughout the night.
How much time passed like this?
As the sun rose, light flooded into the cave.
Ssss— ssss—.
The first thing the light touched was the knees of someone sitting in a formal posture.
As the sunlight quickly climbed upward, it revealed a straight back and a protruding Adam’s apple.
Then, moving past a defined jawline, the distinct facial features came into view, basking in the bright daylight.
It was as if to declare, ‘This is what a golden-haired nobleman looks like,’ a strikingly handsome appearance.
Ssss— ssss—.
The source of the breathing that echoed in the cave was none other than Gunther.
In the sunlight, he appeared quite gaunt.
Ssss— ssss—.
Despite the harsh light on his face, Gunther kept his eyes closed, continuing his breathing.
This was meditation meant to control his scattered thoughts.
And this meditation had been ongoing since March 13.
Yet, despite this prolonged period of meditation, Gunther’s mind remained in turmoil.
His head was a jumble of countless scenes floating aimlessly.
There was the image of Yuri, after receiving a recommendation for the Dragon Plaque, using a black monster to take down the Black Sword Corps, and Gunther’s own astonishment at the sight.
Then there was the image of himself training intensely, viewing the absent Yuri as a competitor.
Yuri, looking like a beggar sprawled on the Black Ship on the way to the Cradle, and Gunther, unconsciously dismissing him.
Yuri pushing a classmate off the Black Ship with confidence, and Gunther opposing him head-on.
Gunther’s memories of his interactions with Yuri eventually reached the most recent event, March 13.
Clarice Van’s betrayal, followed by the betrayals of other classmates before he could even process the first.
The radiant smile of Yuri, who had orchestrated it all, and the sight of Gunther tearing off his own armband, walking away bitterly.
When his recollection reached this point, Gunther’s closed eyelids trembled slightly.
‘Could it be… that I was wrong?’
All his life, he had believed that being upright and honest was the right way to live.
Justice and loyalty were correct, and anything that did not align with those values was wrong.
The family had taught him so, and he lived believing it to be true.
But.
‘Is that really… the right way?’
The steadfast beliefs he held until now wavered slightly.
He had remained honest, so why had he been betrayed, and why did all the benefits go to the immoral?
‘…Why? Why on earth?!’
Gunther still believed his principles were correct.
But the incidents of the past few months, and their outcomes that contradicted his beliefs, left him confused.
And at the source of this confusion.
Standing at the center of it all was Yuri Holland.
Swoosh—.
Gunther opened his eyes.
‘Yuri Holland… if I can surpass him, will this confusion disappear?’
If he could prove he was superior to Yuri.
Wouldn’t that confirm that his beliefs were not wrong?
With that thought, Gunther’s green eyes filled with determination.
And just then, the morning sunlight penetrated deeper into the cave.
Sparkle—
The light reflected brilliantly off the silver steel statue, scattering dazzlingly.