Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 196 - Witnesses

The absolute rule of the social gathering or the community in the time and space.

 

All hostile acts between each other were prohibited.

 

Naturally, it was a rule that couldn’t be properly obeyed.

 

I didn’t know about the Arcana Continent’s perspective.

 

But players had great pride.

 

If you turned on the Internet right now and looked at any player community, you would find more than one or two keyboard battles going on.

 

Would the social gathering of time and space where only the transcendents gathered would be any different?

 

No, they might actually be even worse.

 

‘Maybe that’s why they put that rule in the first place.’

 

What if such rules didn’t exist in the social gathering of time and space?

 

The smell of blood wouldn’t have gone away in that luxurious space.

 

But you couldn’t prevent a conflict no matter how hard you tried.

 

Above all, AAU must have watched the players fighting all the time. It was only natural that there were rules for such situations.

 

[A duel content can be processed through the Stagnant Water Community.]

 

AAU’s data stated so.

 

To translate those words…

 

『A duel can be conducted through the Social Gathering of Time and Space.』

 

…You might be wondering.

 

Although it was incomplete, it worked on its own.

 

There were also additional rules and purposes related to it.

 

[The fight will be broadcast on Arcana’s website]

 

[A lot of viewers are expected to gather for the duel between rankers]

 

[The additional income from the streaming be distributed to the winners]

 

[It can stimulate players’ desire to increase their level]…

 

When I checked up to this point, I realized that AAU was not the developer of Arcana for no reason. They were fully aware of the player’s psychology.

 

A duel between rankers.

 

They would broadcast it live on Arcana’s website.

 

All the resulting additional income would be monopolized by the winner.

 

‘I would have drooled too.’

 

As had been stated.

 

It could have been a great attraction for general viewers, and it could have been another motivation for players to become rankers.

 

Of course, this was all from when Arcana was just a game.

 

‘We don’t know how the system will be implemented.’

 

It was uncertain.

 

But as you could see.

 

I offered Shegwin a duel of time and space.

 

The reason was simple.

 

Was it to overcome false pride with true pride, as Granfel said?

 

No, I didn’t know about Grandfel, but.

 

I, Lee Hoyeol, didn’t have such a cool reason.

 

I felt a presence overhead.

 

At the top of Zero Mountain.

 

Strong energy began to rise from the dragon’s nest.

 

The energy was stronger than the magic circle of the Mage Tower.

 

I could guarantee.

 

If the dragons woke up…

 

‘You really can’t stop that thing!’

 

What about the sealing magic circle?

 

That was just something spread by mass media that didn’t know anything!

 

The magic circle of the Mage Tower was not for sealing the dragons. In the first place, there was no way that the Mage Tower, which had suffered a crushing defeat in the Great Dragon-Demon War, could manifest such magic.

 

‘Really, the magic circle is just to avoid disturbing the dragon’s sleep.’

 

Since the Mage Tower uncharactically put a lot of effort.

 

Let alone waking up from the slightest noise.

 

There shouldn’t have been any tossing and turning.

 

I can’t help but resent that damn Vivace again, Grandfel…!

 

‘It can’t be helped.’

 

In that regard, this was the best judgment.

 

[The duel of time and space has been approved.]

 

The battle site was moved into the consciousness.

 

Back when Arcana was just a game.

 

You didn’t have to worry about losing your life in a duel.

 

But now it was a different story.

 

‘The fact that my life is on the line doesn’t change.’

 

The only thing that changed was the fact that neither I nor Shegwin could run away.

 

Shegwin seemed to be aware of that.

 

The black pupils met my eyes for the first time.

 

“I didn’t expect you to know these rules. You’re not like a newbie.”

 

Indeed, he was the Sword Saint.

 

He was still a transcendent.

 

He overcame the natural enemy relationship only with his strong mind.

 

However, I also didn’t lag behind when it came to mental power.

 

“I commend your judgment in responding to the duel.”

 

Look, I was calm enough to praise someone in front of me.

 

A duel of time and space.

 

Naturally, it needed mutual consent.

 

Shegwin burst into laughter as if he were having fun.

 

“No, it’s actually something I should be grateful for.”

 

Even if I arrogantly praised him, he was grateful.

 

What was that discomfiting reaction?

 

But Shegwin seemed genuinely grateful.

 

“When I thought I couldn’t escape, I actually felt at ease.”

 

…Ah, that was what he meant?

 

For me, to avoid the dragons, and for Shegwin, to suppress his demonic instinct to avoid natural enemies. The duel of time and space was approved because our interests coincided.

 

Soon, the scenery began to be overlaid.

 

What filled it was fields.

 

It was an amphitheater, a colosseum, that even had spectator seats.

 

Anyway, it was gorgeous.

 

Even compared to the social gathering hall decorated with various gold and silver treasures.

 

The stadium was so spectacular that it was not inferior in any way.

 

Above all, it was huge and magnificent.

 

If you didn’t know the concept of ‘consciousness’, you would feel overwhelmed just by seeing it.

 

Sk–

 

But both I and Shegwin knew what consciousness was.

 

Without hesitation.

 

Shegwin raised his sword.

 

Then he laughed bitterly.

 

“You’re not giving an answer even after coming all the way here, Atlas?”

 

Did you ever imagine that you would no longer be able to unleash your sword force?

 

It was as if the path he had been walking on all along had denied him.

 

He had a miserable look on his face.

 

But make no mistake, Shegwin.

 

Putting Atlas aside, Gandfel’s punishment had only just begun.

 

I recited.

 

“The futile pride you carried through even after you gave up being human.”

 

“…?”

 

“How does it feel to have it denied by the sword, Shegwin?”

 

…I had felt this for a long time, but Gandfel’s way of speaking had a natural talent of provoking the demons. Even now, look at Shegwin’s face distorting.

 

Of course, we still have a long way to go, Shegwin.

 

“But I will also deny it.”

 

From now on, it was purely due to Granfel’s pride.

 

Shegwin had been corrupted into a demon and was no longer able to unleash his sword force.

 

Still, I wasn’t confident.

 

Even with Natural Enemy Relationship, the circle, and the demon king’s loot.

 

I couldn’t guarantee a victory. The sword force.

 

“With my sword.”

 

But you’re even going to fight him through swordsmanship, Grandfel-ssi…!

 

It was an idea that I wouldn’t think of if it weren’t for Grandfel’s damn heavy pride. But it was not like I said that without any countermeasures.

 

Yeah.

 

Everything was a constant struggle.

 

I didn’t miss each and every word I heard.

 

Shegwin.

 

– “It’s none of my business who wears that crown. I only lent my power to the feudal lords in order to obtain the magic tool, the Milky Way Whetstone.”

 

A perfect finish with the Milky Way Whetstone.

 

Thanks to his words, the smelting of the ethereal iron had finally been completed.

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“Haiel.”

 

Is it possible to summon spirits in a duel?

 

If someone asked that, I could answer: of course it is.

 

If it wasn’t possible, the spirit mages would only be able to suck their fingers and lose the duel.

 

Soon, Haiel appeared in the air.

 

For some reason.

 

Haiel wasn’t the only one who showed up.

 

Just like how the Colosseum was created from an empty space.

 

People appeared one by one from the stands of the Colosseum.

 

By the way, they were all familiar faces…?

 

It was only then that I realized.

 

[The duel will be broadcast through the Arcana website]

 

…Was this how it was implemented?

 

*

 

Zero Mountain.

 

A message appeared in front of the players’ eyes.

 

[Would you like to observe the duel of time and space?]

 

Voices erupted from everywhere.

 

“…Eh?”

 

“I am not the only one who sees this, right?”

 

“A duel of time and space? What else is this?”

 

It was a message that they had never seen before.

 

However, system messages were not spam messages.

 

The system didn’t lie.

 

There must be a good reason for why the message appeared.

 

Then there was only one possibility they could think of.

 

“…Wait a minute.”

 

Bang–

 

At the direction of the ray of light.

 

They heard a loud noise.

 

It was clear that this was related to Hoyeol.

 

Swish–

 

The message also appeared to the guild masters of the Great Alliance who followed the marching light across the mountain range.

 

Leonie, who was leading the way, stopped walking.

 

“…A duel?”

 

Class, berserker.

 

That word was familiar to Leonie.

 

A berserker must constantly repeat battles to improve their class skills.

 

The most suitable place for that was not a hunting ground, but the Colosseum, where battles were endless.

 

Bang…

 

As soon as that message appeared, the noise subsided.

 

Then, the light that was crossing the mountain range also stopped in place.

 

Leonie was certain,

 

Swish─

 

She turned her head and shouted.

 

“I don’t know who will show up, but I think they’re going to fight!”

 

A duel.

 

In such an unexpected situation, there was no time for formalities.

 

Hisagi’s eyes narrowed.

 

“As expected, is it that duel?”

 

Nam Taemin shook his head.

 

“I don’t know. Whatever it is, we just have to check it out ourselves.”

 

Even if it was a duel, questions still remained.

 

What kind of duel it was?

 

It even sent a message asking for observation to other players?

 

The three exchanged glances again.

 

“Let’s accept it.”

 

“I think it would be best to accept.”

 

“Of course, we will accept it. Observe.”

 

A message appeared again.

 

[Enters the duel of time and space.]

 

And their vision changed.

 

“!!!”

 

As if they had been warped through a portal.

 

The whole landscape had changed.

 

Leonie was the first out of the three of them to open her mouth.

 

“Crazy.”

 

It was said to be a duel of time and space.

 

It was definitely a Colosseum.

 

But she couldn’t imagine such a huge Colosseum to appear! She had never seen such a magnificent Colosseum since the days when Arcana was just a game.

 

Sss–-

 

Soon, just like them.

 

Players showed up in the stands at the Colosseum.

 

Nam Taemin and Hisagi were sitting next to her.

 

Other than those two, she saw familiar faces.

 

“Rox, Camilla, Schraig, Liu Jinchun…?”

 

Hisagi, with his snake eyes, came to a conclusion.

 

“It seems the message came to all players who entered Zero Mountain. No player would say no to the message unless there was a specific reason.”

 

Thanks to this, the stands at the Colosseum were filled up quickly.

 

“W-Where did this stadium suddenly appear from?”

 

It took a moment for everyone to understand the situation.

 

He thought of something more important than the vast Colosseum.

 

‘…What about Hoyeol-ssi?’

 

Nam Taemin’s gaze turned to the center of the Colosseum.

 

“!”

 

Hoyeol was there.

 

As upright as ever.

 

And there was a man across him.

 

“…Who is that?”

 

Blue hair.

 

His unique appearance stood out even from a distance.

 

It was so unique that you couldn’t forget it once you encountered it.

 

But nothing came to mind at all.

 

‘If he has a duel with Hoyeol-ssi…’

 

If he couldn’t recognize a player with that level of skill, then there was one possibility.

 

He immediately concluded.

 

That man was an Arcanain.

 

While he was thinking, he heard a voice from the stands.

 

“…Wait, I think I know who he is.”

 

“What? Who is he?”

 

“That sword! I’ve seen it!”

 

“Sword?”

 

At those words, all eyes turned towards the man’s sword.

 

Everyone could easily recognize it.

 

Since the days when Arcana was just a game.

 

Such a fancy sword was rare.

 

Indeed, that was the Sword Saint’s sword.

 

Nam Taemin murmured.

 

“…Come to think of it, didn’t the Sword Saint have blue hair?”

 

“Sword Saint, Shegwin.”

 

“That’s right! That name! I’ve heard of it!”

 

Leonie nodded at Hisagi’s words.

 

But it didn’t make sense.

 

Shegwin who the players remembered was middle-aged.

 

No, he was closer to old age than that.

 

“Did he take a rejuvenation potion ?”

 

“Even if it’s Arcana, does such an item exist?!”

 

“No, more importantly….”

 

There was another thing they didn’t understand.

 

“…Why are those two fighting?”

 

They heard some loud noise in Zero Mountain.

 

The main characters of that sound were Hoyeol and the Sword Saint.

 

Naturally, the players.

 

Including Nam Taemin and his group who had been watching Hoyeol by his side.

 

They couldn’t easily fathom the situation.

 

Therefore.

 

As expected, it was something they couldn’t understand.

 

“Haiel.”

 

Haiel descended gracefully from the air.

 

There was a sword in Haiel’s arms.

 

And Hoyeol received that sword.

 

Buzz─

 

The audience began to shake.

 

“…That can’t be, right?”

 

“Is he really going to fight the Sword Saint with a sword?”

 

“With Shegwin who has regained his youth?”

 

“Even if he’s Hoyeol-nim, this is…!”

 

So they couldn’t understand until the end.

 

Click–

 

The reason why a message came up in front of their eyes.

 

When Hoyeol raised his sword.

 

[Achievement: Witness ‘Legend.’]

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

I checked the floating system window.

 

No matter how many times I looked at it, it didn’t change.

 

The ethereal iron…

 

[Grade: Legend]

 

…What happened to you?