When Junhyuk got back to Earth, he shared his thoughts with Sarang and Elise. He told them that future enemies would have a harder time controlling the battlefield with their equipment, and both women nodded.
“Instead of equipment, our powers will control the battlefield?”
“That’s right. Our team has no tanks, so Gongon and I should take the lead and block. Tanks have taunt powers, so we should come up with a way to deal with that.”
“I should raise my defense.”
Elise had her nullification field. If she took the role of a tank, she would be of great help. She could take the lead and cancel all of the enemies’ powers.
Junhyuk stared at her. Women could be tanks, but the role didn’t really suit her. She was extremely intelligent, so would having her as a tank be best?
“I can increase my defense by upgrading the items I have now.”
“Zaira has been upgraded, so you should could deal with the enemy together. You should increase your attack by upgrading your weapon.”
Elise was insisting on tanking, but Junhyuk felt he should keep her from doing that. He took a moment to think and said, “OK. You can be the team’s tank and buffer.”
Layla should get more items to raise her attack. Sarang would be the long range attacker of the group, and Junhyuk and Gongon would float between close range damagers and tanks.
Elise smiled and said, “When Diane comes over, I’ll research something with her.”
“Sure. Once I’m ready to invite everyone, I’ll call you.”
“OK,” Elise said with a smile and left.
Junhyuk looked at Sarang and said, “You should be our strongest damager.”
“Whoa! Isn’t that some pressure?”
“It is.”
After thinking for a moment, Sarang replied, “Then, I should focus on lightning spells and items.”
“Right. Your heal is strong enough as it is, so you should focus on your damage.”
“OK. I’ll create something better than your Spatial Slash. You just wait.”
Junhyuk laughed and replied, “OK. I’ll be waiting.”
Sarang left for her house, and Junhyuk went to see Eunseo. He would invite Eunseo to the next gathering. At that moment, however, Eunseo was still sleeping.
Junhyuk looked at the files and documents on her desk while she slept. They were files on novices and experts. Looking over them, Junhyuk found out that there were many powered people now.
According to the files, there were over eight hundred powered. A surprising number of people were becoming novices.
“I just need one more hero.”
Eltor hadn’t made himself known yet, and Junhyuk was getting frustrated with that. The manager was constantly causing trouble, and for that reason, Junhyuk really wanted to acquire the Dimensional Slash.
Eunseo woke up and noticed him staring at her.
“Are you up?”
She smiled and replied, “Yes.” She yawned hard and added, “That was a good rest.”
Junhyuk laughed out loud and asked, “How was your time in the castle?”
“It was safe and boring. I trained.”
“Right.”
Once she activated another power, she would be able to fight. Her items were on par with champions’ items, but she only had one life.
“I need materials for my party.”
“I thought so. Are you putting it all inside your Spatial Bag?”
“Right.”
“I’ll get everything ready now, then.”
“Thank you.”
She replied, “I should thank you. I’m safe on the battlefield now.”
Junhyuk grabbed her hand and said while they looked at each other, “We are now in the round of sixteen. It won’t be long before we reach the final.”
“If we win, will the monster waves stop?”
“No. We need another human hero for that.”
One champions should become a hero. The Champions’ Battlefield was still ongoing, so he hoped one of them would make the transition.
Junhyuk went to the storage facility where the drinks were. The alcohol was very expensive, but the heroes drank it all like water. Eunseo had already prepared them, so Junhyuk used the Spatial Bag to move everything across. He had to take a few trips to move everything, so he decided to ask Sarang for help the next time.
After setting up the bottles, he smiled and said, “Whew! The alcohol is ready.”
The food would be served in waves at different times, and those who were resting at those times would be in charge of it.
After getting the first batch of food ready, Junhyuk invited everyone, and all of the heroes appeared quickly. They drank and ate and talked.
As expected, Artlan’s team won their match and moved onto the round of sixteen. Junhyuk wished he wouldn’t have to fight Artlan. He wouldn’t be able to win as he was now.
They talked about their enemies, and when Artlan heard about Minota, he laughed out loud and asked more about them.
“It was easy. I got a pentakill.”
“Ha-ha-ha! I wish I could’ve seen it.”
“Yeah. It was quite the scene.”
Artlan laughed again and emptied the bottle in his hand. Then, he pulled out a bottle from his chest and said, “OK. To celebrate our victories, I brought you this drink from my home. Congratulations on the pentakill!”
Junhyuk took the glass from Artlan and emptied.
“Cough!!”
He finally understood what kind of drinks Artlan preferred. It was just like poison, pure alcohol.
“How can you drink this?”
“This is how drinks should be.”
Junhyuk shook his head. That was the strongest liquor he had ever tasted, and Artlan was drinking it like it was nothing. Junhyuk was astonished by that, but Artlan was enjoying himself.
Artlan finished the bottle and said, “OK. Let’s see your pentakill skills.”
Junhyuk got up from his seat and asked, “Like on the battlefield?”
Artlan laughed and replied, “Why? Now that your skills have increased, you think you can win with your powers?”
“No. To get the most out of our training, we should use anything we can use in the battlefield.”
“Right. Good thinking.” Artlan unsheathed his sabers and added, “Let’s fight for real.”
Junhyuk considered his powers high-tiered, so he didn’t think he would lose the duel.
“A real fight between teacher and student?”
Artlan laughed and replied, “I want the same thing.”
Junhyuk stared at the hero. This time, he was planning to use all of his powers. He did not want to die, but he would fight. He thought that Artlan might die if he used the Spatial Collapse, so he used the Spatial Slash first.
Artlan sensed it and dodged it. Not only was it not a critical hit, but Artlan evaded it completely, receiving no damage.
Junhyuk teleported and closed in, but Artlan was waiting for that, so he triggered his combo power.
Clang, clang, clang!
Junhyuk blocked the attacks with his sword. In the Dimensional Battlefield, he would’ve still received damage from blocking a power, but on Earth, he prevented all of the damage. However, his hands ached to the point that they felt like they were about to drop.
Artlan attacked his ribs, and Junhyunk teleported multiple times in response and stabbed at the hero. By using his teleportations, Junhyuk was making his attacks hard to block or dodge, but Artlan had already dodged the Spatial Slash, so he dodged everything else with ease.
Not only did Artlan dodge, but he also counterattacked. Seeing that, Junhyuk raised his force field.
Clang!
Artlan jumped, and Junhyuk teleported behind him. He stabbed at the hero, but Artlan jumped again in midair. He had never seen Artlan move like that, so Junhyuk’s eyes widened.
Artlan laughed and said, “You are not the only one to have evolved your powers.”
While in the air, Artlan launched his saber at Junhyuk. It pounded against the force field.
Clang, clang, clang!
The saber bounced off, and Artlan grabbed it again. Wielding both sabers, Artlan smiled and asked, “Ten seconds, right?”
The hero distanced himself from Junhyuk, who had already used all of his teleportations. Junhyuk accelerated and ran toward Artlan, but Artlan’s acceleration was faster.
Junhyuk wanted to get closer, but Artlan was staying far away. After ten seconds, Artlan closed in on him. Junhyuk knew what Artlan was planning, and Artlan knew all of Junhyuk’s powers.
Junhyuk made up his mind then. He had to use the Spatial Collapse.
He was sure that Artlan would die, so he triggered it on Artlan’s left arm. But, Artlan could read everything. The hero moved sideways and dodged a direct hit. He still got pulled, however, so when Artlan lost his balance, Junhyuk stabbed at him.
But, Artlan was just pulled by the void. He didn’t get stuck there, so he immediately chased after Junhyuk to attack him.
Junhyuk attacked as well.
Artlan managed to block and deflect all of Junhyuk’s attacks. Then, Artlan swung at Junhyuk, who tried to move his head as quickly as possible, but the saber was already grazing his neck.
“How did you do it?”
“I did not teach you everything I know.”
