Chapter 141
Lee Suhyuk’s signature skill was lightning.
There was no room for disagreement on this. Suhyuk himself thought so, too.
However, that didn’t mean Suhyuk’s fighting style was solely reliant on one-sided firepower using lightning.
On the first day he reincarnated into his current body, Suhyuk had the chance to watch an old video of a battle against Anux at a memorial dedicated to him.
“This was back then, right? Twenty-five years ago, during the battle against the Anux players.”
“That’s probably it? He was amazing at that time.”
Among the many battles, the only reason this particular video was recorded was because it was the day Suhyuk first unveiled his new technique, which dominated both the ground and the sky with lightning.
Lightning was an intangible substance—merely a mass of energy with no physical mass. Jumping on it was supposed to be an impossible feat.
But,
‘From the beginning, I’ve always fought by grabbing it.’
If one could grasp it with their hands, why couldn’t they step on it with their feet?
There was just one difference: unlike the spear, which only needed to be created once in the hand, new lightning needed to be created with every step for the platform.
This was indescribably difficult.
“It was insanely difficult.”
This was what Suhyuk said in the interview immediately after the battle with the Anux.
“I just tried it to look cool, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”
He was sincere.
It had all started from a curiosity—Could it be possible?
Ultimately, though he did manage to utilize it in battle, it wasn’t an efficient method.
No, it may have even been the most inefficient method imaginable.
It required a considerable amount of magic, concentration, and control to materialize lightning enough to step on it.
But,
‘I need it now.’
Midgard Headquarters consisted of towers so high they touched the sky.
Jumping up was impossible. Besides, Suhyuk didn’t have a skill that allowed him to fly.
But if he rode the lightning.
‘Let’s try this.’
Efficiency aside, this was undoubtedly the quickest way.
Zap-.
He stepped on the first lightning.
The ground seemed to spring away as his body lightly floated up.
He was airborne for a moment, as if flying, but it was nowhere near enough to reach the tower’s pinnacle.
-What’s he doing?
-As if that’s gonna work, LOL.
He hadn’t expected to reach it in one go anyway.
The real attempt started now.
『‘Free Thief’s Footsteps’ steps on the sky.』
『’Sky Walking’ is activated.』
His body became as light as a feather. Defying gravity, with each step in the air, Suhyuk began to ascend the tower.
-Oh right.
-Item buff, LOL.
-He’s using it?
Suhyuk’s foot touched the waist of the tower. But the skill’s effect didn’t last long.
If there was an item that allowed someone to fly indefinitely, it would probably be not just Unique but Legendary, or even God-tier.
– Still lacking
– Feels like we’re halfway there
– Finally, going for the second jump?
– If he drops now, he’s done for
The viewers sensed Lee Suhyuk’s impending failure. They thought Suhyuk’s attempt to fly was merely a leap using an item, thus their reaction was natural. However, his initial use of Sky Steps was nothing more than groundwork to save his magic and stamina.
The real deal started now.
Crackle—
Beneath his feet, yellow lightning converged, creating a foothold—a solid and mighty platform he could step on with all his strength and leap from.
Boom!
A leap followed by another leap.
As Suhyuk rode the lightning and ascended, the chat buzzed rapidly.
– ????
– Wha-wha-wha???
– ?????
– Why is this happening here??????
– The grappler’s losing it LOL
Everyone who was a fan of Lee Suhyuk remembered that scene. It was the first time he had showcased that play during the confrontation with Anux. The technique was almost like a stunt that shook the essence of skills and made it uniquely his own.
– If Falcon Eye loves it, big thumbs up LOL
That technique was reenacted after twenty years.
『’Falcon Eye’ has donated 1,000 points.』
『Big thumbs up. Big big thumbs up!!!』
* * *
At the top of the spire.
In the middle of a wide space covered by opaque glass, Viola was kneeling with her entire body bound. Strange objects unfamiliar to her were scattered irregularly in the room.
Items that shouldn’t exist in Midgard were mixed.
‘A giant’s skull and heart, frost stone, a cursed silver goblet…’
Numerous items prohibited in Asgard were present. The most repulsive among them was the black circle drawn all around the room.
‘It’s drawn with blood.’
Judging by the color, it seemed to be the blood of the demon tribe.
She looked up and stared at Baldur. He stood still with his eyes closed, overwhelmed with emotion.
“These couldn’t be obtained in a day or two.”
“Of course, it wasn’t just a day or two.”
Baldur’s voice trembled slightly.
“It took a hundred years to obtain a giant’s corpse. Another hundred years to get the cursed silver goblet. I invested half of my accumulated wealth to procure the frost stone.”
A sense of madness exuded from him. It was not mere inferiority or impulsive anger, but madness driven by a clear goal.
“And the blood of a god. That’s when you arrived.”
The moment he finished speaking, Baldur’s gaze changed.
Slash—
At an invisible speed, a cut ran across her chest. The long slash across her abdomen made her mind go blank for an instant.
Drip—
Blood began to seep from the wound. She gritted her teeth and curled up, trying to stop the bleeding, but the wound was too big, making it a futile effort.
Eventually, blood trickled down to the floor.
And at that moment.
Sizzle—
Viola’s blood seeped into the ground.
At the center of the magic circle, where the blood seeped in, was a white goblet.
‘A silver goblet?’
A cursed silver goblet.
An ancient item used to break some kind of seal.
As Viola’s blood soaked in, all preparations were finally complete.
Gooo-.
Saaa-.
The tower trembled and the temperature instantly dropped. Thick dark clouds obscured the sky through the tower windows.
“It has begun.”
Baldur’s madness deepened.
“The barrier that divided the world of the gods will collapse today.”
Drip, drip-.
More blood trickled out. Viola gritted her teeth at the thought that she was the final key to awakening Bergelmir.
‘Stop the bleeding….’
Squeeze-.
She curled up desperately, trying to prevent more blood loss.
And to make sure that effort wasn’t in vain.
“Stop them-!”
“An intruder-!”
Below the tower.
Distant voices rang out.
“…They really came.”
Baldur muttered in a surprised tone.
“Suhyuk…”
A faint smile played at the corner of Viola’s lips, pressing against her wound.
Just when she was about to lose hope, he finally arrived. Her message had reached them.
Baldur’s expression showed faint cracks, indicating his dissatisfaction with the current situation.
“How did he get here?”
“He must have passed the trial, don’t you think?”
“That’s impossible.”
Baldur shook his head.
“A human can never pass that trial.”
“Well, ordinary humans can’t.”
Viola continued with a victorious smile.
“He is someone recognized by the Thunder.”
Boom-!
At that moment, thunder roared from below.
Baldur’s eyes wavered. For the first time, he showed signs of disturbance.
“Thunder… of Thor?”
Thor.
That name held special meaning here in Asgard.
The lineal descendant of the highest god Odin, and the only one recognized and bestowed with the power of lightning.
While he had currently disappeared somewhere, destined not to return, he was the great being meant to inherit this vast world someday.
Yet, a mere human possessing the same power as Thor?
Baldur shook his head, momentarily overcome by anxiety.
“Even if that’s true, it’s already too late.”
Chiii-.
As more of Viola’s blood flowed, the silver goblet gradually turned black.
Baldur’s face, which had been looking at the silver goblet, calmed down again.
“The seal has already begun to break, and by the time he gets up here—.”
Boom-!
Baldur’s body turned toward the window.
The sound was much closer than before.
He could sense something was flying toward them.
“Didn’t I say so?”
Crash-!
The window shattered.
“He would come.”
Thud-.
An uninvited guest set foot on the top of the tower.
* * *
Thud-.
The tension eased the moment his foot touched down.
“Whoosh-.”
Fortunately, it was a success.
If he had misstepped even slightly, or if he had been slower in summoning the lightning, he would have fallen straight down.
But it seemed his instincts were still sharp.
– Crazy!
– GOAT has returned.
– This time, 0.1 Suhyuk acknowledged.
– Is this real? Is this real? Is this real? Is this real? Is this real? Is this real?
– Isn’t the real one cosplaying at this point? LOL.
The chat exploded as he reached the top of the spire. It had been over 25 years since such a performance had been replicated, so the reaction was intense.
However, he couldn’t afford to be elated by the showy performance. A few donations had come in, but more importantly, the situation at hand demanded his attention.
“It’s that guy.”
While sweating, he looked around. The first thing that caught his eye was a man with green eyes.
– Baldur.
– Is he the final boss?
– No, isn’t the boss supposed to be that Burger guy?
– That one is a bit…
– Still, I want to see him released, LOL.
Although the seal on Bergelmir was in the process of breaking, it probably wasn’t the boss.
That guy was a giant meant to destroy Rasderikh. There was no way they would have him deal with such a being, so the green-eyed Baldur currently before him was the ultimate gatekeeper.
“What were you thinking coming all the way here?”
Baldur narrowed his eyes at Suhyuk.
In his hand was a sword, though when he had drawn it was unclear.
But there was no time to engage in conversation.
Flash-.
Suddenly, a yellow lightning bolt flashed before Baldur’s eyes.
Sensing rapid movement, Baldur’s sword traced an arc through the air.
Clang-!
Rumble-.
The room was filled with electric bolts.
Suhyuk, who had crossed swords with Baldur, was gradually pushed back before being flung backward.
Clang-!
Skid-.
Suhyuk drove his sword into the ground, stopping his flight. When he looked up again, Baldur’s sword was coming down at his head.
Whoosh-.
Scratch-.
Baldur’s sword split the ground where Suhyuk had been standing. Suhyuk swiftly increased the distance between them, eyeing the spot where Baldur’s sword had struck.
“Phew, that was close.”
The ground, sliced clean like a piece of cake, testified to the sharpness and lethality of Baldur’s sword.
‘So this is Midgard’s commander.’
Indeed, he was different. Even if several fighters of Viola’s caliber were to face him, they would be no match.
With an expression filled with murderous intent, he glared at Suhyuk.
“It seems you have no intention of answering.”
“I don’t have the time for that.”
『Unseal Rate: 3.3%』
Three percent.
The seal was breaking steadily, albeit slowly. The air around them was cold enough to see their breath.
“A bit tired, but-.”
Sizzle, sizzle-.
The color of Suhyuk’s lightning began to change.
The lightning turned black. The ominous sensation made Baldur hasten his actions.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Boom-.
In an instant, the distance closed. A single strike aimed at Suhyuk’s neck was poised to sever the top of the spire.
At that moment,
『‘Lightning Lord’ possesses your body.』
A new phase of the battle commenced.