Just as tensions were peaking, the fight was interrupted. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Suhyuk lowered his sword, which he had been amping up with lightning.
He wasn’t a child who could afford to get drunk on newfound power and lose control.
“I’ve heard the stories.”
Suhyuk spoke while glancing briefly at Schneider. His gaze indicated to whom he had heard the stories from.
“Ferius.”
“…Is that so?”
As Suhyuk and Ferius exchanged relaxed words, the surrounding players were left in bewilderment. Just moments ago, they were fighting fiercely, giving no room for interruption.
Now, they were suddenly engaging in polite conversation, which was understandable.
– Loserrius recognized him!
– I believed in you!!!
– Now that he knows, will he step aside?
Viewers were also fascinated by the new development.
With his sword lowered, Suhyuk started paying attention to the stream again.
『Viewers: 9,102』
The viewer count had increased dramatically. Although it had dropped significantly while he was unconscious, many viewers were still interested in the conquest of Thunder Cave.
Regardless of its level, Thunder Cave was a dungeon that Blue Zone had long invested in to obtain Lightning.
“I’m glad you heard it.”
Clink—
Ferius removed his helmet. And revealed his face.
“I’m not sure if you’ll recognize me, but it’s good to see you again, savior.”
– Oh wow…
– Yikes
– What happened to his face?
-;;;
Ferius’s revealed face was far from pleasant. A long burn scar ran diagonally across his face, and his nose was badly mangled. Whatever accident he had endured left him in such a state.
It was clear that, contrary to his words, it wasn’t exactly a joyful situation for him to be greeting Suhyuk.
“Where have you been all this time?”
“Were you looking for me?”
“Yes, I searched for you. Because you have the Lightning.”
The person Ferius had been waiting for. It was indeed Suhyuk, who held Lightning. As a Thunder Knight, Ferius had been waiting here for a very long time for his old savior.
“I thought you would come here someday. Though, I didn’t expect you to look so young.”
“Young…?”
Despite the briefness of his words, Suhyuk could sense the long passage of time in Ferius’s statement. Although Ferius didn’t appear significantly aged on the outside.
The time he had been waiting for Suhyuk seemed far greater than five or ten years.
“How much time has passed since then?”
“Well, you suddenly disappeared, and I thought it was strange. I see, you are an otherworlder as well.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Time… I don’t know. After over 100 years, I stopped counting.”
– ??? How is he over 100 years old with that face?
– High-ranking players don’t age, right? Isn’t it something like that?
– Oh, right, that’s possible.
– Maybe he’s cursed or something.
High-ranking players typically halted aging and ceased to grow older. If Ferius were such a ranker, it would make sense. However, in this case, it wasn’t about the immortality of rankers.
‘He’s far from being a ranker.’
Though Ferius’s abilities far surpassed those of players on the third floor, he was nowhere close to the level of players who were called rankers. This meant that he had not aged or died for a different reason.
More importantly—
‘Wasn’t the Trial of Thunder a repeatable, virtual trial? How does he remember me then?’
It had only been about ten days since Suhyuk passed the Trial of Thunder. Yet, over a hundred years had passed in this location’s trial, and Ferius remembered him.
Was this predetermined from the start?
Or had Suhyuk’s actions during the Trial of Thunder influenced the Thunder Cave?
As his thoughts deepened, Ferius spoke again.
“Since learning about the existence of otherworlders, I’ve wondered. Perhaps the savior who helped us back then was also an otherworlder.”
“Were you disappointed?”
“No.”
Ferius shook his head.
“Even if you did not help us out of goodwill, it’s a fact that we received help from you. That cannot be denied.”
“What happened to the villagers? And what happened to you, Ferius?”
“The village eventually disappeared. I am the only survivor.”
As expected. The giants who attacked the village were just the beginning. Even though the trial ended, the threat to the village remained after Suhyuk vanished.
And to overcome that threat—
Ferius had to make a choice.
“I wanted to have power as strong as yours. So, I searched for the power you used.”
‘As I thought.’
Suhyuk realized he was responsible for Ferius’s current state.
“I must have traveled for over ten years. I came close to dying numerous times, and that’s when my face became like this.”
Ferius’s eyes deepened as he recalled the past.
“Then I found this cave. And I found it.”
“You mean the Lightning?”
“Yes.”
Ferius’s response caused a stir among those gathered around.
– Wowwwww
– No way, it’s true
– Thunder was here too, LOL
– All those who doubted Blue Zone’s efforts, come out, LOL
As expected from Kim Ilsoo…
The chat was just as chaotic.
Lightning.
It was Suhyuk’s symbol and a skill coveted by all players. Until now, it was known that the only opportunity to obtain Lightning was on the second floor.
Now there was confirmation that Lightning was also hidden in the Thunder Cave.
“It was real…”
“If I could just get that…”
“Shh. Lower your voice.”
Greedy voices were heard from behind. Some were already preparing to stab Suhyuk in the back. Regardless, Ferius continued speaking.
“This power named Lightning was what I desired. But to gain this power without the proper qualifications, I had to pay the price.”
“Did you receive some kind of punishment?”
“In a sense.”
Ferius twisted the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“The price for a man without qualifications coveting great power.”
As he spoke, Ferius touched the area around his eyes.
“Losing my sight and being trapped in this cave, waiting for you.”
His eyes glowed with a yellow hue. It seemed his sight was impaired.
“So, please…”
Clank—
Lifting his worn-out sword, Ferius spoke in a courteous voice.
“Please, pass over me.”
With those words—
Flash—
Ferius swung the raised sword forward.
Boom—
Lightning surged through Suhyuk’s body. Reacting wasn’t difficult. The slow raising of the sword was practically an announcement of the attack. Though an enemy, Ferius showed a form of respect toward Suhyuk.
‘No wonder Schneider couldn’t handle him.’
Crackle, crackle—
Even though he blocked it, the impact was quite harsh. Ferius’s skills were undoubtedly way beyond Schneider’s. And ordinarily, it would apply to himself as well.
‘Let’s do this.’
His fatigue levels were high. He had plenty of Magic but lacked stamina. What he needed now was a swift and decisive victory.
Fortunately—
『‘Lightning’ is initiated.』
With a Magic stat of 48 and an S- rank Thunder skill, Suhyuk was ready to unleash considerable power.
Crackle—
Boom—
The two swords clashed, creating a deafening thunder. A distinct space formed around Suhyuk and Ferius, preventing any other players from daring to intervene.
Schneider was no exception.
‘Both Suhyuk and Ferius weren’t this strong before.’
Boom—
Listening to the thunder and trembling at the lightning bursts throughout the cave.
‘… It seems Thunder Cave wasn’t waiting for me.’
Crash—
Crackle, crackle—
The thunder embedded in each sword repelled each other. The swords didn’t clash but hovered in midair, vibrating. Sweat beaded on Suhyuk’s forehead.
‘There’s only one chance.’
If he had more stamina, things might be different. But continuing like this would just lead to him collapsing first.
So—
‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’
Bang—
His hand trembled as he kicked Ferius in the chest. The distance gave him a brief respite. As he took a short breath, Suhyuk’s gaze shifted to Ferius’s foothold.
‘He can’t use his eyes anyway.’
This meant—
‘He relies on his senses.’
Ferius could only read the presence around him. There was no other way.
Crackle—
Not giving him a chance to rest, Ferius charged forward, lightning at his feet. There was no time to think. Suhyuk moved his sword, searching for an opening.
Bang, bang, bang—
Boom—
Swords clashed with the sound of thunder.
『Fatigue has reached 78.』
『Fatigue has reached 79.』
『Fatigue has…』
『…』
‘No need to rush.’
The rising fatigue only sharpened his focus.
‘I will win.’
And then, a piercing strike broke through.
Whoosh—
A spear came flying from afar.
Crunch—
Thunk—
“…!”
A spear pierced through Ferius’s arm. Naturally, Ferius’s attention shifted towards the direction the spear had come from. Even without sight, the instinct to turn towards a threat was a primal reaction for any living being.
“Schneider?”
The spear had been thrown with all his might by none other than Schneider. And in that brief moment of distraction—
‘That was a useful move.’
Suhyuk seized the opportunity.
『Fatigue has reached 81.』
『‘Heart of Lightning’ is activated.』
Thump, thump—
As fatigue increased, his heart pounded faster. It wasn’t his real heart. Next to his heart was another, the Heart of Lightning. It beat harder and faster, boosting output.
Boom—
He kicked off the ground, accelerating. As Ferius’s attention refocused on Suhyuk, he faced a wave of lightning. To counter the sudden surge in power, Ferius too pushed himself to the limit.
“Even with one injured hand…”
Clamp—
Ferius switched his sword to his other hand, wrapping it in thunder.
“I still have another hand.”
Boom—
Thunder roared with a mighty swing of his sword. Confident in his strike, Ferius’s expression became puzzled. The blade met nothing. It neither split flesh and bone nor clashed with another weapon.
Suhyuk had been charging straight at him, yet now—
‘The presence…’
He scanned the front, sides, and back. Suhyuk’s presence was nowhere to be found.
Buzz—
And then, Suhyuk reappeared—
『Using ‘Sky Walk’.』
『Movement speed increased by 30% for 3 seconds.』
『Can step on air for 3 seconds.』
Above Ferius’s head. Suhyuk was inverted in mid-air, poised to strike downward with his sword.
Clang—