Chapter 125

Level Up Heresy Judge – Chapter 125 (125/227)

Chapter 125: Arena (3)

Thud!

The third team member who had stepped out collapsed, kneeling down.

Though it was a battle between thieves, the result was惨烈.

“Ugh…”

“Guess we can’t do it after all.”

The three team members helplessly dropped their heads.

As skilled as they were in arena duels, they were woefully inadequate against her.

They fell helpless before her overwhelming skill.

Meanwhile, her remaining HP was at 96%.

Even with all three of them charging in, they barely managed to scratch her cheek – that was all they accomplished.

‘This is like fighting a monster.’

Ail, who had been carefully observing the fight, looked at her.

Her level was over 170 – a high-level user.

While not quite at sub-rank level yet, there’s no denying she’s extremely high-level.

What’s more, she’s an independent player operating without a guild, even at this level where hunting grounds are becoming limited. That shows how confident she is in her own abilities.

“Haa, this feels amazing.”

Chloe stood alone in the center of the arena, smirking.

Though it was her first time stepping into the arena today, she adapted quickly.

The thrill of sweeping through everyone alone was intoxicating – she regretted not switching to arenas earlier.

‘But still, there sure are a lot of spectators suddenly gathering.’

Chloe glanced around.

The usually empty arena stands were now quite full for this match.

“Over here! It’s not over yet!”

“Why did the location change all of a sudden?”

More users kept arriving and gathering.

Among them was even a well-known figure.

“Is this it?”

A man with black hair entered.

Daryun of Black Wolf.

Leader of one of the top 12 guilds.

He was also ranked 13th among the highest tier rankers, known for his elite guild.

“There was no need for you to come personally…”

“It’s fine since I have plenty of time to spare these days anyway.”

To the guild member following him, Daryun replied indifferently.

With 2,101 honor points, it took a long time to find worthy matches for him.

Even though arenas across the continent are linked for matching once you reach a certain point threshold, there simply aren’t many opponents at his level.

Daryun had come to watch while waiting for his next match.

As he sat down, the surrounding users buzzed.

“Is that Daryun? Could he be here to watch me?”

Even Chloe was shaken seeing such a high-ranking player appear at a mere 1,600-point grand arena.

“It’s not easy achieving 1,700 points with 30 straight wins. Maybe he’s here to scout… Though it’s not one of the top 12 guilds, Black Wolf isn’t bad to join.”

Seeing the famous guild leader personally come to watch her fight, Chloe’s spirits rose.

Just as she was considering potential contract terms…

“This is kinda nerve-wracking.”

It was Ail’s turn. He stepped forward.

But his teammates watching from behind didn’t have even the slightest hope.

The opposing team was already celebrating victory, having lucked into such an easy opponent.

However, the reaction from the audience above was different.

“They’re both on 29-win streaks. Quite a mismatch given their score levels. Can he really beat someone at level 170? She has twice the number of skills, but still…”

“We’ll just have to wait and see. This is an arena, not the field.”

It wasn’t just Daryun and his guildmates.

Most of the spectators knew this would be tough, yet they had some strange expectations for Ail.

‘The specs aren’t too far off. My equipment might actually be better… The problem is the skills though.’

In the arena, Ail drew his longsword.

The difference in number of skills was absolutely huge. And yet, she hadn’t shown many techniques while toyng with her previous opponents.

She used parrying and bleeding damage combos, thrust counters, and a few passive abilities.

Despite taking down three opponents alone, she didn’t reveal much, making it hard to predict her specialized class.

[Fourth Match Begins!]

“Such a big crowd gathered, would be lame to end it like this.”

Having checked Ail’s level, Chloe approached with a smirk.

Even after the countdown ended, she casually spun her dagger, looking completely relaxed.

Unlike the previous opponents who charged in angrily at her attitude, Ail didn’t bother engaging.

He simply activated his designated skill beforehand.

‘I should thank you for walking right into it.’

She was the toughest opponent he’d faced so far, and not someone to take lightly.

He needed to make good use of this initial opening.

“I’ll go if you won’t!”

Taking position, Chloe threw her left dagger at Ail.

Ail blocked the incoming dagger with his sword just in time. The dagger bounced off and flew behind him.

Poof!

Right then, Chloe appeared where the dagger had landed.

Skill effect allowing teleportation to thrown daggers.

Now behind him, she immediately stabbed towards his back.

‘Shit!’

Reacting quickly, Ail turned around and jumped back.

But the attack still hit, leaving a shallow wound on his back.

‘Pretty sturdy…’

Checking her health bar, Chloe tilted her head.

The damage dealt was much less than expected.

Without the arena’s level adjustment, her dagger would have shredded his health. But here, with Ail’s high-grade equipment, skills, and added stats, it wasn’t so easy.

‘Reaction’s faster than expected… Must’ve invested heavily in defense. Should be fun to play with.’

Seeing Ail’s longsword, Chloe fearlessly closed in, weaving through his attacks.

Ail was pushed back step by step as he struggled to block her dual daggers.

Her unpredictable dagger movements pressed in close.

Difficult to defend against with just a single longsword.

But an overconfident attacker inevitably leaves openings, and Ail waited patiently for his chance.

‘Now!’

Poof!

With the deep stab, Ail’s counter skill activated.

“What…?”

Confusion crossed Chloe’s face mid-swing.

Had she not been so off-balance from her previous attack, she might have reacted.

This allowed Ail to get fully behind her.

Kabooom!

A powerful slash combined with Sacred Flame cut cleanly through Chloe.

Thrown off balance, she fell.

Ail immediately swung his sword, unleashing a torrent of flames.

Sizzle!

Chloe caught herself with her arm mid-air.

But the flames spread too widely to dodge just by moving.

She had to use one of her saved skills to evade the Sacred Flame.

“Okay, lost one escape skill.”

“Damn you…”

Chloe gritted her teeth.

Even accounting for her own carelessness, that movement was definitely not at this score level.

One successful attack had taken away 40% of her health. Worse, Ail’s Frost Reaver effect had stolen some of her speed.

‘No proper offensive skill buffs, yet… How did he reach this level by luck alone?’

Realizing something was off, Chloe’s expression hardened.

Worst of all, she had allowed such an inferior opponent to land such a blow, damaging her pride.

“Enough fooling around… Let’s finish this.”

‘Here she comes.’

Tchoong!

Leaping forward, Chloe swung both daggers.

Ail blocked the X-shaped daggers coming at him.

But as expected, she closed the distance again and swept her leg low.

Pwack!

The connecting kick to his ribs sent Ail flying helplessly backward.

Not letting him fall, she acted immediately.

“Hold!”

Fwoosh!

A shadow spike pierced through Ail’s back.

The double damage “Dagger Stab” hit his chest, followed by Chloe twisting her body to deliver a “Chilling Strike.”

Kaboom!

The chilling strike that induces fear upon hit.

A perfectly fluid skill combo, Chloe extended her hand to finish it off.

“Done!”

Zeeeng!

With a heavy sound, Ail was sent flying.

After rolling several times, he struggled to rise, supporting himself on the ground.

“Shit… Almost died there.”

Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, Ail thought.

Her final combo, “Heart Pierce,” was barely blocked by Ail raising his sword in desperation.

Remaining health: 15%.

If he had let that last attack hit, it would have been game over.

“How did you…”

“Fear effects don’t work on me.”

Effect of the basic passive skill: Fanatical Martyr.

Also thanks to stealing some of her speed earlier.

Whoosh!

A bright white light enveloped Ail, gradually restoring his health.

One of two new skills learned before coming to the arena: Heroic Recovery Light.

Though it didn’t restore massive amounts instantly, the continuous healing effect allowed wounds to slowly mend during battle.

“What the hell is going on?”

“An 80-level guy…”

Both teams’ members were surprised by the unexpected resistance.

Some had even figured out Ail’s identity.

“Wait! This guy’s also at 29-0! Same undefeated streak!”

“That face… Wasn’t he…?”

Chloe, directly facing him, became enraged seeing him use a recovery skill.

“Not gonna let you recover!”

Kagakak!

As expected, she charged in again.

Aiming to finish the fight before he could fully heal.

But Ail switched weapons smoothly between daggers, greatsword, and shield, showing off impressive weapon swapping.

Thanks partly to the speed stolen via his longsword’s effect, his defensive movements seemed improved.

“What is this? Something’s changed…”

Watching from the stands, Daryun muttered.

For a brief moment, Ail’s eyes glimmered faintly with light before fading.

[Current Synergy Rate – 99.69%]