The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 324

322. Sibling Rivalry (2)

Without my glasses, my vision was blurry, so I quickly relied on the stats my body remembered. Should I focus on Yoohyun’s stats first? Soon, the surrounding scenery sharpened. My younger brother was smiling faintly. But.

“…Eunhye?”

Eunhye was gone. I couldn’t find her on my wrist, ankle, neck, or anywhere else. Just in case, I felt around my legs and waist, but she was nowhere to be found.

“Hyung? What’s wrong?”

“No, Eunhye’s not here… What is this?”

Did I mess up while using the skill? Did I accidentally block Eunhye, like when I tried to copy Diarma’s skill? At my words, Yoohyun frowned slightly.

“Then isn’t it dangerous? If Eunhye’s not there, you’ll take my attacks head-on. Even if it’s just in our minds, it’ll still hurt, right?”

“It’s okay since I won’t actually get hurt. Besides, it’d be too unfair if I used Eunhye. Her damage nullification effect is a cheat. I was just surprised that she disappeared.”

I said that, but I was planning to use Eunhye as a weapon, so this was troublesome. I didn’t pack many weapons because I thought she’d be useful just for being indestructible and able to transform. I took out and put on the Lynx Jacket and shoes.

‘This is going to be tough.’

Our stats are similar, but the problem is skills and equipment. I have a wider variety of skills, but Yoohyun is obviously much more proficient. And the equipment… there’s no comparison.

‘Flame resistance, electric resistance, and he probably brought cold and poison resistance too.’

Wait a minute, doesn’t this mean Sung Hyunjae and Yoohyun’s skills will be almost useless? Black Blood Flame can be weaponized, and I can mix in poison, so it might work a little. At least I have some flame resistance, but it won’t be enough to withstand Yoohyun’s current flame skills, especially with the Last Gate buff.

“How should we set the stats? Like when you received my support? Or as usual?”

“Usual is fine.”

“Okay. But why does the surrounding scenery look like this? It’s so desolate.”

Surely my brother’s subconscious isn’t like this.

“Should I change it? It changes if you think about it, right?”

“Yeah. You’re not used to it yet, so I’ll change it.”

Where should we go? After a brief moment of contemplation, the surrounding scenery transformed into the city of Drosia, with its large lake. I lightly tapped the firmly paved road with my heel. The buildings in this town are sturdy, which is good. I glanced up at the round moon in the night sky.

‘I’ve adjusted it to make it difficult to access the other person’s consciousness, so my memories shouldn’t be exposed.’

I’ve used this mental skill a few times, but I’m still not completely used to it. Thanks to that, I’m a little uneasy, but Yoohyun doesn’t seem to have a knack for mental skills either. I’m more specialized in that area, so he won’t be able to easily dig into my memories.

Then, there’s nothing to worry about in particular.

“The lake is advantageous for me, but the buildings are advantageous for you, so this should be balanced, right? I’ve experienced the Last Gate, but I’m not confident in using it yet.”

It was only once, briefly, and it was hard to properly feel the sensation due to the situation. In addition, it was impossible for me to copy Yoohyun’s flame control ability. It was a power enhanced by Irin’s, the spirit’s, power, not just a simple skill.

I took out a dagger and held it in my hand. Yoohyun also drew the Ruler’s Sword. My brother is really going all out.

“I told you I can use the power I experienced with Teacher’s skill, right?”

“Yeah, Hyung.”

“To be exact, if it’s a power you’ve directly experienced like that, you can use almost anything here, whether it’s through my skill or someone else’s skill. There will be differences in proficiency, though.”

Adding an explanation, I continued speaking as calmly as possible.

“I know about you from five years later too.”

Your flame that now only remains with me. I raised the dagger and cut my arm. Yoohyun frowned for a moment at the sight of the blood, but didn’t react any further. Good posture. Since we won’t really die or get hurt, there’s no need for either of us to hold back or worry in this moment.

The blood that flowed down my arm turned black and transformed into flames, becoming a blazing spear in my hand.

“It’ll be a little different from your fire.”

“The color is black flame, but it uses blood as a medium?”

“It’s Black Blood Flame.”

A drop of blood that rolled to the tip of my finger fell to my feet. The black flames born from swallowing the blood instantly melted the surface of the road, creating a sticky mark.

Whoosh, flames rose around Yoohyun as well. A clear black flame with a blue tint, unlike the dark and dense Black Blood Flame that was impossible to see through.

No signal was needed.

I used the Instantaneous Movement skill. At the same time, the Ruler’s Sword stretched out and wrapped around Yoohyun, preventing me from approaching. But instead of charging at Yoohyun, I used the Stealth skill and stepped onto the wall of a tall building, positioning myself above my brother’s head.

“Hyung?”

Yoohyun called out to me, as if puzzled. But that’s a feint. I know Yoohyun well, but Yoohyun also knows me well. I took out a bomb and shoved it into the building wall before the cracking sound could even finish.

KWAANG!

The flexible sword was swung like a steel whip. The black blade containing fire energy struck as if to split the building, and at the same time, the bomb exploded. Falling rocks and rising dust obscured vision instantly, but I nonchalantly aimed a gun with one hand.

Bellare’s heat detection [a skill that allows the user to see heat signatures]. Monster abilities were even more difficult to get used to, but thanks to relying on it instead of my eyesight for the past few days, I could use it easily.

Bang! I fired a magic bullet at the heat source and immediately moved. With continuous shots, PENG, PENG! Sparks flew and the dust became even thicker. It was as if I was buried in a thick fog.

‘Can I use the Point Shop here too?’

Since I can use the items I have, the points should be the same, right? Just in case, I opened the shop, and it appeared before my eyes. I felt a little sorry for my brother.

I shoved bombs into the opposite building without holding back. With a loud noise, the building tilted and collapsed. I also set off a smoke bomb for good measure. A shower of building fragments, dust obscuring vision, explosions disrupting hearing. Even the senses of a skilled S-Rank Hunter would be paralyzed, especially with the opponent using Stealth.

But I can easily pinpoint Yoohyun’s location.

Gugugung— The top floor of the building crashed to the ground. Leaping over the debris, approaching my brother—

‘Huh?’

Several heat sources with the same temperature and shape appeared. I couldn’t help but laugh. He noticed I was using Bellare’s heat detection! It’s impossible to create the same body temperature as a person with flames, but instead, he could wrap his own body in flames. How clever.

But.

Pajijik!

Electricity crackled. When I sent out a wide, weak current, it became entangled with the other heat sources, but there was one that completely blocked the current as if it disappeared. Electric resistance, equipment. As soon as I confirmed that, I moved.

Using Stealth, I instantly reached Yoohyun’s vicinity. Swoosh, the black blade grazed over my lowered body. At the same time, I thrust out my spear.

KWAANG!

The tip of the spear, aimed at his legs, collided with the tip of the Ruler’s Sword, which changed direction flexibly like a snake. The flames of the spear and the dragon’s sword clashed, and an explosion resounded. The spear shattered, and both my body and Yoohyun’s body were pushed back.

It’s admirable how skilled he already is at handling the flexible sword. If he can freely move a flexible sword of that length, even the most skilled ability users will have a hard time approaching Yoohyun. The cracked road surface under my toes, where I was putting strength to withstand, caved in, and Yoohyun, who had grasped my location from that, charged fiercely.

“Don’t just try to see with your eyes.”

KAANG! The newly created Blood Flame Sword collided with the Ruler’s Sword. The skill rank is high, so it’s holding up reasonably well against the SS-Rank sword, but it’s still not easy.

“Try different methods! I’m receiving the Stealth Jacket buff, so it’s as good as S-Rank. If you can figure this out, Stealth will be useless to you!”

At my words, blue willow leaves began to scatter around Yoohyun. Then, the leaves were engulfed in flames. It was to detect the invisible opponent, just like Sung Hyunjae spreads electricity. Unless Stealth can touch even the form like a ghost, it’s impossible to avoid all the scattered fire leaves.

As expected, every time a leaf touched me.

Kareureureu—

The Ruler’s Sword, making a sound of hard scales colliding with each other, rushed in at unpredictable angles. The flexible sword wrapped in flames heated the air and surged in. KANG, KAANG! The swords continued to clash. When the Blood Flame Sword couldn’t withstand it and shattered, I deflected the flexible sword with the gun barrel and created a new sword.

The attacks, which initially grazed in the wrong direction, gradually became more accurate. Just when it was starting to get tricky.

Kwarleung!

I scattered electricity and jumped upwards. And then.

“Blue Willow Leaf.”

The transparent leaves that only I could see began to mix with the fire leaves. Yoohyun’s eyebrows raised slightly. He must be wondering what was going on because he can’t see them. I released the Stealth skill. As if he had been waiting for it, Yoohyun changed the flexible sword into a sword and charged at me, wrapped in dark blue flames. Looking down at my brother leaping on his willow leaves, I released the transparency of my willow leaves.

“……!”

Yoohyun momentarily stopped moving, startled by the sudden dance of willow leaves obscuring his vision. He must have been more surprised than anyone else because it’s his own skill. Not missing the opportunity, I used Instantaneous Movement. KAGANG! I barely blocked the Ruler’s Sword with my dagger and bent my elbow to strike Yoohyun’s chest. The attack, imbued with strength, sent my brother flying back, his back colliding with the building’s outer wall.

KOOONG!

Just as a circular crack was about to form on the wall, it crumbled with a rumble, and we both tumbled inside the building. Perhaps he couldn’t imagine the interior in detail, as it was empty without any interior design. Quickly pressing down on Yoohyun, who was under me, with my knee, I swung the wire and wrapped it around the Ruler’s Sword, pulling it away. Even though it was an S-Rank wire gun that I took out using points, it was soon cut by the blade, slowly breaking apart.

“Ugh, Hyung. What was that just now!”

“When the skill rank goes up, it can become transparent. You can guess the usefulness without me explaining it at length, right?”

Yoohyun’s eyes widened, and then he smiled brightly, but only for a moment. The wire completely broke, and the black blade bent and stabbed my back. I threw my body back, spinning in a circle in the air to avoid the attack and landed. In the meantime, Yoohyun kicked off the floor and charged at me.

There’s no time to create a Black Blood Sword. It’s difficult to block the Ruler’s Sword with other weapons. To slow down Yoohyun’s charge, I scattered cold mist and pure white ice fragments and detonated a bomb under my feet.

KWAGWANG!

The building collapsed, and my body sank down. At the same time, I used Stealth and teleported behind Yoohyun. Yoohyun must have thought I had fallen below. Not missing that brief opening, I took out a new wire and wrapped it around my brother’s neck. As I pulled the wire, Yoohyun barely twisted his body to avoid the swinging dagger.

A long streak of blood appeared on his white cheek, making my heart ache for a moment, but I kicked him without hesitation. PUCK, he was hit in the waist, but Yoohyun’s body didn’t move because I was holding onto the wire. This meant that shock absorption was almost non-existent. I could see the movement of his tightly clenched mouth, and Yoohyun cut the wire and jumped back.

“Mixing Stealth with Instantaneous Movement is really tricky, Hyung.”

“Plus, I have flame resistance, so you can’t block with flames.”

“I’m also worried about the willow leaves. I don’t know when they’ll block my vision.”

“You’ll be able to use it soon, though.”

And other skills too. …I wanted to let him experience more, but back then, I didn’t use many of Yoohyun’s skills. I should have tried using everything. Some skills, including shields, were obtained through special rewards or consumable items, so the current Yoohyun might not even have them. I should have used them all and learned them.

I took a stance, creating the Black Blood Sword again.

“Both you and I still have several skills we haven’t used, right?”

Above all, the melted Last Gate [a powerful skill]. That cheat skill is still there. Yoohyun raised the corners of his lips and smiled. His eyes were shining with much more vitality than usual. Anyone could see he was enjoying himself, and so am I.

It’s not a lakeside, but I unfolded Shadowless Day [a skill that creates a zone of darkness]. At the same time, Yoohyun moved his magic power. Shadowless Day and his magic power collided.

“Ugh!”

Shadowless Day disappeared as if it had been shattered! He already learned this, wait!

“Yoohyun, you’re using the Last Gate!”

The heated magic power spread out. It wasn’t destroyed, but Yoohyun’s skill swallowed my skill and survived!

“Making sure only my wide-area support skills remain is also…”

Whoosh! Flames spread out, melting the surrounding buildings.

“Possible, though not easy.”

“You practiced a lot with Yerim.”

Still, it hasn’t even been a few days, and he’s been busy, but he can do this with the time he squeezed in! I tried to escape the area while avoiding Yoohyun’s attacks, but the wire flew in first. It accurately wrapped around my legs even though I was using Stealth.

The surroundings were completely engulfed in flames. The melted Last Gate skill effect, increased fire attribute skill effect, decreased other attribute skill effects, cumulative stat increase, and decreased metal and mineral defense.

JJEONG!

The S-Rank dagger, with weakened defense, broke instantly. The black blade grazed my shoulder. Only after creating the Black Blood Sword with the blood that happened to flow out was I barely able to withstand Yoohyun’s attacks. The colliding force was definitely stronger. The building continued to melt, and Yoohyun’s stats were also increasing.

It’s really a cheat!

Without giving me time to cut the wire holding my ankle, Yoohyun swung his sword in succession. Fortunately, the increased fire attribute skill effect also applied to me. Other attributes were ruined, though.

‘I have to get out somehow.’

He’s not giving me an opening. Even if I used poison, it would burn up before it could even flow out, and attribute skills are useless. Combat Prediction was also useless now because the attacks were coming in so close, I couldn’t create an opening whether I knew them in advance or not.

Having no choice, I gritted my teeth.

“Keuk!”

I blocked the Ruler’s Sword with my arm instead of the Black Blood Sword. Blood splattered, and a dizzying pain followed. Yoohyun, I’m sorry. I returned that pain twofold.

“…Ugh!”

Yoohyun staggered for a moment from the unexpected extreme pain, and I kicked him. At the same time, I used a healing skill on my arm and cut the wire binding my ankle. Yoohyun, who had flown back and crashed into the half-melted wall, immediately got up and looked at me.

“It’s a skill that can be halved with painkillers, but I won’t recommend it. Your senses will also be dulled.”

Sung Hyunjae had Combat Prediction, so it was useful even if his senses were a little dulled. Spreading my wings, I quickly escaped the range of the melted Last Gate skill. Yoohyun scattered willow leaves and chased after me.

This time, I should go towards the lake to make it advantageous for me.