Level Up Inquisitor [EN]: Chapter 226

226. Back to Normal (7)

Eile’s newly learned ‘Armor Shattering Technique’ was a high-grade skill.

The effect of reducing defense with each strike seemed promising, but the reduction per attack wasn’t significant.

Of course, even a small reduction could become more effective than any armor penetration skill if stacked high enough.

However, this skill was limited to a maximum of 5 stacks against boss monsters.

There were no such restrictions against regular monsters or other players.

But in PvP [Player versus Player combat], there was rarely a need to hit an opponent more than a few times, as they weren’t bosses.

If that many hits landed, the fight would usually end before the stacking became effective.

Stacking this much in PvP was highly unusual.

Eile had essentially dedicated an entire skill slot solely for the fight against Kruger.

“So that’s what happened… I’ve been completely played,” Kruger said with a bitter laugh.

The decreased defense was clearly visible in his status window, and his attack power had also decreased.

Kruger was most wary of curses or debuffs [negative status effects] that reduced defense.

The legendary skill, Offense and Defense as One, was powerful, but its critical weakness was the potential drop in attack power.

It made him twice as vulnerable to debuffs.

Because of that, he always had to be mindful of it, whether facing a boss or another player.

But he never expected Eile, an Inquisitor class, not a black magician or dark knight, to come prepared with such a skill.

‘It was a thoroughly calculated move from the start.’

There had been no reports of Eile possessing such a skill.

He must have acquired it specifically to counter him.

Furthermore, Eile didn’t stop there.

He deliberately adjusted his attack intensity to inflict consistent damage, so Kruger wouldn’t notice the gradual decrease in defense.

Even the perceptive Kruger hadn’t noticed it until now, a testament to Eile’s precise tactics.

Revealing the passive skill and attacking now was to inflict maximum damage before Kruger realized his defense and attack power were significantly lowered.

“This is the first time I’ve revealed my passive, and you’ve countered it so quickly… I’ve been hit hard. But now that I know, I can’t keep taking hits.”

Kruger’s eyes changed as he raised his sword.

Now that his opponent had a countermeasure, any further delay could lead to unforeseen problems.

He couldn’t let him continue.

Clang!

Kruger’s relentless sword strikes threatened Eile.

The pillar shattered from a deflected attack.

The atmosphere shifted, as if a boss monster had entered its second phase.

But Eile didn’t back down.

He evaded Kruger’s attacks and further increased his synchronization rate.

[Current Synchronization Rate – 199%]

Eile no longer hesitated to push his synchronization rate higher.

And once he committed, he could increase the maximum value much more easily than before.

As the synchronization rate approached the maximum just before 200, Eile’s movements noticeably quickened.

The fight was no longer one-sided.

Clang!

“As expected, your skill in handling synchronization is beyond ours. But… !”

Kruger, who had parried the counterattack, heightened his senses.

He wasn’t the only one who could use Overdrive [a state of heightened abilities].

[System Overload, Entering Overdrive State!]

[Current Synchronization Rate – 164%]

Kruger’s eyes glowed red as his synchronization rate instantly exceeded 100 percent.

Both had entered Overdrive, and Kruger began to display overwhelming skill again.

From Eile’s perspective, even a feint was dangerous, as the opponent’s defense and attack power would decrease with even a slight graze.

The situation had clearly reversed from the beginning.

But even so, dealing with him didn’t become any easier.

Bang!

‘Ugh!’

Eile, who had almost had his head blown off, regained his balance.

It was a close call; a slight delay would have resulted in a game over.

Even after reducing his defense and attack power as much as possible, Kruger was still strong.

Whoa!

He swung his sword, closing the distance with an approach skill, and Eile was sent flying as the wall shattered.

He reacted quickly enough to evade partially, but he couldn’t completely avoid the Unique-grade area-of-effect skill.

His health, already below 30 percent, flashed red.

Flash!

Eile replenished his health with the continuous healing magic skill ‘Light of Healing’.

But Kruger’s attacks were even fiercer than his slowly recovering health.

At this rate, he wouldn’t last long.

“Hoo.”

Eile made a decision.

His synchronization rate soared, surpassing 200 percent.

Clatter!

“Could it be…”

Eile’s movements had completely changed.

Kruger’s expression shifted as he immediately recognized the difference.

Even he couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Eile’s sudden change.

‘Did he exceed 200… ?’

The next stage of Overdrive.

A synchronization rate beyond the limit set by the virtual reality developers.

In reality, it was a stage that no one had ever reached, so it wasn’t widely known.

It was a realm that even Kruger hadn’t dared to aspire to.

Even if that realm were possible, it would put a strain on the body, and he hadn’t even considered trying it.

But Eile entered that stage without hesitation.

[Current Synchronization Rate – 252%]

“Are you okay right now?”

‘I can handle it!’

Lugh’s voice faintly reached Eile’s ears.

Although he couldn’t see her, he could feel her concentrating her mind from across the space.

Lugh was dispersing and absorbing the burden of the synchronization rate that exceeded the current standard.

Thanks to that, the burden was much less, to the point that it didn’t interfere with the fight at all, and he was only filled with the sensation of heightened reflexes.

He could clearly feel himself surpassing his limits.

Smack!

Eile’s lip burst as he was countered by a punch while charging in.

He tasted blood as his head turned.

But in that moment, Eile barely managed to regain his senses and swapped his weapon to a dagger.

Stab!

Eile’s dagger, embedded in the armor, created a wound and pierced through.

The effect of the Armor Shatterer further lowered the defense, and the attack power also decreased.

The surroundings were shattered, and traces of their blood were scattered everywhere.

Eile’s health was also about to bottom out from exchanging attacks.

Now, with only about 10 percent of his health remaining, he would be finished if he allowed even one proper hit.

‘T, this is… !’

But it was Kruger who was feeling anxious.

Eile’s synchronization rate was still rising.

It continued to increase even after exceeding 200, as if there were no limits.

His senses became sharper, and his thoughts became twice as fast.

Eile began to gain an advantage over Kruger as time went on.

Kruger, called the strongest player in the history of virtual reality games, was being pushed back.

A display of overwhelming skill, not due to numbers or stat differences, but purely through skill.

“Why are you going so far? Even if you stop us, you won’t see the light of day, as you’re not affiliated with a large guild, as long as other guilds remain. You’re just doing good for the guys who joined hands with you.”

Kruger’s eyes wavered as he faced Eile.

As a solo player, there was a limit to what he could gain even if he stopped him here.

Most of the practical benefits, including the territory, would eventually fall into the hands of the other six major guilds.

He would have gained much more money and fame if he had been with Apollyon.

There was no need to put up a pretense of shallow moral values or conscience in the game.

He couldn’t understand Eile’s actions of desperately rushing in, taking such risks.

“I know.”

“You know?”

“No matter how good I am, there’s a limit to what I can do alone, and the guilds will dominate. And even though I’ve joined hands to stop you now, they might try to stab me in the back at any time to increase their power.”

“But why.”

“My goal from the beginning wasn’t things like power or territory.”

Kruger’s expression twisted at Eile’s answer.

If he wasn’t playing Warlord for money, power, or fame, he couldn’t even guess his motivation.

“Then why are you playing Warlord!” Kruger shouted, swinging his sword fiercely.

A powerful area-of-effect skill was activated, and the sword turned red.

But Eile’s answer was simple.

“…Why does there have to be a reason to play a game? I’m doing it because it’s fun.”

Click!

Eile’s sword spun around as he took his stance.

Everything else was secondary.

He jumped into Warlord simply because he was having fun.

The encounters with people he would never have met otherwise.

And just being able to laugh and joke with like-minded companions was more than enough.

Tsutsutsut!

The ‘Authority of the Goddess’ skill, which can only be used once during its duration.

Eile, who firmly gripped his sword with Lugh who revealed herself, swung his weapon with all his might.

This was the final blow.

* * *

[You have judged the heretic!]

Thud!

A huge crater formed in Belhaven’s inner castle.

Kruger, caught in the skill’s aftermath, slumped forward.

Once he fell, he couldn’t move again.

“It’s over…” Eile said quietly, his energy completely drained.

He wanted to release the tension in his legs and collapse, but he resisted.

Turning his gaze, he saw that Princess Seyia, whom he had evacuated, was safe.

She knew the fight was over when the noise subsided and came out of the room.

“Hoo…”

Neshua was lying on the floor in a mess.

But he was still alive.

Unlike Silas, who had died, he had only fallen into an incapacitated state.

Flash!

Lugh, who appeared with a brilliant light, stood in front of him.

She also looked exhausted, as she had shared the burden of the overload.

But Eile and her eyes contained more than just exhaustion.

“You did it.”

“Thanks to you.”

The two exchanged glances in silence.

The luck buff she was going to give when he tried to use the skill book.

At the time, Eile refused because a high grade would have been more troublesome to get the necessary skills.

Instead, he postponed receiving that buff until after defeating Kruger.

“…….”

Lugh, who came forward, slightly lifted her heels.

Strangely enough, there was no buff for the luck stat.