Episode 6
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Freddy thought.
"There are many strong people in the world."
For example, a hermit who practices without revealing himself to the world.
People who hone their own martial arts in the mountains, the sea or deep forests.
Definitely, you could say they are strong.
That was until the Abyss appeared.
However, since its appearance, the standard of "strength" changed.
Those who only practice will never be able to defeat someone who constantly challenges the "Abyss".
Everything, including class, level, equipment and skills, became the new measure of strength.
It is a privilege granted only to those who challenge the Abyss, something that cannot be obtained by ordinary training. It is the only way to overcome human limitations.
If you practice martial arts, you can defy the Abyss and excel.
You can become stronger and level up faster.
However, if you just practice without facing the Abyss, you will not be able to overcome "human limitations".
The Abyss is a place that allows us to overcome those limitations.
It gives you the ability to fly through the sky, destroy mountains or split the sea thanks to everything that can only be obtained there.
Imagine a fight between a level 1 practitioner, perfected to the limit, and an ordinary person who has reached level 10 in the Abyss.
Who will win?
"A level 1 practitioner cannot beat an ordinary person of level 10."
This has become common knowledge.
It is also the reason why people work hard to level up.
In the Abyss, "level" is the absolute standard of strength.
There may be exceptions, albeit extremely rare, but in Freddy's opinion, those cases were less than one in ten thousand.
Thus, the premise that "higher level people are stronger" is clear.
That's why it was strange.
A higher level means more experience in the Abyss. And having experience in the Abyss means having interacted with many people.
The creative Abyss is something that many people solve together.
If you stand out, you will inevitably attract attention.
Most of the strong people in the world, commonly known as "rankers," were already recognized figures.
Like an awl in a pocket: even if you try to hide it, it will always be noticed.
Moreover, since these people were so influential that they were considered a national power, countries also went out of their way to collect information about the "power brokers".
But.
A level 1 against a level 30 monster is a difference in strength that can be easily verified.
Of course, the winner would be the level 30, as it outclasses the level 1 in all aspects.
People trembled in fear.
The sudden appearance of the level 30 death knight should not have happened, it should not even have existed in this event.
However, Freddy wondered:
"What would I get if I defeat a level 30?"
Depending on each participant's contribution to the Creative Abyss, certain rewards are received once the abyss ends or the creator goes bankrupt.
Creators use the system currency to form these Creative Abyss.
If they go bankrupt, it means the creator dies.
Going bankrupt was the last thing any creator wanted to experience.
"All humans here will die," the death knight declared.
At the same time, a death-like magical power surged from his entire body.
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!
The death knight's sword was instantly raised, and he looked at all the participants.
The silence in the Shadow Colosseum was so tense that people could barely breathe.
Freddy, however, watched this with considerable intrigue.
"A knight of death? This is more unexpected than I thought."
It was possible to assume that the creator of this Creative Abyss would summon someone strong enough to kill more than 2000 participants.
Even so, the creator Andariel must have known that the two participants who had already surpassed 1000 points could easily defeat the death knight.
It was a level 30 being, powerful enough to wipe out an entire city.
Although this was unexpected, Freddy kept his cool and adapted to the situation.
Even as a level 30, there might be some chance.
"It's you... the human."
At the same time as the death knight, pointing his sword at Freddy.
Freddy looked at the death knight and clicked his tongue.
"Any problems?"
"Arrogant human."
"Says someone who is undead."
"You little scumbag! Enough with the words. All humans here will die."
Freddy smiled.
In the past, there was no one who could defeat him with the sword.
Even a master swordsman, someone who was one with his weapon, couldn't even scratch Freddy, much less defeat him.
The death knight, someone who in life was worthy of using a sword, had lost his pride by becoming undead.
He was no longer a master swordsman.
The skills he once had faded, and only fragments of his true talent from when he was alive remained.
The death knight before Freddy, once someone honorable, was now a shadow of his former self.
His true skill was gone.
This was because, having died and been revived by the curse of the Abyss, the memories of his life had been almost completely lost. He barely remembered that he had ever been alive.
The death knight had lost his art with the sword and now fought solely by intuition, with no real technique.
That was why Freddy had clicked his tongue.
"Humans, die!" the death knight roared.
Kwasik!
The death knight swung his sword hard.
At the same time half of the coliseum was easily severed, the walls and floor exploded into rocks and dust, rising into the air.
Freddy took a stance with his sword pointed at the death knight.
With eyes closed, breathing calm and thoughts focused solely on his opponent, he displayed the greatest strength of someone truly honorable with a sword.
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!
Freddy swung his sword.
At the same time, magical power surged, rushing towards his sword like a torrent of steam that covered it completely.
The death knight looked at the thin black blade of Freddy's sword.
He raised his own sword, placing one hand on the top of the blade where there was no edge, while gripping the handle with the other. He blocked Freddy's attack.
His legs recoiled as the magical power in Freddy's sword cracked the death knight's blade slightly.
The knight's dark eyes showed a faint sign of surprise.
He thrust his body, deflecting Freddy's sword. At the same time, he turned his back and lifted his left leg in one swift movement, striking Freddy's shoulder.
Freddy lost his balance and staggered. However, he placed one hand on the ground, swung his legs in the air and struck the death knight's chest, regaining his position while swinging his sword.
Freddy's sword slashed the death knight's forearm, though the latter barely managed to deflect the blade at the last moment.
Despite this, it seemed that the two were on equal footing.
Although Freddy deflected, blocked and dodged the death knight's attacks, his body was beginning to suffer.
Both bones in his forearm creaked as cracks spread throughout his arm.
The balance of his center of gravity broke, and Freddy was pushed against the tall, thick wall of the shadow coliseum.
"As I expected, humans are all weak."
The death knight spoke a few words to the one Freddy had heard before returning to the past.
Freddy raised his head.
At the same time, the magical power changed in a completely different way.
Freddy's sword began to vibrate, while an aura of death appeared around him.
The death knight shuddered as he felt that aura.
His reaction was a shiver, one that ran through him even in his undead state.
"You said humans are weak."
He had heard those words before. There was no need to mention who they came from before his death.
"Humans will always be weak."
The aura of death spread all over Freddy's sword blade, also covering his body as if it were a layer of magical power.
"What you said reminds me of someone," Freddy muttered.
"I understand now, human. From the beginning you only showed your swordplay, but you hid your true abilities."
The knight smiled, as his magical power manifested as a tornado of pure energy.
This was because a level 30 possesses such an overwhelming amount of magical power that the air around him becomes turbulent like a cyclone.
"I'll show you what I'm capable of, human."
The death knight raised his sword once again. This time, his true strength would be revealed.
"Even though death's magic power is dozens of times stronger... this guy is still level 30," Freddy thought.
After several exchanges, Freddy's body began to show signs of damage.
His bones began to crack during the confrontation.
Kwasik!
Then, the death knight lunged towards Freddy.
Despite the terrible state of his body, Freddy also lunged towards the death knight.
Although he did not realize it, one of his abilities began to react when the aura of death appeared.
However, Freddy did not perceive this subtle change.
Both clashed their swords, and the impact was so devastating that the huge coliseum of shadows was completely destroyed.