Weakness Detection.
It was a skill that literally detected weaknesses that every living being presumably had, informing the user about them. Haru had once explained that unless there was a drastic difference in power between the user and their opponent, such as a C-Class Awakener attempting to detect the weakness of a Catastrophe-Class enemy, it was rare for the skill not to work.
Yet,
"I can't see it."
Decuminus.
An opponent not to be underestimated or trifled with. While everyone was frantically dodging attacks, Decuminus did not move an inch, sitting as if on a throne, dealing with seven Awakeners using only the stones that made up the space.
The American team occasionally succeeded in landing hits on Decuminus, but judging by his expression, those hits didn't seem to affect him much.
Outlaw.
Sitting majestically, looking down on all humanity as if enjoying a game or as a conductor of an orchestra, flicking his fingers to manipulate the stones, his demeanor was truly that of an outlaw.
Perhaps that's why.
No weaknesses could be seen.
Weaknesses that should be present in any living being.
There were two possibilities.
Either the difference in level between Decuminus and the skill user, myself, was too stark, or Decuminus had no weaknesses at all.
Kang Sihyun felt a crack in his pride, considering himself superior among his peers, even including adult Awakeners, yet unable to detect any weaknesses.
If no significant progress was made within 10 minutes, it would just be a waste of Copy skill uses.
A nuisance like no other, an idiot among idiots. Kang Sihyun hated the thought of being useless in combat and pondered over a solution.
How could he overcome the challenge of not being able to see the opponent's weaknesses due to the level difference?
Eventually, Kang Sihyun came to a conclusion.
Clatter.
The staff fell to the ground with a small noise. Kang Sihyun glanced at the swords of Yiheon and James, recalling the form of the sword he was most familiar with.
The sword of Lee Hamin, who had often synchronized with him as his partner and had lent him his sword, which was capable of dual-wielding depending on the situation.
Lee Hamin often lent him one of his swords during sparring. Remembering the feel of the sword in his hand and the sharpness of the blade, Kang Sihyun moved mana to his hand.
Whoosh!
A blue energy momentarily flickered from his fingertips, and water created by mana poured out. Unlike a torrential outpour without control, it flowed in a restrained amount, taking shape as it swirled at the tips of Kang Sihyun's fingers.
Sword.
The blue water turned into a sword in Kang Sihyun's hand, and soon,
Crack!
It froze instantly, becoming a sharp ice sword. Holding it brought a refreshing coolness throughout his body. Although the chill was enough to send shivers down one's spine, for Kang Sihyun, the skill user, the cold sensation subsided. The sword was as loyal as a dog to its owner, a faithful blade.
Kang Sihyun, holding the sword that seemed to protect him from the cold it emitted, faced Decuminus, even as he observed Kang Sihyun with leisure while contending against the American team.
If the difference in level made it impossible to detect the opponent's weakness, the solution was simple.
Either raise one's own level or drag the opponent's level down.
And in this situation, Kang Sihyun had only one choice.
To attack with all his might, pressuring the enemy to reveal a weakness.
There were 8 minutes left of the Weakness Detection skill.
He had to make a decision within that time.
There was no need to think twice. After all, what was the purpose of bringing teammates? Even if he were to fall after giving his all for 8 minutes, the remaining six Awakeners were there to fill in and provide support.
Trusting the representatives from America, Yiheon, and Jihye, Kang Sihyun used the last of his Copy ability without hesitation.
Click.
The number in his mind changed from 1 to 0.
Simultaneously, a blue aura burst from Kang Sihyun's sword.
Though he had copied Hahyuk's skill, the aura turned out blue. It seemed the color of the aura could change depending on the user.
"Yiheon, I need your support!"
Crack!
With a brief warning, Kang Sihyun dashed forward. Yiheon, who had been protecting him from the front, turned at the sudden voice and was startled to see Kang Sihyun charging at Decuminus, enveloped in a fierce blue energy.
"Sihyun! It's dangerous―!"
"Sherrie! James!"
Ignoring Yiheon's warning, Kang Sihyun called out to two
others for cover as he charged. Sherrie, loading her sixth bullet, caught Kang Sihyun's shout and quickly assessed the situation before nodding in understanding.
"Okay!"
A cheerful agreement came from her. Her blonde hair fluttered in the wind caused by the swirling stones, and under James's protection, Sherrie, with one eye closed, aimed her gun at Decuminus's forehead and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed as the bullet, fired with a spark, caught Decuminus's attention. Kang Sihyun used this moment to dash past the stones and approach Decuminus's throne.
Swoosh!
A stone whip struck where Kang Sihyun was about to step, suggesting that Decuminus was not just passively observing. The whip was so massive that it would not have been surprising if Kang Sihyun had been crushed to death had he not evaded it in time. The impact of the whip on the ground even made a heavy sound.
Snap!
Kang Sihyun quickly dodged the languid whip and glanced back. James was protecting Sherrie and managing dozens of whips on his own.
"Sihyun!"
Emma shouted Kang Sihyun's name, and a transparent shield wrapped around the boy.
Kang Sihyun looked at Sherrie's energy surrounding his body with unfamiliar eyes. He had always been the one to protect others and wrap them in his power, so it felt strange to be on the receiving end of a protective shield, especially one cast by another healer.
Boom!
He might have wanted to feel a bit touched, but Decuminus gave him no time to indulge in such sentiments. A whip aimed at Kang Sihyun in a moment of distraction, but despite its fierce speed and heavy weight, it could not penetrate the shield Emma had erected.
It seemed to have been cast quite solidly.
"Sihyun! What are you thinking?"
Jihye shouted from behind. Kang Sihyun nodded and responded.
"Support me for just 8 minutes! It'd be even better if you could join the attack!"
Yiheon sighed as he watched the boy, who he was worried about like a child left at the water's edge, dash across the tentacles with a determined look.
Having no other option, Yiheon reluctantly brought Jihye to Tanker Tom's side and gripped his sword.
"I'll join you."
With a leap just like one Hahyuk had shown them, Yiheon put all his strength into his thighs and kicked off the ground, reaching right in front of Decuminus's throne. Then, he jumped up, stepping on the decorations of the chair, and approached the giant Irregular.
Kang Sihyun and Yiheon attacked from both sides at a rapid pace. The stones thrown at them were all deflected by the protection of the remaining members, having no significant effect. Decuminus blinked at this unprecedented event and raised the corners of his mouth when he saw the humans who had suddenly appeared right in front of him.
He didn't show the slightest bit of tension.
That leisurely smile proved that among those present, Decuminus held the highest rank, but Kang Sihyun was not deterred.
Snap!
Almost simultaneously, Kang Sihyun and Yiheon kicked off the armrests of the chair and met eyes in mid-air.
Those prepared to bring down the ruling figure confirmed each other's gaze and moved their hands.
Swoosh!
The coldness from the ice sword mixed with the aura and flew towards Decuminus.
"Kid, it's about the sword. You can't just swing it recklessly."
"You need to know how to slightly twist your wrist to change its trajectory, and the trajectory of the sword you swing should connect with each other."
"Well, you're not a Swordsman class, so you might not know?"
Ruth had said this while preparing for a spar. At the time, Kang Sihyun had retorted, noting that Ruth wasn't a Swordsman class either, but now he thought he understood what Ruth meant.
The horizontally swung sword was then raised vertically.
The trajectories connected, and the blue light aura also crossed in the shape of a cross, flying towards the target.
Decuminus tried to swat Kang Sihyun away with his hand in the middle of the attack, but Kang Sihyun slightly twisted his wrist to let the giant fingernail slide off. The process wasn't smooth, as blood spurted from his mouth.
After letting the fingernail slide off, Kang Sihyun rolled forward, stepped on the chair again, and dropped down. The sword energy was sent flying by Decuminus's other hand.
The first attempt was just a test to gauge the effect. There was no reason to be disappointed, so Kang Sihyun didn't lose heart and immediately tried again, stepping on Decuminus's body and shoulder to climb higher. Decuminus seemed to say, "Do what you
will," as he watched Kang Sihyun.
Swoosh!
Then, the sword energy Yiheon sent out slightly cut Decuminus's skin. Even Yiheon's attack, being near S-Class, only inflicted a minor wound on Decuminus.
Yiheon briefly celebrated the successful attack but then hardened his expression as Decuminus smiled contentedly.
So, this was why.
The reason Decuminus was so leisurely, allowing them to swing their swords right in front of him as if saying, "Try and entertain me," was now clear.
Was it because of this?
Seeing new flesh grow immediately at the place Yiheon had cut, Kang Sihyun quickly thought of a solution.
His accelerated thoughts came up with a strategy. It was an attack method he had never tried before. He couldn't be sure of success, but with no other options, Kang Sihyun decided to send a chilling mana through the flickering aura of the ice sword.
Slash!
The sword energy swung from below upwards struck Decuminus's pupil. Even though it was an attack aimed at the mucous membrane, Decuminus merely squinted one eye and frowned slightly.
It was merely a light pain for him.
Then,
Crack!
Suddenly feeling intense pain in his eye, Decuminus twitched and brought his hands to his face.
Crack.
Crack.
Ice.
Normally, even if it was the mucous membrane, it should have only caused a severe injury, but ice was forming in the wound.
The chilling mana contained in Kang Sihyun's sword energy, the power of the ice sword, had embedded itself in Decuminus's eye.
"Aargh!"
Every living creature's most vulnerable part is the mucous membrane. Unable to withstand the pain, Decuminus suddenly stood up and screamed, flailing his hand.
Kang Sihyun couldn't dodge in time and was hit by the fingernail, flying backward. His cheek was torn, and his body smashed against the wall, but he didn't take his eyes off Decuminus.
"Cough!"
Blood poured out. Calmly wiping his mouth, Kang Sihyun laughed lowly as he saw Decuminus, who had been screaming, suddenly turn his furious face towards him.
Decuminus's one eye was completely frozen.
It might seem trivial, but for that one result, Kang Sihyun had spent a significant amount of mana and spat blood, yet he didn't remove the smile from his lips.
"Now it's a bit more fair."
Though it was a bit forced, it was a successful penalty.
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