Chapter 16: The Challenge of Imitation

– Concentration Training Period

1.

The second playthrough of the Half-Demon Valley.

The experience in the Blood-Drenched Sewer prompted reflection for Hae Eung Eung.

‘To think I struggled against such weak enemies.’

It was hard to believe she had once been a top master in Hwagyeong.

Anyone who remembered her from the Murim would have been unable to hold back their laughter at her current state.

‘While improving my inner strength is important, skill enhancement is my priority.’

At this rate, her lack of ability might lead to failures in field sweeping or boss hunting.

She felt this was not a distant future.

The fourth time.

Or perhaps the third.

She could face such failures in the very next challenge.

Secluded training.

Even if it wasn’t to that extent, she resolved to enter a period of concentrated training for the time being.

Before a long period of practice, it’s instinctive for players to check their status and compare it after completing the training.

It wasn’t strange for her, who had decided to train, to access her status screen.

[Status Screen]

[Name] Hae Eung Eung(Female, 15 years old)

[Level] Third Class (Lv 27)

[Job] Ronin Swordsman

[Title] Executioner

[Physical Strength] 16 (+3P)

[Agility] 15 (-1P)

[Talent] 10

[Intelligence] 35

[Five Senses] 89

[Charm] 100

[Inner Power] 5

Remaining Points: 33

Weakened Agility*: The agility has weakened due to the Guumjeolmaek.

Wasteland of Inner Power*: Residing in an area with very low natural energy, making it extremely difficult to enhance inner power.

Executioner: The executioner who has fallen to become the gatekeeper of the Great Demon. She inherited his legacy.

“7”

What stood out was the status screen.

2.

Executioner: The executioner who has fallen to become the gatekeeper of the Great Demon. She inherited his legacy.

– Title Attachment Effect: Physical Strength +3P

– Title Retention Effect: Physical Strength +1P

The status screen from the Murim Chronicles, based on the gameplay in the Half-Demon Valley, granted her the new title of Executioner.

‘It’s rather unsettling.’

Titles.

Only one title can be equipped at a time, but there’s no limit to the number of titles that can be held.

If she were to acquire 100 titles, she could enjoy the cumulative effects of all 100 titles.

‘Of course, there are limits to the growth potential that can be gained from titles.’

The required points for ability stats increase exponentially in units of 10.

From 0 to 9 requires 1 point.

From 10 to 19 requires 2 points.

From 20 to 29 requires 4 points.

Based on these conditions for ability enhancement, the +5P effect from the title stops at increasing the physical strength by 2.

Moreover, the required amounts increase tenfold for each 10-unit increase.

When increasing from 9 to 10, it takes 10 points.

When increasing from 19 to 20, it takes 20 points.

When increasing from 29 to 30, it takes 40 points.

If one were to rely solely on the effects of titles, they would inevitably encounter an insurmountable wall.

To raise one ability stat to 100 through point investment alone, the required formula is:

19X (2^10 – 1)

The resulting value is a staggering 19,437.

Even collecting the enhancement effects of 100 points would barely scratch the surface.

Putting everything else aside, the points needed to raise a stat from 99 to 100 is 5,120P.

That alone is murderous.

This is why the value of effort is high in the status screen of the Murim Chronicles.

With a +6P enhancement effect on a stat of 9, if the required 10 points aren’t met, the ability remains at 9.

However, if the base stat is raised to 10 purely through effort?

With the +6P enhancement effect, the ability rises to 13.

Every time players surpass the walls of enlightenment, they enjoy exponential growth.

Conversely, there’s an interesting aspect to this structure regarding the wall of 10 units that cannot be crossed by pure effort.

If one accumulates reputation through Murim events or duels, earning titles and accumulating points,

it becomes possible to break through the walls of ability with the power of enhancement points.

This is why newcomers to Murim experience explosive growth only after stepping outside their sect to explore the world.

This mechanism for increasing ability stats in the status screen underpins that growth.

One must gain reputation and increase title enhancement effects to break through the walls.

On the other hand, once one becomes a considerable master, it’s more efficient to directly raise ability stats through personal training rather than relying on enhancement effects.

Thus, masters become devoted to secluded training.

Even NPCs who can’t see the status screen instinctively realize how their world is structured,

and how to overcome the walls before them to reach the next level.

Let alone Hae Eung Eung, who understands the mechanism for increasing ability stats as a player; she can comprehend it even more deeply.

‘What I need right now is time.’

She will raise her base ability stats through effort.

It is upon this foundation that a basis for acquiring substantial enhancement points will be established.

‘And one more thing.’

There are free points that exist separately from enhancement points.

This is provided each time the level of ability is increased, allowing free investment in desired stats.

Methods to increase the level of ability are not difficult concepts.

[Martial Arts List]

[Mind Techniques]

[Three Realms Internal Qi] (7 Stars) (Third Class)

[Sword Techniques]

[Three Realms Sword Techniques] (10 Stars) (Great Success) (Third Class)

[Haenam Sword Techniques] (3 Stars) (First Class)

[Defense Techniques]

[Three Realms Defense] (10 Stars) (Great Success) (Third Class)

[God Techniques]

[Wall Tiger Technique] (3 Stars) (Second Class)

One must raise their martial arts level.

The total sum of martial arts levels equals the ability level.

[Ability Level List]

[Ability Level] Third Class (Lv27)

[Promotion Conditions]

– Win against Third Class enemies (37/100)

– Win against Second Class enemies (1/1)

– Achieve Ability Level 50 (27/50)

– Acquire Second Class martial arts (1/1)

– If two or more of the above four conditions are met, one can promote at any desired time.

– However, once Second Class martial arts reach level 5, the ability level will be promoted automatically.

With Hae Eung Eung already knowing the transcendent martial arts,

the wall of Second Class is like a door threshold that can be crossed at any time.

Yet, there are reasons why she hasn’t crossed this door.

‘Once the ability level increases, the points obtained from the lower levels are capped.’

The maximum growth limit of a warrior at Third Class is level 100.

This means she can earn up to 100 free points.

‘Once the level of Second Class martial arts surpasses a certain achievement, it will automatically increase.’

This is the reason she is focused on Third Class martial arts.

Haenam Sword Technique.

Although it was used effectively in this naval battle,

her level increased significantly with just a short usage.

If Haenam Sword Technique reaches level 5 like this,

her ability level will forcibly increase to Second Class.

The Wall Tiger Technique, which she used to cross the barriers in the Blood Tunnel, is the same.

Currently, she has 33 free points.

Among those, 27 were obtained from Third Class martial arts.

There are still 73 achievements left in Third Class martial arts.

Until the day she completes all these achievements,

all martial arts above Second Class, including Haenam Sword Technique and Wall Tiger Technique, will remain sealed.

Fist Technique – Six Harmonies Fist

Leg Technique – Whirlwind Kick

Spear Technique – Golden Needle Technique

Zheng Technique – Burning Paper Technique

Stealth Technique – Twin Lotus Hummingbird

In the martial world, there are countless Third Class martial arts.

However, Hae Eung Eung has been fortunate throughout her life in the martial world.

Not only did she join the Haenam Sect,

but she also had connections with the Imperial Palace, the Hwasan Sect, the Demon Sect, and the North Sea Ice Palace.

The martial arts she encountered were not only First Class but also included many rare peak-level martial arts.

Conversely, she had no opportunity to come into contact with Third Class martial arts.

With two remaining Third Class martial arts,

she pondered what to learn next.

‘Worrying only makes the body stiff.’

For now, her goal is to achieve great success with the five new Third Class martial arts, along with the Three Realms Internal Qi.

The training will pause until she solidifies her Third Class martial arts.

Thus began a week-long concentrated training period, originally set as a goal.

However, once the training began,

the intense focus of Hae Eung Eung significantly extended the training period.

As someone on the internet once said,

a hilarious disaster occurred when the Silent Swordsman went under for a month.

The lack of self-awareness made it even worse,

as the torturous ant-scraping lasted a staggering month.

—

3.

[Mom, something’s falling from the sky] [3]

“That’s the remains of the viewers who became space debris waiting for the Silent Swordsman’s broadcast.”

– Damn it!

– Please come back, Silent Swordsman!

[The Return of the Silent Swordsman, 12 Hours of Continuous Live Broadcast] [8]

“In exchange, I’ll show you a cute Kyaru’s winning live stream ^q^”

– That butterfly soup bastard!

– You’re dead for real!

– From today, I’ll kick every cat I see!

– I can’t resist Kyaru’s winning live stream.

– What’s a winning live stream?

– Look it up, you noob!

– What’s a noob?

– Damn it!

[Here’s 1 Billion and the Silent Swordsman] [7]

“The Silent Swordsman has slaughtered all the viewers to get 1 billion.”

– Ugh!

– I don’t care about the money; just come back alive, please!!

– Silent Swordsman (Headless)

– No, you idiot, that’s not what I meant!

– Dullahan, damn it!

– At least there’s a substitute; otherwise, I’d be dead from cancer.

Viewers in the midst of a Silent Swordsman frenzy.

The reason they hadn’t completely lost their minds, despite being half-crazed, was that there was a reason for it.

This is what they called the Silent Swordsman Catch-Up challenge.

The attempts of streamers to challenge the Silent Swordsman’s gameplay have become a trend on V-Tube.

It all started after the second and final broadcast of the Blood-Fountain Tactical Elimination,

when the 3,800 viewers left abandoned in space began exchanging conversations.

[Honestly, I feel lucky to be born in this era. In the 21st century, how many chances would I have to perceive such an amazing beauty in the third person?]

– Wls

– If you’re going to do it, either do it in the first person or second person; what’s with the third person?

– You’re just an NPC; how can you die in three seconds and use the second person, damn it?

– Ah, I didn’t know that.

– What about the boss?

– It’s an entity that can’t specify a perspective; you clueless moron.

– First-person is terrifying, too! Spear and sword flying from everywhere; I’m worried I’ll have a heart attack trying to dodge the tiny gaps.

– I even changed my underwear because of that!

– Are you a girl? In the West, only girls or gay guys wear underwear.

– Oh, sweet! Then I want to be a girl.

– You want to be a girl?

– So does that mean guys don’t wear anything?

– They wear drawers, apparently.

– Is that true?

This conversation didn’t actually start like this.

[But isn’t the Silent Swordsman’s skill impressive? His courage is insane!]

With a dodge distance of 0.2cm, you’d think he was intentionally trying to scare you when he brushed past!

– When chased by the boss, the walls, ceiling, and stairs all break apart with a bang;

you could hear her crazy scream as she hung from the ceiling instead of going outside.

– Isn’t it just racing games and horror games that have broadcasts where people can’t handle the first-person view?

While his skill was discussed positively,

this wasn’t the only reason.

[Seriously, is it possible for other streamers to challenge the Silent Swordsman’s route?]

– Below the top tier, it’s impossible.

– In a first playthrough without skills or blessings, there are hardly any players capable of clearing it with their real bodies.

– Not even the gym rats, fish, or pigs can do it.

– Hey, Professor, since you have a real body, you could try with that gym monster.

– Is that the level of the Silent Swordsman?

– You’ll understand if you watch the live broadcast again.

It was from this topic that the question arose:

Could anyone imitate the Silent Swordsman’s play?

This intrigued not only the viewers but also the streamers.

Could I possibly do that?

Most laughed it off as a joke, but some streamers fell into serious contemplation.

One streamer, <Thief Um Gil-dong>, who was making a name for himself as a brainiac streamer,

didn’t just ponder but felt a serious competitive urge.

“Honestly, I can’t do that.”

How many streamers in the world are actually fit?

For a brainiac streamer, that was just unrealistic.

But what if it’s only a part of the Silent Swordsman’s gameplay?

“If I try hard, maybe I can partially imitate it?”

There are plenty of remarkable physiques in the world, but there’s no physique you can’t mimic if you put your mind to it!

Thief Um Gil-dong is famous for stealing techniques from physical streamers and ranked gamers, branding himself with that slogan.

“Isn’t it absurd that I, who have stolen ranked techniques, can’t steal from a mere newbie physical streamer? No way.”

– That comment is ON!

– You’ve set a death flag, haven’t you?

– Karma’s gonna hit you!

If only that confidence had remained just confidence,

but with the viewers mocking him, Um Gil-dong was incensed, and his desire to gain recognition and prove himself turned his eyes wild.

“Whatever, I can just run a simulator and set a record.”

Um Gil-dong, who would spark the Silent Swordsman catch-up craze,

was overflowing with confidence at this moment.

Watching the clip of that moment,

he’d be pounding the ground and reflecting on it

as a different person a few days later.