‘He’s not using his energy waves to force himself up. He’s simply using flight technique.’

Normally, flight skills belong to Jin-type beings connected to the sky—like the Dragon Kings who dwell above the clouds and ascend to the heavens.

Although supernatural powers exist in this world, flight is an extremely rare skill, and players struggled to conquer the skies easily.

That’s why even at Korea’s top prestigious schools, students usually used airboards or similar devices for movement instead of flying, and when the Red Lions raided otherworldly realms at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, they relied on items for transportation.

Even strong and ancient Jin clans often couldn’t fly.

A prime example is the Ho Clan.

Most Ho Clan members possess a powerful leap skill but cannot fly.

Hwang Ji-ho couldn’t fly either, so in Chengdu, China, he created a barrier and traveled by leaping across it.

White Tiger, part of the Western Baekho Seven Beasts constellation, does have wings and can fly if he fully unleashes his power.

Moreover, if he could activate his authority to go anywhere, he could use a higher-dimensional teleportation beyond flight, but being a beastman, it was of little use.

‘Besides, it’s well known that players who fight wielding weapons like Joo Soo-hyeok rarely obtain flight skills!’

Among humans, most who have flight skills are players who use natural elemental powers.

Sawol Seyum is a good example.

Though not skilled in combat, she uses wind techniques and is born with the messenger’s bloodline, granting her flight skills.

So for Joo Soo-hyeok to fly now was incredible—as if he could become a knight immediately.

I was the luckiest to witness this historic moment and to be the closest opponent on the duel stage.

If Andain had been the opponent instead of me, the story would have been even more beautiful, but it was still wondrous and joyful that Joo Soo-hyeok reached this great milestone.

“Are you happy because you’ve gotten stronger? You look happier than me, Uishin.”

Joo Soo-hyeok looked down at me from the sky.

With the sun behind him and twin swords in hand, he looked like a warrior descended from the heavens.

Or perhaps, given how well the dobok suited him, he might be a general serving the Jade Emperor or a solitary immortal who refined martial arts alone.

Now that Joo Soo-hyeok had conquered the skies, he might become an even greater being.

Naturally, as he said, I was happy, thrilled, proud, and fulfilled.

But I couldn’t just rejoice—I forced myself to focus harder.

‘I need to get a grip. Since I’m the first to face Joo Soo-hyeok using his new power, I can’t afford a lackluster fight.’

If I lost focus, his debut flight would be a dull, meaningless event.

I quickly sorted the moves I planned in my mind and composed my expression.

Seeing my change, Joo Soo-hyeok smiled even brighter, satisfied.

To raise his morale further, I deliberately took a provocative stance.

“Looks like I can’t win with out-of-bounds rules.”

“Uishin, you’re trying to beat me with such a trivial method?”

“Yeah, but I can’t win so trivially anymore.”

Joo Soo-hyeok didn’t get emotional over that.

Even at Plumago, many villains tried to provoke him, but he remained unmoved and fully focused on the fight.

As expected, Joo Soo-hyeok didn’t flare up.

If I had said that to Bang Yunseop or Ma Jinseung, they’d have gone wild and charged at me.

But something in my expectations missed the mark.

Joo Soo-hyeok’s eyes widened slightly, and he was very happy.

“I’m glad you think that way, Uishin! I’ll do my best.”

Where was there anything to be glad about in my words?

Before I could ask, Joo Soo-hyeok wielded his swords.

Flames ignited along Dubitnarae by his Flawless Wingbeat.

“When I faced Senior Yeom Jun-yeol, the falling fire from the sky was a real nuisance. I’m curious how you’ll respond!”

He swung his twin swords immediately, and a rain of fire poured from the sky.

Watching this, I recalled the representative selection battle of the Korea-China-Japan Exchange where Joo Soo-hyeok fought Yeom Jun-yeol.

Back then, Joo Soo-hyeok had to face Yeom Jun-yeol riding a red dragon, unleashing fire magic.

I decided to move as Joo Soo-hyeok intended.

‘He wants to see how far I can go with my sword.’

Even skills that only swing weapons, once reaching a certain power, can erase elemental magic skills.

White Tiger’s sword blocked the ice magic of third-year Class 0 seniors rampaging in Cheonyeoksan, and Kim Shin-rok used a secret blade to cancel Yeom Jun-yeol’s skill manifestation.

Joo Soo-hyeok also erased fire magic with his sword then.

Of course, I could do that much too.

I stood still, swung my greatsword widely with both hands, and sliced the flames with a silver blade. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Swish!

The divine Joamdogwang enveloped with energy waves erased the sunlit flames.

It looked like light was burying the night.

Just one slash, and all of Joo Soo-hyeok’s multiple flames were erased, drawing an “Oooh!” of admiration from the audience.

Joo Soo-hyeok didn’t just watch quietly.

Through the thick smoke left by the erased fire magic, his form pierced the sky toward me.

Kaaang!

Though he couldn’t stab a vital spot, the twin swords fiercely slashed at my collar, but the large blade of the greatsword blocked them all.

The two swords aimed in different directions, but since they weren’t as fast as expected, moving the sword to a position to block both simultaneously was no problem.

Before I could counterattack, I looked quickly at Joo Soo-hyeok flying toward the sky and said,

“You’re slow. You’re probably not used to flying yet.”

“Yeah, I’ll get used to it quickly.”

Joo Soo-hyeok didn’t lie.

As if practicing what he said, he imbued the sword blades with wind power this time.

As strong gusts infused Dubitnarae, his flight became faster, and he moved so quickly in midair that predicting his direction was difficult.

Compared to Lef Tretiak, who used wind magic on his rapier against Kim Yuri, Joo Soo-hyeok was incomparably faster.

Lef Tretiak couldn’t make good use of his excellent movement skills in this limited duel arena, but the title hero of Plumago was different.

Joo Soo-hyeok swiftly adapted flight to twin sword techniques, but restrained himself enough to follow duel rules.

‘Joo Soo-hyeok always learned fast. That’s why he awakened new powers in the final chapter and achieved his goal.’

At that time, his goal was to help Andain fight without interference.

Thanks to that, Andain succeeded in defeating the enemy without obstruction from the mastermind.

Though both exhausted their powers and died, without their battle, that world would have faced a quicker, more dreadful end.

“You can keep up with this speed, Uishin! How about aiming for the top together next time?”

“School exams and duels are different.”

“You know which is easier, Uishin.”

Kaaang!

Joo Soo-hyeok said nonsense trying to distract me, but my resolve was firm and unaffected.

Only Joo Soo-hyeok and Andain were the top students of our year at Eunkwang High!

As we exchanged words, his twin swords flew like the wind.

Not merely rushing by pushing off the ground, but flying and spinning unpredictably using flight technique, making his attack directions impossible to anticipate.

It felt like fending off chaotic sword winds blowing irregularly in a storm.

To launch attacks with that power would instantly drain stamina and energy waves, yet Joo Soo-hyeok showed no sign of fatigue.

“He probably can’t wear me down that much.”

But Joo Soo-hyeok seemed to think the same.

Judging it a war of attrition, he soared high.

He seemed about to change the elemental attribute imbued in his sword with Flawless Wingbeat, but something was different from before.

Soon, that strangeness became visible.

In one hand, wind infused the sword; in the other, flames.

‘He can wield two elements at once now.’

Joo Soo-hyeok had two wings, each controlling a different element.

It was like drawing a picture with the left hand while swinging the sword with the right—not easy at all.

Of course, the protagonist could do that, but in real combat, I wouldn’t be able to use that until next year—yet he was doing it now.

If he increased speed with the strong wind and power with the flames, it could get dangerous.

I assessed calmly.

‘I can’t block this with just my swordsmanship. I need to use Gwanglim or another technique.’

The protagonist’s growth was dazzling, enough to seize victory here.

But having vowed to give my best, I couldn’t just lose.

So I decided to use one of my powers.

With a wing wrapped in a storm in one hand and a fiery sword in the other, I stared straight at the diving Joo Soo-hyeok and swung down my blade.

For a moment, it looked as if I’d given up fighting, and the audience uttered a scream-like gasp.

Over the gasps, a system message sounded.

〈Skill ‘Life-and-Death Gaze’ activated.〉

My eyes were imbued with the power to distinguish life and death, but more than that, they were the eyes of the Ho Clan.

Like how one who meets a predator’s gaze in darkness finds it hard to move, the Ho Clan’s gaze held a binding power over opponents.

This power was deadly to those floating midair.

Joo Soo-hyeok sensed something was wrong and tried to dodge, but having seen the flight path many times, he was too familiar.

He couldn’t leave my sight and was helplessly caught in the gaze.

Joo Soo-hyeok, who had stopped briefly in midair, began to fall.

“Ah...!”

Used to wielding Gwanglim, he could maintain power, but activating flight while trapped in the gaze was impossible.

While falling, he hurriedly poured the powers in both hands toward the ground.

He minimized the damage from the fall and managed to land safely, but the victory was decided then.

My greatsword stopped just in front of Joo Soo-hyeok’s neck as he landed.

If this wasn’t a duel, I would have swung the greatsword while he was defenselessly falling.

Or I might have increased the gaze’s power, binding him so tightly he couldn’t defend.

If that had happened, Joo Soo-hyeok wouldn’t have escaped serious injury.

“The winner of this duel is, the nameless supernova, Jo Yi-shin!”

Without any need for prompting, the referee’s announcement came immediately.

Joo Soo-hyeok bowed briefly, looking down at the ground, then lifted his ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) face and looked at me.

He reached out a hand without the greatsword, smiling brightly as he took mine.

Then an even louder cheer rose from the audience than when the victory was declared.