# Maxed-Out Talent Player, Episode 85

“I spared you because you were a non-combat class. But there will be no forgiveness next time, you trash.”

So what? He’s going to challenge a non-combat class to PVP?

‘From a future standpoint, it’s a laughably ridiculous notion.’

In the future, non-combat classes often play a more significant role than combat classes do. Abilities like gore detoxification, healing, and buffing are critical. Non-combat classes are rarer and less numerous than combat classes.

Moreover, the value of a player can vary immensely based on their skill level and the type of ability they possess. Given this situation, guilds have created unspoken rules to prevent combat class players from bullying those of non-combat classes.

‘A combat player challenging a non-combat player to PVP?’

It’s absurd. If the guild had been better established, Kim Taecheon might’ve been dragged off to be beaten by the guild leader by now.

‘Furthermore…’

To someone like me, whose name is ‘Observer’ but whose role is closer to a ‘Lord’?

‘Well, they’re ignorant, so let’s just ignore that.’

Among non-combat classes, it’s the Lord class that receives the highest esteem. I’m not one to boast, but even Shin Yeonseo praises me every day.

The difficulty of the game changes completely with or without me. Lord class is quite literally the noble’s class. It’s difficult to grow and even more challenging to become successful, and becoming a high-level ranker is still harder. But once you become a high-level ranker of the noble class, the benefits are substantial.

Then a notification arrived.

[A PVP request has been received.]

[Upon acceptance, a PVP zone will be declared.]

I realized one more fact here.

‘A rookie player below level 30 has requested PVP on their own.’

To make a PVP request, permission from a high-level ‘Lord player’ or assistance from a mid-level manager is needed, as Percy did earlier. Or there must be interference from a guardian.

‘The bravado must be mixed in again.’

Our Bravado seems to have granted qualifications to request PVP. It appears they want to see me fight.

“I’ve told you numerous times that I’m a non-combat class.”

“So what? Are you going to cowardly run away?”

He scoffed at me openly, his eyes filled with contempt, and the confidence of a predator overflowed from him. Right now, Kim Taecheon seemed to believe that ‘a true player is a combat player.’

“No, it’s not that. I’m just worried.”

“Don’t worry. You won’t die.”

Kim Taecheon laughed, “huhu.” No, that’s not the point.

“How are you going to show your face after being beaten by a non-combat class?”

I mean you, not me.

* * *

“Senia, please confirm that I’m a non-combat class player.”

Senia appeared, and the crowd began to murmur.

“She’s really… beautiful.”

“I’d love to play with such a middle manager…”

Both Senia and Kim Hyukjin ignored these trivial remarks. The board was set.

A game with even middle managers involved. Kim Hyukjin continued the conversation.

“This was definitely a player’s direct proposal to another player, right?”

The middle manager wasn’t involved. The green saliva-slinging Percy, currently invisible, must be broadcasting from this location. If he doesn’t show up with the situation escalating, it means someone else, a higher entity, has intervened. Kim Hyukjin was convinced that this entity was the ‘Brave Lion King.’

And that’s what needed to be addressed here.

“That’s correct. Upon verification, player Kim Taecheon directly initiated a PVP request against player Kim Hyukjin.”

“Then it’s a matter between humans, independent of the system script.”

Finally, Senia understood Kim Hyukjin’s intent.

‘A matter between humans.’

It has nothing to do with the system. Kim Hyukjin’s one remark had accurately ‘defined’ the situation.

[‘Lady of the Scales’ nods in agreement.]

[‘Whispering Demon’ rejoices.]

[‘Nameless Observer’ observes.]

We have now stepped somewhat out of the realm of the system’s rules.

‘Player Kim Hyukjin has created a pretext where he doesn’t have to act purely as an Observer.’

With that one remark, it was decided. Kim Hyukjin was now poised to act like a combat player entering PVP, not just an Observer. It looked like he was talking to Senia, but Kim Hyukjin’s intention was clear and precise.

‘The Nameless Observer has decided to observe.’

With this, all plausibility and justification were in place. A scenario created meticulously and without any flaws.

Kim Hyukjin would now draw his role upon the scenario he himself had set up.

[I accept the PVP.]

[A PVP zone has been declared.]

A space where death does not come. The PVP zone was established. Kim Taecheon grinned broadly.

“This is great.”

He was sure he would crush Kim Hyukjin. He was embarrassed twice just now, but finally, the opportunity to save face had come. It was the chance he had awaited to demonstrate his bravery.

“Here I come.”

The PVP began. Kim Taecheon drew out a massive axe. A giant weapon that had made him stand out on ‘The Hill Where the Wind Blows.’

Kim Hyukjin was not intimidated by the impressively daunting weapon. He read Kim Taecheon’s body with ‘Observer’s Eye,’ taking in the information visually.

‘The balance is reasonable.’

Apparently, he will step out with his right foot first and approach.

‘He’s underestimating me, so he’ll probably move as directly as possible.’

Kim Hyukjin read all of Kim Taecheon’s movements with Observer’s Eye, completely different from when he interpreted the movements of Masanghyeon or Shin Yeonseo.

‘…Feels like watching a 0.5-speed replay.’

When he read the movements of Masanghyeon and Shin Yeonseo, the information changed in real-time, and he had to quickly interpret anew. But Kim Taecheon was different. It was like the answer was already set, and Kim Taecheon was moving slowly toward it.

‘This is a novel feeling.’

Even for a low-level player, reading the movements of intermediate players felt considerably easier compared to the top players. It was the realization of something new.

‘I see it.’

Kim Taecheon’s path of battle was clear.

Shin Yeonseo was watching the PVP.

‘Let’s focus. Watching Hyukjin’s movements will be a great learning experience for me.’

Kim Hyukjin’s movements were strange. While Kim Taecheon was closing the distance, Kim Hyukjin took a small step to the right. His movements were much slower than usual.

‘He could suppress it instantly with the Heavenly Phoenix Dance.’

He seemed to be deliberately not using such powers. And that made sense.

‘Showing off your abilities in front of so many people would be foolish.’

This situation is different from when he hunted the ‘Big-mouthed Lizard.’ There is no need to consecutively expose abilities. Showing 70% and hiding 30%. That’s what’s advantageous in play, as Shin Yeonseo instinctively understood.

Whoosh!

The massive axe narrowly missed Kim Hyukjin’s forehead.

Kim Taecheon swung the axe repeatedly.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Making grand explosive sounds, he attacked Kim Hyukjin with a sense of great threat.

“Hahahaha!”

Kim Taecheon felt his heart clear for the first time in a while. His opponent was now preoccupied with dodging.

Kim Taecheon was aware. His attack speed wasn’t that fast. The fact he could attack this freely meant his opponent was also moving slowly.

“When will you stop running away?”

Whoosh!

He kept swinging the axe, aiming to create an opening and then deliver a powerful blow to the head. He was confident of victory.

‘That guy talks big, but he’ll be taken out with one hit, right?’

His confidence surged. The spectators watching the PVP failed to read Kim Hyukjin’s movements correctly.

“Seems like there’s a difference after all between non-combat and combat classes.”

“I thought he was overly confident like he had something up his sleeve.”

“Exactly. He’s going to get thrashed.”

However, among those present, the top 10 percent, the more skilled players sensed something was off.

The same was true for Kwak Taewoon.

‘Something’s subtly off.’

It was hard to pinpoint concretely, but something felt strange. He sensed it through the air. The wind created by Kim Hyukjin’s movements. The movement of the air. It was too tranquil.

‘Ah…!’

Upon focusing, he understood it. His class was ‘Child of the Wind.’ He discerned and interpreted information through the wind and air movements.

‘I see it.’

He could see why it was strange.

‘Does this even make sense?’

It seemed unbelievable, yet it was happening.

‘Hyukjin hyung is dodging before Taecheon even attacks?’

It wasn’t a concept of dodging after seeing an attack. Rather, Kim Hyukjin had already moved to a place where he wouldn’t get hit. In truth, during Kim Taecheon’s axe swings, Kim Hyukjin didn’t move.

‘As if he already knows where the axe will go.’

Like someone who has memorized the patterns of a shooting game. Knowing in advance from where an attack will come without even seeing it. That was precisely what was happening. There was no time lag. If you don’t watch closely, you can’t notice it. But Kwak Taewoon clearly felt it.

*Panting heavily*

Kim Taecheon gasped for breath after mindlessly hammering away with attacks. He failed to manage his stamina. He seemed not to have even considered managing his energy.

Meanwhile, Kim Hyukjin momentarily forgot Kim Taecheon in front of him. This peculiar feeling. The power of ‘Observer’s Eye’ that activated when facing an opponent much lower in skill. That strange sensation kept nudging him, seeming almost graspable yet elusive.

‘Nearly caught, yet not quite.’

He deliberately provoked Kim Taecheon.

“Go on, keep attacking.”

“You rat!”

Kim Hyukjin deliberately dodged Kim Taecheon’s attacks. He read the battle path and direction of the axe.

He didn’t aim for it completely intentionally; rather, he half trusted his instincts. Innate instinct. His body moved naturally along the flow.

As if someone were born with an innate talent for battle.

‘Ah…!’

Then, Kim Hyukjin had a realization.

‘This.’

The strange sensation that had been bothering him became more tangible.

‘That’s it.’

It was the feeling of a barrier being broken through, and simultaneously, a notification arrived.

[New enlightenment has been recognized.]

[The rank of ‘Sensory Eye’ has ascended.]

[A new realm has been reached.]

The PVP with Kim Taecheon inadvertently gifted Kim Hyukjin a ‘new realm’ he had not anticipated.

‘A new realm…!’

Kim Hyukjin instinctively understood what it was.