Chapter 63. The Cave of Trials (3)
The Tenmei clan was a family of sword-users embedded deeply into j.a.pan’s history. As the eldest daughter, Mio had mastered their secret technique. She had a natural talent for swordplay, and people had called her the High Blade.
‘If you challenge her to a swordfight, you’re just asking to be crushed.’
In the past, Seo Jun-Ho had often sparred with her. Out of the 152 fights they had, his current record was 151 losses and 1 win. Except for that one win, he had always ended up in defeat against her.
‘Of course, that only applies when we only use sword skills.’
If they were allowed to use their other abilities, even Mio herself had acknowledged that Seo Jun-Ho would win. But her current state wasn’t something to take lightly.
‘It’s my first time seeing Mio this angry.’
Even though she didn’t show it, she treasured her friends. And she had just witnessed Gilberto die in front of her. If the elaborate ‘fake’ had copied the ‘real’ one perfectly, then she should be seething from head to toe.
‘I’ll have to use that.’
Even if it was dirty and underhanded, there was nothing else he could do. He only had 27 seconds left.
Seo Jun-Ho kicked Gilberto’s corpse that was on the floor as if it was a ball. “What a weakling. He fell for such an obvious trap. He was cowardly until his death.”
“...”
Mio’s whole body started to shake.
“Take that back!”
“What if I don’t want to?”
Like a swallow, her body went low to the ground as she sprinted across it.
‘Actually, one of her ancestors came up with this technique after watching a low-flying swallow.’
It wasn’t a technique that anyone could just learn. After all, it placed a tremendous amount of burden on the lower back, so someone had to be both flexible and strong. It was a technique that required an inborn trait rather than effort.
‘It’s a good technique. But…’
Seo Jun-Ho was her opponent. He knew her all too well.
‘Mio’s mentally weak.’
He kicked Gilberto’s corpse to shake her up.
‘The Swallow Sword is the technique she’s the most confident in. But if she wasn’t an illusion and if she hadn’t been distracted, she would never have used it against me.’
The Swallow Sword was dangerous for one reason. It drew the opponent’s eyes down, and the swallow would cut through them from the top.
‘But it won’t matter if the opponent already knows how it works.’
Seo Jun-Ho dodged her sword with a single sidestep.
“Ack...!” Did she not expect him to dodge? Fl.u.s.tered, she lost her center of balance for a split second. But the blunder lasted for only a second, she was able to readjust her stance in the blink of an eye.
‘But in a match between two experienced fighters, a moment’s mistake can decide the outcome…’
Seo Jun-Ho swung his sword downward.
‘Like right now.’
One stroke. That was all it took for him to cut through Mio’s body.
“You...How could you...?”
Mio tearfully asked him as she collapsed to the ground. But he didn’t have time for banter. Seo Jun-Ho ignored her and dashed over to the Frost Queen.
“Hurry, hurry! Hurryhurryhurry! Hurry up!”
The Frost Queen had never lost her elegance or dignity, but now that she was being pushed back, she frantically her hand at him, asking for help.
“Good job!” Just as he reached her, the Golems shattered.
Rahmadat and Skaya were weakened versions of the originals, so the two Golems managed to survive for 30 seconds against them. It would have been impossible without a spirit at the Frost Queen’s level. The Aura Buff ring also came in clutch.
“I am ashamed. I had to use some powerful techniques to hold the woman at bay.”
“No wonder I felt a bit dizzy.” It seemed that the Frost Queen had handled Skaya herself instead of leaving her to the golems.
Seo Jun-Ho raised his sword toward his two friends; they were looking at him with murderous eyes.
“I don’t like those glares, so let’s finish this quickly.”
“Gladly!” Rahmadat charged at him like a boar.
“W-Wait a second! You idiot!”
Skaya let out a frustrated shout as she supported him.
‘Even though they’re illusions, they’re still bickering with each other.’
Skaya always seemed to be in deep thought. Meanwhile, Rahmadat was someone who seemed like he had no idea how to think at all. As such, the two would always get into a fight at the drop of a hat, and it would usually be about something stupid.
‘But in battle, they make the best combination.’
A natural warrior and a natural magician. Their synergy was powerful. There was only one way that Seo Jun-Ho could defeat this powerful combo.
‘I have to become a monster like them.’
Wooong!
Seo Jun-Ho’s magic circuits started to burn. He circulated his magic throughout his body as fast as he could without slowing down. The Frost Queen sensed the powerful flow of magic.
“Contractor! Will you slow down?” she cried out.
“I can’t think about that right now!”
Adjusting your speed and saving your stamina was all fine and good, but it meant limiting your power.
‘I can’t hold back if I want to take them down.’
He was lucky to take Gilberto and Mio down. But once they fell, the remaining two left no room for errors.
This was the most pivotal moment.
‘He’s coming.’
Reading Rahmadat’s movements, Seo Jun-Ho swung his sword.
Slash!
Black Dragon Fang made a long cut across Rahmadat’s chest. Bright red blood spurted from his wound. An injury like this would have killed anyone instantly, but he only looked amused.
“That feels refreshing!”
Crack!
Seo Jun-Ho blocked Rahmadat’s fist as it came flying toward his abdomen with his elbow. Rahmadat’s hand was destroyed, but he ignored even the sound of his bones breaking.
“Ahahahaha! Dieee!”
“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d...!”
Seo Jun-Ho couldn’t hold out against Rahmadat’s strength and was sent flying back.
Skaya’s magic activated at that moment.
Three magic circles appeared in the air, chain lightning crackling between them.
‘Tsk. Even if she’s an illusion, she can actually do triple casting.’
It would be hard for him to continue if he got hit. Seo Jun-Ho quickly made a decision and used Shadow Step.
“Sorry, but that won’t work anymore!”
Seo Jun-Ho reappeared a wide distance away, but new spells attacked him. He let out a shout as two fireb.a.l.l.s. .h.i.t him directly. He barely managed to make ice armor in time, and it alleviated some of the injuries he sustained. Still, his skin was sizzling from the burns.
‘...Dammit, their reaction times are too fast.’
They were faster than any enemy he had ever faced in recent memory.
Rahmadat chased him relentlessly as Skaya used her magic to distract him.
Slice!
He already cut Rahmadat’s chest fourteen times alone.
‘But it’s always shallow.’
This meant that Rahmadat was being careful not to let Seo Jun-Ho attack a weak spot.
“Hey, are you done already? I could go all day.” Rahmadat remained as energetic as always.
Seeing that, Seo Jun-Ho sensed that it was time for him to make a choice. It was pointless to keep fighting like this, and it would only be disadvantageous for him if it dragged on.
‘What shall I give him?’
He would offer his flesh so he could break his opponent’s bones.[1]
There were many options to choose from, but Seo Jun-Ho chose the most efficient one.
‘...I’ll give you my left arm.’
He didn’t dodge Rahmadat’s next punch and raised his left arm to block the strike.
“Huh? You’re gonna block me with your flimsy arm?”
Rahmadat seemed surprised, but his fist didn’t stop.
Slam!
His fist smashed through Seo Jun-Ho’s left arm.
“Urp...” Blood poured from Seo Jun-Ho’s mouth. With no time to rest, Rahmadat landed another direct hit on his chest. Fortunately, Seo Jun-Ho had layered a few sheets of ice on top of Black Armor, but the forceful punch still made his insides churn.
‘He’s like a monster...But…’
Seo Jun-Ho forced himself together and gripped Black Dragon Fang.
‘I just need one hit. That’s all.’
He used about half of his remaining magic, explosive darkness poured from him. The shadows covered Black Dragon Fang.
Law of Life!
Even Rodomir wasn’t able to take this attack. The deadly technique was about to aim at Rahmadat.
“You’ve gotten slower.” But Rahmadat’s fist was faster. He landed a hit on Seo Jun-Ho’s chin.
“...!” Seo Jun-Ho’s vision started to spin, and the strength in his legs gave out.
“Contractor!”
“Kuh...!”
But he did not fall. He looked like he would tip over at any second, but his feet remained firmly planted on the ground. The only thing keeping him up was his willpower.
“....What the, you managed to take it?” Rahmadat looked genuinely surprised. He hadn’t expected this. “As expected of Specter...”
Stab!
Black Dragon Fang stabbed through his chest, interrupting him.
“...Too bad. You missed my heart.” Rahmadat’s voice was apathetic. He had shifted his body in that instant to protect his heart. Rahmadat looked down at the sword piercing through his chest and grabbed Seo Jun-Ho’s head. “Goodbye. I’ll send you off painlessly.” His fingers started to dig into Seo Jun-Ho’s skull.
“Keuk, that’s too bad… It’ll more be painful for you then.”
“What? What are you...” Rahmadat’s face fell when he realized.
The energy from Law of Life started to tear him apart from the inside.
‘I used half of my magic for this one hit.’
If Rahmadat survived this, Seo Jun-Ho would acknowledge his defeat.
Of course, he couldn’t possibly survive this. No human could. The real Rahmadat had even praised the technique. As such, a weakened version of him wouldn’t be able to survive through it.
The darkness wildly ripped through Rahmadat’s body.
“Ugh...” He fell to one knee.
“Rahmadat!” Skaya yelled in shock.
She waved her arms, and Seo Jun-Ho was thrust upward like he was being carried by a storm. He promptly fell back down.
“Ack!” Out of all the places on his body, his rib suffered the most as it fractured.
‘Dammit, that’s the same one from the Wild Forest…’
Still, he stood up. His breath was shallow and cold sweat was dripping down his face. He knew that he didn’t have much time left. His stamina was running out, and the Frost Queen had also used a good amount of his mental energy.
He was at his limit after receiving a critical hit. It wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed any second now.
“Rahmadat! Wake up!” No matter how Skaya tried to help him, Rahmadat was dead. The dark energy in Rahmadat’s body was reaching its peak.
It exploded out of his body, and blood rained down on the two survivors.
1. 육참골단 - This is a Korean idiom basically meaning to take one step back so he could take two steps forward. ☜