014 - Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim (6)
“...Ugh!”
Han Su-ah staggered as the shockwave rattled everything around her.
Turning her head, she peered deeper into the grand hall. Kim Sun-woo and the black knight were locked in a fierce exchange, their forms intertwined in a blur.
Their speed was too fast to follow with the naked eye.
Yet it wasn't the one-sided beating or retreat like before.
Impressive.
Han Su-ah murmured in quiet admiration.
She remembered clearly when they'd first entered this place.
Kim Sun-woo hadn't been able to react, taking hits from the black knight.
Could four days of focused training really bridge that gap? She'd doubted it, but he'd spectacularly dispelled her worries.
“...”
Han Su-ah turned away again and kicked off the ground with all her might.
Just as Kim Sun-woo had the role of facing the black knight, she had her own assignment.
Please be there.
Kim Sun-woo hadn't prepared for a head-on fight blindly.
He'd devised multiple plans for contingencies, and her circling the outskirts without joining the fray was part of one.
“If we can avoid finishing the black knight and just leave, that's best. If reinforcements arrive later, we can team up with them, take it down, and raid the treasure vault.”
If she found the exit leading out of the grand hall, they'd halt the fight and escape.
From last time, the black knight didn't seem to leave this chamber.
So once out, no more attacks.
Clank.
Of course, the search wasn't smooth.
Midway, an armored monster stirred and lunged at her.
Han Su-ah cast Heal while swinging the staff from the treasure vault in a full arc.
Crack!
Heal was the perfect counter to undead types.
Even a light hit landed critical damage, dropping it easily.
Leaping over the wreckage on the floor, Han Su-ah pressed on with her search.
Clang!
Kim Sun-woo was already deep into dozens of clashes with the black knight.
Speeds were even, strength slightly favored the knight, but the real issue was...
Swordsmanship proficiency.
He'd declared boldly, but he wasn't underestimating the black knight.
To survive a dungeon, first grasp the power gap accurately.
No blind panic like four days ago, but his instincts prickled: not an easy foe.
Best if Han Su-ah finds the exit.
Slim chance, though.
With the treasure vault passage sealed, they'd need to defeat it to leave.
Then catch up to its swordplay right now.
Kim Sun-woo gripped his sword tighter and exhaled deeply.
Trust his senses.
A few days from martial basics to this growth.
Not the end, not the limit.
Ten years of hunter experience as fertilizer—why not bloom sooner?
No, if anything, a bit late.
Swoosh, clang!
Kim Sun-woo scrutinized every move, countering attacks.
Patterns repeated: Flash Flow Step for high-speed approach, clash midway.
Close first, gain edge; it strikes first, lose initiative.
Exchanges meant a real fight.
But no room for optimism.
Prolonged war favors it.
Each Flash Flow Step and swing drained inner energy chunks.
Without spirit herbs boosting it, he'd collapse empty-dantian after thirty exchanges.
Now manageable, but unknown depths—attrition pointless.
Swoosh!
This attack faster, deeper.
Severed hair fluttered away.
Instinct saved his neck from a deep gash.
Kim Sun-woo pulled back distance to escape disadvantage.
But the knight read it, clung relentlessly, achieving pursuit.
Shatter!
After countless clashes, his sword snapped.
Tossing shards as feint barely bought space; else, it'd hound forever.
Finally distanced, Kim Sun-woo eyed the half-blade bitterly.
My favorite from the vault.
Weapons were expendable.
Especially hard clashes like this—few blades lasted.
Clank.
Thus, discard broken one, yank new from hall floor.
Vault weapons scattered here for exactly this.
—Thud!
As he drew it, knight charged straight like waiting.
...Tempo upped.
No drawn-out fight for it either?
Seeing thrusting tip, Kim Sun-woo's body shivered finely.
Tzztztz.
Like cheap 3D glasses effect.
Knight swung wildly to cleave, but only shredded afterimage—Kim Sun-woo Illusion Flow Stepped leisurely back.
Swoosh.
Then Dark Flow Step into settling shadows.
Flare's life fading.
His presence vanished completely.
—...
Knight scanned, sword raised.
Helmet eyes probed, but luckily, no Kim Sun-woo in sight.
Better than expected.
Illusion Flow Step dodged well, but Dark Flow Step hid presence superbly.
Not far, yet undetected.
Pillar-shadowed, he glanced at central knight.
Ambush on gap: lethal hit possible.
Inner energy at 70%.
Flying Thunder Flash opener, White Flow Steps, tussles—30% gone.
Breathing steady, he planned.
Not unbeatable. Seal mobility, land two forms: shatter Life Vessel.
Problem: time to get there.
Even victory, monsters drawn by noise—more fights likely.
Worst case, reserve 30%, no 20% energy—but will it?
Sizzle.
New flare rolled in: green glow, not crimson.
“...”
He bit his lip.
Han Su-ah's signal: no exit.
Must fell knight.
Tat!
Knight reacted first, charging flare's source—abandoning search.
Han Su-ah no fool—fled post-throw—but knight no pushover.
Whoosh!
Kim Sun-woo full Flash Flow Step pursuit.
This far, might as well...
Strike its back targeting her.
Spotted it nearing her instantly.
Straight Flash Flow Step to range, full thrust at back...
“...!”
Senses screamed warning.
Same crisis as first encounter.
Slightly late, saw knight glancing back.
No way...
Baiting me with fake on her?
Swoosh!
Indeed.
Forward charge reversed 180, long sweep.
Swirling black sword aura sharpened, cross-slashed at him.
Dodge? ...Too late.
Half-assed evade: quartered corpse.
Frontal clash only.
Kim Sun-woo gritted, went all-in.
White Flow Sword Technique, Second Form
Absolute Shadow Chaos Flow
Sweep split manifold trails.
Afterimages sharpened like real blades.
Kwaaaaaang!!!
Cross aura met sword shadows—fierce shockwave erupted.
Blasted through dust, Kim Sun-woo hurled back.
“...Kuh!”
Sword shattered, hands and armor rags.
Slightly late timing: internal injuries.
Yet first Absolute Shadow Chaos Flow success—chilling smile.
Clank.
Discard second broken sword, grab third nearby.
Click.
Pouch: mana potion, healing potion—gulp.
Smash empties, deep breath, re-aim at knight.
—...
Knight damaged too.
Cracks in aura-clad armor, black aura dimmer.
Kirrik.
Yet sword sharp, will unquenched.
Clank.
Sighing, Kim Sun-woo aimed back.
Han Su-ah escaped safely meantime.
Won't show sans next plan.
Nothing in way.
Slow walk, sword gripped, toward knight.
Grip tight.
Exhilarated.
Never life-or-death gambles.
Safety first, avoid crises, shun bets.
Now opposite.
Precarious gamble plan.
One slip: collapse, endangering both.
Yet steps unstoppable.
This is getting stronger.
Fierce grin, leaped into fire willingly.
Not mechanical grind—life-burning blaze.
Raw fight proving existence.
Why hunters dungeon despite death's shadow.
“Yeah, let's end it.”
It was right there.