Chapter 262: This is Revenge, You Fucking Bitch.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 262: This is Revenge, You Fucking Bitch.
The sight of two armies, each with their own ideals, clashing is always a magnificent spectacle.
“Attack!!!”
“...................!”
“Priest! Priest!”
“Don’t let them break through! Hold the line! Hold on!”
“The West fights for its ideals!”
“To survive!”
Along with the various shouts, the sounds of clashing weapons and cold steel tearing flesh and crushing bone began to fill the air.
The clash between the Northeast Alliance and the Southwest Alliance. In terms of quality, the Northeast Alliance had the upper hand; in terms of numbers, the Southwest Alliance held the advantage. Of course, the Green Skins from the Brother's Land were helping to balance the scales, but an undeniable gap still remained. The presence of the Goff Clan, who were smashing through the enemy formation, must have been a great nuisance, as the southern forces shifted their front line toward the center where the Goff Clan was. Meanwhile, the Black Spear Clan and the Queen of the North were steadily whittling down the enemy's numbers.
“Aaaaaargh!”
Screams weren't coming from just one side. Massive spells flew through the air, met by protective magic. The variable was none other than the existence of the Sword Saint, Ha Yuri. Perhaps burdened by the sight of enemies receiving holy power and rejoining the front lines as long as they weren't dead, the Queen of the North was also pushing the line forward, determined to clash with the Sword Saint.
With every swing of her spear, dozens of heads flew. Though many attacks were aimed at the Queen of the North herself, not a single scratch marked her body. She dodged, parried, or blocked them all. The sight of the Queen of the North deflecting hundreds of arrows one by one was jaw-dropping. As fellow warriors, Gark and Hark felt a pure sense of respect rising within them, and they watched her even as they cut down their own enemies.
The ones who needed to break through and the ones who needed to hold the line were now clearly defined. On the defending side were the Saint Knights Order, centered around the Sword Saint. Wielding massive halberds, they used shield bearers to obstruct the North's advance as much as possible.
On the attacking side were the warriors of the North, led by their Queen. With spears and their own respective weapons, they appeared to be trying to incite a chaotic melee.
An endless battle. Their allies' stamina was draining far faster than the enemy's forces were being depleted, so it was only natural to feel a sense of urgency. Finally, the Queen of the North readjusted her grip on her spear and leaped into the heart of the enemy formation.
“Huh...........”
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
“S-save me!”
“Help...!”
“R-reinforcements!!”
It was a one-woman rampage. Her calm advance toward the Sword Saint was so relentless it was almost beautiful. Forging a path seemed impossible, yet the Queen of the North continued to hammer away at them. I felt I could do the same if I tried, but unlike before, these opponents were clearly not easy.
“They’re going to meet,” Choi Seulgi muttered.
The Queen of the North and the Sword Saint of the West were about to meet. Choi Seulgi looked at me again and spoke.
“Are you going to let her take your prey?”
“Let’s watch for now.”
“......................”
A strange tension and silence filled the battlefield. The Queen of the North stood firm, holding a spear taller than herself. Ha Yuri had her sword drawn, radiating holy power.
You could even hear the sound of someone swallowing nervously. It felt like watching a sacred duel.
“The price for the sin of invading our lands will be your life.”
“If killing you can end this battle, then I will cut you down here today.”
“It seems neither of us has any need for words.”
“...........................”
Ha Yuri did not reply to Han So-hye's words. She simply raised her sword calmly and aimed it at her foe. The holy power that had been spreading in all directions now focused on the Sword Saint. This probably gave the others a bit more breathing room.
Just locking them in this state was a huge advantage for our side. But such simple calculations were meaningless. The one who won this fight would have a higher chance of winning the war.
“You are no warrior.”
The moment she spoke, the Queen of the North shot toward the Sword Saint. The Sword Saint met the lightning-fast spear thrust without so much as blinking.
KRRRRRACK!
The mere clash of their spear and sword sent a storm of magic raging across the ground and surroundings, swallowing everything. A large circle naturally formed around them.
I already knew that both the Queen of the North and the Sword Saint were strong. But I had to admit that their level was even higher than I had thought.
This was especially true for the Sword Saint, Ha Yuri. I had never actually seen her fight before, though of course, I had heard many stories.
Supreme talent.
The one blessed by the continent.
From the time she was summoned to the continent during the Tutorial until now, she had never once been defeated. Battles, raids, or dungeon conquests she participated in never failed, and she achieved great feats wherever she went.
There were many rumors that this was all fabricated to idolize her, but watching this battle now, I couldn't help but realize the truth.
At the very least, there were no lies in the achievements she had built.
In the blink of an eye, spear and sword clashed, and an exchange of blows unfolded that those of a lower level couldn't even properly follow.
If you had to name Ha Yuri's advantage, it would be her immense holy power. Her fundamental swordsmanship was unparalleled on the continent, but her true strength lay in her holy power, which sprang forth like an inexhaustible fountain. She had mastered everything from reinforcing her own body to holy attack magic, and she would never die unless her head was cut off or she was turned to dust.
The Queen of the North's strength lay in martial prowess itself. I had never seen or heard of her using any other weapon or magic. She entrusted her entire being to a single spear.
With a flash, light erupted from near Ha Yuri. A mass of holy power in the shape of a large ring continuously shot out toward the Queen of the North, attacking her.
But it never reached her.
Every time Han So-hye swung her spear, the Sword Saint's holy power scattered. She moved a lot, perhaps thinking it was advantageous to use the battlefield broadly. Unlike Han So-hye, wounds continuously accumulated on Ha Yuri's body, but even those healed in an instant.
‘A prolonged battle is disadvantageous.’
The Queen of the North was likely thinking the same thing as me.
I wanted to reach out and help, but I had no idea what kind of variables interfering with two people that focused would create. That must be why not even a single stray arrow fell between them.
It was then that the Queen of the North nodded once before correcting her grip on the spear.
‘Perfect.’
It was a stance that could only be described as perfect. Though my expertise is in swordsmanship rather than spearmanship, I could naturally tell how flawless the Queen's form was. I am far from being a pure martial artist, but just watching her naturally inspired a sense of awe.
Ha Yuri must have known it too. With a single-word incantation, spears of holy power shot forth, but they were all cut down, losing their target and falling to the ground. As time passed, the battle grew more and more intense.
“Pant... pant...”
“........................”
To see her breathing heavily amidst all this was baffling; she wasn't even healing her wounds. The sight of her leaving the wounds on her fine face, legs, and arms unattended was a little bewildering. The Sword Saint, Ha Yuri, still had room to spare.
Those of a lower level might not have noticed, but at least someone at my level could tell that Ha Yuri was not yet at her limit. Han So-hye, who was currently crossing blades with her, must have known it too. Yet, there was no wavering or change in her expression.
If it was a ploy to make her enemy let down their guard, it could only be called a failure.
It was then.
“G-go for it!”
“For our ideals! You cannot lose!”
Voices began to erupt from somewhere.
“Fucking bullshit,” Choi Seulgi muttered. Watching the enemy soldiers, who had been clashing swords with our allies, start cheering for the Sword Saint was beyond absurd; it was dumbfounding. As if they were cartoon heroes protecting the Earth, they continuously sent messages of support to Ha Yuri.
“Does gathering everyone's strength together change a fucking thing? This is ridiculous... That's all staged, right? What kind of twisted bitch is she?”
If Choi Seulgi was right, then Ha Yuri was a madwoman beyond imagination. The entire Southwest Alliance was watching this fight and cheering it on. To pull a stunt like that in the middle of all this was incredibly hard to understand. The Queen of the North, Han So-hye, merely frowned at the situation but didn't say anything.
She simply sent a calm gaze toward Ha Yuri, who had turned this battle into a ridiculous play. What could be seen in her eyes was, without a doubt, fury.
“How humiliating.”
“Pant.... pant...”
It was then that Han So-hye gripped her spear and moved. An immense amount of magic, visible even to the naked eye, was gathering in her spear.
CRASH!
With a loud crash, the sound of a foot stomping the ground echoed. Where the Queen of the North stomped her foot, the ground shattered, and chunks of rock flew into the air.
She was trying to put an end to this clown show.
Her aura was fierce enough to cleave a great mountain. Other than the sound of her stomping foot, nothing could be heard. Normally, you would expect to hear the roar of fierce wind pressure or exploding magic, but the spear cutting through the air made no sound at all.
‘If she takes that, she's dead.’
Watching the spear hurtle toward Ha Yuri, I thought that without realizing it.
It was then that Ha Yuri was suddenly sucked toward Han So-hye. For a brief moment, a look of bewilderment crossed Ha Yuri's face. She wasn't moving toward Han So-hye of her own will. The magic that Han So-hye had released when she stomped her foot before swinging the spear was now returning to her, pulling Ha Yuri along with it.
‘A unique ability?’
Or…
‘The effect of an item.’
It didn't matter which it was. One thing was certain: this attack could neither be blocked nor dodged. With this blow, the Sword Saint would be, at the very least, rendered incapable of fighting.
There was no hesitation in Han So-hye's eyes. They were the eyes of someone determined to cut her down, no matter what.
An action that would make it a reality.
Prowess.
No other word came to mind to describe it.
It was at that exact moment that I felt as if the Sword Saint, Ha Yuri, was smiling faintly.
“What?”
The spear was swung. The enemy warriors and mages, sensing an ominous energy, raised their shields along with protective magic, but they were all silenced. They had been knocked out of the fight by a mere slash made of wind pressure. And yet, the sight of Ha Yuri standing firm before the Queen of the North was something my common sense simply could not comprehend.
‘What happened?’
The one who attacked was clearly the Queen of the North. But the one covered in blood and being held by Choi Seulgi was also the Queen of the North.
Choi Seulgi must have sensed the gravity of the situation and moved to Han So-hye's side immediately. If she hadn't blocked for her, Han So-hye might have died. No, she would have certainly died. Meanwhile, Ha Yuri was looking down at Han So-hye with a sorrowful expression.
I racked my brain for a moment, trying to understand the incomprehensible situation... Then, looking at Ha Yuri, I spoke without realizing it.
“W...ings?”
Attached to her back were, without a doubt, a pair of huge white wings, the kind you would only expect to see on an angel.