Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Sun and Moon
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Balak and Narin arrived at the first-floor boss room.
But the two did not clash right away.
In this unpleasant tension, Narin gripped her sword tightly while forcibly suppressing her trembling body.
"To have such outstanding self-control, that's quite impressive."
"Urk!"
"It's just a compliment, so don't mind it. Anyway, rather than wasting time like this, why don't we start with introductions?"
Balak said as he rested his greatsword on his shoulder.
"Warrior, Balak."
"W-What?"
Narin felt puzzled that the opponent in front of her referred to himself merely as a warrior.
But this could also be a situation where he was looking down on her.
"Are you saying there's not even any point in revealing your title to me!"
"Sorry, but no. Also, I don't care about others' gazes."
"...So that's why you're just a warrior."
"Yeah, simple and clear—how nice is that?"
For a moment, Narin recalled those from her eastern homeland who strutted around with their grandiose titles.
They had flashy epithets like Sword King of a Thousand Ages, Thunder Heaven King, Silver Arm Tiger, and so on.
And they possessed skills befitting those titles.
But a powerhouse far beyond them, calling himself just a 'warrior'!
Who knew such a straightforward title could be this intimidating!
"Now it's your turn."
"...The fifth successor of the Moonlight Phantom Sword, Narin."
"You're calling yourself a successor rather than a disciple of a sword style, so it must be a one-line heirloom sword art. Does it have a separate title, then?"
"Crescent Moon."
"Good title!"
Whoosh!
Whooooom!
As Balak swung his greatsword, a powerful gust blew, shaking the reeds.
"Then, Crescent Moon Narin! Are you prepared to face me!"
"Huu...."
"Guess you are!"
With that, Balak approached Narin with a joyful heart.
Narin steeled herself with desperate resolve.
**************
In the taut tension, with Narin not moving, Balak struck first.
Boom!
The moment he stomped forward, the reed forest parted, and a ferocious aura crushed the entire space.
Narin raised her sword to block the aura.
But her fingertips went numb, and cold sweat trickled down.
'If I'm pushed back by his aura, I'll die without doing a thing!'
In an instant, the blade infused with moonlight moved in a graceful curve toward Balak.
Balak, with a smile, not only parried the sword with his greatsword but sent Narin flying.
Narin, who had rolled along the ground, sensed a massive shadow approaching and unleashed her technique.
"First Form, Moonlight Flash."
A single downward slash concentrating moonlight into one point blocked Balak's follow-up attack.
But since it had only blocked one of Balak's attacks, she immediately transitioned to the next form to prepare for more.
"Second Form, Phantom Moon Step."
Papatapatak!
Narin blurred like a shadow of moonlight, evading Balak's subsequent strikes.
But very unfortunately, Balak was faster.
Having fully grasped her peculiar movements amid the continuous assaults, Balak precisely thrust his sword into the spot where Narin was moving.
"Fifth Form! Moon Wheel Chain!!"
Moonlight spiraled around Narin's sword as it extended, blocking Balak's ferocious thrust.
But it hadn't fully offset the impact—blood trickled from her mouth.
Afterward, Narin desperately demonstrated why this one-line heirloom sword art had endured through five generations, continuously blocking Balak's attacks.
But Balak, growing excited, stomped once more to send her flying.
He then slammed his hand into the ground and pulled out a halberd.
Kwaaaaang!
Whoooong!!
As the spear swept through, wind arose, scattering all the dust and shaking the reeds.
"W-Where did that come from?!"
"Here it comes!!! Crescent Moon!!!"
Narin was startled by the spear suddenly emerging from the ground.
But with that massive spear now heading her way, she unleashed the next form without hesitation.
"Fourth Form, Moon Shadow Chain Slash."
Hidden within shadows of moonlight, Narin deflected or redirected the storm of greatswords and spears bearing down.
Faced with her unexpectedly fierce resistance, Balak began mixing irregular rhythms into his attacks.
Amid the ongoing discord, Narin was lifted high into the air.
However, this was a move she had intended.
"Sixth Form! Falling Star Chasing Moon!!!"
The latter half of the Moonlight Phantom Sword began.
Like a falling moon, a massive slashing strike imbued with enormous force descended upon Balak.
The downward slash was so ferocious that it successfully knocked away the sword Balak had been swinging.
Realizing her time had come, Narin immediately pressed the attack on Balak.
"Seventh Form!! Moon-Shattering Sword Principle!!!!"
Like the moon's reflection shattering on a lake, a ferocious yet naturally flowing wave continued endlessly.
But this combo never reached Balak.
Narin was breathing raggedly.
Was it because he was moved by her desperate struggle?
"You have more than enough qualification."
"Kuh?!"
Chiaaaaaang!
Balak began moving in earnest.
This time, he used the spear to send Narin flying far away, then clapped once.
Clap!!
From somewhere, hammers, axes, halberds, glaives, and countless other weapons appeared around them, freely roaming the air.
The metallic clamor from these weapons sounded like hunting dogs growling at prey.
Finally reaching phase one, Narin trembled at the sight of Balak revealing some of his power, her pupils shaking violently.
But she soon squeezed her eyes shut, suppressing her fear.
"Oh ho, getting back up? Even after seeing this, you're steeling your resolve for battle?"
"I already told you. I won't let myself be trampled without resistance."
"You're suddenly using formal speech...."
"Balak, I acknowledge that your martial prowess is overwhelming. But... I will strive to leave at least a scratch on your armor."
At her vow to leave even a trace behind, even if it meant dying here, Balak burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!! It's been ages since I last met a warrior like you!"
"Huu...."
"Yes! Now show me your true heart!"
Balak charged with an axe in one hand and a hammer in the other.
Her body might have frozen in the face of certain death, but instead, her mind grew even calmer, and her talent began to awaken.
No matter how many swords, axes, spears, hammers, and halberds Balak swung, she did not break.
Rather, like tempered steel, she grew steadily tougher, and Narin's eyes began to shine with clarity.
After enduring hundreds, thousands of attacks, her body was a battered mess, but the inner energy within swelled ever greater.
"How about this!!"
"!!!!"
Like a hunting dog's leash snapping, Balak's weapons lunged at Narin from all directions to tear into her.
And from the front, Balak swung his hammer.
"Eighth Form!! Spiral Moon Advance!!!"
The moon rotated.
And that rotation became a defensive barrier, blocking all dangers closing in on her.
It was nearly perfect defense.
But Balak, who had previously explored the power of 'rotation,' instantly found the weak point.
Clang!
Thud!
"Guh?!"
Struck in the stomach by Balak's hammer, Narin rolled across the ground.
With her organs completely ruptured, her consciousness nearly faded.
But Narin wanted to leave proof to this man that she had lived in this era.
Was it that her desperate spirit stirred her inner energy?
'T-This is....'
A single thread pulled free from Narin's mind.
And that thread began intertwining with her inner energy.
It started seeping into her sword.
As her sword gradually began to glow, she smirked.
'I could only reach this realm when death was closing in...? Fine, no regrets now.'
With the lifelong aspiration passed down through generations, Narin—who had reached the rank of 'king' in the east—prepared her final attack.
Balak, too, seemed to realize this was the end, gripping his greatsword as he charged at Narin.
And so—
"Ultimate Technique, Purple Silk Moon Blossom."
Within the sword strike, beautiful purple silk enveloped the moon, and leaves infused with moonlight swirled.
************
Balak was utterly bewildered while fighting Narin.
And who could blame him!!!
'C-Calling out technique names?!'
That's right! He was losing his mind over the thick newbie stench!
Balak also thought it was truly fortunate he wore a helmet.
If Narin had seen his twitching lips every time she used a technique, she would have thought the situation extremely bizarre.
Why on earth did she call out her techniques every time!
But with the newbie in front of him wearing such a serious face.
Balak endlessly pondered the reason.
And the conclusion he reached!
'No way—is the east in a situation like wuxia novels!'
In Balak's previous life, warriors from various wuxia tales deliberately shouted their technique names when using them.
The reason was partly to proclaim, 'Know who I am and whose disciple from a great sect I am, so kneel,'
But also as mercy to the foe: 'Know the name of the technique that kills you.'
Here, the opponent wielded a one-line heirloom sword art.
It had to be the latter!
So unlike other times, he went easy.
Hitting just enough that she could endure!
Balak tested how far this Narin could go.
B-But!!!
Swooooosh!
'Sword aura too?!”
At the final moment, Narin manifested sword aura.
My god, blooming in the heat of battle!!
What kind of fresh-faced newbie is this!
Afterward, to confirm her final strike, Balak deliberately charged with his greatsword like at the start.
"Ultimate Technique, Purple Silk Moon Blossom."
Oh.
This one's the real deal.
Seeing Narin's final blow, he inwardly applauded, deeply moved.
Yes, it's been ages since he last encountered someone like this!
Watching the beastkin and rookie hero's trash party had darkened Balak's heart, but now light bloomed within.
After her final strike was effortlessly blocked, Balak tossed an item to the dying Narin.
Pew!
Swoooooosh!
The object instantly turned liquid, absorbing into her body. Not only did it heal her internal and external wounds completely, but it also sharpened her mind crystal clear.
"W-What is this?"
"Truly admirable, admirable."
Balak realized Narin was a dungeon boss.
And that if she inherited even some of his techniques, she could grow endlessly strong.
Of course, she already had a one-line heirloom sword style.
But who knows the future!
Soon after, Balak demonstrated a technique to her as she knelt on the ground in confusion.
Whoooooooom!!!
Powerful inner energy erupted from him, whipping up fierce winds.
And upon the fist he clenched, a single intense red star descended.
Narin's eyes widened hugely at the sight of that star.
"That's...?!"
"Crescent Moon Narin, behold."
Besides the red star enveloping his fist, a blue star joined it, radiating tremendous energy.
Astonished by this power, Narin asked Balak.
"W-Who in the world are you?"
"As I said, just a warrior. Anyway, as the victor of this battle, I have a proposal. Narin, won't you join me?"
Thus, the tiny moon that could not shine on its own encountered a blazing, massive sun.