Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Warrior, Claims Just Reward
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The duel began on the narrow log bridge, and the two warriors stood motionless, glaring at each other with every ounce of their focus.
As time slowly ticked by, Rolang cracked a smile, clearly relishing the tension, and charged forward.
Though his body had aged, his maforce—honed to perfection over the years—allowed him to unleash a devastating strike against Vallak.
Their first clash sent sparks flying from their blades as they traded blows without pause.
In that moment, Rolang read his opponent's next attack and twisted his sword smoothly against the incoming blade.
Vallak's sword slid sideways like a ripple on water, while Rolang's blade glided up along the enemy's edge.
But Vallak's raw power was too immense; Rolang's sword, aimed at his hand, bounced off, foiling his precise maneuver.
"Huh, age really doesn't matter, does it."
"It's what lets a knight survive this long."
"True. Survival is strength."
Acknowledging his foe, Vallak extended his hand outward. The massive spear, awaiting its master's command, flew toward him.
Soon, the giant spear and sword danced in deadly alternation. Rolang calmly lowered his blade, as if steadying his mind.
What followed was a perilous scene, like a ship caught in a colossal typhoon. Yet, astonishingly, the vessel stayed afloat, guided by the seasoned crew of experience.
Drawing on his overwhelming battle experience, Rolang parried Vallak endlessly. He seized the moment when Vallak swung his spear in a wide arc.
Dropping lower than before, he evaded the razor-sharp attack by a hair's breadth.
"That was my target."
"?!'
Normally, such a massive swing would leave the body exposed along the weapon's trajectory, no matter the strength.
Rolang spotted the recoil-defying motion and, in his shock, noticed Vallak's opposite hand.
'The spear... it's gone?!"
Just moments ago, as Vallak attacked, he'd hurled the spear while swinging.
Witnessing a warrior discard his weapon for the first time, Rolang seemed exposed. But he wasn't one to yield to a split-second fluster.
In that instant, the knight regained his composure and drew upon his technique.
Without hesitation, Rolang retracted his body and sword in a flash, his fingertips trembling with tension.
His form tensed like a massive drawn bow, then his sword exploded forward.
Chaaaaang!!!!
A thunderous clash rang out. Both warriors' blades recoiled, bringing a brief lull to the fight.
"To think you'd have a technique like that. Impressive."
"Thanks for the praise. Though it'd be nice if you showed a bit of pain."
"Shouldn't that be you?"
As Vallak said, Rolang's one arm was mangled from the prior impact.
Yet Rolang shook it off like an old acquaintance with pain and resumed his stance.
"I provoked you to draw you out. Can't show an ugly sight now."
"Hahaha!! I like you! Yeah, this is good!"
Vallak summoned all their weapons floating in the first chamber, then pointed his sword at his opponent.
"Now we get serious."
"So this is what it feels like to be the challenger. Game on."
The two warriors drew deep breaths and advanced.
Rolang became the first to witness Vallak's first phase.
************
That chilling sensation only felt in the Great War days!
How long had it been?
I deflected the incoming axe. Vallak, that boss, immediately retreated, assumed a javelin stance, and—
Piiiing!
Death hurtled toward me.
Too late to dodge.
I stomped my leading foot, channeling maforce from my lower body into a swing.
Kwaaajiiik!!
Can't deflect it outright, huh.
Then, I'll redirect it!
Twisting my ankle, I angled my sword just enough to disrupt the spear's path.
But the sheer force in that spear—its enveloping wind alone tore a chunk from my right shoulder.
Sharp pain flared, but no time to mind it.
Next came two greatswords scissoring for my neck. I dropped low and flicked one sword upward.
It diverted one blade's arc, but the other still targeted my throat.
No avoiding this.
I concentrated maforce into my heart.
With each heartbeat, maforce surged through my veins alongside blood. I swung.
Chaaang!!!
"Urk!"
Managed to block everything, but the prior shock and technique's backlash wrecked my internals.
Am I getting old too?
Creaking body and all, each block loosened screws throughout me.
Then the boss halted mid-attack and hurled himself toward the cliff.
What the hell? No time to wonder—never let your guard down against such an unpredictable foe.
Catching my breath and scanning, I realized why he'd jumped.
"Wha—insane?!"
Wall-running?!
This whole chamber was flat ground to him. Spatial disadvantage overwhelmed me.
He grabbed a massive hammer, leaped to the opposite wall, and attacked.
Grazed by that, instant death. I focused all senses, dodging the meteor-like strikes.
Straight-line assaults let me cope despite injuries, but...
Something's off.
Attacks speeding up, no rest despite frenzy. Doesn't he tire?
Then I recalled the outside intel.
'Swinging a huge weapon 180 times straight?'
'Bullshit...'
It was true!?
If he doesn't stop, my injuries accumulate. I'll collapse doing nothing.
Then... I projected maforce into my heart again.
No—all of it.
"Cough!"
Vision blurred; couldn't track him. But sound-guided, my body moved on instinct.
Split fragments merged, amplified maforce propelled sword and body back. Muscles compressed, I thrust straight at the incoming meteor.
Secret art: Heart Pierce.
My final technique, unused since the Great War, detonated.
But...
Woodududuk!!!
My body couldn't hold against the meteor.
**************
Wow, knights surviving to that age are something else.
Never giving up till the absolute last, pouring out everything!
Had to applaud inwardly.
To finish the old knight who'd fallen into the ravine, I descended to the floor.
But contrary to expectations of him crawling in agony, there he stood, trembling, forcing himself upright.
Body shattered, yet willpower alone—yeah, I got what he wanted.
Step, step.
"You could've waited comfortably for the end. Foolish."
"At this age... cough! Only stubbornness grows. Sorry about that."
The old knight spread his arms and opened his mouth.
"A wound on the back is a knight's shame."
"I'll grant your request. But take the price for provoking me too."
"The price... cough! What is it?"
"Your technique."
I mimicked the old knight Rolang's move.
Gripped sword in one hand, pulled arm fully back, projected maforce into heart to amplify the eerie energy.
"Kekeke... True monster."
"Then, knight, what's this technique called?"
"Heart Pierce."
"I'll take that technique. Next time, challenge me properly."
He nodded, closed his eyes. My sword fired like a bullet from its chamber.
Struck dead-on, the knight faded in blue light.
*****************
Alright, snagged a solid technique.
Let the outside know: provoke me, lose your skills fair and square.
Restored all Crazy Land traps, collected iron balls sliced by the old knight, returned to boss room. My underlings welcomed me.
"Big bro! Back safe?"
"Good work, Vallak bro."
"Yeah yeah, here—take these."
"Why'd you bring these?"
"Great for weight training, right?"
""Oh.""
Knew these guys got it!
Where's Zephyra?
"Zephyra's back in the Primordial Realm... er, Spirit Realm for a bit."
"Commute possible!? Wait, no—the little ones go between Spirit Realm and mini-dungeon too."
We're stuck here without even clocking out, while they commute. Feels weird.
Like slaving in a shithole office while the new guy dips early without a word?
Seeing this, I realized what my dungeon lacked.
"Brothers, gather 'round."
"Yeah?"
"Big bro, what's up?"
"Don't you all need personal space soon?"
""?!""
Right! We lived communally like an army, no private quarters!
I'm the dungeon prez, so crashing here's fine.
But privacy matters!
They perked up at the idea once I mentioned it.
Employee welfare's key!
So!
Groooowl!!
"You called, Vallak?"
"Skeleton Merchant! Need extra space in my boss room!"
"Extra space?"
"Yeah! Tell me what you all want!"
"R-Really okay?!"
"Vallak bro, don't overdo it..."
"No worries—money's no object!"
What else to spend this cash on!?
Dungeon ops cost plenty.
But internal perks are ops too!
Welfare's always the best play!