Chapter 114: The Pursuit Team (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: The Pursuit Team (4)
I swung my sword, wreathed in Vajra Qi, pressing Ma Paeseon. But he parried all my attacks, never once losing his composure.
The way he didn't even break a sweat, as if he were sipping a warm cup of tea, made me realize the sheer gap between us. He even blocked or caught attacks he could have easily dodged, taunting me.
Every time he did, it was as if he were saying to me:
‘Swing for a hundred days, a thousand days. Your sword will never be able to wound me.’
Indeed, his hands, which had blocked my sword time and again, were completely unscathed.
‘That monstrous old man...!’
The Hand Aura blooming from his palms was stopping me. It was several times harder and sharper than the Aura Blade the assassin leader I'd fought had unleashed with all his might.
My faint Sword Qi was no match for it.
But knowing that, I couldn't stop. I was forcibly squeezing out what was left of my ruined magic circuits and qi and blood. If I backed down now, it would truly be over.
It was impossible to use magic to create an opening, and against an opponent of his caliber, spells below the 2nd Circle likely wouldn't do any damage anyway.
‘...Should I end the match?’
No matter how I looked at it, that was the right call.
But ending the match here wouldn't solve anything. Ultimately, to resolve this situation, I had to become stronger than the demonic human before me, but there was no telling how long that would take.
A year? Three years? It could take even longer. Of course, I could shorten that time with the help of the dating app, but even that wasn't a certainty right now.
I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly. It felt like if I relaxed my grip even a little, I would drop it. Ma Paeseon was well aware of my condition, yet he didn't rush to attack or try to stall for time.
It was humiliating, but it was also an opportunity. He was letting his guard down.
‘If I can inflict even an internal injury on him here, it'll make things easier later.’
Of course, it wasn't strange for him to be careless.
Extreme Demon and somewhere around the Peak Realm. The gap between our realms was clear, and on top of that, I was severely injured.
If I were in his shoes, I'd also see me as an opponent I could subdue whenever I pleased. Thanks to that, I had one last chance.
I wasn't even hoping to inflict a fatal wound or kill him.
Vwoooom—
My mana circle surged violently. The backlash made me feel like I was about to vomit blood from my internal injuries, but I clenched my teeth and swallowed it down. Even as my ruined qi and blood screamed, I drew up internal energy from my dantian.
My fading Sword Qi flared up fiercely once more. I used my remaining magic to cast support spells. Several enchantments, including Strength Enhancement and Haste, brought power to my entire body.
[Berserk]
Finally, I activated Berserk, which caused my stamina to plummet.
My legs, which already felt as heavy as if they were tied to weights, were now so damaged I couldn't feel them at all. I wasn't even sure if I was sitting or standing.
Krrrrk—
In exchange, my muscles swelled beneath my skin, and my body felt so light it could leap forward at any moment.
[Thought Acceleration]
Everything but me slowed down.
The martial arts manual for the Formless Vajra Art doesn't exist. It is an intangible legacy, passed down from will to will.
The manual for the Formless Vajra Art, forcibly implanted in my mind, was something only I could read, but not all of it was accessible to me.
I could sense Vajra Divine Monk's intention: a warning not to recklessly delve into techniques that were clearly beyond my current realm.
But against an absolute master who could wield Aura freely, this was my only option to land a single blow.
I forced open the sealed pages of the Formless Vajra Art sleeping in a corner of my mind.
-...You foolish boy.
I heard Vajra Divine Monk's voice in my head. But he didn't stop me. He knew it too. There was no other way.
Formless means that all things are Emptiness, possessing no fixed form or appearance.
Everything in the world is a False Appearance born of karma, and no permanent, unchanging substance exists.
And yet, if I could grant a permanent, unchanging substance to something, couldn't I, who creates Truth in a world of illusions, become the new truth of that world?
Formless Sword Art, Boundless.
Vajra Qi, originating at my feet, enveloped the area. Time and space expanded, and at their end, only I remained.
“Hmm?!”
The Hand Aura surrounding his hands flickered.
I drew out all my remaining magic power. The Vajra Qi supplemented my lacking magic. My qi and blood coughed up blood. The magic and internal energy flowing through my magic circuits and meridians accelerated again and again.
Formless Sword Art, Heavenly Light.
KRRRRUUUMBLE!!!!
Lightning roared as a single flash of light slashed past Ma Paeseon. The violent energy made the very earth tremble.
The golden Sword Qi pierced through the fading Hand Aura.
A single line was drawn.
Shhhk! This time, the sensation was distinct, different from before.
“Cough...”
Dark red blood splattered to the ground. The internal injuries I had been suppressing burst open, magnified several times over.
With trembling hands, I took out the Holy Water and poured it into my mouth. One bottle, then another. I drank all of it.
“...You bastard.”
Drip. Blood that wasn't mine fell to the ground.
“Just what in the world are you?”
A long gash had appeared on Ma Paeseon's palm, his expression one of confusion. He stared at the stream of his own blood dripping to the ground with a look of utter disbelief.
Even at a glance, the wound looked quite deep. And that wasn't all. Blood trickled from between his lips; he had clearly been forced to recklessly draw on his internal energy to counter my unexpected attack.
“You're at the Peak Realm, at best. You can't even wield Aura. For someone like you to pierce my Hand Aura and wound me... that's impossible even for those with the blessing of the stars. No, is that even a martial art in the first place?”
“...You're talking a lot. Scared?”
I ignored the blood rising in my throat and forced my mouth open. I had to buy time to recover, no matter what.
“Haha! Yes, you're right. It's been over a decade since I've felt such a chill down my spine! If I told anyone what happened today, no one would believe me. Who would believe that I, this old man, was put in such a state by a mere child who has not even reached the Transcendent Realm, let alone the Flower Realm? Especially if that opponent was a half-corpse on the verge of death.”
An eerie smile spread across Ma Paeseon's cold face. A crushing killing intent pressed down on me.
‘...Is this it?’
This result was more than satisfactory, far beyond what I had imagined. Even for an absolute master, things would be different if he was internally injured.
“It is but a shallow scratch, but I acknowledge you as an enemy for piercing my Asura Energy.”
VWOOOOOM!!!
An immense compression of qi could be felt from his fist as he took his stance. The powerful demonic energy was making the ground tremble.
Unable to create a barrier, I knew that taking that hit would mean instant death.
“Yeo-hwa!”
My voice, squeezed out with the last of my strength, echoed through the forest.
“I'll be back soon.”
“...I will be waiting.”
A faint smile bloomed on Cheon Yeo-hwa's lips as she briefly pondered the meaning of my words.
'End match.'
My vision went dark.
[The match has ended]
[Favorability Change]
[Cheon Yeo-hwa 87♡ → 99♡]
[Bond Level Change]
[Cheon Yeo-hwa Lv.2 → Lv.4]
[Calculating...]
[3,000 Love Coins have been awarded]
[Remaining Coins: 3,980 Coins]
[The Profile function has been newly revamped]
[An update reward has been distributed. You can check it in your Mailbox]
[Name: Cheon Yeo-hwa
Age: 20
Race: Human
Affiliation: AXZ-174
Occupation: Second Young Lady of the Heavenly Demonic Cult
Disposition: Cold, Cruel, Calculating, Devoted in Love, Jealousy (New)]
[Time until next match: 167:59:58]
[Would you like to register Yoo Sowol as a match target?]
[Y/N]
“Ugh, just get these out of the way.”
Back on Earth, I swiped aside the countless screens that had appeared before my eyes and immediately called for an ambulance.
I'm seriously going to die at this rate.
The ambulance arrived quickly and took me away. For the record, it wasn't a hospital ambulance, but a church ambulance. It would cost a few hundred million won, easily, but I wasn't too worried since I planned to sell the Minotaur byproducts to the Seongbuk Choi family soon.
*
“Hey, Kang Hyun-woo!”
Screech, thud! The person who roughly slid open the hospital room door was none other than Choi Hyena.
Her red hair was as striking as ever.
“You're not supposed to run like that in a church.”
“Don't give me that crap! Just what the hell have you been doing to get hurt all the time?!”
Choi Hyena, who had stormed in with an angry expression, was honestly a little scary. The menacing magic power flaring around her was incredibly wild.
I said nothing and just watched her quietly. I felt like I'd get hit if I opened my mouth.
Of course, part of it was that she looked especially pretty today, and my eyes were drawn to her without me realizing it.
“Wh-what... Don't just stare at me like that, it's embarrassing...”
“Did you come to visit me?”
“...We're going to be engaged soon. A hospital visit is only natural. Do you have any idea how much our family's company stock would drop if reporters found out we were already on bad terms?”
“I know, I know.”
There were a few holes in Choi Hyena's excuse.
First, we had never officially announced our engagement. Therefore, there was no reason for reporters to follow us, nor would our family's stock price fall just because we weren't getting along.
We had also postponed the engagement ceremony until after graduating from the Magic Tower, so there was still a lot of time left.
“Thank you.”
“...If you're so grateful, then stop getting hurt.”
Thump. Choi Hyena placed a beautifully wrapped shopping bag on the bed.
“Oh, a present? Can I open it?”
She didn't answer, but I could see the unspoken demand in her expression, telling me to hurry up and open it.
As I carefully unwrapped the package, I couldn't help but be surprised.
‘...Is this?’
Ting—
[Information on the newly acquired item is being collected]
[Heavenly Moon Water (天月水)]
[Grade: Rare]
[A decoction made from the Heavenly Moon Flower, which blooms only at midnight on the day of the year when the moonlight is most intense]
[Effective in treating internal injuries]
The description called it a decoction, but it might as well have been an elixir. The Heavenly Moon Flower was a spirit herb that was difficult to obtain, as it bloomed in a different place every five years.
“I'm busy with research, so I'm leaving. Drink that and get out of the hospital quickly. And don't forget the Magic Tower's semester is starting soon.”
With that, Choi Hyena fled the room as if escaping. I watched her back for a moment before drinking the Heavenly Moon Water and meditating briefly.
‘Such a tsundere.’
In truth, my body was already almost back to normal. That was because the Seongbuk Choi family had paid a hefty sum for a bishop-level cleric to treat me. That alone must have cost billions of won, and now she was even giving me an elixir as a gift.
I'll have to prepare a proper gift in return soon.
“Hoo...”
After drinking the Heavenly Moon Water, I got out of bed. Thanks to it, I was able to completely shake off the minor lingering aftereffects.
I brought up the screen that had been occupying a corner of my vision since yesterday.
Ting—
[Would you like to register Yoo Sowol as a match target?]
[Y/N]
First Choi Hyena, and now Yoo Sowol. It seemed like anyone I had slept with would show up.
“...But if that's the case, why isn't Noel showing up?”
I pondered it for a while but couldn't come up with a good answer. I decided to ask her the next time I summoned her and moved on.
[Y]
[Name: Yoo Sowol
Age: 20
Race: Human
Affiliation: AXZ-174
Occupation: Second Generation Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect
Disposition: Pure, Craves Affection, Desire to Give Birth]
[Favorability Change]
[Yoo Sowol 0♡ → 75♡]
[Bond Level Change]
[Yoo Sowol Lv.0 → Lv.2]
[You cannot acquire coins from relationships with individuals you did not meet through the Another World Dating App]