Chapter 486: Kiriel
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 486: Kiriel
Black-dyed inverted eyes, horns sprouting from her forehead, and dark, copper-colored skin.
And an ominous aura whose nature she couldn't begin to fathom.
Every fiber of her being screamed at her.
Run. Now.
“I thought this place would be full of dreary old men, but to think I’d meet a pretty girl like you.”
A grotesque smile twisted the woman’s lips.
At the same time, an eerie, indescribable pressure spread out in all directions.
“I guess I’m really lucky.”
A shiver shot through Yoo Ah-rin.
She even began to doubt whether the person standing before her was human.
Her brain, judging her life to be in danger, began releasing neurotransmitters, heightening her five senses to their absolute limit.
Her head grew hotter, but Yoo Ah-rin calmly assessed the situation.
‘…With a stone wall behind me, escape is impossible.’
She wanted to avoid a confrontation if possible, but she instinctively knew her opponent had no such intention.
Moreover, the woman before her was clearly a master of a higher level. The only small relief was that she didn't seem to have reached the Transcendent Realm.
But that was no reason to feel safe.
This was the Tower.
As long as her opponent’s traits and skills were unknown, it was foolish to make any hasty judgments.
—If they’re someone you can talk to, try to strike up a conversation and dig for information. That could be your breakthrough.
Suddenly recalling Kang Hyun-woo’s advice, Yoo Ah-rin was once again reminded of what it felt like to have no one to protect her.
It was a familiar feeling.
Before entering the Tower, she had always been alone.
“…Who are you?”
“Hmm? Are you talking to me?”
“Yes.”
Despite not being a smooth talker, Yoo Ah-rin decided to follow Kang Hyun-woo’s advice.
If it was her only path to survival, she had no reason not to.
“Aha? Hahaha!”
The woman giggled and blushed, as if something was incredibly amusing.
Seeing this, Yoo Ah-rin concluded that her opponent had some kind of mental problem.
“You know what? You’re the first person to ever ask for my name so politely.”
She tensed up.
Everyone knew that an opponent who defied common sense was the most difficult to deal with.
“My name is Kiriel Belsazer. A pleasure to meet you, yes?”
“Kiriel…”
Naturally, no one came to mind.
Although she had been learning about the Tower’s general knowledge from Kang Hyun-woo from time to time, she had never heard about specific individuals.
“This is a dungeon where the Twilight Holy Society has priority raiding rights. Outsiders are not allowed.”
“But you’re not a member of the Twilight Holy Society either, are you?”
Kiriel tilted her head.
The childish expression and behavior, so at odds with her voluptuous figure, created a sense of dissonance in Yoo Ah-rin.
“I was officially commissioned by the Twilight Holy Society.”
“Commissioned? By those prideful fanatics?”
“Fanatics…”
Yoo Ah-rin was momentarily taken aback.
Even Kang Hyun-woo was careful about making insulting remarks about a major clan like the Twilight Holy Society.
To think that this woman, no matter how immature she seemed, would not only trespass in a dungeon being raided by another clan but also make such a brazen statement.
No, perhaps it was to be expected.
Just by looking at the horns on her head, it was obvious she was a player from a group that opposed the Twilight Holy Society.
“…You, no. What is your group’s purpose for entering this dungeon?”
“Heeh?”
At that moment, Kiriel’s purple pupils sparkled.
“You’re quick on the uptake, aren’t you?”
“…You don’t seem skilled enough to infiltrate a place crawling with holy knights all by yourself.”
“Haha? Aren’t you a little too honest?”
Just as Yoo Ah-rin had guessed, Kiriel was not the only one who had infiltrated the Martyr’s Tomb.
“But you know? It feels like I’m the only one answering questions here… Isn’t that a bit unfair?”
“…Is there something you’re curious about?”
“Yup, yup! First, your name!”
Kiriel’s bright smile made Yoo Ah-rin hesitate for a moment.
Was it really okay to reveal her name to someone who so clearly had ties to demons?
It wasn’t even worth debating.
‘She wouldn’t know even if I gave her a fake name anyway.’
She knew there were traits and skills that could uncover information about others.
But if this woman possessed such an ability, Yoo Ah-rin reasoned, she wouldn't have bothered asking for her name in the first place.
“It’s Yoo Jin-ah. Now, to answer my question—”
“Liar.”
“…What?”
But in that instant, Kiriel’s entire demeanor changed 180 degrees.
“Liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, liar.”
Saaaa—
Her purple pupils gleamed with an ominous light, and the unidentifiable energy that had been leaking from her began to fill the corridor.
“Why did you lie? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?”
“…It’s not a lie—”
“Yes, it is a lie!!”
Kiriel trembled as she glared at Yoo Ah-rin.
A thick killing intent, which she seemed unable and unwilling to hide, tightened around her neck.
“…The fact that you lied means you hate me too, doesn’t it? You’re just planning to use me like everyone else.”
Fwoosh—
In that moment, a spear materialized from a purple flame that bloomed in mid-air.
Seeing Kiriel gripping the spear shaft, her fighting spirit blazing, Yoo Ah-rin realized that further conversation was pointless.
“Hoo…”
Click—
Yoo Ah-rin maintained her composure and took a ready stance.
There was nowhere left to run, nowhere to retreat.
The only thing she could trust now was the sword she had spent her entire life honing.
“…I’m so sad. I thought you’d be different from the others.”
Kiriel also took a stance, aiming the tip of her spear at Yoo Ah-rin.
It was a hair-trigger situation.
As a heavy silence descended, the moment their eyes met—
Thud!!
They charged at each other.
Unlike Kiriel, who kicked off the ground in a brutish sprint, Yoo Ah-rin unleashed the Thunder-Winged Heavenly Dragon Step to close the distance in an instant.
In terms of speed, Yoo Ah-rin was clearly faster, but Kiriel had the advantage when it came to weapon reach.
“I trusted you!!!”
“Kugh?!”
Swish, swish, swish—!!
Yoo Ah-rin twisted her body, narrowly dodging the spear tip that flew at her with incredible speed.
Kiriel’s attacks were so sharp and precise that it felt like she was a completely different person from moments ago.
Between the eyes, neck, heart, liver, solar plexus, dantian.
A fierce onslaught continued, targeting only vital points without the slightest deviation.
This kind of attack pattern usually became monotonous, but Yoo Ah-rin couldn't find an opening to counterattack.
Clang, clang!!
‘The distance…!’
The greatest advantage of a spear was its long reach, which overwhelmed other weapons.
And a skilled spearman would never allow an opponent to close in and enter their range.
That was why, even if she managed to block the endless attacks, Yoo Ah-rin couldn't shorten the distance.
Swiipe—!!
“Ugh?!”
In that moment, the spear tip grazed Yoo Ah-rin’s cheek.
Realizing that she would slowly be worn down if this continued, she decided to retreat for now.
Fwip—!
Kiriel didn’t bother chasing after Yoo Ah-rin as she quickly created distance.
After all, with her blocking the only passage, there was nowhere for Yoo Ah-rin to run.
Lick—
Kiriel watched Yoo Ah-rin calmly catch her breath and licked the blood from the tip of her spear.
“Give up. I’ll make it painless for you.”
“Hoo…”
Woooong—
At that moment, a blue Sword Qi bloomed from the tip of Yoo Ah-rin’s sword.
“…Even if I die, I have no intention of giving up.”
Seeing the unbroken fighting spirit in Yoo Ah-rin’s eyes, Kiriel frowned.
Having taken countless lives, she knew better than anyone what that look meant.
It was the conviction and resolve to never give up until her head was severed from her neck.
‘…How pathetic.’
No, it wasn’t something so grand.
To her, for whom life was the most important thing, it was nothing more than stubbornness.
Whoosh, whoosh—!!
Kiriel spun her spear and settled into a stance.
A fierce wind pressure rose, scattering the thick dust in all directions.
“A shame. Truly.”
Fwoosh—!!
In that instant, Yoo Ah-rin vanished.
Disappearing completely from sight, she closed the distance in a flash and reappeared at Kiriel’s flank.
There was no hesitation.
Yoo Ah-rin unleashed the fastest sword strike she could currently muster.
—!!!
Thirteen Swords of the Azure Dragon: Dragon Shadow Breaking Through Clouds.
Unlike before, the sword broke through Kiriel’s guard and shot straight for her neck.
But only for a moment.
Clang!!
Kiriel reacted with incredible speed, batting the sword away with the tip of her spear.
Still, Yoo Ah-rin didn’t stop.
Though she felt a flicker of regret that her attack was blocked, she had no intention of standing around in a daze.
Using the rebound from the parried sword, Yoo Ah-rin twisted her waist and swung her blade.
Thirteen Swords of the Azure Dragon: Returning Wind Sweeping Tail.
Kaang!!
It was a technique that cut a wide circle around her, but Kiriel blocked it as if it were nothing, raising her spear shaft vertically.
“I told you it’s useless.”
—!!
Spotting a minuscule opening created as Yoo Ah-rin executed her technique, Kiriel immediately thrust her spear.
“Kuk?!!”
Yoo Ah-rin desperately blocked the attack with her sword, but another advantage of the spear was that it was easier to retract than a sword.
“My turn now, okay?”
A deep smile spread across Kiriel’s lips.
Before she even finished speaking, spear tips flew in from multiple angles simultaneously.
Yoo Ah-rin’s eyes trembled slightly as she realized she couldn’t block them all.
Stab—!!
Finally, the tip of Kiriel’s spear pierced through Yoo Ah-rin’s abdomen.
“Haha?!”
The moment Kiriel was certain of her victory.
Fwoosh—
“…Huh?”
Yoo Ah-rin’s body dispersed.
Like mist drifting over the sea.
Thirteen Swords of the Azure Dragon: Coiling Dragon Lock Shadow.
Immediately after, Yoo Ah-rin reappeared behind Kiriel, gripping her sword hilt and drawing up her internal energy.
Kiiiiing—!!!
A much sharper Sword Qi enveloped her blade, soaring upwards like two ascending dragons.
“Hyaaaaaah!!!!”
“?!!”
For the first time, a flicker of bewilderment crossed Kiriel’s eyes.
Thirteen Swords of the Azure Dragon: Azure Dragon’s Wrathful Strike.
KABOOOOM—!!!!!!
The ascending azure dragon plummeted back to the ground, causing a massive explosion.
A deafening roar shook the entire labyrinth as dust swirled in all directions.
“Hah, hah, hah…”
Standing at the center of it all, Yoo Ah-rin broke out in a cold sweat, panting heavily.
The single strike, which had consumed half of her internal energy, had also completely drained her stamina.
It had certainly boasted power to match, but Yoo Ah-rin’s expression was far from bright.
Grit—
Biting her lip, she stared ahead, and what came into view was Kiriel, standing perfectly unharmed.
No, she was slightly different from before.
“…Alright, I’ll admit it.”
Whoosh—!!
As Kiriel swung her spear to clear the dust, her full form was revealed.
The black spear was now covered in an intangible aura of dark purple, and what looked like bat wings had sprouted from her waist.
And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she was completely unscathed.
“That was a little dangerous just now.”
The smile was gone from Kiriel’s face.
All that remained was a chillingly calm killing intent that made one’s skin crawl.
Yoo Ah-rin tightened her grip on her sword hilt and furrowed her brow.
“…Monster.”
“Mmm, even I get a little hurt by words like that, you know?”
Shing—
Kiriel aimed the tip of her spear at Yoo Ah-rin.
“This is your last chance. Tell me your name. Then we can be friends.”
“Friends?”
Pfft—
Hearing Kiriel’s words, Yoo Ah-rin let out a rare, derisive laugh.
“You don’t have any friends, do you?”
“…”
“It’s not my place to say, but someone as socially inept as you will be alone until the day you die.”
“…What a shame.”
Kiiiiing!!!
At that moment, the demonic energy covering Kiriel’s spear began to surge explosively.
She didn’t need to see it to know.
“I really liked you, but now I have no choice but to kill you.”
Kiriel was starting to get serious.
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