Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Growth Verification (3)
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Yulia stared fixedly at the two people facing off against the Demon King.
On one side was Theresia Winchester, the strongest of the 49th Cohort.
On the other was the rising star, Yuri Holland.
She had no idea what connection tied the two together, but it was a pairing that couldn't be more mismatched.
And yet...
‘They look strangely alike.’
Was it just her imagination, or did the auras of the two standing shoulder to shoulder really resemble each other in some eerie way?
Brushing aside such idle thoughts, Yulia turned her gaze to Yuri.
‘Perfect. This is my chance to learn all about Yuri Holland.’
Through the quests the 50th Cohort had undertaken so far, she had gathered some information on Yuri Holland.
But that intel had passed through others' hands, so who knew how distorted it might have become.
There was no better way to analyze a target than seeing them with her own eyes.
And so Yulia observed Yuri's every move and etched it into her mind.
‘Yuri Holland... disciple of the Unbreakable Sword, Johann Redner.’
She had learned that fact purely out of her admiration for Johann Redner.
The Unyielding Sword aimed at the world's strongest.
The saga of one man who threw himself endlessly forward, even if he shattered or wore down.
The stories of Johann she'd heard as a child were greater than any hero's epic, captivating Yulia in an instant.
That obsession turned collecting info on Johann into her hobby.
Then recently, after a long drought, traces of Johann had surfaced.
Shockingly, he'd recommended a Dragon Plaque in the northern Irons territory.
From that day, Yulia had waited eagerly.
For the recipient of Johann Redner's Dragon Plaque recommendation to enter the roster.
And finally, on the day Yuri Holland joined the roster.
When he took fifteen steps in the White Walk ceremony, Yulia shuddered.
‘As expected... as expected of the Unbreakable Sword!’
The talent chosen by Johann Redner lived up to his reputation, displaying astonishing ability.
It almost felt like the reincarnation of Johann Redner himself.
‘Show me, Yuri Holland! Everything you learned from the Unbreakable Sword!’
Yulia's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Her heart pounded at the thrill of watching Yuri fight the Demon King.
But even she hadn't anticipated one thing.
Namely.
‘To face the Demon King, you'll need to pull out everything you've got—and then some. Hold nothing back!’
The hope that Yuri and Theresia could defeat the Demon King.
And she wasn't alone in that.
“How long do you think they'll last?”
“With Theresia there too, maybe two hundred exchanges?”
“Two hundred? No way. That Demon King... just like Yulia said, he's squad leader class. Two hundred? Holding out for a hundred would be impressive.”
“Yeah, if it weren't for Yulia, we'd have been wiped out ages ago.”
“Tch, why's Theresia even helping that guy?”
“Yeah, it's a fight they can't win anyway.”
“More importantly, what's their deal? What's their relationship?”
Everyone watching the scene was convinced of Yuri and Theresia's defeat.
And Theresia, standing beside Yuri, was no different.
* * *
“Why the long face?”
It was a question tossed out by Yuri, who had wrapped his decision of power in cloth and set it aside carefully.
Theresia tilted her head at that.
“…My face?”
“You look like you've already sensed defeat. Or do you not even plan on winning?”
“Never.”
She answered firmly, but at Yuri's observation, the hand gripping her spear twitched slightly.
Yuri was right.
Deep down, she thought this fight was unwinnable.
And as if reading her mind, Yuri smirked.
“Sure about that.”
But his smile faded quickly.
“Cheer up. We're gonna win.”
“…….”
“Wouldn't have jumped in if we weren't fighting to win. Now that we are, we'll win for sure.”
“…We're gonna win?”
“Yeah. So...”
Step.
Yuri took one step forward.
In that instant, Theresia felt chills run down her spine.
She couldn't explain why, but Yuri's back suddenly looked enormous.
Taking that one step ahead, Yuri slightly crouched his upper body.
Click.
His sword lay horizontal.
“…Don't fall behind. Keep up.”
With those words, Yuri's form vanished.
Boom!
With a massive whoosh, he reappeared at the Demon King's left flank.
The 49th Cohort cadets watching flinched in shock.
‘Couldn't... see him?’
‘M-missed his movement?!’
‘Damn, am I the only one?’
The distance between Yuri and the Demon King was at least seven or eight meters.
Not only had he closed it in an instant, but his speed was invisible even from afar.
It was no wonder the 49th Cohort was stunned.
Only a handful had caught even a blurry glimpse of Yuri's movement.
Theresia, accustomed to his speed, was the only one who'd tracked it precisely.
Meanwhile, Yuri, reaching the Demon King's front, swiftly swung his sword.
Slash.
Slicing through the air's tension, his blade came down from the Demon King's upper left.
Unlike the 49th, the Demon King's eyes followed Yuri perfectly.
At the same time, his greatsword rose vertically, blocking like a shield.
Clang!
But Yuri's sword, as if anticipating it, slid along the flat of the greatsword.
And then.
Slide.
Yuri, who had been on the left, appeared on the right in a flash, thrusting at the Demon King's side.
It looked like the Demon King would be pierced any second.
But then his massive greatsword traced a bizarre curve.
Whoosh.
Suddenly accelerating wildly, it smacked Yuri's sword away.
Clang!
With the clash of metal, Yuri's form flew back hard.
Skid.
Sliding across the ground, Yuri grinned at the Demon King.
“Sorry for the wait, old man Demon King. I gave you a quick teaser taste—hope it suited your palate?”
“…….”
Even at Yuri's playful tone, the Demon King showed no reaction.
He merely stared at Yuri with deep, profound eyes.
Yuri stood, clicking his tongue inwardly.
‘Tch, tricky bastard.’
Unlike his bloodthirsty entrance, the Demon King's demeanor was surprisingly passive.
‘With that level of killing intent, you'd think he'd lose it and charge by now.’
He'd even waited while Yuri and Theresia talked.
And even after the preemptive strike, he hadn't rashly counterattacked.
Finally, Yuri grumbled aloud.
“Hey, if you're gonna radiate that much killing intent, can't you lose control and rush in at least once?”
“…….”
“Not coming?”
Seeing the Demon King still standing motionless, Yuri scowled.
‘Stronger than me, and composed to boot...’
What a cheat.
If you're strong, at least get careless so the weak can find an opening.
“Hoo...”
Yuri sighed.
‘I thought I'd at least have the edge in speed...’
But the bizarre movement of that greatsword earlier had put him on high alert.
And that wasn't the only issue.
As expected, the power in that greatsword was nothing to scoff at.
‘One solid hit... and I'm done for.’
Yuri grimaced slightly at his wrist, still tingling from their light clash.
Even after deflecting, the force lingered.
Thanks to that scouting exchange, Yuri knew for sure.
‘That guy's... the real deal.’
Speed matching his own movements.
Short, concise, efficient, devastating strikes.
Definitely certified Rank 5 or higher.
But.
‘Weaker than Aunt Tiger.’
Weaker than Greta Wigen, who'd been at the peak of certified Rank 6 back then.
This Demon King was, generously, peak certified Rank 5.
Yuri's eyes gleamed with that conclusion.
Grip.
Forgetting the ache in his wrist, Yuri charged forward.
In that moment.
Tap.
A shadow attached itself to his side.
‘Tessha?’
It was Theresia, spear lowered, matching his pace.
Their eyes met as they ran parallel.
Then Yuri read the dissatisfaction in Theresia's gaze.
‘Don't go first, you cheater.’
Her pride must have been stung by his "don't fall behind."
Yuri smirked.
Then, wordlessly, he circulated his mana circuit.
‘Come late, and I'll leave you behind.’
With that, lightning surged across Yuri's body.
Redner family secret martial art.
Thunder Wings.
And just like Yuri, Theresia read his eyes and activated her mana circuit.
Winchester family secret martial art.
Rebounding Shadow.
Crackle.
Whoosh.
A streak of lightning and shadow intertwined, hurtling toward the Demon King.
Back when they first met in the Forest of Beginnings.
The fusion of the lightning and shadow that had targeted each other.
The straight-shot gold and black split apart in an instant.
At the same time, lightning-wrapped Yuri leaped at the Demon King's back from above.
Theresia, emerald hair whipping, burst from below at his legs.
Without exchanging a word, they instinctively claimed their angles.
Yuri slashed down at the Demon King's head from above.
Theresia thrust up at his heart from below.
That was the moment.
Red energy erupted from the Demon King's body.
Boom!
Scattering everywhere, it was mana laced with killing intent.
The concentrated mana and murderous pressure of a certified Rank 5 slammed into Yuri and Theresia head-on.
“Urk!”
“Ugh!”
Their bodies stiffened from the impact.
Seizing the opening, the Demon King's red greatsword nimbly scraped Theresia's spear.
Screech.
Twisting the spear's path, the greatsword suddenly accelerated sharply.
Faster.
Even faster.
Faster still.
Starting ordinary, it reached insane speeds in a blink, becoming a red trail hurtling toward Yuri's face.
Yuri's eyes widened.
‘What kind of ridiculous acceleration is this!’
The Demon King's initial motion was turtle-slow compared to theirs.
A flaw common to all greatsword users.
But this Demon King compensated with that brute-force acceleration.
Slow at first, but stacking speed via martial art.
The realization was fleeting.
First, deal with the red trail inches away.
Yuri's eyes tracked the trajectory.
‘Accelerated moves are fast, sure. But not enough to take me down!’
Slide.
Unfurling Phantom Step, the blade grazed past Yuri's nose.
His afterimage shook like a mirage, and from within, another blade surged toward the Demon King.
Whoosh!
As if anticipating it, Theresia's spear pierced the gap.
* * *
Clang! Clang!
Each sharp clash heightened the 49th Cohort's focus.
Their eyes never left the battle raging in the clearing's center.
Golden lightning.
Black shadow.
Red aura.
The three colors blended as three figures flickered in and out of view.
Meaning their movements were too fast to follow.
One of the 49th muttered, entranced.
“Isn't that Demon King... looking stronger than when we fought him?”
“Y-yeah?”
The Demon King vs. 49th Cohort fight had no major clashes.
That was all thanks to Yulia.
Her genius foresight had thoroughly disrupted his rhythm.
His attacks sliced empty air, so they never saw his ‘true’ power.
Plus, he'd focused solely on Yuri, treating the 49th half-heartedly.
Thus, this flashy display revealing the ‘true power’ of a Black Sword squad leader instantly captivated them.
Sword strikes brimming with immense power at a glance.
Sudden bursts of insane acceleration.
Killing intent prickling their skin from afar.
It was power befitting the Black Sword squad leader's infamy.
And that very reason birthed a burning question.
Against that monstrous Black Sword squad leader.
How...?
With just two...?
“…are they fighting like that?”
The 49th Cohort cadets' eyes fixed on the clearing's center.
Reflected in them: the ceaseless red aura, lightning, and shadow tumbling over each other.