Chapter 201
Chapter 201
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Martial Dragon Tournament (10)
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Facing the ferocious assault of the rampaging Red Lion, Theresia's spear thrust forward in silence.
Swish-.
With a faint sound slicing through the air, the spearhead advanced.
Along with it unfolded a new secret technique of the Winchester family that Theresia had never displayed before.
Winchester family secret martial body art.
Shoot Moon.
The spear piercing the moon advanced undeterred into the Red Lion's fierce onslaught.
Finally, the two techniques clashed in midair, sparks flying in dozens as an enormous clamor erupted.
Kragagag-.
The single yellow trajectory standing against the multiple crimson lines looked perilously fragile.
And it was no mere illusion—Theresia's spear wobbled as if it might snap at any moment.
In the end, Theresia executed Bullet Shadow to pull her form back.
Swish-.
Theresia retreated in an instant.
But her opponent wasn't about to let her escape that easily.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Seeing him close the distance in a lion's bounding leap, Theresia furrowed her brow slightly.
Clang-.
As sword and spear collided once more, crimson flashed in that split second.
Spotting the nick on her spear, the furrow on Theresia's forehead deepened.
Catching her expression, Andres pressed his attack while asking,
"Sloppy. A technique you haven't mastered long?"
No, it was less a question and more a harsh critique.
"What kind of confidence makes you pull out such an amateurish technique against me!"
"......"
Theresia remained unshaken by Andres's scathing words.
Because she knew it herself.
That the new technique she had unleashed was woefully immature.
Even so, the reason Theresia had employed such a crude technique was merely as a test and confirmation.
And through it, she had obtained a clear answer.
'Of course... it's not working.'
That this approach wouldn't do.
That the method she had once tried was wrong, and his advice had been right.
The moment she realized that, his voice echoed in Theresia's ears.
[Tsk.]
Yuri advancing day by day, pulling far ahead.
The other juniors rising from below.
Yet her own skills felt somehow stagnant.
To break through that situation, Theresia had sought to master a new technique.
The family's third secret art, known only in theory: Shoot Moon.
She had chosen it as her breakthrough, something she hadn't even attempted while refining Bullet Shadow and Fix Star.
It was while Theresia was honing Shoot Moon that Johan appeared out of nowhere and clicked his tongue.
[You the kid that May bitch coddles and fawns over?]
He belittled Theresia's idol and hero.
Had it been anyone else, Theresia would have glared daggers.
But she vaguely knew of the connection between her aunt May and Johan Redner.
So she nodded quietly.
Seeing that, Johan clicked his tongue again.
[Tsk. Don't waste time on impossible nonsense. With your damn cursed constitution, trying to add even one more new technique will waste your prime years before you can even use it properly.]
Mention of her innate curse brought a flicker of resentment to Theresia's face.
Johan snorted at that.
[Why try something so stupid? What's got you so desperate you're throwing away all your hard work so far? You think you can only get stronger by learning new techniques?]
His biting criticism came with eyes locking straight onto Theresia.
[If strength came from the number of techniques mastered... I'd have been getting my ass kicked everywhere with just my paltry two, right?]
Of course, there was the third, Demon Style, but it was unfinished, so calling it two wasn't a stretch.
Theresia's eyes widened in shock at the revelation that Johan Redner had mastered only two techniques.
As their gazes met...
[...It's not about how many techniques you've learned.]
The eyes of the girl not yet twenty that Johan faced showed endless frustration, worn raw from how harshly she had driven herself...
[It's about how you use what you've got. You've built towers out of just Bullet Shadow and Fix Star by stacking them obsessively—now you think slapping up a new one will help? What idiot's gonna let himself get hit by that flimsy, fluttering excuse for a dance?]
Seeing her own worn reflection in those crimson eyes, Johan offered sincere advice for once.
[Don't bother with pointless efforts. Spend that time digging deeper into Bullet Shadow and Fix Star instead. And if you still feel that's not enough, don't waste it building a new tower beside the ones you've raised...]
And the advice Johan gave that day...
[Try adding a few bricks of new colors to the towers of Bullet Shadow and Fix Star you've built. Make those existing towers even sturdier and taller.]
...became the turning point in Theresia's life.
'Right, just as he said—my talent isn't suited for trying to learn something new.'
It had taken her over a decade just to master Bullet Shadow and Fix Star.
So how much longer would it take to master a new one and make it battle-ready?
She hadn't realized that simple truth until Johan pointed it out.
'I was too impatient.'
That impatience had likely started during the "Save the Princess" quest.
More precisely, from the moment she saw Yuri's sword exploit the Demon King's opening, moving much like Fix Star... that's when urgency took root in Theresia's heart.
The impatience born from Yuri was what Johan had helped her escape.
Since that day, Theresia had followed the clear path he outlined.
"If you've got nothing more to show... let's end this!"
Chase family secret martial body art.
Red Lion Blood Stain.
Now, she intended to lavish the fruits of her efforts on this redhead who had been whining for more.
Winchester family secret martial body art.
Fix Star.
It began with a single white trajectory.
One that Theresia had drawn thousands, millions of times—flawlessly masterful, more so than any other.
Thicker and sturdier than the Shoot Moon she had used earlier, the Fix Star trajectory excluded all approaching obstacles as it surged unhindered toward the Red Lion gaping its maw.
The ferocious Red Lion looked ready to devour Theresia and stain its jaws with her blood.
Fix Star plunged fearlessly into the beast's savage mouth.
Dodging the sharp teeth snapping from all sides, the white trajectory rolled relentlessly inside.
Kagagang-.
True to its role, Fix Star's trajectory sought to repel all attacks and press forward, but it lacked piercing power.
Trapped in the lion's maw without advancing...
Swish-.
Yellow trajectories began rising from Theresia's fingertips, climbing the spear shaft to the tip.
Finally, they twisted around Fix Star's trajectory like a lasso.
Ggggrit-.
The star-pursuing path gained the moon-piercing sharpness, and the spear tip trapped in the lion's mouth began inching forward.
It still fell far short of a proper Shoot Moon in keenness and penetration, but that was never what Theresia wanted.
Just enough to supplement Fix Star's weakness.
Just as Johan had advised: don't build a new tower—add bricks of new colors to the existing ones.
And so, the moment yellow bricks were laid atop the pristine white tower...
Theresia named that tower.
Winchester family secret martial body art.
Theresia style—
'Fix Moon.'
Ggggrit- Kyaaaaaaaang!
The white and yellow trajectories sought to pierce the Red Lion's maw.
Under normal circumstances, it would have succeeded.
But Andres was no pushover.
"Kraaaah!"
Andres bellowed.
Veins bulging fiercely on his neck.
Blood vessels throbbing on his temples.
That alone showed how utterly he was committing himself.
In response to his master's will, the Red Lion's teeth clamped down from all sides with even greater force.
As if determined to shred whatever thrashed in its mouth.
Was it that fierce resolve?
Crack-.
An ominous sound came from Theresia's right arm gripping the spear.
'......?!'
Hearing it, Theresia instantly knew her arm bone had cracked.
Yet she didn't show it.
She refused to appear weak over something like this.
She just wanted to do it herself.
Like that boy in the past who, despite his right arm shattering, felled the Demon King.
She wanted to defeat the foe before her eyes.
"Haaap!"
Theresia shouted with spirited resolve.
With it, her spear—blocked by fierce resistance—pushed forward.
Crunch-.
It pierced through the Red Lion's maw and out the back of its skull.
Stab-.
And as if the fierce clash had never happened, Theresia and Andres froze in place.
A suffocating silence descended at once.
"......"
Theresia, standing with her spear thrust out.
"......"
Andres, standing with his sword extended.
Both aimed their weapons wordlessly at each other, but one clear difference stood between them.
Andres's sword hadn't reached Theresia, but her spear had reached Andres.
No—precisely, Theresia's spear had pierced Andres's chest.
Maintaining that pose, Theresia fixed Andres with a chilling gaze.
"Just 1 cm deeper... and your heart gets pierced, Senior."
It was a terrifying warning.
And no one knew better than Andres that it was no empty threat.
The spear blade was lodged inside his own body.
Its razor-sharp tip had halted right before his heart—not by luck.
As Andres gazed calmly, Theresia stated flatly,
"I'll return the mercy you showed me in last year's match."
"......"
"What will you do? Continue?"
With those words, Theresia's spear sank a fraction deeper.
Stab-.
The tip advanced about 0.5 cm before stopping.
Even with his heart a mere 0.5 cm from being pierced, Andres casually sheathed his sword as if unconcerned.
His composure made it hard to believe he was one breath from death.
Having holstered his weapon, he gazed steadily at Theresia and spoke.
"Impressive, Theresia Winchester."
"......"
"I concede defeat."
Even after that declaration, Theresia didn't withdraw her spear.
She did so only after the Black Sword Unit officially acknowledged Andres's defeat.
Utterly thorough, never letting her guard down until the end.
Seeing the blood flowing from his chest and soaking his torso, Andres murmured softly.
"...Blood-Dyed Red Lion."
Just like the name of his final technique, the Red Lion was dyed in blood.
Though it was his own blood, not the enemy's—somehow, Andres wore a deeply satisfied smile.
He addressed Theresia.
"Now we're 1-1."
"Yes."
"Next year... in my final Martial Dragon Tournament, let's settle the rest."
Facing Andres's blazing gaze, Theresia replied with a straight face.
"If the brackets align... I won't dodge the fight."
Leaving those words, Theresia turned and left the arena.
Andres watched her retreating figure until the end.
A faint smile played on his lips.