Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Tiger Repays the Favor (4)
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Arin followed Yuri's gaze.
She too stared at the thick cloud of dust and asked.
“What happened?”
“What do you mean, what...”
Honestly, Yuri had no idea what had just gone down.
Her fake signature move had landed perfectly.
After that, she'd predicted Greta's next moves: either pull back and dodge, or turn the attack into a defense.
But whatever had happened moments ago didn't fit either scenario.
No, she couldn't even guess what had occurred.
The one silver lining was that it meant their ten exchanges were finally over.
“Haah... it's done...”
The moment a sigh of relief escaped Yuri's lips.
A gentle breeze swept in, scattering the dust.
Revealing the scene it had hidden.
There, in the middle of the clearing, stood Greta, blankly staring.
Around her, the ground within several meters had cracked and upheaved.
‘So that's what caused the dust.’
Probably some kind of ground explosion kicking up all that dirt.
The real question was why the ground had exploded.
And while the sudden blast was weird enough, Greta's condition was even stranger.
She stood utterly motionless, staring vacantly.
Her eyes didn't even blink, pupils glazed over.
And her entire body emitted a faint glow.
Yuri's eyes went wide at the sight.
“What the hell? What's wrong with her?”
A person glowing like that.
What kind of freakish...
‘Ah, whatever. Weapons glow, people glow. Same difference.’
As Yuri grudgingly accepted it, Arin's voice cut in.
“That looks like... an enlightenment state?”
“I'm hungry.”
Poppi nodded as if agreeing with Arin.
Yuri, meanwhile, just looked confused.
“Enlightenment? What's that?”
“Simply put, she had a breakthrough and shattered her wall. Whoa, so that's enlightenment. First time I've seen it.”
“...What?!”
Yuri's eyes widened again at Arin's explanation.
“So you're saying... she had a breakthrough mid-fight with me?”
“Seems like it. And judging by her state, she's been stuck at that wall for a while. I hear the longer you're blocked, the longer the enlightenment lasts.”
Greta, who'd demonstrated her Sacred Fist, was a Certified 6th Dan.
If she'd broken through, she'd likely hit Certified 7th Dan.
Yuri's face twisted in disbelief.
‘Wow... she beats up someone way weaker than her and has a breakthrough?’
This was ridiculous.
‘...Feels like I got the short end of the stick.’
After that brutal fight, she gets to shatter a long-standing wall, and all I get is 5 million points?
No matter how she sliced it, it felt like a raw deal.
Then Yuri shook her head.
‘No, wait. Doesn't that mean I played a huge role in helping that lady break through?’
And just like that, Yuri had her own epiphany.
‘So... I can claim my share, right?’
Her eyes sparkled.
* * *
Greta Wigen.
She'd left her prestigious family to join the Black Sword Legion for more real combat experience.
A place where experts hard to find back home were a dime a dozen.
That's what the Black Sword Legion was.
Greta had grown rapidly through countless battles and relentless effort after leaving home.
But then her progress stalled.
Having advanced smoothly on raw talent, she'd assumed this wall would be no different.
Big mistake.
The wall she'd thought easy to climb loomed as solid as ever.
And so, she'd languished at the peak of Certified 6th Dan for three years now.
She'd tried everything to break through.
Sparring endlessly with stronger captains.
Volunteering for life-or-death missions for battle experience.
Nothing worked.
The wall stood firm, blocking any glimpse beyond.
Day after day of frustration, denied her 7th Dan and the Zone realm.
Then her unit got assigned to this Beast Forest op.
Normally, a veteran like Greta wouldn't touch a grunt role like tiger bait.
But needing a change of pace, she'd volunteered.
Change of pace, my ass.
The thrill lasted one day, then boredom set in, leaving her regretting it.
Until unexpected fortune struck.
‘So that's it. That's why it itched so bad.’
During their ninth exchange with Yuri, that ticklish feeling in her chest.
Then, in the tenth, as Yuri deflected her fist and thrust in—that “stab”—the itch turned to sweet relief.
Like Yuri's stab had scratched an unbearable itch she'd endured forever.
She couldn't explain exactly what it was.
But one thing was clear: whatever Yuri had shown helped shatter her wall.
Undeniable fact.
“Huuuuuh...”
A long exhale, and light returned to Greta's vacant eyes.
Slowly emerging from enlightenment, the first thing she saw was the three huddled before her.
She scanned them.
‘That kid must be the one who fired the weird arrow.’
The blue-haired girl with a bow slung over her shoulder.
‘That one's obviously a Yum tribesman.’
The massive, honest-faced bald guy.
Probably the giant.
And next to him, a boy squatting in a slouchy, delinquent pose.
‘Yuri Holland.’
Greta's face lit up at the sight of him.
Yuri, meeting her eyes, pushed himself up on his knee.
“Finally awake, huh. Ngh...”
His face crumpled as he groaned to his feet.
‘I'm dying here.’
Having scraped every last trick in the fight, Yuri was on the verge of collapse.
Poppi's herbs and a bit of rest were the only reasons he could even move.
Greta beamed at his grunts.
“You okay?”
“Does it look like I'm okay? A Certified 6th Dan going all out to take down a measly Certified 1st Dan?”
“Ah! Ahem... that's 'cause your skills are that impressive...”
“Yeah, yeah, that's why I'm still breathing. Anyone else would've been a corpse ages ago. Ah, of course, I'm half-dead myself right now. Ow, I'm dying. Ouch ouch.”
“Ehehehe.”
“...You make someone half-dead and that's funny?”
“...Sorry about that.”
His tone was snarky as hell, but she'd overdone it, so Greta had no comeback.
Instead, she praised him sincerely.
“You were brilliant today.”
Even with help, a Certified 1st Dan lasting ten exchanges against a 6th Dan was near impossible.
The tiger being worth 5 million points wasn't for nothing.
And this kid had pulled it off.
Greta had no qualms acknowledging his skill and talent.
As she gazed at him proudly, Yuri stuck out his hand.
“Empty words don't cut it. Let's settle up first.”
“Ah, right!”
Greta finally got it. She shrugged off her vest and handed it to him.
“...What's this?”
“Take it. Tiger hide.”
“...”
Yuri eyed the tattered vest from their brutal clash.
‘5 million points for this...’
Pretty shabby for the price.
But he snatched it anyway, then fixed Greta with gleaming eyes.
The hide was just the start. Now came the real settlement Yuri had in mind.
He broached it casually.
“Hmm... congrats. So how long were you stuck at that wall to zone out for a whole hour?”
Greta's face brightened.
Maybe from breaking her long blockade.
She took Yuri's congrats with pure joy.
“Haha, thanks. Three years of spinning my wheels... finally broke it. All thanks to you!”
“Right? My doing, huh?”
“Obviously!”
“Just words?”
“...Huh?”
Greta blinked.
Poppi and Arin, watching from the side, blinked too.
Only Yuri stayed calmly composed.
He gently hammered it home to the fumbling Greta.
“Come on, think about it. You broke a three-year wall because of me, right?”
“Y-Yeah...”
“What if I hadn't shown up today?”
“...Dunno?”
“Exactly!”
“Huh?”
“You don't know! It could've taken another three, five, even ten years!”
“...Probably not that long.”
“You sure? Confident enough to stall out for three years?”
“...”
Yuri's calm, fact-based prodding darkened Greta's face.
Undeterred, he pressed on.
“Anyway! You gotta hit higher realms young to keep that skin plump and firm longer!”
“...For real?”
“Huh? What's with that doubtful look? Touch your face right now! Doesn't it feel way smoother and tighter than before?”
Greta unconsciously stroked her cheek.
And nodded slowly.
‘Yeah... kinda feels that way.’
Deeper realms did slow aging, after all.
So Yuri wasn't wrong.
Meanwhile, Arin whispered to Poppi as they watched.
“...That guy's sold snake oil before, hasn't he?”
*Nod nod.*
Yuri glared at the murmuring pair, then rushed to close before Greta snapped out of it.
“So!”
“...?”
“You got such huge help from me... and you think 'thanks' covers it? Is that how shameless you are?”
Greta pondered. Yuri wasn't just whining.
Plenty got stuck at walls for years, decades even.
Her family, the Black Sword Legion—full of them.
So yeah, she owed Yuri for hitting 7th Dan.
Greta nodded.
“Alright. What do you want? Money?”
“Money! Gold! Sure! But besides that... you know, that thing?”
As Yuri's eyes narrowed slyly, Greta guessed and shook her head firmly.
“No points. Against Cradle rules.”
“No, no, not points! I wouldn't ask for that. But you know...”
“What?”
“Y'know. Ahem... kinda embarrassing to say it myself, but...”
“...?”
“The super expensive ones that are great for you, boost your mana big time... that stuff?”
Greta tilted her head at Yuri's fidgeting.
What was with him? Then it hit her.
She muttered softly.
“...Elixir?”
Yuri's eyes lit up at her murmur.
He nodded so hard his head might fly off.
“That's it, sis!”
...Sis, huh.
Called her auntie before.
The hurt 27-year-old shot him a playful glare.