The Black-Haired Sword Empress Marianne Nahoja: Geum Taeyang and Cassandra – The Decisive Showdown!
Cassandra could not hide her shock upon witnessing Geum Taeyang’s hallucination skill, Phantom Blitz. Of course, among fellow mages it was hardly considered a high-level technique. Mid-tier mages could use it, and high-tier mages could produce higher quality illusions. But when wielded by a non-mage class, the story changed completely.
‘Is it a skill granted by his artifact? This is troublesome.’
Why was it different? Spirit-affinity classes relied more on mana perception and spirit sight than ordinary senses as they climbed higher. Their combat style was specialized for that, and it was true that their base physical stats at the same level were nearly one tier lower than ordinary classes. Cassandra’s overall level was S, yet her Strength and Stamina were only A to A+ range. Thus, using hallucination-type attacks to deceive spirit sight and mana perception before closing in with superior physical prowess was practically a counter against high-ranking spirit users.
“Ivy, Mother! I hope your body’s regenerative power is as excellent as the tree’s! I’ll happily carve plenty of sword holes into that fine body of yours!”
—Chuaaah!!
The ten-meter distance was nothing to an S-rank Agility Geum Taeyang. He drew his blade from the ready stance and surged forward once more.
“Ooh!!”
But this time Geum Taeyang’s eyes widened in surprise. Whooooosh!!
“Oh, fuck! A sandstorm in that short interval!?”
—Bwoooong!
Cassandra unleashed a powerful sandstorm, sweeping Geum Taeyang away. The magic technique Desert Gale required a casting time, yet because they were near the Life Tree and the space was already configured for free use of techniques, it activated instantly.
“A splendid defense, Ivy Mother! My attack failed completely! I’m the kind of man who acknowledges what deserves acknowledgment, heh!”
Thud! Geum Taeyang, who had been sent flying pathetically on the sandstorm, landed in a stylish pose and spoke coolly.
“I shall acknowledge it as well. Though you possess a vulgar personality, your ability as a warrior is the greatest I have faced thus far.”
Yet Geum Taeyang’s performance was more than enough to warrant such cool words. He had sliced through an S-rank Life Tree branch in one strike, deceived her with Phantom Blitz, then closed the distance with overwhelming physical ability. Even without exchanging many blows, Cassandra could clearly feel his crushing combat power.
“Therefore, this Cassandra Viola shall face you with my full sincerity and break you.”
—Fssssssssst…!!
Emerald energy once again charged Cassandra’s Life Tree Staff, Antlion Abyss. She chanted an incantation.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble…!!
The desert sand floor began to quake violently.
“Ooh!”
Squelch…! Squelch…!
Geum Taeyang’s feet started sinking into the shifting sand.
Flash! He burst free using True Mana Step.
‘So she wants to force me to rely only on True Mana Step?’
Geum Taeyang instantly grasped Cassandra’s intent. What she found troublesome was his pure physical dash ability. She intended to force him into using True Mana Step via the sand swamp created by Antlion Abyss and crush him that way.
‘She doesn’t plan to stop there. This auntie got properly pissed off by my provocation and switched to serious mode, huh?’
Geum Taeyang pushed True Mana Step to its limit so he wouldn’t sink even while stationary. Before his eyes, Cassandra’s next spell unfolded.
“Grrrrrr…!”
Squelch…! Squelch…!
“Karrrrrr…!”
The sand gathered by itself and began forming shapes—skeletons. A high-level shaping art known as Sand Skeleton.
“Kuaaaargh!”
“Keeeeeek!”
—Thud thud thud thud!
Dozens of Sand Skeletons and attacks from the spirit tree branches began in earnest.
“Come at me, you fuckers! I’ll smash every last one of you!”
—Grin!
—Flash!!
Facing Cassandra’s massive-scale assault, Geum Taeyang curled his lips like a true warrior and charged in with vigor.
“Is the one currently fighting the Great Chieftain Cassandra over there truly the Great Khan of the Mohican tribe, Master?”
A young lady around twenty years old, wearing a robe and sporting a topknot, asked with great curiosity.
“If it is as they reported to us, then it must be. According to what Princess Nadia told us, the Mohican tribe’s Great Khan, Geum Taeyang, is a warrior capable of putting up a good fight against Great Chieftain Cassandra.”
The one the topknotted lady had questioned was a woman who had sensed the battle between Geum Taeyang and Cassandra from afar. The woman who mentioned Nadia Jasmine—yes. The woman with long black hair wearing a robe was none other than Sword Empress Marianne Nahoja.
“I find it hard to believe, Master. I have no intention of looking down on barbarians, but among those called experts so far, far too many have been full of empty boasts.”
The topknotted lady’s name was Josephina, Marianne Nahoja’s one and only disciple.
“Hahaha! True. We cannot deny that reality. But giving up without even confirming would be foolish, Josephina.”
Marianne answered with a gentle smile at her cute disciple’s grumbling. High Priestess Camilla, with Geum Taeyang’s permission, had contacted Nadia on the first day they entered the Sahara Desert to prepare for any unforeseen situations. Continuous situation updates followed, and once the mini all-out war was confirmed, a support force was scheduled to be deployed immediately. However, Marianne had offered to personally lead her private soldiers to provide support—an act of compromise. The noble alliance led by Marianne did not want the royal army to be involved, and since Geum Taeyang was a quasi-national guest, Nadia had insisted she must go to support him.
‘The news that she subdued the Great Chieftain’s daughter and the Amazon elite troops and took them prisoner was truly surprising. I would like to see the scene for myself.’
The one who proposed this compromise also had Sword Empress Marianne’s personal motives. Though Marianne did not enjoy adventures or flaunt her strength, she had always shown considerable interest in the existence of strong individuals. However, most had been famous in name only, and Josephina had witnessed that alongside her, which was why she had spoken as she did earlier. Yet the information regarding Geum Taeyang this time was on a completely different level from before.
—Crack crack crack crack!!
“Hah! There’s no end to them!”
—Slash slash slash!
The man Marianne had high expectations for, Geum Taeyang, stuck out his tongue while taking repeated backsteps against the endless swarm of Sand Skeletons that kept regenerating no matter how many he destroyed.
“Hohoho…!”
Cassandra wore a relaxed smile. Once she began using her full power, Geum Taeyang could barely even approach. Serves him right for getting cocky.
“You, Geum Taeyang, need not lose heart. As I said, you were the greatest warrior this Cassandra has ever faced.”
Cassandra had so much composure that she even began looking after the same Geum Taeyang who had been committing such vulgar acts. Given her personality, it could not be considered sarcasm. She was sincerely showing respect for the man who had been acting up and ended up in this pathetic state.
“It is common for the young and strong to be unable to control their vigor. Though your actions today as Great Khan were indeed rude and vulgar, if you apologize even now, this Cassandra Viola shall spare both your life and the lives of your subordinates.”
Cassandra had acknowledged Geum Taeyang. If the battle had taken place in her own territory where the setting was fully prepared, she would not have needed to rely on such overwhelming numbers, and Geum Taeyang might have already suffered a fatal wound from his first move. Thus, she was giving him one more chance out of respect for a powerful warrior.
“What bullshit.”
Yet the same Geum Taeyang who had been thinking “Hah… this is tough” just moments ago wore an expression of complete shamelessness and once again let his arrogant mouth run.
“This battle is already over. Cassandra, I’ve already seen the measure of your one-on-one capabilities. I declare it—this battle is my victory.”
Indeed. What kind of human was Geum Taeyang? A simple victory? He would gladly give such a thing to a dog. He was a pervert who desired reversals full of twists, victories and defeats overflowing with humiliation, and he wanted both himself and his opponent to experience it. In other words, while Cassandra was feeling triumphant, Geum Taeyang suddenly dropped that cool line saying she had already lost.
“Hah… In the end, no matter how talented, he reveals the limits of his incorrigible male nature…”
Though she had been embracing her enemy with surprising kindness, Cassandra’s irritation gauge skyrocketed at the sight of the filthy male Geum Taeyang dumping shit all over it.
“I declare. If you, Cassandra, can block my next strike, then this Geum Taeyang shall become your dog and crawl while wearing a collar.”
Geum Taeyang’s foul mouth did not stop there.
“But if you fail to block it, then right in front of your face I shall fuck your eldest daughter Ivy like a dog, and I shall make you suck my cock right here and now.”
Why on earth was this human like this? The same man who had been desperately blocking Sand Skeletons and Life Tree branch attacks just moments ago suddenly wanted to live as a collared puppy and provoked Cassandra with an extremely depraved bet.
“I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you, you phallic beast…! I’ll cut off that phallus and send it along with your head to your tribe…!!”
—Fssssssssst…! Fsst! Fssssssssst…!!
As a result, Cassandra, whose rage had reached its peak, poured an enormous amount of emerald energy not only into her Life Tree Staff but also throughout her entire body, along with blue ordinary magic energy. The blue mana transferred to the Sand Skeletons, imbuing them with greater power, while the emerald energy transferred to the Life Tree branches, making them even more massive.
“—Kieeeek!”
“—Keeeeek!!”
—Thud thud thud thud thud!!
—Flash!
—Chuaaah!
—Chwaaaah!!
The powered-up Sand Skeletons and Life Tree branches poured toward the arrogant male Geum Taeyang, filling the entire view.
‘Okay…! The energy was a bit awkward to use special skills on, but now it’s perfectly appropriate…!’
—Grin…!
Indeed. The meticulous human Geum Taeyang was crazy, but he was never the type to do things that would harm himself. He already possessed a finishing move tailored for Cassandra, and he had induced the foundation for that finishing move to work even more perfectly.
‘Now, lend me your strength, my Luciena and Selendis.’
—Fssssssssst…!
—Swaaaah…!
Thus, Geum Taeyang’s absolute demonic sword Luciena emitted pale purple demonic energy in response to Cassandra’s rampage, while Selendis radiated emerald spirit energy.
“[Beast Suppression], [Elemental Binder.]”
Geum Taeyang chanted in a low voice. Then—
—Thud thud thud thud thud!
—Thud thud thud thud thud!
Dozens of Sand Skeletons that had been rushing in came to a halt, and the giant Life Tree branches pouring from all directions also stopped.
Beast Suppression, Luciena’s special skill that could instantly halt targets judged as monsters, and Elemental Binder, Selendis’s special skill that suppressed targets judged as spirit trees just like Beast Suppression.
“!!!!!???????”
Cassandra’s eyes widened at the sudden situation unfolding before her.
“You seem quite flustered, Ivy Mother. But reality is clear, and the outcome of a duel is merciless.”
—Flash!!!
We had seen countless times just how detestable a human Geum Taeyang became once he seized the advantage. As expected, he ran his infuriating mouth while activating True Mana Step and charging in.
He could have used [Beast Suppression] and [Elemental Binder] much earlier. However, Geum Taeyang, who prioritized safety above all despite his surface image, needed to confirm a clearer monster judgment and spirit tree judgment. That was why he had provoked her, and the moment Cassandra activated blue mana separately to utilize the Sand Skeletons, Geum Taeyang shouted “Eureka!”
[D-Desert Gale!!]
Cassandra, whose eyes barely snapped open at Geum Taeyang’s fierce appearance, tried to block his attack with a sandstorm, but—
—Flash!!!
“Hahaha! This Geum Taeyang is not a fool who gets hit openly by a technique he’s already been hit by once, Ivy Mother.”
Geum Taeyang used Selendis’s special skill Teleport to cross the sandstorm’s range and appeared behind Cassandra.
‘I-I’ve been had!’
Glancing sideways at the one who had taken her back, Cassandra realized there was nothing more she could do. Her humiliation time had begun.
“I can see Ivy Mother’s excellent rear view. This lustful beast wants to see an even more explicit side of you, Mother.”
—Shashashashashashashak!!!
Geum Taeyang swung Luciena with dazzling speed. As a result—
—Chwachwachwachwachwachwak!!!
“Kyaaaaah!!”
Cassandra’s loincloth outfit and the Great Chieftain’s shawl draped over her upper body were torn to shreds, exposing her naked body.