Chapter 481: Duel on Deck (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 481: Duel on Deck (3)
Flash!
First, a blinding light obscured his vision.
There was not a single warrior in the world who could “see” and react to a Light Speed Thrust that had reached its pinnacle. Without prediction, or some form of enlightenment that transcended even that, it was an attack that could never be evaded.
Fortunately, Mary’s technique had not yet reached its ultimate peak. Furthermore, because she had unleashed it so rapidly without any preparatory stance, Jin was able to move his body despite being caught off guard.
He threw himself to the left.
The strike zone of the Light Speed Thrust was not limited to a single point. It began as a point, spread out in a fan shape, and then converged back into a point. Consequently, even though Jin had moved far out of the trajectory of the Chain Sword Viper, he felt the sword energy graze his cheek and neck.
A chill ran down his spine.
Is Tikan okay?!
As the sensation of hot blood soaking his collar registered, Jin’s mind raced, calculating his response.
If I look back, I’ll be too late. Counterattack first.
He gambled that the trajectory of the Light Speed Thrust had narrowly missed Tikan. Surely, his sister wouldn't have unleashed an attack like that if it meant defying their father’s orders and becoming his sworn enemy.
Swish—!
Staying low, Jin shot forward like a released arrow. He led with the Sealed Lightning Sword Sigmund, sending a pale, sharp bolt of lightning energy toward Mary’s forehead.
She blocked her brother’s thrust without much difficulty. Then, looking thoroughly satisfied, she burst into a boisterous laugh. “Khahaha!”
The ensuing exchange between the siblings was a dizzying blur of speed, two streaks of light reflecting and intertwining. The spectators couldn't even follow the sword light as it flashed, scattered, and clashed again.
“Whoa! Lady Mary is showing us something incredible from the very first move! Eek! What is that? What on earth is that?! A hole… a hole has opened in the sky above Tikan!”
It seemed Cosmos had decided to add commentary to his hosting duties.
The audience followed his pointing finger toward the sky. Indeed, a massive hole had been punched through the clouds, drawing gasps from everyone. Even seeing it with their own eyes, it was hard to believe a human could create such a phenomenon with a single thrust of a sword.
So this is Runcandel…!
Everyone was left in awe. Not only Mary, who had unleashed a thrust bordering on the divine, but also Jin, who had dodged it and managed to counterattack, seemed like an absolute monster.
It wasn't just the crowd; even Jin’s companions were shivering and clicking their tongues at Mary’s skill.
“To pull off a thrust like that from a standstill… No, can that even be called a thrust? I think I understand why Lord Valkas told me to bet my money on Lady Mary,” Casimir remarked.
Valkas gave a quiet smile at Casimir’s words.
Seeing Cosmos blathering on as usual means Tikan wasn't damaged.
Jin inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Counterattacking immediately had been the perfect response. If he had hesitated for even a moment or tried to check on Tikan first, his posture would have crumbled, leaving him overwhelmed by her follow-up attacks.
“Tsk, I still can’t do it quite like Father. And I’ve practiced it so much, too.”
Seeing his sister smacking her lips in disappointment, a surge of anger rose within Jin. He suppressed it and met her eyes.
“It seems you came here determined to kill me. I almost lost my head.”
“But you didn't die. I knew you’d be able to react to that, hehe.”
“…Didn’t you say we should avoid using big techniques?”
“Pfft, me? When?”
“No, you definitely—”
“If you really think so, try to remember exactly what I said, little brother.”
—The rules are simple. You and I will fight atop the fleet. However, all high-destructive techniques that would excessively damage the fleet are forbidden.
—Although most big techniques will be sealed for this duel, your big sister intends to do her best.
All high-destructive techniques that would excessively damage the fleet were forbidden, and most big techniques were sealed, but she would do her best…
In other words, she could use any technique as long as it didn't destroy the ships.
It was wordplay, then.
Grit!
Jin’s teeth ground together involuntarily. Come to think of it, their first duel had been the same. Back then, Mary had been the only one wearing Silver Light Armor and had set up top-grade mana bombs all over the arena before the fight.
He rarely fell for such wordplay or shallow tricks, but strangely, whenever he faced Mary, he always seemed to get caught.
“I understand exactly what you meant now.”
“Oh? I'm so glad you finally get it. Now, come at me again! Come on! By the way, why haven't you activated your helmet?”
Mary pointed her sword tip at Jin’s head, her voice full of excitement.
“Ah, you mean the Rune of Mul-ta?”
“Is that what it's called? Anyway, that black helmet. I don't think you would have been hurt like that if you’d used it.”
“It’s for the same reason you're wearing an eyepatch, Sister.”
Mary paused at Jin’s answer. It wasn't that she had lost an eye; she wasn't wearing the eyepatch because of an injury. She felt that if Jin couldn't use his Magic Sword Secret Techniques or the Pluto's Sovereign Sword, it was only fair for her to have a handicap of her own.
Mary believed Jin was superior to her overall, but she had faith that she was ahead of him in pure swordsmanship.
“Ho-oh, is that so?”
“Think about it, Sister. You and I were evenly matched in our first duel. Even then, I held back because I was afraid you might die. Do you really think I need to use an artifact like that?”
“It's too late for talk! Save it for after you've forced me to take off this eyepatch, brother!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the distance between them closed again. In the blink of an eye, the Viper was already flying toward his face, obscuring his vision.
Judging it to be a thrust, Jin raised his sword to parry, but with a clatter, the chain sword unraveled and changed its path. Moving like a snake, like a whip, the Viper lashed out from all directions, making it hard to believe it was the attack of a single person.
To the spectators, it looked as if Jin was completely trapped within the trajectories and afterimages of the chain sword. Crrack! Every time one of them stepped, the deck gouged and wooden splinters flew.
The pressure from the chain sword grew heavier. This was the result of Mary’s entire body becoming wreathed in aura. It was a variation of her 7th Decisive Technique—not a self-destruction move, but a type of physical enhancement.
Runcandel 7th Decisive Technique:
Volcano – Mary Runcandel
Cyron himself had personally permitted Mary to name the Volcano after herself. Jin had seen her unleash it once before, though its form back then was slightly different.
It’s a variation of the Volcano she used when she saved me and the little beastmen from the Wraith Squad. Whether she’s progressed since then or not, the feeling is completely different.
He didn't have the luxury to look back on that moment with gratitude. Nor did he need to ask if it was okay to use such a powerful technique that might wreck the fleet.
Cough—!
The moment their swords clashed after she unleashed Volcano, Jin coughed up a clump of blood and stumbled back.
It was a bizarre sword art.
Mary’s strikes while using Volcano were comparable to the full-powered blows of a 10-star warrior, yet for some reason, they caused absolutely no damage to anything other than Jin.
…The impact isn't escaping to the outside at all?
Mary’s Viper, empowered by Volcano, delivered its shock only to Jin. Even when she struck down with enough force to make him vomit blood, not even a small crack appeared on the deck.
Because of this, it looked to outsiders like the siblings were just playing around. It seemed like a normal exchange of blows, yet Jin was the only one twisting his body or coughing up blood every time their swords met.
The impact, which should have naturally dissipated outward according to the laws of physics, was instead churning solely inside his body—a phenomenon Jin found difficult to comprehend.
“Ah, what is happening?! It looks like light attacks, but Sir Jin is coughing up blood! This is a crisis for Sir Jin!”
Like the crowd, most of Jin’s companions in Tikan couldn't understand the sight. Even Casimir, known as the Ghost Sword, was seeing this kind of swordsmanship for the first time.
“Oho, I see. Valkas, your assessment wasn't entirely wrong. To think Mary Runcandel has already reached such a level. That girl must have a more delicate side than I thought. Even in my time, there weren't many humans who could pull that off.”
Murakan, having lived for over three thousand years and witnessed Runcandel’s golden age, immediately recognized the level of skill being displayed.
“What is happening?”
“Well, hey, Quicantel. What did they call that? It’s been so long I can't remember.”
“Temar called it Abyssal Heat. It was a method used more by brawlers than swordsmen.”
“Ah, right. Abyssal Heat Sword, that was the name. It’s a sword that causes no external impact and only induces internal injuries. That’s why the kid is in pain from attacks that look ordinary.”
Thud, thud, thud!
Every time their swords touched, a horrific pain, as if dozens of awls were boring through his organs, washed over him. Cold sweat drenched his hair, which was standing on end.
He had to create distance.
The response was obvious. However, he couldn't use a technique powerful enough to push Mary back, and with the limited space, it wasn't easy.
…Sister won't be able to keep using this kind of sword while maintaining Volcano forever. The Volcano variation itself puts an immense burden on the body.
But banking on that and stalling for time was both a gamble and an impossibility. Mary already knew about his magic, including the Flash Cannon, so his spells wouldn't buy him much time.
Therefore, he had to end it in one breath.
And in truth, Jin had planned to do so from the beginning. He had just been flustered by the unexpected variables of the Light Speed Thrust and the Abyssal Heat Sword. There was a reason he had drawn Sigmund first, even knowing its Pluto Sword techniques weren't suited for a battle under such restricted conditions.
Crackle… Zap!
As the lightning energy spreading from Sigmund quickly engulfed Jin’s entire body, Mary spoke.
“Is that the technique you showed at the Garden of Swords? You’ll surely be disqualified for that. Or do you want to kill your big sister, regardless of winning or losing?”
When Jin nodded, Mary let out a smirk.