Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: ACT.40 The Head of the Phoenix, Xie (3)
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“Perfect. I was curious about your strength, too.”
Crackle!
The mana imbued in her sword sparked like an electrical discharge.
It was the same as with Roberto.
She had the ‘Mysticism’ trait, which blocked my Extreme Eye, so I couldn't figure out exactly what kind of power she possessed.
‘I should probably assume that all the reasonably skilled members of Salvatio have this trait.’
There are many traits and skills besides Extreme Eye that can steal an opponent's information.
She might not know I have Extreme Eye, but she's eliminated any possibility of someone checking her information.
She certainly knows what's important in a world like this.
If that was a unique trait that only one person could obtain, my life would be a lot easier.
“Now then, let's see that power you used to beat Roberto!”
Craaash!
The sword hadn't even touched the ground, yet it cracked and was scorched black.
If it's lightning-based power, I know Jeon Do-jin, so I should be able to handle it fairly easily.
That thought was fleeting.
Rumble!
Lightning swept through the area, following the movements of her sword.
Her attacks were both destructive and unpredictable, making her difficult to subdue.
‘It feels like she's only using the advantages of lightning abilities.’
Even Jeon Do-jin has clear strengths and weaknesses.
Destructive, wide-ranging, and powerful.
But in exchange, its utility is significantly lower.
It's as if everything was poured into offensive power, lowering everything else by that much.
This was clearly demonstrated when we were escaping from Dongdaemun.
Jeon Do-jin hadn't used his ability at all because a single misstep could get himself or his allies caught in it.
‘But Xie is different.’
Clang!
Across our locked blades, I could see Xie's ecstatic face.
Perhaps even more so than Jeon Do-jin, who was synonymous with lightning abilities.
I had to admit she handled her power much better.
However, that alone didn't fully explain it.
‘Jeon Do-jin is on par with the guild masters.’
There's no way he's unskilled in handling his power.
And yet, there's this much of a gap.
This wasn't something that could be explained away by mere proficiency.
“I can see how Roberto lost! Normally, anyone who takes my attacks like this would have their insides turned to mush and wouldn't even be able to stand properly!”
“Do you know what that means?”
“What?”
“That my mana is superior to yours.”
A strange smile formed on Xie's face.
They say some people laugh when they're angry. Xie must be one of them.
“I really like you…!”
The moment I thought I saw a flash in Xie's eyes, her sword suddenly split into several.
I'd been feeling a sense of unease for a while now.
I felt like I'd finally found the answer.
Clang!
Numerous feints cluttered my vision, and from between them, a single true strike aimed for a vital point.
It's a very threatening attack.
However, as long as I have Extreme Eye, this kind of trickery won't work on me.
“Kuh!?”
I parried the sword and followed up with a roundhouse kick.
Caught by the counterattack, Xie flew back some distance, her face contorted.
“I thought something was strange. That's the Lightning God Saber Art, isn't it?”
A hidden piece sleeping in the lands of China, an ultimate martial art.
Just as its name suggests, using it with a lightning-related ability creates insane synergy.
If you look closely, Xie's weapon is closer to a saber than a sword.
‘I thought she was keeping up well despite the obvious stat difference.’
With a ‘So, you found out’ expression, Xie dusted herself off.
A systematic martial art can bridge the gap in stats.
It's like the difference between someone who's just strong and someone who may lack strength but has technique.
It's the same principle.
“I wonder which fool it was who said we only needed to worry about the Strategy King in Korea…”
Xie corrected her stance and carefully aimed her weapon.
I raised the corner of my mouth slightly.
‘Martial arts are classified as skills.’
I've also enjoyed using the Lightning God Saber Art myself.
A top-tier lightning-related trait, and for a skill, the Lightning God Saber Art.
Armed with these two, it was possible to go on a rampage up to around Chapter 30.
I've stayed away from it since I stopped getting lightning traits, but I still remember all its attack patterns.
“There were others in China who knew the Lightning God Saber Art. But no one has ever defeated me. Do you know why?”
Crackle…
Electricity arced wildly from the saber's blade.
Is she planning to pressure me by using the ultimate moves of the Lightning God Saber Art in earnest?
“Because knowing it and facing it are two different things.”
“Lady Xie! Please crush that arrogant bastard right now!”
“You're finished, you bastard!”
The players from the Phoenix side watching the duel were already acting as if they'd won.
Not to be outdone, Jo Min-ah and Jo Min-woo also started cheering for me, so I just gave a small laugh.
The others are probably in the middle of fighting undead, so it's a bit absurd that these guys are just messing around.
Xie's expression, which was smiling and waving like an idol responding to her fans, changed in an instant.
“I'll make it so you don't even have the leisure to smile…!”
Xie's form vanished in an instant.
In its place, a blue current of electricity approached through the air.
I lightly stomped my foot and twisted my body just enough to dodge.
“Flying Lightning’s Toll.”
Swoosh!
As Xie's attack missed so easily, the area fell silent for a moment.
My eyes met Xie's, which were wide enough to tear.
It's not just about knowing the moves, but knowing how to break them.
Xie was shocked by this fact, but as if to deny it, she bit her lip and attacked again.
“Lightning Spirit Blade.”
“…!”
Claaang!!
Our weapons clashed head-on.
And the result was clear.
“Ugh…!”
While I stood my ground, Xie, the one who had attacked, stumbled backward.
Not only was her move countered, but she was also losing in the contest of strength.
Having this shown so openly, Xie's expression remained grim.
“L-Lady Xie is being pushed back!?”
“Instead of this, shouldn't we join in and push them back now? There are only four of them!”
“Stay put, you idiots!”
When Xie snapped, those who had been inching forward froze in place.
“We might be able to beat those four, but we'd also suffer irreparable damage. Don't move recklessly.”
“H-How is that possible!?”
“It's because you didn't get a good look at those soldiers earlier.”
Xie wiped her face with her sleeve and caught her breath.
“I thought that idiot Roberto had been careless again, high on his own power. But I was the one who was careless.”
Her face looked somehow relieved.
With an expression completely different from before, Xie took a new stance.
Instead of having her weapon drawn, it was sheathed—a drawing stance.
“I'm coming at you with everything I've got.”
Crackle!!
The air trembled.
An immense amount of mana was concentrating around Xie.
Jo Min-ah, who was sensitive to mana, turned pale and shouted.
“O-Oppa! Be careful!”
I kept my eyes fixed on Xie and gave a slight nod.
I know.
Of course I did. That was probably Xie's most powerful technique.
The ultimate technique of the ‘Lightning God Saber Art’.
“Secret Art.”
Here it comes.
Not to be outdone, I shrouded my Black Moon Divine Sword in Black Flame.
The moment the saber was slowly drawn from its sheath and her arm swung wide.
“Azure Sky Thunderclap.”
Kwwaaaaa!
A sky-blue sword aura, containing compressed electrical currents, rushed toward me.
A powerful ultimate move that diagonally incinerated everything in its path.
“Shattering Moon.”
Kwwaaaaa!
In response, I used what I had been preparing.
Black light and sky-blue light collided in midair, neither giving way as they began a tense struggle for dominance.
But as time passed, a victor began to emerge.
Krrrrk!
This was Shattering Moon, shrouded in Black Flame.
It was safe to say that, with few exceptions, nothing could gain an upper hand against the Black Flame, which endlessly gnawed away at and burned its opponent.
‘Still, I can't let my guard down.’
It looks like a single strike at first glance, but it's actually two sword auras.
One slash as she draws the saber, and another as she swings back along the same path.
That was the true terror of Azure Sky Thunderclap.
If you treat it as a single attack, you'll be struck by the hidden second one.
‘So, once I've blocked the aura from advancing further, I have to act immediately.’
Azure Sky Thunderclap has a fairly long recovery time.
If I aim for that opening, I can secure a definite advantage.
Fwoosh!
I instantly closed the distance behind her and slammed the pommel of my sword into her back.
“Keuk!”
She collapsed with a short scream.
Gasping for breath, Xie looked at the blade at her neck and then up at me in disbelief.
“Even after using a technique like that… you still have this much power left?”
“I told you I had a lot of mana, didn't I?”
“To be so potent in such useless things…!”
“…”
The translator seems to be acting up again.
It's not that the meaning is completely wrong, though.
I found myself pressing my temples.
Xie bit her lip and glared venomously.
“Kuh, kill me!”
“Are you crazy? Why would I kill you?”
The Song of the Dead hasn't stopped yet.
In this situation, if someone dies, they'll just be resurrected as an undead immediately, which would only be a hassle.
“You won't kill a general defeated in battle?”
“Cherish your life. Why are you so eager to die?”
“What a humiliation…!”
Xie's body trembled.
“To lose a fight and have my life spared by the enemy…”
“Are you from the Middle Ages or something?”
“My family is a martial family! I've trained in martial arts regardless of being a player! I've been raised that way since I was a child!”
“That's right! Lady Xie has been conquering the neighborhood since kindergarten! I, who have served her since she was a child, can vouch for it! For the record, she was even cuter back then!”
“Shut up.”
“…Then you must have had a family martial art, right? You shouldn't be able to learn another one.”
I continued my question while watching the speaker sink into the ground.
If you learn one martial art, you can't learn another.
It's the same principle as being unable to acquire a water ability when you already have a fire one.
Xie scoffed as if to ask what I was talking about.
“My family's martial art is something I learned and used even before becoming a player. What does that have to do with the system?”
So that's how it works.
All sorts of strange things happen when reality and the system merge.
It wasn't a topic I was particularly interested in, so I didn't ask further and ended the conversation.
More importantly, should I enforce the conditions of the duel?
As I was thinking that, Xie spoke confidently.
“I have sworn to marry only someone stronger than myself.”
“…?”
“Therefore, Kim Se-hyeon. I will make you a candidate for my husband.”
“No, I refuse.”
“What…!”
Xie's face turned beet red.
“I-I'm offering to turn my back on Salvatio and side with you! Don't you understand!?”
‘Honestly, that part is useful.’
But I can't shake this feeling of unease.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at Xie.
“There's no way I can trust you when you suddenly pivot to this.”
“I only joined Salvatio in the first place because I could meet many strong people. I couldn't care less about their goals.”
“For someone who doesn't care, you were quite heated about this incident.”
“That's because once you belong to an organization, you have to do the work you're given. And it's good for me if I get stronger in the process.”
“Hmm…”
As I stroked my chin in thought, Jo Min-ah said innocently,
“Wow~ Oppa, did you just get a public proposal?”
“…No.”
“Then I'll give you some information first, to earn your trust. How about that?”
“That's not a bad idea.”
“Ah, I think I've seen this in a Korean drama! Is this what they call a contract marriage!?”
I want this conversation to end.
I instinctively held my forehead.
“So, what's this information?”
***
Sometime after Se-hyeon heard the information and left, once he was out of sight.
The smile vanished completely from Xie's face.
A man nearby asked cautiously.
“How did it go?”
“I don't think he bought it, but I'll have to keep pushing this persona.”
Xie scratched her head irritably, then casually handed her saber to the man.
From the beginning, Xie had two plans.
If she won the fight, that would be simple and good.
But if she was pushed back, she would attach herself to Kim Se-hyeon like a double agent.
Remembering how she'd practiced to pull off the character she'd devised for this plan, Xie's brow furrowed for a moment before she let out a small sigh as if to say it was fine.
“My lady.”
“It's fine. If he's an enemy we can't handle recklessly, it's better to get close and extract information.”
Xie, now wearing a clean outer garment, gave a meaningful smile.
“And if I can keep that detestable L-Team in check at the same time, all the better.”
Because if Kim Se-hyeon really did come over to her side and strengthen her forces, that would be good in its own right.
However, Xie's smile vanished at the sound of Se-hyeon's voice, which suddenly returned.
“Ah, there's something I forgot.”
“Gah!?”