Chapter 190
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Execution Holy Assembly (5)
In the end, with the coordinates splitting into two locations, the group divided their personnel accordingly.
"You..."
Wi Ho-yeon moved alongside Yun Yeon, the master of Myth Clan. Upon arriving at the coordinates, she spotted a familiar face.
"Hahaha! Long time no see! Wi Ho-yeon!"
The name that came to mind when thinking of spearmen in the Eastern Alliance—a man who had once fawned over her.
Phantom Spear Baek Si-hoon was cheering upon spotting her.
"To come here on your own two feet! Haha!"
"You... why are you here?"
"Why? What do you mean?"
"... Phantom Spear, did you kidnap Lee Yun-seong?"
Baek Si-hoon's face twisted at the way Wi Ho-yeon addressed Lee Yun-seong.
"... Ha, Lee Yun-seong?"
"Phantom Spear...! Where on earth is Lee Yun-seong? What have you done to him?!"
Wi Ho-yeon had rarely lost her composure like this.
She knew it herself, and Baek Si-hoon, who had seen her up close before, could tell as well.
He could also sense that she held this guy named Lee Yun-seong dear.
"Ha..."
"Phantom Spear!"
A chuckle escaped Baek Si-hoon at Wi Ho-yeon's near-desperate cry.
"Kuk, hahaha... What did I do to him? Guess what I might've done to that bastard, huh?"
"You...!"
"He must mean a lot to you? Never seen you react like this before."
As Wi Ho-yeon was about to snap back at Baek Si-hoon, Yun Yeon, who had been listening to their exchange, spoke up.
"... What did you do to Lee Yun-seong?"
Baek Si-hoon's gaze naturally shifted to her at the question.
"... And who the hell are you?"
Tension flickered across Baek Si-hoon's face.
Wi Ho-yeon was strong, but this woman was on par with him.
No, as much as he hated to admit it, she might even be stronger.
The masked man beside Baek Si-hoon answered his question.
"... She's the Myth Clan master."
"Myth Clan master? Then..."
"She's a ranker like you."
"....."
Baek Si-hoon fell silent for a moment before smirking slyly.
"I see. So you're the famous Myth Clan master? What brings the renowned Myth Clan master here..."
"Shut up and answer what you did to him."
His anger surged at her cutting him off so bluntly.
If she weren't a ranker on his level, he would've thrust his spear at her right then.
"Ha, fuck... these bitches..."
As Yun Yeon stepped forward upon Baek Si-hoon ignoring her to mutter curses, Wi Ho-yeon intervened.
"... Myth Clan master, please wait."
".. Ms. Wi?"
Wi Ho-yeon held Yun Yeon back and spoke.
"Myth Clan master, I'm sorry. Could I handle Phantom Spear? Please deal with the masked man over there."
"... You're saying you'll take on Phantom Spear?"
"... Yes."
Yun Yeon cautiously voiced her concern at Wi Ho-yeon's response.
"... Ms. Wi, I don't mean to belittle you, so please don't take this the wrong way. Compared to your experience..."
"... Yes, I know he's a tough opponent for me."
Wi Ho-yeon was painfully aware of it, even without Yun Yeon saying it.
She knew full well that Baek Si-hoon's prowess surpassed her own.
Back in the Eastern Alliance, she'd sparred with him a few times and felt his overwhelming strength firsthand.
Her talent wasn't lacking. In terms of raw potential, they were on equal footing.
The difference was their years of experience on this continent.
With equal talent, it was natural for Baek Si-hoon, who started earlier, to outpace her.
That's why Yun Yeon reacted with worry to Wi Ho-yeon's words.
And at the same time, she couldn't understand Wi Ho-yeon's judgment.
Given Phantom Spear's power, it made sense for her, a fellow ranker, to take him on.
"... Ms. Wi, then why?"
"I... I feel like I have to be the one to face him."
"... Pardon?"
Instead of answering, Wi Ho-yeon slowly drew her formless sword.
For some reason, her instincts strongly urged her that she had to confront this man.
'I know it'll be tough. But still...'
He was a wall she had to overcome eventually. She knew he had his eyes on her.
'If... if something happened to Lee Yun-seong because of me... if this is all my fault...'
It might be overthinking, but if Baek Si-hoon had targeted Lee Yun-seong because of her...
Then she had to deal with him herself.
Baek Si-hoon eyed Wi Ho-yeon's sword, a glint in his eyes.
"That's no ordinary sword."
"......"
"Ha, you're really gonna take me on? Wi Ho-yeon, you serious?"
"Yes."
Baek Si-hoon burst into laughter at her reply.
"Kuk... hahaha! Sure, I know you've got talent. Sword Empress and all that. But..."
"....."
"It won't cut it against me. This isn't about talent—you know that."
"... Phantom Spear, enough talk. Draw your spear."
Wi Ho-yeon's gaze was resolute.
"Haha, got some guts? Or do you just wanna get beaten by me?"
Baek Si-hoon licked his lips and gripped his spear.
Chak.
"Is this 'cause you wanna be my woman or something?"
"... I have zero interest in becoming yours. Get over yourself, Phantom Spear."
"... Yeah? Guess I'll have to make you mine by force then. You talked big, so come at me. You'll regret it like in our old spars. Time to show you the real gap."
The moment Baek Si-hoon finished speaking, Wi Ho-yeon kicked off.
As her sword clashed with his spear, it was only natural that Yun Yeon and the masked man engaged in combat too.
"Kuk...!"
The level gap was clear, leaving the man breaking out in cold sweat.
"Damn it!"
In a head-on clash between a martial artist and an assassin, the martial artist held the advantage.
Assassins only unleashed their full power on ambushes; in direct confrontations like this, they couldn't perform at peak.
And his opponent was a ranker woman, no less.
Kwang!
"This crazy...!"
Objects around him turned to dust from Yun Yeon's punch, making his legs tremble.
'One hit from that and I'm done.'
Dodging was all he could manage. Matching her fists with his short daggers was suicide.
"Why do I have to fight this woman...!"
The Sword Empress wasn't a pushover, but logically, he should've been up against her given their levels.
He had no idea why he was stuck with this monster, cursing his luck.
"Hey, wait, hold on!"
"You just gonna keep running?"
He barely dodged Yun Yeon's punch, but as if anticipating it, her roundhouse kick followed.
"Damn...!"
Cclang—
"Kuh... urk!"
He minimized damage by twisting away, but even that was too much.
'What a monster...!'
The impact felt like hitting a truck; his insides churned.
'No good, I gotta run.'
Fighting on would just get him crushed by that monster's fists.
The man pulled a smoke bomb from his pocket and hurled it to the ground.
Pung!
"This is..."
It was a smoke grenade, specially made for escapes.
Yun Yeon realized it and saw him fleeing.
She could pursue, but one concern held her back.
Sensing her hesitation on his account, Wi Ho-yeon shouted while clashing with Baek Si-hoon.
"Myth Clan master, don't worry about me."
"... You sure?"
"Yes, trust me."
"....."
Yun Yeon kicked off at Wi Ho-yeon's words.
Glancing back briefly as she launched, she felt an odd sensation.
'... I need to come back fast.'
Right after Yun Yeon left, Baek Si-hoon laughed.
"Hahaha! What the hell are you thinking?"
"... What do you mean?"
"Kuk, what kinda idiot lets her go like that? You really think you can beat me?"
Wi Ho-yeon steadied her stance and replied.
"... You never know till you try, Phantom Spear."
"Hah, yeah? Maybe I should compare my lower half with yours too?"
Wi Ho-yeon grimaced at his crude joke.
"... You haven't changed. Still the worst kind of person."
"Haha, so if the worst guy like me dirties you up, you'll be worst too?"
"That won't happen."
Wi Ho-yeon spoke boldly, but she was extremely tense.
She knew losing meant something awful.
He never hid his filthy desires for her.
Fear wasn't absent. Losing would cost her everything.
Yet she wanted to beat him anyway.
She wanted to kneel before him, beg forgiveness, and tell him she'd executed his attacker herself.
'... I have to atone.'
Letting the one who harmed her lord slide was unthinkable.
Jiiing—
Her formless sword resonated, responding to her resolve.
Seeing it, Baek Si-hoon was genuinely impressed.
"Impressive. You've stepped into the realm of intent? Ha...!"
Even among rankers, only about half awakened intent.
Achieving it was exceedingly rare.
"My eye for women never fails. Makes you even more tempting."
But admiration didn't mean fear.
He had entered that realm long ago.
He had no doubt of beating a newbie like her.
Wi Ho-yeon closed in instantly and swung her sword.
With an invisible blade, most foes died without sensing the attack range.
But Baek Si-hoon wasn't ordinary. He was a top predator on this continent.
"Good form, solid breathing. But too straightforward."
Chaeng!
He parried with his spear, spun, and struck at her with the shaft.
"Eut...!"
Kang!
As she blocked the shaft, he raised his left foot.
Peok—!
Jiiiik!
"....!"
She reacted in time to take it on the shoulder, but her body slid back.
'Definitely... strong.'
He hadn't claimed the ranker spot for nothing. His spearwork was erratic and sharp.
And Phantom Spear didn't just swing his spear—he knew how to use his body perfectly in combat.
"How's it feel? Getting the picture? Told you you're no match. If you wanted to win—or even draw—you should've come back in a year."
Wi Ho-yeon recalled what she knew of Baek Si-hoon.
He'd lost his title to Seo Yu-ju recently, but besides Phantom Spear, he had another signature one.
'.... Youngest Ranker.'
Back when he wasn't a lawless rogue, people always mentioned it about him.
No player had pure talent surpassing his.
"Surrender and be mine now. I'll treat you nice."
"....."
Ignoring him, Wi Ho-yeon reset her stance.
She knew he was strong. But she wouldn't despair at the wall.
People grew by surpassing walls. She just had to climb it.