Chapter 30

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Strike of Judgment

-----------------------------------------------------------------

1.

"Haa, haa..."

Every breath sent white puffs scattering into the air. The bone-chilling cold made his ribs ache.

Warm heat leaked from the open wound, rising as white steam, while chunks of ice broke off from the armor frozen stiff with blood.

"Ha... ha..."

His teeth chattered uncontrollably from the cold. He bit down hard on his blue lips and glared at the figure before him.

A black knight standing alone amid a horde of soldiers. The snow around him was already stained a vivid red.

"Hoo..."

He felt no sensation in his fingertips. His knees dripped steadily, and his shoulders felt like leaden weights crushing his entire body.

The soldiers who had fought alongside him were all dead. Retreating now would mean massive losses.

'But in the end, you have to survive to plan for the next step.'

The man exhaled a short breath and cautiously lowered his stance.

Kwaang—!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The moment he stomped the snowfield hard, snow erupted like an explosion. Snowflakes filled the air, blanketing his vision like thick white fog.

He sheathed his sword and pulled a battle axe from his belt, hurling it forward.

Whoosh—!

Even its trajectory was obscured by the blizzard.

'Just a moment is enough. This should definitely snag his ankle.'

Hitting or not didn't matter. It was just a ploy to halt the enemy.

Gritting his teeth, the man squeezed out his remaining strength and started running. Soon, a turret came into view in the distance.

"———!"

He couldn't make out the words, but the soldiers were waving their arms desperately. Their gestures grew clearer.

'What the hell are they trying to say?'

The knight adjusted his helmet and frowned. Their lip movements and hand signals sharpened slightly.

"...Behind?"

That was the moment he finally understood what the soldiers were shouting.

Kwaang—!

A massive boom erupted behind him. He whipped his head around reflexively. In that instant, something cold and thin grazed his nape.

His vision flipped upside down. His body crumpled, and his gaze spun wildly in the air.

A falling head.

Before consciousness faded, the last thing he saw was pitch-black flames engulfing his own body.

2.

The victory announcement echoed across the battlefield, and I curled my lips into a smile. With the lane already cleared, I immediately started recalling.

Glancing at the chat while recalling, the reactions were pretty positive. Well, even I thought that last fight was solid.

"It wasn't like this when I was laning with Elena. Suddenly the enemy skill level shot up."

I bought the items I needed and chatted with viewers. Once my gold was spent, I headed back to the lane.

"Anyone know what tier the enemy is?"

Scanning the chat, yeah, they were matched high. Makes sense—if they'd pulled Platinum, I'd have killed them before ult.

'Getting trickier, but not unbeatable.'

I still had plenty of room. Though near Challenger, focusing on stream might get tough.

I hustled back to the lane on both legs. I'd pushed it before, so the frontline was pulling back slowly.

In the distance, the enemy hero in white armor glared at me, eyes full of killing intent.

'Obviously gunning for level 6 showdown.'

Decapitating him earlier made him conserve spells.

Soon he'd hit 6, grab ult, and go all-in.

'Gotta conserve HP for now.'

Serion's ult: brief invincibility, then AoE damage burst at end to all nearby enemies.

The frontline was receding; Serion pushed slowly, gathering siege units and soldiers to kill me.

'High chance they called jungle.'

I opened ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the map. No sign of jungle.

"Anyone see where jungle was last?"

I asked teammates via voice chat. The silent ones finally spoke.

[Last seen mid. Heading topside.]

[Confirmed.]

"Thanks."

"This is tower dive territory."

Diving to force-kill enemies under turret. Tough due to turret fire, but huge payoff if successful.

Serion's ult perfectly suited—invuln entry. All signs pointed here.

'Ignoring it when I know would be stupid.'

Strategy read; my turn to act. They might interfere, but no jungle in sight.

Now was the moment.

I slipped through allied minions and swung my massive greatsword horizontally. The blackened blade swept the enemy soldiers aside.

The follow-up skill dropped the sword-and-shield soldiers to the ground.

"You bastard!"

The instant Serion thrust his sword at me, I activated.

His blade aiming for my throat sliced empty air. I shifted my shadowy form behind the minions.

'Just clear the wave.'

Dives require minions to tank turret shots briefly.

Top and jungle could force it, but only if my HP was low.

Mine was nearly full at 100%, spells intact. Clear the wave, and they won't dare.

"What now? Wave's almost gone."

I poked forward on skill cooldowns, killing minions and retreating.

The lone surviving archer approached the turret. As the cannon prepped to fire—

Kuwoong—!

A boom from behind. No time to look, I dropped low. The air-ripping whoosh chilled my spine.

Kwaang!

A massive spear embedded in the wall beside me, shattering stone. Dust flew, metal clanged.

'A split-second slower and I'd be dead.'

Lifting my head, Serion charged. Our cannon, having popped the archer, swiveled and fired. The shell exploded against his armor.

Peong—!

Serion burst through black smoke, sword thrusting skyward.

Too late to stand and dodge; I shadowed behind the turret.

Peong!

Second shell hit as white light erupted from him.

'Ult!'

I held still, greatsword ready. Blackened blade. As Serion charged straight, I swung.

Kwaang—!

His shield blocked Shadow Slash—no damage intended.

Kuwoong!

Serion recoiled, tumbling across the ground.

'Knockback was the goal.'

He scrambled up, but melted snow slickened his footing.

Peong!

Another explosion flung him rolling multiple times.

'Out of the fight.'

Turning, I saw the spearman glaring before shapeshifting into a tiger and vanishing into jungle.

'Gone.'

With our top laner near death, no way they'd push dive.

I peeked at rising chat and leaped forward. Far off, battered Serion limped across the snow—charred black, standing out starkly.

He'd fled pretty far. Gotta respect the kiting.

'Might be in range.'

Worth a shot.

SPELLED immediately. Vision flashed; Serion's back neared.

In range; ult activated. Power surged through me as I lunged forward. Blade wreathed in black flame.

Kuwoong—!

Gale whipped up.

Serion turned late. Our eyes met.

"Wha—"

—Chwaak!

The instant he registered me, the blade severed his nape.

Landed and sheathed. Body crumpled. Head hit snow, blood spraying, staining white red.

"Cut."

Dive failed? Pay the price. Right?