Chapter 60

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 60

Chapter Title: Dance of Death

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1.

"...It's a strategic retreat. The opponent will hit level 2 first anyway. Why would I step up and fight them head-on?"

A single level difference didn't matter much at higher levels. But down here in the low levels, that one level gap was huge.

"There's nothing dumber than fighting in conditions that favor the enemy."

In combat, environment was just as crucial as skill. You had to control the environment to minimize variables.

Slash!

I slashed at the soldier charging from the turret race. I wiped the blood from my face with my thumb and spoke.

"Just wait. The opportunity will come. Then I'll grab it and kill them."

The second wave of minions entered the lane. The line formed awkwardly near the turret. Now the situation favored me.

It was because of the difference in our weapon ranges. Now the enemy hero would go for last hits on the minions, and I'd keep harassing to whittle down their health bit by bit.

The moment their health dropped low enough for a kill, I'd snatch that neck.

Whoosh!

I hid behind the minions and only went for finishes. To watch for the line pushing.

Slash!

Reika swung her twin blades. The flashy trajectory sliced through the minions' necks in one go. Clearly trying to push the line.

Whoosh!

The moment the opponent swung her twin blades at our minions, I thrust my greatsword over our minion's shoulder. The blade tip flew straight at the enemy's face.

Reika leaped back as if she'd been waiting. Her twin blades crossed in an X and charged at me.

It was that exact move from before.

'Stupid bitch.'

I grinned and began charging. The blade turned pitch black.

The instant the enemy swung at my chest, I slammed my sword down.

Crunch!

The blackened blade dug deep into the enemy's shoulder. The impact smashed them into the ground.

"Over there!"

The soldiers on the turret aimed their ballista at Reika. She tried to scramble up, but I wasn't about to let her.

A massive arc swing. Just as the blade was about to pierce her side, the enemy burrowed into my guard instead.

Whoosh!

The sure-hit strike cleaved empty air. She dashed forward briefly and slashed my abdomen repeatedly with her twin blades.

Boom!

An arrow from the turret pierced Reika's shoulder. She used the impact to escape the turret's range.

Pain surged from my gut, drawing a hollow laugh from me. My lips curled up on their own.

'Crazy bitch?'

Dodge when you should attack, attack when you should dodge. A chain of utterly unpredictable choices.

Of course, the opponent hadn't escaped unscathed. My attacks and the ballista had dropped her health below half.

But she'd damaged me too, so no real gain. Considering her skill, pushing for a kill here would be tough.

"...Tch."

Having to play cautious against her stung my pride. And she wasn't even a pro or anything.

The enemy's shoulder armor was shattered. Blood trickled from her mouth, but her face remained expressionless. Like it was all just routine.

"Hm."

For some reason, she reminded me of someone. I chuckled and shook my head.

'Nah, couldn't be.'

I regripped my greatsword and cleared the minions. After that exchange, we both played passively.

The viewers called it boring. But they didn't know. Right now, we were locked in a fierce mind game.

Whoosh!

Reika grabbed a melee minion and shoved her blade into its gut. I swung my greatsword down as if I'd been waiting.

Bang!

She kicked the dead minion's corpse and rolled backward.

"Tch."

Rat-like agility. Slipping just in and out of my attack range—it was infuriating.

'Stay calm.'

Frustration built from my failed attacks, but I took a deep breath to cool my excitement. Lose composure, and I'd lose the fight.

[llIlllIllIlll: Kairon-nim, gank incoming? Should I guard?]

I immediately replied in our jungler's chat not to come. Calling jungle hurt my pride.

"Not sure how the opponent will respond."

I told them to invest elsewhere, but Reika might call jungle too. Victory's world is cold.

"Enemy jungler might be in gank range, so I'll play safe for now."

The standoff lasted. I tried pulling the line as much as possible, but the enemy pushed all the way to the turret.

Finally, enemy minions attacked the turret, pushing our line back.

"...Enemy might go for a kill here. Or call jungle."

I pushed the line slowly, more alert. The opponent seemed to catch on, last-hitting only to pull like me.

'Bingo.'

If the enemy's attitude shifted suddenly, only one reason. They had something up their sleeve.

"I'll secure vision first. Can't play like this, too uneasy."

I left the minions and ran to the river, planting a ward.

Thud!

Returning to lane, Reika suddenly charged me.

A short dash. Reflexively, I moved as she swung her twin blades.

Whoosh!

A massive arc with the greatsword. The enemy leaped back immediately.

Third time seeing this pattern. If it hit me again, I wasn't human.

The blade blackened. I timed it as she crossed her blades and charged, slamming down the greatsword.

But mid-flight, Reika twisted sideways. She'd canceled the skill into another.

Bang!

The blade's path whiffed emptily before my eyes. Then her sliding twin blades aimed for my neck.

Just before the blades touched my skin, my body became black shadow. Her twin blades sliced empty air, sending a chill down my neck.

'Still alive.'

I swallowed and calculated the flow ahead. Once geared later, she'd be even more agile—tougher to handle.

Decision made.

I glanced at the river. No jungler. Perfect chance to kill the enemy.

'End it here.'

Using the speed from shadow form, I flanked her. Reika spun. Her half-turning twin blades passed through me.

Crunch!

As she tried to recover her weapons, I dropped the shadow state. Grabbed her neck and hoisted her skyward.

"Guh, guhuk...!"

Reika's face twisted. I smirked.

The moment I thrust my greatsword into her gut with my other hand, radiant light bloomed from her body.

'Level up...!'

But how?

She was in my grasp. No way she could kill a minion. Then I saw her right hand. One sword was missing.

I followed her gaze. A familiar sword impaled a minion's neck. She'd thrown it the instant I grabbed her.

"Damn...!"

A faint smile crept onto her twisted face. The weight in my grip vanished.

Mist rose around me.

Swish—

Right side.

A black shadow appeared, slashing through me.

Slashhh!

The sharp blade cleaved even thick armor. Then a presence from the left. I hurriedly raised my greatsword.

Slash!

Sure enough, I was cut.

Reika's ultimate: Dance of Death.

'Can't let this continue.'

Taking all hits wouldn't kill me outright. But I'd be near death.

Smack in the middle of the lane. Once the ultimate ended, her other skills would be off cooldown. Only death awaited.

I had to overcome this. But how? Everything was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠against me.

I scanned around. Minions entered my view. An idea hit.

'If she uses her ultimate, so will I.'

No time to hesitate. I dove into the thick of the battling minions.

The greatsword arced wide, sweeping minions.

Slashhh!

Frontline minions spewed blood and fell. Then I charged the archers behind.

The blackened blade swung. Blood sprayed like a fountain.

Slashhh!

But even then, Reika's blades relentlessly slashed me. Blood burst out. My health bar hugged the bottom of the screen.

The moment I downed the second archer.

Radiant light exploded from my body. Health recovered partially.

I immediately picked the ultimate and turned.

Blinked toward our base. Vision flashed; turret neared.

Slashhh!

Reika still pursued. Of course—her ultimate tracked a single target.

Meaning she'd follow anywhere. Even to hell.

Crackle!

Something shattered. My body rocketed forward in a straight line. Explosive acceleration landed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me at the turret instantly.

"Over there!"

Our soldiers shouted from the turret.

The mist around me dispersed. Reika appeared again. She charged without hesitation.

Clang!

I raised my greatsword. Metal clashed, red sparks flew. Her sliding blade dug into my gut.

Stab!

Blocked one blade, but the other in her off-hand was unavoidable. I kept the pressure on my greatsword. And pressed down.

Thud!

As her blade sank deeper into my abdomen, a massive arrow from the turret pierced her head cleanly.

Boom!

Reika's body flew back. Her head shattered; she was a corpse.

The victory announcement echoed across the battlefield.

"Kuhuk—."

I let out a hollow laugh, lips curling. Vision fading. I looked down. Two swords buried in my gut.

"Crazy bitch... ."

Managed to land a hit even then.

Bleeding chipped away at my health. Darkness swallowed my vision.