The moment the storm ceased.
The Muse’s brows furrowed.
It was probably because she couldn’t see me in her field of vision.
No matter how much of a Muse she was, getting a complete view in a sandstorm was impossible.
She might have to open her eyes sporadically to get a glimpse, all while dancing through the winds.
Just before the dark clouds retreated alongside the vanished storm…
I leaped out from the shadows, plunging a dagger forward.
From the sands, black thorns shot up, and a deep darkness was shrouded at the dagger’s tip.
The strike aimed at her neck barely grazed by.
But it wasn’t without some gain, as blood dripped down to the ground.
“This is tough. I knew you’d come.”
“Oh, really?”
With the opportunity I managed to seize, I felt a bit unsatisfied. But there was no need to rush.
Since when had analyzing my opponent become something only I could do?
If you’re a pro, it’s an expected virtue.
Recently, the Traveler mentioned…
From now on, no one would treat me as just an amateur in this tournament.
From the moment I took down the Ripper, every frame of footage was likely analyzed.
Just from seeing how quickly she deflected my surprise attack at her neck, it’s a sure thing.
But hey, just knowing doesn’t mean you can block everything!
Now, we were on equal footing.
I still had the advantage in stance and spacing.
Leaving light wounds on her arms and collarbone, I pressed on with my attack.
Knowing the opponent’s habits worked in my favor too, I quickly dismantled her defense and slid a blade into her side.
‘First, I want to get rid of that fan of hers.’
The source of the Muse’s wind manipulation was the fan held in her left hand.
If I didn’t take care of it now, I’d have to keep dealing with her ranged control.
If possible, I had to disarm her before the cooldown for her sword dance was over.
The limit I could offer was… up to one of my arms?
If needed, I was even prepared for an exchange that might cost me some bleeding.
Feinting to aim for her lower body, I switched my grip to target her chest.
A hurried movement of my torso. I kicked her knee to break her stance, and pressed my arm against her forearm.
With our arms locked in place due to blocking her curved dagger on the opposite side, we both ended up in a deadlock after a failed attempt to stab her ribs.
While I seemed to be ahead in speed and strength, the slickness of the connecting limbs proved to be an issue.
Both of us were bleeding and sweating a lot, making our skin damp.
“Since I’m fighting on home ground, losing would be really embarrassing, right?”
“You seem confident. It looks good but I’m a bit worried. I feel like I might crush my junior’s spirits.”
“What? Am I being recognized as a junior?”
“Of course. Surviving in this field as a woman is quite tough…”
An opening.
I wish she’d just roll over for me again.
The blade aiming for her wrist was blocked.
The metal plate at the edge of the fan trembled as it met the blade, tremble, tremble.
“You’ve been quite ill-mannered from earlier.”
“You’re just a brash amateur.”
Her combat ability was certainly lower than the Ripper.
In that case, shall we take this to a mud-wrestling match?
The biggest shock someone can face is when their strengths are countered.
And one of the Muse’s forte is her superb submission skills.
Curiously, this was an area where I had little to be intimidated.
In the martial arts, there’s something called ‘Ashibarai.’
A leg sweep starting from the sword. It’s often banned in tournaments, but you can often find mentions that traditional swordsmanship incorporated grappling techniques.
It’s fundamentally a skill that studies the flow of power and body usage. It wouldn’t hurt to know it.
Ultimately, if you dig deeply into martial arts, grappling is an area you’d inevitably touch upon at least once.
I extended my right leg to trip her while leaning in close.
In a flash, my freed arm immediately flung a dagger, landing squarely on her wrist, and seizing the opportunity, I successfully shattered her left arm.
In return, I earned a large gash from my shoulder to my ribs.
The Muse dropped her fan. And I lost one dagger to the ground.
Noticing my intent, she crumpled her expression.
“Do you have confidence in yourself?”
“Yeah. Since I can see your color even now, I’ll switch it up.”
“Color? Ah… you crazy btch!”*
Now both of us were down to one weapon each.
I kicked her wrist holding the curved dagger, while simultaneously tossing my remaining dagger.
The blade lodged squarely into her wrist, disarming her curved dagger.
Now that we were both unarmed, it was once again time for a purely physical fight.
Shoving my body against hers, both the Muse and I rolled onto a rock.
I ended up on top.
The brown-skinned Muse was below.
She pulled on my collar and arm, attempting a submission.
Considering her legs were trying to wrap around my neck, her intent was all too clear.
A triangle choke. A technique famously known as the triangle choke.
“Think you can do it?”
As I pressed down on her thigh with my knee, I defended myself.
Both of us were slick with sweat, not the best condition for movement.
As I pressed against her, her bronzed body shifted along with my movements, changing the angle.
When she reached forward to defend, she got blocked around where her breasts were.
As if about to counter, her leg slowly lifted. If this continued, it would reach my neck, so I changed my approach.
Neither my arms nor the Muse’s fared well due to the injuries.
As we both restrained each other with our bodies and skills, I had one powerful advantage.
Thanks to the initial injury on her Achilles tendon, the Muse’s leg strength was slightly diminished.
I yanked her neck with my left arm.
Giving it my all to twist as I wrapped around her leg.
She bent over, her body folding in on itself.
In this position, pushing down on her shoulder and burrowing in…
Only her lower body would be left suspended towards the sky.
Wouldn’t my butt look quite high from the camera’s angle?
“Phew…”
Her thrashing limbs seemed quite pitiful, desperately trying to escape.
Her sharp nails clawed at my shoulder, but I paid it no mind.
But I couldn’t end the match in this position.
I pulled her jaw, forcing her neck open, and drew my hands inwards.
Her waist curved, gasping. Sounds of her struggle began to rise.
“I used to play like this often in high school. I miss it.”
“W… what?”
“Didn’t everyone try a guillotine choke at least once when they were younger?”
I certainly did experience it—sometimes being on the receiving end or delivering.
Back then, I was sweating profusely with those thick-necked jocks.
Maybe due to being in a game or both of us being women, the unpleasant odor never seemed to come.
“Well, that’s how it was. Shall we wrap this up?”
The lethal ground techniques of desire were truly atrociously deadly.
As I showcased why this submission is called a ‘guillotine’ choke—I ended the match.
In the next round, the Shadow Arena opened, and the battlefield favored the Assassin.
The Muse lost, failing to deliver the same impact as in the first match.
I had secured my advancement to the semifinals in the Round of 4.
*
[Author: ㅇㅇ(422.99)]
[Title: Gawol’s Round of 8 – 8 Strikes of Blade’s Wind.mp6]
(Attached video)
I really couldn’t wrap my head around this, so I kept replaying it, you know?
It seems to me that it really looked like she swung more than 10 times, right?
But why was it only countered 8 times?
Turns out, she just dodged the rest!
At 01:17, you can see the narrowest gap where it just grazed by without any movement at all.
It wasn’t that she didn’t see; her eyes moved slightly, you know?
Was it really just dodging with her eyes?
[Comments]
– If it was a different map, she’d be fine, but in the desert, it’s tough.
– Even pros just set up defenses to block.
– Honestly, if an assassin came out against a Muse in the desert, losing would be the honorable thing to do.
└ For real, the desert isn’t worth that much probability, though.
[Author: Dongtan Mischief Education]
[Title: Gawol’s Highlights in Pilgrim’s Desert]
[Recommendations: 965]
(Attached video)
I edited it mainly focusing on ground battles.
The techniques she defended and applied were quite impressive.
I was just going to keep this to myself, but I felt sorry for you all, so here you go.
(Attached photos: Gawol pressing down with her knee)
(Attached photos: Chests squished together due to their arms)
(Attached photos: Gawol applying a guillotine choke)
Captured so many great moments.
While the Muse’s screenshots appeared in the video,
I won’t post them for the sake of honor.
[Comments]
– I was waiting for this!
– Thanks. It’s well appreciated.
– I want to die happy between soft and chewy thighs, but why is it only the weird guys getting that and not me?! I’m desperate…
└ What the heck is this guy?
└ Dude,
└ Calm down!
[Author: Dongtan Mischief Education]
[Title: But do they have wrestling in all-girls schools?]
(Attached video: Gawol’s comments about guillotine chokes in high school)
I went to a co-ed school,
But none of the girls at our school did stuff like that.
The guys were dropkicking each other, but looks like the girls secretly enjoyed it!
It would have been nice if we could all do it together.
[Comments]
– If we did, it would be with you, right?
└ You brat…
– Ah, are you unaware? High school girls originally have the combat power of two special forces combined!
[Author: ㅇㅇ(258.78)]
[Title: Didn’t expect Gawol to make it this far.]
So she wasn’t just a surprise attack one-trick pony assassin?
She’s actually good at fighting but just doesn’t broadcast or go pro?
And she happens to join an event tournament?
Why?
[Comments]
– Seriously, dude, it makes no sense!
– If she wins seriously, she should definitely stream it!
– Don’t the Elderin or Sulbbang get her to join?
[Author: ㅇㅇ(382.161)]
[Title: Traveler’s surprisingly tough huh?]
[Author: ㅇㅇ(311.138)]
[Title: Ah… this could be tough.]
[Author: PeroPero]
[Title: Round of 8 Kelberos Winner Interview Translation]
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