Spot! Kakakang!
Chuk.
After a fierce clash, Melissa’s posture lowered as she forcefully pushed her sword away and created some distance.
One Flash.
The moment I felt a chill run down my spine, I immediately activated Backward Evasion.
Paat! Kkwa kkwa kkwa! Kakakang!
I wanted to capitalize on the delay after using One Flash, but there was no time to change direction. Melissa’s One Flash is invisible to the eyes. The explosive power emanating from her firmly planted feet and the blue flash shooting forward. You can’t dodge a bullet by just seeing it. Melissa’s One Flash is the same; I must react only to the movement.
In no time, a large blue flash expanded in my view, and as the invincibility time of my Backward Evasion ended, I met it head-on with my sword. If I hadn’t dodged beyond space, my body would have been sliced into dozens of pieces.
Honestly, fighting the “Ancient Hero” or the Commander would be way more comfortable.
Spot!
Melissa’s thrust, filled with fierce power, narrowly missed my side. I couldn’t block everything. Even if the system claims “Block” can shield all front attacks, at least half of Melissa’s strikes can’t be guarded. If my movement to twist my body to the right had been even slightly delayed, it wouldn’t have been the empty space by my side but my own heart frantically beating inside my tiny body that got pierced.
As I brushed off the sword aura, I briefly complained inside while aligning my sword along the trails of blue light pouring from her sword.
Every clash with the blue light felt like walking on thin ice. My defense, which had protected my body from all attacks up to now, was ineffective. My opponent had a swordsmanship of the same level but a dimension above mine. The mana granted by the Holy Sword significantly increased my power, much unlike the past. At this moment, I’m even outclassed in power.
Attacking in a way that aims for the post-delay isn’t going to work. Melissa’s strikes flow like water. In the face of her thrusts that resemble blades of blue light, even my sweeping sword couldn’t connect, metaphorically throwing a piece in a chess match.
At least, there were openings when fighting the “Ancient Hero.” This battle dynamic is different from the straightforward attacks of the “Ancient Hero”, who relied on a sturdy guard technique and their powerful thrusts.
How on earth should I strategize against this?
Round and round.
The swordlight erupting from Melissa’s waist drew circles. The trajectory of that blue light was aimed at my neck. It’s fast. Strong. Unblockable.
Tat!
Spapapap!
Clenching my teeth, I executed Backward Evasion. Not too late. But the moment distance widened, the blue sword aura shooting from Melissa’s sword targeted my entire body.
Should I cancel it with Starlight Swordsmanship? The cooldown hasn’t reset yet. Should I activate the cooldown reset function? No.
Tatata!
Kkwa kkwa kkwa!
The storm of sword energy swept across the spot I was just standing. Becoming like a deer navigating the battlefield, I carefully moved in a zigzag to avoid being swept away by the aftermath of the sword energy, yet moved quickly.
If this world weren’t a game, there would be no way for me to defeat Melissa right now.
But this world is a game.
With the “system” by my side, there must be a way to land my attacks.
Just like when I defeated Eleonora, I need to send my body beyond space to create a “situation where only I can attack.”
Then, for now, I approach again.
Swaaaa!
Taking advantage of the moment the sword energy diminished, I charged towards Melissa and immediately blocked a swing aimed at my waist. Kakak! The blue sword energy shrouding the sword would leave me in pieces if I didn’t block properly. I barely managed to correct my forward-leaning body to block the attack and immediately activated a “skill.”
Sleek.
Counterattack. A skill that targets the opponent’s rear. My body, in motion, positions itself beyond space. Post-normal patch, Counterattack now has about 0.5 seconds of invincibility.
0.5 seconds, an incredibly long time in this fight.
In this state, I attack.
Spapapap!
Ignoring Melissa’s sword that swept past my body left and right, I swung my sword. Kakakakang! But, as expected, it wasn’t easy. As if she had eyes on her back, Melissa brilliantly blocked the sword attacking from beyond space.
If one strike isn’t enough, then two.
Again, left Counterattack, then right Counterattack. Kakakang! She doesn’t give me time to catch her. Astaroth’s cooldown reset triggered. Immediately, after Backward Evasion, I charged forward. Next was a skill combo that only obtained invincibility status while standing still. Spot! Kakang! Blocked. Once more, left Counterattack. And then right Counterattack. If this doesn’t connect, the bracelet’s cooldown reset will trigger too.
Chwaak!
I felt it. The last right Counterattack combined with One Flash surely sliced through Melissa’s waist. I grit my teeth to avoid getting caught in the delay of One Flash.
Melissa’s movements halted. The blue protective energy swirling around her waist where I just cut through remains.
However, it seems like the hit condition has been satisfied.
Chuk.
I lowered my stance and raised my sword high.
Finally, Phase 2. How will she come at me?
Sleek.
The blue protective energy enveloping Melissa blurred.
And then vanished.
“!?”
No way, she started moving at high speed. My eyes barely followed her movements.
Whirrrrrr!
Wind blew from all directions. With the storm of mana accompanying her movements, Melissa’s illusion began to sweep across the combat area. In the Tomb of the Sword, within the wide circular space, she moved in fierce circles around me as if she were a predator spotting her prey.
Somehow, she will attack. Charging in at that speed that can slice through me, or perhaps—
Paat!
The first strike came from my side. A powerful roar filled with immense power.
Sword energy. A straight thrust.
The terrifying sword energy shot toward me at breakneck speed, and I barely twisted my body to evade.
Paat!
Before I could even regain my footing, the second sword energy came. A semicircular slash. I ducked down. It barely missed, taking a few strands of my long hair with it.
The third. A thrust, targeting my chest from the front. The fourth, a thrust from behind, aiming for my neck.
Papapapat!
They started flying from all directions. I couldn’t dodge them all. Uuuuuung! I raised my sword. Starlight clustered around my blade.
I have 5 chances given to me. Can I make it 10 using the cooldown reset?
In this window, I must capture and slice through Melissa’s swift-moving illusion while fending off the incoming blue sword energy from all directions.
I inwardly complained.
Sister Melissa, the duel difficulty is way too high! Did you treat the high demons this way when you faced them? I’m your cute little brother! This is too much!
I threw a pout that wouldn’t reach her and immediately countered the semicircular sword energy fired at my waist with Starlight Swordsmanship.
Bang, bang, kwahng!
1st, 2nd, 3rd.
The sword energy flying in from all sides didn’t stop. I tried to spot Melissa’s movement during the slight breather and aimed my sword but missed completely.
The pattern doesn’t end. All I can do is hang on until I burn through the cooldown reset. It’s relentless. Can I not win at all?
I bit my lips in frustration.
If it comes down to it, I’ll sacrifice an arm. With the Hero’s Power, I should be able to chase after Melissa’s swift illusion.
Spot!
For a moment, I stopped my evasion maneuver against the sword energy piercing through my abdomen.
That’s going to hurt.
But this is the only way.
In that moment.
Krist’s worried expression flashed through my mind.
Rain.
How long will you rely on the power of the past?
The powerful and sweet power of the past, but it brings immense pain with it. Rain just logs out and that’s that. The pain’s backlash weighs on Seulbi in the real world. The heart-wrenching anguish falls upon Chris.
Rain, that’s irresponsible.
You promised not to get hurt today, that you wouldn’t worry Sister Chris, remember?
Is there really nothing I can do with the strength I have now?
*
In distant memories, my younger and more fragile self than now.
The me in that memory cried as I looked at my blistered hands.
“Eek, it’s too hard. This is really tough.”
“Our Hero, this is a technique worth trying.”
“But I have the golden protective energy, which protects my body.”
“What will you do against a strength powerful enough to shred that protective energy? You’ll get badly hurt and scream while searching for Elena, right?”
“But…”
I was dejected. It was just as Melissa said.
Melissa unable to maintain her resolution finally pulled me into her embrace.
“How did you end up with such a colossal mission? If the goddess were here, I wouldn’t let her get away with it.”
“…….”
Without a word, I burrowed into Melissa’s arms.
“You don’t have to do it right now. But you know this, right? I hope you should practice the sword path occasionally. What did big sister say about swords?”
“To block, pierce, and slash.”
“Right? This can be considered blocking. The purest sword energy has the power to cut and pierce through everything. If you use sword energy for defense, what force in this world can penetrate it?”
Melissa, who released me from her grasp, wielded her sword.
Round and round.
Melissa’s sword beautifully decorated the air.
The blue light surrounding her glimmered beautifully.
I silently gaped, admiring that exquisite sword dance.
The trajectory of the blue light slice cleaved through the air.
The ‘line’ gathered and formed a ‘plane.’
*
Now, having swung my sword from the beginning again, if it were me now.
Papapapat!
Swinging my sword up, down, back, and forth.
A straight trajectory, ensuring to not cover the previous path.
Tightly, yet quickly as if to strike at the enemy.
Starlight enveloped my body.
Around me, an impenetrable starlight rained down.
[Blade Barrier]
[Invincibility While Casting]
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