Chapter: 335
Yoon Si-woo’s strike descended from the sky at a terrifying speed.
His sword fell like a bolt of lightning, leaving a lingering black afterimage that cleaved the space where Beatrice had been standing.
At the same time, there was a sharp splash, painting the air with red blood.
Seeing that, I clenched my fist tightly in a victorious gesture, thinking I had taken her out, but—
“Damn… that was shallow.”
Immediately, Yoon Si-woo’s self-reproachful mumble shattered my hopeful delusions.
When I glanced over, it seemed he was right; Beatrice was blankly examining her chest where blood was seeping out.
Though she looked more surprised than I expected, she was still standing upright, indicating that she hadn’t sustained a fatal wound.
Yoon Si-woo clicked his tongue in disappointment and pulled me close with one arm, jumping back to create distance.
“Well, it’s fortunate I arrived in time. Scarlet, you’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
After creating enough distance, he immediately inquired about my well-being.
Really, he ought to be worried about his own body condition after unleashing the power of the witch while fighting.
“…I’m okay. More importantly, are you alright? You didn’t overdo it fighting that demonic beast, did you?”
“I’m good. Don’t worry, I can still fight.”
I questioned him back since he was in no position to worry about others, and he gave a slight smile as if to say not to fret.
He didn’t seem like he was lying, so I felt a bit relieved, but I couldn’t shake off the unease about having him engage in fights right after.
If only we could’ve wrapped things up with that last attack.
“More importantly, I’m disappointed. That was a perfect opportunity to end it in one blow…”
In the midst of his lament, Yoon Si-woo murmured, casting a sharp glare at Beatrice, perhaps thinking the same thing.
He then turned to Lucy, as if trying to figure out why he failed to finish Beatrice off.
“Lucy, what was wrong with my attack just now? Was it because I swung while dropping, causing the tip of the sword to wobble?”
[…That slash wasn’t bad. If it were the earlier monster, that attack would have sufficed. If there’s a problem, it would be that girl’s abilities were stronger than expected. Although she’s called a witch, her abilities seem to surpass those of her subordinates.]
“Indeed… I felt more resistance the moment the sword touched her than I did with that monster earlier.”
[That resistance delayed the blade, allowing her to react to the attack. But now that we know, it’s not a big problem. If the resistance is heavier than anticipated, we can adjust and strike perfectly. She’s not as large as that last giant, so she may be easier to handle.]
Lucy responded to Yoon Si-woo’s question, suggesting that Beatrice might be an easier opponent than we thought.
It was probably because Lucy had the ability to counter Beatrice’s powers.
But for some reason, hearing Lucy’s words sent an odd sense of unease creeping deep within me.
Beatrice, that Beatrice.
Would she really fall so simply?
That thought suddenly surfaced.
“…Huh.”
Then it happened.
“Ouch… Yes, this is the feeling of pain… It’s been a while, really a long while since I felt something like this.”
From the other side, Beatrice’s voice rang out.
“You there, you’re strong, aren’t you? You killed Bay and even left me with this wound.”
She had been staring blankly at the blood flowing from her own wounds when she finally looked at us, specifically at Yoon Si-woo, her gaze piercing with intensity.
“Because of you, I’m feeling a bit excited now.”
Her lips curved into a smile, resembling melted cheese as she gazed at us.
“Maybe it’s time for me to get serious.”
And in that moment when she looked this way, I suddenly felt an alarming chill.
“—!! Scarlet, watch out—!!!”
I felt something ominous, and before I knew it—
“Ahhh?!”
“Gah—!!”
I was tossed back at an alarming speed alongside Yoon Si-woo, who had jumped in front of me.
-■■■■■■!!
If Ari hadn’t swooped in to catch me, I would have rolled right down the rocky mountain.
The intense impact dizzied my head, my vision spinning, and for a brief moment, I felt goosebumps all over.
I couldn’t immediately comprehend what had just happened, but one thing became crystal clear.
“If Yoon Si-woo hadn’t been in front of me just now, I would have died…”
The terrifying fear of death clutched my throat, and my breath quickened.
As I tried to steady my trembling hands, I heard Lucy mutter in a stiff voice.
[Ugh… I think I need to retract my previous statement. There’s a problem. That girl, she’s a damn tricky opponent.]
With that sense of alert ringing in my ears, I finally realized that the recent attack had come from Beatrice.
But how?
Wasn’t her ability supposed to annihilate anything that touched her…?
“…She can also extend it?”
“…What?”
Clarity barely broke through my haze of confusion when Yoon Si-woo’s voice called out.
As I looked back, he seemed not to be explaining but rather suggesting with a point of his foot.
What he pointed to became instantly clear.
Right in front of where he stood was a distinct line, a mark.
The line formed a gentle curve that continued in a circle at the basin of the summit of the rocky mountain.
The shocking detail was that Beatrice stood at its center.
And inside the circle, the stones and gravel that had been scattered all over the ground were now completely gone, as if carved away.
The marks obligated us to acknowledge an undeniable truth.
The most threatening ability Beatrice had was the barrier that obliterated everything that touched it.
But she wasn’t merely wrapping that barrier around her body; she could also enlarge its range.
“…What the hell is that?”
A sigh escaped my lips.
To control the range of an ability that annihilates everything it touches—where else could one find such an absurd power?
The Witch of Gluttony, faced with that monster, I felt a different kind of despair creeping in.
“…Scarlet, move away. I might have difficulty protecting you while in a fight.”
But Yoon Si-woo was different.
Gripping his sword, he was still burning with fighting spirit.
“…Can we win against something like that?”
I asked him, doubt riddling my mind.
Because I genuinely felt we had no chance of winning.
Yet Yoon Si-woo nodded at me resolutely.
“We can win. Right, Lucy?”
[…Yeah, just because she’s damn tricky doesn’t mean we can’t win.]
Even in a situation where anyone would despair, Yoon Si-woo remained unfazed.
Was it because he was someone with extraordinary abilities?
Or was it because he possessed a strength of heart unlike anyone else?
I couldn’t understand why he could maintain such spirit.
Because I wasn’t strong like him.
But even so, if he wouldn’t give up, I resolved not to either.
I chose to trust him and decided to keep my distance to avoid hindering him.
As Ari soared from the summit of the rocky mountain, Yoon Si-woo raised his sword, murmuring.
“Then let’s strike from a distance for now.”
[Return the favor with a long-range attack, huh? That’s an idea worth trying.]
The moment he finished that sentence, Yoon Si-woo drew his sword down.
I couldn’t help but be surprised as I witnessed the outcome he produced.
Yoon Si-woo’s sword cleaved through the sky.
That’s the only way to explain the earth-shattering force of that sword strike.
Even more astonishing was that the sword slice, intended to split the world, failed to cut Beatrice, who stood on the mountaintop.
And even more incredible was that Yoon Si-woo wasn’t fazed by it at all.
“Yeah, didn’t think it would work. I had an inkling.”
[Her abilities aren’t to be taken lightly. A mere indirect enhancement of your sword won’t suffice.]
“Well then, I have to directly cleave her.”
Perhaps realizing that the only way to overcome Beatrice’s ability was a direct strike, Yoon Si-woo charged toward her.
Simultaneously, a new small circle emerged within the one inscribed on the mountaintop, advancing toward Yoon Si-woo.
The terrifying forward motion of that circle almost made me scream.
But before I could let out a sound, Yoon Si-woo’s sword swung faster.
As if there was no reason not to cleave directly, the invisible barrier against which Yoon Si-woo’s sword met split apart with a sharp sound, like glass being cut.
Yoon Si-woo dashed through the gap created by the split.
I could see the new barrier forming around Beatrice dissipate, and I let out a genuine scream.
That insane ability—she could freely erase then recreate her defenses!
[Si-woo.]
“I know.”
Yet Yoon Si-woo, as if fully anticipating that, remained unflustered as he cleaved through the newly formed barrier.
Of course, after Yoon Si-woo cut through the barrier, Beatrice could simply create another one.
However, while watching their exchange from a distance, I realized something.
Even that seemingly flawless ability of Beatrice had its flaws.
That flaw meant that it took Beatrice a little time to recreate any barrier after it had been destroyed.
And for someone like Yoon Si-woo, that little bit of time—
“…What?”
Was not just sufficient to reach her, it was abundant.
Yoon Si-woo’s sword lunged toward Beatrice.
She twisted her body to evade, but was unsuccessful in dodging entirely, resulting in a gaping wound from her shoulder to her abdomen.
Blood splattered wildly.
For an ordinary human, it would not be long before they succumbed to the effects of massive blood loss.
“Eek… You’re stronger than I expected… this hurts… If it goes wrong, this could turn real dangerous…”
Yet, even though she suffered such a grievous injury, Beatrice showed no signs of urgency.
“Which is why I…”
She muttered with a smile on her face.
“Really, if I don’t go all out…”
Right after Beatrice finished speaking,
The entire summit of the rocky mountain disappeared.
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