Ch.298EP.63 – A Knight’s Valor Contains No Recklessness (9)

Ihan and Ninshubur had switched positions twice in an instant.

At first, Ihan had been looking down from above, but now Ninshubur was the one looking down at him.

Nevertheless.

“For someone looking down so arrogantly, you look pretty ridiculous.”

“……”

“That arm of yours, doesn’t it hurt?”

“……”

“Huh-.”

“!”

Perhaps it was the final scoff that irritated him more than the words, but for the first time, Ninshubur’s expression cracked as he opened his mouth.

“How impudent. You seem to think your luck will last forever.”

“If it looked like luck to you, that just means your level is only that much.”

“You talk too much. Unbecoming of a warrior.”

“Oh really? If that’s how it seems…”

WHOOSH!!

“Ah, did you block it again?”

“…You’re even underhanded.”

While speaking, Ihan had launched five consecutive strikes of Gyeoksan Tau, but surprisingly, Ninshubur easily blocked all five attacks.

Even though Ihan had deliberately engaged in conversation to induce carelessness, the ease with which his opponent blocked the attacks made it clear that this was not someone who could be shaken by mere words.

‘He’s on a different level from that lesser fiend.’

It seemed like he needed to stop using trivial attacks against this opponent.

After all.

‘He’s someone who can properly use that impossible body…’

Despite Ihan’s countless strikes causing pain, the Great Archfiend’s body remained intact with remarkable recovery speed.

No, it was hard to tell whether that was even a physical body or just a mass of energy.

But one thing was clear—whatever it was, it was extraordinary.

Just from the demonic energy it emitted, it was obvious that the total amount of energy was beyond Ihan’s league. If there was anything to compare it to, it would probably be that 400-year-old spell caster who was called Tower Master.

It truly meant having absurd specs.

Yet despite having such an overpowered physical form, its mental level had been that of a four-year-old, making it completely unbalanced…

‘Is this what they call the completion of spirit, energy, and body?’

Now it felt like the balance had not just been achieved but [completed].

To use an example, it was like a driver who couldn’t even distinguish between brake and accelerator suddenly driving an F1 car recklessly, and then finally a racer with appropriate skills and experience taking the wheel.

And when someone with proper skills uses that overpowered divine body…!

Whoosh!

“Let’s see how long you can keep up that impudence.”

KWAAANG!

It meant displaying skills on a completely different level.

Once again, Ihan was sent flying without even being able to react.

He had failed to respond this time as well, and even as he flew through the air, he was dumbfounded.

‘I can’t even see or feel his movements?’

Since the blow was one he could sufficiently withstand, he wasn’t shocked or in pain, but he was still amazed nonetheless.

His eyes, no, his senses couldn’t even react.

Despite having senses that were considered superior to most beasts, those senses couldn’t keep up with that speed and movement.

‘It’s not just about speed. The movements are so restrained and infinitely quiet that it’s harder to react.’

Even those called masters wouldn’t be able to show such restrained movements flowing like water.

It had to be a combination of bodily function and techniques refined to the extreme, and Ihan couldn’t help but admire it as he stopped his flying body and looked straight ahead again.

Whoosh-!

“——.”

From the moment his gaze turned forward, all he saw was a fist, and as it immediately covered Ihan’s field of vision again…

KUWOONG!

“……”

“…You did block it though.”

Ihan showed a fierce smile along with playful words.

Ninshubur’s strike had landed precisely between Ihan’s eyebrows, but Ihan didn’t fly away.

Core strength.

He had withstood the blow with the strength of his lower body and neck, creating a sound like hitting an iron wall.

“…I admit, you’re truly sturdy.”

The ancient warrior once called the God of War acknowledged it.

That Ihan’s body was genuinely tough.

He hadn’t expected that his attack would be withstood, and he was somewhat impressed that the other had figured out his strikes in just two attempts.

…However.

“So what are you going to do about it-?”

Hung!

Ninshubur’s body leaped up high.

Quickly and accurately, so naturally that it was difficult even to react.

PABABAT!

“!?”

“How many of these can you endure?”

Ihan’s eyes contorted mercilessly.

He could withstand two or three, but now,

“Te-ten hits?”

…How many times had he been struck?

“Twenty times, you ignorant one.”

KWAAANG!

A kick reminiscent of a camel’s leg strength precisely pounded Ihan’s abdominal muscles.

A strike so sharp it could pierce through his stomach like an awl.

“…Hmm?”

…But what Ninshubur hadn’t anticipated was.

“Ha, finally landed a hit.”

That he was facing a madman who could not only withstand a force that should pierce even an iron wall but also turn it into an opportunity.

KWAK!

His stomach, his abdominal muscles, gripped Ninshubur’s foot and wouldn’t let go.

Like an alligator that doesn’t release its prey once it has bitten down, and in one go,

KWAJIK-!

Twisted it.

* * *

…It was movement so swift that even calling it rapid was insufficient, as if there was no air resistance.

‘It’s not like I’ve actually turned into a slug…!’

It was impossible to follow with the eyes, and to the opponent, his movements probably looked slower than a slug’s.

If his own movements were at 2x speed, then his opponent’s were at least 10x.

The difference was immeasurable.

‘I can’t copy that.’

Ihan had never considered his movements or reaction speed to be slow, but he acknowledged that matching that was beyond reach.

‘It’s not just about speed. Those movements are possible because he’s honed his martial arts for hundreds, no, thousands of years.’

It was a skill (技藝) that humans who barely live a hundred years couldn’t achieve.

‘Ha, this guy is incredible?’

Just based on skill level alone, he could rightfully claim to be ‘top-tier [Mystery]’ without exaggeration, and Ihan couldn’t help but admire him despite the opponent being a contemptible fiend.

In other words, trying to foolishly match such impossible movements would only result in becoming a punching bag all day long.

So.

‘I shouldn’t do this often…’

Instead of trying to respond to those movements, Ihan chose to use his own “strategy.”

An incredibly crude but most certain strategy.

Namely.

Drip….

‘Fortunately, my bones and internal organs are fine…’

The strategy of sacrificing flesh to preserve bone—giving up flesh to gain bone.

It wasn’t a strategy he particularly favored, but he couldn’t just keep taking hits, and Ihan could smile despite his torn abdominal muscles bleeding because he was satisfied with breaking one of his opponent’s legs with his technique.

“…Ahem.”

It hurt like hell, but still.

Ihan sprinkled half of a potion on his stomach and drank the other half.

He seemed to have already drunk three today, far exceeding the normal daily intake.

Thankfully, there were no side effects yet due to having eaten the Demon King’s heart, but Ihan couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

For good reason.

Crack!

“…Not bad, I’ll acknowledge it. You’ve overcome your inferior technique, experience, and talent compared to me with spirit and tenacity. It’s not strange that my lord deity used the title of hero for such boldness.”

Unlike his “weak” self who needed potions, his opponent was rapidly recovering without them.

Ninshubur, who was quickly recovering as if his leg had never been broken, spoke at length for the first time and nodded his head.

As if acknowledging him.

“What bullshit.”

“Your strength and defense are superior to mine. I acknowledge your boldness too. But…”

Hung, WHOOSH!

“…that’s all.”

“……”

As if repeating the same action, he moved and unleashed countless machine gun-like strikes at Ihan in an instant.

KWAGWAGWANG!!

With even more power and sharpness.

KWANG!!!

Ihan endured with his guard up.

KUWOONG-!

He didn’t use Geumgang or Bulgoe. Using mental energy would drain him completely.

But there was a limit to how long he could endure…

CHWAK!

Wounds started to appear.

One or two wouldn’t matter, but as the wounds increased, it wouldn’t be strange if he turned into a bloody mess.

Yet there was still no way to block or respond to the barrage of attacks.

Even if he wanted to use the same method as before…

‘He’s on guard.’

Just looking at his eyes, he knew. Using the same technique would only get him countered.

‘Ah, at times like this, I miss having talent.’

Even in this moment with blood splattering, Ihan couldn’t help but think of those he knew who were among the top five in talent.

Roen, Derrick, Iliad, and…

‘If it were them, they would have easily overcome this, wouldn’t they?’

That big guy from the North.

If it had been him, he might have struggled at first like himself but would have been able to counter those movements with his innate sense and skill.

If it had been that spear-wielder with the nasty eyes, he might have been able to respond with his special eyes or techniques.

As much as he hated to admit it, those were the true geniuses he knew.

People who could reach in a single day what others would take ten years, no, a hundred years of effort to barely reach.

That’s how talent, what those called geniuses have, is something that can’t be measured by common sense.

What is endlessly difficult for ordinary people is as natural as breathing for them.

Truly…

‘What’s the point of envying something I don’t have?’

Hu!

It was nothing but futile envy.

Hadn’t he already envied others sickeningly in his previous life, only to realize?

That comparing yourself to others only leads to unhappiness and ugliness.

So what he needed to do now wasn’t to resent or covet the genius and unfairness others possessed.

‘I need to do what I, Ihan, can do.’

The area where he excelled compared to others.

He needed to focus on maximizing that!

WOOWUNG!

‘What are my strengths?’

Formidable basic abilities and the strong body based on them.

And finally…

‘A bit of creativity.’

Why had he so persistently trained the basics as if digging a single well?

Because even just well-trained basics can become a great advantage.

And now, he had himself with enhanced basic stats thanks to his journey in Wales.

So he could do it.

He already had the idea, and he had a sturdy and complete body to realize this idea.

Therefore!

[[WEEEEEING!!]]

—There was no reason for him to be defeated.

CHWAK! SEOGEK!

“!?”

…Ninshubur’s attack was blocked for the first time.

…No, this was.

“How is it? It’s a downgraded version of Hoshin Ganggi, but not bad, right?”

“…Cough…”

It would be more accurate to say he was countered.

Drip!

Ninshubur, the God of War and the champion of the deity called the ancient great warrior, knelt for the first time, expressing pain.

CHWAAAK!

Both his arms were terribly slashed, and an intense pain that seemed to shake his insides overwhelmed him.

“Wh-what did you…”

But more shocking than this intense pain and arm wounds was the fact that he couldn’t understand what this human had done.

Extreme confusion!

When he, with talent even beloved by the goddess Inanna, felt like a fool for the first time, he suddenly heard a sound.

WEEEING!

“The sound of… bee wings?”

The fact that a sound like bee wings was coming from his body.

“You, could it be…?!”

“What?”

“…You madman.”

Ninshubur realized.

What he had done.

He was now…!

“You’ve created a resonance on your body surface! Are you so desperate to commit suicide?!”

Why do people focus the phenomenon of blade resonance only on weapons?

Because there’s a risk that the power of that resonance could cause the body to collapse.

Why else would resonance be passed down as the ultimate secret technique of warriors from ancient times to the present?

Because it exerts such powerful force.

Yet this guy had caused such a resonance phenomenon on his own body surface.

His skin should be peeling off in real-time, blood evaporating, and delicate internal organs burning up—!

“…Not really? I’m perfectly fine.”

Weeeing.

“…?”

He was not just fine but still creating the resonance.

Completely steadily.

“????”

An impossible phenomenon unless blood vessels, tendons, nerves, and internal organs were all made of metal.

Ninshubur felt dizzy as his common sense was shaken.

Because he couldn’t understand how this was possible.

However,

“And what’s with ‘resonance’? How old-fashioned. This technique doesn’t have such an outdated name.”

The one who had accomplished this impossible feat spoke with leisurely steps.

Saying that this technique wasn’t such a boring technique to be defined as resonance.

“—Bulletproof Qi Technique, call it that.”

Like one of humanity’s challenges against the impossible, which might one day leave footprints on the moon.