Ch.423Chapter 423 – Shadow Warrior Party (3)

“As expected, you’re strong.”

While dodging the priestess’s attack, Eve unconsciously bit her lip.

She barely managed to avoid the attack using her eye’s power, but when the priestess’s incredibly fast strike grazed right past her head, her heart froze momentarily. Still, Eve refused to give up the fight.

‘Because I promised Kei.’

She and Sera would hold off the priestess until Kei defeated the hero. That was the promise they had made with him.

So her task was to prevent this priestess from reaching Kei’s side by any means necessary.

‘If someone with this level of skill joins the hero, Kei will certainly lose.’

She didn’t even need to see the future to know that. If this insane fighter who could cut through flying projectiles and even magic joined forces with the hero, Kei wouldn’t stand a chance.

If Sia were here, things might be different, but she was currently engaged in battle with another formidable opponent.

More than anything, Eve felt frustrated.

‘…If I had this level of skill, Kei would have already…’

The thought briefly crossed her mind that perhaps, since they shared the same ability, they might have similar potential.

Though she had managed to enhance her strength using a sword made from Rubrum’s dragon bone and magical reinforcement, she was still outmatched against a being of higher caliber.

Compared to herself, she thought the opponent would have been able to protect the hero from any threat and fight alongside him. Moreover, seeing the priestess still trying to rush toward the hero filled Eve with involuntary feelings of jealousy and defeat.

As she bit her lip and watched the priestess…

A voice came from beside her.

“…If I were that strong…”

Had she unconsciously let her thoughts slip? Hearing Sera speak the very words she was thinking, Eve looked at her with a slightly surprised expression. Noticing Eve’s reaction, Sera also looked back at her with startled eyes.

Soon, the two women’s gazes met, and they shared a small smile.

“…We’re thinking the same thing.”

“Indeed.”

Both had unconsciously envied the opponent’s skill. And the reason was the same—for the sake of one person.

The sense of kinship calmed their anxiety.

“…I don’t know if this is appropriate for our current situation.”

Sera spoke quietly, looking at Eve.

“Let’s beat the priestess by holding out against her. Together.”

“Let’s do that.”

Eve stood up with a smile. Then, looking at the priestess with a slightly joking manner, she said:

“We may be losing in skill, but I think we’re more feminine, so let’s count that as our win in womanly charm.”

“That sounds right, but isn’t it a bit harsh?”

Sera laughed softly, then quickly changed her expression as she faced the priestess. Eve likewise sharpened her expression and faced the priestess’s sword.

By moving first, she barely avoided the priestess’s blade, and with Sera’s support, they continued the fight.

The priestess seemed increasingly impatient, swinging her sword irritably. When she seemed to demand they move aside:

“We cannot step aside. We will stop you here.”

Eve spoke quietly, looking at the priestess.

“I promised Kei. Until he defeats the hero and returns, we will hold you back.”

“So we absolutely cannot step aside and have no intention of losing.”

Sera added, standing beside Eve.

“Don’t think you can get past us with half-hearted resolve.”

Perhaps their determination reached her. The priestess hesitated momentarily before placing her hand on her sword again. Though that was all, her demeanor had changed from before.

Realizing that a proper sword strike was about to come, Eve quietly spoke:

“Let me make one prophecy here.”

Looking at the priestess, Eve spoke as if she had seen an unseen future.

“Kei will definitely come to help us.”

The priestess’s demeanor changed at Eve’s words. Eve spoke once more:

“Your hero will lose to Kei.”

There was no answer. Or perhaps there was, but she couldn’t hear it.

She felt like she might have heard something like “Let’s test that.”

The shadow of the star-gazing priestess—one of her ancestors who likely possessed the same ability as her—changed its demeanor and began approaching Eve and Sera.

For the sake of the one person who would surely come to their side, the two continued their standoff with the priestess.

+

Weapons clashed against each other. He swung his halberd against the hero’s shadow wielding a greatsword.

‘He’s getting faster.’

He could feel the hero’s speed increasing with each swing of the greatsword. Not only that, but the sharpness and precision of his techniques were gradually strengthening.

‘The result of training, perhaps?’

It seemed that techniques he had accumulated through regular training but couldn’t freely use due to lack of experience were gradually emerging.

Skills that the hero had practiced countless times for some purpose were coming out one by one. Judging by the sword’s speed and his stance, he must have learned them through extensive training with the priestess.

‘And his strength is increasing too.’

Seeing the faint red energy flowing from the hero’s shadow, its source was likely dragon power. Perhaps when summoning him long ago, he had transferred not just healing ability but also some strength to him.

He probably suppressed it or didn’t use it normally, but now that the hero’s shadow had decided to face him with full power, it was gradually emerging.

‘I can’t give him time.’

Emerging techniques, increasing strength. And the dragon’s healing power that was instantly restoring his body whenever he was wounded.

If he dragged this out too long, he might end up being the one in trouble.

‘I don’t know how long Eve and Sera can hold out anyway.’

Even now, glancing at the battle, he could see Eve avoiding the priestess’s incredibly fast attacks by moving first, and with Sera’s help, they were holding their ground and pushing back.

It was probably because of her ability to see the future that she could hold out against the priestess like that and buy time.

However, it was clear that Eve and Sera would be at a disadvantage as time passed.

The longer it went on, Eve would tire and Sera’s concentration would scatter.

Though the priestess herself surely possessed the same ability, for some reason she showed no signs of using it.

‘That’s fortunate at least.’

If the opponent somehow couldn’t see the future, then Eve, who could, had a slight advantage. Though the priestess more than made up for that disadvantage with her overwhelming swordsmanship, if she had been able to see Eve and Sera’s movements in advance, the two might have already lost their lives.

That was the only reassuring aspect, but it was comforting nonetheless.

At least until the two were in danger, there was still time.

‘The question is whether I can defeat this guy and get to the priestess within that time.’

He glared slightly at the hero while deflecting his sword.

The hero also knew well that the outcome of this battle depended on him and me.

If he held out and the priestess joined his side, it would be our defeat. Conversely, if he couldn’t hold out and I joined the others, it would be our victory.

Knowing this, the opponent was taking a defensive stance, aiming to drag out the battle as long as possible.

‘This is troublesome.’

The more he tried to hasten the outcome, the more tenaciously the opponent clung on and endured. When he deliberately showed openings to induce carelessness or create gaps, the opponent would sense it and either retreat or recompose himself.

Whether he was naturally cautious or instinctively reading his intentions was unclear.

But as they exchanged attacks, he noticed something else.

‘He’s angry.’

With each clash of weapons, he could feel anger in the increasing strength.

The cause was probably because his comrade had been defeated—because Abies’s shadow had been defeated.

At the same time, he could sense the shadow’s determination to never let him reach the priestess. A dedication to protect someone precious was imbued in his sword.

A warrior who had transformed anger into strength and will into composure stood blocking his path.

‘I can’t lose.’

It wasn’t just to protect Eve and Sera. Another part of his heart was being stirred by that figure trying to protect someone precious. With the thought that he couldn’t lose, he gripped his weapon tighter.

‘The halberd alone won’t be enough.’

The opponent seemed to have grown accustomed to his halberd swings and was handling them skillfully. He felt it was time to try something else.

‘Let’s try this.’

Using the transformative property of his weapon, he feinted a downward strike with the halberd but quickly changed it to a flail with a chain.

As the chain wrapped around the greatsword that was meant to block the halberd’s blade, the iron ball flew toward the hero’s head.

The hero barely avoided the iron ball by turning his head.

But the chain was still wrapped around the greatsword. He pulled hard on the chain, forcibly removing the greatsword from the hero’s hand.

The greatsword stuck into the ground, and judging only by the sound, he quickly delivered a roundhouse kick to the hero who had lost his weapon, breaking his stance.

As he reeled in the iron ball again, aiming for the hero’s head at that very moment, light began to emanate from the hero’s sword stuck in the ground.

‘No way.’

Stopping his movement with a sudden sense of unease and preparing for any contingency, he saw that the hero’s sword had somehow reappeared in his hand.

And the weapon’s form had changed.

‘A halberd.’

The hero’s sword had transformed into a halberd. He quickly changed his weapon to a greatsword to block the halberd, and parried several clumsy but powerful consecutive strikes.

Surprised that the hero had suddenly begun mimicking this weapon’s characteristics, he soon remembered one fact.

‘Come to think of it, the hero’s equipment and the holy relics were made from the same material.’

Dvel had definitely mentioned they used something called harmonite. Perhaps the hero’s equipment had the same effects as the holy relics.

With that thought, he barely deflected the halberd.

After that, the hero began changing his weapon to mimic him—switching to a flail, axe, or spear—and he responded by changing to a mace or shield to counter the hero’s weapons.

Unlike when the hero fought with just a sword, now he was attacking with a variety of weapons.

He was somewhat taken aback at having his advantage stolen. But he soon regained his composure.

‘My proficiency is still higher.’

It seemed the hero was properly trained mainly in swordsmanship.

While he was threatening with a sword, his attacks with other weapons were somewhat clumsy. Though they were dangerous with his extraordinary strength, he couldn’t do more than attempt surprise attacks with that power.

There was a clear difference in proficiency between him, who had various weapon experiences from techniques forcibly implanted by the Order long ago to skills developed through numerous battles, and the hero.

Unlike him, who could handle any of the hero’s attacks regardless of weapon, the hero couldn’t maintain an exchange with him using weapons other than a sword.

The hero had the advantage in recovery, stamina, and strength. But he had the advantage in attack methods and proficiency.

‘Focus.’

If he lost here, Eve and Sera would be in danger. Not just them, but also Chris, Beatrice, and Sia fighting elsewhere could be at risk.

Knowing this, he swung his weapon with even greater force.

Conversely, if the hero lost, the priestess would have to face three people including himself, making her defeat highly probable.

Knowing this, the hero clung on tenaciously.

Neither backed down. Neither gave way.

Because backing down meant someone precious would get hurt.

They continued exchanging attacks, their weapons constantly changing. With each exchange, wounds accumulated, and their determination to defeat the other grew fiercer.

Still, he couldn’t afford a prolonged battle.

‘His recovery has no limit.’

There were several instances where his attacks had penetrated deeply. But each time, the hero’s shadow blocked his attacks even by grabbing the weapon with his body, then used the dragon’s healing power to restore the situation.

If he couldn’t land consecutive hits, the hero would return refreshed.

Feeling increasingly anxious, he looked for an opening to win.

And when the hero tried to swing his greatsword again:

“It’s all or nothing, you bastard!”

He entangled the greatsword with his halberd, which he had somehow returned to using.

Then he threw it forcefully.

Perhaps thinking he would transform his weapon to counter, the hero had slightly relaxed his grip to retreat, causing the weapon to fly from his hand. Both their weapons fell to the ground.

Surprised, the hero tried to look at where his sword had fallen.

At that moment, he put all his strength into his right fist and struck.

-THUD!

The hero took a step back after being hit in the face as he turned his head. His body wavered slightly from the heavy punch.

Not missing the opening, he swung his left fist next.

The hero’s head turned again, and when he drove his right fist into the hero’s abdomen, the hero’s body lifted slightly.

And just as he was about to grab him and finish with a knee strike:

The hero grabbed his head and headbutted him.

‘This stone-headed bastard!’

Despite wearing a helmet, he felt a heavy impact and his body staggered backward slightly. Then the hero swung his fist at him, which he barely blocked by raising his arm.

Weapons were now forgotten. As if they had agreed to knock each other down first and think later, they exchanged punches and kicks.

‘He’s more skilled than I thought.’

Did he learn hand-to-hand combat from the priestess too? Though he had shifted to unarmed combat, the hero’s skill was surprisingly good. Neither had a clear advantage in hand-to-hand fighting.

He thought he had the advantage with his helmet, but soon the fastening strap gave way and the helmet flew off from the hero’s punch. Still, he didn’t back down and continued throwing punches.

With each punch thrown, something seemed to be conveyed to the opponent. Conversely, with each punch received, something seemed to be transmitted. Though the opponent was clearly a shadow, the emotions behind his attacks were continuously communicated.

And he knew well what those emotions were.

‘I can’t lose.’

Remembering what he was fighting for, why he was throwing punches to knock down his opponent, he put more strength into his fists. He struck the face hard and drove his knee into the bent body. Deflecting a persistent roundhouse kick with his arm, he glared at the shadow.

And for some reason, he was aware that the hero’s shadow was glaring back at him.

Without either initiating, they charged at each other again, and their fists once more flew toward each other’s faces.

With the impact, both bodies were pushed back, and their stances crumbled.

Somehow, their weapons had returned to their hands.

‘Finally back.’

Grateful for the automatically retrieved weapon amid the chaos, he had the intuition that this would be the final attack and changed it to a sword. Likewise, the hero, whose weapon had also been retrieved, raised his greatsword and began to bring it down like a guillotine.

He could tell from the shadow’s appearance that this downward strike was using the last of his strength.

He raised his sword to receive the greatsword. The heavy blow connected with his sword, transmitting its impact.

And that was the last.

Enduring the flowing shock, he slightly twisted his arm to deflect the greatsword’s strike. Using the rotation of his body that began from the forced deflection, he put power into his sword.

And toward the hero whose body was open after putting everything into that downward strike, he thrust his sword, enhanced by rotational force, aiming for the hero’s heart.

The sword pierced straight through the hero’s chest and out through his back.

[…….]

It seemed as if the hero’s mouth moved, as if saying something. The words weren’t audible. But somehow, he felt their meaning had been conveyed. It was as if something had connected between them during their fierce battle.

As he looked at the hero, the sword slowly fell from the hero’s hand. The collapsing hero leaned his body against him.

And he unconsciously spoke the words he thought he had heard earlier:

“Well fought.”

He returned the respect of a strong opponent with respect for a strong opponent. He felt a slight sense of relief. He felt regret toward those left behind.

Quietly accepting those emotions, he looked at the hero’s shadow.

The hero’s shadow was gradually turning to dust and disappearing.