Ch.50Chapter 50 – Holy Armor (1)

The hot, heavy pain and the sensation of blood’s metallic scent and organs spilling out was something I could never get used to.

“Keh-heuk, keu-heub…!”

Verdandi created distance while spitting out a short scream. She clutched her abdomen with her other hand. Her expression was contorted with pain.

Seeing how severely she was injured through that distortion, the organizers tried to stop the match, but.

“Not yet…!”

Verdandi stopped the referee who was about to signal. She felt it would be too disappointing to give up here.

Just one more win.

If she could achieve that, she would be able to give medicine to her master, and she would be able to catch up to Bi-wol, who was advancing alone.

“But, your wound…”

“I haven’t fallen yet…! This level of injury doesn’t even tickle!”

Verdandi put on a brave face and grinned, but she couldn’t hide how one of her eyes was trembling from the pain.

In a situation where everyone could see she was being stubborn, Sieg-hardt swung his sword again at Verdandi, who was barely standing while gasping for breath.

His orders from Bing-seol-hwa were to kill Verdandi. Additionally, to instill a desire for revenge in Bing-yeon.

However,

In truth, Sieg-hardt had deliberately avoided aiming for her neck, instead stabbing her abdomen by slightly missing vital points. This was because his desire to kill her had disappeared during their conversation.

It was a perfectly executed strike that avoided her organs so precisely that if she received immediate treatment, she wouldn’t even have a scar.

“So you want to continue fighting.”

“Of course…!”

At this point, he could make a plausible excuse. He could say he tried to kill her, but she refused to forfeit the match, so he had no choice.

This was the best judgment for Sieg-hardt who didn’t want to kill her, but ironically, it became the worst move as it stimulated Verdandi’s competitive spirit.

Clang—!

Verdandi was demonstrating the first form of the Six Harmonies Swordsmanship, the Plum Blossom Heavenly Slash. This despite being stabbed in the abdomen with blood continuously flowing out.

“I have a reason why I must wield my sword!”

It was an action that could be called obstinacy. The determination that she must defeat the opponent before her was what kept Verdandi moving.

“That’s a good statement. But…”

Sieg-hardt paused his movement after seeing her resolve. His fingers gripped his sword tightly, momentarily preventing him from moving.

He too had picked up his sword to protect his family.

To cut through this miserable world where the weak are preyed upon.

He had first bloodied his hands while hearing desperate pleas for mercy, walking a path of no return.

“…That’s something only those with power can say.”

Sieg-hardt continued to attack Verdandi while avoiding fatal wounds. He grazed her skin slightly or attempted to use pressure points with the sword handle to subdue her, but.

“No! Even without power, one can wield a sword! One can protect those they cherish!”

With each wound Verdandi received, her attacks grew stronger. She kept getting up and charging at her opponent even after being knocked down.

Her movements were like those of a warrior consumed by battle frenzy. Watching her, Sieg-hardt wondered if she might truly be insane as he had heard.

However,

“A hero… must be like this!”

Verdandi’s eyes were filled with ecstasy.

The joy of having so many spectators cheering for her, the hope that winning this match would help heal her master, and the exhilaration that she could finally act as a hero—all these emotions were mixed together.

She was enjoying this fight more than anyone else, to the point where she couldn’t even feel the pain.

“The one who will defeat the Demon Lord… I see you won’t just give up easily.”

Sieg-hardt decided he could no longer go easy on her after seeing her desperate struggle. Her arm that had been grazed by his blade had nearly been cut off.

The sword that could carve flower petals into rock. After barely deflecting the Plum Blossom Body Breaker, he noticed that the balance of power, which had been in his favor until now, was breaking.

At this rate, he would lose. And if that happened, his family being held hostage could be harmed.

“Then I’ll also fight with my full strength.”

After catching his breath, Sieg-hardt reached out his hand again to form a sword. If this turned into a battle of attrition, it would be advantageous for him.

No matter how superhuman Verdandi might be, she couldn’t continue fighting with a wound in her stomach. If she collapsed even once, it would likely be judged as her defeat.

“You’re too late…!”

As if she had noticed this fact, Verdandi struck at Sieg-hardt’s hand, causing him to drop his sword. The condition for him to create a sword was to grasp something with an empty hand.

If she timed it right, she could create an opening.

Clang—!

With the sound of metal hitting the floor, the wind sword that Sieg-hardt had created left his hand.

“Huh, you got me there.”

Sieg-hardt was genuinely impressed. While anyone can learn martial arts, it’s difficult to reach a high level.

Innate sense, experience, talent—these are what separate life and death in crucial moments. Even born warriors can lose their lives with a single mistake.

Yet the girl before him was showing growth with each exchange they shared.

“You don’t seem to have studied swordsmanship under a master for very long, have you?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Verdandi’s way of handling a sword was simple, almost clumsy and inadequate. It felt as though she had just begun learning the sword.

At first, her defense was so poor that he could target her abdomen just by throwing his sword or using other irregular moves, but.

“…They’ve raised a monster.”

Now Verdandi was demonstrating a complete bodily understanding of the Six Harmonies Swordsmanship.

Her sword strikes were light like scattered flower petals, yet stubborn and heavy like tree roots as they pierced toward Sieg-hardt.

‘Just a little more…!’

Verdandi thought as she swung her sword without even taking a breath. Her remaining stamina was less than her opponent’s. If she lost consciousness and collapsed now, she would immediately be defeated.

She just needed to wear him down a bit more. She could see Sieg-hardt’s defense beginning to falter.

Her opponent was blind.

Even with superhuman senses, it would be difficult to anticipate and avoid attacks targeting his blind spots.

‘If I push just a little more, I can win…!’

Verdandi sensed victory as she watched Sieg-hardt begin to bleed. The momentum was gradually shifting in her favor.

She had already used the first form of the Six Harmonies Swordsmanship, the Plum Blossom Heavenly Slash, and the second form, the Plum Blossom Earth Push.

Sieg-hardt’s right arm had nearly been severed, and his cheek bore a wound that was bleeding.

However,

“…I didn’t learn swordsmanship from just anywhere.”

Suddenly, the air changed and killing intent began to emanate. A cold and sharp energy like a honed blade.

“The swordsmanship of flowing time, Reversal.”

After reciting something, Sieg-hardt easily deflected Verdandi’s sword as she charged at him. He acted as if he knew exactly where her sword strikes would come from.

Seeing this, Verdandi felt perplexed. Until just moments ago, he had been struggling to adapt to her increased speed.

Could a person change so dramatically with just swordsmanship?

Verdandi almost suspected she was facing a different person.

“…Did you turn back time?”

Suddenly, she recalled what her master Bing-yeon had once told her. That when Sieg-hardt reached a certain level, he could fold time and space itself to use as his sword.

“Yes, it’s still a modest skill… but I’ve experienced what sword strikes you’ll make and can now block them.”

Sieg-hardt nodded and willingly revealed his secret to Verdandi.

Despite having such power, he was certain he couldn’t defeat the Outer God, Shub-Niggurath.

“And this is the spatial swordsmanship that cuts the opponent, Segmentation.”

“Uuuuuugh…!!!”

Swoosh—!

With one swing of Sieg-hardt’s sword, Verdandi’s arm was severed effortlessly. Even if it could be healed later with healing magic, her defeat was now certain.

Blood dripped continuously from where her right arm had been. With the limb needed to swing her sword gone, Verdandi felt despair for the first time.

“Do you want to continue? If we fight any longer, I won’t be able to guarantee your life.”

How could she possibly win?

How could she possibly bridge the gap between them?

“I can’t fall yet…! I can still fight…!”

Verdandi cried out with an anguished voice. The audience stirred as she tried to swing her sword with her still-intact left arm.

“It seems we have a winner. Sieg-hardt…”

Seeing her desperate state, the match referee was about to declare Sieg-hardt the winner, but.

“…?!”

Everyone held their breath as a light like a living sun enveloped Verdandi.

“Not yet…! Look at my arm! It’s reattached!”

The Holy Armor that protects the hero, the Holy Armor.

This legendary armor only revealed itself when its master’s life was in danger.

* * *

“So the condition for the Holy Armor to appear was indeed for Verdandi to be at the crossroads of life and death.”

I sighed deeply as I looked at the arena.

Originally, the conditions for the Holy Armor’s appearance were only mentioned in background settings that didn’t properly appear in the main story.

Fearing it might be the same as with Bi-wol’s case, I had deliberately not told Verdandi about the Holy Armor’s conditions.

If she knew that the Holy Armor would only appear when her life was in danger, she seemed like the type of person who would willingly throw herself into harm’s way for victory.

“Master, does this mean Sister Verdandi now has a chance to win?”

Bi-wol had somehow attached herself to my arm and was watching the match with me. Just moments ago, when Verdandi’s arm was severed, she had involuntarily screamed.

“I’m not sure. Even with the Holy Armor, her opponent is formidable.”

I turned my gaze to Verdandi, recalling how powerful Sieg-hardt was in the original story.

A blind swordsman who could fold even time and space to use as his sword.

“…Can Verdandi really do it?”

To defeat him, one would need to bring at least a Demon Lord.