Chapter vv15c10

“No matter how fearsome the Sword Clan’s name is, it doesn’t mean their rabbits are scary too! Why don’t you drop your sword and surrender? I hate to damage new merchandise! This handsome brother will treat you well! How about calling me Big Brother Gwang? Or maybe just Gwang-lang! Hehehehehe!”

His smile was hideous, his words dripping with malice. Dokgo Ryeong shuddered.

“Shut up! I’d rather bite my tongue off and kill myself than surrender to an ugly barbarian like you!”

She meant it.

“Wh-What?! You… you called me a barbarian?! Have you ever seen a barbarian as handsome as me, huh?”

Even his own men didn’t agree with him. Wishful thinking couldn’t change reality. Do-gok, who insisted on being called “Admiral,” was another example… It seemed that delusions were a common trait among the Black Sea Wind pirates.

“You’re refusing my offer of mercy and choosing punishment instead! You’ll regret this! Men, attack!”

The pirates charged at her, roaring like beasts.

“Don’t underestimate me! I’ll show you the true power of the Sword Clan!”

Mercy? Punishment? Dokgo Ryeong refused to accept his twisted logic. She met their charge head-on, her sword flashing, her movements swift and graceful. Silver sword energy danced around her, as radiant as a war goddess.

And so the long night began.

Time had never been her enemy before. She had always been meticulous about managing her time. But tonight, time seemed to be against her. It was unfair. But the longer the battle dragged on, the more unfavorable the situation became.

‘Am I outmatched?’

She had mastered the Small Goose Sword and the Flying Goose Sword, and she had even earned the Sword Empress’s praise. But she was still a young girl. And this was her first real battle. Her only experience had been sparring matches with her sisters.

But her swordsmanship was impressive. She moved through the pirates’ encirclement like a swift goose, her sword strikes as sharp and precise as a bird’s beak.

She had been trained by the best, and it showed. The pirates, who relied on brute strength and crude techniques, were no match for her. The only one who posed a real threat was Gwang-hae, the raiding party leader.

But the pirates had experience. They had been raiding ships for years, and they were ruthless and cunning. They had no morals, no scruples. They would do anything to win. The ends justified the means.

Dokgo Ryeong’s lack of experience was a fatal flaw.

And one hand couldn’t fight ten. She wasn’t strong enough to overcome the difference in numbers and strength. She was losing ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her body slick with sweat. Her legs felt heavy, as if they were sinking into the sand, and her sword arm ached.

But she gritted her teeth and swung her sword, her blade flashing in the moonlight. A pirate screamed, his weapon falling from his grasp, his hand severed at the wrist. It was a display of “Severing Steel,” the ability to cut through metal with sword energy.

“Huff… huff… huff…”

She had taken down another pirate, but she was at her limit. Her muscles screamed in protest, her lungs burned. She had never experienced such exhaustion before. It was like trying to breathe underwater.

How many had she killed?

Seven? Eight?

Some had only been wounded. But the pirates were relentless. They cursed and swore, their anger growing with every fallen comrade. But they didn’t give up. They were determined to capture her alive. Fortunately for her, that was working in her favor. But she was running out of time. Gwang-hae, their leader, hadn’t joined the fight yet. And when he did, she would be in real trouble.

He was clearly getting impatient. The veins on his forehead were bulging. He wasn’t known for his patience.

“You idiots! Do I have to do everything myself? How can I trust you weaklings to raid a ship? You’re useless! Get out of my way! I’ll handle this!”

He finally stepped forward.

Dokgo Ryeong braced herself. She had to defeat him. It was her only chance. She had nowhere to retreat. It was a do-or-die situation.

“What the…?”

Gwang-hae was surprised.

How could such a small girl possess such strength? He had assumed she was exhausted, and he had been confident of victory. But now, he was starting to doubt himself. He had been planning to fight her one-on-one. He couldn’t very well gang up on her. And he was confident in his own abilities.

But she had surprised him. She was like a wildcat, her attacks relentless, her swordsmanship unpredictable.

‘This isn’t right…’

Things weren’t going according to plan.

‘I have to finish this quickly…’

Dokgo Ryeong was also getting desperate. Her energy was depleted, her stamina fading. She was running on fumes, her willpower the only thing keeping her going. But the longer the fight dragged on, the worse her chances became.

‘Then…’

It was a risky move, but she had no choice. She had to use it. It was her only trump card.

‘Alright! I’ll stake everything on the final technique of the Flying Goose Sword!’

She waited for her chance, her patience born of desperation. She knew she wouldn’t get a second chance.

“Hya!”

Sensing her weakening resolve, Gwang-hae charged at her, his saber raised high. He assumed that she wouldn’t be able to defend against such a powerful attack. But he was wrong. She had been conserving her energy, waiting for the right moment.

The bigger the swing, the bigger the opening. She dodged his attack, using the “White Goose Dance” footwork, and countered with her strongest technique.

Flying a Thousand Li!

A high-level sword technique that unleashed dozens of sword energy projectiles. She could only manage twelve at her current level.

“Gasp!”

Gwang-hae was stunned. He had never seen such a powerful technique from a girl so young. He scrambled to defend himself, his saber flashing, deflecting the incoming projectiles.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Thud! Thud! Thud! Crack! Crack! Crack!

He poured all his strength into his defense, the sound of metal clashing against metal echoing through the night.

“Huff… huff… huff… I… I blocked it!”

He had managed to block it. But he wasn’t unscathed. He was breathing heavily, his body covered in cuts and bruises, his clothes torn to shreds. But he was alive. His injuries were superficial. None of them were life-threatening.

‘Did I fail…?’

Dokgo Ryeong felt her vision blurring.

She had no more tricks up her sleeve.

‘The Sword Clan’s swordsmanship is truly fearsome! Even a young girl can wield such power!’

Gwang-hae felt a chill run down his spine. If the entire Sword Clan came after them… It was a terrifying thought. He had to assume that they had already been alerted. He was running out of time.

He laughed, trying to sound confident.

“Hahahahahaha! I’d love to play with you some more, but I’m afraid we’re out of time! The game’s over!”

He winced as he laughed. His wounds were starting to ache. But he had to maintain his composure.

“Don’t make me laugh! You can say that after you defeat me!”

But she was barely standing.

“I’m going to defeat you right now!”

He swung his saber at her, his movements swift and deadly. At the same time, he signaled to his men. They frowned. Their expressions were clear. ‘Are you serious? Against a little girl? That’s cowardly!’ And, ‘You were so confident a moment ago!’ He felt a twinge of shame, but his fear of the Sword Clan outweighed it.

Dokgo Ryeong dodged his attack, her movements shaky but precise. She had exhausted her strength, but she had saved a little bit of energy for a last-ditch escape attempt.

But Gwang-hae didn’t notice. He signaled to his men again, his meaning clear. ‘Shut up and do it! Or die!’

They reluctantly obeyed. A tall, skinny pirate pulled out a small tube from his pocket. He took out a dart, wrapped in a leather pouch, and loaded it into the tube. He put one end of the tube to his lips, aiming the other end at Dokgo Ryeong.

She was too busy dodging Gwang-hae’s attacks to notice. Gwang-hae smiled, a cruel, predatory smile.

“What’s so funny…?”

The skinny pirate took a deep breath and blew into the tube.

Whoosh!

The compressed air shot through the tube, propelling the dart forward with incredible speed. It flew towards Dokgo Ryeong’s back, silent and deadly.

She never finished her sentence.

She felt her consciousness fading, a strange sensation washing over her.

“Wh-What’s…?”

She tried to steady herself, but her legs wouldn’t obey. Her vision blurred, the world around her tilting and swaying.

“P-Poison?”

She asked, her voice weak.

“Hehehe, don’t worry! It’s just a sleeping drug! I wouldn’t want to damage such a valuable prize!”

Gwang-hae said, his smile as hideous as a toad’s.

“S-Sleeping drug?”

Her eyes were unfocused. He nodded.

“Yes, a special sleeping drug that can knock out an elephant! It’s specially formulated for martial artists, who have a higher tolerance than ordinary people. It’s very expensive, so we don’t use it often. Consider yourself honored! And be happy! Paradise awaits you when you wake up, hehehehehe!”

Paradise for him, perhaps. But for her, it would be hell. But she had no strength left to resist. Her limbs felt heavy, her head throbbed, her stomach churned.

“C-Coward…”

Her tongue was numb. She wanted to curse him, but she couldn’t even speak.

“Kehehehehe, thanks for the compliment! That’s what pirates do!”

His laughter was repulsive. If only she could plunge her sword into his throat! But she was paralyzed, her body unresponsive. Her consciousness sank into darkness.

‘Eunmyeong…’

Why was she thinking of him now? It was a futile hope, a wish that would never come true. Even if he were here, he couldn’t save her.

But… but…

‘I want to see him again…’

Her consciousness faded completely.