episode_0018

In a ruin where no one lives, there lies a hidden dungeon.

The boss of that dungeon was a knight commander who once protected an empire from another world.

He was a figure who always showed a stronger presence than anyone else by the side of the lord he had sworn loyalty to.

However, due to ongoing wars and reasons of betrayal, the situation was extremely difficult.

Therefore, he led the surviving knights out of the empire in an attempt to save even his lord.

The enemies had already noticed the presence of him and his knights.

They repeatedly ambushed them, pursued them, slowly wearing them down to death.

As his body and mind wore out, his lord stood in his way, why did he do that?

An arrow coming from somewhere pierced the body of his lord, and he became enraged.

He wiped out all the enemies attacking the knights and carried the injured lord to a nearby cave.

But his lord soon passed away.

The person who should have protected the lord ended up needing protection from the lord, and he was deeply saddened.

And he made a vow.

No matter what happens, he will protect this place, where his lord sleeps, at all costs.

Even if it means dying, even if he becomes a ghost, he will not leave this place.

There was a lingering regret in him.

To the knights who believed in him and followed him,

I wish I hadn’t said such harsh words.

I wish I had taken better care of them.

I wish I had been closer to them.

But the regret was brief.

There was no longer anyone left by his side.

·····

Deep within the cave, the place where Vazes Kyle is guarding someone who is asleep.

Clang!!!

There, I was facing off against him with swords.

Using a sword similar to his swordsmanship.

If I strike upward, he strikes upward as well.

If he strikes downward, I also strike downward.

Ultimately, using the same swordsmanship means understanding all the opponent’s moves.

Power is evenly matched.

The outcome will be determined by pure skill difference.

Kagagang!!

I hold the sword diagonally, deflecting his sword sideways.

As if anticipating, I release the tension on the sword in advance, quickly recover the sword, and face the ensuing attack.

‘But····, I’m still falling behind. Unlike controlling a character in a game, I have to move and understand the sword directly.’

It’s just a show of arrogance to think I can defeat him, a living ghost and the originator of this swordsmanship.

Trying to anticipate his attacks in advance and act faster than him, even if I am caught up, no matter when my neck is cut, it won’t be strange.

Dozens of exchanges happen in an instant.

So far, neither I nor he have suffered any damage.

I evade his attacks, and Kyle effortlessly blocks mine.

It’s evident which side finds managing stamina more challenging.

Without thinking about it, he was no longer a living being.

Slip.

“?!!?? Ah.”

Was it because my mind was exhausted in a short period, or was it because I really thought I might die this time?

Unconsciously sweating a lot, I stepped on it, causing my posture to collapse.

Kyle, not missing the perfect timing.

An attack comes down as if to split my head.

‘I’m going to die····.’

Hoo-!!!!

“·····?”

My hair flutters.

I widen my eyes, trying to understand the situation in front of me.

Kyle stood still in the same position as he brought down the sword.

Despite being able to kill me, he stopped the attack.

“What is this···?”

“·····.”

Clank, clank.

He sheathed his sword, returned to his original position, and began to prepare his stance again.

···Ha, is he really suggesting we continue the duel?

In the game, if you allow a moment’s gap, they immediately try to kill you.

Has something changed now that it has become reality?

I’ll ponder that later; right now, I can’t defeat that person.

However, he has no intention of killing me right now.

It’s as if he’s suggesting that I adopt his swordsmanship as my own.

Though not visible, it felt like he was saying that while looking at me.

“As you wish… Hoo! It’s 0 wins and 1 loss for now.”

I wiped the sweat off my face with my sleeve and readjusted my stance.

I already know the theory behind the moves.

But I don’t know how to efficiently connect the movements or the timing of the breath during the sequences.

So, isn’t the best teacher to learn and converse with a sword right in front of me here?

“Don’t cry after losing to me later. I’ll keep winning as many times as needed!”

I learn everything.

If it feels tough, that’s a good sign.

When learning, I never think I can’t do it.

My body and mind may tire, but I don’t think I can’t learn.

So, I push beyond my limits here.

“From now on, without mistakes, let’s go!”

Once again, our swords clash.

How much time has passed?

I’m already in the midst of recording 0 wins and 100 losses.

Ah, he’s really strong.

Even if I anticipate the opponent’s moves, he approaches me as if magnetized, ready to change his attack direction instantly.

Is this the strongest knight of the Empire in this world?

There’s a huge gap in skill and cunning.

As Kyle stands poised in the distance, I smile while catching my breath.

It’s enjoyable.

I’ve always trained with the sword alone, but just having someone teach me makes me feel the growth more vividly.

I still wonder why he’s helping me, but I can’t miss such a golden opportunity.

And by taking hits, I understand how to wield the sword.

“But now, I think I know.”

“Once more.”

Clang, swish.

The 101st bout begins.

Crash!!

A way to defeat him now.

In reality, there isn’t one.

The difference in skill level is too vast.

So, I use my best move.

It starts with Kyle’s thrust.

Seemingly aiming for the heart, the trajectory changes the moment I show intent to block.

So, what now?

I stand the sword straight in the center of my body and take one more step forward.

If the enemy’s sword moves unpredictably, this method works best.

Placing it in the center swiftly blocks vital areas like the heart.

“Thrust from the top left.”

As expected, the sword veers away from the heart towards another spot.

I raise the sword diagonally above my head to deflect the thrust.

Clang!

“Block and advance.”

While deflecting the thrust, I continue moving forward.

If the gap closes, you need to create distance to launch an attack.

To retrieve the sword, you have to pull your arm back.

Or push me back to secure distance.

Before that, I strike first.

Kwung!

Shoulder tackle.

I twist my body to forcefully push his torso with my shoulder.

Despite stepping back two paces, he staggers.

Not missing the first opportunity, I adjust my grip on the sword and bring it up horizontally.

Leaning forward, I bend my waist as much as possible.

“Bicheom—”

Dragon’s Tail Strike.

Shyaaah!!

One strike extending towards the faltering Kyle.

Even in that moment, Kyle calmly bends his knees, lowering his upper body to evade the blow.

Yet, a part of his helmet is slightly nicked.

“There’s one more blow left!”

Once more, Dragon’s Tail Strike.

Whether it’s a counterattack, Kyle also employs the technique I just used.

Two strikes collide in mid-air.

Kwaaaah!!!!

Perhaps a bit late in the counterattack, a strike explodes right in front of Kyle.

Shaken by the shockwave, I couldn’t properly contain my body and knelt on the ground, enduring.

The assault continued relentlessly. This is where the match is sealed.

I rushed towards Kyle.

Kiiing!!

The reason why my record has been 0 wins until now.

From here on out, it’s for real.

The black sword turns red.

Even through the crevices of the armor, crimson flashes emerge.

Kwahng. In an instant, Kyle reached right in front of me.

As he swung his sword, I predicted and dodged outside the blade’s range.

Not a single moment of error or miscalculation.

Whoom- The sound of wind cutting through echoed repeatedly.

If up until now I read and dodged Kyle’s attack movements, now I predict the attacks that will follow.

The reason I misjudged was that I hadn’t faced a strong opponent before, so I tried to evade too much like it was a game.

I memorized all the enemies’ attack patterns.

Once you’ve memorized the attack patterns, the next step is to read the enemy’s intentions.

What they will attack with next,

Why they are defending in this situation.

Understand the sword, grasp the enemy.

Trying to only play it safe is a nuisance for both me and him.

Always throw the dice.

Believe in that judgment without doubt.

If you have fully grasped the enemy’s intentions, do not hesitate.

Take one more step here, and he will not miss slicing my thigh.

But he won’t succeed.

Do not act with thought.

If you intend to act, move.

“···!!”

As expected, Kyle sheathed his sword without cutting through the leg I had stepped forward.

Had he swung the sword, a stronger counter would have hit him.

Whoosh- Kyle’s attacks kept missing.

I moved the sword to fixate it in one spot.

Clang!

At that moment, the sound of clashing swords echoed.

It was where my sword clashed with Kyle’s at the point I had stopped moving it.

I pushed with force against his sword, deflecting it.

Crash! Both hands holding the sword rose above his head.

The guard was perfectly open.

Using a powerful attack now carries great risk.

Rotating my body, I lifted my right foot towards his head.

Thud. To maintain balance, Kyle planted his foot on the ground, staggering back as he slid backward.

Exchange of blows. Now it’s my turn.

I rush forward, and he prepares to defend.

Clang, clang.

Just like he showed me, I follow his swordsmanship.

A sword extending honestly, yet always ready for change if needed.

Unlike the awkward beginning, a stance now properly grasped.

Clang. Swish.

Grazing past Kyle’s sword, I slash through, cutting through the armor at his waist.

Sliding the clashed swords, I redirect towards his vulnerable armpit, pulling the handle towards his collarbone.

Kyle’s body pulled without resistance.

Exploiting his vulnerability, I reach under his armpit, grabbing his arm up to his neck.

Thud-

“Aaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Thud, thud, kwang!!

I slam him with all my might onto the ground.

His body rolling on the floor, hitting the wall repeatedly.

A perfect opportunity.

Even a moment of hesitation, and he’ll come rushing back at me.

Once I seize the opportunity, I never let it go.

As I charge towards Kyle, I prepare a technique.

Not yet perfected, but the strongest move I can use right now.

During the prime of Bajes Kyle, a dragon threatened the empire.

The technique that captured such a dragon.

The residents praised Kyle as a dragon hunter and named the technique he used to slay the dragon.

Kyle felt embarrassed by the name of the technique, merely naming it without much thought.

As long as there is a gap to thrust the sword into the body, regardless of the stance, the shape of the sword is unnecessary.

Just follow through with the cut along the line.

It may sound trivial to say this, but while sparring with me, Kyle’s body has numerous cuts all over.

[Dragon Hunt]

“If I can hit the bull’s-eye, I can send it in one shot.”

“Screaaaaam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

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Thud, thud.

The sound of fragments falling from the broken wall.

Kyle, standing still and staring ahead at the wall.

In front of Kyle, as if my sword could reach or not, it paused.

Above where Kyle was, the wall was split straight down.

Snick-

“101 battles, 100 defeats, 0 draws, and 1 victory. Should we keep going? From now on, I’ll be the one attacking?”

“····!”

Alright.

The counterattack begins.