Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 109

 

Episode 109. The Haibroon Subjugation War (3)

 

Flutter—!

 

Tristan’s cloak billowed in the wind.

 

As the transparent fabric obscured Jaque’s vision, Adelia thrust her sword forward like lightning.

 

“Kugh!”

 

Claaaaaang—!

 

Jaque hastily twisted his beheading sword to block the attack.

 

But the moment he tried to counterattack, Adelia had already wrapped herself in the cloak and turned invisible.

 

‘Wow…’

 

I thought to myself as I watched the scene unfold.

 

‘…She really fights like a damn beast.’

 

An evaluation that was nothing short of high praise for an opponent.

 

As if Jaque felt the exact same emotion as me, he spat out a curse.

 

“Damn it…!”

 

Fighting an invisible enemy was an extremely troublesome task.

 

Even when he tried to attack following her presence, Adelia cleverly concealed her aura using the cloak’s properties.

 

Flutter—!

 

Claaaaaang—!

 

Another strike came flying. This time from the side.

 

As Jaque defended against the attack, the cloak billowed again and Adelia’s form briefly appeared before vanishing.

 

“This is…”

 

The Tyrant Dragon couldn’t help but admire the sight.

 

“…Truly genius-level combat sense.”

 

Adelia wasn’t using Tristan’s cloak as a simple stealth tool.

 

She was exquisitely combining ‘visible moments’ and ‘invisible moments’ to intentionally create blind spots in her opponent’s vision.

 

Surprise attacks timed for when the cloak fluttered and blocked vision. Then using invisibility to block counterattacks before continuing attacks from different angles.

 

All these movements flowed together as naturally as water.

 

‘Moreover…’

 

What was even more amazing was that Adelia’s attacks were becoming increasingly precise with each exchange.

 

If at first she had relied on the cloak’s function, now she was calculating even the external environment to capture perfect timing.

 

The elevation of the ground. Temporary glare from reflected light. And even the direction of her opponent’s gaze.

 

Clang clang clang clang—!

 

Jaque’s expression grew increasingly distorted under the continuous surprise attacks.

 

Though each individual attack wasn’t fatal, being toyed with by an opponent he considered far beneath him was unbearable humiliation.

 

Moreover, this was a situation where he needed to escape as quickly as possible. The fact that his feet were tied down in such circumstances could only add fuel to Jaque’s rage.

 

“This annoying…!”

 

Actually, that alone was sufficient.

 

After all, I hadn’t expected to completely subdue Jaque from the start.

 

Adelia’s mission was just one thing. Namely, to tie down Jaque’s feet until we arrived.

 

But why wasn’t I intervening in the battle despite her having accomplished her role?

 

“Let’s watch a little longer.”

 

“I agree.”

 

Well, I wanted to see Adelia fight for just a bit more.

 

Above all…

 

‘…Her presence is also a catalyst accelerating Jaque’s certain corruption.’

 

Flutter─!

 

The cloak billowed once again.

 

In that moment, I suddenly realized one fact.

 

A new realm was blooming in Adelia’s swordsmanship.

 

‘Oh.’

 

A sword technique that freely crossed the boundary between visible and invisible.

 

A skill that created openings by exploiting gaps in perception.

 

Whooooom—!

 

━━━━━━━━━━━━

 

【Hidden Mastery】

 

Weapon Arts

 

Sword (-Sword) : Lv. MAX

 

━━━━━━━━━━━━

 

‘I can see it.’

 

Yes.

 

I can see it clearly.

 

To my eyes, blessed with overwhelming sword talent, Adelia’s intentions began to be read one by one with perfect clarity.

 

Adelia’s ‘sword’ wasn’t just a weapon swung with force.

 

A sword that read her opponent’s movements and psychology one by one and guided the flow accordingly. A realm where she designed not only her own attacks but her opponent’s movements as well.

 

Right now, Adelia was stepping into that stage.

 

‘There’s more than a 10-level difference between her and Jaque…’

 

Making that gap meaningless, Adelia was fighting Jaque on equal terms.

 

It was truly a sight befitting an irregular representing Roel.

 

【Lv. 88】

 

‘Really…’

 

Pfft—.

 

And the moment I saw her level rise again.

 

A hollow laugh escaped me without realizing it.

 

‘…Adelia with 【Reflecting Surface】 is definitely a broken character.’

 

* * *

 

“…!”

 

Gasp—.

 

In the middle of swinging her sword, Adelia’s eyes widened.

 

Once again, a new realization flashed through her mind.

 

‘If I swing my sword like this…’

 

Claaaaaang—!

 

Adelia’s sword aimed for Jaque’s opening.

 

This time it was a movement that didn’t rely on the cloak, but her opponent couldn’t anticipate the attack.

 

Through repeatedly fighting while deceiving her opponent’s eyes with Tristan’s cloak, she had now mastered how to create blind spots even without the cloak.

 

Witnessing Jaque frantically parry her sword, Adelia realized her strategy was working and smiled.

 

‘Ah…’

 

A thrilling shiver ran down her spine.

 

‘…All of this was The Protagonist’s will.’

 

At first, even she thought it would be difficult to face Jark von Haibrunn.

 

No matter how much he utilized Tristan’s cloak, he had thought it would be nearly impossible to hold back his steps.

 

After all, his opponent was a fortress of Middle Temple.

 

He was a swordsman with the highest level of mastery next to the Sword Masters.

 

‘But…’

 

In contrast, Gaon had known from the beginning.

 

The fact that Adelia could face Jaque.

 

And that through Tristan’s cloak, she would eventually reach this realization.

 

Grind-!

 

Meanwhile, Jark von Haibrunn had no choice but to grit his teeth.

 

He could feel Adelia’s sword strikes becoming increasingly sharp.

 

‘Damn…!’

 

The difference in skill was clearly in Jaque’s favor.

 

Adelia’s level was still far from reaching that standard.

 

However, the reason Adelia could hold back his steps was…

 

‘…not merely because of Tristan’s cloak.’

 

Right.

 

Pure talent.

 

That damned talent was bridging the gap between Adelia and Jark von Haibrunn.

 

Monstrous skill that continued to grow even during combat.

 

Natural aptitude that grasped new insights every moment, saw through the opponent’s patterns, and perfected her own swordsmanship.

 

─This is truly amazing.

 

Suddenly, the admiration the Tyrant Dragon had expressed while watching Adelia came to mind.

 

─No matter how noble the bloodline of the Sacred Families, for a mere human to become this strong so quickly.

 

Surge-.

 

In that moment, inferiority complex welled up in Jaque’s chest.

 

Just a few weeks ago, Adelia couldn’t even reach his toes.

 

That greenhorn was now piercing through his weaknesses.

 

The trajectory of her sword swings. The threat he felt. The concentration in her eyes. All of this proved she was a completely different being from the Adelia of the past.

 

Unlike himself, who had been stuck in place for decades, that young one had reached this level in just a few months.

 

“Grrraaahhh…!”

 

His rage exploded.

 

Jaque swung his beheading blade even more violently.

 

But the more he did so, the more Adelia learned.

 

Claaaaaang─!

 

Sword clashed against sword, sending sparks flying.

 

The recoil pushed both blades apart, creating a moment of silence.

 

In the brief instant of catching their breath, tense silence hung between the two swordsmen.

 

It was then that Adelia spoke with a relaxed smile.

 

“You seem to have many distracting thoughts, Hiverun Lord.”

 

“Shut your mouth!”

 

Jaque shouted furiously.

 

Because Adelia’s words had hit the mark.

 

Grip-!

 

Though the hand holding his sword was firm, Jaque’s heart was not.

 

Pean’s words kept echoing in his ears. The truth he didn’t want to believe – that he had already made a contract with the Evil Gods.

 

Multiple layers of emotion began to pile on top of that confusion.

 

The fact that Adelia, whom he had considered insignificant until recently, was now threatening him.

 

And on the hill, the Sword Masters silently watching this scene unfold.

 

The pressure of knowing that transcendent beings whose skills he couldn’t even fathom were watching him from afar constricted his breathing.

 

All sorts of distracting thoughts muddled his mind.

 

Everything mixed together, weighing down on Jaque’s head.

 

─My child.

 

At that moment, a voice piercing his ears was heard.

 

The Evil Deity’s seductive voice was clearer and sharper than before.

 

─How does it feel to have the mastery you built up over decades of blood and sweat being caught up to by that young one?

 

“…Shut up!”

 

Jaque gritted his teeth and muttered.

 

However, the Evil Deity didn’t stop its tempting whispers.

 

─Soon everything you’ve built up your entire life will crumble. It will be trampled by that young one.

 

“No…!”

 

Jaque cried out.

 

“I am… I am a fortress of Middle Temple! If it weren’t for this situation, that young brat would be nothing…!”

 

“Hiverun Lord.”

 

Adelia’s voice cut off Jaque’s soliloquy.

 

“Do you know what the first teaching The Protagonist gave me?”

 

Flutter-!

 

The cloak billowed again as Adelia disappeared.

 

“…!”

 

Jaque looked around and took a defensive stance.

 

Whoooosh-!

 

However, the attack came from a completely unexpected angle.

 

Swish, slash-!

 

“Graaah!”

 

He barely avoided the strike by twisting his body, but a shallow cut appeared on Jaque’s shoulder.

 

“Sword strikes born from a complicated mind can never be clean.”

 

“Haa, ha…”

 

“So when you hold a sword, forget your worries and focus only on that moment.”

 

“How dare you!”

 

Veins began to bulge in Jaque’s neck.

 

“You little brat, how dare you try to teach me!”

 

Jaque’s eyes began to turn bloodshot.

 

Emotions mixed with anger, humiliation, and despair consumed his reason.

 

─Isn’t it humiliating? That you, who were called a fortress of Middle Temple, are being toyed with by such a greenhorn.

 

The Evil Deity’s voice became even clearer.

 

As if gaining strength from Jaque’s anger.

 

─That is ‘talent’. What you’ve longed for your entire life but could never obtain.

 

“…”

 

─Take my hand. I can give you true power.

 

“…”

 

─Absolute power that doesn’t depend on talent. Overwhelming authority that would be more than enough to crush that young one.

 

The Evil Deity made its final temptation.

 

─Now choose, Jark von Haibrunn. Will you be defeated in humiliation like this, or will you obtain true power?

 

“I am…”

 

Jaque’s voice trembled.

 

The last spark of reason flickered out in his eyes.

 

“…Yes. Fine.”

 

Soon after, Jaque, who seemed to have made some kind of decision, declared.

 

“I accept the contract.”

 

KRAAAAAAANG──!

 

The next moment, a tremendous roar echoed as if the sky itself was collapsing.

 

Dark crimson energy began to coil around Jaque’s body, and from his two eyes spread an abyss-like darkness.

 

Corruption.

 

It was the moment when Middle Temple’s fortress completely fell to the side of the Evil Gods.

 

* * *

 

Ding-!

 

〔Part of the hidden message is revealed.〕

 

…

 

〔Causality is being twisted.〕

 

〔Jaak von Heibrunn’s corruption is being accelerated.〕

 

A message appeared before my eyes.

 

At the same time, noise began to interfere above Jaque’s level display.

 

【Lv. 99】

 

Bzzzzzzt──!

 

【L̵̦̓̐͘v̵͇̹̥̊̀.̵͚͎͐͌ ̷͔̓̌͘▨̵͍̎̔͛ͅ▨̷̨̗̿̚】

 

Upon confirming this, my two eyes calmly settled.

 

‘Success.’

 

I had successfully induced Jaque’s complete corruption as planned.

 

I had accelerated the battle with the source of evil that would one day drive the Holy City to ruin.

 

With this, Adelia had fulfilled her role.

 

‘Which means….’

 

Now, it was time for the Sword Masters to step forward.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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