Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 202

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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 202

Episode 202. Duel, Three Chances (1)

Underbelly of the Middletemple Sanctuary.

The entrance to a massive underground maze that stretched like a spider’s web across the entire continent.

Amond von Goldhart was quietly waiting for his guest.

‘When will they arrive?’

Three hours ago from now.

A telepathic message had come from the High Priest.

Instructions to prepare to welcome several Sword Masters who would arrive at the Order of the Holy Maiden through the Abyss.

Originally, this should have been Arwen’s job to handle personally. As the young master of the Goldhart Family, and as the most influential figure in the Holy City.

‘Of course, he couldn’t enter the sacred Order of the Holy Maiden itself.’

Those who had not received the “authority” of the Order of the Holy Maiden could not enter or leave.

That’s why Arwen was waiting outside while Almond had come down here alone.

‘They’re here.’

Just then, a faint noise reached Almond’s ears.

Hiss, pshh-!

A distinctive sound that spread with each footstep.

Regular sounds like those leaking from a steam engine gradually approached through the darkness.

“….”

Soon, a figure emerged from beyond the darkness of the Abyss.

It was a gentleman dressed in elegant formal wear.

A neatly tailored black tailcoat and shirt, along with a dignified silk hat. A precise monocle hung over one eye, adding to his intellectual impression.

However, the body revealed beneath that elegant attire had been entirely replaced with machinery.

The noise of gears turning. Steam leaking in rhythm with his gait. And smooth metal covering his skin.

‘Ferric Clan….’

Beings who had replaced most of their bodies with machinery, excluding major organs. A rare race also called the embodiment of lost technology.

Pshhhh-.

The Ferric Clan member stepped one step closer.

Steam regularly rising from an organ embedded somewhere in his chest met the cold air of the Abyss, creating mist.

‘The Sword Master of Steam Dance.’

Almond immediately recognized the other’s identity and promptly bowed respectfully.

“It’s my first time meeting you, Meister Zengmu.”

“…?”

Pause-.

Jeungmu, who received the greeting, showed a momentarily confused expression as he looked Almond up and down.

His eyes visible beyond the monocle held bewilderment.

“How is it that decades have passed, yet you look exactly the same as when I last saw you, young master?”

“Ah.”

Almond immediately grasped the situation.

Jeungmu had clearly mistaken him for Arwen.

It wasn’t strange at all.

He had heard countless times that the two brothers looked exactly alike.

“I am Amond von Goldhart.”

“…Almond?”

“Yes. The third son and youngest of House of Goldhart.”

“Ah.”

Pshh-.

Jeungmu nodded while releasing a small puff of steam.

It seemed he finally realized his mistake.

“I seem to have been mistaken. My apologies.”

“Not at all.”

“But still, already a third son… Time really flies.”

Jeungmu’s voice carried a strange sense of emotion.

The complex feelings about the passage of time that only beings who had lived for hundreds of years could possess were evident.

Almond smiled faintly and respectfully stepped back to guide the way. Stone steps leading outside the Order of the Holy Maiden faintly revealed their outline in the darkness.

“My elder brother is waiting outside. This way.”

Thud, thud-.

The two began climbing the stone steps.

Almond glanced around briefly, then asked carefully.

“Excuse me, but where are the other Protagonists? I was told that they would be coming together….”

“Hmm.”

Pshh-.

Jeungmu briefly stopped walking and looked back.

Only the empty darkness of the Abyss was looking back at them.

“Actually, there were three more.”

“….”

“However, as we approached Middletemple, the great ones bestowed a new revelation. They said to hear the reason for the summons from the Thirteenth Sword Master.”

Jeungmu shrugged as he continued.

“Well, after hearing that, the rest all turned back.”

Almond fell into thought.

‘He didn’t explain why they turned back, but….’

He could roughly guess the reason.

If it was a matter that could be conveyed through another Sword Master, they probably judged it wasn’t particularly urgent.

Or simply, like Bloodlust, their pride might have been wounded.

“But….”

It was when Almond was having such thoughts by himself.

Jeungmu continued speaking.

“I came because I was curious. I wanted to personally confirm what kind of person the newly chosen Thirteenth Sword Master might be.”

Jeungmu’s voice was filled with pure curiosity.

Though his expression couldn’t be properly read due to his mechanically replaced face, his interest could be sufficiently felt through his tone alone.

“That works out perfectly.”

“Hmm?”

“The Thirteenth Protagonist is currently preparing for a duel with Meister Bloodlust.”

“A duel? Suddenly…?”

Pshh-.

Jeungmu, hearing those words, released a small puff of steam.

From the way his voice rose slightly, he seemed to be feeling interest.

“It’s a bit out of the blue, but that’s quite intriguing.”

* * *

Murmur murmur-.

At the news that a duel between me and Bloodlust would unfold, Midtemple’s training ground quickly filled with people.

It was inevitable.

A duel between Sword Masters was tremendous news in itself.

“A duel between Protagonists….”

“To see such a sight before dying. What an incredible blessing.”

Excited murmuring could be heard from everywhere.

People were making expressions as if they were watching mythical stories unfold in reality.

Especially the Paladins were already sparkling with excitement. It was clear they wanted to gain enlightenment through witnessing a duel between Sword Masters.

Well.

How often would there be an opportunity to directly witness a battle between Heretics?

This experience would be once in a lifetime for them.

“Tch.”

In contrast, Bloodlust just seemed annoyed.

I could see her figure looking at me with a thoroughly sullen expression from one corner of the training ground. Her red eyes were flashing dangerously.

It was a natural reaction. For her, this entire situation would be unpleasant.

“How long are you going to stall? The spectators seem to have gathered enough, so shall we start soon?”

Nod-.

Hearing those words, I silently nodded my head.

Just then, the people I had been waiting for had also arrived.

Thud, thud-.

The sound of footsteps coming from the training ground entrance. And the rhythmic spreading of steam sounds matching those steps.

“That is…?”

“Ir, Iron Spirit tribe?”

“It’s Jeungmu the Sword Master!”

Murmur murmur-.

People began to murmur in surprise at the appearance of another Sword Master.

Jeungmu crossed his arms and quietly took position at the end of the training ground.

‘The other Sword Masters… don’t seem to be coming.’

In that case.

Now there was no need to drag things out any longer, it was time to start the battle with Bloodlust.

‘The purpose of this battle is simple.’

I need to firmly crush that hot-tempered mosquito’s arrogance.

At the same time, I had to clearly demonstrate my skills in front of the other Sword Masters.

‘Unfortunately, not as many Sword Masters came as I had hoped…’

If just these two, Jeungmu and Bloodlust, could properly recognize my martial prowess, that would be sufficient.

Mangnyeom already had a sense of my abilities through her intuition anyway, so it didn’t matter.

‘In that case.’

There was only one way to completely crush the spirit of someone like Bloodlust here.

Namely, showing an overwhelming difference in skill.

Having finished that thought, I declared in front of everyone.

“I will not use a sword.”

“…?”

Silence-.

Instantly, the training ground became quiet.

Soon after, murmuring erupted. People looked at each other excitedly and whispered among themselves.

Meanwhile, Bloodlust made an expression as if she was extremely displeased.

“This bastard until the very end…”

She had no choice but to react that way.

The opponent saying they wouldn’t even use a weapon meant they were completely looking down on her.

For a Sword Master’s pride, this would be an intolerable insult.

[Wait a moment.]

Of course, Bloodlust wasn’t the only one who was displeased.

[What do you mean by that? Not using me? I was looking forward to tasting both a fresh Heretic’s and a vampire’s blood at the same time after so long… Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!]

Whirr, whirrr-.

I turned on Mukgwe’s silence function.

I loosened up on it recently and now the kid’s true nature is showing.

I’ll need to educate it more strictly for a while.

‘Anyway.’

I looked at Bloodlust again.

Properly provoked, she was making an expression filled with rage.

“Fine. So that’s how you want to play it, huh?”

“…”

“You just became a Sword Master and now that people are praising you, you’ve become completely arrogant?”

Bloodlust gnashed her fangs and growled.

“Defeating two of the Five Nightmares? Sure. I’ll acknowledge it. That’s certainly a great achievement. But trying to face a Sword Master without even holding a weapon is nothing but recklessness…”

“I’ll give you three moves.”

I cut off her words completely.

“If you can’t attack me within the next three opportunities, I’ll end the duel right there.”

Crack-.

At the statement that completely looked down on her, Bloodlust finally exploded.

Kaaaang-!

She drew her twin swords that gleamed blood-red and gripped them in reverse.

Then she shouted toward the priest at the end of the training ground.

“Hey! I’m going to sever both of that bastard’s arms, so prepare the healing!”

At the same time.

Kwaaaaang-!

Bloodlust’s form shot forward like lightning.

Her pale skin turned red for an instant as her body transformed into an arrow.

An tremendous speed that my current stats couldn’t dare to follow.

‘However…’

Whoosh-.

The afterimage of my intuition had already shown me that attack path long ago.

Although I had boasted that I wouldn’t use a sword, it didn’t matter.

I had another sword that was invisible to others’ eyes.

Ding-!

〔Active Skill: 【Formless Sword】 has been used.〕

Bloodlust charged at me aiming for my vital points. The distance closed in an instant. The blood-red blade flashed toward my neck.

But that trajectory was already predicted.

Clang-!

Her dagger collided with the formless sword and its trajectory was slightly deflected.

An invisible impact.

Bloodlust’s sword was deflected to the side by unexpected resistance.

“One.”

“…?”

Bloodlust hesitated for a moment. She made a confused expression, not understanding what happened.

She had clearly attacked at a perfect angle, but suddenly her sword was deflected with a strange sense of resistance, so she was surprised.

However, she immediately continued with her second attack.

Whoosh-!

Bloodlust swung both daggers simultaneously. The crossing blades aimed for my entire upper body.

An attack that seemed to leave no space to dodge or method to block.

But I calmly reached out and grasped the formless sword.

Ding-!

〔Skill: 【Ultimate Auto-Parrying】 has been used.〕

Claaang-!

The sharp sound of metal scraping against metal echoed throughout the training ground. The invisible sword had collided head-on with Bloodlust’s right dagger.

Ping-ring-ring-!

Bloodlust’s wrist twisted, and the sword in her right hand was sent flying into the air.

With her center of gravity completely destroyed, she staggered. The attack she launched with her left hand also went astray in the wrong direction.

“…!”

Bloodlust’s eyes widened in shock.

Her balance was completely broken. If I were to counterattack in this situation, the match would end right there.

But I didn’t move.

I waited quietly until Bloodlust regained her stance.

Since I had declared I would give her three chances, I had to keep that promise.

“Two.”

“What the… how…!”

Bloodlust’s face contorted with confusion and anger.

At the same time, gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd filling the training ground.

“Good heavens.”

“He blocked a Sword Master’s blade with his bare hands?”

“Is that even possible? He’s really fighting without a sword!”

Tap-tap-tap-!

Bloodlust hastily retreated backward.

Having put distance between us to one end of the training ground, she panted heavily with ragged breaths.

Along with confusion, a subtle fear flickered across her pale face. The fact that her attacks had been blocked twice in a row was shaking her.

“Now you have exactly one chance left.”

“….”

“I’ll give you all the time you need. Carefully prepare your final attack.”

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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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