Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 311

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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 311

Episode 311. Imperial Palace Conquest (8)

* * *

0.17 seconds.

Converting 17 MP into time, that’s exactly how long it is.

A timeframe before an ordinary human’s nervous system could even begin to react.

An instant where even blinking would be impossible.

‘But…’

Once again, I was.

Planning to split those 0.17 seconds to their absolute limit.

The first authority I had actively obtained since falling into this world.

By utilizing the skill that had become an inseparable part of my existence.

Ding-!

〔Authority Skill: 【True Ritardando】 has been activated.〕

Tick, tick, tick, tick──.

The sound of a second hand echoing in my ears.

The world slowed down.

The flames of torches hanging on the walls stopped their dance.

The blazing fire froze in its exact form, and even the rising smoke hung in the air like threads.

Dust from the thousand-year-old Imperial Palace floated in the air before solidifying.

Even the cursed air seemed to hold its breath and lose all movement.

Saaaaa-.

Silence.

A terrible silence flowed.

Though the Imperial Palace of Rashutku was originally a space for the dead, now even time itself seemed to have met its end.

The only thing audible in this frozen world was the echo of bodily functions reverberating in my ears.

Thump, thump─.

Was it thanks to my greatly increased sensory stats?

Now I could feel even the reactions of individual nerve cells.

The pressure of blood being pushed out with each heartbeat. The minute vibrations of each muscle fiber contracting and gathering strength.

Even the path of electrical signals originating from my brain flowing down my spine to my fingertips.

Yes.

All of it could be felt clearly.

‘Every time I use 【True Ritardando】, I feel this but…’

It was wondrous.

A fact I came to realize anew each time I remained in such endlessly confined time.

My body was truly operating within an intricate system of interconnected parts.

‘However.’

There was no time to savor such things.

Right now, I wasn’t even allowed the luxury of appreciating this lingering sensation.

Tiiiiiii──.

〔MP : 9/10〕

In the slowed world.

I could see the number in the notification window slowly changing from 9 to 8.

Kwaaaaaa-!

The familiar omnipotence enveloped my entire body.

The sensation of each cell awakening.

The feeling of muscles expanding and strength seeping into my very bones.

At the same time.

The next plans flashed through my mind in succession.

The place I needed to reach was the Underground Shrine where Mukyeonjiju slept, the place I was standing now was the main building of the Imperial Palace, and the fastest shortcut was through the underground drainage.

‘In that case…’

There was only one action I could take right now.

──iiiiiiik.

〔MP : 8/10〕

Whoosh-.

I lightly stomped my foot.

My body rose like a feather. It was a levitation so light that gravity seemed meaningless.

While floating in the air, I slowly tilted my body.

With my back to the ceiling and facing the floor, I put strength into the hand gripping my sword.

Enough for green veins to bulge on my pale forearm.

Tiiiiiii──.

〔MP : 7/10〕

The sword cut through the air.

Naturally, no sound could be heard.

After all, with the world flowing this slowly, there was no way sound waves could reach my eardrums.

The sound waves were probably still swimming around dozens of centimeters away from my ears.

Instead…

The sight of the floor splitting before my eyes began to unfold clearly.

Crrrrrrrack──.

Stone was torn away.

Cracks spread outward from where the sword had passed.

Gaps opened along the joints.

Through those gaps, finely broken pieces slowly, very slowly rose up.

Whoooosh-.

I pushed my body through that gap.

The cross-section of the building flashed past the edge of my vision.

Thousand-year-old stone walls. Rusted metal. Timber rotted and crumbled by time.

Following the trajectory carved by my sword, the framework of the Imperial Palace split. Walls cracked, pillars were severed, and ceilings collapsed.

The grain of wood was clearly revealed on the cut surfaces. The rotted heartwood crumbling like powder and scattering into the air was captured.

No.

To be precise, it stopped just before scattering.

All the collapse caused by my actions hadn’t even ‘begun’ yet.

Before the shockwave could even spread.

Even before the fragments could scatter.

Trapped in confined time, held in place.

As if the moment just before explosion had been preserved for eternity.

And….

Splash─.

Finally, my feet touched the ground.

The stagnant sewage in the drainage channel soaked my ankles.

As the impact of landing transmitted to the water surface, ripples tried to bloom.

Concentric waves trying to spread outward from the center.

However, once again, before that first wave could fully spread…

──Eeeeeek.

〔MP : 6/10〕

…I began moving like an arrow once more, toward the underground temple where Mukyeonjiju awaited.

* * *

Clatter, clatter-.

Adelia and Muwolcha were riding on Jeungmu’s back.

While his four legs, transformed into those of a horse, galloped through the drainage channel, no one spoke.

More precisely.

They couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

“….”

“….”

“….”

It was Adelia herself who had said to trust Gaon. Jeungmu and Muwolcha had also agreed with those words and followed him this far.

But.

That didn’t make the anxiety disappear.

Gaon had been sucked into the monster’s mouth and then vanished without a trace.

All that remained was the essence.

In such circumstances, no matter how resolute their faith might be, they couldn’t erase the doubts blooming in a corner of their hearts.

Everyone was running while clinging to uncertain belief.

“We’ve arrived.”

Whoooosh-.

Eventually Jeungmu stopped his steps. A massive iron cage came into view before them.

The final stage to break the Imperial Palace’s curse.

It was a sealed gate that would only open when three essences were inserted.

“Hm?”

But surprisingly, there were already guests waiting there.

The Bifurcated Siblings and the expedition members.

And even the Ghost Prime Minister floating in the air in translucent form.

“Really now….”

Balhwan let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

“…How did you know to arrive at exactly the right time?”

Swish-.

The Girl in Black Robe muttered this while pulling a compass from her pocket.

The Compass of the Exalted.

It was one of the twin artifacts Gaon had given them before the strategy began.

“To synchronize the timing of the strategy with just a compass that shows each other’s location….”

She flicked the compass with her finger and continued speaking.

“Gaon, that person is truly a remarkable being indeed.”

“….”

Adelia quietly fell into thought upon hearing those words.

The title “that person.” And even the expression “being.”

Even after Balhwan learned that Gaon was a great one, she hadn’t called him that.

At most she would call his name, or just refer to him curtly as “you”….

‘What happened during this strategy?’

She didn’t know what change of heart had occurred.

But there was definitely a strange respect in Balhwan’s tone that hadn’t been there before.

“But….”

While Adelia was lost in such thoughts.

Swish-.

Natalya Koshat, who had been looking around, carefully spoke up.

“…Where is The Protagonist?”

The aquarium and the Temple of the Silent Ruler were in the same direction.

Since both strategy teams had departed together, naturally she thought they would all return together….

But somehow.

Only three had arrived at the promised location: Adelia, Jeungmu, and Muwolcha.

Clank-.

Adelia didn’t answer.

Instead, she silently approached the iron cage and inserted the essence into the slot.

Flicker, flicker-.

The Essence of Trials was glowing dimly.

Proof that not much time remained.

Witnessing this, Balhwan frowned and spoke.

“Stop staying silent and speak up, Goldheart.”

“….”

“Where is your master?”

Huu-.

However, despite Balhwan’s interrogation, Adelia didn’t open her mouth.

She merely let out a quiet sigh.

Unable to bear it, Balhwan shifted her gaze to Jeungmu. But he also didn’t provide any particular answer.

Tsk-.

Clicking her tongue, Balhwan turned her head toward Muwolcha… then immediately averted her gaze.

[Myu myu?]

“….”

For some reason, Mukyoo was cradled in her arms rather than on her face.

Apparently she had forgotten to put it back on after it came off during the aquarium strategy.

Just as Balhwan, having lowered her gaze, was about to ask the group again about Gaon’s whereabouts.

“Just a little bit….”

Adelia spoke.

In a coldly subdued voice.

Swish-.

Adelia’s eyes met Balhwan’s directly.

Those blue pupils contained a sharp energy like frost.

“Just a little bit… just a very little bit more waiting… and The Protagonist will surely arrive….”

Adelia’s voice trembled slightly.

“So please don’t doubt me, Lord Bun-hon.”

“…?”

Hesitation-.

In that moment, the Bifurcated Siblings instinctively took a step back.

Adelia’s gaze.

The obsession and madness contained within it was far from ordinary.

“Doubt, you say?

However, Bun-hon, who quickly regained his composure, began to question back.

“I merely wanted to confirm the facts. Where Gaon is and what he’s doing right now, when he should have returned after dealing with the Mukgyeon Lord.”

The girl in black robes uncrossed her arms and faced Adelia directly.

“If that’s what you call doubt, then I have nothing to say, but there’s at least one thing I need to address.”

“….”

“The fact that you’re reacting so sensitively to my question ultimately means that you’re anxious too, doesn’t it?”

It was a calm tone.

It wasn’t malicious sniping, nor was it sarcastic.

A manner of speech that coldly pointed out facts.

That made it all the more sharp.

“Right now, I’m not the one wavering in the face of Gaon’s absence.”

“…!”

“You four departed in the same direction. But only three returned, and not one of you can open your mouth about the whereabouts of the remaining one.”

“That’s…!”

Right.

She knew the truth.

All the plans had already gone awry. Gaon wouldn’t arrive on time.

No.

It was unclear where he had even disappeared to.

“L-Lord Gaon is….”

But she couldn’t bring herself to.

“Lord Gaon is…!”

She couldn’t bring herself to speak those words aloud.

Just as Adelia, who had been moving her lips several times, finally hung her head low.

Rummmmmble-!

A roar echoed from the distance.

The sound, which had been faint at first, approached rapidly and instantly transformed into an ear-splitting explosion.

“Wh-what…?”

Everyone was bewildered.

The next moment.

Crashhhhhhhh──!

A fierce gale swept through violently.

The sewage pooled in the drainage channel erupted explosively, and water spray scattered in all directions.

“Ugh…!”

Adelia covered her face with her arms.

She couldn’t open her eyes.

The fierce wind pressed down on her eyelids, struck her ears, and enveloped her entire body.

And.

Whoosh-.

The moment the wind subsided.

“Hah, hah….”

Adelia lowered her arms while breathing heavily.

The cloudy dust cleared, and the scene before her eyes became clear.

The entire drainage channel had become a mess. Sewage had splattered everywhere, wetting the walls, and unidentifiable fragments were scattered across the floor.

At that moment.

Click-.

A low sound rang out.

The sound of a crystal fitting into a groove.

“…!”

Whip-.

Adelia turned her head in surprise.

In front of the iron cage.

Surely just moments ago, there had only been two dimly glowing crystals in that groove….

A third crystal was now fitted in place.

Grrrrrrrr-!

The iron cage moved with a heavy metallic sound.

The seal that had been closed for thousands of years began to slowly open.

Simultaneously, the three crystals shone even brighter.

Flaaaaaash-.

That brilliant radiance illuminated the face of someone standing before the iron cage.

“…Ah.”

It was Gaon.

Torn clothes. Wounds carved all over his body. Even blood trickling down his ears.

However, despite his disheveled appearance, his breathing was perfectly calm.

Most importantly, his cold, sharp gaze was no different from when Adelia had first encountered him.

Smirk-.

Gaon smiled.

With a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth, he slowly looked around at his companions and spoke.

“It seems I’ve arrived not late, but just on time.”

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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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