Chapter 252: The Technique of Combat (1)
v82My Master used to tell me.GcNO
7aw“There are two ways to win a fight.”vVSnZZ
2cc1To this day, I don’t know how we ended up talking about that.WZbdTz
3V04iA guy who runs a Japanese restaurant giving his apprentice a lecture on how to win fights what a scene.mAoOS1
8NuiO“Don’t you realize what you provoke? With that damned temper of yours, you look like you were made to get stabbed in a dark alley. So just in case, let me tell you this.”J2ha9
UXHbHe claimed to be a former gangster, but in reality, he was a legendary hero from the era of the founders. His theory of combat boiled down to two points.ppBsNqQ
GLC“First, strike first. If you land the first blow, you’ve already won half the fight. Doesn’t matter if there are many of them. In a fight, what matters is establishing dominance from the start. Even if you’re weaker, strike first.”Ww9TIJ7
gI83klJGod Really, “he who strikes first, strikes twice”?js5DCp
wDv1yI had expected something profound and felt like an idiot. It was so basic I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.yJP
iz2DHStill, I listened till the end. Not because I was scared, not at all. It’s not like he had a knife nearby. Definitely not.Rhemz
5IkF9“And the second. The last. And maybe the most important…”Y6rP77
YHvdtLWith a solemn, serious, and stern look, my Master stared straight at me.fvf
8Q5IAnd by this point, I had no choice but to admit it. My Master already knew I’d end up in this world.akZQt
vqXTcOWHe knew something like today would happen. And even if I’m angry he kept it from me I still respect and thank him.8EBk
B04After all, I still use every single thing he taught me.p8gM
4DRI dislike him, yes, but I can forgive him. That’s our relationship.fJvs7rn
4aOkivMy life’s teacher. The only adult who pulled me out of the abyss.RXyArt
yeYlAnd my adoptive father.ZfKz1
D7QhVmEven now, in this very moment, I’m applying his teachings.hUVI0dR
e4h“I am the sword that wins.”pNYEKR
9g18‘Strike first, win.’ Let’s start with that.pL1
s425qH***yqGi
E5GThe dust still hadn’t settled.wl394V
Hr5PWe didn’t know the exact situation or how many enemies there were.TGbn
ZP7DiBut the magic that burst forth with the portal’s explosion…jMY5
DmD9ZN‘It’s immense.’amKe4
uYt8ZfImmense and overwhelming. It couldn’t be compared to any beast or demon I’ve faced before.aStQCbm
AUa43Y5Everyone was tense from the sheer force of it. The magic of the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush.HNHlMKp
D711DIJust feeling a fraction of it was enough to get dizzy.zhY0LXo
bK2ya‘Can we win?’uCT
oSLtmHis presence was so overwhelming, it paralyzed. Legs trembled, grips on weapons loosened. Before they were heroes, they were human.bUNELV
cHp5V2Clink.UW89Ve
SbRW0oAA metallic sound rang out. Everyone turned toward it.SYooVJ
pej1IThey looked down first. Seeing the ground tremble slightly, they looked up again. Their eyes narrowed, then opened wide.UZN4iAN
H6iNNjThousands of sashimi knives floated in the air.tZ7y8KY
AejSunlight pierced the clouds, and the will of a man settled on their blades. From the gray sky, they looked like a swarm of stars.kFmFiTN
cFoqurAll eyes turned to the center, where a white cloak fluttered with two characters inscribed.s8SC
G4O5c『Heavenly Sword』odZt
P7ekdCAt that moment, the knives began to glow deep blue. Not just one. All of them were enveloped in a fierce blue aura.VbsZP
haNISI“Ah…”hi9M8
vpAfZImSomeone whispered, unable to believe their eyes. And then, all the knives dropped at once.cOfHjB
EDPqvFwoosh!7NPFrf
78qTrailing behind a blue streak, they tore through the dust cloud at nearly sonic speed.XXGc
HobCKAn astonishing sight.19xTM
FSqm9uLike a meteor shower.SxiX
FKj2GnKwa-ba-ba-ba-bam!GTUW
GLkIxThe blades fell like thunderbolts. Their paths straight and curved at will. The dust was punctured like cheese, sliced, diced.qtGi
ZaUjDNfEven the portal’s remnants still standing collapsed.mSzM
NJlZTack.9jqFWSq
aAhJgKang Geom-Ma snapped his fingers with his left hand and moved his right like a conductor.oNhAMq
TrBWith grace. And the result was pure destruction.VnR
RrS“My god…”U9SV
ls2dgOdThe eyes of the Sword Master and Changseong locked on him. Their reactions weren’t different from the others’.4mJRBb
obDditw‘We need to strike first.’srU21HS
z7VPThat’s what he said last night.vxKqz
aFj‘Before the battle begins, our morale will sink. That’s why I must make the first move.’M2dUhU
xelI1REveryone agreed. But still…umVK
w48p“Who could’ve imagined this?”I14eP
YnpyfThe Sword Master let out a dry laugh. What Kang Geom-Ma displayed at that moment, not even he could fully grasp.PG88
62LT“Heavenly Sword… you truly…”WORi
AArcMPHThe taste was both bitter and sweet. That young man had reached a peak he himself hadn’t touched in seventy years.WVMb
N5NTiILAs a swordsman, it stung. But if that monster was on their side…rnOp0Z
K1oK9O“He’s more reliable than anyone.”Fwmo
GZKmsNjThe Sword Master stepped forward firmly. A white light enveloped him and he dashed forward.fZkCo
NKTb2qChangseong, momentarily stunned, shouted.vXT
Vt0“Top! Protect the Heavenly Sword!”DAvrZF
X7pxLLd“What about you, Vice President?”xzYD
aKnRChangseong let out a hearty laugh.wwiT0uC
h9cTt“I’ll follow Nibelung!”peG
yca4r“Vice President!”FOo4i
Lv0i8C“Mid and Jungle! Follow us up front! We’ll clear the way, just keep behind us!”UcXPsg
yX6XWithout giving anyone a chance to stop him, Changseong charged forward.VbZpX4
UuOdWith a crash, the ground cracked beneath his feet.QsPX0P
zmanBOOM!l5lKC
CenvOne leap. To the nearest soldier, Changseong stretched like a lance.n1OD
NkZ4dkAnd the soldier’s face soon lit up. He shouted loudly.Uqb
JunBKZ“The Seven Stars are with us!”jKrHHIl
xHFTY“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!”43CF
WpIFrom the rear, General Remi also sprang into action.lEQ
egnC“All marksmen, prepare to fire! Supports, help adjust trajectory! No friendly fire!”jzKUJVa
b2w8nkcShe herself nocked an arrow. Her squad formed a semicircle behind. A fan-shaped formation known as the Crane Wing.eCX
R1I9“Fire!”uEQ
pvHwoujAt her signal, thousands of arrows flew into the sky. They traced perfect arcs, raining down like a storm.nsKP
zPXMjDAnd not one hit an ally, thanks to the support units.o0xsn
Gv4OdFThat’s why marksmen and supports are inseparable. Trust is everything.dN8
gy1s“……”GAa
anvsGOFrom a distance, Director Sung watched everything. He placed his prosthetic hand over his chest. He could feel his heart pounding.qlCC
ZrCMGCK“Has humanity ever struck first against demons?”4ef
gchqAlways on the defensive, always afraid. But now, demons hadn’t even stepped out of the dust, and humanity was already advancing.cV3j
iid‘Striking first doesn’t guarantee victory. And we’re not doing it out of ambition.’qOy
TdlWO9MThat’s what Kang Geom-Ma said before ending the meeting that dawn.Ahy
FwH‘What matters here is seizing the initiative. Showing that we can stand against them. That’s the reason for this first strike.’pUi0fj
O3oXnfKDirector Sung looked ahead.YBV
0c5Xpq‘Hope.’unqBf
mhOoDGyThinking of the one leading, at the front of everyone.wR55
4reo‘Even if we lose today, we must leave behind the hope that we’ll win tomorrow.’w9hKm2
qC8He rubbed his eyes hard and murmured,FtBG
PoV“You are, without a doubt, a hero sent by the heavens.”Kgt2NC5
TO4U***RDg
zohChangseong landed in the middle of the enemy field and immediately dropped into a low stance. All around him, a cloud of dark brown dust covered everything. Even so, amidst the haze, some shadows could be distinguished.qyq96b
Tjbunu“Those things hiding in the storm must be Fermush’s toys.”2S71
ifPEAChangseong gripped the lower part of his spear and swung it in a wide arc. The blade, imbued with the Blessing of Demon-Breaking, traced the curve of a full moon just above the ground.wRs1QK
PUS9hjThe shadows around him lost their balance and fell. The Swordmaster didn’t waste the opportunity. Activating the Blessing of the Sword Spirit, his sword enveloped the area in a white aura and dismembered the shadows along with the dust.DDvH3D
zhexqUIn the next moment, the Swordmaster and Changseong stood back to back.lB2eeP
yRIaThey advanced like that, cutting down the golems in their path. Although they alternated between leading and covering the rear, their formation remained solid.9uJ
UCNFfcThe surroundings were still completely clouded. To reduce blind spots, staying close together was the most effective approach.No7VZhI
p2QeChangseong frowned. The golems weren’t much of a threat. There was something far more troublesome.YGHvxTc
L8kOibx“The dust isn’t clearing. A sandstorm in winter? Ridiculous.”6tH
rhWHe sniffed the air and spat on the ground. After doing it a few times, he tore a piece of his white tunic and covered his mouth. Then, he moistened it with a bottle of water.VQOvS9
Mjj2“Much better.”Ynr
dIkHe tore off another piece of cloth and handed it to the Swordmaster, who took it without looking away from the front.3lN2li
Lgt6pEV“It seems to be getting thicker. What do you think, Nibelung?”WbSBOxs
q3uxQ2“Probably Fermush’s earth magic.”i7A
kSTmThe Swordmaster replied while hanging the piece of cloth from his ear.Jf2
OxR9xIs“Luckily, thanks to Heavenly Sword’s offensive and the supporting fire from the rear, the number of golems has dropped significantly. But…”74DEy
Mm3F“The enemy commander has yet to show his face.”QBbpL
K8GgeiThe Swordmaster kept his eyes narrowed from dryness but expanded his senses to catch any sign. His body was ready to react at the slightest hint.Gsf
d1OAl“Should we advance further?”N1nFAb
oqrFLwuChangseong asked from behind.IcI
Auxo8mYThe Swordmaster stayed silent for a few seconds, gazing at his sword. In the clean reflection of the blade, he saw an old man. His expression was bitter.tUs
uFAjoLEWhen had he aged so much? It still felt like yesterday that he lost three comrades in this very place, half a century ago.MGaKdie
S1ITjHe let out a brief chuckle. The reflection in the blade smiled back.LRUhMYU
8MjV9kp“If we go any further, the chances of dying increase. You know that, don’t you, Mura?”jMpkv
Trl“Of course.”B65p8m
iqFdHChangseong answered without hesitation.cqvK
5Cmccb1“That’s why I’m asking. If you didn’t want to, I was planning to go alone.”yKaBP3a
SKS“You’re still as stubborn and straightforward as ever.”VFYHv0
Y6q“A man must act like one. If I’m going to die, I’ll at least leave a scratch on Fermush’s face. That’ll be enough to rattle him, and that’ll help Heavenly Sword when he faces him.”RwulA
uwUPPEven though Changseong had his back turned, the Swordmaster could tell he was smiling.dQtc
28VTslq“Look at you, still trying to impress Kang Geom-Ma even to the end.”3IV
onZ5NThe Swordmaster bumped him on the back with his head. A smile crossed his face.INh
e01NDQf“Damn bastard.”Y84J1RJ
VXHVYkIt’s not that Mura suddenly seemed endearing. That impulsive, selective type wasn’t charming in the least. But as a companion on the road to the afterlife, he wasn’t bad at all. At least he wouldn’t be bored.glSO
EQ5X5K6Just as the two were about to resume their advance, something happened.2Fp
xwikcmlSwoosh!Mka
1aIc2cThe dust storm that had blanketed everything began to settle slowly. Visibility gradually improved.BUzYTi
ltzierHowever, both their eyes were so dry they could barely open them. Their cracked lips were beginning to bleed.hmOJ
Qib9They felt their entire bodies drying out.7PtJ
xV0sfv“It was worth coming to the human world.”yTxg4
UHb6tqIt was the voice of the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush.2OQFp
Q2D“I never imagined I’d find such magnificent ingredients waiting for me.”brYyM
mVnxHer voice, dry as a desert, chanted a spell.7pF4VBe
e4d5「Earthshift.」EkOdZ5
RphIn that instant, the Swordmaster and Changseong saw the world tremble before their eyes.s0dGE63
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaShe finally appeared.