Chapter 254: The Technique of Combat (3)

Fermush opened her lips, and at the same time, the giant unleashed a rain of punches. In that winter under a pale gray sky, the blows pounded the earth like a monsoon downpour.

The giant mercilessly tore through sky and land. With a serene face, it stripped away life.

“Top! Move in!”

Amid the apocalypse, a high-ranking official from the Association shouted. His desperate voice echoed inside his helmet.

At the signal, the heroes with visors activated their blessings and raised their shields, forming a turtle-shaped wall. It was the testudo formation, in the style of ancient Rome.

“Mid and Jungle, inside!”

Those from “Mid” and “Jungle” quickly took shelter within the formation, while “Bottom” tried to keep their distance. But not everyone could escape.

The stone giant had about two thousand hands fanned out behind it. The punches fell with such speed that the silhouettes were barely visible.

Speed multiplied by weight. Is there a need to explain the destructive power? A single blow came down like a meteorite, with enough force to crush the dome of shields raised by dozens of heroes.

“Shittt!”

The heroes gritted their teeth to endure.

Bang!

They couldn’t withstand the giant’s hammering, and the formation collapsed along with the shields. Bathed in the blood of their comrades, the survivors barely held their weapons. There was no time to grieve; the next strike could be theirs.

“Aaaaahhhhh!”

Through the cloud of dust, screams stretched on. The giant’s fists fell indiscriminately, crushing heroes like ants. The ground flattened under the force. Human parts flew in all directions. Pools of blood formed in the crevices.

From above, on the giant’s head, Fermush observed everything with her arms crossed, unperturbed.

“This is how you should be, humans. Crawling like worms, bursting with a mere gesture from us demons. You are scum. Learn your place.”

Fermush gave a twisted smile that didn’t match that of a child.

“No one will survive. At least in the next world, you’ll know your place. There’s some charm in that too.”

It wasn’t that Fermush harbored personal hatred toward humans. What sense was there in having emotions toward insects? That’s how Corps Commanders were.

Their perspective was different.

They didn’t see humans as equals. Not because they “didn’t want to,” but because they “couldn’t.”

The same happens among humans—those with power cannot understand the lives of those on the margins.

“Now then.”

Fermush scanned the battlefield with her gaze. It was all chaos, but that old swordsman had disappeared.

‘That one’s an Awakened.’

He couldn’t have died from that. She knew it better than anyone; she had faced him centuries ago.

‘And more importantly…’

Kang Geom-Ma.

That boy still lingered in her mind. He wasn’t visible anywhere. Even the number of floating knives in the sky had decreased.

Fermush moved her eyes back and forth. She didn’t lower her guard by nature, and that’s why Lord Kuarne had granted her access to the battlefield.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have opened the portal at such risk.

“I’m Lord Kuarne’s favorite.”

That’s why she couldn’t fail him.

‘I’ll eliminate every insect that could get in his way.’

And above all, she would kill Kang Geom-Ma amid the flames of punishment. She wanted her brother’s attention solely for herself.

Swoosh!

An ambush fell suddenly. Fermush tilted her head to dodge. A sashimi knife landed at her feet.

When she turned her gaze, she saw the Swordmaster gliding on his own blade, hurling himself toward her. In midair, he recovered the sashimi knife and threw it like a dagger.

For a moment, Fermush was startled by the ambush. Just for a moment. Then her face twisted with rage.

“You think you can fly and are above everyone else?”

She snapped her fingers. The giant redirected its fist upward.

“Even with wings, you’re still an insect.”

The heavy fists swept the sky as if beating the clouds. The torrent of attacks filled the Swordmaster’s field of vision. If he tried to block every blow, he would be crushed like a fly.

‘I’ll dodge.’

Dodge them all and get closer. He lowered his body and gripped the hilt of his sword with one hand. Like a surfer riding the waves. His blade drew a smooth line, exploiting the gaps between the fists.

The better he dodged, the more momentum he gained. It was like letting himself be carried by the current.

With his white hair blowing in the wind, the Swordmaster advanced. His teeth bit down on his lip.

‘Damn it.’

He had to ignore the hell unfolding on the ground. He kept his eyes forward as if tied there. He couldn’t let the sacrifice of so many be in vain. At least not until Kang Geom-Ma was ready.

‘If I can at least land a small wound.’

He had already closed the distance. He threw the sashimi knife with precision. It was then he understood why Kang Geom-Ma insisted so much on that kitchen knife.

A sashimi knife bought for 3,000 won at Daiso. More useful and of better quality than expected. Simply very cost-efficient.

Fwooosh!

Fermush fired a barrage of stones like a machine gun, clashing midair with the sashimi knives. Scowling, she growled.

“Damn insect.”

The Swordmaster finally deflected the entire offensive. Upon landing, he launched himself forward, pushing off with his back foot on the statue’s head. A fast, precise slash.

“Very well.”

Fermush extended her palm and scattered stones across the ground. Her shoulders dropped, then she clenched her fists.

“If you’re so eager for hand-to-hand combat, then let’s play your way.”

Stone fragments wrapped around her forearms. In an instant, gauntlets formed. She planted a firm step to propel herself.

The Swordmaster also jumped at the same time, and both bodies collided at the center.

Bang!

It happened in the blink of an eye. They exchanged countless blows amid sparks and booms, again and again atop the giant’s head.

As he faced Fermush directly, the Swordmaster was surprised inside. The martial skill of one who had only thrown stones before was formidable, and he surprised himself for being able to endure face-to-face against a Corps Commander.

But it wasn’t a favorable scenario.

‘Not much time left.’

The power of Awakening consumes. In exchange for great strength, life is sacrificed.

The Swordmaster suppressed his anxiety and wielded his sword calmly. Thump—he deflected a punch with the sword’s spine. Whoosh—he turned the blade, relentlessly aiming for vital points.

He didn’t defend. He only attacked. The best defense is a good offense. The foundation of all combat.

The battle began to tilt in his favor. Fermush might have been toying with him, but no one could surpass him in close combat. And besides, his Awakening gave him the upper hand.

His movements were lighter than at his peak, his blade ever sharper, and his golden eyes discerned patterns in the enemy’s moves, creating openings.

Finally, Fermush’s rear foot tripped on her own ankle. The sword’s skillful guidance had entangled her fists and legs.

The Swordmaster didn’t miss the opportunity. He shouted furiously.

“Fermush, you damn brat with no blood in that head of yours!”

He concentrated his white aura into the blade and slashed diagonally from lower right to upper left.

Whoosh! Boom!

Fermush, hit head-on, crashed against the ornament atop the giant’s head. The Swordmaster caught his breath and stared at her.

She looked like a painting carved into stone. Her drooping head hid her eyes, but her mouth was visible. She was smiling.

“Hehehe.”

Her laugh was sinister. She twisted and stepped out from the wall, calmly dusting off her skirt.

“I admit it. For a moment, you reached the level of the Swordmaster.”

The Swordmaster frowned at the unexpected praise. His clothes were torn, and his cheek was bleeding with deep cuts. But her smile reflected a twisted pleasure.

Fermush stared at him. Her eyes still lifeless.

“But it’s a shame. If you were younger, you would have surpassed your predecessor.”

Suddenly, she raised three fingers.

“There are three reasons why you’ll die today. First, because you’re facing someone who has already fought Awakened ones. Second, because you ran into me today.”

She folded one finger after another.

“Third, because you found me.”

“You’ve got a real talent for spouting nonsense with flair.”

Despite the mockery, Fermush let out a giggle.

“Your mouth is just as filthy as your predecessor’s. Aaron Nibelung also had a sharp tongue, though her face was far too beautiful for it. She was an interesting woman.”

Her dull eyes wandered through memories from centuries past. She closed her eyes, then opened them again.

“Tell me where that black-haired bastard is. If you do, I’ll honor you by crushing your head in one blow.”

“Do you really think I’d tell you?”

“No.”

Fermush shook her head.

“I just said it for the hell of it.”

Then, she curled all ten fingers like an eagle’s claws and slashed them through the air.

The Swordmaster’s eyes widened in horror. Space rippled at each of her knuckle joints, as though she were tearing reality apart.

“Do you know the best way to get rid of insects in a sack of rice?”

“……!”

Fermush smiled from one corner of her lips.

“Flip the entire sack.”

And with her ten fingers, she tore through the air, as if drawing back an invisible curtain.

「Mantra (मन्त्र)」

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The earth tilted. The vast sky overturned. The horizon swallowed the sun and spat it back out.

There was no deafening crash. It simply mocked the very logic that feet should remain on the ground.

Those on the ground were hurled into the sky. Those suspended were slammed down to earth.

And in that inverted world, the only one still standing upright was a demon in the form of a little girl.

“Hahaha!”

Fermush looked up and laughed maniacally. Her lifeless eyes reflected the sky—or perhaps the ground—who could tell?

“…Ah, ah.”

The Swordmaster barely managed to drive his sword into the earth, hanging from the hilt.

Until that moment, he had fought against despair. He believed that no matter how powerful the enemy, he could always face them with his sword.

But now, that conviction shattered along with the sky.

‘Who could possibly stop a demon who mocks the laws of the world?’

Hopelessness consumed him. If he let go of the hilt, he would be swept into that gray cloud. He kept glancing between his sword and the abyss below.

“……!”

At that moment, winged figures were approaching at great speed, with sashimi knives in both hands. From the ground, from the clouds, from the sky…

“What… is that?”

Finally, Fermush’s confident expression faltered. For the first time since the battle began, discomfort appeared on her face.

Step.

Footsteps echoed. No one could tell if they came from the sky or the ground.

Step.

But everyone knew whose steps they were.