Chapter 17
『Rake Storm』
A combination skill that manifests when Wind Wave Style and Savage Claw Style are used together.
A powerful area-of-effect attack that spreads the heavy and fierce strikes of a greatsword like a storm, crushing everything in its path.
Its attack range is vast, and its power is top-notch, making it a combination I often used.
‘To unlock 「Sword Style Combination」 this quickly…’
I was surprised at my own talent. My growth rate is so fast that I can’t even gauge the potential of this body.
「Sword Style Combination」
A type of combo that allows the fusion of sword techniques to form skills.
There are so many possible combinations that experimenting and finding your favorite ones was part of the fun.
‘Maybe it’s because they’re all sword styles I learned in the same squad, but all three combinations work really well together.’
「Sword Style Combination」 is a skill usually obtained only after opening the Middle Danjun.
The reason is simple.
It’s just too overpowered to be used early on.
“Graaah!”
“Ugh?! What kind of sudden attack is this…?!”
Even the skilled members of the Yan Family were swept away in an instant.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
The outer wall of the building collapsed, and the bright moonlit landscape came into view.
In the place where the storm had subsided, deep claw marks were etched into the ground.
“Haa…!”
I felt a heavy sense of fatigue weighing down on me.
With that attack alone, my Danjun was drained by about half.
Crack!
“Tsk.”
The dagger had cracked as well.
It’s only natural since sword techniques are designed to be used with swords that suit them.
Using a subpar dagger for techniques meant for greatswords and dual swords would obviously wear down its durability quickly.
I discarded the broken sword and grabbed another one I had brought outside.
There’s no doubt that the power of 『Rake Storm』 is immense.
“Urrgh…”
“Aaargh…!”
Even those caught only by the residual energy couldn’t regain their senses.
However…
“…Ah. You startled me there, pretty boy.”
This woman wouldn’t be done in so easily.
Marco Yan is not someone who goes down that simply.
“Attacking so suddenly… You’ve got quite the attitude, huh?”
Crash!
She appeared, smashing through the rubble of the collapsed building in a single blow.
Despite taking that attack point-blank, she didn’t have a single scratch on her body.
Instead, she looked even more refreshed, as if the alcohol had sobered her up.
“Who are you, really? Sent by someone? Or are you after the bounty on my head?”
“…Do I have any reason to answer you?”
“Pahahat! True, true.”
As Marco clenched her fist, a faint electric current seemed to run through her entire body.
An extreme tension heightened my focus to its absolute limit.
I knew instinctively.
“If I just beat it out of you, then I’ll know.”
Soon, her fist was coming my way.
Boom!
As Marco stomped her foot, the air exploded, and her figure disappeared.
“What kind of speed is this-?!”
Before I could even follow her movements with my eyes—
-!
I felt a tingling sensation at the back of my neck.
‘If I don’t move now, I’ll die.’
My body reacted automatically without passing through my brain.
Sssssss!
A soft blue energy resembling waves enveloped my sword, forming the shape of a rapier.
「Break Sword Style」
Like ripples on the surface of still water.
A rapid thrust aimed directly behind me.
Clang!
The tip of my sword clashed with Marco’s fist.
“…You actually reacted? And even blocked it?”
She widened her eyes in genuine surprise.
「Break Sword Style」 is a sword style created for defense and counter-attacks.
It can be used offensively, but if focused solely on defense, it can even block Marco’s strikes.
“Urgh…”
But just barely.
Blocking one attack left my body feeling completely drained of energy.
Just how strong was that punch for it to sap so much strength just to block?
“What the hell are you…? Are you some kind of elite agent?”
At some point, the way she addressed me changed from “pretty boy” to “you.”
That’s a good sign.
It means I’ve gone from being a mere plaything to something she genuinely desires.
But I can’t let her think she’s gotten me.
If I give in now, Marco will use every dirty trick in the book to get me.
And that would be a huge hassle.
So I need to make it clear.
That I’m someone who stands equal to Marco.
“Phew…”
I took a short, thin breath.
I squeezed out the remaining energy and activated another sword style.
「Wind Wave Style: Chaos」
A modified version of Wind Wave Style that sweeps and scatters the sword like chaotic gusts of wind.
Once sword mastery increases, these modified forms of the original styles get unlocked.
Whoooosh—!
The wind stirred up, sweeping away dust and debris.
“Oh?”
Marco squinted, shielding her eyes.
She probably thought I was aiming for a weak spot like her eyes.
But my target was something else.
Taking advantage of the brief moment her vision was blocked, I quickly closed the distance and placed my hand on her abdomen.
“Sorry, but I’m all out.”
“I’ll just take a little bit.”
「Great Absorption Art」
The structured root of the skill-form mana quickly traveled down Marco’s Danjun.
Gulp, gulp!
“Gah, w-what the hell are you doing?!”
The Qi surged up like a wave along the root.
The empty Danjun rapidly filled with the hot energy.
‘…Impressive.’
It filled up twice as fast compared to when I absorbed Angela’s Qi.
Was it because Marco’s Qi wasn’t in a rampaging state, unlike Angela’s?
Redirecting the flow towards me was far easier.
‘Is it easier to absorb the Qi of someone with better Qi control?’
What a ridiculous cheat-like skill.
“…Hah.”
Marco, who had abruptly lost one-third of her Qi, caressed her lower abdomen and laughed.
“No way… did you just take my Qi?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this. Where did you learn it?”
“……”
“Not gonna tell me again, huh?”
Marco clenched her fists together, her cheeks flushed.
“You really know how to drive me crazy.”
Whoosh!
A red aura flickered around her hand.
It was a technique that enveloped the fist in Qi, amplifying its power like a gauntlet.
「Demon Fist」
Marco’s identity and the very skill that established her as the boss of the Yan Family.
‘So, you’re done playing around.’
I raised my sword and spoke in a deceptively relaxed tone.
“If you charge in that state without circulating your energy, it’ll be dangerous.”
The insane durability of strong individuals is fundamentally due to wrapping their bodies in Qi as a form of defense.
In other words, as their Qi diminishes, their defenses naturally weaken.
On top of that, 「Demon Fist」 is a skill that burns through a substantial amount of Qi.
“Puhaha! Are you worried about me, sweetheart? I’m so happy, I could cry.”
“……”
“No need to worry. I can still block your sword with the remaining Qi.”
Oh, is that so?
“Well then, bring it on. Let’s end this.”
“Gladly.”
The flow of Qi converged around Marco’s fists.
“Demon Fist: First Form.”
First Form.
The most basic of all martial arts techniques.
‘If it’s the foundation of a fist technique…’
It’s a technique that’s all too predictable.
Whoosh…!
Her fist blurred momentarily, like a mirage.
In the blink of an eye, her hand was fully extended forward.
“「Straight Fist」”
A giant’s fist.
The massive lump of Qi barreled toward me, destroying everything in its path.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-!
‘If I get hit by that, I’m dead.’
At the very least, my bones would shatter to dust, or my organs would turn into mush.
Obviously, I have no intention of taking it head-on.
“……”
Focus.
And visualize it.
The power that flows within me.
[Your latent power responds to your call.]
[You are now using the skill: 「Soul Bond: Ornica Feron」!]
The image of a woman overlapped with my entire body.
「Soul Bond」 is a special skill that’s originally obtained by marrying the heroine.
It’s a mechanism where two destinies become one, allowing you to borrow the strength of your spouse.
‘Well, I got it through a Hidden Piece instead.’
It’s a cheat-level skill that you can only get after going through the massive event of marriage and can only be used once.
[For a brief period, the power of ‘Ornica Feron’ will reside within the user.]
Without hesitation, I drew her sword style into my blade.
Not in a crude form, but a skill displayed with perfect mastery.
「Scarlet Moon Style: Destruction」
A scarlet trajectory softly traced Marco’s straight punch.
The blade sliced through as if cutting through tofu.
Crack!
“Wha—what?”
The fragmented fist shattered like glass.
Unlike the 「Break Sword Style」, which blocks the opponent’s attack through counterattacks, this technique slices through and shatters the attack itself, rendering it nonexistent.
‘This is insane mastery.’
Is this how Ornica viewed the world?
I better not mess around with her when we meet next.
“Didn’t you say you could hold on without your Qi technique?”
I mimicked Marco’s smile as best as I could.
Lifting only one corner of my mouth to reveal my fang.
“Then, let’s see you try.”
Marco stared at me with a dazed look.
I didn’t hold back and swung my sword.
[You are now operating 「Scarlet Moon Style」 and 「Savage Claw Style」 simultaneously.]
[Skill: 『Moonlit Destruction』 has been activated!]
An attack that shatters the moon.
A massive slash resembling a crimson wave surged towards Marco.
“Ahhh…!”
Before she was hit, the expression on Marco’s face was—
“To think… a man could overpower me like this… How thrilling…!”
—one of utter ecstasy.
—
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