NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12
‘A Japanese sword.’
William carefully observed the sword Yasuo was holding. The blade was 2 feet (60 cm) long.
Characterized by its gentle curve, it was a single-edged sword.
He was fairly knowledgeable about Japanese swords.
After all, in works related to Japan, the Japanese sword almost always made an appearance.
Even in foreign movies, Japanese swords would frequently pop up. Thus, while he wasn’t an expert in Japanese swordsmanship, he at least knew what a Japanese sword was.
‘A sword primarily used for slashing. I seem to recall that its durability was weak in the medieval period.’
Swords from medieval Japan were known for their low durability. He judged that if the sword was intentionally struck with force, it could break.
‘And… If it’s a slashing-oriented sword, the wielder would primarily use the midsection.’
Given the characteristics of single-edged swords, it would be difficult to deal meaningful damage with the tip or base of the blade. Thus, the midsection of the sword would likely be used for powerful slashes.
Having finished his simple analysis, William spoke up.
“I’ll give you one handicap. No, I can give you three and still be fine.”
‘This bastard…’
Since before the duel even began, he had been aggravating Yasuo, and now added taunts on top.
There was one thing he couldn’t tolerate: being treated as an inferior without hesitation.
A swordsman’s pride wouldn’t allow it.
However, Yasuo remained motionless, like a statue.
Rather, he couldn’t move.
‘The fact that he confidently challenged me to a duel means he’s sure he can win.’
Just at a glance, Yasuo could tell that William wasn’t someone lower than him. At best, they were evenly matched.
And at worst, William might even be a higher-tier swordsman.
Given the difference in blade length—approximately 1.5 feet (45 cm)—if Yasuo charged recklessly, he’d likely be restrained by William’s reach.
Thus, Yasuo couldn’t act rashly. Falling for that provocation would be akin to walking to his death. Yasuo stiffened, his eyes calm and collected.
“Since I’ve stepped back this far, are you not going to come?”
“…Hmph.”
‘If this guy defeated the successor of the Hainan Sword Sect, he must be at least “Ji” rank. So he should be able to use aura too, right?’
Yasuo could use aura if he wanted.
The only issue was that Yasuo still couldn’t determine how William intended to use his aura.
After all, there were those who used aura in strange and unexpected ways.
The applications of aura were infinite, so Yasuo needed to figure out how William would use it first.
‘Let me test your mettle.’
“If you won’t come, then I’ll go.”
William approached Yasuo with an apparently casual gait. Neither too fast nor too slow, it looked as though he could charge in and decapitate Yasuo in an instant.
However, Yasuo did not swing his sword. He knew that William’s movement was merely a trap, like how carnivorous plants lure insects with sweet scents.
Eventually, the distance between the two was reduced to three steps. Yasuo’s swallowing could even be heard clearly in William’s ears.
William’s sword was within striking distance of Yasuo’s vital points, but only if Yasuo stepped forward could he slash him.
William openly mocked Yasuo, who showed no intention of attacking.
“Are you going to shrink back like that? To be strong against the weak and weak against the strong… it’s a shame to call yourself a samurai.”
Yasuo gritted his teeth.
Having lost all his subordinates and being surrounded, he couldn’t possibly be aggressive when his body wasn’t in peak condition for the duel.
“Do you think I would fall for such a cheap provocation?”
“Suit yourself.”
As soon as those words were spoken, William thrust his sword forward, as if probing Yasuo. A feint.
It was so obvious that Yasuo didn’t even bother to swing his sword. Instead, he simply stepped aside to avoid the thrust. William quickly retracted his sword and returned to an orthodox guard stance.
“You’re a coward.”
“Shut up.”
Simultaneously with Yasuo’s retort, William’s sword came down diagonally. An ordinary slash. There was no fancy technique, just a pure, straightforward strike.
It was dangerous if hit, but someone at a low-tier level could easily deflect it.
Yasuo felt puzzled but quickly blocked the attack with the flat side of his blade. However, the blade slid off as if it were greased, and the blow was gentle, as if William hadn’t intended to land it from the start.
William retreated to his original position, this time slashing vertically. His sword hit Yasuo’s with neither too much nor too little strength, then smoothly returned to its original position.
Because William alternated between offense and defense so quickly, Yasuo couldn’t find an opening to attack.
Attack the defensive stance, and the opponent would have a chance to counterattack.
Finally, Yasuo couldn’t help but speak.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Hmm…”
William let the words trail off, then swung his sword down from his right shoulder to his left side, lowering his stance. The tip of the blade naturally aimed at Yasuo’s heart.
“Plow.”
This was the “Plow” position, derived from the agricultural tool, where the wielder holds the sword so the tip points upward, ready to thrust.
With Yasuo staring into William’s eyes, William’s weapon shot forward like an arrow almost before Yasuo’s thought process had finished.
Yasuo tilted his sword upward to block the thrust.
The optimal stance for defending against a direct thrust.
He tried to deflect the thrust as if dealing with the charge of a giant, raging bull.
‘Got it!’
Just in time, Yasuo’s sword pushed William’s aside. And as though he had anticipated this, William’s body spun in the direction the sword was deflected, retreating backward.
Yasuo realized at this moment:
If he continued to react like this, he would be killed without a chance to fight back. His opponent wasn’t showing any real attacks, only relentless pressure.
‘I’m being completely manipulated.’
Having lost control completely, any attack or defense was now entirely dictated by his opponent.
To reverse the situation…
‘I have to take back control!’
As Yasuo’s right foot stepped forward to follow William’s movement, his sword left behind a crimson trail as it swung with the intent to cut William’s torso in half. Simultaneously, William’s sword was enveloped in a blue glow.
Aura.
Known in the East as a “sword qi,” it was nothing more than a crystallization of destruction and the hallmark of an extraordinary martial artist. The clash of these two forces erupted with a thunderous boom that reverberated throughout the harbor.
“So, are you going to put up a real fight now?”
“Let’s see how long you can last!”
Seizing the opportunity, Yasuo unleashed a flurry of strikes. From above to below, slashing, thrusting, and spinning his sword, a continuous and relentless assault.
He poured out every sword technique he knew.
Each one filled with murderous intent.
Calmly controlling the amount of aura he used, William deflected Yasuo’s relentless attacks. The longsword technique he had mastered was unparalleled in setting up a defensive stance.
And also in attack.
Breaking through Yasuo’s storm of strikes, William reached close range, where their swords clashed. The swords locked, their blades tightly pressed together until their foreheads nearly touched.
In this close-combat situation, William pressed Yasuo with his sheer size and strength and spoke.
“Hey, do you know what?”
“What nonsense are you going to say now, you big guy?”
“There’s a saying on our side: never give a knight room to maneuver.”
William firmly pressed his thumb against the blade.
This was the essence of longsword technique.
The reason why longsword techniques became the domain of knights.
And one of those techniques was now revealed.
“When you meet your dead comrades in the afterlife, tell them they got what they deserved.”
William’s sword began to rotate, spinning outward. Yasuo exerted all his force to block the strike but couldn’t keep up with William’s sudden movement.
‘Back edge!’
The sword swung around, pivoting from Yasuo’s forehead, and carved a deep gash across his chest. With aura, the cut managed to penetrate deeper than what could be stopped by armor alone.
Yasuo, a seasoned swordsman, clenched his teeth as blood dripped down.
It wasn’t a fatal wound, so if he counterattacked immediately…
‘Damn it!’
Before Yasuo could steady his stance, William’s sword swung again.
The air-splitting slash was fearsome. Still reeling from the previous strikes, Yasuo barely managed to block the attack aimed at his neck.
‘I blocked it…?’
Just as that thought crossed his mind, William stepped forward while crossing positions and firmly gripped the upper part of his sword with both hands, an unusual move for a swordsman to grasp the blade itself.
Before Yasuo could react to this peculiar move, William pressed down with both hands as if pressing an axe into the ground.
Unable to counter the overwhelming force pressing down from above, Yasuo’s stance crumbled, and the tip of the blade immediately pierced into the side of his neck.
“Such…I don’t want…to die…”
“Farewell.”
William’s sword, surrounded by a soft glow of aura, swept past Yasuo’s neck.
The head of the swordsman who had caused bloodshed in Hainan Island rolled along the harbor floor, leaving a trail of blood on the rocks.
————————
“How is Miss Ha-jin?”
“The dangerous phase is over. But you… what about that head?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I would bring back the head before the sun rises.”
I placed his severed head on a suitable rock and leaned against the rock to catch my breath.
He wasn’t that difficult of an opponent, but he was worth acknowledging to some degree.
“Uncle!”
“Are you hurt?”
“No! I’m fine! What about you?!”
“As you can see, not a scratch. Don’t worry.”
After exchanging brief well-wishes with Hye-ryeong, I looked back to the sect leader to continue our discussion.
The sect leader met my gaze and began speaking.
“The rest of the discussion can wait until we return.”
True, the priority is to evacuate the patients for now.
Carrying the injured martial artist on my back, I joined their procession back home.