NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
“Hmm?”
Geumcheon Gang, upon seeing the halberd in William’s hand, couldn’t hide his surprise.
A warrior who used a long weapon like a halberd?
Since the prevalence of swords among warriors, only a few schools had retained the use of long weapons. Hadn’t they disappeared a long time ago?
‘There’s no point in arguing with someone with colored eyes about such things.’
Geumcheon Gang wiped away distractions from his mind and focused his glare on the opponent before him.
A colored-eyed person with a halberd.
Though Geumcheon Gang had no clue why a colored-eyed person would emerge from the Hainam Sword Sect, there was one thing he knew for certain.
‘This is not an easy opponent.’
The ease with which this person carried himself amidst the battlefield, as though he were merely out for a stroll, was the poise one could only exude with immense confidence in one’s abilities.
Though he had some combat experience, Geumcheon Gang noted that the colored-eyed person’s battle-seasoned gaze indicated skills that were probably superior if not on par.
Swallowing nervously, Geumcheon Gang adopted the preparatory stance of the Black Wolf Sword technique he had learned from his master.
He subtly surveyed the situation at Hainam Sword Sect. There was no sign of reinforcements descending, only distant arrows fired at the Black Night Team.
With such a stubborn position, losses for the Black Night Team were accruing.
“…Either I need to bypass him or take him down instantly.”
Failure to do either would undoubtedly mean the Black Night Team’s annihilation under Hainam. Clenching his teeth, Geumcheon Gang unleashed the first move of the Black Wolf Sword technique.
An agile strike as swift as a hidden wolf lunging for its prey’s neck. A terrifying speed aimed directly for William’s throat.
“Quite fast.”
William deflected the initial attack by inserting the haft of the halberd into the trajectory of Geumcheon Gang’s sword. Without hesitation upon seeing his first strike blocked, Geumcheon Gang retracted his blade.
He knew engaging in a strength contest with a halberd wielder would be foolish.
If he made the mistake of grappling directly, his head would likely be severed by the weapon’s edge.
‘To be able to block a fast strike…this is a tough opponent.’
The crux for any fast-sword practitioner was whether the opponent could perceive and respond to a swift attack.
Abandoning other aspects to focus purely on speed, fast-sword techniques were naturally weakened against those who could keep up with the pace.
Thus, Geumcheon Gang judged that he would need a few more probes. It was unavoidable that this would take time, but confirming thoroughly was better than rushing prematurely.
Again, Geumcheon Gang’s sword flickered.
Three clashes.
Sweat beaded on Geumcheon Gang’s forehead as he saw the tip of the haft slice through the air where his head had been.
‘To use the end of the haft as a spear…this agility is troubling.’
The halberd hadn’t been swung even once. This meant Geumcheon Gang could do nothing but remain on guard, tightly focused.
While he had exposed his reliance on fast-sword techniques, his opponent gave little away, wielding an unfamiliar weapon with restraint. There had been no revealing initial moves or displays of internal energy manipulation.
Just calculated jabs with the sharp spike at the end of the haft, targeting vital spots to gauge his opponent.
Even the fundamental difference in reach made things challenging for Geumcheon Gang. The awkward extension and retraction actions within the longer distance of the halberd felt particularly tricky.
‘Is he trying to stretch out the fight?’
The opponent showed no signs of aggressive offense. At this rate, the Black Night Team would be wiped out with fatal casualties before Geumcheon Gang could resolve this colored-eyed opponent.
With anxious eyes, Geumcheon Gang glared at the man before him.
‘I need to break through somehow.’
“How impatient.”
“…”
“You demons lack patience.”
William mocked Geumcheon Gang, maintaining a defense but clearly holding full control of the situation. With a fundamental advantage in range and his defensive posture sealing Geumcheon Gang’s movements, time was on William’s side.
There was absolutely no need for William to be anxious.
By slowly pressuring with steady intervals, Geumcheon Gang would be forced to make a desperate move, an overreach, to break the situation.
Maintaining a steady distance just out of fast-sword reach but within halberd range, William subtly widened the gap.
The essence of long weapons was not allowing opponents to close the distance. As such, Geumcheon Gang’s only option was clear.
Somehow penetrating the defenses and making the decisive play.
‘Aiming for the torso would result in me being swept aside. Perhaps targeting the hand!’
Geumcheon Gang charged again, following the trajectory of the Black Wolf Step, his body darting in quickly like a fast-sword strike.
William visually tracked his accelerating movement.
Though not particularly surprising compared to other fast opponents he’d faced, William pulled out a hanging object from his waistband and used the swift sword glow to cover his action.
With a metallic scrape, Geumcheon Gang’s posture staggered.
“Ugh…”
‘What is this?’
A small, round shield, hard to discern in the dark, and Geumcheon Gang instinctively realized his sword was deflected by it.
Reacting purely on instinct, he immediately rolled backward.
The blade of the halberd narrowly missed his line of sight. Had he reacted any later, an arm would certainly have been flying through the air.
Though humiliating, it was better than death. Pulling himself up with dirt-covered effort, Geumcheon Gang shot a perplexed glance at William.
‘A shield too?’
Already impressive with the halberd, now using a shield as well.
Geumcheon Gang was baffled by the colored-eyed person’s equipment.
‘I’ve never fought someone wielding a shield.’
Although small and only enough to cover his face slightly, Geumcheon Gang felt like he was fighting someone who had fully shielded themselves.
“There won’t be a next time.”
William returned the shield to his hip and gripped the halberd with both hands.
A slightly different grip this time.
Geumcheon Gang tightened his stance apprehensively as the formidable presence he had likened to a wall now seemed prepared to attack.
‘Even if it strains me, I need to extend the length of my sword with chi…is that the only way?’
Overcoming the fundamental difference in reach left him with no other choice but that.
Expending internal energy increased exponentially with the extension of chi, but this was no time to be sparing resources.
Geumcheon Gang began channeling his essence into the weapon.
Almost simultaneously, William’s halberd began to glow with a bluish light as he sensed the energy buildup.
William observed Geumcheon Gang’s sword now gleaming red with his calm eyes.
He analyzed every movement he had seen so far, remaining completely composed despite the excitement of battle.
‘He’s fast but lacks overwhelming power – a sword designed to end opponents quickly in a few moves. With his short blade, he would need to get inside my guard or use chi to bridge the distance.’
William’s right foot pressed firmly into the ground, an aggressive stance.
‘Preempt him!’
Reacting to the motion, Geumcheon Gang’s sword struck again with precision. His target was William’s extended arm. Based on previous engagements, the opponent would likely use the halberd to block or deflect the blow.
Geumcheon Gang planned a series of continuous strikes and kept his eyes trained on William’s reaction.
‘What?!’
Geumcheon Gang was surprised when William simply ducked under his attack. Having unconsciously dismissed the possibility of evasion due to the previous head-on blocks, he paid for it.
‘Damn!’
William’s halberd whirled in response, unleashing its curved blade for the first time, aiming for Geumcheon Gang’s ankle. Reacting instinctively to an unforeseen rapid movement, Geumcheon Gang triggered a pulse of energy from his foot to create space.
This was a desperate attempt to gain distance.
William, having encountered such tricks countless times, surrounded himself with an aura to deflect the energy pulse. Using the hooked lower end of the halberd, he snagged Geumcheon Gang’s right ankle and pulled.
Caught off balance by an unexpected jerk, Geumcheon Gang fell backward. With his right leg trapped by the halberd, losing his center of gravity was inevitable.
William immediately pulled back his halberd and thrust it toward Geumcheon Gang’s chest.
A simple stab. Yet the most threatening.
Geumcheon Gang rolled to one side, narrowly avoiding the blow that would have pierced his heart.
Rising to his feet with a spring-like motion, Geumcheon Gang looked at William with a tense face.
‘If I hadn’t rolled quickly, I would have been dead right there.’
Unfamiliar tactics from the western regions brought Geumcheon Gang to recall the old saying that the world was vast and full of extraordinary people.
‘If I survive, this will be a valuable experience. If I survive, that is…’
The opponent was not his inferior in any sense.
Internal energy was used sparingly, yet the movements remained dangerously threatening.
Though Geumcheon Gang wrestled with the thought of overwhelming his opponent with raw power, it was quickly dismissed. With more than just the colored-eyed opponent as his adversary, excessive energy usage would render him unable to fight or even flee in the next engagement.
“Thousand Horse Descent! Ten Horse Roar…”
“Push through! Break through this, whatever it takes!”
‘This has taken too long.’
Furtively surveying the surroundings, Geumcheon Gang’s anxious gaze confirmed the situation. As he had feared, the Black Night Team had pushed forward despite considerable losses.
‘At least a third must be down.’
With things heading south, Geumcheon Gang swallowed his pride entirely.
This was the only way he could fulfill his mission.
‘Whether a warrior or not, I must complete my mission. What shame have I left now, foolish Geumcheon Gang?’
Having already performed the ‘Dirt Toss Technique,’ what shame was left? Scooping up a handful of dirt, Geumcheon Gang hurled it at William and used his light body technique to dart away.
An absurd retreat in the middle of a duel.
Unfazed, William smirked and pulled out a flask.
“It’s obvious what you’re trying to do.”
He wasn’t unfamiliar with this scenario from the battlefield. Removing the cap with his teeth and placing the opening to his mouth, his cheeks puffed instantly.
An out-of-place, comical appearance, but not for humor’s sake.
‘The cannon ball must ignite the wick to explode.’
With force in his right foot, William gathered internal energy. A brutish method in the eyes of a central plainsman, but detonating the energy in the foot propelled him after Geumcheon Gang’s fleeing figure.
‘Fortunately, the colored-eyed person’s light body technique is not proficient. This was what I should have done from the start.’
To be thinking about engaging as a warrior at this point…
Pulling a cannon ball from his robe, Geumcheon Gang mocked himself. Hiding among the Black Night Team, he was beyond William’s reach. Swiftly, he drew a spark rod and ignited the fuse.
‘In battle, I may have lost, but in war, I will triumph.’
Channeling internal energy into his palm, he hurled the cannon ball. Among arrows and death flying across the battlefield, the flaming projectile soared toward the Hainam Sword Sect.
“Wallbreaker Bomb! Everyone, fall back!”
A weapon of fear renowned to leave even the most supreme fighters as mere rags should it strike directly.
For the first time, the Hainam Sword Sect’s formation pulled back. The Black Night Team waited anxiously just out of the bomb’s reach.
‘Here it ends!’
With the impending devastation of the Hainam Sword Sect, Geumcheon Gang allowed himself a relieved smile of triumph…
“…Huh?”
When the Wallbreaker Bomb arced through the skies, hopes were dashed as a stream of water intercepted its path.
The water deflected the bomb’s course and extinguished the fuse flame.
The expensive explosive, costing a fortune, transformed into a mere rock dropped harmlessly in front of the Sect Leader.
“Bah…”
Water extinguishes fire.
This natural truth poured cold water on the Demon Sect’s strategy.
Specifically, William spat water from his mouth.
“If the wick is completely soaked, you won’t manage to ignite it, right?”
“You son of…!”
Geumcheon Gang glared furiously at William, who responded by shaking his flask in a show-offish manner.
“Still early days. Try throwing more if you like.”
William’s smirk was infuriating.