The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

The two sisters, coughing up saliva mixed with blood, could somehow still move after taking a hit from the Darkness Dweller.

"Not bad for a Summoner."

"I was quite surprised."

"The Veil put in a lot of effort."

Swoosh…

Belian and Beldre split up. It seemed that the fight was going to continue.

Paf—!

Paaaf—!

Since summoning the Darkness Dweller, I had become more agile. However, Yurim couldn’t move, perhaps due to the aftermath of blocking the sisters’ attack.

'After Yurim, it's my turn.'

Somehow, it had come to this.

Yurim would need to adjust her distorted energy and rejoin the fight. Then, the tide of the fight would turn in our favor.

'If I can fulfill the role of two people.'

This was actually my first battle.

My heartbeat didn't get any faster, yet I could feel my blood boiling.

Paaf—!

"Hmm…"

The Darkness Dweller followed the older sister closely.

It was quite agile despite its size, so, from Beldre's perspective, it probably felt like an iron wall.

'The problem is the younger sister.'

I thought the younger sister was weaker, but since they used different sword arts, a clear comparison might not have been possible.

Whoosh—!

The younger sister’s vibrating sword…

Since the opponent didn't know my strength, they had been making weak attacks to gauge me.

'Then, I should also…'

I also had to gauge the opponents' sword art.

Whoosh…

I dropped down and struck from below.

TAANG—!

'It was an accurate strike, but…'

Although it was an accurate strike, …perhaps due to the vibrating sword's nature, its sound wasn't satisfying.

"Martial arts…?"

Belian was taken aback upon seeing me—a Summoner—fighting with a sword. Perhaps the face behind the mask was also surprised.

'Who cares.'

The only comparable weapon I had to a sword was my feet. However, in this battle, I decided to use them only in crucial moments. Overcommitting to an attack with my feet could end up backfiring, especially against skilled swordsmen.

- You should only use your feet when you're certain it will work.

That was what Toki, one of my teachers, said.

Swoosh—!

Swoooosh—!

Luckily, I could clearly see the motion of her sword.

- When you're unarmed, fighting a swordsman always comes with fear. What you're truly fighting isn't the sword but the fear.

He was right.

After all, swords were sharp, and flesh was soft.

A single cut could be fatal.

- However, the human spirit is stronger than a sword. Believe it.

Gulp…

'Believe in myself…'

All the time I had devoted.

Whoosh…

Swoosh—!

The vibrating sword slashed at me with a diagonal strike.

With clear steps, she blocked the direction I was moving to.

'Then…'

[You used Shadow Extension.]

[You can instantly relocate to a nearby position within one step.]

A short-range movement.

I could use such tricks in the middle of a battle because of the countless times I had practiced and failed before.

"Ho!"

However, Belian was an experienced swordsman.

As soon as I got out of her range, she retracted her sword, supported its hilt with her palm, and thrust it forward.

I couldn't dodge this attack.

It was a direct attack—it wasn’t fast, nor did it carry much strength. Yet I would die if it hit.

That fact brought a grim image to my mind: If I got pierced by that vibrating sword, it would be my end.

- Boy, you know how to read the flow. You know what's most important. Listen to what your heart is shouting. You must believe in yourself.

I have to catch it.

'No…'

- Don't disregard the time you've put in. Follow the flow.

'I'm going to catch it!'

Paanng—!

"What…?"

"I grabbed it!"

I caught the sword firmly between my palms.

Creak…

As Beldre struggled to twist her sword, I prepared my next move.

I leaned my body and pulled my right foot, as if I was preparing to fire a cannon.

Swoosh…

'When I'm the most sure…'

I envisioned a movement that would even cut through the air. I have wings.

I can do it.

'Extend!'

PAAANNGGG—!

[You used Air Kick.]

[Targets hit by Air Kick take 20% increased damage from all sources for the next 3 minutes.]

Crack…

"AAGGHH!"

Belian dropped her sword and fell to the ground.

I finally caught an opening,

"Belian!"

If I killed her here, capturing Beldre would be easier.

"HAAA—!"

I lunged at her like a wild beast.

Her fearful eyes revealed themselves from beneath her mask, but soon, her gaze shifted behind me instead of at me.

'How strange…'

A chill suddenly ran down my spine.

Among the three suspicions left by the informant, the first one came to mind.

- The public knows Surprised Face as two sisters, but… there might actually be three of them. And maybe they were never truly sisters, to begin with.

Someone was standing behind me.

'This is dangerous…'

I instinctively lowered my head and rolled away.

[Lucia used Bloodletting Sword.]

[If Bloodletting Sword wounds the target, it causes severe bleeding.]

A trail was drawn with blood.

Slash—!

Luckily, I survived by rolling on the ground, but her next attack would probably hit me.

'No, we're also prepared.'

CLANG—!

Tsss…!

Yurim blocked the newly appeared Face's sword.

"You knew from the start…?"

"Three? This is too sly."

Thud…

"Call me Lucia. Everyone who has heard my name is dead."

Lucia…

I felt like I had heard her name before.

"Unni! You should have shown up a bit faster!"

"I wanted to see how sharp the Veil's Crow was."

Thud…

Beldre stood up, dusting herself off.

"I want to face someone else now, not this guy! He's too frustrating!"

Beldre, who couldn't defeat the Darkness Dweller, acted irritably.

Finally, all three sisters had appeared.

That formation was the reason they rose to the rank of executives among the Faces.

'Well, there’s also three of us, but…'

It hadn't been long since I completed the Darkness Dweller, so we had no way to face all three.

If I had met them about a year later, I would have easily defeated them. But, of course, time didn't wait for me.

Swoosh…

The three sisters spread out in a circle around us.

I whispered to Yurim.

"We need to separate the three. You've seen that, right?"

"Yes, that sword…"

The sword that had greatly damaged Yurim's energy… the sword art those two had used. It could likely be used alongside the other one too.

If we got hit by it, it would probably be fatal this time.

"The problem is… they're probably thinking the same thing as us."

"…"

The Darkness Dweller had overwhelming strength. However, their goal wasn't to defeat the Darkness Dweller—it was to defeat us.

Therefore, the key to this fight wasn't me or the Darkness Dweller—it was Yurim.

"Yurim, this time it's the opposite. I'll buy some time, and you come and save me."

"Me…?"

"Yes. You can do it, right?"

Yurim always followed my words unconditionally.

Nod…

"Yes! I'll try it!"

Paaf—!

The circle plotting murder spun around us. Lucia confronted the Darkness Dweller, Belian confronted Yurim, and Beldre confronted me.

Whir…

'She's more experienced.'

Beldre was definitely more seasoned than Belian.

Not only was she good with her sword, but she was also good at anticipating her opponent’s moves and keeping her strategy hidden.

'But… I can see it.'

Paaf—!

Beldre's sword brushed past my leather armor.

BOOM…

The ground that got hit by that energy burst.

Beldre’s sword spread out. I knew I had to be careful with her thrust since her slashes were weaker than Belian’s vibrating sword.

'When she's trying to thrust…'

Whir…

Now.

I had to attack at this moment.

'No!'

Beldre shot forward with a thrust, passing by me, even though she was in a situation where she could have been counterattacked.

'There's no way I could have counterattacked…'

Slash—!

From across me, Lucia swung a sword with blood-red energy.

Our opponents had changed.

Yurim's opponent changed from Belian to Beldre.

"Ugh…"

They took advantage of their different sword arts, bodies, and movements to confuse us.

I was busy responding to them.

"You're amazing. I almost want to compliment you. Aren't you interested in joining the Faces?"

"No!"

"I also like your decisiveness."

Piik—!

The sword brushed past my face.

As blood was about to come out, I covered that area with Darkness.

"I really want you…"

I didn't train to receive compliments from the enemy—I trained to defeat them.

BOOM—!

SWOOSH—!

They were spinning around.

They took turns harassing Yurim and me. Having to face three different sword arts simultaneously made my limbs feel dizzy.

A bit of time had passed since I relied on my senses to respond. Contrary to my expectations, they were closing in on us.

'Toki… what should I do in this situation…?'

Toki once gave me advice on all the situations I might face.

- Boy, think of it more simply.

While recalling his words, a strange sentence got mixed in.

- There’s nothing more to teach you. You will inevitably learn the rest as you increase your own proficiency.

'Huh…?'

- Haha, it’s just because you lack experience. Your movements aren’t bad.

'Have I ever heard Toki say something like this? Ugh…'

Once again, a headache came.

Now wasn't the time for this.

I had to recall Toki's teachings.

I, who held Toki's words as if they were treasures, remembered everything he had told me.

- The Old One didn't limit your power to magic. That's why you're here with me. So, any questions?

What should I do when fighting in a confusing situation? What if there are many enemies?

- Boy, you have one overwhelming advantage over others—it's your capability to view the battlefield.

How to read the flow…

How to view the battlefield…

- If you ride the wave, you won't be shaken. Your senses are quite accurate.

I can see… the battlefield.

This battlefield, stained with blood, where a single mistake could result in a bloody mess.

Papaf—!

How I diligently moved my arms to defend…

Clang—!

"Ugh…"

How Yurim was counterattacking…

Everything moved as if it were a play that had been meticulously crafted over a long time.

'Hmm…'

I could feel it…

How I could bring the flow to our side…

Whir—!

I saw Beldre’s thrust!

Whir…

'Now!"

I bent backward as if I was trying to lie down, then kicked her.

I should only use my foot when I'm sure.

PAANNG—!

"Agh!"

As Beldre bounced away, the startled Lucia tried to cross over, ignoring the Darkness Dweller.

CLAP—!

[You used Black Flower.]

[Create hands made from Darkness that perform rapid strikes. Each attack deals damage equal to the amount of hands created. Each additional strike on the same target deals 20% increased damage.]

…

A shadow hand bloomed on the Dark Dweller's thigh.

CLANG—!

"Ugh…"

Lucia’s attempt at supporting Beldre was stopped. However, Beldre wasn’t the one I was targeting.

"Yurim!"

"Okay!"

The formation we practiced to exhaustion.

Yurim changed her stance and pointed to the right, and I, who was rushing forward, pointed to the left.

Like the wings of a crow.

Just as we always did.

Papaf—!

"Agh!"

The shadow hands clashed against her.

'It worked…'

At that moment.

CLAP—!

I heard a clap from behind.

[Lucia used Connected Blow.]

[Teleport nearby contracted targets to your current location.]

Whir…

At the same time, Belian and Beldre disappeared.

"…"

Our attack had failed.

The opponent wasn't weak.

"The two fledglings were stronger than I thought."

"Shouldn't we defeat that creature first?"

"That won't be easy. It's a tough opponent."

"That girl is the biggest problem."

Lucia nodded.

"You felt it, right? That girl started imitating our sword."

"That thieving cat…"

That was why I was confident about drawn-out battles—I was accustomed to the battlefield, and Yurim could see through the opponent's movements.

The longer the fight went on, the more we would be in an advantageous position.

However, upon seeing them whisper, I smelled danger.

Papaf—!

Recirculation.

Just as their circle of murder was about to turn again, they suddenly converged to a single point.

Their target was Yurim.

Both Yurim and I were slow to react.

[Belian used Vibrating Sword.]

[The blade of your sword vibrates, making your attacks harder to block.]

[Beldre used Amplification Sword.]

[The effects applied on your sword gradually expand and spread.]

[Lucia used Bloodletting Sword.]

[If Bloodletting Sword wounds the target, it causes severe bleeding.]

…

As the three swords came stabbing simultaneously, energies of different colors formed a whirlpool.

Yurim wouldn't be able to block it.

"NOO! YURIM!"

Crack…

As the three swords crossed, everything seemed to slow down, as if time had stopped.

Along with it, a tremendous headache hit me.

As if I had realized something I had forgotten, choices suddenly appeared before me.

[[Yurim is in a dangerous situation. However, if you give up on her, the Darkness Dweller can defeat the enemies all at once. What will you do?]

1. Save Yurim.

2. Order the Darkness Dweller to attack the enemies.

…]

'What the…'

I was bewildered, but I didn't have time to waste.

I held my sword.

I could sacrifice Yurim to kill them, or on the other hand, ignore everything and save her.

I had to make a choice.

'What choice…?'

There had only ever been one option.

CLAP—!

The frozen world shattered.

"Darkness Dweller—!"

PAANG—!

As I shouted, the Darkness Dweller exploded.

[You sacrificed the Darkness Dweller and created Dark Clouds.]

[Dark Clouds form a temporary shield proportional to the Darkness Dweller's vitality.]

Whoosh…

PAAFF—!

Their swords were blocked and canceled by Dark Clouds.

"KYAA—!"

After catching Yurim, I frowned.

"Oh, no. What are you going to do now? The big guy is gone, and now the numbers don’t match."

I could see it.

The laughter beyond their masks.

They forced me to choose, and the situation turned badly in the end.

The one tense fight tilted in their favor.

"Sorry, Seol… because of me."

Yurim apologized to me.

No, they were just stronger.

Step…

"Cry, crow. Say 'caw,'"

Caw…

Caaww…

"What…?"

I really could hear the sound of a crow.

Although everyone looked at me, I couldn't imitate a crow's sound like that.

Yurim stiffened.

"A caw… It's a caw, Seol!"

Flap…

A crow flew and sat on Yurim's shoulder.

Kok!

Kok!

"Ouch…"

The crow pecked Yurim's head with its beak as if it were scolding her.

Lucia said while looking at the darkness.

"Who is it?"

"I saw the mark. It seems you still haven't fixed your impetuous nature…"

"…"

"…Yurim."

A Black cloak…

A man with black hair and black pupils appeared.

"Master!"

"Long time no see, Yurim."

Lucia saw the man approaching Yurim and asked.

"Are you the big crow?"

The big crow, the strongest one in the Veil aside from the master, and Yurim's teacher…

"I'm Yoo Hyun."