Part 2, Episode 191.
“who is this!”
I can’t see well because of the dust!
“Wait, with the barrier set up like that, was that level of damage possible?”
The onlookers let out groans at the sight, which looked like a battlefield where various bombs had exploded.
I’m dying to know the results, but it’s frustrating because I can’t see anything due to the dusty wind.
But that was only for a moment.
The dust gradually began to clear, and a faint silhouette emerged.
“uh?”
“Who is standing there?”
Is she the Empress?
“She seems a bit tall for an Empress… Isn’t she the Guild Master?”
However, perhaps because the silhouette was so faint, it was difficult to determine its identity.
The Empress is short, barely 160cm tall.
On the other hand, Kaiser was still so dusty that it was difficult to distinguish him, despite his tall height of about 182 cm.
There was nothing they could do.
Since the duel had started, outsiders could not enter due to the barrier until the results were announced.
Ah, I’m dying of curiosity. Did you win, oppa?
Brother Kaiser… …
Of course our King God General Kaiser would have won, right?
Of course, you jerk. Don’t you know the legend of invincibility?
But the opponent is a woman? That physical monster.
They say the arm bends inward.
Even though Hyun-ah was infatuated with the Empress, deep down she hoped that her own flesh and blood would win.
The same goes for the others who became guild members.
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, the Best Shield asked the Sword Saint, who was the only one watching calmly.
“Sword Saint, who do you think won?”
“……Hmm. I’m not sure this time. It wouldn’t be surprising no matter who wins.”
“Haha, wouldn’t our god have won?”
Of course.
“Well, I didn’t see a proper parry at the end.”
“yes?”
“Kuku…… The Empress uncharacteristically played mind games with an unblockable move. She lured me into an attack that forced a parry, and unleashed her strongest attack during that brief opening, but did no one see it?”
“…….”
At the calm words of the Sword Saint, they all looked dumbfounded.
Come to think of it, it was here too.
‘… … Did you see all of that?’
There was a flash of something at the end, but was that really the back-and-forth? The level is insane, seriously.
“Wow, is this what they mean by ‘you only see as much as you know’?”
As expected of the Empress’s rival…
I wonder if Brother Kaiser can defeat the Sword Saint, too?
Like Kaiser and Empress.
A skilled person living in a different world from themselves, referred to as a so-called “peak user.”
“……Does that mean our god lost?”
The Sword Saint shook his head at the fanatic’s question, his face hardening.
“That… I’m not sure. The moment he was attacked, an unknown light emanated from Kaiser.”
And at that moment, what unfolded with a loud roar was the scene we see now.
The conclusion is that she doesn’t know either.
In the end, I had no choice but to wait in silence.
Fortunately, there was no need to test extreme patience.
“I see it!”
“Where, where!”
After a short wait that felt like an eternity, the identity of the silhouette was finally revealed.
At that, as if by prior agreement, everyone stopped talking and looked at the sparring arena.
And the one standing there is… … .
“……Empress?”
The Empress, it was her.
“ah…….”
“Brother Kaiser…….”
“Oppa…… No, did Lord Kaiser lose?”
That makes no sense.
Actually, I know it objectively.
No matter how much Kaiser has accomplished, he will likely fall somewhat behind when compared to those who have truly reached the top.
It was only natural, considering the overwhelming difference in the duration of playing God of Savior.
Even so, I held onto the hope that perhaps Kaiser might be different, but to think this is the result…
Did you really lose, Oppa? I mean, what are we supposed to do if the Guild Master loses on the very first day of joining!
It was at that moment, when Hyuna, who felt particularly strange among them, was letting out a silent scream.
Sss, stagger-
“Uh oh?”
The Empress, who had been swaying subtly like a reed in the breeze, suddenly collapsed like a doll with its switch turned off.
But just before her body hit the floor.
Thump.
Amidst the dusty wind that had cleared considerably compared to before, someone stood up, catching her as she collapsed.
It was Dohyeon.
“What? Lord Kaiser didn’t collapse?”
Wait, didn’t he collapse but then get up?
“Then what about the Empress? The Empress was about to collapse too, but Gilma caught her, didn’t she?”
“Ah… Oh God. I believed in you.”
“Hooo…….”
At that, a reaction burst forth that was half relief and half excitement.
However, that soon turned into a question.
Dohyeon, who was thought to have collapsed in defeat, is standing upright despite being battered, and the Empress, who was thought to have won, is being supported by him.
It is a peculiar situation where it is difficult to say who won, yet also difficult to say who lost.
That doesn’t mean either of the two had their HP completely depleted.
“……What? Then who won?”
“I know?”
“Sword Saint, by any chance…….”
He looked at the Sword Saint with a hopeful gaze, but she, too, merely shook her head.
As I mentioned earlier, the final decisive moment was not clearly visible.
Only two people.
Only Dohyeon and the Empress, the ones who sparred, know the result.
“Let go. He didn’t fall down.”
“What are you talking about? If I hadn’t caught you, you would have smashed my face in first.”
And when I see those two no longer fighting but just bickering…
Is it a draw?
I was merely guessing.
* * *
After the sparring match ended.
It was while Ana was replenishing energy to the damaged barrier and Dohyeon was catching his breath after briefly withdrawing the guild members.
“You little brat, when did you get this strong?”
Kuku suddenly approached, plopped down next to me, and started talking.
I felt a cold sensation on the back of my hand and turned around to find someone handing me a cold bottle.
Dohyeon naturally accepted and drank it, then frowned.
What? That’s not beer?
It looked exactly like a beer bottle, so I assumed it was alcohol after Dalian, but it turned out to be an ordinary beverage bottle.
There were so many different kinds, so I was going to get one, but the old guy told me to wait. He said not to drink without him.
“ah.”
Actually, even now, there are plenty of whispers grumbling, such as “Is everyone in the guild gathered except me?” and “Why are you having a housewarming party without me?”
If we throw a drinking party here without the middle-aged man, he’s going to get really upset.
… … Or maybe not? It seems like she might already be sulking.
Well, it’s not like it’s the first time an old man sulks.
That’s true.
The two people, who had brushed it off as nothing special, let out a chuckle.
Then their eyes met.
Long silver-white hair reaching below the shoulders and pure white skin.
Overall, she is entirely white like jade, so she should have an innocent image, but her sharp gaze and red irises instead exude a edgy atmosphere.
Should I say it feels like a vampire?
It looks like I’ve gotten used to this face now, too.
With outstanding looks and a uniquely fatal aura.
He doesn’t give off an ordinary impression in many ways, so at first I felt a bit strange thinking, “Is that face really that Kuku?” but now I don’t experience cognitive dissonance.
Seeing how even with that face, he feels like a ticking time bomb and makes me feel anxious first, is that guy really something?
“What are you looking at? I don’t like your eyes.”
“Why, do I have villain eyes too?”
“No. You’re just a bunch of annoying, perfect-guy eyes. I want to gouge them out for a different reason.”
That’s the first time I’ve heard of it.
As Dohyeon let out a hollow laugh, left speechless, she got to the point.
“Phew. I thought I’d be stronger here, but I got caught up in the end. You little brat, why didn’t you follow a bit slower? Did you really have to rush to catch up like that?”
Dohyeon chuckled at her words, which were closer to a grumble than a complaint.
That’s right.
Contrary to the guild members’ belief that the match had ended inconclusively in a draw, the winner of this duel was Dohyeon.
“What are you talking about? You didn’t really win. It’s closer to you destroying yourself.”
“Isn’t that a loss? A loss is a loss.”
… … In the end, that is.
Although he did win as she said, Dohyeon honestly didn’t think he had won.
At the last moment, I felt it instinctively.
Ah, I lost.
Her newly liberated abilities.
The moment the Empress’s Heart’s 3rd stage liberation ability burst forth, I was convinced that I couldn’t avoid it, even though I didn’t know exactly what kind of ability it was.
It was because the invincibility effects of Parrying and Tears of God had worn off just before.
Even though I tried to use the third move of the Reverse Heaven Technique in a hurry, it was too late as my fist was already about to make contact.
Since her fighting style is extremely close-quarters, it is too late if you do not prepare in advance.
but…….
-huh?
-?
Strangely enough, I didn’t feel any shock.
She stopped just before the fist touched.
With unnatural movements, as if stopped by something forceful.
[Unstable release of the Empress’s heart overloads the heart.]
[Physical activity will be temporarily paused.]
[This is a side effect that cannot be neutralized by immune effects.]
-Ah, X.
Dohyeon’s sword fell first, but because his posture was unstable, he was swept away by the shockwave and collapsed.
After that, everything was exactly as everyone had seen.
It was practically a stroke of luck that secured the victory.
A win is a win; there’s no need to talk about it. Can a guy who got his head chopped off on the battlefield really say, ‘Ah, I was supposed to win all along’?
Even though he had every right to feel wronged, he seemed to accept it obediently, but I couldn’t help feeling quite uneasy.
It was my first duel with that guy in God of Sei, so I wanted to win decisively.
Hmm, the world of competition is ruthless. I agree with my colleague, my lord.
-Lizarija.
Hmm. That’s true, though.
“……Well, that’s true.”
Dohyeon nodded at what Jihadu, Eliza, and even Charlie chimed in to say.
Then, Dohyeon frowned as his gaze accidentally fell on someone next to him.
“More importantly, what is he doing again? Why is he suddenly meditating at the waterfall?”
“Ah, him?”
The one there was none other than the Sword Saint.
Amidst all the boisterous chatter, wasn’t he sitting cross-legged and meditating all alone under the waterfall?
“He went over there saying he suddenly got inspiration? Looks like he’ll be standing there for about two hours.”
“……Anyway, he’s not normal either.”
That’s true, though.
…Wow, an abnormal person is saying something to another abnormal person.
“What, you punk?”
I didn’t say anything.
Jihado, who is asking for a beating again today, feigns ignorance and runs away.
Seeing how they run away before I can even say anything, it seems their sense of danger has only gotten better, not worse.
For some reason, he was a guy who was earning money more and more often as time went on.
[Ast: Hey, when will this be over?]
[Ast : ?]
[Ast: You guys aren’t staying silent even though it’s over, are you?]
[Ast: Seeing as there’s no reply, it’s true, it’s true.]
[Ast: Argh, you disrespectful brats. Just wait, I’m here soon.]
Dohyeon chuckled as he gave a half-hearted answer to the impatient middle-aged man.
Although it was a somewhat disappointing match compared to what I had expected… … there were some gains.
Still… …I did make it this far.
I felt it clearly while sparring.
That there is no longer a need to resort to shortcuts or schemes to narrow the gap.
Because they had equal combat power even without that.
He has now truly reached the realm of a top-tier player.
‘at las…….’
Of course, that’s probably because he’s currently under various debuffs, but even taking that into account, it’s true that he’s caught up right up to the limit.
Considering I even applied a debuff, I should have landed several clean hits, but the reason it turned out to be such a close fight is… … .
It was purely because of his ‘physical’.
“Maybe it’s because he was blind to everything from the start, but narrowing his field of vision made him even sharper.”
It is no exaggeration to say that even if you just stand nearby holding your breath, they will accurately target your vital points and attack.
I wonder if that is really human sense. It’s just a beast.
However, a constant smile hung on Dohyeon’s lips despite his complaints.
Sss-
The hand holding the scabbard trembled slightly, as if the lingering sensation still remained.
That really took a long time.
Myself and the colleagues from those days when I always sparred with them.
I mean back to those days when I kept telling myself I should quit this goddamn shit game, but I couldn’t.
