Chapter 325: Time is Running Out (3)
TL/Editor: raei
Schedule: 5/Week Mon-Fri
Illustrations: In discord.
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Jang Geon is one of the strongest across the Kyren Zena continent.
Naturally, he's among the most powerful characters in this story, excluding a few extraordinary beings.
If he prepares fully, he can give these extraordinary opponents a good fight.
Theo looked at Jang Geon with a calm gaze.
'Let's have a match.'
It was an offer he would usually refuse, but not this time.
Win or lose, he felt like he wanted to fight.
Theo said to Jang Geon.
"Alright. But..."
"But?"
"Please fight me seriously. I want a battle that's close to real combat, not a sparring match where you go easy on me."
It was a statement that could come off as arrogant.
However, Jang Geon didn't see it that way.
To him, Theo seemed like a true genius with unmatched talent on the continent, who also worked hard.
Jang Geon nodded.
"Got it."
Jang Geon put his right hand inside his coat.
This was his own way of preparing for battle, holding a dagger inside.
Theo also got ready for the fight.
He bent his knees slightly, lowering his center of gravity, and gripped the handle of his sword.
Seeing Theo's unusual combat stance, Nay asked.
-Hmm, that's an interesting stance.
-I've only thought about it before, but now I want to try it out. It's rare to have a chance to fight such a strong opponent, and if I can do it against someone like him, I should be able to do it against others too.
-Ahahaha. Go ahead, try it. Experimenting is a shortcut to improving your skills.
-I honestly don't think I can win, but for some reason, I feel like it's worth trying.
-Isn't that guy an assassin? Just by showing himself, he's already at a disadvantage. You must win. Definitely.
-Well, I'll give it a try.
Even as he talked with Nay, Theo's eyes were fixed on Jang Geon.
It was happening automatically without him even trying.
Then.
Suddenly—
Jang Geon vanished from sight.
It happened in an instant.
If it were anyone else, they might suspect Jang Geon used teleportation.
But.
'He moved far to the left. Is he trying to get behind me?'
Theo's sharp senses did not lose track of Jang Geon's position.
And Jang Geon moved just as Theo had predicted.
Theo swung his sword behind him.
Clang!
The sound of the sword and dagger colliding echoed through the quiet forest.
"!"
Jang Geon, surprised by the failed surprise attack, quickly put some distance between them.
In the blink of an eye, Jang Geon disappeared again.
Theo looked around with a gaze as serene as the moonlight.
'This time, he went far to the right. His speed is indeed the best on the continent.'
No matter how much he boosted himself, Theo felt it was not enough to catch up with Jang Geon's speed.
'So, I have no choice but to keep defending until Jang Geon gets tired.'
But since Jang Geon had trained in qi for decades, it was clear he had much more qi than Theo.
Having lived as an assassin since he could walk, his endurance and concentration were also likely superhuman.
As time went on, it became evident that the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for Theo.
Theo wanted to resist this fact.
'I want to win. No, I will win.'
The thought of not being confident in winning had long since disappeared.
Now, he was filled with a desire to win the duel.
Theo's mind started working quickly.
It was unclear where it came from. The shield had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
'Am I seeing things?'
The shield, not seeming of this world, was emitting a mystical moonlight.
There was no time to be captivated by its unknown beauty.
As the boy swung his sword towards him, Swoosh──!
The trajectory of the sword created a blade of energy that flew towards him.
The blade, shimmering with a faint moonlight like the shield, felt like it held formidable qi.
Normally, he would have rolled to the side to avoid it, but now he was trapped within the pillars, limiting his movement.
'I must not block it.'
His instincts warned him that blocking it would cause severe bleeding.
Therefore, Jang Geon had no choice but to duck low.
His instincts were correct.
Swipe!
The blade energy easily cut through the thick pillar.
Continuing without losing strength, the blade energy cut down a large tree behind it.
Boom!
The sound of the tree falling raised a cloud of dust.
'Now's my chance.'
The limitation on his movement was gone, thanks to Theo cutting through the pillar.
This was an opportunity for Jang Geon.
Tatat─
In the blink of an eye, Jang Geon reached Theo's front.
Theo swung his sword precisely at the spot where Jang Geon approached.
Jang Geon's beaded bracelet sparkled.
'I didn't expect to use this.'
The identity of the beaded bracelet was the artifact [Shape Shifter].
Like [Moonflower] and [Black Piercer], it was one of the treasures passed down through the Jang family.
Its effect allows the wearer to teleport within a 1-meter distance, once per day.
Whoosh.
Jang Geon teleported behind Theo's back.
'It's over, boy. I was looking forward to more.'
Jang Geon gripped his dagger.
His target was the boy's right scapula. Piercing it would render the boy unable to hold a sword.
Thud!
The dagger pierced the boy's scapula.
The familiar sensation of piercing human bone and flesh rose up to his fingertips.
Jang Geon murmured.
"This is it."
Theo responded in a pained voice.
"...It's not over yet."
"What?"
Jang Geon didn't hear the answer.
Whoosh!
Because the boy, who shouldn't have been able to hold a sword anymore, swung one.
"!"
Jang Geon hastily tried to retreat while retrieving the dagger stuck in the boy's body, but the dagger showed no signs of coming out.
Jang Geon gave up on retrieving the dagger and immediately distanced himself from the boy, but,
Swipe!
That moment of misjudgment had a high price.
Jang Geon's severed right hand floated in the air.
---
[raei: Alright guys this is the last chapter! Hopefully you guys read my tl note a week back and this doesnt take you by surprise. The author often disappears and comes back saying he took a break for his wrist so i'm assuming the same for this one. I'll be continuing the novel when he comes back but I have no idea when that'll be.
He takes breaks for months at a time, it has been 5 months since this chapter was posted and 5 months isn't out of the norm of this guy. You'll see chapters posted for this novel again when he's back as well as a notification in discord.
Thanks for reading guys! We've come a long way since the first chapter was posted on a wordpress site. Though this site would be a lot further along if I wasn't so busy+lazy. Anyways come say hi in the discord and hopefully I'll get to new novel pick ups soon. cya for now!]
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