Chapter 40 of 100

Chapter 40

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Chapter 39. Last Combat Type (2)

'Tsk tsk. A disciple of Lady Chae Myeong-ryeo...’

Gonma couldn’t hide his disappointment as he watched Seohui’s sparring.

Her attack methods were not as outstanding as he had expected.

The execution of her techniques was not particularly efficient.

The power of the demonic art, which he had thought would be her trump card, fell far short of his expectations.

The only thing that caught his eye was the minor demonic art she used.

The cold currents that extended like threads and touched the ground in front of Heukgu’s feet, creating dozens of ice pillars, were momentarily captivating.

But that was short-lived, as everything was destroyed with just a single roll of Heukgu’s foot.

"Fourth Disciple. The reason you want to include such an incompetent person in the Yin Ying Dan..."

A complaint slipped out of Heukgu’s mouth, seemingly out of frustration.

It was a lie.

Gonma knew better than anyone that Seohui wasn’t actually that weak.

It was one of the Yin Ying Dan leader’s usual tactics to draw out more potential from the opponent.

Sure enough.

Seohui’s eyes suddenly changed.

'How strong is her true ability?'

Gonma waited calmly, but he didn’t have high hopes.

The Yin Ying Dan leader, Heukgu, was already at the peak of the supreme realm.

He was on the verge of reaching the ultimate level of demonic arts.

Even just pushing him back a few steps from his standing position would be a considerable feat.

'She’s moving.'

Pfft.

As Seohui moved, Gonma watched closely.

The same jumping motion from three paces away.

And a common attack that was easily blocked by the Yin Ying Dan leader.

'Huh?'

At that moment, Gonma’s eyes widened slightly.

She didn’t release any energy, but she spread the demonic qi she had been holding during close combat.

The demonic qi bloomed again from the tip of her sword as she swung it once more.

'That’s!'

Gonma immediately recognized the martial art Seohui was using.

She had unleashed an ultimate demonic art that could scorch with heat alone.

What caught his attention even more was Seohui’s next attack.

"Arrogant..."

As Heukgu deflected it, Gonma saw clearly.

Seohui’s footwork.

'It’s the Ghost God Step (鬼神步).'

One of the footwork techniques of the Four Ultimate Demonic Arts.

A method to move faster and farther by utilizing the opponent’s strength. Seohui used the Ghost God Step with remarkable skill in the situation where she was receiving an attack.

'And even the Wind Ring Transmission (風環傳壞)!'

A move she used while retreating.

A technique that wraps the sword wind in a ring and multiplies its power several times, known as the third form of the Four Ultimate Demonic Arts.

"That’s!"

And finally, an involuntary groan escaped his lips.

The martial art Seohui used to attack the Yin Ying Dan leader, who had leaped to avoid the Wind Ring Transmission.

It was a secret technique that could only be imitated by those who had reached the supreme realm.

The Wind God Sword (風神劍).

* * *

When the text indicating the use of the Wind God Sword appeared, my gaze was entirely on the tip of Seohui’s sword.

The sword wind that arose from the simple motion of lifting the sword.

However, the sword wind began to swirl in one place, making her movements disadvantageous, and it grew to an incredibly large size.

Not only that, it carried a flashing light.

'The power of lightning!'

One of the ultimate techniques of the Four Ultimate Demonic Arts’ Wind Sword (風劍).

A force that combined the power of lightning with the airflow, causing a massive storm that enveloped the Yin Ying Dan leader, Heukgu.

Rumble!

Heukgu, enveloped in the massive lightning storm, was pushed back by the storm’s direction and eventually stopped near Gonma’s residence, blocking the storm with his entire body.

Crack!

After part of the building’s pillar collapsed and was damaged, the storm finally dissipated.

'Did he get hurt?'

And there stood Heukgu, firmly on the ground in front of him.

His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were torn in several places, clearly showing the effects of the Wind God Sword.

However, his eyes held more shock and bewilderment than anger from the injury.

But it seemed that AI Seohui had a different thought.

-As expected, I can’t win with this body.

He pushed the opponent back but complained. And then, he started pressing acupoints.

'You crazy bastard!'

I immediately recognized what he was doing.

Pressing the Heavenly Spirit Point (天靈穴), the Qi Gate Point (氣門穴), and the Navel Gate Point (臍門穴) in quick succession.

A mad act to unleash latent power and gain even greater strength, risking his life by pressing the death points to fight.

As I was about to raise a fuss, a message window suddenly appeared in front of me.

Without hesitation, I chose to accept.

"Ah, you crazy bastard. That was really close..."

It was really a close call.

After pressing the seventh death point, he barely managed to regain control of his body, leaving the last one untouched.

* * *

"This time, it was quite impressive."

Heukgu’s expression brightened as he walked towards Seohui.

An unexpected move.

Since this wasn’t a real fight, he could laugh it off.

Of course, that was how it had been until now.

"I’m sorry, but..."

"..."

"Can we fight one more time?"

Seohui cautiously asked.

Heukgu shook his head.

"There’s no need. I’ve already gauged your strength..."

"I beg you."

"Hmm."

Heukgu’s expression darkened again.

It sounded like she had been hiding her true strength.

"Let it be. Didn’t I already say I’ve gauged your strength?"

"Please continue."

At that moment, Gonma, who had been standing to the side, interjected. He looked at Seohui with eyes full of curiosity.

"Show everything. Use all the martial arts you know."

"Ugh."

Heukgu’s expression hardened.

Her unconventional methods and flashy martial arts.

Using techniques from the Four Ultimate Demonic Arts was indeed praiseworthy.

But that was as far as it went.

If he attacked, he could easily subdue her in one move.

"Thank you."

As Seohui raised her sword again, Heukgu’s expression turned displeased. But he couldn’t refuse the Fourth Disciple, so he nodded.

"Come. This is the last time."

'Let’s run a simulation.'

Seohui knew well that no matter how much she fought, she couldn’t deal as much damage as the AI.

But this was a golden opportunity to understand the new combat style that had emerged.

How often would she have a chance to use her skills without worrying about her life against such a formidable opponent?

Combat Style <Simulation>

As soon as she changed her combat style, information windows began to react.

The first thing that appeared was this.

Then, it seemed to start organizing information on its own.

→ Lesser Demon Art, Lesser Water Demon Art, Red Hand Demon Art, Supreme Demon Art, Four Ultimate Demonic Arts, Demon Thousand Sword, Black Demon Seven Sword... Total 7.

Eight Trigram Subtle Stab, Wandering the Ends of the Earth, Pure Ice Opening... Total 32.

...14.

...5.

35 techniques, 14 footwork, 5 fist techniques.

'Is this it?'

When no more information appeared, Seohui couldn’t move.

If she attacked Heukgu now, it would be just like the first fight, with no effect.

Or rather, it would be worse.

"Do you not want to fight?"

Heukgu asked, annoyed, making her even more anxious.

Just then, the selection window appeared again, and time froze, just like in the turn-based mode.

A human-shaped illusion appeared in front of her.

It was a darker and thicker shadow than the one that appeared when she first learned the Lesser Demon Art.

Thud.

It came out of her body and rushed towards Heukgu.

Tap.

The same shadow that came out of Heukgu’s body touched the other’s head, and it disappeared instantly.

Sssss--

Then, over a dozen shadows sprang from the illusion’s body.

They attacked Heukgu from different directions.

But a single shadow from Heukgu’s body.

It easily overpowered and eliminated the illusion’s shadows with a simple motion.

And then.

Sssssss---

Something amazing happened.

Hundreds, no, an uncountable number of shadows were created and rushed towards Heukgu.

Not only did they attack from different directions, but their attack forms were diverse.

Shadows that swung wildly.

Shadows that threw sand from the ground.

Shadows that threw swords.

It looked like they were using every method they could.

Whoosh--

But none of them could touch even a hair on Heukgu’s shadow.

He countered by breaking through, stepping on, or deflecting all the methods.

Just when it seemed to be over.

"!"

Seohui’s eyes widened.

Swoosh!

One of the shadows sliced Heukgu’s waist.

And at that moment.

All the other shadows disappeared instantly.

What remained was the shape of the only shadow that succeeded in the attack.

Each movement was clearly frozen in front of her, like a series of techniques.

Along with the text describing the movements.

* * *

The 'Simulation' didn’t stop time like the 'Turn-based' mode.

Clang!

Seohui ran forward as the first movement showed, attempting an upper and middle thrust.

Naturally, Heukgu easily blocked this simple attack.

Clang!

Seohui then tried a lower cut after a horizontal move, as shown in the video and text.

But this was also easily blocked.

This time, she tried a diagonal cut more quickly.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Heukgu’s expression twisted as he continuously blocked her simple attacks.

He seemed to feel that he was being toyed with.

Clang!

Indeed, after blocking the last attack, he attacked her thigh nervously.

'Ah!'

Seohui involuntarily dodged the attack and was surprised.

She didn’t dodge by watching.

Heukgu attacked after exactly five moves, and she retreated according to the shadow.

'...Lesser Rising Change!'

Seohui performed the technique as the last shadow did.

The Lesser Rising Change, the sixth technique of the Lesser Demon Art.

Clang!

A moment of silence.

The fiercely swung sword grazed Heukgu’s waist, and Seohui stopped exactly three steps behind him.

She slowly looked at her sword.

To her shock, blood was on the blade.

'This is what a simulation is...'

A wound that even the AI couldn’t inflict.

Yet, she had easily dealt damage to her opponent.

In contrast, Heukgu stood there in a daze.

Then, he put his hand on his waist and looked at it.

"!"

His eyes widened in shock.

The opponent had cut his waist to a depth of half an inch.

"This brat..."

His movements weren’t fast.

He had induced boredom with ordinary cuts and thrusts, then suddenly changed to a technique, which he hadn’t anticipated.

Carelessness led to this tragedy.

The killing intent in Heukgu’s eyes, which had seen blood, began to rise.

The destructive aura swirling at the tip of his sword reflected his state of mind.

"Ah, wait..."

Seohui sensed that the atmosphere was changing.

She waved her hand to ward off the overt killing intent, but Heukgu didn’t seem to want to stop.

Then, countless shadows appeared again, predicting his movements.

But.

<...Impossible! Already used.>

The simulation seemed to give up, indicating that there was no way.

Boom!

A strong wind blew, and Seohui staggered.

She then realized what had happened.

Heukgu had attacked, and someone had blocked him.

The force of the impact was so great that the ground sank by a yard.

The one who blocked Heukgu’s approach was the Fourth Disciple, Gonma.

"That’s enough."

Gonma’s warning snapped Heukgu back to his senses, and he quickly retreated. Then, he bowed to him.

"Forgive me."

"No, even I could feel that Seohui was provoking you."

Seohui looked at Gonma in a daze.

Not only was the strange power Heukgu emitted terrifying, but the Fourth Disciple who blocked it was even more astonishing.

'His combat power wasn’t that high...'

His ability values were really not that high.

In fact, they were much lower than Heukgu’s.

Yet, he had blocked it so easily.

Now, she understood what the '∞' next to his ability values meant.

'So, this is what being strong means...'

Heukgu’s movements. The movements of Gonma, who blocked them.

Their power was beyond imagination.

"Judging by her skills, Seohui should be appointed as the commander, but she needs time to adapt to the organization."

Gonma closed his eyes for a moment and then continued.

"How about assigning her a training officer and having her receive separate training before appointing her as the commander?"

"I agree."

The Yin Ying Dan leader, who had calmed down, nodded.

Gonma turned his gaze back to Seohui.

"Let’s appoint you as a commander for now."

"Thank you."

After Seohui replied, she could see the information window.

And she collapsed without realizing it.

Her ability values didn’t appear, but it seemed she had exhausted all her remaining stamina and inner energy.