martial-elf ch80

‘Good thing I didn’t leave it to Pallas.’

I thought, watching Algul, who was observing me with a wary gaze.

I had just been forcibly moved by Gal’s Dragon Word, severing the space.

If Algul was a skilled manipulator of Mana, it was only right for him to be wary after witnessing the authority of the Dragon Word that transcended reason.

‘Even if Pallas were to step up now, at best it would be a mutual wound, and eight out of ten times he would lose.’

The Eye Technique of Probing All Forms was accurately observing Algul, piercing through the curtain of shadows that bordered on authority, far beyond the realm of mere sorcery.

Was he called an Einherjar of Bwon Krishaka?

His very being was on par with a High Elf, and on top of that, he had committed the patricide of killing his own father, Bwon, taking a portion of his flesh and status. As if that wasn’t enough, he had overcome the curse left by Ul Kanadiel, Aliya’s father, before his death, and instead turned it into his own power.

As an Einherjar of Bwon, the Roa of primordial wilderness and life, his essence seemed to be a rough and powerful life force, which was why he seemed to have resisted the power of Ul, the Roa of night and death.

Was the ratio about 8 to 2?

The energies of life and death seemed to circulate within Algul’s body, drawing a precarious Taijitu.

Surprisingly, a part of Algul’s combined energy was somewhat similar to the nature of my own Internal energy.

“…Do you see?”

After a silent standoff following the introductions, Algul finally opened his mouth, as if some calculation had been completed.

“It’s good that you’ve covered your face like a thief, knowing your shame. But I have good eyes.”

He pointed to his eyes with his index finger.

Probing All Forms was not just a simple Eye Technique, but an Eye Technique that accompanied the Upper Dantian cultivation, communicating with heaven and earth through the Baihui point and reading the essence.

Although not yet in perfect condition, my eyes, when fully activated, could even read the flow of Gal’s Dragon Word.

There was no reason why I couldn’t see through the shadow of Algul, who was cloaked in authority that wasn’t originally his.

“Hmm…”

At the same time, the iron staff lightly struck the ground, and with a thung! sound, the shadow surrounding Algul stirred once, then wriggled and moved as if a veil was being lifted, disappearing into Algul’s shadow.

What appeared as the shadow receded was an Orc.

Green skin.

A grotesque face that mixed pig and human features, and two sharp fangs protruding from his mouth.

And when he threw off the rough cloth that covered his entire body, he was wearing the attire of a priest of a primitive religion believed by tribes in the Southern Barbarian Lands, but his body was that of a perfectly formed warrior.

‘Every ornament he’s wearing is a talisman.’

The ornaments, made of bones, fingers, and other parts of beasts or creatures that seemed to have been hostile to the Orcs in the East, were hanging from his body.

I had never seen them before, but they seemed to be a different form of talisman from the talismans written with cinnabar on yellow mulberry paper used by Taoist priests.

The fact that sorcery itself was unsettling was true, but considering that they were made from parts of things that were once living and that the energy they contained was not benevolent, I instinctively felt that if those talismans were put to use, the sight would not be pleasant.

And the iron staff, made of an extraordinary material that showed no particular scratches even after colliding with Bullak, my cherished sword made of true silver.

In both the Eastern and Western continents, there was still a lack of foundation and knowledge to properly refine iron.

But an iron staff that wasn’t scratched even after colliding with Bullak…

I was confident that I could cut through any sword made of metal in this era with a wooden stick, but the fact that I couldn’t cut it even with Bullak was astonishing.

‘…Is it made of meteoric iron?’

I could faintly feel the energy of the stars from the staff.

‘He won’t be easy to deal with.’

His nature was that of a parricide who killed his father and consumed his flesh, but he was still a monster who was born noble and had lived for hundreds of years.

Clothed in authority and armed with extraordinary equipment, his calm demeanor despite being caught up in miracles gave off the composure of a strongman who had reigned for a long time.

“…You’re young. Were you born not long ago?”

In his deep and ominous eyes, which seemed as if a fallen monk had trained for a long time like a high priest, a blue flame flickered.

Instinctively, I felt that what Algul was talking about was not the years of my outward appearance, but a more fundamental part of me.

“There are traces of many adversities in your soul, but just as the years cannot be hidden by the rings carved in a tree, it can be felt that your soul has not been shaped for long. That’s why it’s more than amazing, it’s shocking.”

A secret greed flickered in the eyes of a fallen, long-time practitioner.

“In the time it takes for this star to orbit the sun less than twenty times, how can you be such a complete being? I came to find treasure and found another treasure. I’m looking forward to how your potential, which I will eat and become drunk on, will transform me.”

“I didn’t expect refinement, but those are the words of an invader, as rude as can be.”

“Khehehe… Orcs have no use for pretense. Only through struggle and predation can we advance to a better existence. That is the mission and authority that my lord and father engraved in us when he created us. Of course, except for me, there is no one who can fully digest you.”

I said nonchalantly and placed my hand on the hilt of Bullak.

“Is that so? But it won’t mean much. You’re going to die here. Haven’t we sized each other up enough already? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a conversation that becomes more unpleasant the longer it goes on.”

“Khe… Not bad. I don’t like meaningless processes either.”

With those words, the conversation disappeared, and the rhythm of our breathing changed.

Even though it was an open plain, the energy emanating from each other’s bodies bound the atmosphere, and a tense feeling flowed.

Both of us instinctively felt that the moment the balance was broken, we would reach out with our best first move towards each other.

‘What should my first move be? He’s different from Gal. Algul has no clear symbol. Since the energy of death, which was originally compatible with his innate energy, is already with him, it is meaningless to target his weakness with the energy of compatibility. Then… the first move should be a quick and powerful strike without any tricks.’

I engraved the future moves in my head, anticipating them.

The wind, which had been racing across the plains without any obstructing mountain ranges, scattered the remnants of spring between Algul and me, filling our vision, and at that moment, the sound of thunder echoed.

“Heu…ha…! This is truly absurd!”

As the sword-light of Bullak, drawn from its scabbard, stretched out like lightning towards Algul’s Adam’s apple, Algul blocked its path with his iron staff, and an enormous Energy Wave shook the surroundings.

“To think that this result was created by a mass that is less than one-fifth of mine… it’s truly an absurd amount of power!”

Algul was pushed back two spans from where he blocked, carving a furrow in the ground, but his central trunk did not collapse, and his strong forearms, which had fixed the iron staff to block the Cheon突, only trembled slightly despite enduring the enormous impact.

‘He’s certainly sturdy.’

But I had the first move.

A silent footstep.

The joints from the shoulder to the wrist of my right arm, which was holding the sword, rippled smoothly as if they were divided into hundreds of pieces.

The ripple that reached the wrist moved to the sword and moved smoothly.

Bullak’s sword shadow created more than twenty mirage-like shadows.

At the same time, the soft and sweet fragrance of flowers filled the desolate plains.

Twenty-Four Hand Harmony Sword Method

Harmony Bloom

Amidst the sword shadows dancing before Algul’s eyes, who had been pushed back, an illusion of white flowers began to bloom.

Algul, his eyes wide at the sudden appearance of the flower illusion, suddenly felt some kind of intuition, raised both arms, and shouted.

“Kraaha–!”

With the shout, several clusters of flowers disappeared, but soon the flowers landed on various parts of Algul’s strong body.

A strong body that was different from humans to the point where even beasts could tear it apart with their bare hands.

In comparison, what landed on that body were white flowers that seemed pitiful compared to that body.

“Keueut-!”

But what was torn was not the flowers, but Algul’s body.

Although it did not inflict deep wounds, Algul’s body was torn in various places, and he shed dark red blood.

This was up to the second move.

His bones were as hard as steel, his muscles were as tough as well-twisted rope, and his skin was as tough as well-treated cowhide.

On top of that, his innate energy and the energy he had accumulated over the years of predation covered his body, so I instinctively felt that even if a flashy ultimate skill could deceive the eyes, it would not be able to completely cut down this monster.

‘Really, everyone I’ve been meeting lately is the same.’

I grumbled inwardly for a moment.

It was not a fatal wound, but Algul’s trunk, flustered by the surprise attack of the Harmony Bloom, was definitely shaken.

Unless you were a monkey, no Martial artist worth his name would pass up such an opportunity.

Bullak, which had created the illusion of flowers, was retracted and raised upwards as if it would pierce the sky.

An extraordinary force that ordinary weapons could not withstand dwelled in Bullak, and it began to rattle and tremble on its own.

At the same time, I stood up straight and walked towards Algul as if taking a stroll.

Even if it seemed infinitely slow and leisurely, it was clearly happening in the realm of an instant.

Algul tried to regain his original center, but he could only watch me approach.

All the muscles and acupoints in his body contracted, and Bullak, which had formed an upper stance, was struck down towards Algul like lightning.

Peng Family Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber

Original One Slash Severing Soul

A strike that would split not only the flesh but even the soul was cut out from Algul’s left chest.

This was up to the third move.

But the opponent was also a monster who had survived many battles.

Perhaps he judged that he could not escape from the disadvantage if he continued to provide opportunities to the opponent.

Or perhaps he trusted his strong body.

Algul’s eyes shone eerily, and the iron staff he was holding transformed into a living snake and rushed at me.

If there was a moment when the offensive stance was weakest, it was at the beginning and end of the ultimate skill.

Seeing the snake preparing to rush at me while Bullak was cutting through Algul, I retrieved the sword that had been cut halfway through.

But there was no way that the mysteries of a proper defensive stance could be mixed into the sword that had stopped the ultimate skill and was urgently retrieved.

The snake bit Bullak, which was blocking it, and bounced off.

As Bullak’s grip was forcibly released and bounced off, the wrist of my right arm, which was holding it, was slightly bent.

Algul’s eyes shone as Bullak disappeared from my hand, even though half of his upper body was cut diagonally.

‘He has a triumphant expression.’

Did he think he had disarmed me with just that?

At the same time as the ridicule rose from my chest, my left hand formed a sword seal and pointed towards Algul.

Alaya Consciousness

Sword Control Technique Silver Scale Star River

Bullak, which had been separating with the iron snake, responded to my will, shook off the snake, and became a streak of light, piercing straight into Algul’s solar plexus, which had become defenseless in just three moves.

At the same time, I swung my left hand.

Algul’s huge body, skewered on Bullak like a skewer, was swung around in the air like prey being swung around by a tiger biting its neck.

“Ha-!”

Kwaang!

And finally, as the sword seal of my left hand pointed to the ground with a shout, Algul’s huge body, which had been floating in the sky, plunged to the ground, creating a huge collision sound.

It was a battle that took place in less than 2 seconds after the exchange of the first move.