Serhithran (2)
“Huh, hah…”
With a short breath, Ruslan imitated a stance.
-Magic Swordsmanship: Island Race!
It was a technique that instantly boosted his body speed.
He took a back step with terrific swiftness.
The greatsword passed by him.
Boom!
A gigantic explosion occurred right in front of him.
Ruslan couldn’t understand what was happening.
“What kind of nonsense is this…?”
The greatsword didn’t even hit the floor or anything for that matter.
If it were just nonsensical swings, Ruslan would have fought back at the gap.
His opponent missed, but the offensive’s aftermath was so intense that it created a shock wave.
The Blade Aura of the greatsword’s wielder was beyond what could be called powerful.
Zoom!
With the air still rumbling, Ryu Han-bin lifted the red-coated blade again.
He stared at Ruslan, his eyes calm yet filled with fury.
“That’s an amazing spell. Do you think Aura has a skill like that?”
Taking another stance, Ruslan broke out in a cold sweat.
His heartbeat felt like it was going to rip his chest open, and his whole body was as cold as if he fell into the depths of the seas in the middle of winter.
‘I never would’ve thought he’s that powerful…’
He didn’t think Han-bin would be weak.
The Goddess chose Han-bin, and his appearance was far from feeble.
But Ruslan was a level 85 Magic Swordsman.
Powerful people above level 80 were still relatively rare in the cities of the Four Prohibited Areas.
Before being trapped in Akhtarun, Great Earth’s level 85 members were enough to be in the top ranks.
‘I wondered how he would fare against a guy like me…’
As soon as Han-bin swung his sword, his illusion was shattered like glass.
Every time their blades clashed, shockwaves would rip through him as if boulders had hit him.
His simple punches could match the might of weapons, and even his kicks had enough to decapitate.
The power of his basic skills was already far beyond his league.
‘He isn’t even using his full power.’
He didn’t do any particularly grand swordsmanship techniques.
Instead of rushing in, he calmly swung his sword and shorted the distance between them.
He nonchalantly controlled Ruslan’s movements by taking the initiative.
It was proof that he had a lot of experience in combat.
Ruslan gritted his teeth.
‘You’re so big, but you’re fighting like this!’
If only Han-bin ignorantly wielded his sword due to his great power, Ruslan could find a gap to utilize in his movements, but the seemingly colossal man fought like a clever fox.
“Argh! Argh!”
The red blade Aura continued to tear through the atmosphere.
With each simple swing, wild winds blew, and debris flew.
“Argh! Argh!”
The bloodstained Ruslan screamed.
‘Damn it! You’re going to kill me!’
* * *
Ryu Han-bin smiled as he continued to pressure the Earthling in front of him.
‘Effir is amazing at teaching people.’
Originally, his style wasn’t like that.
When confronting a giant dog during his days at the Rocky Mountain, he fought with all his might to dish out his maximum destructive power.
However, his combat style was different in interpersonal competitions.
His interpersonal style in those fights was based on Maxbrid.
And it was the genius Wyvern girl, Effir, who interpreted the Maxbrid teachings and passed it on to Ryu Han-bin.
Usually, gigantic people like Ryu Han-bin would often utilize their size to stand tall on the battlefield like a steel tower while maintaining his center of gravity.
On the other hand, small and sleek warriors like Effir were bound to fight like butterflies using acrobatic movements and high agility.
But Han-bin fought using Effir’s style.
How confusing would it be to see a huge iron tower fluttering around like a butterfly?
Furthermore, the ensuing aftermath of his assaults was no joke.
It was normal for a steel tower to be accompanied by a combination of cyclones and thunderstorms.
Zoom! Boom!
“Ahhhhh!”
Ruslan managed to weave away from the attack’s range.
-Magic Swordsmanship: Net of Heat Waves!
He swiftly activated another technique.
Dozens of flames crisscrossed to form a net fell over the head of Ryu Han-bin.
Han-bin lifted his sword indifferently.
Bam!
The fiery net was torn apart and scattered.
However, it was enough to remove the pressure on Ruslan.
“Oh, my God!”
Managing to get away from Han-bin’s oppression, Ruslan immediately put as much distance as possible in between them.
He then cast a series of techniques.
-Magic Swordsmanship: Horn of the Storm Dragon!
-Magic Swordsmanship: Wailing of Steel Souls!
The air condensed and flew in the form of a spear, followed by dozens of flying daggers.
All the gliding weapons were all made out of Force.
Ryu Han-bin’s eyebrow rose.
‘You’re going to give up fighting close-range to fight in the distance instead?’
Han-bin knew Ruslan would result to that tactic.
All the people who fought with him had been like that.
He had no choice but to rush in and close the distance in the past, but the present Ryu Han-bin had awakened Aura.
He didn’t have to go after Ruslan hard.
Gripping his sword, Han-bin focused on his left hand.
A brilliant red sphere rose above the center of his palm.
He had created an Aura Bullet with formidable destructive power.
-Aura Strike!
‘… It’s called an Aura Bullet, and it can only be a real Aura Strike when it leaves the palm of my hand and flies towards my target.’
Han-bin had not yet mastered it.
But it didn’t matter.
Like the stones that he had thrown countless times, he grabbed and threw the sphere at Ruslan.
The red sphere broke through all the magic spells like a comet, leaving a trail of light, yet it still retained its power as it burst forth towards Ruslan.
“Huh!”
Frustrated, Ruslan propelled himself away.
Boom boom!
Han-bin shrugged.
‘Can you avoid it at your level?’
The movement of a person’s arm swing was too wide.
It was clear where he was aiming for.
Its orbit was easily predictable.
‘It’s not like I can throw a knuckleball like a baseball player.’
Aura was not affected by fluid mechanics like a baseball, so it wouldn’t mean much if he knew how to throw.
‘I’m going to fight the way Effir taught me.’
After forming another Aura Bullet, Ryu Han-bin flung himself forward.
With his black greatsword tightly held in his right hand, he aimed at the opponent with his left hand’s Aura Bullet.
“Gasp!”
Ruslan fled again in fear.
But Han-bin did not throw the Aura Bullet.
“Hoot!”
He kept it in his left hand as he swung barrages of blade Aura using his right hand.
Ruslan gritted his teeth and blocked the attacks.
As soon as Ruslan was about to fall back, Han-bin pretended to throw it again!
“Huh?”
Scared, Ruslan retreated in the direction of the blade.
He came within the range of Ryu Han-bin himself.
‘It’s working.’
With a smile, Han-bin continued to tease his opponent.
He used Blade Aura as he pressed on calmly. If the opponent tried to move away, he only needed to point the Aura Bullet in his left hand.
That alone prevented the opponent’s escape.
“You, you!”
After noticing Han-bin’s intentions, Ruslan changed his response.
Ruslan intentionally ignored the Aura bullets, avoided the Blade Auras, and kept his distance.
Unless he were a fool, it wouldn’t work.
‘I don’t care.’
Breaking it into pieces, Ryu Han-bin threw away the Aura Bullet in his left hand.
Boom!
“Argh!”
That time, Ruslan was hit accurately.
Spitting out blood, Ruslan entered the road range.
As if he had predicted it, Ryu Han-bin already had another attack prepared.
Boom!
Ruslan’s expression was twisted like a demon.
He could see what Han-bin was thinking.
“You son of a…”
It was possible because Ryu Han-bin’s skills were far higher than Ruslan’s.
On the other hand, there was no way for Ruslan to respond.
Ryu Han-bin kept moving.
He just threw the sphere!
Boom!
And he kept swinging his sword!
“Ugh!”
Han-bin then pretended to throw the Aura bullet again!
“Huh?”
He quickly followed it with a Blade Aura!
“Ahhhhhh!”
Ruslan became very angry.
Han-bin was toying with him.
At that rate, the result was obvious.
“Do you think I am a fool?”
Since falling into that world, Ruslan had gained numerous combat experiences.
He immediately came up with a plan.
He didn’t need to avoid the Aura Strike!
-Magic Swordsmanship: Steel Citadel!
He formed a grey barrier made out of Force to block Ryu Han-bin’s Aura Bullet.
Boom!
“I can stop your Aura Bullet!”
“Really?”
Han-bin waved his left hand twice.
“Then what about this?”
Two Aura Bullets were formed and floated up.
Ruslan’s complexion turned pale.
‘How is that possible?’
Han-bin threw two Aura Bullets in a row.
Ruslan’s magic once again formed a barrier to prevent it.
Boom!
“You’re blocking two.”
Then he conjured three.
“W-well…”
Without space to even speak, Ruslan activated his technique with all his might.
-Magic Swordsmanship: Steel Citadel!
If he moved to avoid them at that point, but he would only fall into Han-bin’s prior trap.
Ruslan should show that he could prevent them even if he overdid it.
Only then could he take the lead.
“Taaaah!”
Ruslan pulled up the Force with all his might.
Three Aura Bullets beat the magic barrier.
Boom!
Explosions went off one after another.
Smoke rose across the battlefield.
After a while, there was a gasping image of Ruslan.
He looked to be struggling to stay conscious.
“Hahaha, what do you think? I stopped…”
“Then, four.”
Four Aura Bullets split the air.
A magnificent explosion covered Ruslan’s vision.
“…oh, shit…”
Boom!
* * *
With the explosion, Ruslan fluttered into the air.
It wasn’t a normal sight to see Ruslan’s limbs floundering around like a paper doll.
Maxwell and Grace stuttered in fright.
“What?”
“Ruslan?”
After a while, Ruslan fell to the ground.
No, that wasn’t the right expression.
Ruslan didn’t fall.
When he flew, he was wearing bloodied rags, but only his clothes fell onto the ground.
Ruslan himself had disappeared.
What that meant was clear.
‘Is he dead?’
Not only the Earthlings, but Kibie blinked as well.
‘Oh, my God, was Han-bin that strong?’
So far, she only believed in the Sword King Baotolt.
Han-bin’s group was just a facilitator of the journey to meet Baotolt.
But that made her change her mind.
‘Well, maybe he’ll catch up with the Top Three.’
On the other hand, Artis and Effir were not surprised.
Han-bin had already killed the level 85 Blood Circer Queen.
He wouldn’t lose against someone on the same level.
So she shouted as if she had been waiting.
“Mr. Felard! Now help this side, too!”
At Effir’s cry, Han-bin immediately kicked the ground.
“I know!”
The large warrior was charging forth like a red storm.
In contemplation, Maxwell and Grace looked at each other.
Their opinions were in agreement.
‘Let’s run!’
Ruslan, who was on par with them, died in vain after being beaten like a dog the entire fight.
Even if the remaining duo worked together, there was little chance of winning.
Maxwell quickly fell back under a spell.
“Wind Step!”
Grace also hurriedly spread her translucent wings by casting a Spirit art.
“Preleu’s hem, let me soar!”
The two Earthlings began to run in opposite directions.
At that moment, Ryu Han-bin was torn.
‘Who should I go for?’
He couldn’t miss them like that.
There was too much information to dig up.
At that time, Artis’ communication magic entered his mind.
-Catch the Mage first! We’ll catch the Spiritist!
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