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Swordmaster Healer (Web Novel) - Chapter 9 – The First Test (3)
Chapter 9 – The First Test (3)
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
TL: Boko
Editor: Ren
Sung Joon thought it was strange, but he recalled Rishubalt’s explanation and simply shook his head. He couldn’t waste time thinking about that issue.
He could sense more enemies.
The ‘monsters’ in the Awakening Dungeon were a lot more proactive than the ones in the normal dungeons. Rather than guard a specific location, they actively moved to intercept the trespasser.
“$%!”
“%!^%$!”
He entered the large hall, and was met with five archers and three knights.
The overwhelmingly confident knights elatedly drew their swords, likely due to the five archers behind them, on the guardrail of the second floor.
“%%@!”
He could recognize laughter, even if they spoke a different language.
“It appears that they’re mocking you, my lord,” Rishubalt said.
“I already know that. You don’t have to tell me,” Sung Joon replied.
The archers drew their bowstrings. Sung Joon reacted by drawing his dagger that hung on his waist, and threw it at one of them.
The dagger pierced the archer’s chest and the archer fell flat on his face, while the other archers released their bowstrings. Sung Joon focused on the coming arrows, but felt that they were way too slow.
He evaded two arrows and swung his sword to deflect the other two.
“!%@$!”
“%!$^!”
“Return!” he said.
Sung Joon could hear the astonishment in the archers’ voices. When they went to draw another arrow from their quivers, Sung Joon threw his dagger, and toppled another archer.
“$!%!$!”
The knights intervened, approaching Sung Joon with their heavy armor clanking on the ground.
Koong! Koong! Koong!
Their steps were heavy, though their movements were conversely quite nimble. As expected of skilled knights. The knights pulled Sung Joon into close quarters combat in order to stop him from attacking the archers.
Rishubalt retreated a few steps back so he wouldn’t hinder Sung Joon.
“I can see you!” said Sung Joon.
It was time to end this. Sung Joon raised his sword and cut off their heads in order. Though the knights raised their swords to defend themselves, Sung Joon had already read their movements, and cleverly aimed for the gaps in their defense. The archers were clearly flustered after he slaughtered the knights.
Sung Joon aimed and threw his dagger at them, taking them down one by one.
“Absorb.”
He ordered his dagger to return, and immediately absorbed the mana. He felt his fatigued body recover.
He looked at Rishubalt and said, “Mana Absorption is quite… convenient.”
“It’s a technique that you invented, my lord. It’s more efficient than the one most Mages use,” replied Rishubalt.
“Really?” asked Sung Joon.
“Yes. If your synchronization rate increases, it’s possible for you to use the skill at a higher efficiency,” Rishubalt said.
Sung Joon was shocked. It could have a higher efficiency?
“Are you saying it’ll recover more?”
“That’s correct.”
He had been surprised when he had heard that his synchronization rate was only at 5%, and even now… Today was full of surprises.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
Sung Joon walked down the hallway.
It felt like he had spent several hours in the Awakening Dungeon. Other Hunters would have taken a ramen break here but Sung Joon used his Mana Absorption skill to recover his mana and stamina following each fight. Thus, he didn’t need to take a break.
“Eh, I guess I should eat a little first,” he said to himself.
Still, Mana Absorption wouldn’t solve hunger, so he had to eat something. He took out a few pieces of beef jerky and chewed on them as he walked down the hallway. After all, he thought it would waste time to sit down and eat.
Monsters ceased to appear, so he arrived at the end of the hall unimpeded.
There was a wooden door in front of him with an old pattern etched into it. Sung Joon concentrated.
‘There’s one presence.’
He felt a restrained killing intent, so it seemed like whoever was in there was preparing for battle.
“What’s wrong, Rishubalt? Is there an ambush?” Sung Joon asked, but Rishubalt shook his head.
“No. It’s just, the symbol carved on the door… it’s familiar from somewhere.”
“Was it a symbol that existed in our land?”
“I’m unsure. I apologize.”
Sung Joon had asked but Rishubalt’s memory wasn’t clear. He was right in front of the Boss Room, so he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
He forcibly opened the doors and went inside.
Although the office was worn out, it still gave off a feeling of high rank. He thought it was office, but it was large enough to run around in.
“$%!”
Sung Joon had become somewhat familiar with the language after listening to it for several hours, yet he couldn’t decipher what the man was saying. However, Sung Joon could tell that he sounded angry when he looked at him.
“It looks like he’s angry,” Rishubalt commented.
“You don’t have to explain it to me,” Sung Joon said crabbily and took a defensive posture.
The knight in front of him calmed his breathing. Then, his body shot out like a bullet towards Sung Joon.
There was a blue aura around the blade.
The knight was so quick that Sung Joon couldn’t completely track him with his vision. However, he wasn’t so fast that Sung Joon couldn’t predict his next move.
The knight’s attack went the way he had predicted and Sung Joon protected himself with his sword. A blue aura shone on his sword as well.
“Ugh!”
“My lord!” cried Rishubalt.
It had been a feint.
Sung Joon groaned at the dizzying pain at his abdomen. He felt a frightening force from his opponent and took a few steps back. If he hadn’t retreated, his organs would’ve spilled out of his body.
‘It’s a swordsmanship that I’m familiar with.’
Sung Joon withdrew his sword and widened the distance. In general, if he crossed swords with someone, he was able to read his opponent’s movements, but his opponent’s swordsmanship just now… it was way too familiar.
He had feinted at aiming for a vital point and aimed for somewhere else. Plus, it was used so skillfully that it didn’t allow Sung Joon to counterattack.
“My lord!”
“I know!” Sung Joon responded to Rishubalt’s warning.
Although the swordsmanship his opponent used wasn’t refined, it seemed like it was based on his past life’s, or Roukel’s combat swordsmanship.
“%%!”
The knight attacked him continuously. Sung Joon had gotten hit once, but he carefully protected himself now. However, he was unable to properly utilize his combat swordsmanship due to his poor synchronization rate. Thus, his wounds continued to increase.
His stomach wound was gradually getting deeper.
‘Shit, he’s not giving me an opening.’
Sung Joon felt extremely anxious. If this kept up, it would get really dangerous.
The knight kept up a continuous flurry of blows. If Sung Joon concentrated on protecting a vital area, the knight would feint and aim for a different area.
If not for his past life’s battle experience, he would’ve already received a fatal injury and collapsed, a testament to the ferocity of the knight’s swordsmanship.
“#%!$”
The knight withdrew his sword and tried to stab Sung Joon. Then…
Was it luck?
Suddenly, Sung Joon could completely read his opponent’s movements. He struck the side of the sword with the back of his hand. The knight’s sword spun in the air like a wheel and ricocheted to the side.
The knight had only clad his aura around the blade’s edge, so Sung Joon didn’t sustain any injuries.
“Ugh!”
Sung Joon kicked the knight’s thigh with a muscular strength that surpassed that of humanity. His kick crushed the knight’s armor and broke the bone.
Now, it was time to make a decision…
Should he aim for the neck?
Or should he retreat and regroup himself?
‘I’ve decided!’
Sung Joon quickly made his decision. The knight had already reclaimed his sword, so aiming for the neck wasn’t an option. Thus, he decided to retreat.
The knight couldn’t pursue Sung Joon easily, as his left thigh bone was broken.
Sung Joon smirked and raised his hand. Due to the knight’s continuous attacks, he hadn’t been able to do this before, but now it was possible.
Sung Joon brought his white light covered hand to his stomach, and said…
“…Heal.”
