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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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He took a step, rolling on the balls of his feet, smooth and fluid, yet quick and precise.
Whoosh!
A massive hammer grazed his heel.
A split-second later, and his bones would have shattered. The hammer pursued relentlessly, aiming for his knees, then his shins, then slamming down on his foot.
He dodged, the hammer’s handle sweeping towards his ankles. He stepped onto the handle, using it as a springboard, thrusting his sword upwards.
Twice into her arms. Twice into her knees. Three times into her heart.
Yet, Eugene didn’t stop.
Seven gaping wounds, her joints pierced, her heart shredded, she pulled the hammer towards her, slamming her shoulder into Limon.
He leaped onto her shoulder, attempting to vault over her…
…but the hammer followed.
With animalistic instinct, she anticipated his move, spinning, the hammer now a crushing weight, capable of pulverizing mountains.
It grazed his foot, and he twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding a shattered ankle. His sword plunged downwards.
Clang!
The sword, vibrating like a living thing, deflected off the hammer, sliding down the handle like a serpent, slicing Eugene’s hand.
Thud!
The hammer fell from her grasp.
She didn’t bother picking it up. Instead, she grabbed the handle with her remaining hand, using it as a pivot for a kick.
He deflected the kick with his sword, the impact sending him stumbling backwards.
‘Impressive.’
Limon planted his sword in the ground to stop his retreat, his mind racing.
‘A talent that appears once in a century.’
He could see it in her movements, her incredible instincts. She could outmaneuver even the Seven Dragons Association’s experts with her instinctive hammer swings.
‘Such a waste.’
But Limon felt not fear, but regret.
A talent that, with proper training, could have glimpsed the pinnacle of swordsmanship, now wasted. And the regret of a swordsman, forced to kill such a prodigy.
‘But I won’t hesitate.’
He wouldn’t waver. Eugene was his enemy. And he wasn’t one to spare an enemy out of pity.
In fact, her talent only strengthened his resolve to end her here.
‘The question is how.’
Swish!
As Eugene swung her hammer, Limon slipped past her defenses, severing her head in a single stroke.
Blood sprayed. Her head rolled on the ground. But her body continued its attack, the hammer still swinging.
Limon, anticipating this, leaped back. He watched as Eugene’s head reattached itself to her neck, seamlessly fusing. He narrowed his eyes.
‘She doesn’t die from this?’
He had faced countless immortal foes throughout his long life, soul-transferring necromancers, regenerating sorcerers, undying demons.
Immortality wasn’t a new concept. But even he couldn’t easily kill Eugene. Not just because she regenerated from any wound, but because the sensation of his sword piercing her flesh was… strange.
‘I could kill her if I had to…’
He, who had slain even demons, knew ways to sever immortality.
‘But something feels off.’
Thwack!
Instead of forcing the issue, Limon pierced her body again, creating another wound. He felt a sense of unease, a premonition of danger.
‘This isn’t ordinary immortality. Something’s different.’
He activated his Constellation Gazing Eyes, hoping to discern the source of his unease. But the moment he looked at Eugene, he froze.
“…What are you?”
Eugene, about to swing her hammer, tilted her head at his unexpected question.
“Me? I’m your partner.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Then what?”
She looked genuinely puzzled. Limon’s expression turned serious.
He had seen many players with his Constellation Gazing Eyes, from Ryu Kang-chul, almost completely consumed by his Constellation, to Lee Cheon-gi, who showed no trace of his Constellation except in his eyes.
But he had never seen a player like Eugene.
“Did you sell your Constellation?”
Clear eyes, a delicate face, unblemished skin… there was no trace of a Constellation on her. It was almost uncanny.
Perhaps the mark was hidden somewhere, but unlike other players, who bore their Constellation’s mark like a brand, he couldn’t sense anything.
“…Partner, there are some things you just don’t ask.”
Eugene’s reaction confirmed his suspicions.
She, who had laughed even when decapitated, was now avoiding his question, her face serious.
KABOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the room. Debris rained down as a figure crashed between Limon and Eugene.
His armor torn, his upper body scorched, his lower body frosted, claw marks on his back… Vellus, looking like a rag doll, lay on the ground.
Eugene blinked.
“Comrade, what happened to you?”
The answer came not from Vellus, but from above.
“I figured he’d have a lot to regret later, so I helped him out a bit.”
“You finished faster than I expected.”
“He was a rather unpleasant opponent, so I rushed it a bit.”
Limon chuckled as Lee Cheon-gi descended from above. He could guess why Lee Cheon-gi found Vellus so unpleasant.
“Ugh… ‘Special Imprisonment Act, enacted.’”
Rumble!
Vellus, thanks to his enhanced stats, managed to stand, despite his injuries. He activated his skill, creating a maze of rising walls, separating himself and Eugene from the others. But that was all he could do.
He was barely able to stand, let alone fight. Even he, who had considered himself an absolute ruler, couldn’t face Lee Cheon-gi at full power, especially in his current state.
‘Damn it!’
But the realization offered no comfort. He had been humiliated by Li Chingwei, forced to flee, and now, trapped and injured.
He couldn’t accept it. His pride wouldn’t allow him to acknowledge his failure. He lashed out, seeking someone to blame.
“You crazy bitch! What are you doing?!”
“Me? Working, as you can see.”
“Why aren’t you doing your job properly?!”
“I am.”
“Don’t lie.”
Eugene, surprised by the sudden accusation, blinked. Vellus’s gaze was cold.
If Eugene had properly dealt with the Leviathan, he wouldn’t be in this situation. It wasn’t just an excuse. He had a reason to believe Eugene hadn’t been trying her best.
“If you were serious, why haven’t you used your Unique Skill?”
“…”
Eugene fell silent.
Her immortality was just a derivative skill. She hadn’t used her Unique Skill against the Silent Dragon Unit, Lee Cheon-gi, or even Limon.
“I know you’re unpredictable, but this isn’t the time to play around. Use your Unique Skill and fight seriously.”
Vellus, desperate, ordered her coldly.
With Ryu Kang-chul’s fate unknown and himself cornered, their best chance was Eugene’s Unique Skill.
That was why he froze when he heard her reply.
“No way.”
“…What?”
“I don’t want to use my Unique Skill.”
Vellus stared at her, his face hardening, his eyes filled with killing intent.
“Are you betraying the organization?”
“Not betraying. Just not using my Unique Skill.”
“You expect me to accept that?”
“Yep.”
A simple, straightforward answer.
Vellus stared at her, dumbfounded.
“You may be the commander of this mission, Comrade, but I can use my skills however I want.”
The Specters of the Liberation Brigade were independent agents. While the mission was absolute, they weren’t obligated to follow every order, even from their commander.
“Comrade, if you can’t fight anymore, retreat. I’ll handle this.”
“…”
In that sense, Eugene’s words, though absurd, weren’t wrong. With the target acquired, it wasn’t a bad idea for Vellus to escape. In fact, that was his original plan.
But he couldn’t accept it.
The humiliation of his repeated failures. The shame of being disobeyed. And the rage of a superior being, his pride wounded by a mere human.
A searing pain shot through his head, and he thought of another solution, a better solution.
“You’re right. I can’t force you to fight.”
He stepped behind Eugene, who had assumed a fighting stance.
“But, Mad Comrade, haven’t you forgotten why I am the commander of this mission?”
Eugene reacted instinctively, her body moving before her mind could process the threat. Her innate combat senses made her swing her hammer backwards.
But it was too late.
By the time she turned, Vellus’s hand had already reached her chest.
“If you refuse to use your skill, so be it.”
Thwack!
His hand pierced her flesh, shattering bone, and grasped her heart.
He smiled coldly.
“I’ll just take your Constellation instead.”
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Thanks Fusion!