Chapter 93: (1/2) – Legal Guardians (1/2)
Had to split this chapter into two because the first half took too long for me to translate due to the attack names and moves.
Terms used in this chapter:
Hammer and anvil – a military tactic that works by using two forces, one stationary and one mobile. The stationary force “fixes” the adversary and prevents escape while the mobile force moves toward it with the adversary caught between. The opponent then, is caught between the two forces and can’t flee because of the stationary force (anvil), nor can it stay because of the moving force (hammer). – Source: justiceacademy.org
Push kick – Taekwondo term for a kick that pushes the opponent away using the bottom of one’s foot.
Rolling sole kick – Popularized in wrestling as a spin kick variation. The wrestler spins around and then kicks the opponent with their outer leg, striking the opponent in the torso with the sole of their foot.
Bajiquan – a Chinese martial art that features explosive short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes.
Iron Mountain Attack – one of the trump card moves of Akira Yuki, the character and mascot of Sega’s Virtua Fighter video game series. Akira Yuki uses the Bajiquan as his fighting style.
Pincer movement – the act of attacking an enemy on both sides at the same time.
The number of enemies did not change.
Excluding the people who were originally brought as human sacrifices, the number of combat troops remained the same.
But Jude’s face did not have the same look of concern that he had when he first saw the enemies.
And it was the same with Cordelia.
“Let’s do hammer and anvil!”
As soon as Jude caught up to her, Cordelia shouted as if she waited for him.
Hammer and anvil.
A smile spread over Jude’s face.
“Am I the anvil?”
“I’m the hammer!”
They decided their roles.
Cordelia’s idea was somewhat different from the usual hammer and anvil tactic, but they didn’t need to further talk or discuss about it because just an exchange of looks was enough for them to decide their roles.
“I trust you!”
“Me too!”
Thud!
Jude added power on his legs and roughly kicked the ground. Within a breath, he amplified his speed more than twice, leaving Cordelia’s side like a ray of light while creating a whirlwind at the same time.
Bang!
Black Wind’s Advent.
As he rushed and flew using the wind, Jude saw the entire battlefield.
Inside Solari’s Land, he grasped the location of the Tomb Guardians and saw the squirming Blue Whiskers raise himself up.
And it wasn’t just that.
The location of the enemies.
The number of enemies.
The location of Billvine whom Jude himself must hold down as the anvil!
Bang!
He accelerated once again.
All of the enemies including Billvine were surprised by the loud noise and whirlwind, and they looked at Jude.
‘Mid-ranking demonic human.’
Billvine was especially strong as he was also a Named one.
So what?
“Ha!”
Jude rotated his body.
As the whirlwind and gale swirled into a vortex, the surrounding snow flew around and blocked the sight of his enemies.
And Jude saw it. Satisfied with the figure of Billvine reflexively taking a defensive pose by raising his shield, he concentrated his whole body’s strength onto his toes.
Black Dragon Cross Strike – Dragon’s Power.
The power of the dragon’s emblem was added to the Black Dragon Cross.
The Black Dragon’s power became stronger as a result.
As he spun his body in the air, Jude’s back kick struck Billvine’s shield. The pitch-black cross plus his attack that was closer to a push kick than a rolling sole kick exuded a terrifying power.
Baaaang-!
Billvine’s defense was solid like that of a wall.
Despite the heavy blow, his defense was not broken.
But he couldn’t help being pushed back.
Billvine was pushed more than twenty meters away, and for a moment, he was completely separated from his subordinates.
And Jude charged again.
He made the whirlwind and gale even bigger, making it look like a tornado as it surrounded himself and Billvine.
The windblown snow blocked Jude and Billvine from everyone’s eyes.
“Black Knight Billvine.”
He was a strong man.
When it came to a one-on-one confrontation, he was an unrivaled existence among the few mid-ranking demonic humans in the Devil’s Eye.
“However.”
Jude knew of Billvine’s level.
He knew his battle pattern too and was familiar with all his characteristics and weaknesses.
‘I wouldn’t have been able to do it until recently.’
But it was different now.
Jude had raised his level by nearly 20 compared to when he fought Zarakul in Gentle Snow Breeze’s land.
His physical abilities had become stronger, and he had also opened the third door of the Ninth Heaven’s Nine Doors.
‘We also have some stat bonuses.’
They were now much stronger than ordinary level 55 playable characters.
If they simply calculated their stats, they were around level 60 or higher.
‘Billvine’s level is 62.’
It was really high.
But Jude could handle him.
He had become strong enough to be the anvil that would hold this guy down.
“I am Jude Bayer from the Count Bayer family. Black Knight Billvine, I challenge you to a duel.”
When Jude suddenly bowed and spoke, Billvine flinched, but he soon responded by taking a dueling stance.
“I am Black Knight Billvine. I accept your challenge.”
Billvine was formerly a member of a fallen knight family, but he still held pride for his family even when he was now a demon follower.
The evidence was his slightly happy look when Jude courteously asked him for a duel.
‘Okay, let’s drag it out for a few seconds.’
20 seconds was enough for a few and polite exchange of words.
“I have long heard of the Black Knight’s high prestige. So it’s an honor to fight with you like this today.”
“I have heard of the Count Bayer name too. I am also honored to exchange swords with a descendant from the famous family.”
‘Alas, Billvine. Alas.’
Jude clenched his fists and spoke again, and Billvine sincerely answered again.
The whirlwind that spun with the snow blocked not only the view but also even the slightest sound, so the two could focus on each other only as if they were in a separate space.
“I’ll begin.”
“Come, descendant of the famous family.”
Billvine continued to speak seriously, and Jude waited for Billvine’s words to end before he immediately sped up on the ground.
Although Billvine was weakened because of , he was still the Black Knight.
For a swordsman, a moment of carelessness could lead to their death.
Swooosh!
Billvine’s sword headed towards Jude’s chest. It wasn’t just a lunge, as he had read Jude’s course and thrust his sword to a position where it would inevitably hit Jude.
So Jude did not avoid it.
He blocked Billvine’s sword attack with his knuckle gloves as if he knew what attack would come out first.
He gently pushed with the back of his arm to change the trajectory of the attack.
Bam!