hotmtlnovel Chapter 234: Underwater Battle (5)
Chapter 234: Underwater Battle (5)
Chapter 234: Underwater Battle (5)
Kang-hoo read the complexity in Go Kyung-ho’s eyes and increased the tempo of his attack.
This was because using Radiant Awakening would inevitably lead to more complications.
Adding the element of invincibility significantly increased the likelihood of trouble in managing time.
Kang-hoo aimed for Go Kyung-ho’s neck this time, keeping it at eye level.
‘How obvious.’
The attack came too straightforwardly, as if inviting a challenge.
Even though Go Kyung-ho doubted Kang-hoo’s intentions, he couldn’t simply let the attack slip by and blocked it with his sword.
He had expected a feint, deception, or an attempt to flank him, but there was no sign of any such maneuvers.
Clang!
Kang-hoo’s dagger collided with Go Kyung-ho’s sword, sparks flying.
It was a stronger blow than expected, but since it was successfully blocked, Go Kyung-ho merely felt a slight admiration.
Then suddenly—
Swish!
“Gah...!”
An accident occurred.
Even though Kang-hoo’s dagger had already passed, something grazed Go Kyung-ho’s neck unexpectedly.
A stinging sensation spread across the front of his neck, followed by a warm liquid beginning to flow.
Fortunately, his carotid artery wasn’t severed, but the front of his throat was cut.
‘Twin Slash?’
It was unbelievable.
His own skill had been turned back against him.
Twin Slash, a skill that delayed a magical slash by a set interval, was one of his rare techniques.
It was a swordsmanship-specific skill to begin with, so there was no way an assassin like Kang-hoo could have learned it.
Even if he had, it wouldn’t have caused enough damage to inflict such a cut. And yet, it happened.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Go Kyung-ho swung his sword wildly left and right to block any immediate follow-ups from Kang-hoo.
Although his counterattack lacked structure, the fear and helplessness instilled by Kang-hoo prevented him from staying calm.
‘What changed so much?’
Go Kyung-ho prided himself on having thoroughly studied the files on Shin Kang-hoo.
Kang-hoo was already notorious for his reckless bravery, and like Jeon Se-hyuk, he was a hunter bound to clash with Eclipse someday.
Moreover, since he was one of Kang Dong-hyun’s interests, Go Kyung-ho, as a trusted subordinate, had been meticulous in his analysis.
The problem was that new skills, unlisted in any prior information, kept surfacing as if multiplying.
It was an upgrade far beyond expectations.
In fact, being trapped in the framework of his prior knowledge made him more vulnerable to unpredictable variables.
Blood continued to pour from the front of his neck and shoulder.
There was no chance to stop the bleeding, and the torrential rain made it the worst possible environment to staunch the flow.
At this rate, he would bleed out and die while falling into Kang-hoo’s pace. A decision had to be made.
“Haaaahp!”
Accompanied by a spirited yell, Go Kyung-ho unleashed a skill that released sword energy in all directions.
Chaotic Strike.
A Level 200 basic skill for swordsmen, it was also one he had steadily honed to a high level of mastery.
Siiing!
Go Kyung-ho’s sword emitted a sharp sound as it unleashed fierce waves of sword energy.
The limited space within the pit meant he couldn’t afford to block just one or two waves.
Pop. Pop.
To Go Kyung-ho, who was now surrounded by illusions resembling Kang-hoo and endless shadows, it was nauseating.
Swish.
Only the sound of rain could be heard.
As rain and blood mixed and soaked the ground, Go Kyung-ho’s pride also grew soggy, like wet paper.
Shhh.
Finally, the golden aura enveloping his body signified that he had entered a brief period of invincibility.
In this moment, even the pain disappeared, filling him with a satisfaction akin to having everything in the world.
“It’s not over yet.”
Go Kyung-ho, standing on his severed left foot, aimed his sword at Kang-hoo.
He wanted to strike that coward who had retreated, waiting for time to pass.
Biting his lip, Go Kyung-ho drew a large vertical line with his sword, creating a violent storm of sword energy.
Slashing Strike.
A signature move infamous for cutting through anything in its path, it was Go Kyung-ho’s ultimate skill.
Roar!
With a deafening roar, the Slashing Strike flew forward, defying gravity by pushing the falling raindrops back into the sky.
Even the shadows, clones, and illusions caught in the strike dissipated into pale smoke.
Go Kyung-ho, who had been thoroughly toyed with by Kang-hoo until now, was confident that the activation of Radiant Awakening would bring significant changes to the battle.
And the starting point of that change would be this very courageous Slashing Strike.
But then—
Clang...
The Slashing Strike, which had entered the smoke, made an unusual sound.
It wasn’t Kang-hoo’s scream, the sound of flesh being cut, or the shattering of a dagger.
It was a clean, clear sound, as if glass had shattered.
The next moment—
Whoosh!
What emerged from the dispersing smoke wasn’t the aftermath of the Slashing Strike hitting Kang-hoo, but broken fragments.
As the shattered pieces of the Slashing Strike scattered, Kang-hoo’s Black Moon Slash came flying, emitting a sharp tearing sound.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time Go Kyung-ho’s eyes registered the Black Moon Slash, its projectile was already right in front of him.
“Damn...”
Though he hastily raised his sword, it was too late. The Black Moon Slash effortlessly severed Go Kyung-ho’s neck.
Slice!
“...Fa...”
The single syllable he managed to utter before his neck was cut became his final word.
And with that, it was over.
Even in the confrontation between Slashing Strike and Black Moon Slash, Go Kyung-ho suffered a decisive defeat and lost his life.
“A hidden skill being defeated by a basic one is... so unfair... guh.”
Kang-hoo groaned as he collapsed to the ground.
Though he endured until the end with sheer willpower, the backlash from Go Kyung-ho’s counterattack had clearly taken its toll.
Given Kang-hoo’s frequent use of spinning attacks in his repertoire, the injury to his side caused significant discomfort.
Go Kyung-ho’s death was certain.
The immediate registration of Constellation Capture confirmed it.
The Pure Black Hypocrite and Bloodthirsty Soma were added one after the other to the Constellation list.
To be honest, Kang-hoo didn’t see much use for the Pure Black Hypocrite.
No matter how much power he needed, making deals that gambled with one’s lifespan felt questionable. Once was manageable, but twice? Doubtful.