kscans

Chapter 212 - The Two Battles.

Tina’s Side.

She engaged the Goblin Guardian.

"...It’s certainly a tough opponent for me to face alone," Tina said with a slight smirk.

…It was difficult for Tina’s magic to inflict any damage. It was questionable whether even a blade of wind could leave a scratch. As if sensing her thoughts, the Goblin Guardian brought its club down.

…Tina dodged to the right. She slashed at the Goblin Guardian’s now-exposed right arm, but she failed to leave even a scratch. The Goblin Guardian immediately swung its club in a horizontal sweep.

But, as if expecting it, Tina cloaked her feet in wind and leaped into the air. …The moment she was at the same height as the Goblin Guardian, she brought her sword down in a powerful overhead slash, splitting it from head to ground.

…However, it only left a mark. No blood was drawn.

Tina landed, a bead of sweat on her brow. "...Impressively tough. ...To think even Orichalcum wouldn’t work."

…Even Orichalcum, a higher quality metal than Mithril, couldn't draw blood. Should I use the other one? …No, if I use that against a Goblin Guardian, defeating the `Root Cause` will be impossible. …I have to win with just this sword and my magic. I believe that is the path to my own growth.

…The Goblin Guardian shook its head slightly. Though it wasn't cut, the impact had clearly rattled its brain. It quickly recovered and charged again.

It swung its club in a wide sweep from the left. Tina dodged it with ease. She tried to counter, but the club immediately came swinging back. …Tina calmly dodged again. After that, the Goblin Guardian’s onslaught continued.

…The club swung wildly, leaving no openings. …Tina dodged every blow. The difference in strength was too great to parry with her sword. If she tried, she risked being crushed.

Dodging was her only option.

Amidst the fierce barrage, the Goblin Guardian swung its club in a wide horizontal sweep.

Tina dodged and used the opening.

"...Wind Slash!"

A crescent-shaped blade of wind shot forth.

…It struck the defenseless Goblin Guardian. The impact made it stagger back, but it still suffered no damage.

Tina thought to herself, "...At this rate, it seems a Water Slash won’t be effective either. ...To cut it, I’ll need something much sharper."

…Tina used both water and wind magic, but she was most proficient with water. Yet a `Water Slash` couldn’t cut through. …Before she met Shinsuke, she would have thought all was lost and retreated.

But meeting Shinsuke had introduced her to the knowledge of Earth.

Her `Ice Wind Freezing Array` was something she developed after seeing it in one of Earth’s manga. …Naturally, she had researched other things as well, like mental fortitude and military strategy. Thanks to that, she had even managed to acquire new skills.

Now was the time to test the fruits of her labor.

Tina murmured, "...Let’s try that. ...I’ve never done it before, but…"

She took a deep breath and began to channel her magic.

…Sensing something, the Goblin Guardian immediately resumed its attack. Unflustered, Tina calmly continued to dodge the attacks. She never stopped channeling her magic.

To be able to perform two tasks with such composure was a testament to the principles of Shinkage-ryu. …To maintain a calm, immovable heart at all times. As long as she could do that, she could respond to any danger.

Tina had trained to always keep her heart steady, to never panic on the battlefield. This was the result of that training.

While dodging the Goblin Guardian’s relentless attacks, she focused on activating her spell. This was a feat impossible for an ordinary magician or swordsman. …Water began to envelop Tina’s sword. It was a water-based slash, but she was still condensing it.

…Smaller… to unleash a much narrower slash.

The Goblin Guardian attacked with even greater ferocity, as if growing desperate.

Its movements were faster than before. Yet none of its attacks could touch Tina.

…And then, the water clinging to Tina’s sword vanished. To be precise, it had been condensed to the point of being invisible, forming a paper-thin film. …It looked as if the water had disappeared, but the Goblin Guardian’s face paled slightly.

Its instincts screamed that the sword was dangerous.

The Goblin Guardian swung its club down in a fast, powerful, diagonal arc from the right.

Tina unleashed her spell.

"...High Pressure Water Slash!!"

A blade of water shot out.

It wasn't the crescent shape of before, but a single, running thread. At a glance, it was a weak-looking slash that seemed like it would vanish in an instant.

…However, when the thread of water struck the club, it passed through without disappearing, and then passed through the Goblin Guardian’s breastplate as well. The bisected club swung down toward Tina.

Having just released her magic, she couldn't dodge. …Tina braced herself for a broken bone. Then,

swish

The club split apart without a sound. …The break wasn't where she had blocked it, but where the thread of water had passed through. The top half of the club fell to the ground, followed by the Goblin Guardian’s upper torso, which also split and fell without a sound.

Its remaining body gushed blood from the wound and slowly collapsed.

Tina breathed out. "...Phew. ...It worked. ...Earth’s technology is amazing."

…This technique was conceived by studying Earth’s water-jet cutting technology.

She had seen Shinsuke condense his magic, so she had practiced to master the same skill.

Her efforts had borne fruit.

Goltor’s Side.

Goltor was fighting fiercely against his Goblin Guardian.

…Unlike the other two, Goltor couldn’t dodge or parry. He wasn’t that dexterous. But he had slain countless monsters thanks to his immense strength, which allowed him to swing his Adamantite great hammer with ease, and the defensive power of his armor, forged from the finest ore and craftsmanship. …Because of this, he met the Goblin Guardian’s club head-on, their strength locked in a stalemate.

A state of push and pull. …Deciding this was getting nowhere, Goltor pushed it away.

Then, in a swift counter, he smashed his great hammer into the Goblin Guardian’s stomach. The Goblin Guardian was sent flying back slightly.

However, its expression didn't change, and the blow wasn't fatal.

Goltor grunted. "...Tough bastard. ...No time to hold back."

He cloaked his great hammer in lightning.

…Unlike the other two, Goltor’s techniques and magic were limited. If he held back now, he’d be killed.

The Goblin Guardian charged as if nothing had happened. …It swung its club in a wide sweep from the right.

Goltor met it with his great hammer. …A violent sound echoed. Electricity coursed through the club and struck the Goblin Guardian directly. A visible current flowed through its entire body—a charge that would electrocute a normal creature. But the Goblin Guardian seemed to feel nothing as it put more force into its club.

Goltor was pushed back slightly.

"...Tch. ...Explode!"

A small flash of light erupted from the tip of his hammer.

…The blast forced them both back. A sudden flash of lightning—a trick Goltor often used to create distance.

Goltor muttered, "...To think it’s this durable. ...Is it really immune to everything but fire? ...In that case…"

Goltor poured magic into his body.

He channeled lightning until it coursed through his entire being.

Goltor roared, "...Thunderclap Incarnation!"

Power surged through his entire body.

…This was a technique Goltor had seen Shinsuke use before. He had pleaded with Shinsuke to teach him.

Shinsuke had asked, "...Just to be clear, why do you want to learn this so badly? Aren’t you strong enough as it is, General?"

To this question, Goltor had replied, "...Strong? ...If I were truly strong, I would have protected the Former Emperor and defeated that giant monster. ...I am weak. That is why I want to become stronger. But my usual training methods are no longer enough. There is more I must learn. ...Please."

He had bowed his head.

…Having heard the man’s confession of weakness and seen him bow, Shinsuke couldn’t refuse.

Shinsuke had said, "...Very well. But whether you can master it is up to you, General."

Goltor had smiled, his resolve hardening.

After session after session of grueling training, he had finally succeeded in mastering it.

The Goblin Guardian sensed the change in Goltor’s aura and, feeling threatened, brought its club down.

…Goltor met it with his great hammer. This time, there was no stalemate; he knocked it back with ease. The Goblin Guardian quickly regained its footing and unleashed a flurry of attacks. …A wild, formless barrage.

But Goltor deflected every single one with his great hammer.

Goltor declared, "...This is the end."

In that instant, Goltor’s figure vanished.

…The Goblin Guardian looked around but couldn’t find him anywhere. Just then, a shadow fell across its face. It looked up to see Goltor, cloaked in lightning, his great hammer raised high.

In that moment, he had leaped with imperceptible speed.

Goltor bellowed, "...DOOOORYAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

He brought the hammer down with all his might.

…Caught by surprise, the Goblin Guardian couldn’t react in time and took a direct hit to the head. The attack wouldn’t normally affect the highly durable creature, but Goltor continued to channel lightning into it. …Before, the electricity had passed through the club, rendering it ineffective. But now, he was striking its body directly—its head. He poured his magic in, ensuring the current reached its insides, not just the exterior.

The Goblin Guardian shrieked. …Its body trembled violently, unable to move properly. Then, Goltor pulled his hammer away from its head and landed on the ground. The Goblin Guardian collapsed.

Goltor approached cautiously. …The Goblin Guardian was still twitching faintly, but the tremors soon subsided, and it stopped moving.

Goltor sighed. "...Phew... I owe him my thanks."

He wiped the sweat from his brow with his left hand.

A knight who saw the three Goblin Guardians fall cried out, "...Whoa, they—they did it! ...Everyone!! We can’t fall behind!!"

At his cry, everyone let out a roar.

With that momentum, they began to cut down the monsters.

And so, one of the great challenges at the border had been overcome.

Nearby, something stirred, completely unnoticed.