Chapter 85
“So this is what a duel between true masters looks like?”
Before Kim Jina could say, [I can’t even tell what’s happening!]—
Whoosh!
An arrow shot out of the brush like lightning, aimed straight between Sunny’s brows.
It was so fast that even a moment’s lapse in focus could’ve been fatal.
But—
“Cowardly tactics.”
Clang!
Sunny deflected it with ease.
“Try all you want. You won’t land so much as a scratch on me with cheap ambushes like that.”
It wasn’t bravado.
It was the calm tone of someone who truly believed what he said.
“Do you know why?”
Whirl!
His spear spun through the air before lowering to his side.
“Because every moment of my life was an assassination attempt.”
Once, he had been a monster who made all of humanity his enemy.
“Countless blades and traps flying at me from all directions—when I couldn’t even see what lay ahead…”
“…”
“I found them. I deflected them. I survived them all. Compared to that, this is nothing more than routine.”
Thud!
Sunny launched himself toward the thicket.
“Hm.”
Eldrin nodded slowly.
“I suppose that makes sense.”
Then she watched his charge with serene focus.
“Our forest kind have had our share of hardship as well… I imagine you have, too, Sun Spear.”
“Then let’s find out—who’s endured more, who’s worked harder.”
“I don’t mind that at all.”
Swoosh! Thunk! Crack!
Green-tinted arrows shot out from Eldrin’s bow in all directions.
“I’ve laced them with a little ritual of my own. Venom-tipped arrows.”
Hissss…
A pale gas leaked from the arrow shafts where they struck the trees.
It reminded me of a CS gas grenade.
For a second, I worried about the air quality—then my brows rose.
‘Wait… the trees aren’t affected?’
Ah.
Her ritual must’ve included a clause like, [This poison only affects Sun Spear.]
‘As expected of Eldrin.’
Even without being told, she always knew what she was doing.
“Come now, Sun Spear. Try to reach me without taking a single scratch, if you can…”
“How adorable. If poison were enough to stop me, I wouldn’t have challenged you in the first place.”
Sunny stopped just short of the undergrowth and swung his spear.
Desert Sandstorm.
[Raging Desert] (Lv.6)
Whoooosh!
A whirlwind formed, enveloping the brush and sweeping the poison gas away.
“That’s where you went wrong.”
Whoosh!
An arrow slipped through the narrow gap under his raised arm.
Had he still been flesh and blood, it would’ve been a fatal hit.
“Huh?”
Without even finishing his spin, Sunny twisted mid-motion, narrowly dodging the shot.
A hint of strain flickered across his composure.
KRAAANG!
The arrow struck the ground behind him and exploded.
“I’ll admit, that ambush was decent.”
Sunny muttered, and though I couldn’t see his expression—
He was clearly enjoying himself.
“This is fun. Very fun. Looks like it won’t be easy to come out of this unscathed. Good. I prefer it that way.”
He had never faced such a worthy opponent in the desert.
Of course, in his past life, there must have been rivals stronger than him.
But he had slain them all.
Pierced their hearts, crushed their resistance, and ruled over the desert empire.
After that, only emptiness remained.
Maybe that was why—
A warrior born for battle was instinctively seeking a stronger foe.
Spirit Amplification.
[Soulflare] (Lv.6)
Vwooom!
Sunny’s soul ignited.
For a brief time, his physical ability multiplied severalfold.
“…”
The sheer intensity made me swallow hard.
Even Kim Jina stopped crunching her popcorn.
“Found you.”
His gaze locked precisely onto Eldrin’s location.
“Approaching.”
Boom!
He kicked off the ground, soaring into the air.
“Striking.”
Wham!
The thrust came faster than sight—
A single fluid motion from start to finish, flowing like a dance.
His momentary power surge unleashed speed and force beyond comprehension.
“Wha—?”
Eldrin’s eyes widened.
The tip of the spear grazed her shoulder—
Crack!
Her bone split with a sharp sound.
“…!”
My fists clenched instinctively.
If that had been me instead of her, that strike would’ve pierced my heart clean through.
“Even with Clairvoyance, I could barely predict your path… That was dangerous.”
Thud!
Eldrin leapt sideways to another branch.
“How long do you plan on running? You’ll make our master wait all day.”
“Hardly. Look up, fool. Then tell me that again.”
“What?”
Sunny tilted his head skyward.
Above him—
A storm of arrows shimmered in silver light.
Ultimate Technique.
[Moonlight Fall] (Lv.6)
What the—?!
I was speechless.
When had she fired that?
Did she foresee his charge and preemptively shoot into the sky?
“Good! That’s more like it!”
Sunny didn’t dodge.
Instead, he raised his spear and met it head-on.
“Did you know—”
“What?”
“The moonlight can never outshine the sun. Sorry, Eldrin, but you lose by nature.”
Whoosh!
His spear erupted with blinding brilliance.
So fast, it was dazzling.
Ultimate Technique.
[Solar Strike] (Lv.6)
Flash! Flash! Flash!
The spear’s movements burst like camera flashes, striking every falling beam of moonlight.
Each arrow shattered midair, and the remaining momentum reached Eldrin herself.
“We’ll see about that!”
Eldrin countered, hands in constant motion as she flew through the air.
She infused her arrows with pure qi before firing.
KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!
Trees splintered.
Boulders shattered.
The ground cracked open as dust filled the clearing.
It looked like they’d flipped the entire mountain upside down.
“…”
Through their battle, I saw it—
Their true forms overlaid on their skeletal bodies.
Flesh. Muscle. Veins.
They were breathing—heavily, raggedly—
Panting from the sheer ferocity of their clash.
“…Insane.”
Kim Jina’s jaw dropped.
Yeah, I agreed.
It was like watching a live-action fantasy epic.
We could’ve filmed it as-is and won Best Picture at Cannes.
That’s how breathtaking it was.
‘The advantage…’
As referee, I quietly assessed the fight.
‘Is slightly in Sunny’s favor.’
Indeed.
Eldrin specialized in long-range support and utility through her rituals.
Sunny, on the other hand, was pure combat incarnate.
A battle maniac who had lived and died for the fight.
‘Besides—’
Eldrin’s shoulder was injured.
For an archer, the shoulder was life itself.
The momentum clearly favored Sunny now.
He knew it. Eldrin knew it.
But—
“…”
Sunny lowered his spear.
“…”
Eldrin, undaunted, drew another arrow.
The rule I’d set: fight until one is completely destroyed.
They both understood—
Until it’s truly over, it isn’t over.
“Come, Eldrin.”
Sunny charged forward.
“Anytime.”
Eldrin leapt back and loosed her arrow.
Their second fierce exchange began.
—
Weekend.
Two men were hiking up a mountain trail.
Judging by their tidy outdoor wear, they were journalists.
“Hey, Han. Why are we on this little local hill instead of hitting Bukhansan today?”
“Don’t underestimate local hills, Kim.”
“I’m not underestimating anything… You’re just being lazy, aren’t you? What, did your wife chew you out again last night? Haha.”
“Ha! Kim, you’ve got it all wrong.”
Reporter Han turned, glaring at him.
“A mountain’s difficulty isn’t about height.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Bukhansan’s trails are well-maintained. But this place—no proper paths. Untamed wilderness, one of the last in Korea! We may not be Columbus discovering new worlds, but we can still feel the thrill of exploration.”
“…The elevation’s still low, though.”
“Hey!”
Han’s eyes widened.
“Have you no journalistic spirit?”
“What does that have to do with journalism?”
Kim shot back, baffled.
“Incidents always happen in quiet, hidden places like this.”
“…”
He wasn’t wrong, but—
It was the weekend.
Even reporters needed a break sometimes.
“How’d you even find this place…”
Kim muttered, chopping through branches with his small machete.
Paths untouched by people always needed clearing.
“Come on, Kim. Let’s just enjoy the fresh air, yeah? No complaints.”
Whistling, Han climbed cheerfully.
Then—
Rumble!
“What the—?!”
The ground shook violently.
“E-earthquake?!”
Both men dropped to their knees, bracing themselves.
Then Han’s eyes gleamed.
“This isn’t an earthquake!”
“Then what—?”
“It’s a scoop! Don’t you smell it? That sweet, once-in-a-lifetime scoop smell?”
“Smell? What smell?!”
All he could smell was dust and fear.
“Wait here!”
Click-clack!
Han pulled out something from his bag—a compact high-performance camera—and assembled it.
“…You brought that hiking?”
“A reporter’s always prepared!”
“Unbelievable… but hold on.”
Kim stared toward the source of the tremors.
Flash! BOOM!
Bright light still flickered in the distance.
“You’re not actually going there, are you? Shouldn’t we report this—”
“Report it?!”
Han barked.
“You want to hand over the scoop of the decade?!”
“…You’re insane.”
“Follow me if you want, or don’t. I’m going to find out what that is—and film it.”
“…”
If there were ever a true journalist in this era—
It was Han.
“W-wait! I’m coming with you!”
In the end, Kim followed.
They had already come too far into the woods.
And whatever awaited them—
Two were better than one.
(T/N: I really love the rivalry between Sunny and Eldrin. I love their characters. They are not just summons, they have their own personality. But I still go with Eldrin anytime lol)