Chapter 79 - Greatsword Tinia 2 (1/2)
She was an excellent Soul Enchanter, a buffer class that could link several different individuals using magic chains, so that they would get recognized as a single entity by the system.
When the effects were used on monsters, several adjacent monsters could be damaged at the same time with the use of a single skill. Moreover, item and buff effects could be shared with allies.
Therefore, Soul Enchanters were considered useful and Woohyuk used to think highly of Silvia in the past as well.
‘She was an expressionless girl.’
Despite her cute face, she didn’t have many friends due to her reclusive attitude. She was most probably greatly impacted by Tinia’s death.
As he rode on his horse towards the army, Woohyuk recalled the words of the female bartender.
‘Windstorm Tinia…’
A female warrior who hacks her enemies apart by rapidly swinging her greatsword and creating a whirlwind with it. He had to find out what kind of dangers she was exposed to in the past.
Before long, he arrived at the citadel city of the Arpen region. Woohyuk headed to the base camp of the Blue Hawk Mercenaries.
“State your business.”
A demanding young but muscular man with threatening eyes and a ferocious expression stood in Woohyuk’s way.
However, Woohyuk didn’t recoil and answered.
“I wish to meet Tinia.”
“The leader? Do you have a request for us?”
“No, I wish to join the Blue Hawk Mercenaries.”
Since their destination was the same, he could just let Tinia take him under her wing to avoid any of the annoying affairs.
“What? Pfthaha. A twig like you wants to become a mercenary?”
“My skills are better than yours so don’t worry about that.”
“...I don’t understand how you can be so confident. Alright, if you truly think so, I’ll give you a chance.”
As he smiled, he grabbed the axe on his back and brandished it.
‘Get my approval to meet Tinia’, or so he meant.
Woohyuk silently stared back at him.
‘Seems like convincing him with words will be difficult.’
He had already expected a hostile response and was prepared for armed conflict.
Taking the lack of time into account, he couldn’t back off now.
Once Woohyuk made his decision, he drew Grandia from its scabbard. He instantly dashed up to his opponent and placed the blade against the latter's neck, at a speed the axe-wielder couldn’t follow.
The young man’s face instantly hardened.
“Ho-how… You…”
“I don’t have time to explain.”
Woohyuk’s gaze exuded strong intent. A strong oppressive intent that held his opponent’s heart in his grasp that could tighten at any second.
As the young man nervously swallowed his saliva, a feminine voice resounded from behind him.
“What are you doing in my territory?”
‘No wonder all the men admire her.’
Despite her gorgeous appearance, she exuded the charisma of a leader. Woohyuk pushed the man facing him away and approached Tinia.
“I request for an admission test.”
“...Is that it? How boring.”
Tinia’s expression turned bored and her hand reached for the greatsword on her back. The weapon had a crude appearance, reminiscent of that of a Zhanmadao.
Around the long blade, a vortex made up of a turquoise aura was swirling around it.
“Well then, should I test out your skills?”
With a single swing of her delicate arm, the turquoise aura sprang forward like a storm and swept towards Woohyuk. It was a devastating blow that felt overpowering.
Clang!
However, Woohyuk lightly swung Grandia and blocked the turquoise aura.
Seeing his easy-going obtrusion, Tinia made a curious face.
“Interesting. You’re a lot stronger than you look.”
“Do I pass the test?”
“It’s not over yet. Truthfully speaking, you’re strong enough to join us, but I want to see your true power for myself.”
A grin drew on Tinia’s face as she raised her greatsword again.
A warrior’s pure fighting spirit.
Realizing she was messing around, Woohyuk silently waited for Tinia’s next move.
Clang!
She leaped in the air and violently swung her greatsword diagonally and the turquoise aura swirling around launched forward.
It didn’t look any different from the previous attack, but Woohyuk sidestepped instead of blocking it head on.
Bang!
A deafening crash resonated when the colorful aura found its way to the ground, and created a deep crater.
Tinia aimed her sword at Woohyuk’s head, but…
Clang!
Sparks flew and the sound of metal colliding echoed.
“Hmm, I guess you won’t go down with this much.”
Tinia steadily landed on the ground mumbling to herself. She turned her head towards Woohyuk and stared at him.
Her gaze was fierce as flames danced in her eyes.
Her body and mind trembled in excitement from meeting an unexpected opponent who could potentially match her strength.
“Use your full power. Otherwise, my burning passion will die out.”
“That’s a great proposal. Let us settle this fight and designate a winner.”
Tinia bent down and dug straight towards Woohyuk’s insides.
At a speed invisible to the naked eye.
However, the attack was futile as her blade was once again interrupted.
Clang!
Woohyuk slightly had the upper hand in this fight.
Tinia also knew that fact, but her face didn’t crumple in frustration. On the contrary...
‘Now!’
She widely smirked and activated the rune engraved on her greatsword. A turquoise vortex ran up her blade and soared into the air!
It was Tinia’s signature move - Dragon Ascent Slash.
“Surrender if you don’t want to get hurt. Even you won’t walk away unscathed after taking this head on.”
“I refuse.”
“...So cool. You’re exactly my type.”
With a great leap, Tinia fell back and swung her greatsword.
Guoooooooo!
An unstoppable vortex that gradually spun faster flew towards Woohyuk with a deafening roar. It was an attack that was hard to face directly, but Woohyuk didn’t falter and brandished Grandia again.
‘I’ll need to use my demonic energy a bit.’
He released the energy within him and wielded it like an aura and extinguished the vortex with a single swing of the sword.
Booooom!
Tinia’s eyes grew wide as the energy surrounding Grandia erased the turquoise aura headed towards Woohyuk.
‘He blocked my Dragon Ascent Slash that easily?’
It was an attack that she prided in as a one-hit kill move. She obviously didn’t think he would die from it due to his strength, but she did expect grave injuries.
While Tinia stood dumbfounded, Woohyuk instantly ran up to her and grabbed her delicate wrist that held onto the greatsword.
“Ah…”
“Why don’t you admit your loss already?”
Woohyuk had an emotionless expression, as he didn’t find the same excitement in this fight as the warrior Tinia’s. He had only battled her in this 1 on 1 fight to prove his strength to her.
“Alright, I lost.”
The greatsword dropped onto the ground and a heavy, metallic sound echoed around.
She had unexpectedly admitted it very easily. Woohyuk nodded.
“Then let us make a contract.”
“...Just why did you do this? Someone of your caliber shouldn’t need to join our mercenary group.”