SWNOVELXO Chapter 201 - The Great Battle of the Dragons (10)
Chapter 201: The Great Battle of the Dragons (10)
Facing the ferocious attack of the Red Lion, Theresia’s spear calmly thrust forward.
Swoosh—
The spearhead moved forward with a faint sound that sliced through the wind.
At that moment, Theresia unleashed a new technique from the Winchester family’s secret martial arts, one she had never shown before.
**Winchester Family Secret Martial Arts.**
**Shooting the Moon.**
The spear that pierced through the moon approached the Red Lion’s fierce assault without hesitation.
Finally, the two techniques clashed in midair, erupting into dozens of sparks and a tremendous noise.
Crash—
A single yellow trajectory stood against several red lines, appearing precariously fragile.
And as if it were no illusion, Theresia’s spear wavered as though it might break at any moment.
In the end, Theresia utilized **Tan Yeong** to withdraw her stance.
Swoosh—
Theresia swiftly retreated.
However, her opponent was not one to let her go so easily.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He quickly closed the distance, like a lion sprinting in pursuit. Theresia frowned slightly as she watched him approach.
Clang—
The saber and spear collided, and a crimson flash momentarily illuminated the scene.
Seeing the scratches on her spear, the crease on Theresia’s forehead deepened.
Andres, noticing her expression, taunted her as he launched another attack.
“Amateurish. Is that a technique you haven’t trained in for long?”
It wasn’t so much a question as it was harsh criticism.
“What gave you the confidence to use such a half-baked technique against me?”
“…….”
Theresia did not waver under Andres’s harsh words.
She knew it too.
That the new technique she had displayed was far from polished.
Nevertheless, Theresia used the imperfect technique as a sort of test and verification process.
As a result, Theresia was able to confirm one thing clearly.
‘As expected… it’s not working.’
She understood that things couldn’t continue as they were.
The approach she had attempted in the past was wrong, and the advice she received from him had been correct.
The moment she realized that, the voice of that person echoed in her ears.
[Clicking tongue.]
Yuri, advancing day by day.
Other juniors catching up from below.
And herself, feeling stuck and stagnant.
To break out of that rut, Theresia attempted to learn a new technique.
The third secret technique of the Winchester family, **Shooting the Moon**, of which she had only known the theory until now.
Until now, she had not even attempted it, having been busy honing **Tan Yeong** and **Chwi Seong**, but she decided to use it as her breakthrough.
While Theresia was training in **Shooting the Moon**, Johan unexpectedly appeared and clicked his tongue.
[Are you the brat May treasures so dearly?]
Johan had spoken disrespectfully of Theresia’s idol and hero.
If anyone else had done so, Theresia would have glared at them fiercely.
But she knew vaguely that her aunt May and Johan Redner had a connection.
So she quietly nodded.
Seeing this, Johan clicked his tongue once more.
[Tsk, don’t waste your time. If you try to learn an additional technique with your damned constitution, you’ll find your best days behind you before you even manage to use it properly.]
At the mention of her congenital curse, Theresia showed a hint of frustration.
Johan smirked.
[Why are you doing something so foolish? What’s got you in such a rush that you’re willing to throw away all the effort you’ve put in so far? Do you think you’ll only become stronger by learning new techniques?]
Johan’s piercing gaze bore into Theresia.
[If strength were determined by the number of techniques mastered… then where do you think a guy like me, who only knows two, would be? Constantly getting beaten up everywhere?]
Of course, there was a third technique, **Magic Flow**, but since it was still incomplete, saying he had only two was not much of a stretch.
The fact that Johan Redner had mastered only two techniques surprised Theresia, who widened her eyes.
Theresia and Johan locked eyes.
[…What matters is not how many techniques you know.]
The young girl before him, not yet twenty, had pushed herself relentlessly in the face of endless frustration, and it showed in her worn-down expression.
[What matters is how you utilize what you’ve learned. Even now, having devoted years to **Tan Yeong** and **Chwi Seong**, you suddenly want to build a new foundation… Tell me, who in their right mind would be taken down by such flimsy, immature moves?]
Reflecting on her worn-out reflection in his crimson eyes, Johan offered sincere advice.
[Don’t waste your energy in the wrong places. Instead, dig deeper into **Tan Yeong** and **Chwi Seong**. And if those still don’t feel sufficient, instead of constructing a new foundation alongside the one you’ve already built…]
And that day, Johan’s advice…
[Add a few new-colored bricks to the towers of **Tan Yeong** and **Chwi Seong** that you’ve already built. Let them become sturdier and taller.]
…became a turning point in Theresia’s life.
‘Indeed, just as he said, I shouldn’t be trying to learn something new with my current talents.’
It had already taken her over ten years to master even **Tan Yeong** and **Chwi Seong**.
If she were to try learning something new now, how long would it take before she could use it in actual combat?
She hadn’t realized this simple fact until she heard it from Johan.
‘I was too hasty.’
Her impatience probably began around the “Rescue the Princess Quest.”
More precisely, it started when she saw Yuri’s sword move similarly to **Chwi Seong** as he targeted the Demon King’s weakness… That’s when impatience had taken root in Theresia’s heart.
But thanks to Johan, Theresia, who had become impatient because of Yuri, was able to break free from that rush.
Since that day, she had been striving to follow the clear path Johan had laid out for her.
“If you have nothing more to show… then let’s end this here!”
**Chayce Family Secret Martial Arts.**
**Blood-Stained Red Lion.**
Theresia intended to fully display her efforts to the redhead who had been pestering her to show more.
**Winchester Family Secret Martial Arts.**
**Chwi Seong.**
It started with a single white trajectory.
One that Theresia had drawn thousands upon thousands of times, more skillful and perfect than anything else.
And far thicker and sturdier than the trajectory of **Shooting the Moon** that she had used earlier, it was the trajectory of **Chwi Seong**.
A white trajectory that brushed aside all approaching obstacles moved unhesitatingly toward the Red Lion with its gaping maw.
The fierce Red Lion seemed ready to tear Theresia apart and bathe its maw in her blood.
Without hesitation, **Chwi Seong** dove into the Red Lion’s gaping mouth.
Dodging the sharp teeth snapping from all sides, the white trajectory spun and rolled continuously.
Clang—
Although the original function of **Chwi Seong** was to nullify all attacks and move forward, its penetrative power was insufficient.
So when it couldn’t move forward and remained trapped inside the lion’s mouth…
Screech—
Yellow traces originating from Theresia’s fingertips crawled along the shaft of her spear, reaching the spearhead.
And finally, they began to entwine with the trajectory of **Chwi Seong** like a rope.
Grind—
The trajectory chasing the stars now combined with the sharpness to pierce the moon, causing the trapped spearhead to slowly advance forward from within the lion’s maw.
The sharpness and penetration of the complete **Shooting the Moon** were lacking, but Theresia’s goal was never to perfect **Shooting the Moon**.
She merely aimed to supplement the shortcomings of **Chwi Seong**.
Just like Johan had advised: rather than building a new tower, add new-colored bricks to the existing ones.
And so, when the yellow bricks were finally placed upon the white tower…
Theresia named it:
**Winchester Family Secret Martial Arts.**
Theresia’s style—
**Chwi Seong Shooting the Moon.**
Screech—
The intertwining white and yellow trajectories aimed to pierce through the Red Lion’s maw.
Normally, that might have been enough to break through, but Andres was not an easy opponent.
“Graaah!”
Andres roared loudly.
Veins bulged on his neck.
The veins on his temples throbbed visibly.
Even that alone was enough to know he was exerting his full strength.
In response to their master’s will, the Red Lion’s teeth clamped down even harder from all sides.
As if determined to bite through whatever struggled within its mouth.
Perhaps it was due to this fierce will.
Crunch—
An ominous sound emanated from Theresia’s right arm that was gripping the spear.
‘……?!’
Upon hearing it, Theresia immediately realized that her arm bone had cracked.
However, she didn’t show it.
She didn’t want to appear weak over something so trivial.
She merely wanted to prove herself.
Like that boy in the past, who, despite his broken right arm, managed to defeat the Demon King.
She too wanted to defeat the opponent before her.
“Hah!”
Theresia let out a fierce battle cry.
With it, her spear, previously hindered by intense resistance, advanced forward.
Crunch—
At last, the spear pierced through the Red Lion’s
maw and even its back of the head.
Screech—
And then, as if the fierce battle had never taken place, both Theresia and Andres froze in their tracks.
The suffocating silence that ensued was palpable.
“…….”
Theresia stood with her spear thrust forward.
“…….”
Andres, similarly, stood with his saber extended.
Though they both aimed their weapons at each other without speaking, there was a distinct difference between them.
Andres’s saber hadn’t reached Theresia, but Theresia’s spear had reached Andres.
More precisely, Theresia’s spear had pierced Andres’s chest.
Holding that stance, Theresia cast a cold glance at Andres.
“If it goes just one centimeter deeper… it will pierce your heart, Senior.”
It was a chilling warning.
And no one knew better than Andres that it was not an empty threat.
The spearhead was already inside his body.
The sharp spearhead had stopped just before his heart, not by mere chance.
As Andres stared calmly, Theresia spoke with composure.
“I’m returning the mercy you showed me in last year’s match.”
“…….”
“So, what will you do? Will you continue?”
With those words, Theresia’s spear dug a little deeper.
Screech—
It pushed in by about 0.5 centimeters and stopped.
Despite the spear being just half a centimeter away from piercing his heart, Andres remained unfazed as he calmly sheathed his saber.
His composure was extraordinary, considering he was on the brink of having his heart pierced.
As he sheathed his weapon, Andres gazed intently at Theresia and spoke.
“Well done, Theresia Winchester.”
“…….”
“I acknowledge my defeat.”
Even after that declaration, Theresia did not withdraw her spear.
She only pulled back her spear when the Black Sword Corps officially confirmed Andres’s defeat.
Her thorough caution, never letting her guard down until the very end.
Andres, seeing the blood seeping from his chest and staining his torso, muttered softly.
“…The blood-stained Red Lion.”
Just like the name of the technique he used last, the Red Lion was soaked in blood.
Though it was his own blood and not his opponent’s, Andres seemed unusually pleased.
He spoke to Theresia.
“That makes it one-to-one.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Next year… in my final Battle of the Martial Dragon, let’s settle the score.”
Facing Andres’s burning gaze, Theresia replied with a calm expression.
“If the match schedule allows it… I won’t avoid the fight.”
Leaving those words behind, Theresia turned and exited the arena.
Andres continued to watch her retreating figure.
A faint smile lingered on his lips.