Chapter 105: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (3)


    Go Hyeon-woo quickly rushed away.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    The next moment, a massive stone pir came crashing down.


    Fatty embraced the pir he had driven down and aggressively pushed forward.


    <em>Drrrrrrr</em>


    The floor was furiously torn up with his charge.


    A collision would be like getting hit by a moving train.


    However, Go Hyeon-woo did not step out of Fattys path but stood still to face him.


    As the distance between them closed, he wrapped a gust of wind around the tip of his de and struck at the pir.


    <em>Pak,</em>


    There was no significant effect.


    It was only natural that this did not slow Fattys charge at all.


    In such a tense moment, Go Hyeon-woo took arge step to the side and dodged the body attack.


    Hmm


    <em>Sssssk!</em>


    The sharp sound of cutting air reached Go Hyeon-woos ears, signaling danger.


    He quickly realized that these were darts shot by Skinny.


    He immediately used his footwork to dodge some and deflected the unavoidable ones with his magic sword.


    And then continuing his footwork, he moved swiftly forward.


    <em>Bang!</em>


    Fattys pir came crashing down behind him.


    It was a massive, all-out attack, bound to leave some openings.


    Go Hyeon-woo spun around to counterattack but then retrieved his sword and retreated.


    <em>Sssst!</em>


    He backed off because Skinny was covering Fatty with poisoned darts.


    A mockingughter seemed to echo from somewhere.


    Hehehe


    At that moment, Fatty regained his stance and lifted the pir before swinging it down with force.


    Go Hyeon-woo tilted his body back and forth to avoid the stone pir, then wrapped a gust of wind around his de and struck back.


    <em>Pop,</em>


    This movement of his slightly shifted Fattys trajectory, though the deviation was barely noticeable.


    Hmm


    Go Hyeon-woo continued to murmur thoughtfully while fending off or dodging the relentless attacks.


    He asionally swung his sword but only managed to tap the pir yfully.


    <em>Baaang!</em>


    Go Hyeon-woo widened the gap from the descending pir once more.


    However, instead of advancing with a physical attack as before, Fatty stopped and asked in a slow and thick voice.


    Why not. fight properly


    <em>Tatatat!</em>


    Even in the midst of this, Skinnys poisoned darts continued to fly toward him.


    After parrying the iing darts, Go Hyeon-woo responded,


    I cannot approach this battle casually. I am still not used to this new technique, so it seems I need some practice.


    His hesitation tounch a significant counterattack was partly because thebined assault of the two enemies left hardly any openings, but he also wanted to test a new technique he had improved.


    This improved technique incorporated insights and minor revtions that he gained from the mentoring sessions and observing the Dharma statue.


    Wrapping the wind around the tip of his de was an attempt to get a feel for the technique in his own way.


    Fatty asked again,


    Practice; how long will you keep doing it?


    It ends now. I am ready now.


    Fatty silently nodded his head.


    Then with his arms bulging as if they were about to burst, he lifted the pir high in the air and swung it with all his might.


    <em>Whooom!</em>


    The air tore with a booming sound.


    The swirling pir filled the view with a gray haze.


    ..


    Despite this, Go Hyeon-woo remained calm and collected.


    With every step he took, the stone pir narrowly missed him as it swung by.


    Then suddenly, Go Hyeon-woo heightened his momentum.


    A gentle breeze circled around and then coiled itself around the de.


    And as he thrust it forward,


    [Pure Flow]


    The stone pir seemed to halt just inches from the de.


    The next moment, Go Hyeon-woo shifted his sword sideways as if pushing it, and the pir swung to the side in response.


    To the onlookers, it appeared as though Go Hyeon-woo was simply stirring the air with his sword and that caused the huge stone pir to slide aside.


    Despite Fattys terrifying strength, the stones considerable weight could not help but be redirected erratically.


    As the movements grewrger, so too did the gaps in his defense.


    There was a vast opening that even Go Hyeon-woo could exploit with a follow-up move after blocking the iing darts.


    [Rapid Current]


    <em>Ssssh,</em>


    A sh of light grazed Fattys neck.


    A thin red line marked Fattys neck, and his body staggered greatly.


    Before he fell, he gathered hisst strength to stand up and looked directly at Go Hyeon-woo and said,


    You, a remarkable warrior


    And then with his eyes wide open, he copsed to the side with a thud.


    The stone pir that just lost its owner made a heavy sound as it rolled downward.


    Your attacks were also quite impressive. It was a good battle.


    Go Hyeon-woo paid hisst respects to Fatty and then positioned his magic sword beside him.


    <em>ng!</em> A couple of poison darts struck the de, causing his brow to furrow slightly.


    Must it really be so, even in the heat of battle?


    Couldnt there be time to pay respects to a worthy opponent?


    Without dy, Go Hyeon-woo stepped forward towards the barbarians.


    Spears and poison darts flew together, but when they came in contact with Go Hyeon-woos sword, they shattered pointlessly midway.


    <em>Ssssh! Ssssh!</em>


    Like a wolf darting alone into a flock of sheep, Go Hyeon-woo plunged into the midst of the barbarians and started ruthlessly swinging his sword.


    He carved his way through the crowd and soon fixed his gaze on one spot.


    He spotted a swift and slender shadow moving quickly.


    <em>That way.</em>


    Go Hyeon-woo sliced through everything blocking his path and pursued the skinny figure relentlessly.


    Skinny tried to escape with nimble movements, but with Go Hyeon-woo determinedly chasing after him alone, there was no way out.


    It was even more so now that Fatty who had been a sturdy wall had fallen.


    The distance between them closed in an instant, and Go Hyeon-woo caught up right behind Skinny.


    He easily swatted away the poisonous darts that were fired in a hurry.


    Heheheek!


    You should be ashamed of yourself for running away until the end.


    <em>Poof!</em>


    The de pierced through Skinnys chest and emerged out the other side.


    Go Hyeon-woo swung his sword forcefully against the ground to shake off the blood from the de.


    Then he suddenly noticed a small box sparkling next to the fallen Skinny.


    [Feathered Serpent Temple Random Box (D)]


    <em>Kim-hyung would like this.</em>


    After taking the box in his arms, Go Hyeon-woo looked around slowly but the barbarians hesitated and didnt dare to charge at him.


    And when he thought about it, ever since he had in the two mid-bosses in thest dungeon, their momentum had waned as well even there.


    A brief lull followed.


    But it did notst long.


    <em>Sssssss.</em>


    Go Hyeon-woo raised his eyes upward at the strange sound.


    The golden barrier that had enshrouded the temple was melting away.


    Although he did not know what was happening inside, the fact that the well-maintained barrier wasing down almost certainly meant that the priest was having a tough time.


    For Go Hyeon-woo, this was good news; for the barbarians, it was a disaster.


    Protect the priest!


    Ignore that man; the priestes first!


    The barbarians tried to swarm into the temple like a flood, but a breeze-like gentle sword wind swept through them.


    <em>Crack-crack,</em>


    And it mercilessly tore apart everything within its range.


    Go Hyeon-woo stood resolutely in front of the devastation he had created.


    You shall not pass before you defeat me.


    <em>**</em>*


    Its finally over.


    Kr aagh


    The priest leaned against the wall and slowly slumped to the floor.


    A de with its upper half gone was deeply embedded in his chest.


    Now, only the priest, I, and the shriveled corpses remained in the central room.


    When the effects of the ritual were drastically reduced by the depletion of the living sacrifices, even the priest who once boasted formidable resilience started to take damage.


    He seemed to have no strength left to resist, but I stood a little distance away and just watched the priest nkly.


    He asked as if he felt puzzled.


    Why didnt you finish me off?


    Id like to, but something feels off.


    Some bosses have a final struggle pattern right before they die, and this Feathered Serpent Priest was a good example. He appeared defenseless while secretly looking for an opportunity.


    I walked across the central room and picked up a wooden spear dropped by the barbarians.


    I threw it and it flew and stuck deep.


    The priests face contorted.


    You!


    Stop dragging this out and bring out whatever youve got hidden. We have a long way to go.


    Grrrrr


    Shall I throw this again?


    Fine!


    <em>sh!</em>


    The priests body brightly lit up and he abruptly stood up.


    It seemed as if he wasnt rising on his own but rather someone was pulling him up.


    His sturdy frame deted like a balloon losing air and his once firm skin wrinkled and sagged.


    In front of the emaciated priest, whose bones were now visible, a highlypressed golden ball appeared.


    It looked simr to the energy balls he had been firing off until moments ago, but the power was iparably greater.


    After pouring everything into casting his final spell, the priests body copsed back to the floor.


    He clung to a shred of life. He wanted to see me fall before he did.


    As you wished I have done it. Now, try and


    Escape if you can?


    <em>Whirrrrrr</em>


    The golden ball targeted me and flew towards me.


    Its speed was not particrly fast.


    However, when I casually stepped aside, the ball halted mid-air, then turned and flew at me again.


    <em>Whirrrrrr</em>


    I dodged again, and it changed direction once more to pursue me.


    It was like a magic missile with homing ability.


    <em>Whirrrrrr whirrrrrrr, whirrrrrrr</em>


    Moreover, each time it changed direction, it picked up a bit more speed.


    I had a decisive speed advantage thanks to my Thiefs Step and Overheat, but the energy ball which I initially evaded with ease gradually began to catch up with me.


    Hehehe


    As I frantically ran around the room, the priest let out a low chuckle.


    It must have been amusing for him to see me struggling as if my life depended on it.


    Moreover, hed find even more amusement knowing that whatever I did, my future was to be hit by the energy ball.


    Meanwhile, I quickened my pace and thought to myself,


    <em>Ive gained quite a bit of speed.</em>


    After changing directions numerous times, the golden ball almost looked like a beam of golden light.


    <em>Whizzzzzz,</em>


    Now, even at my top speed, it was bing difficult to evade.


    Feeling it was enough, I stopped running away.


    And I stood with my back against the wall.


    Seeing this, the priests wrinkled face broke into a grin filled with delight. He was thinking that I had finally given up.


    Its over no


    <em>Whirrrr</em>


    Just as the golden ball was about to strike me.


    I lightly extended my hand forward.


    [Distortion activated.]


    [Cooldown Time: 23:59:59]


    The trajectory of the ball that was about to touch my fingertips twisted dramatically and, unable to keep up with its momentum, crashed into the wall.


    The priests eyes bulged as if they were about to burst.