Swordmaster Healer Chapter 28

Swordmaster Healer - Episode 28

TL: Boko

Editor: Ren

Chapter 9 - The First Test (4)

Sung Joon stemmed the bleeding and his wounds quickly began to heal. Although he had used a considerable amount of mana to heal his wounds that quickly, he had constantly been absorbing the mana of his fallen enemies, so he still felt relatively relaxed.

"[email protected]%%^!" The knight spoke in an unintelligible language. The knight's voice told Sung Joon everything he needed to know; he was obviously flustered.

He probably didn't expect Sung Joon to have such a high level of swordsmanship while also being capable of using 'Heal'.

Sung Joon smirked. "I'm mainly a Healer, you see," he said.

They couldn't understand one another, but Sung Joon had definitely relayed his message. Mockery. The knight bit his lip so hard that blood began to drip.

"[email protected]%!$!" The knight cried out sharply.

But with his broken leg, the knight couldn't close the distance as quickly as before.

"The opponent has lost their mobility," the observing Rishubalt explained.

Sung Joon was only capable of using a mere fraction of Roukel's swordsmanship, but he still had two healthy legs and his thigh wound was quickly healing.

He had the advantage overall.

'The longer the fight goes on, the more of an advantage it is for me,' he surmised.

He could use his 'Heal' to treat his injuries but his opponent didn't have that option. Sung Joon focused on that point, using it to his advantage; conversely, that same point was a disadvantage for his opponent.

'Attacking my opponent's weakness isn't cowardly.'

Sung Joon smirked and instantly closed the distance. His aura had disappeared briefly; it reappeared, enveloping Sung Joon's sword.

The two repeatedly crossed blades, giving and receiving hits. Their auras crashed against each other's, spreading their mana around.

"Argh!"

"Ugh!"

They both looked to their pierced waists. Sung Joon's wound was deeper, but…

"Heal!"

He had his Heal. Sung Joon retreated quickly and used his 'Heal'.

The knight, who had once attacked continuously without showing any weakness, could no longer easily pursue Sung Joon due to his broken leg.

"[email protected]%$%!$!"

It sounded like a curse.

The situation wasn't yet completely in Sung Joon's favor.

"You can only use your aura for five more seconds," Rishubalt warned.

Sung Joon's aura had a limited duration due to his low synchronization rate. He saved his aura whenever there was a lull in the battle but even so, he only had five seconds remaining. Sung Joon grit his teeth.

"It seems like I've overcome my limit a bit…"

"That's correct. Your synchronization rate is now at 6%, since you overcame your limit," Rishubalt reported.

Sung Joon widened the distance between him and the knight. The knight assumed a defensive posture, readying himself for an incoming attack.

The battle raged on, yet the knight's aura remained clear and strong.

Sung Joon didn't attack. The knight was likely fatigued from the continuous maintenance his aura; the sweat dripped down from his face.

"His aura is weakening," Rishubalt said.

Just like he said, the knight's aura became faint. He knew that Sung Joon would attack as soon as he released his aura, so he poured all of his remaining energy into the maintenance of his aura.

The knight wanted to strike first, but he couldn't act rashly with a broken leg, else his stance would crumble and he'd suffer an attack.

"Rest in peace," taunted Sung Joon.

Finally, the knight's aura completely disappeared. Sung Joon announced the end of their long battle, instantly closing the distance, and aiming for the knight's neck with his aurclad sword.

The knight already knew it was fruitless, but resisted until the end, defensively raising his sword.  However, Sung Joon's aurclad blade cut through both the iron sword and the knight's neck.

Kwang!

The headless body spurted blood like a fountain and collapsed.

"He's dead," said Rishubalt.

"I know that," Sung Joon replied tiredly.

He couldn't still be alive. After all, he cut off his head.

"Hoo!" Sung Joon calmed his ragged breathing.

As he had expected, soloing a B-rank dungeon was still too much for him. He would have gone with a party if it hadn't been a special Awakening Dungeon.

"Absorb."

-Verifying assault, measurement complete. B-rank dungeon, clear.

-Verifying the existence of a new item.

His pocketed measuring tool responded right after he absorbed the knight's mana.

"The ring on his right hand seems to be the item," Rishubalt observed.

Rishubalt pinpointed the location of the item without needing to scan the entire body. Sung Joon plucked the ring off the knight's finger and brought it to his measuring tool.

B-rank.

Unknown.

Sung Joon tilted his head.

This was the first time that the measuring tool had failed to appraise an item.

"My lord…"

Rishubalt, who had been watching from the side, carefully said, " …I think I'll be able to appraise it."

Rishubalt approached the ring and released his mana. The ring absorbed the blue mana and sparkled immediately.

"Please check it again," Rishubalt said.

Sung Joon brought the ring to his measuring tool once more.

B-rank.

Verifying Aura Persistence effect.

"Aura Persistence effect…?" Sung Joon examined the ring closely. Instead of a gem, the number 500 was engraved on the ring.

Rishubalt said, "Based on my appraisal results, it will allow your aura to persist for about thirty more seconds."

"It's a pretty good effect," marveled Sung Joon.

To able to use aura for thirty more seconds; that same aura which could cut through steel like it was paper? It was certainly a tremendous effect. If he had been able to use his aura longer in the previous battle, he could've reduced his time in the dungeon by an hour.

"You are finished with the Awakening Dungeon. Returning."

Rishubalt raised his hand and Sung Joon's surroundings melted away, as if it were a mirage. A tremendous amount of mana flowed into both Sung Joon and Rishubalt as well. When Sung Joon finally got a hold of himself, he was back in the empty C-rank dungeon Boss Room.

"Your synchronization rate went up to 8%," Rishubalt said.

Sung Joon said, "So my hard work did bear fruit. What changed?"

"The amount of time that you can maintain aura has increased to one minute. You can use aura for about one minute and thirty seconds if we include the item that you just received."

He felt relaxed since he didn't need to test out his aura. Rishubalt had already thoroughly explained it all.

Sung Joon had spent over fifteen hours in the dungeon, so he felt extremely mentally fatigued.

He had only transcended his limits for a short while, but he felt a tiny pain all over his body.

"Heal."

The pain lessened when Sung Joon began his treatment.

He raised his head, looking at Rishubalt. "Do you perhaps have to attack the Awakening Dungeon? Is there anything like a penalty?"

"I don't know all the details yet. A little while ago, the mana from the Awakening Dungeon unlocked some of my memories. Based on those memories…"

Rishubalt stopped momentarily while Sung Joon focused on Rishubalt.

"…There are penalties," Rishubalt continued.

"What penalties?" asked Sung Joon.

"I don't remember," Rishubalt replied.

Sung Joon sighed. Rishubalt really was useless. Sung Joon raised the ring, examining it.

"A knight brigade, huh… I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before…"

Its name was definitely 'The Knight Brigade's Ring'. He had heard that name somewhere before from his memories.

"The Knight Brigade guards the Thirteen Knights. It's comprised of 500 of the best knights and 4,500 of the most elite soldiers," Rishubalt spoke excitedly. It was likely due to Sung Joon unlocking more of his memories in the Awakening Dungeon.

Sung Joon nodded his head and pointed to the number '500' engraved on the ring.

"What does this mean? Do you know by any chance?"

Rishubalt looked at the ring, and with a calm expression, said…

//

Chapter end