Chapter 47: Chapter 47

As the storm subsided, Muse’s expression soured.

She likely couldn’t see me.

Even someone like Muse couldn’t maintain full visibility in a sandstorm. While she might have been able to resist the wind, there’s no way she could block out the sand. She must have fired off her wind blasts with only brief glimpses of the field.

Right before the storm cleared, I launched out from the shadows, swinging my dagger in a wide arc. Dark spikes shot up from the sand, and a thick shadow covered the blade’s edge.

The strike aimed at her neck was blocked at the last second, but it wasn’t entirely unproductive—blood dripped to the ground.

“Tough. I knew you were coming, though.”

“Oh, did you now?”

Not a bad outcome for the opportunity I’d seized, but it felt a little unsatisfying. Still, there was no need to rush. Since when was analyzing opponents solely my specialty? It’s a basic skill for any professional.

Traveler had recently reminded me: no one here still thought of me as just an amateur. After beating Reaper, every frame of my footage must have been analyzed.

It was clear from how she instinctively protected her neck the moment I appeared. But knowing doesn’t always mean you can stop it.

We’re now starting on even ground. I still had an advantage in posture and distance. I left shallow cuts on her arm and collarbone, pressing my attack.

I knew Muse’s habits just as well as she knew mine, so I quickly broke through her defense and plunged my blade into her side.

‘If only I could get rid of that fan first.’

Muse’s wind control originates from the fan in her left hand. If I didn’t deal with it now, she’d keep pestering me with long-range attacks. I needed to disarm her before the cooldown on her sword dance expired.

I could afford to risk… an arm, maybe? I’d be willing to trade blows, even if it meant bleeding out a bit.

Feigning an attack to the lower body, I shifted my grip and aimed at her chest. Her body twisted quickly, so I kicked her knee, breaking her stance, then moved in close and stabbed her arm. Meanwhile, her scimitar was caught in a deadlock with my other arm, locking both of us in a clinch.

I had the edge in speed and strength, but the slickness of her arm was an issue. Our skin was slick with blood and sweat, making it hard to keep a grip.

“Must be embarrassing to lose on your home turf, huh?”

“Brimming with confidence, aren’t we? I almost feel bad; I might end up crushing the spirit of a rare junior.”

“Oh, so you’re acknowledging me as a junior?”

“Of course. Surviving as a woman in this field isn’t…”

An opening.

It would’ve been nice if she’d stayed off guard. But the blade I aimed at her wrist was blocked. The metal edge of her fan clashed against my dagger, trembling.

“You’re lacking manners today.”

“Guess I’m just a poor amateur.”

Muse wasn’t as skilled in melee as Reaper. Maybe it was time to take this to the mud.

People feel the most shaken when their strengths are challenged. Muse’s strong point was her grappling ability, and it just so happened that this was one area where I wasn’t lacking.

In kendo, there’s a move called ashibarai—a leg sweep that begins from the sword. It’s banned in most competitions, but you’ll find historical references that say grappling was once part of swordsmanship. Since it’s all about understanding the flow of power and body control, it never hurts to know a few techniques.

Ultimately, when you delve into martial arts, you’ll inevitably encounter grappling at some point.

I stretched my right leg out and hooked it around hers, pressing our bodies together. My arm was freed momentarily, so I threw my dagger at her wrist and used the opening to injure her left arm. In exchange, I took a nasty slash from shoulder to ribcage.

Muse dropped her fan, and I let my dagger fall into the sand. She seemed to realize my intention, scowling deeply.

“Think you can handle this?”

“Yeah. I can see every color, so let’s switch it up.”

“Color? Ah… You crazy bit—!”

Now, each of us was down to a single weapon. I kicked up her wrist holding the scimitar, then threw my remaining dagger. The blade hit her wrist dead-on, disarming her.

We were both barehanded now. Time for a raw physical fight. I lunged at her, and we tumbled onto a nearby rock.

I was on top. Muse, with her bronzed skin, lay beneath me.

She tried pulling at my collar and arm to lock me into a submission hold. The way her legs were reaching behind my neck made her intentions obvious. A triangle choke. A technique well-known as a "triangle choke."

“You think that’s gonna work?”

I pinned her thigh with my knee, securing my defense. Her slick body made movement easy for both of us.

As I applied pressure, her bronzed skin moved with me, changing angles. I pushed forward to block her leg, but got caught just below her chest. Muse’s leg was inching higher, nearing my neck, so I switched tactics.

Both of us were weakened from injuries, making our grappling a stalemate. But I had one major advantage: the first cut I’d made to her Achilles tendon had weakened her legs.

With my left arm, I pulled the back of her neck toward me, constricting her. Her body folded into a crouched position as she tried to escape.

With her shoulders pinned, I pressed inward, lifting her lower body into the air. The camera probably made it look like her hips were way up.

“Heh…”

Muse’s struggling arms and legs seemed almost pitiful. She clawed at my shoulder, but I ignored her.

However, I couldn’t finish the match in this position. I jerked her chin down to force her throat open, pulling her in tight. As her back arched, she let out a choked gasp.

“Used to do this all the time in high school. Brings back memories.”

“W—what?”

“Everyone’s tried a guillotine choke at least once as a kid, right?”

I’d tried it—and had it tried on me. Back then, wrestling with the dumb jocks left you drenched in sweat. But here, maybe because it’s in a game or because we’re both women, there was no such unpleasant smell.

“Well, anyway. Time to wrap this up.”

The guillotine choke is lethally effective when used with intent. I demonstrated exactly why it’s called the “guillotine” choke and ended the match.

In the next round, the Shadow Hall arena came up, a battlefield favorable for assassins. Muse couldn’t recover her impact from the first match and was defeated. I secured my spot in the semifinals.

[Posted by: Anonymous (422.99)]

[Title: Gawol’s 8-parry sequence against wind blades.mp6]

(Video attached)

I kept watching this because I didn’t get it at first. She swings more than ten times, but only eight of them were deflected.

Turns out she dodged the rest.

Watch at 01:17, she moves so precisely that it misses her by a hair, and you can see her eyes move.

Is it even possible to dodge that by sight?

[Comments]

It’s tough on any map, but in the desert? Insane.

Even pros just block it with their guard.

Honestly, it’s only fair for assassins to lose to Muse in the desert; that’s just common courtesy.

[Posted by: DongtanMisInformed]

[Title: Gawol’s Pilgrim’s Desert highlights]

[Upvotes: 965]

(Video attached)

Focused mainly on the ground fight.

I was planning to keep it to myself, but I felt bad for you guys.

(Attached image: Gawol pinning Muse down with a knee)

(Attached image: Arms crushed between their chests)

(Attached image: Gawol applying a guillotine choke)

Lots of good shots here.

I won’t upload anything of Muse out of respect.

[Comments]

I was waiting for this.

Thanks, gonna use it well.

I’d love to be crushed to death in a soft, squishy embrace, but why does everyone else get the good stuff…

[Posted by: DongtanMisInformed]

[Title: Do they really do wrestling at girls’ high schools?]

(Video attached: Gawol talking about high school guillotine chokes)

I went to a coed school. The girls didn’t do that kind of stuff, only the guys. Would’ve been nice to join in.

[Comments]

They wouldn’t have done it with you.

└ Gross.

Don’t you know? High school girls have the strength of two special forces soldiers.

[Posted by: Anonymous (258.78)]

[Title: Didn’t expect Gawol to get this far]@@novelbin@@

So she wasn’t just a one-trick assassin? She’s actually good at fighting but just doesn’t stream or go pro? And she joined this event by chance?

Why?

[Comments]

I know, I don’t get it either.

If she wins, she needs to go live at least once.

Can’t Elderin or Sulbbang scout her?

[Posted by: Anonymous (382.161)]

[Title: Traveler’s surprisingly good, huh?]

[Posted by: Anonymous (311.138)]

[Title: Ah… This one’s gonna be tough]

[Posted by: Peropero]

[Title: Cerberus’ Quarterfinals Victory Interview Translation]