Swordmaster Healer - Episode 86
TL: Boko
Editor: HungryPanda
Chapter 29: Pan-Dimensional Task Force (1)
- Verifying attack, measurement complete. B-rank dungeon, cleared.
As soon as he absorbed the mana from the Boss, it left behind a magic stone and its corpse disappeared. And his measuring tool informed him that his assault was complete.
"Congratulations, my lord. Your synchronization rate has become 35%," Rishubalt approached, and congratulated him.
Sung Joon nodded his head and opened his mouth.
"I'm counting on you to give me an complete scan."
He wanted to know whether he'd be able to use new techniques or not.
Sung Joon could sift through his memories and figure it out himself, but it was a hassle and it a took a long time. However, if Rishubalt just released his mana, he would be able to tell immediately.
"I will carry out your command."
Rishubalt's mana scanned and passed by Sung Joon.
"A part of the Illusionary Sword's restriction has been lifted. You'll be able to summon around twelve illusionary blades now."
"Nice."
"Also, separate from your synchronization rate, I have detected a change in your body, my lord. It seem as though it's the secondary awakening that's described on the internet community on Hunter.com."
"What?"
Sung Joon was also aware of the secondary awakening. It described a process that when a Hunter becomes rank or S-rank, they undergo a phenomenon where their body becomes stronger, and they gain a special ability like stealth or curses.
"There wasn't any imprint, though…"
In this scenario, one's awakening would be accompanied by an 'imprint' on their memories, teaching them how to use their new ability. However, he hadn't received any such imprint, so he hadn't expected it at all.
"It seems as though the imprint is faint due to your past life's memories. May I awaken your memories at my own discretion?"
"Go ahead."
"I will carry out your command."
And Rishubalt used his mana to awaken Sung Joon's imprinted memories.
"Do you remember?" Rishubalt asked. Sung Joon nodded his head, extended his hand, and opened his mouth.
"Healing Spray."
A flash of light shined from his left hand and an orb of light shattered and spread.
"It seems to be like an area of effect sacred prayer."
"Yeah, I have my past life's memories, but it must be because I'm a Healer."
The ability that a Hunter gained from their secondary awakening depended on the Hunter; sometimes, they could receive more than one ability. However, there was one constant: a Hunter would only gain an ability based on their affiliation*. (*e.g. A Mage can't learn aura.)
"The Awakening Dungeon… can you open it right now?"
"As your synchronization rate reached 35%, you met the requirements."
"Good, open it."
"Will you be alright?" Rishubalt asked concernedly, but Sung Joon opened his mouth with a carefree expression.
"I've been resting plenty until now. It's time for my revenge."
Rishubalt smiled, and stretched out his hand towards the empty air.
"I understand."
As soon as Rishubalt spread his mana, the landscape changed.
The drones disappeared, and he was relocated into a deep, dark space. He couldn't see anything, but when he focused mana into his eyes, he was able to lift the veil, allowing him to perceive his surroundings.
"Rishubalt, how is it? Can you clearly see the front?"
"Darkness is not a huge obstacle to me."
"Good, I'm counting on you to scout nearby. Until my eyes are more accustomed to the darkness, I'll stay here on guard and wait for you."
"I will carry out your command."
Rishubalt gently hid himself. Did ten minutes pass? As soon as Sung Joon's eyes became accustomed to the darkness, his loyal spirit aide reappeared.
"I've finished scouting out our surroundings."
"How is it?"
"I'm not completely sure, but it seemed to be some sort of training camp. There aren't many from the regular army."
"So it's highly likely that they're the Empire's Assassination Squad?"
The first squad he would associate with a training camp within darkness was obviously the Assassination Squad.
"Amongst the Special Forces, it's either the Execution Squadron or the Ghost Squadron… They may even be an assassin squadron from the Royal Guards… though I wouldn't want that."
The assassin squadron affiliated with the Royal Guards was the Empire's strongest assassination squad. It was rare for them to move personally, but if they targeted someone, it'd be difficult to come out alive.
"It could also be the Pan-Dimensional Task Force's training camp. When they pass through dimensions, they have to push through darkness, so they have to become accustomed to darkness starting from the training camp. I heard that they created a basement for that very purpose."
"It'd be great if it were the Pan-Dimensional Task Force. If they were to invade the Earth, they would be the vanguard."
The Pan-Dimensional Task Force was initially created to infiltrate and assassinate by travelling through dimensions, but since they possessed the skills regarding dimensions, they would be at the forefront of the invasion should the invading gateway to Earth be opened.
"If I destroy the training camp, I'll be able to reduce the reserve conscripts."
Sung Joon grasped the already transformed Roel and raised it. His eyes gleamed with killing intent in the darkness.
The Pan-Dimensional Task Force was also involved in his past death.
There would be no mercy.
"How will you go about your attack?" Rishubalt asked.
He had thought that annihilating the entire force had been his only option, but he had realized that taking a detour and killing the Boss was also a viable strategy.
"An extermination," Sung Joon replied simply. Rishubalt bowed his head and opened his mouth.
"I understand."
"Good, let's go," Sung Joon said softly, and carefully opened the door.
The starting point of the corridor was a small room that was similarly shrouded in darkness.
Because he had focused mana into his eyes, he had become accustomed to the darkness and was able to see in front of him.
"The regular army was all elites, right?" Sung Joon asked Rishubalt as he slowly moved forward.
It wouldn't be possible for normal soldiers to live down here.
"Yes, though they're a minority, they're definitely elite assassins. There wasn't even a single normal soldier," Rishubalt replied.
"It might not be easy…" Sung Joon said with a grave expression, and nodded his head.
'Someone's here…'
He moved forward slowly, but without inference; and Sung Joon suddenly halted his step. Someone was beyond the faint iron gate before him.
He had a tremendous amount of mana, and was also incredibly skilled.
Because Sung Joon had concealed his presence as much as possible, it seemed as though they hadn't noticed him, but if he got a little closer, even Sung Joon wouldn't be able to predict what would happen.
'Even if I use my stealth ability, I'll be spotted as soon as I open the door…'
Sung Joon pondered, but he immediately decided on a breakthrough.
'I'll breakthrough in one go with my Gale Sword.'
Sung Joon raised his sword and drew up his mana.
Sung Joon felt the presence of the assassin that stood guard behind the gate; the assassin had sensed the flow of mana and drew his weapon. It seemed as though he had tried to respond, but unfortunately, Sung Joon was a bit faster.
"Gale Sword!"
He shattered the iron gate in one go, and broke through. Sung Joon didn't stop and rushed towards the assassin.
"Ugh!"
In an instant, the assassin's dagger shined with aura, but before he even swung it, the sword winds of Sung Joon's Gale Sword had pushed him back.
The calamity didn't stop there.
The sword winds from his Gale Sword hadn't been his real attack; his real attack was a lunge combined with his high-speed movement, piercing the assassin's heart.
"AH!"
The assassin spilled blood and toppled to the ground. And at the same time, he felt several presences closing the distance from all directions.
"Did I make too much of a commotion?"
"No. They had started to gather ever since you gathered your mana, my lord. It would've been the same even if you had used a different technique," Rishubalt said.
Sung Joon nodded his head and counted the presences.
'There are around four of them to start.'
He swept the blood off his sword in a single stroke.
"This makes it so I don't need to go looking for them."
Sung Joon smirked. The presences were getting even closer. Eventually, a light shined from the side of the corridor, and four aurclad daggers flew towards him.
All of them were aimed at his vital points.
'They're able to accurately aim for my vital points despite the darkness and the distance!'
He was astonished as he dodged the daggers.
When he was about to respond with his own dagger, the four close-by presences vanished.
Even Sung Joon's keen senses couldn't find them, and suddenly, four presences entered the room.
It wasn't high-speed movement. It was a special movement technique that allowed them to pass through dimensions.
It was most similar to Blink.
'This technique…!'
Sung Joon was aware of the way that this Empire's squadron fought.
"The Pan-Dimensional Task Force!'
Four daggers came from all sides, each aiming for a vital point, and Sung Joon smirked, raising his sword.
"That's right! This is the least you could do!"
"Has he gone crazy?"
"It doesn't matter! Kill him!"
There was no way to escape. That's what Sung Joon and likewise the four assassins thought.
"Blink."
Sung Joon vanished, and the four assassins' daggers only cut through air.
"He disappeared?"
"It's Blink!"
"Be on guard. Check your surroundings."
"He's over there!" one of them warned, reading Sung Joon's exposed presence.
The assassins prepared their stances in perfect order; upon seeing that, Sung Joon released his killing intent.
It was in order to judge their strength.
"Ugh!"
"Argh!"
They screamed and their stances slightly shook, but they didn't crumble. Though it was a killing intent that would've caused normal soldiers to faint, or even cause a knight's stance to crumple, they only slightly shook.
'They aren't guys I can take lightly.'
Sung Joon rushed towards them with his high-speed movement without delay and swung his sword.
"A double feint…! AH!"
The assassins were incredibly skilled. One of them had even recognized that he had mixed in a double feint, but that was all.
They didn't have to skill to respond appropriately.
One of the assassins screamed in agony, and fell, while the three remaining assassins got into position. However, to Sung Joon, it looked as though they were children playing.
'It seems like I was briefly flustered a little while ago because they ambushed me with the advantage of their dimensional leap.'
Sung Joon cut off the head of the closest assassin, spurting blood like a fountain. The other two assassins grasped their daggers and quickly utilized their high-speed movement.
Though the dimensional leap that they were so proud of allowed them to initiate a near perfect ambush, they couldn't use it often.
"AH!"
"Ugh!"
The remaining two fell.
"There are more coming," Rishubalt reported.
Sung Joon nodded his head and opened his mouth.
"My warm-up exercises haven't finished yet."
Amongst the forces that protected the proud Empire, one of them was the Pan-Dimensional Task Force. Today, everyone thought that the Pan-Dimensional Task Force's training camp was operating safely without any incidents.
The trainees, under the guidance of their military instructor, were learning how to kill a person effectively.
"We're pausing your training!"
Another military instructor emerged and their training was briefly paused. The military instructor who had been teaching the trainees, looked at the other instructor, and opened his mouth.
"What's going on?"
"The training camp is under attack. All forces are to arm themselves and intercept."
"What? They're still trainees…"
"But it doesn't change the fact that they're swords that exist to defend the Empire's glory."
The military instructor sharply gazed at the trainees.
"All personnel, arm yourselves!'
"For his Imperial Majesty!"
"For the glory of the Empire's victory!"
They were still trainees, but because of their harsh moral training, they armed themselves loyally for the Emperor.
//