Chapter 79: White Tiger Divine Art (1)

It took Carl less than twenty minutes to finish his work and head toward the training hall.

Naturally, he assumed Queen and Second would be sparring to warm up until he arrived.

But when he reached the training hall, only Queen was there, which made him tilt his head.

“Ah, Master. You’re here.”

Queen was pushing a mop across the floor.

From the bloodstains that hadn’t been fully cleaned, it seemed a fairly intense fight had taken place.

The fact that Queen had no injuries at all meant the owner of that blood was…

“Where’s Second?”

“She went to change clothes. We roughed each other up a bit while warming up.”

“For that, you look perfectly fine.”

“I am an Extra Number, after all. I can’t go down that easily, right?”

Queen gave a faint smile, showing the pride she had in her title.

Indeed, if Queen—who had learned the Silent Shadow Kill Technique—was seriously hiding herself, there were only a handful in NOX who could detect her.

Another Extra Number, perhaps the Ace at most.

Second’s skill in using the White Tiger Divine Art was not something to be underestimated either, but with her still-rough spearwork, reaching Queen would be impossible.

Because he was passing down his own ultimate technique, Carl had paid special attention to teaching Queen the Silent Shadow Kill Technique.

“In that case, why don’t I check your progress until Second returns?”

“Me too?”

Queen looked up just after wiping away the last of the bloodstains from the floor.

“Yes. I’m rather curious, you see.”

The Silent Shadow Kill Technique Queen had learned was a version refined over and over again.

The original form he had brought from the Central Plains was too steeped in martial essence to be passed on as-is.

Mastering it to the extreme would erase all outward emotions and bring one to the realm of complete no-thought.

The technique itself aimed for that state, yet also warned against it.

When killing, it was indeed best to be without thought—but that was, in the end, also killing oneself.

Perhaps that was why he indulged in more sentimental acts, like enjoying scenery or appreciating art.

‘Considering how its aftereffects linger even now, it’s not something easily shaken off.’

Carl had already mastered the Silent Shadow Kill Technique.

Although he had not stepped into the Mythic Realm beyond the Realm of Transcendence, he had reached a level where no human body could kill him.

Perhaps because of that, the aura of no-thought still lingered strongly, affecting him even after it had settled into his body.

In the beginning, he had struggled, having forgotten how to outwardly express emotion.

“If you’re ready, step in.”

Carl nodded as he entered the training hall.

In life, joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure were essential.

It was the same in learning martial arts.

‘Only when there’s movement can you grow sturdier when it matters most.’

The “no-thought” of the Silent Shadow Kill Technique was, in Carl’s view, a flawed principle.

He valued much more the ability to cover oneself and focus on the sword when needed, rather than suppressing emotions constantly.

A person was better tempered when they experienced many fluctuations.

Swoosh—

With a short sonic burst, Queen’s figure suddenly vanished from sight.

When the mop handle she had been holding dropped limply to the side—

Carl casually raised his hand toward his rear.

Tap.

A thin Hidden Poison Needle was caught between his fingers.

It was an attack so silent that an ordinary person would have closed their eyes without even knowing what had killed them.

“Don’t try to hide your presence intentionally. As I’ve told you again and again, the Dark Flow Footwork hides your presence more perfectly when you step naturally, without conscious effort.”

Rolling the needle between his fingers, Carl spoke into the air.

Of course, no reply came, and Queen remained out of sight.

‘Not bad.’

Carl was deliberately suppressing his martial power.

He wanted to gauge Queen’s progress by seeing how much she could be perceived at this level.

Despite NOX matters keeping her busy, her Dark Flow Footwork was close to flawless.

Ting!

Sensing a sudden presence from the left, Carl swung his hand like a blade.

The dagger he struck was sent flying, but at the same moment, Queen’s presence flared from the opposite direction.

‘A basic feint. And then…’

Carl turned his hand back, giving a light sweep before shifting his gaze to the lower right blind spot.

Grab.

A hand lunging out of thin air to stab him was caught at the wrist.

Her attempt to throw out a decoy through the Dark Flow Footwork to disrupt his senses had failed, so Queen instantly discarded her dagger and unfurled her Breaking Grip Technique to shake off Carl’s hold.

“Hm.”

Carl gave a faint smile at the sight of Queen slipping free from his grasp in the blink of an eye.

Even so, he didn’t move a single step from where he stood, calmly receiving all of Queen’s attacks.

“Against opponents of similar or slightly lower level, your attacks will almost always work. For those unfamiliar with the Silent Shadow Kill Technique, surprise strikes from a blind spot will leave them unable to react.”

Clang!

“But if your opponent is skilled enough to command the space itself, things get harder. Even if you think it’s their blind spot, it’s still inside their domain. A master’s instinct is sharper than an ordinary person’s sight. Targeting only the blind spot to improve efficiency is good, but it risks making your attack routes predictable.”

As long as one was aware of an attack coming from the blind spot, it wasn’t difficult to block.

Anyone who couldn’t even grasp where their own blind spot was couldn’t be called a master.

“You have to keep thinking. How will you kill the opponent before you?”

Only those who could use the surrounding terrain, environment, perceptions, and every possible variable could be called first-class assassins.

The refined Silent Shadow Kill Technique, however, leaned more toward that of a hunter exploiting an opening than a pure assassin.

It abandoned its over-reliance on an extreme first strike, allowing the fight to be drawn out while still increasing the chances of victory.

It was Carl’s first time attempting such a change, so he didn’t know how it would turn out—but seeing Queen’s unrelenting, razor-sharp attacks, it seemed he had chosen the right direction.

‘Against a weaker opponent, eighty percent. Against an equal, sixty. Against a master of higher level, it falls below forty—but that was the same even in the Central Plains.’

Carl reached out and seized the air again.

Queen flinched when her wrist was caught, once more unfurling her Breaking Grip Technique—but this time, he didn’t release her so easily.

“That’s enough. You’re above the passing mark, Queen.”

“…Still not enough, though.”

Held in Carl’s grasp, Queen looked up at him.

Having just heard some strange words from Second earlier, she felt a bit self-conscious—but knowing she’d been acknowledged by her master eased her mind considerably.

Carl let her go with a faint smile, then lightly shook his hand and looked toward the training hall’s entrance.

“Good timing. Second’s back too.”

“Master!”

Second burst into the hall, panting, quickly tying her hair back with the band in her mouth as she bowed her head.

“Apologies. My clothes got a bit torn during my spar with Queen.”

“It’s fine. We just finished sparring here as well.”

“Eh.”

So he had beaten her to it.

And to make matters worse, missing the spar meant losing the chance to watch and learn.

Seeing Second’s crestfallen look, Queen stuck her tongue out from behind Carl with a smug expression that said, serves you right.

“You’re next, Second. You’re ready, I assume?”

“Yes!”

Second gave a firm nod, then strode to the center of the training hall.

Queen, on the other hand, stepped back to the edge, entering spectator mode.

“You seem to have bled quite a bit.”

“Just some scratches here and there. Queen toyed with me, that’s all…”

“What did you think of her as an opponent?”

“Hmm.”

Holding her spear, Second recalled their earlier match.

“It’s like fighting a phantom. No matter how hard I attacked, she dodged everything, vanished, then struck from where I couldn’t see—extremely annoying.”

“And your countermeasure?”

“I’d have to destroy the surroundings so she couldn’t approach at all. Otherwise, I’d need to match her timing on the ambush and decide the fight then.”

A textbook response.

If it had been a real fight to the death, Second’s method would have worked to some extent.

In terms of speed and stealth, Queen was overwhelming—but if she got caught in Second’s attack even once, escaping unscathed would be hard for her.

That’s why martial arts are so fascinating.

With different strengths and ways of using them, the tide of victory could shift back and forth—how could that not be fun?

“Then it’s your turn now. Step forward when you’re ready.”

Whoosh—

Second immediately spun her spear, taking the starting stance of the White Tiger Divine Art.

Unlike typical spear techniques, she lowered the spearhead diagonally and crouched forward, legs tensed as if she might spring out at any moment.

The essence of ordinary spear arts lies in piercing a single point.

Second narrowed her eyes.

Up until now, all the spear techniques she had learned focused on thrusting at one precise spot.

Given the spear’s length and its nature as a piercing weapon, that approach made the most sense.

But the White Tiger Spear Technique was different.

Like a white tiger raising its forepaw to strike, its balance was distributed more evenly.

Boom—!

Once ready, Second kicked off the ground and charged Carl.

Unlike with Queen, the master would take her attacks head-on.

So, for the first time in a while, she wanted to throw everything she had at him.

Swoooosh!

The spear shaft bent as if it might snap, driving down from above.

Carl lightly raised his sword, resisting the force pressing down on him.

Claaang—!!

A shockwave exploded within the training hall, shaking everything around them.

Even Queen, watching from a distance, had her hair lifted by the force.

“Hup!”

Spinning the spear within her grip, Second used its rebound to try and knock Carl’s sword away.

But Carl simply twisted his wrist, nullifying the force and instead pushing the spear upward from below.

Creak, creak—!

If it came to pure strength, she was confident she wouldn’t be overpowered.

Yet how could such strength hide within that lean frame?

As her spear began to be forced back, Second had no choice but to make a decision.

Thud—!

The White Tiger Divine Art fully surged, white energy bursting forth.

Carl smirked as the fierce energy wrapped around her spear, then raised his sword edge.

“Good momentum.”

In contrast, what covered Carl’s body was the Demonic Flame of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Ominous, domineering flames lashed out in all directions like flicking tongues.

Bang!

Swinging her spear, Second broke the deadlock and leapt back.

Facing the full manifestation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s aura head-on made her whole body tremble—but with so few chances like this, she steadied her breath and stoked her fighting spirit.

Step.

She took a wide step forward with her left foot, lowering her body to an extreme and focusing her strength in her legs.

At last, when both their fighting spirits reached their peak—

Swish—!

Second’s body shot toward Carl like a bolt of light.

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