I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 732

Yoo So-wol had a dishonest personality, quite apart from her arrogant nature.

One might ask what kind of bullshit this was, considering she usually said whatever was on her mind.

However, she could only speak confidently about things she felt proud of; she would rather die than speak of anything that embarrassed her.

Had she not been the same during her preliminary clash with Ash, right before the Heavenly God Martial Festival began?

Even though she harbored passionate feelings for Grylls, unlike Ash, she had been unable to express them properly.

Furthermore, even though Grylls had descended because of the Rose of Sharon kiss, she would rather die than let those words escape her lips.

Although she had conveyed it to the Orange Badge, Asella, through the Gallery, she couldn’t bring herself to say it to Grylls himself.

Though she was worshiped as the supreme being and heaven itself in the Heavenly Demon Cult, in the end, she was nothing more than a human being who felt embarrassment.

’I have always wanted to exchange blows with my benefactor.’

So, when the spar with Grylls was decided, she had no choice but to struggle to hide her joy.

If she were to reveal these feelings as they were and let Grylls find out, she felt like she would die of embarrassment.

If anyone asked why she was embarrassed, even Yoo So-wol herself would answer that she didn’t know.

In the first place, in the Central Plains—specifically in the Murim—proposing a spar to the opposite sex was practically a declaration of interest.

Of course, Grylls had absolutely no idea, but to Yoo So-wol, it was a proposal that was, ’at the very least,’ close to a confession.

For that reason, she felt grateful to Wi Seol-ak. Even though she hadn’t made a separate proposal, she had naturally ended up sparring with Grylls.

Whether as a martial artist or as a woman, she couldn’t help but feel excited to spar with the object of her interest.

’But a spar is just a spar. I cannot face him with personal feelings mixed in.’

Yoo So-wol comforted herself in that manner as she stepped into the spar with Grylls.

She had usually gauged Grylls’s full strength through the Gallery, and right now, they were outside the Forest of the Four Seasons.

It wouldn’t be strange if he possessed martial power far greater than what she had seen on the Gallery.

With that thought in mind, as soon as the spar began, she clashed swords with Grylls and began a contest of strength.

Tseutseutsuk! Tseujeuk!

’...Amazing.’

And realizing that she was being pushed back helplessly, she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.

In a spar, a contest of strength was usually an act to gauge the opponent’s skill level.

It would also determine who would attack first and who would defend first.

Therefore, it meant the initiative belonged to Grylls. Yoo So-wol would respond according to his actions.

’I knew his strength was immense, but still.’

To survive in the Forest of the Four Seasons, Grylls had steadily trained his External Arts, so his physical strength was incredibly high.

If he were to use Internal Energy on top of that, he would easily be able to uproot a mountain and hurl it.

However, not everyone could become like Grylls, and every realm had clear limits.

Since even Yoo So-wol, who had entered the Profound Realm, was lacking in strength compared to Grylls, one could easily tell.

’What move will you make, my lord?’

Yoo So-wol curled the corners of her lips as she faced Grylls.

The initiative had already passed to him. She anticipated what kind of attack Grylls would launch.

"Heavenly Demon-nim."

At that moment, Grylls spoke to her in a whisper.

Following that, he seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke in a cautious voice.

"I haven’t sparred much, so... we’re just testing each other’s techniques, right?"

"You need only show off what capabilities you possess, my lord."

"Understood."

Chaekang!

As soon as Yoo So-wol finished speaking, Grylls pushed her back forcefully.

Whether he had used Internal Energy as well, even Yoo So-wol had no choice but to slide backward—jureureuk—from the force.

Grylls did not miss that opening. He immediately pulled out his bow and notched an arrow to the string.

The time it took to switch weapons was less than a second. It was the result of constant practice and real combat in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Of course, even that single second was more than enough for Yoo So-wol to reorganize herself.

Paang!

Soon after, Grylls released the arrow notched on the string.

Unlike their previous spar, it was a powerful shot, infused with Internal Energy.

Yoo So-wol narrowed her eyes as she watched the arrow flying fiercely toward her, then raised her sword.

Then, just as the flat of her blade and the arrow collided, she tilted the hilt diagonally.

Kwagagak!

The arrow soared high into the sky, letting out an unpleasant metallic screech for a brief moment.

The arrow collided with the translucent barrier covering the sparring arena, sending out a massive reverberation.

’If it were an ordinary arrow, I would have dodged it or caught it with my bare hand.’

Yoo So-wol thought to herself as she deflected the arrows fired in rapid succession one by one.

Just how powerful was the destructive force that she could barely deflect them by twisting her blade?

Furthermore, the arrows Grylls fired aimed precisely at her vital points. Therefore, even just to be safe, deflecting them one by one was the most efficient approach.

Kwaang!

Yet, she couldn’t just keep defending against the arrows forever.

After dodging the final incoming arrow, Yoo So-wol charged straight at Grylls.

With a single stomp, the floor of the sparring arena dented deeply, leaving behind a blurry afterimage.

Then, channeling powerful Internal Energy, she swung her sword diagonally toward Grylls.

Kkaang!

As if Grylls had also anticipated her counterattack, he quickly pulled out his sword to block.

A skillful and rapid weapon swap. However, that brief gap presented an opportunity to Yoo So-wol.

’The depth of my martial arts should be greater. It would be wise to exploit this.’The source of this chapter is nоvelping.com.

Yoo So-wol manifested her Sword Gang even more intensely, putting pressure on Grylls.

Furthermore, she even reached the Unity of Self and Object, which could be called the next stage after the Unity of Sword and Body.

By combining all these realms with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, she was able to forge a martial art unique to herself.

It was just that because explaining and writing down that realm was so difficult, she had been unable to compile a new Heavenly Demon Divine Art until now.

’I hope you can look upon my depth and gain enlightenment.’

Therefore, she wanted Grylls to gain enlightenment from this spar.

For a martial artist naturally proved themselves through actions rather than words.

Chaeng! Chaeng!

Sword clashed against sword, spreading a clear, metallic ring.

Every time they clashed blades, wind pressure erupted around them, and cracks formed in the ground where they stepped.

A battle between beasts, a clash of true masters. To an onlooker, it would certainly feel that way.

’...How bizarre.’

However, the more Yoo So-wol exchanged blows with Grylls, the more doubts she harbored.

She felt no depth from Grylls. She could only see that he had thoroughly polished the basics.

Although she had passed on the mnemonic of the Heavenly Demon Mental Art to him, it had been cut off midway, so his depth should be lacking.

’That should certainly be the case, so why do I feel a sensation that even I cannot fathom?’

The depth of his Internal Cultivation Art was ordinary. His techniques were merely basic or foundational.

At best, his archery was a natural talent that could truly be described as that of a Divine Archer, but in the end, martial artists had no choice but to clash weapons.

Under these circumstances, Yoo So-wol found it difficult to gauge Grylls’s skill. It wasn’t simply as vast as the sea.

’It feels as though he is assimilated with nature.’

The sky, the earth, the sea, the rivers, and so on.

The feeling of facing ’nature’ itself. This was why she found it bizarre.

Why did she feel this sensation? Was it truly because he was the Chief God?

The smile on Yoo So-wol’s lips deepened, and her sword strikes grew even swifter.

Chwaak!

It was then. Seizing her opening, Grylls thrust his sword forward with great force.

Yoo So-wol barely managed to shift her body to dodge the attack, but she couldn’t prevent the hem of her clothes from tearing.

Only then did she realize. Grylls’s attacks themselves were ordinary, but the power contained within them was extremely dangerous.

Technique? Such a thing was a luxury to Grylls. No, rather, it was because he had only learned the basics that it stopped at this level.

A human with a weak physical build would naturally hone various techniques to defeat a beast stronger than themselves.

But if one’s physical build was stronger than a beast’s from the very beginning, there was no need to hone techniques. Grylls was such a case.

’The power that I could only master after entering the Profound Realm, you wield so casually, my lord.’

Every single light attack of his was close to or exceeded the ’secret techniques’ of other martial artists.

It could be seen as unfair, but considering the trials he had endured so far, it was not strange at all.

Rather, it proved that he was a ’god,’ which made Yoo So-wol highly satisfied.

Kkaang!

Their weapons clashed once more, and both of their figures slid backward.

Grylls immediately switched weapons, pulling out his bow and aiming it at Yoo So-wol.

Soon, a volley of arrows was fired, and Yoo So-wol deflected them one by one, defending against his harassment.

Once the harassment ended, they exchanged blows again. Each time, various parts of the sparring arena were visibly destroyed.

The barrier surrounding the arena was no exception. They had invited experts, but as expected, it was not enough.

Spiderweb-like cracks began to form on the barrier, and seeing this, someone quietly took a step forward.

It was the Hero, Asella. As she had discussed with Wi Seol-ak beforehand, she was to personally deploy a barrier if things looked dangerous.

’This is truly amazing.’

She looked at the sparring arena. The two of them were pouring out their respective techniques, putting pressure on each other.

Yoo So-wol with her thoroughly polished, innate martial arts, and Grylls with the techniques he had acquired while rolling around in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

On the surface, Grylls seemed to be pushed back slightly. That was only natural, as Grylls had mostly faced giant monsters and had rarely fought humans.

However, as time passed, as if he was growing accustomed to Yoo So-wol’s movements, he gradually became her equal.

The way he even delivered strikes that would make even Yoo So-wol’s spine chill was admirable.

Kwaak!

Asella drove her Holy Sword, Revolution, into the ground and quietly closed her eyes.

As she infused it with divine power, the Holy Sword reacted, and centered around the blade, an orange haze of light began to gradually envelop the sparring arena.

When the orange haze of light finally enveloped the entire arena, it turned translucent, fully revealing the inside.

Kwaang! Kwang!

The spar between Yoo So-wol and Grylls could hardly be seen as a fight between humans.

Every time they exchanged blows, a noise like exploding artillery shells echoed, and the ground cracked and split apart.

Even so, Yoo So-wol did not lose her smile. When was the last time she had fought like this? She couldn’t even remember.

What was even more surprising was that Grylls was gradually starting to show fierce techniques. Yoo So-wol had seen these movements before.

"That technique just now. Is it perhaps a technique you remember, my lord?"

"Yes. It’s my first time using it, but... it’s not that difficult."

The flashback shown in the ossuary. The technique performed by Grylls in that flashback.

From joint locks to weapon techniques using various tools. Even in a short time, a glimpse of depth could be seen.

According to Grylls himself, he could use those techniques, but he didn’t use them because they didn’t suit the Forest of the Four Seasons.

He showed them bit by bit in this spar, but Yoo So-wol stopped him with a gentle voice.

"Lethal Techniques are forbidden in a spar."

"Is this what you call a Lethal Technique?"

"What else would it be but a Lethal Technique when it cuts off the opponent’s breath as smoothly as flowing water?"

No matter how much she liked the man, what was forbidden was forbidden. Besides, Grylls didn’t even know it was a Lethal Technique.Find the original chapter at nоvelping.com.

At Yoo So-wol’s sharp advice, Grylls also nodded. A response of understanding.

"Then let us bring this to an end. It seems the sparring arena cannot hold out any longer."

Saying so, Yoo So-wol pointed her sword forward. Indeed, just as she said, the sparring arena had already lost its function.

Not only were there severe craters here and there, but it was on the verge of splitting completely in half.

Just like the proverb about the shrimp’s back breaking when whales fight, it could not withstand the power of the two.

Uwoooong—

A hazy energy began to shimmer from Yoo So-wol’s sword pointed forward.

It resembled Sword Gang, but it was truly such a profound energy that it could not be easily identified.

However, anyone could tell that the shape of the sword holding that energy was strange.

It repeatedly blurred like a mirage, dispersed, and returned to its original form.

Just like the unopened entrance to the Forest of the Four Seasons, space was shimmering irregularly.

"...."

Staring directly at this, Grylls narrowed his eyes and silently pulled out his bow and arrow.

He did not possess the kind of depth Yoo So-wol had. However, there was water enough to completely fill that depth.

Although he did not have an arrow that could hold even that water, Yoo So-wol likewise would not be fully serious.

The purpose of this spar was simply to show what kind of clever moves the two of them possessed.

Uwoooong!

As I infused mana into the arrow, it vibrated violently. It seemed to cry out, as if it could not hold any more.

No matter how much I used the Unity of Self and Object, there was a clear limit to what the arrow could withstand.

Furthermore, even the bow was not my usual favorite, but one with many flaws.

’Seeing how the Sword of the Heavenly Demon has blurred, it’s highly likely a space-related technique. How can I....’

How can I put more mana into this arrow?

The Unity of Self and Object is not enough. A single strike powerful enough to counter the blow of the Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol, is crucial.

With this thought, I slowly closed my eyes. I recalled the verses of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

I felt that even this was insufficient, but in any case, this was just a spar.

Piing!

With that feeling in my heart, I lightly released the bowstring.

Seueuk—

The Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol, also slowly drew her sword from top to bottom, as if painting a picture.

Apart from the soft and leisurely path of her sword.

Kagagagak!!!

The arrow that left the string erupted with a harsh friction sound in midair.

Though it was struggling to push through with sheer force, the arrow trembled violently in midair as if it had struck an invisible wall.

I stared blankly at the scene for only a moment before a change occurred.

Udeudeuk!

Perhaps unable to withstand the physical pressure, cracks gradually began to form on the arrow.

Kwajijik!

Without leaving even a proper trace of its form, it turned to dust and vanished.

"...."

"...."

That was the end. The two of us stared at each other, saying nothing.

Both of us knew that the strike just now signaled the end of this spar.

Just as I was about to quietly put down my weapon and announce the end, Yoo So-wol approached me.

She wore an expression that showed she couldn’t understand it at all.

"How..."

Trailing off for a moment, she spoke to me with a complicated expression.

"How were you able to strike back against an attack that utilized the subtle principles of space?"

"...How should I know?"

"Are you saying you awakened your senses without even realizing it?"

"I really don’t know, I tell you."

"Heo..."

Yoo So-wol let out a sigh that was not quite a sigh.

But soon, as if she liked him even more, she spoke with a deep smile.

"You are not an elephant, but a dragon, my lord. You are fully worthy of being called the ’Heavenly Dragon.’"

"That’s an embarrassing nickname—no, title."

"It is not embarrassing at all. Born of the heavens and already awakening to the subtle principles of the heavens, what else could you be but the Heavenly Dragon?"

Perhaps because she was from the Central Plains, Yoo So-wol used such poetic expressions.

As I chuckled at her words.

"That is why I like you even more."

"Pardon?"

"It is a pity that I can only convey my feelings in this manner."

Yoo So-wol slowly approached me, and then—

Pook—

She quietly embraced me just like that.

No, because of our difference in stature, the expression ’she was embraced’ was more appropriate.

De-eng!!!

Before I could even be flustered, the bell signaling the end rang out loudly,

-Waaaaaaaaa!!!

and the cheers of the crowd erupted so loudly that they seemed to reach beyond the heavens.