Upon learning of Baek Yeongseon's plight, Lee Dohyeon, Han Soyeon, and Baek Wolhui made their decision and rushed to the scene. Their hearts were set on one goal—to save Baek Yeongseon.
The Twin Swordsmen of the Sects were not just famous warriors; they were masters of a special fused sword art, moving in perfect unison as if they shared a single body. Their strength lay in their impeccable coordination and overwhelming tactics.
"Lee Dohyeon, Wolhui," Han Soyeon spoke firmly, meeting Dohyeon's eyes. "We're not used to coordinated fighting, but they have no weakness unless we disrupt their flow. We have to move as one."
Lee Dohyeon nodded. "Right. If we can break their rhythm, they'll be vulnerable. They move like one—but so can we."
Baek Wolhui, after a brief moment of reflection, said, "Then we'll synchronize our movements. I'll use my sword to disrupt their timing."
After readying themselves, the three faced the twin swordsmen.The two moved seamlessly, standing before them as if they shared one mind. Their gazes exchanged silent signals; they were already poised to strike.
"If you wish to save Baek Yeongseon, you'll have to get through us first," one of the twins said, raising his sword. "But you won't be able to break our rhythm."
Lee Dohyeon didn't bother with their words. He simply answered, "Then we'll show you what happens when that rhythm breaks."
The battle began.Lee Dohyeon, Han Soyeon, and Baek Wolhui fought not by sheer numbers but by maximizing their individual strengths against the twin warriors, who moved like a single entity.
"No matter what you try, you can't beat us," one of the twins said with a mocking grin. "We are one."
Lee Dohyeon remained calm. "Even one body can be broken if we strike at its rhythm."
Without hesitation, he unleashed his Ego Blade.Infusing mana into the blade, he summoned the Mark of Fire and launched a fierce assault on the twins. His sword blazed, forcing them on the defensive, but the twins quickly adapted—one blocking the fire while the other countered.
"Fire attributes? You think that will work on us?" one sneered as they evaded his strikes, crossing paths to exploit an opening.
Dohyeon countered swiftly, shifting to the Lightning Blade technique.He struck like a bolt of lightning—fast, sharp, and unpredictable—piercing through the twin's defenses and forcing them back.
"He's faster than expected," one twin muttered, exchanging a wary glance with his brother.
Without pause, Dohyeon activated the Awakening of the Sword Soul, allowing his blade to move almost autonomously. Guided by the will of past masters, his sword neutralized their attacks and sought openings to strike back.
Meanwhile, Han Soyeon analyzed the twin swordsmen's precise patterns, responding with her Flowing Stream Sword Art.Her movements were fluid, almost effortless, deflecting their strikes while she searched for a break in their perfect coordination.
But the twins read her rhythm well.Their counterattacks grew sharper, forcing Soyeon to focus solely on evasion.
Recognizing the need to shift the tide, she activated Ethereal Dance—her special illusion technique.Countless copies of herself blurred into existence, obscuring the battlefield like ink spilled across the air.
"This again? You think illusions can fool us?" one of the twins said cautiously.
Yet the effect was immediate.Amid the mirage, Soyeon found the true opening—her sword struck cleanly, carving a wound into one twin's side.
Then Baek Wolhui stepped forward, activating Moonlit Mirage.Her sword danced like moonlight—graceful yet lethal, a beautiful illusion hiding deadly precision.
"Are you prepared for illusions you can't escape?" she said coldly, a soft smile playing on her lips.
The twins found themselves ensnared.They struggled against the hypnotic, mesmerizing movements. Wolhui, moving like a living shadow, faded and reappeared, delivering swift and ruthless strikes.
Unable to track her perfectly, one twin faltered—and Wolhui's blade cut deep into him, leaving a brutal wound.
For the first time, the twin swordsmen were thrown off balance.
The twin swordsmen, thrown off balance, quickly tried to regroup, but the tide had already shifted.
Lee Dohyeon pressed forward, his sword burning with renewed resolve.Han Soyeon circled gracefully, cutting off their escape routes, while Baek Wolhui unleashed swift, slicing strikes from unpredictable angles.
The rhythm the twin swordsmen prided themselves on—perfect synchronization, seamless flow—was now breaking apart under the coordinated assault of the three.Each mistake they made widened the gap between them, their connection fraying at the seams.
Panting heavily, one of the twins glared at the three warriors."This... shouldn't be possible..."
Lee Dohyeon stepped forward, his voice calm but firm."You were unbeatable because you moved as one. But you forgot—" he raised his sword, eyes sharp, "we fight for something greater than ourselves."
Han Soyeon added, her tone unwavering, "We're not just individuals. We are one in heart and will."
Baek Wolhui lowered her blade slightly, her voice soft but cutting."And that's something you can never replicate."
The twin swordsmen faltered, their formation crumbling.For the first time in countless battles, they tasted the bitterness of being outmatched—not by sheer strength, but by unity fueled by shared conviction.
The battle was not over yet.But the victory was no longer uncertain.
With one last surge of power, Lee Dohyeon, Han Soyeon, and Baek Wolhui launched forward—three swords, three hearts, but one unbreakable will.
***
Beyond the Limits of Cooperation, and the Choice to Heal
The battle against the Twin Blade Assassins had pushed Do-hyeon, So-yeon, and Wol-hee to their limits. Though their teamwork was beginning to break the enemies' perfect coordination, the overwhelming difference in skill was still undeniable. No matter how hard they fought, the twins moved as one, pressing them further and further back.
So-yeon desperately sought to break through their rhythm, but their swords struck simultaneously, forcing her onto the defensive.
"So-yeon!"Do-hyeon rushed to her aid, but even working together, they struggled to match the assassins' seamless flow. Their attacks were too perfect, too relentless.
"We thought fighting together would be enough..." So-yeon gasped, gritting her teeth as she blocked another strike. "But it's not..."
Wol-hee attempted to disrupt their tempo, yet she too was slowly pushed back.The twin swords drove their rhythm onward, refusing to break.
Realizing they were being overwhelmed, Do-hyeon tapped into the deepest reserves of his strength. He invoked the Awakening of the Sword, merging completely with Ego's Blade.His sword began to move independently, finding optimal counterattacks based on the memories of its previous master.
In a flash, Do-hyeon's sword created a path, forcing the twins to retreat temporarily. He activated the full potential of Ego's Blade—an overwhelming force—but at a heavy cost.
He staggered, his breathing ragged."I... used too much..." he whispered, dropping to one knee.
Seeing his condition, Wol-hee made a decision."Do-hyeon, this fight isn't over yet. But you can't go on like this."
Do-hyeon smiled weakly."If we push a little more… we can make them retreat…"
But Wol-hee was firm."If you collapse, it won't matter if we win or not."
Supporting him, she helped Do-hyeon to his feet."We're not retreating. We're moving forward. But for that... you need to heal."
Meanwhile, So-yeon freed Baek Yeong-seon from her restraints.The group quickly evacuated toward a hidden sanctuary within Heukwoon-gwan, a place rumored to aid recovery.But Do-hyeon's condition was deteriorating faster than they had expected.
Baek Yeong-seon, sensing the urgency, asked sharply,"Wol-hee. This boy... his injuries are severe. It seems he doesn't rely solely on internal energy. Is there no other way to heal him?"
Wol-hee and So-yeon hesitated.They knew there was another way—but it wasn't something easy to speak of.
Baek Yeong-seon, ever perceptive, pulled Wol-hee aside and demanded an explanation.
Wol-hee, cheeks slightly flushed, confessed in a low voice."When Do-hyeon burns through too much power, simple healing isn't enough. Emotional connection is necessary. Ideally... physical intimacy."
Baek Yeong-seon's eyes narrowed."Physical... intimacy?"
Wol-hee nodded, shame burning in her chest."It doesn't necessarily have to be... that far. Just emotional closeness. Skin contact. Enough to restore his flow.""But right now... without reaching that level... recovery might be impossible."
Baek Yeong-seon turned her gaze to the unconscious Do-hyeon.She could see the toll this battle had taken on him—the trembling, the shallow breath, the way his body strained to hold itself together.
"...I understand."
Then softly, she said to Wol-hee,"Your heart has already made its choice. You must act, before it's too late."
Wol-hee stood still for a moment, wrestling with the gravity of the moment.Then she whispered,"Yes. I'll do whatever it takes to save him."
So-yeon, standing nearby, bit her lip before speaking."I'll support your decision too, Wol-hee unnie. Saving Do-hyeon is what matters."
The three of them shared a look of silent determination.
Inside a dim room lit only by a single candle, Do-hyeon lay unconscious, his body drenched in sweat and blood. His breathing was faint. His life was slipping away.
Wol-hee approached him, her heart pounding.Her hand trembled as she reached out to him, battling the conflict within herself.Responsibility, vulnerability, pride—so many emotions collided inside her.
Slowly, Wol-hee began to remove her outer robe.The scars of past battles, the burdens of expectations, and the complicated pride she had built over the years—all of it surfaced as she revealed herself in the faint candlelight.
This was no longer about shame or doubt.It was about trust.
About saving the person who had fought so hard alongside her.
Moving carefully, she knelt beside Do-hyeon and touched his face.His skin was burning hot.Without hesitation, she pressed closer, sharing her warmth.
Their bodies touched.At first, it was only the faintest connection.But with that single touch, their energies began to intertwine—like two rivers meeting and merging into one.
Wol-hee wrapped her arms around him, focusing all her strength and emotions into him.She poured her will, her belief, and her warmth into the man she had chosen to save.
The change was almost imperceptible at first.Do-hyeon's breathing steadied.His trembling lessened.The mana that had been lost began to stir and flow once more.
Finally, after a long silence, Do-hyeon's eyes fluttered open.
"...I can stand," he whispered hoarsely.
Wol-hee smiled through her tears and grasped his hand."Yes. You can."
And now, together, they would fight once more.