Chapter 90: Gate Of Buckingham (3)
There’s nothing more dreadful than a life-or-death duel between blood brothers.
**–**Aristotle
“…It won’t be easy.”
Before the door opened, I spread my senses to detect the Qi Frequencies of those moving inside the building beyond.
Gathered in the first-floor lobby were all well-trained experts.
Still, since there won’t be any sword clashes today, there’s no need to feel too burdened.
Even so, it’s not time to let our guard down, as we’ll soon face the mastermind behind the thief targeting the royal decree.
“Watson. Are you ready?”
“Perfectly.”
We nodded at each other and slowly walked between the soldiers guarding the entrance. “Mr. Little Heavenly Demon Sherlock Holmes. Ms. Discharged Medical Maiden Jane Watson. We’ve confirmed your invitations. Please proceed inside.”
As the soldier opened the heavy door, a familiar face turned towards us from afar.
In keeping with his gloomy nature, the man concealed his Qi Frequency and waited for me to enter the building, immediately raising his essence.
[Aiming for the Shoulder Well Point, Viper Entry.]
A voice resonated directly in my mind, bypassing my ears.
[You have fifteen seconds. It’s your turn, Sherlock.]
“Mycroft…!”
My damn brother challenged me to a duel with his Omnidirectional Phantom Voice1
~20 years ago~
At 14 Savile Row, 1st Floor.
Mycroft Holmes, now fourteen, looked down at his seven-year-old brother Sherlock, who had collapsed beside him.
“…0.824 seconds, huh. You held out for quite a while. It seems our father wasn’t just a doting parent.”
Watching over the brothers was a man who claimed to be the Heavenly Demon.
According to their father’s words, this man was to become the new master who would teach the brothers in the future.
“However, I’ve never seen such an arrogant kid at just seven years old. It might be natural since he has such talent.”
The master, while contemplating whether to accept the brothers as disciples, suddenly threw a punch at them.
Of course, it was an action to test how the two would react.
However, even though he controlled his internal energy so as not to kill, it was a force too strong for a seven-year-old to withstand.
Sherlock managed to block it with a clumsy, newly-learned Qi barrier, but that was all.
Meanwhile, Mycroft, even in the face of a harsher baptism, did not faint and managed to endure it.
He even managed to divert some of the force around him.
“…You have outstanding Kung-Fu talent. Perhaps even more than your brother.”
Mycroft’s talent, which even his father hadn’t noticed due to his lazy demeanor and lack of visible training, was fully displayed in the face of a life-threatening crisis.
“It’s a pity. If you had been born under a noble house of the Orthodox or a master of the Unorthodox, you could have reached a higher level sooner… No, if that was the case, you wouldn’t have met me.”
The talent of the brothers, who were said to be rotting away in a small country school, was unbelievable.
A faint smile appeared on the Heavenly Demon’s face.
“If you had come five years earlier, I might have taken you as a disciple.”
“……”
With a regretful smile, the Heavenly Demon glanced at the younger brother and then Mycroft’s eyes returned to the void.
“You flatter me. If I can learn Kung-Fu to protect myself in the martial world, I couldn’t ask for more.”
The Heavenly Demon didn’t miss it.
Just moments ago, when Mycroft looked down at young Sherlock, a whirlwind of emotions was swirling in his eyes.
“Really, is that enough for you? You don’t want anything more?”
Young Mycroft, after a brief hesitation, spoke again.
“…If possible, just one more thing.”
“Oh.”
Hearing Mycroft’s continued story, the Heavenly Demon smiled with satisfaction.
“Alright, very well. Show your respects.”
“Thank you.”
Mycroft splashed cold water on the face of the unconscious Sherlock.
Then, together with his still-dazed brother, he paid respects to their new master.
“From today onwards, I am your master.”
The Heavenly Demon and the young Holmes brothers.
It was the day the bond of master and disciples began between the three.
I knew this would happen.
A sparring match within five seconds of meeting, an atrocity only someone like Mycroft, a moderate with a personality disorder, could commit.
“What on earth is about to happen…? Holmes. Suddenly, I heard the name of a spear technique’s move…”
A tiresome game that has continued for over twenty years.
Even if I wanted to ignore it, I couldn’t retreat because Mycroft addressed Watson with the same Omnidirectional Phantom Voice.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s like an annual event whenever my brother and I meet.”
“Brother? Wait a minute. Then, could it be-”
“I’ll be right back.”
Watson, who briefly made eye contact with Mycroft, tried to ask something but had no time for a response.
-One Grain of Sand, See the World
-One Flower, Glimpse the Heaven
-Hold Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand
-Within a Moment, Eternity is Contained
Reciting the mnemonic verse from Auguries of Innocence, I entered the Faust Moment.
As Essence circulated in my brain, my consciousness began to accelerate to the extreme.
-Tick…
-Tak…
All the noise faded away, and the ticking of the last remaining grandfather clock ceased.
Contrary to the accelerated thoughts, time flowed slowly.
In that moment, Mycroft and I closed the distance between us, step by step, staring directly at each other.
‘Starting with Viper Entry suggests it’s the June-Family Spear. Countering with Mark Spear, which has a good synergy, would be easy, but Mycroft would scoff at that.’
As always, the rule in sparring with Mycroft is to exclude unique martial arts and only apply basic techniques, with internal energy limited to one cycle.
An eye for an eye, a spear for a spear.
It won’t even take fifteen seconds.
This boring farce will be over in the blink of an eye.
‘Viper Entry… Turning the spearhead to aim at the chest, targeting the Shoulder Well Point on the shoulder. Mycroft’s ploy is hidden in there.’
Not specifying left or right when declaring the move is undoubtedly Mycroft’s petty trick.
While an ordinary person’s frame is 0.1666 seconds, a martial artist with one cycle of internal energy has a standard frame of 0.013 seconds.
And although Viper Entry is calculated as a 15-frame technique with 5 frames for preparation and 10 for execution, excluding the 5 frames for preparation through preemptive action leaves only the 10 frames for execution.
If I defend thoughtlessly, Mycroft will gain a 6-frame advantage, allowing him to adjust his stance before me and gain the upper hand.
Next, the Side Swing Thousand Troops, normally executed in 17 frames, will fly at me in 11 frames due to the 6-frame advantage.
Even if I can defend with a circulation move, there is no move in the June-Family Spear that can block Viper Entry and counterattack within 11 frames.
In other words, even if I use a move during my turn, I will be helplessly defeated.
Even trying to declare a counterattack with the integrated offense and defense of Intercepting Seize-Thrust is problematic.
The moment I attempt Intercepting Seize-Thrust, Mycroft will quickly deploy the King Flag Tempersing based on the 6-frame advantage and deflect the spear.
And then he will continue with the seamless combo of the Omnidirectional Spear.
In summary, Mycroft’s unconventional Viper Entry forces a 50/50 situation.
His same old trick aiming for a swordplay checkmate with a Delay Catch.
So I must choose a third option.
[Dodge with Lazy Donkey Roll.]
[…!]
The time taken so far, excluding the conversation with Watson, is approximately 0.8 seconds.
Responding with Omnidirectional Phantom Voice, Mycroft’s face showed a hint of joy as he walked towards me.
[He sneers at Sherlock who dodged with Lazy Donkey Roll and unfolds Iron Broom.]
[Can’t you stop adding those unnecessary details?]
Targeting the legs with a move to kill someone rolling on the ground, it’s a cruel act that would make even those in the Black Path turn pale.
[Lazy Donkey Roll.]
I decided to surprise Mycroft once more.
[…Using the momentum of the swung spear, I strike down with Carp Splash. Swordplay Check.]
I took another step forward, observing Mycroft, who looked a bit more surprised than before.
The gap is closing quickly.
It was entirely predictable.
This duel will end before Mycroft and I can even reach out and touch each other.
‘I’ll finish it in three moves.’
In my mind, the concept of the endgame leading to checkmate was already forming.
[Lazy Donkey Roll once more.]
[Which direction?]
[Towards the side that bypasses Mycroft.]
[Hah.]
Mycroft couldn’t hold back and used sound transmission.
I executed the Lazy Donkey Roll three times in succession to evade his moves.
It was a rare and exquisite exchange of offense and defense, not only in the duel but also in real-life combat, yet he couldn’t raise any objections.
And for good reason, as the Lazy Donkey Roll is the fastest way to propel oneself without using internal energy.
Investing just 7 frames to protect the upper, middle, and lower sections from the enemy’s attack, this body technique is the only one capable of such.
[Spinning halfway in the direction of Sherlock’s graceless dive, I deliver a flawless Falling Ox Tail strike, aimed with mercy, into the wide-open Spirit Platform Point. Mate…]
Confident of his victory, Mycroft smiled.
It was only natural.
Just a moment ago, I declared that I had executed the Lazy Donkey Roll as I brushed past Mycroft.
So, if this were a real combat scenario, it would mean I’m currently exposing my defenseless back to the enemy.
Falling Ox Tail, named for its resemblance to pulling a cow’s tail in reverse, is a move where the blade is thrust downward.
According to the official rulebook published by The Royal Combat Society and the All England Dueling Association, the Lazy Donkey Roll can only be executed up to three times in a single duel, leaving me with no way to evade it.
[My turn. I’ll make my move.]
Yet, I steadfastly proceeded with my turn.
[What nonsense is he spouting? Even if his ears are blocked, he should still hear the sound transmission.]
Ignoring Mycroft’s words, I completed the legitimate move according to the rules.
[I stand up from my position and execute an En Passant Thrust.]
-Clack!
Right after issuing the sound transmission, I escaped from the Faust Moment.
Time, which had been flowing slowly, regained its speed, and as we walked to each other’s proximity, we both stopped simultaneously without anyone going first.
En Passant Thrust is a life-taking spear technique executed while passing by an opponent or during a retreat, seeking victory in adversity, and it’s a unique move of the June-Family Spear Technique that pierces the neck at an unexpected moment. The time it takes to execute is merely 6 frames.
In other words.
Even Mycroft can’t dodge or counter this.
“Checkmate.”
We were close enough to hear each other’s breathing. I declared victory.
- TL/N: 六合傳聲 - A technique that makes the voice sound from all directions—front, back, left, right, above, and below so that the listener cannot discern where the speaker is located. ️