Mistake (2)

“Trust me and raise your shield!”

At my shout, the senior of the <Templar> class was terrified.

A slight hesitation was visible.

I raised my voice again.

“If you don’t do it, we’ll all die!”
“…!”

I deliberately instilled a sense of urgency.

If it were a more relaxed situation, or if they had some connection with me like Meowi or Ju Na-young, I would have tried to soothe them gently.

Like Moon Bora, I would have presented each valid reason one by one, but there was no time for that now.

‘I’m sorry.’

At moments like this, the most effective method I had learned was to wield fear and awareness like a whip.

At my blunt words, the black-haired senior finally seemed to steel herself.

No, rather than steeling herself…

It seemed she had simply accepted that there was no other choice.

‘That’s enough.’

More than enough.

Even if their body were shattered, even if a limb were severed, as long as they blocked the attack, it would be fine.

As long as they didn’t die, the support from <Sisterhood> and <Academy> would ensure their survival no matter what.

It was then that one of the clones broke through, despite the nuns’ interference.

“Ah, no!”
“Mari!!”
“Furry bug! Dodge!!!”

Despite the sisters’ cries, Choi Mari was solely focused on [Healing], checking the [Mark of Corruption].

Having calculated that there was nowhere to escape anyway, and if she didn’t continue to heal it, everyone would perish.

“Kwaaaaah!!”

And fortunately, that calculation aligned well with the determination of the one with black hair.

Bang!

“Ugh!”
“Mu-Mun-hee…”

The black-haired senior, called Mun-hee.

She desperately defended against the attack.

A [Shield of Light] larger than the shield in her hand emerged.
It cast a brilliant radiance.
A skill from the <Templar> class’s <Skill Tree>.
It was [Glory Shield].

‘Nice!’

I rejoiced inwardly.

Just as planned.

As expected, the black-haired one’s defense was more than enough to withstand the clone’s attack.

‘Though her holy power is nearly depleted, and it won’t last long…’

If she burned through her remaining HP, she could hold on just enough.
A fight to the death.
And in the meantime, I only needed to take down Jing Daram.

“Then, the Jing woman…”
“…Jing woman?”
“It’s time for a proper lesson!”

Thud!

I immediately shoved my foot into Jing Daram’s mouth and kicked forcefully.

“Kueeek!”
“Not over yet!”

A tooth flew out and grazed my cheek.

I grasped the [Saint’s Sword].

The vast holy power shone brilliantly as if it couldn’t forgive evil.

Pupupupuk!

“Kyaaa!”

Recently, the [Triple Thrust] that reached level 8 was unleashed.

It had been a while since I used it in actual combat, but my training paid off. A sharp slicing sound rang through the air as my strikes landed precisely in both of Jing Daram’s eyes.

‘That’s a relief.’

Jing Daram wasn’t accustomed to pain. That was my saving grace.

Currently, her body was essentially an unprecedented calamity known as a <Fusion-Type Demon>.

In terms of pure stats, she’d be in the upper ranks of A-grade.

The difference between our abilities was staggering—if she managed to get her bearings, she would outmatch me in strength, speed, and endurance.

But she had just fused into this form.

How could a newborn still learning to walk possibly run?

She hadn’t even adapted to her unnatural body yet, and her mental fortitude and control weren’t particularly strong either.

That gave me the perfect opportunity to go on the offensive.

Sssshhh!

A powerful sword technique—one that Peng Jin-ah had taught me.

The power of the [Overlord Sword Technique] danced to the rhythm of my will.

A single swing embodied sheer force, while my enhanced speed amplified its effectiveness.

Combined with the [Adrenaline Booster] reaching 100% speed, it produced a noise akin to a blender.

Whoosh!

This was far from over.

Before I knew it, the [Saint’s Sword] was engulfed in crimson flames, its red eye blazing with infernal fire.

Unique grade skill [Burning Flame].

Its first derivative skill, [Eyes of Crimson Flame], burned through Jing Daram’s flesh with every slash.

‘I would love to use [Holy Strike] right away to reduce her regeneration.’

The moment I infused power into the [Saint’s Sword], Jing Daram’s arm moved automatically to block.

Judging by the agony twisting her face, it wasn’t her own doing.

The demonic beasts comprising her body had reacted on their own, instinctively recognizing that they could not afford to take this hit.

But it didn’t matter.

‘Hnngh!’

I already had a way to disrupt her movements.

Thud!

A crimson shockwave slammed into her.
Jing Daram’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.
She was at least three times my size, yet she was sent flying with ridiculous ease.
The reason? A perfect combination of skills.

The manifestation of strength surpassing muscle power due to [Strange Monstrous Strength] and [High Bone Density].
Additionally, [Free Charge] was mixed in to enhance destructive power and instant acceleration.
It was no surprise that it hit much harder than a typical [Charge Crush].

And the result spoke for itself.

Originally, it would have been a <Stun> for up to 5 seconds, but it was downgraded to paralysis, perhaps because her [Mental] stat was higher than expected.

‘It’s enough.’

Two seconds was more than enough time to continue the assault.

Thud!

“…?!”

In an instant, I thrust the [Saint’s Sword] into her abdomen.

As I gripped it tightly, a brilliant holy power exploded forth.

[Holy Slash].
And a reduction in regeneration.

Jing Daram’s once terrifyingly rapid healing visibly slowed.

However…

‘She’s still fast…’

It seemed that the original source of her fusion, <Chimera Griffon>, included elements of the <Twin Head Troll> or another regeneration-specialized species.

One thing was certain—Jing Daram’s flesh was tougher and more tenacious than I had anticipated.

‘Sigh…’

I needed more firepower.

And in this critical moment, there was only one thing that could grant me that power instantly…

‘…the killing intent.’

In the span of a heartbeat, I closed my eyes.

And then… I unleashed the murderous intent that had been ingrained in me since birth.

It manifested into a tangible force, surging through my entire body.

It was a murderous aura so intense that the magic power coursing through my body trembled in shock.

At the same time, this…

Always evoked those memories seen in fragments.

―…Catch him! Kill that bastard!
―He’ll be a threat to the world someday. We must kill him now!
―Heaven’s Slayer…

It’s the Star of Heavenly Slayer!!!

‘……’

Fragments of memories from a man who was once distant and far away overflowed like droplets.

I channeled the killing intent that man had once wielded into my sword.

‘With this…’

I made the calmness my father had taught me the core.

This was no mindless bloodlust, indiscriminately lashing out at friend and foe alike. It was a controlled force, directed solely at my enemies.

An unexpected Epic-grade skill had emerged.

Under normal circumstances, I might have felt elated—but there was no time for that.

I activated the skill immediately.

Kwaaa!!!

“…!”
“…!”
“Wh-what is this?”
“My body… won’t move. And something feels scary?”
“Did the Junior use… that?”

A blood-red aura of pure murderous intent spread out from me, devouring everything in its wake.

Even Jing Daram, along with her clones and the nuns, flinched and turned their gazes toward me.

‘Damn it.’

The killing intent was overwhelming.

It surged uncontrollably, no longer formless but taking on a visible, tangible hue.

The difference between merely imagining something in my head and an actual system-enhanced skill was this drastic.

‘Control it.’

I had to control it.
This was my power, after all.

Thankfully, after some effort, I managed to redirect the murderous aura—focusing it solely on Jing Daram.

“…Ugh, ugh!”

Terror flooded Jing Daram’s eyes.
Her demonic flesh trembled, like a prey animal paralyzed before a predator.

Yeah…
Thanks for the warning.

I reined in the urge to tear her apart completely.

I must not forget.

I hadn’t unleashed this killing intent just to scare her,
or to obtain a new skill.

‘This is to amplify my firepower.’

Screech!!

“Eek!”

The much stronger [Overlord Sword Technique] swept through.

Slice!

One of Jing Daram’s massive arms couldn’t withstand the force and was severed, spinning through the air.

A perfect storm of effects:
[Status Ailment] left her defenseless.
Increased damage due to [Calamitous Fiend].
[Adrenaline Booster] doubled the speed of the [Overlord Sword Technique].
Enhanced firepower with [Eyes of Crimson Flame], and amplified damage with [Song of the Sword].
There would be no way to withstand it, whether it was a <Fusion-type Demon> or anything else.

Slash!

In an instant, Jing Daram’s left leg was sliced off, and her balance collapsed.

An opening.

I threw the [Mana Potion] I had for emergencies into the air and sliced it in half.

As the liquid rained down, soaking me, I clenched my fist.

I activated the [Stone Hardening] skill to increase the toughness.

Then delivered a powerful punch to Jing Daram’s face.

Crack!

“Ugh!”

I did this not just for damage, but to create distance.

‘Perfect timing…’

It’s been an hour since I took down the <Trent Hydra>.

“Whew!”

I took a deep breath.

I raised both hands.

I naturally spread my left hand and aimed it at Jing Daram.

With my right hand, I gripped my left wrist.

Raw mana, burning like an active volcano, surged within me.

The tattoo signaling the <Ultimate Skill> rooted and blossomed on both arms.

“<Burn>!“

The power of incantation surged forth.
A massive fireball, capable of melting everything, formed in my left hand and launched forward in an instant.

Boom!!!

The explosive flames roared.

Finally, the smell of meat sizzling wafted through the air.