The Forest Of Screaming Corpses (5)

A silver-haired figure screaming at the top of her lungs as if in disbelief came into view.

I felt a slight sense of fear and took a step back.

What is this? Why is she acting like that?
Suddenly, I was scared for no reason.

If she just ran at me like a madman, I wouldn’t know what to do.
But she was just shouting into the empty air…
Wouldn’t it be odd if I wasn’t scared of her after seeing this?

From the terror in her bloodshot eyes, I could tell how shocked she was.

Anyway, thanks to her, I learned something useful.

[Your insight successfully grasps the enemy’s movements and gains high comprehension.]
[A talent that shouldn’t exist sprouts in you.]
[<Eye of Rebellion> defies the principles of the heavens. Target: Pyo Dok-ju.]
[You have obtained <Blunt Weapon> from Pyo Dok-ju. It is a 3rd level Normal trait. It is acquired at level 1.]
[Strength increases by 1 as a reward for acquisition.]
system_ennd

[Blunt Weapon].

A skill that provides bonuses when handling weapons that could be classified as ‘Blunt Weapons’, as the name suggests.

Like [Swordsmanship], this was also the most basic attribute.

It was beneficial to have it unconditionally, and with further refinement, one could learn a unique [Blunt Weapon Technique] like [Sword Techniques].

‘Actually, this wasn’t what I wanted, though.’

The technique that had blown away Meowi.

It was quite powerful, so at first, I thought it was a [Sword Technique] based on ‘Strong Sword’ and tried to imitate it, accidentally copying it with [Eyes of Reversed Heaven].

But the result was a technique completely unrelated to that.

Apparently, this woman, Pyo Dok-ju.
It seemed she originally specialized in blunt weapons.
In fact, blunt weapons were generally easier to handle than swords.

‘Maybe she switched to a scimitar because the quality of [Sword Techniques] is better.’

Anyway.

“Hey, Aunty. Aren’t you going to attack? Why are you screaming like a wild beast?”
“Wh-what? Aunty? You called me aunty?!”
“Aren’t you an aunty? Your face looks like you’re in your 40s.”
“I’m 25 years old this year!”

I clicked my tongue.
She should lie more believably.

“Stop lying. Anyway, you’re not coming to attack? Then…”

Bang!

I put strength into my legs and dashed forward.

“I will come at you then.”

Kang!

It was heavy.
Simultaneously heavy and lethally fast.

“…Keuk!”

She thought of blocking the sword.

Yu Seha’s sword hadn’t changed much.
Gaining the [Blunt Weapon] trait raised his strength by 1, but it didn’t make an enormous difference.

What changed was the feeling Pyo Dok-ju received.
To be precise, it was the ‘shock’ that crept into the cracks of her wavering mind.

‘…It can’t be.’

It was nonsense.
Only that thought seized and shook Pyo Dok-ju’s mind.

‘If this man really learned the [Blunt Weapon] trait…’

Then he was a hunter.

No, this was something that would shake the very foundation of the society of ‘Awakened’ individuals, including both <Villains> and <Demons>.

Once an Awakened individual unlocks their <Status Window> and becomes a superhuman, their abilities and limitations are set.

This was because the absolute power of the system quantifies possibilities and solidifies them into potential through [Skills], [Traits], and [Unique Abilities].

Accordingly, the difference in talent each possesses soon leads to a gap in the strength of individuals.

Even among ‘Awakened’ who wield the same element, such as fire.
One might just have an ordinary [Flame] skill.
While the other might possess a high-level skill like [Incarnation of Hellfire].

The same goes for handling techniques.

Just because one handles a [Sword].
That doesn’t mean they could learn techniques from entirely different categories like [Blunt Weapon], [Bow], [Dagger], or [Combat].

Only a very few people were capable of this. They were commonly called multi-skill holders or multi-hunters.

‘But…’

They could only acquire these abilities through tireless effort.
One could never get their hands on them just by seeing them once or twice.

Moreover, there was a high probability that these individuals already had the potential to obtain such power.

It was just a matter of whether they obtained it earlier or later.

In such a world, an Awakened who perfectly imitates everything about their opponent and acquires it on the spot?

They might exist.
But they shouldn’t exist.

Therefore, Pyo Dok-ju thought this man was just bluffing.

That he was just trying to trick her.

‘…Trickery then?’

If his goal was to fluster her, then it surely worked.

Yes, that must be it.

So, let’s pull ourselves together and counterattack him.

It was at that moment.

“…!!!”

Pyo Dokj-u froze like a stone at the next scene.

Yu Seha lifted the sword with both hands.
He took the same stance as before.

In the process, a blue light of magic emanated.

Undoubtedly, it meant that the [Blunt Weapon] trait had been activated, receiving power adjustments.

Pyo Dok-ju ultimately acknowledged it.

This man…
This monster…
He copied my power just by seeing it once.

“D-Die…”
“What…?”
“Die, just die!!!”

Pyo Dok-ju couldn’t come to her senses.
Everything she had lived for was being denied right now.

At the same time, she realized.

The man in front of her was not just a delicate and beautiful gem.

He was a monster.

A monster that devours everything and makes it his own—an existence that shouldn’t be around!

“Huaaa!!”
“No, damn it! Come to your damn senses!”

Bang!

Their [Blunt Weapons] clashed.
At first, Yu Seha was slightly pushed back.
At some point, they became evenly matched.
Later on, he even overwhelmed Pyo Dok-ju.

Was it because his skill level was high?
Because his stats were high?

No.
In all those conditions, Pyo Dok-ju was a step above him.

Then, why was she being pushed back?

‘Th-this monstrous guy…’

Only then did she realize the ‘truth’ hidden beneath Yu Se-ha’s talent.

What was hidden by the brilliant light—something called the source—was supporting him like a sturdy pillar.

‘He is skilled in fighting.’

Pyo Dok-ju, who had been hit in the face several times by Yu Seha’s [Martial Arts], was convinced.

It wasn’t the skill of someone who had only fought a few times.

He exuded ‘confidence.’

Not in the sense that he was being cocky or light-hearted.

His swordsmanship was clumsy yet firm.

His blunt weapon technique was unrefined yet menacing.

His martial arts strikes were weak yet fierce.

All of this was possible because he had no ‘hesitation.’

Pyo Dok-ju knew people who could achieve this.

‘Someone who has killed before.’

Wandering countless battlefields.
Earning money by selling their lives.
Finally, the fighting style of one who has won.

It was something that didn’t make sense logically.

This slender, young man, who had just become an adult.
How could he possibly have the aura of those underworld giants?

But soon, Yu Seha gulped dryly at the look in her eyes.

Was that the look a normal person would have?

Eyes like obsidian that glimmered faintly.

To an outsider, they might seem like just beautiful gems, but within them lay a suffocating concentration of ‘killing intent.’

It was only because he had refrained from unleashing it that she hadn’t noticed.

“What on earth… what on earth are you?!”
“…Seriously, what’s been up with you?”
“What’s your identity?!”

Pyo Dok-ju made him step back by striking down her curved blade.

Without hesitation, she cut her forearm, causing her to bleed.

The blood that flowed down soaked into the curved blade as if coating it.

‘Demonic Energy’ swirled around the blade, climbing up from her forearm.

Though crude and despicable, demonic energy was still demonic energy for all, causing Yu Se-han, who was watching, to frown.

What Pyo Dok-ju was about to do now was her secret technique.

Though she hadn’t learned the [Ultimate Skill], it was a technique just below that level.

It was a derived skill of [Blood Magic], called [Blood Heaven].

A buff skill that increases the [Demon] stat on the condition of causing ‘bleeding’ to oneself.

And assuming Pyo Dok-ju could maintain this buff.
She could use this special skill once a day.

Bubble, bubble!

The blood and energy on the sword mixed and writhed as if they were alive.

“Die!!!”

She slashed down towards the front.
The blood that was smeared on the blade flew toward Yu Seha like a sharp boomerang.

“……”

I spread my legs wide and bent my waist as I watched the incoming strike.

When I took the stance for a quick draw, Pyo Dok-ju sneered.

She must think I was foolish for choosing to confront rather than evade.

‘It doesn’t matter to me.’

I just needed to cut her down with it.

With a flash, my body shot forward in a straight line.

My sword instantly split the [Blood Demon] in half.

Then, I swung my blade toward the astonished Pyo Dok-ju.

Kwa-deuk!

‘Damn it.’

I clicked my tongue soon after.
Pyo Dok-ju raised her curved blade to block it like a shield.

Thanks to that, her blade became tattered, but I couldn’t inflict a fatal wound on her.

‘As expected, this drawback can’t be helped.’

[Flowing Slash] mostly focuses its power on the initial target.
In other words, the moment it cuts through [Blood Demon], its power significantly decreases.
This clearly revealed its weakness against long-range attacks.

‘…As expected, I need to obtain a derivative skill of Charge.’

At the very least, I needed <Charge> to continue my attacks without delay.

But this led to another problem.

‘Stop for a moment!’

[Flowing Slash] required a minimum of 3 to 4 meters to come to a halt after movement.

This meant that while I kept charging without landing a proper hit, it allowed the opponent time to prepare.

There’s no other way.

Even if I had to retreat a bit, I had to find a way to land <Flowing Slash>.

“Hm?”

In the midst of continuing my thoughts.
I saw someone running towards me.

It was none other than Meowi.

She had somehow freed herself from the [Paralysis] and was running towards me with her shield in both hands.

“Seha!!!”

It was a simple shout, but her eyes were telling me.

Now is the time to do ‘that.’

Various thoughts ran through my mind.

Isn’t it too early?
What if I fail?
Meowi might get hurt.
All sorts of worries like that had rushed in.

But I soon brushed them off.

‘I can do it.’

With our connection.
It was definitely possible.

‘If I can’t trust Meowi here…’

Who else would trust her?!

As soon as I landed on the ground, I used [Flowing Slash] towards Meowi, not Pyo Dok-ju.

Bang!

Her shield and my sword clashed against each other.

“Meeeooow!”
“Meowi! You can do it!”
“Even if I die… I’ll make it!”

Sparks flew from the impact.

Simultaneously, our weapons began to change from orange to red.

The successive strikes accumulated stacks at a rapid rate, soon reaching maximum attack power.

I turned, lightly jumping.

Despite not training for it.
Meowi accepted it with her instinct, using her shield as a stepping stone.

“[Push Shield]!”

A carefully controlled [Push Shield] erupted from the tip of my foot.

My body flew straight towards Pyo Dok-ju.

The 20% increase in agility allowed for even faster maneuvers, while also giving me enough time to catch my breath.

‘The Pearl Spitting Tortoise’s rune has two effects.’

The first was the enhancement of attack power per stack.

Thanks to its generous judgement, it was possible to reach the maximum stack instantly just by attacking.

‘And…’

The grand second one.

I gripped the sword’s hilt so tightly that it seemed like it would break.

The magic surged up the scabbard, causing it to tremble.

It continuously drained the mana within, much like a ‘cursed sword.’

In return, it produced a crimson, flame-like blade.

I swung my sword towards the astonished Pyo Dok-ju.

The resulting slash, now 2-3 times larger than the usual [Flowing Slash], spread forward.

The eerie noise created a bizarre cutting force, cleanly slicing through nearby ancient trees and bushes.

“No, this can’t be…”

At the same time, I succeeded in cutting Pyo Dok-ju’s waist in half.

Thud!

After finishing the attack, I felt excruciating pain and rolled on the floor.

Wow, damn.

‘…It hurts like hell.’

No joke, it felt like my whole body was about to break.

But the reward for the excessive effort was substantial.

Buzz!

Intense magical power surged through the [Turtle’s Longsword].

I laughed in satisfaction, ‘Hehe…’

This was the core of my strategy using Meowi, even reaching the ranking tier.

‘…I’m glad it worked in real combat.’

I had explained the [Pearl Spitting Tortoise’s Rune] to Meowi, and thankfully, it was absorbed well.

I thought it was too early to use it, so I hadn’t until now. Fortunately, it worked well on its first use.

“…Phew.“

Using the longsword as a staff, I stood up.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

I gradually calmed my body, which was heated from the battle’s intensity.

I heard the sound of someone gasping for breath behind me.

Pyo Dok-ju was trying to hold the severed part with both hands, tears streaming down her face.

Of course, it was impossible.

Her body was torn in half; could she really survive?

“I… I… why…?”

Before long, her life completely extinguished.

Without much concern, I wiped the blood off the blade.

Soon, I heard the sound of footsteps, ‘Meeeooow!’

A deep smile naturally formed on my lips.

“Seha~!!!”

Ma Hana.
Our Meowi.
My favorite character.

My precious one was running towards me with her arms wide open.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks, perhaps out of worry, while a bright smile was on her lips.

I opened my arms and embraced her tightly.

10 minutes later.

“…Meeeooow.”

Soft and squishy.

“Meeeoow…”

Wriggling.

“Meow, meow!”