32
Contrary to its vicious appearance, its weight when actually held in hand was not as burdensome as expected.
The head, forged sharply like a spearhead.
Below it, a sharp pair of blades jutting out like a half-moon.
Unlike a sword, which has a very limited gripping area, the halberd—a weapon derived from the spear—allowed for a free grip anywhere along its shaft, save for the head, which served as its center of gravity and core.
Although I had primarily used a sword since my regression, that time amounted to a mere three months or so.
Conversely, the period I had wielded a pickaxe before my regression was at least three years.
Even as I grew accustomed to the sword, the subtle discomfort I felt whenever I gripped one stemmed from my pre-regression experiences.
Aware of this, I had naturally tried using a spear, and even swung a pickaxe as a weapon. However, the results proved that both were terribly inefficient for me, as I needed to actively target the red lines.
The spear was a weapon specialized for thrusting, but it also allowed for unorthodox attacks like swinging the shaft by utilizing its length. Yet, when I struck the red line with the shaft, the monster merely staggered for a fleeting moment.
The pickaxe had a narrow striking point, and with that part curved like a half-moon, it was even more difficult to wield than a spear. No matter how satisfying it felt to swing, it was far too inefficient to use based on that alone.
Whoosh!!
Swinging it with mana-enhanced strength, the air tore apart with an imposing roar, as if announcing the weapon's sheer weight.
Thrust when I want to thrust, slash when I want to slash.
Moreover, the section between the tip of the head and the blade was curved like a sickle; with sufficient skill, it seemed possible to aim for that gap to tear an opponent apart or hook and disarm their weapon.
"It looked so-so when I saw it in the catalog."
The halberd, a fusion of spear and axe, grew more satisfying the more I swung it. I wanted to punch my past self who had simply skipped over the halberd in the catalog the Blacksmith Guilds had shown me.
After lightly swinging it and moving my body around.
I couldn't help but admit that the weapon I now held was undoubtedly the most satisfying one since I had awakened in this space.
'With this...'
The reason I had failed to deflect its attacks thus far was invariably because my posture broke, leaving me unable to prepare for follow-up strikes or causing me to squander counterattack opportunities.
Until now, the shield had been the most viable option, but to be frank, my single successful deflection was due more to luck than familiarity with the creature.
It made sense—deflecting an attack I couldn't even withstand with two hands, using a one-handed shield I was trying for the very first time today with no technique, was objectively absurd.
'If I had that kind of talent, I wouldn't have regressed in the first place.'
Having already lost everything once due to misjudgment and stubbornness, I knew my own capabilities better than anyone.
Whoosh!!
In the space where the other weapons had vanished, Baek Woo-jin spent a considerable amount of time swinging the halberd to familiarize himself with it.
"Hah, haah!!"
Breath rushed up to his chin.
If Schroding's words in the book were true, this place was definitely not reality. Yet, it was simply mystifying why he felt short of breath, sweat dripping down, and pain so vividly.
It was astonishing how the sensations he had honed before dying remained intact even after dying and reawakening. While his body clearly tired as he moved, it was slightly disappointing that no physical growth occurred.
Of course, hoping for the latter was somewhat shameless, but since he had already resolved to grow stronger, he had no intention of putting on false modesty.
"Let's clash at least once."
After testing various movements for a considerable time to familiarize himself with the halberd, he was not only physically exhausted but had also consumed a significant amount of mana.
He hadn't started this expecting to succeed on the first try anyway.
Having organized his thoughts, Baek Woo-jin opened the door and entered before his heated body could completely cool down, facing the green mass of muscle that had killed him countless times.
"Stop glaring. We might actually get attached at this rate."
Using half his remaining mana to protect his hearing, he spread the rest throughout his entire body to enhance his physical form.
"I can't even fathom just how monstrous the A-rank guys must be."
The weapon that previously required both hands to swing steadily could now be swung with just his right hand without his posture faltering, thanks to his mana-enhanced strength.
Grrrrr....
Dismissing the Goblin Warrior's crimson glare—which now had him wondering what it was thinking—Baek Woo-jin let the halberd hang far back behind him and charged with all his might.
Kyaaaaah──!!
A pattern attempted over a hundred times, repeated over a hundred times.
Hwooooong──!!
Ignoring its roar, he closed the distance, and the creature swung its greatsword—which was closer to a blunt weapon—at tremendous speed. Having seen it countless times, he was finally beginning to see the trajectory of its attacks.
'Why does a mere goblin have such high intelligence!!'
It wasn't as if I was rushing at it blindly because I wanted to.
Around my third death, I had tried feinting an approach to dodge its first strike, but as if seeing through everything, it refused to swing its greatsword until I was fully within its range, where dodging was impossible.
Swiftly righting the halberd he held in a reverse grip, he thrust upward with the intent to pierce the creature's massive body.
Kaang─!!
He succeeded in grabbing the halberd that had risen just in time with both hands, and the greatsword flying toward his waist was blocked by the shaft by a hair's breadth.
'With this...!!'
Because he had taken the blow head-on, blood poured from both hands gripping the shaft as if they were torn, but he couldn't care less.
It was a first. He had blocked the creature's greatsword head-on and still maintained his posture.
Whoosh!!
The greatsword scraping against the shaft moved once more.
The creature's crimson glare was still fixed on him.
Which meant.
Kaaang──!!
"Keugh?!"
The moment the greatsword struck the shaft again, both palms finally gave out. However, it wasn't meaningless.
He had blocked the creature's attack, which he had previously struggled to block even once, twice without losing his footing. On top of that.
'With this, it's possible.'
The corners of Baek Woo-jin's mouth turned up at a thrill he hadn't felt even once since opening his eyes in this space, but his vision went dark once more at the Warrior's third swing.
**
"I can do this."
As soon as his consciousness returned, Baek Woo-jin got out of bed to immediately retrieve the halberd. However, before he could even lift his hips off the mattress, he realized there was no need.
The weapons that had filled the walls had all vanished somewhere.
Only a weapon rack he hadn't seen before stood conspicuously in the room. Naturally, the halberd he had just used was resting on it.
Through this, he could tell that Schroding—the spectator watching this place—was growing tired of the repetitive short play and hoping for it to end.
Naturally, he didn't say anything about finishing it this time.
It wasn't that he lacked confidence, but there was no reason to needlessly give them ammunition to mock him.
"As expected."
Taking the halberd from the rack, Baek Woo-jin felt the familiar grip in his hand. He swung it a few times, twirled it as if performing a trick, and passed it to his other hand, repeating these actions to reacclimate his hands to the sensation.
"Hah."
Once his muscles, which had stiffened upon his new awakening, had sufficiently loosened up, Baek Woo-jin opened the door without hesitation and entered.
Grrrrr....
He had already warmed up his body before entering, so no further preparation was necessary.
"I'm sick and tired of the green."
Having nothing to lose even if he died made this an overwhelmingly advantageous environment compared to reality. Thus, he intended to boldly try anything he could.
"Let's wrap this up."
Dying over a hundred times was more than enough.
Skipping the self-pep talk he used to give, Baek Woo-jin slowly crossed the line. This time, instead of charging straight, he sprinted diagonally, rapidly closing the distance while circling the creature as if aiming for its blind spot.
'Now.'
The moment his line of sight intersected diagonally with the creature's, Baek Woo-jin lunged at it without hesitation.
Grrrk!!
A massive greatsword slashed diagonally, utilizing the centrifugal force of its rotating body.
Instead of slowing down, Baek Woo-jin threw himself directly at the greatsword with all his might, thrusting the halberd's shaft toward the descending blade. The moment the greatsword made contact with the shaft, Baek Woo-jin subtly released his left hand and twisted his body sideways.
Kwaang──!!
Thanks to his heightened senses, he successfully released the shaft at the exact right moment. The greatsword, aimed at his head, slid along the shaft resting against his forearm and crashed harmlessly into the floor.
Puk!
Not missing that opening, the sharply forged tip of the halberd pierced through the Goblin Warrior's right shoulder.
Gwuoeeeek!!
Screaming, the creature dropped its greatsword and swung its left arm at Baek Woo-jin. However, with his heightened senses focused on its every move, Baek Woo-jin pulled his body back along with the halberd before the creature's massive fist could reach his head.
"Just like a sports drink."
The Goblin Warrior, dripping dark blue blood, picked up the greatsword from the floor with its left hand instead of its ruined right. Baek Woo-jin charged at it once more.
Kyaaaaak!!
Contrary to its roar filled with rage, its greatsword was twice as slow as before.
Kaang!!
Proving this, he met the greatsword head-on without deflecting it, yet the impact only left both his hands slightly numb.
A single moment of carelessness had narrowed the seemingly insurmountable gap.
His heart was racing.
Was this what it felt like to have blood boiling?
"This changes things."
Kyaaaaak!!
Even though it was a perfect opportunity to kill it, Baek Woo-jin stepped back and charged in once more when the creature regained its stance.
Kaang! Kang! Kwoong──!!
Blocking, blocking again, and deflecting.
Baek Woo-jin began practicing deflecting against the Goblin Warrior.
"Hah! Haah!! Are you tired already?"
However, when the Goblin Warrior, weakened by blood loss, dropped its greatsword, Baek Woo-jin, without a shred of hesitation, drove the halberd into his own left chest.
And when Baek Woo-jin opened his eyes again on the bed, he grabbed the halberd from the rack and dashed straight through the door.
The wound from moments ago had vanished without a trace. The moment he spotted the Goblin Warrior standing there, holding its greatsword in its pristine initial state, the corners of Baek Woo-jin's mouth curled up slightly.
"Thank goodness."
Grrrk....
Meeting Baek Woo-jin's gaze, which glistened with madness, the Goblin Warrior took a step back for the first time in their hundred-odd encounters.