Chapter 34.
A flashing light, and a movement like leaping through space.
The trait it displayed was one.
『Lightning (閃電)』
One of the powerful traits that allowed movement at the speed of light alongside a brilliant flash.
‘It’s certainly enough to be called a high-ranking trait.’
It couldn’t rank among the top 100 traits, but it was a very rare and powerful trait worthy of being called high-ranking.
"Hoo, so it’s Lightning (閃電). Quite a nice trait?"
That was why I revealed my emotions without hiding them.
"…."
Lightning.
At that single word, the bastard’s expression changed completely.
No, his expression had been distorted from the moment he blocked the attack.
"How arrogant."
And I pointed out his critical mistake.
"You threw away your numerical advantage and crawled in here?"
Then you have to die.
"Hup!"
I pushed back the clashing spear with force.
The bastard, swaying as if losing his balance, slid backward.
But I had no intention of letting him go.
Closing the distance with large strides.
Shhk, shhk!
I slashed with the katana in my hand.
The trajectory drawn in the air in that fleeting instant was swordsmanship that only a considerable swordsman could manifest.
『+99 (★★) Master Craftsman's Katana
Category: Sword
Durability: 75/100
Unique Effect: Swordsmanship Proficiency increases by a minute amount
Enhancement Effect (9/99): Swordsmanship Proficiency increases by a small amount
Enhancement Effect (15/99): Swordsmanship Proficiency increases by a minor amount
Enhancement Effect (20/99): Slashing Power increases by a minor amount
Enhancement Effect (30/99): Swordsmanship Proficiency increases by a minor amount
……
Enhancement Effect (99/99): Slashing Power, Swordsmanship Proficiency increase by a minor amountMax Effect (Max): At an extremely low probability, triggers a Weapon Breaking effect on the enemy's weaponTranscendence Effect (★): Swordsmanship Proficiency increases by a moderate amountTranscendence Effect (★★): Swordsmanship Rank rises to 'Expert'
Description: A katana born through the hands of a master craftsman from Japan's Warring States period.
It has become a powerful weapon that grants the wearer the swordsmanship of a skilled swordsman through transcendence enhancement.』
I had received teachings from many people as the apocalypse progressed.
Among them were those worthy of being called teachers: Yeongung and William.
Though I hadn’t reached the pinnacle as they had, I could pride myself on handling fists and swords in my own right.
And the sword in my hand now.
The 2-Star sword completed by focusing solely on swordsmanship proficiency effects.
Of course, it couldn’t compare to before the regression, but at least now I was likely a swordsman counted among the best on Earth.
Kang, kakakang!
Consecutive sounds of friction.
Between flashes of light that briefly illuminated the surroundings like flint, the bastard’s expression was visible.
It was slightly twisted.
It couldn’t be helped.
His weapon was a spear, and mine was a sword.
At close range, a sword was inevitably more advantageous than a spear.
If this had been an ordinary fight, the moment this distance was allowed, it would have become my victory.
However.
Flash!
A flash of light burst forth.
In that fleeting instant, the bastard’s figure disappeared.
But there was no need to panic.
Swhiik.
The sound of cutting through the atmosphere was heard.
The 2-Star transcendence-enhanced hearing aid was capable of catching every sound in the vicinity.
Therefore, I didn’t hesitate.
Toward the left blind spot, I swung my sword.
Kang!
An impact that felt like it would tear my grip apart was transmitted.
‘Strong.’
It was as expected.
If instantaneous speed using Lightning was loaded into a single strike, the impact couldn’t help but be considerable.
If this had been an ordinary katana, the blade would have broken.
But this wasn’t an ordinary katana.
Though it had no durability enhancement effects, it wouldn’t break having reached Transcendent 2-Star and full enhancement.
Even if it was loaded with the destructive power of the Lightning trait.
‘Lightning. It’s powerful, but its weakness is clear.’
Most importantly, I knew its weakness inside and out.
It could produce tremendous speed in an instant, but there was a delay.
In the beginning, if it was unevolved Lightning, about 10 seconds.
‘10.’
Counting internally, I swung my sword.
Kang!
The guy holding the spear short blocked the sword’s trajectory and defended.
The fact that he kept blocking despite the unfavorable situation definitely wasn’t ordinary skill.
‘This guy is the highest-ranking one here.’
I was certain at that moment.
That the middle-aged man before my eyes was the person in charge here.
That was also a decisive opportunity.
Because I could aim for the enemy’s head without facing multiple enemies.
In a fleeting instant, I looked behind the opponent.
Those approaching at a fast speed.
Except for the one who suddenly disappeared, there was still distance.
‘9.’
I slashed high.
Kaang!
He shook the short-held spear left and right, blocking the trajectory.
‘8, 7, 6, 5….’
I tenaciously stuck to him until the 10 seconds passed.
To face a spearman with long reach, I had to cling on tenaciously like this.
‘4, 3, 2, 1….’
The moment it finally became 1 second.
The muscle movement to use Lightning began.
And that was the decisive moment I had been aiming for.
Ppat!
Ultra-high-speed movement.
I moved at ultra-high speed like the Lightning he manifested and caught his back.
It was something impossible to manifest at my current physical level, however.
『Transcendence Effect (★): At an extremely low probability, completely evades an enemy attackTranscendence Effect (★★): Once every 24 hours, use Ultra-High-Speed Movement (1/1)』
It was the transcendence effect of the Heelys I was currently wearing.
I manifested the Ultra-High-Speed Movement, one of the effects of that item enhanced to 2-Star, and caught the bastard’s blind spot.
It was also exploiting his psychology.
The psychological comfort of knowing he could use Lightning after 1 second—I aimed for the gap born in that fleeting instant.
And the result was.
Pfuuk!
A katana piercing through the heart.
"Keogh!"
He collapsed with a final scream.
But the battle wasn’t over yet.
Chik chik.
I pulled out two airguns hidden inside my coat.
Holding handgun-type airguns that fit in one hand, not sniper types, I turned around.
I heard shouts mixed with curses.
Tang, taang!
Two gunshots.
Blocking those lead bullets with increased power and speed was a difficult task for present humanity.
But those charging were Awakened who had awakened their traits, different from present humanity.
Shhk, shwook!
The trajectory drawn by a swordsman’s hand split the flying bullet cleanly in half.
Considering the drawback of airguns with poor rate of fire, there should be a delay in my attack after this single shot.
Because I had to compress air through reloading.
But.
『Transcendence Effect (★): At a low probability, air compression is not consumedTranscendence Effect (★★): Fires 3 lead bullets of identical power regardless of air compression』
This 2-Star enhanced airgun could fire about 3 lead bullets with the same power as the first without consuming air compression.
Taang, tangtangtangtangtang!
Exactly six shots.
Six lead bullets that hadn’t lost any power flew toward the bastards.
"Hmph!"
The woman Bridge snorted at the threatening gunfire.
Pfuuu—
She blew the gum she was chewing, forming a massive barrier.
Ting, titititing!
Lead bullets capable of piercing steel failed to penetrate mere bubblegum and ricocheted in all directions.
In that time.
Sweeeh!
Mist that had formed at some point began to surround me.
『Mist』
The Trait, Mist.
Creates artificial mist to confuse the enemy’s sight and hearing.
Inside this mist, my combat power was weakened compared to usual.
"Not happening."
That is, if I just took it lying down.
Mist was one of the traits I had fought many times, and I knew its weakness in detail.
From inside my coat, as if it had become a magic pocket, I pulled out a Zippo lighter.
Ting!
The moment I opened the lid, a clear metallic sound rang out.
The method to eliminate the thick mist surrounding the area was none other than fire.
Of course, could I eliminate the mist with a small lighter like this?
Impossible.
But what if it was a 2-Star lighter?
And what if its effect was focused on firepower?
Chik!
The moment the oil-soaked wick ignited from the friction of the flint.
Hwahaaareuk!
Enormous flames soared up.
After throwing the Zippo lighter spewing flames like a flamethrower to the front.
Deureureuk.
I pulled my body back using the Heelys.
The next moment.
Pung!
The mist touching the fire caused an explosion.
In truth, the mist surrounding this area wasn’t made of water vapor but gas.
Therefore, the moment it met fire, it couldn’t help but explode.
Pung, peopeopeopeopung!
Along with consecutive explosions.
"Uwaaaack!"
Screams burst out.
Sweeeh!
And the mist dominating the surroundings disappeared without a trace.
What replaced the mist was.
"Uack, uwaaaack!"
One rolling on the floor, engulfed in flames.
The Awakened who had tried to trap me using the mist.
Deureuk!
Using the wheels of the Heelys, I surged forward in an instant and swung the katana to sever the bastard’s neck.
Tuk, degeureureu—
The head fell and rolled across the ground.
A face heavily distorted in pain, eyes filled with resentment, looked at me.
Truthfully, I didn’t feel much.
To me, who had survived through the apocalypse, killing was more familiar than eating.
Moreover.
‘They are vermin. Not worth keeping alive.’
I had no intention of reforming those already harboring twisted beliefs.
It was best to eliminate even one more of them with that time and effort, or if possible, the entire faction itself.
Ah!
Of course, if it had been not long ago, I might have kept them alive for information I needed from them.
But now that I had obtained a certain card in hand, there was no need to go through such trouble.
‘Kill them all.’
Prophets, those who would rule humanity, those swept up in ludicrous superiority complexes—none would escape my hands.
The same went for those charging at me now.
"Fuck—"
Spitting rough curses, he extended his arm.
There was still distance.
Jjuuuk—
His arm stretched like rubber and rushed forward rapidly.
I tilted my head to the side and dodged.
"Where do you think you're going!"
The elongated arm wrapped around my body like a rope.
I kicked off the ground and jumped with all my might.
"Haaap!"
As if expecting me to jump, the swordsman approached and unleashed a sword-drawing technique.
Seureung!
The straight-line trajectory drawn by the sharp blade leaving its sheath.
Kang!
I blocked the incoming slash by holding the katana horizontally.
Numbness.
An intense shock felt in my grip.
Without resisting that force, I went with the flow and flew backward.
My intention was to create distance.
"Die!"
"Drop dead!"
Those rushing in from all directions.
They were the twin brothers struck by my sniper fire moments ago.
But it wasn’t just one or two.
Dozens of them were charging in.
‘So it’s Clone.’
Not a trick.
『Clone』
A trait that replicates one’s own body to use as military forces.
A powerful trait that, when evolved repeatedly, made it possible to command thousands or tens of thousands of clones, but.
Seogeok!
Flesh split by the katana swung haphazardly.
Weak.
Because he had forcibly increased the number of clones, they couldn’t be more than meat shields.
Shk, ssesuk!
Without needing to exert much effort, I cut down all the approaching dozens of clones.
In a short moment, no more clones existed around me.
"…."
I stared at the front and observed their expressions.
A look of relief blooming on faces that had seemed urgent and lacking composure until moments ago.
They tried to hide it, but they looked as if they had won this battle.
"…Well. Is that really so?"
I threw a meaningful remark at them and adjusted my grip on the katana.
Holding the handle so the blade faced behind me as if committing seppuku, I then drove it directly into my right flank, into the gap there.
Pfuuk!
It was definitely an attack aimed at empty air where nothing existed.
But the next moment, the wet noise of flesh being pierced echoed vividly throughout the area.