#035.
『Shadow Movement』
A trait that allows one to move between shadows.
There is some limitation on distance, but if a shadow exists within 100 meters, it is possible to leap across space to that location.
If the trait evolves, the distance limitation disappears, and ultimately one would be able to move anywhere there is a shadow, but to one who has just awakened, that would have been too much.
"…Wh-How?"
The guy who had risen up through my shadow, the guy who was losing his life after being pierced through the heart, asked.
"I'd say you were just unlucky."
If I were to speak of his misfortune, it was that his opponent happened to be me.
Because if you survive the apocalypse for over 20 years, this is something you naturally learn.
Thud!
The guy who had been waiting for a chance to assassinate me collapsed.
"…."
The guys who had been pouring down fierce attacks all stopped moving in an instant.
"Seems you had a strategy of your own, but it's way too obvious."
They had unleashed an aggressive offensive to utilize the Shadow Movement trait.
It was a buildup to confuse my eyes and ears, but as if that would work.
Before sniping them, I had roughly grasped through the scope what traits they possessed.
Of course, since I had also kept the guy with the Shadow Movement trait firmly in mind, their strategy had failed from the start.
Yet even though their surefire strategy had failed.
"Hup!"
They didn't give up.
The swordsman kicked off the ground and charged.
'Judging by this, he must think he can't lose at close range?'
Certainly, a trait worth being confident about.
Because among sword-wielding traits, the speed and destructive power packed in a single strike are top-tier.
But there is one thing he is overlooking.
I took out something hidden inside my coat.
They were throwing knives (feidao).
Concealed weapons made thin and elongated to minimize air resistance.
『+99(★★) Craftsman's Accuracy-Enhancing Throwing Knives
Category: Concealed Weapon
Durability: 5/5
Unique Effect: Melts into darkness, making them difficult to detect
Enhancement (9/99): Minute increase in throwing knife accuracy
Enhancement (15/99): Extremely small increase in throwing knife accuracy
Enhancement (20/99): Small increase in throwing knife accuracy
Enhancement (30/99): Small increase in throwing knife speed
……
Enhancement (99/99): Small increase in throwing knife accuracy, speed, and power Max Enhancement Effect: Low chance to trigger Pierce effect
Transcendence Effect (★): Low chance to trigger Inevitable Hit effect
Transcendence Effect (★★): If within 200m, Retrieval can be manifested
Description: Throwing knives created to attack distant enemies.
Through transcendence enhancement, they have become throwing knives of Inevitable Hit with concentrated accuracy enhancement effects.』
Ten throwing knives specially commissioned from a blacksmith.
The sight of holding a total of eight throwing knives between my fingers, four each, wasn't all that unfamiliar.
And for good reason.
'They were one of my main means of attack before the regression.'
William and the Hero weren't my only teachers.
Amjon (暗尊).
Originally an enemy, but through a truly coincidental opportunity, I lived with him and learned his combat experience and how to handle concealed weapons.
None other than the one hailed as humanity's greatest in handling concealed weapons.
I unleashed concealed weapon techniques imbued with his experience.
Pa-pa-pa-pat!
Eight throwing knives flying in different directions.
Their unique effect manifested, melting into the darkness and becoming difficult to distinguish.
Fwooo!
Sensing something unusual, he blew a bubble and created a barrier.
A situation like this is when bubble gum demonstrates its greatest power.
Twong, twoong!
The flying throwing knives bounced off without piercing the giant bubble.
A bubble that repels all enemy attacks with tremendous elasticity.
Throwing knives against such a powerful defensive measure seemed nonsensical, but.
Pop!
Soon, with a loud noise, the bubble burst.
It was something impossible with ordinary weapons, only possible thanks to the 'Pierce' effect.
Just then, a low-probability transcendence effect manifested, piercing the troublesome bubble.
What remained were five throwing knives.
Not something to take lightly.
Throwing knives with all effects concentrated on accuracy enhancement would aim for their lives without missing.
"Hiiik!"
The first target was the twin—no, the guy with the Clone trait.
The guy who seemed surprised and swallowed air in surprise.
Ssss.
He began swaying like a reed, then created another self, a clone.
Puk!
The throwing knife flew without fail and lodged in the guy's heart, and.
"Kek!"
He collapsed with a short scream.
But it had little effect.
Because the main body had fallen back, using the clone as a shield.
Of course, I didn't think I could finish him off with this.
Nevertheless, using one throwing knife was nothing more than drawing his attention, nothing more.
The real target was.
Clang!
The swordsman who was swinging his sword to deflect the concealed weapons.
He was continuously using draw techniques to knock away the incoming concealed weapons, but he didn't look composed at all.
And no wonder.
Draw is a trait with destructive power in a single strike, but difficult to use repeatedly.
The reason is simple.
Because it requires extreme concentration.
Other traits are similar, but Draw in particular is a one-strike-kill trait that draws out beyond the body's limits.
Each and every use inevitably causes tremendous fatigue.
But now this guy had to use that trait against nothing more than concealed weapons.
Trickle.
Cold sweat flowing from his forehead was only natural.
"It's going to be a problem if you break a sweat over that."
He somehow knocked away all four throwing knives I had sent flying.
But that wasn't the end.
『Retrieval』
Manifesting the two-star Transcendence Effect, I once again gathered the throwing knives scattered in all directions into my hand.
"…."
He looked at me with surprised eyes as the throwing knives he had barely knocked away returned to my hand.
Well, when would he have ever experienced a strengthened weapon, and one that transcends reason at that.
To them, it must seem like a special power, no different from the traits they possess.
"Shall we start again?"
Unfortunately, they have no means to get through these throwing knives and approach me.
What does that mean?
It means I can toy with them however I want, like a well-fed cat playing with its prey.
*
"Haaah, haaah!"
The swordsman exhaling rough breaths.
His long training uniform was torn in places, with blood seeping through.
"You lasted a long time."
Was I being sarcastic?
No, it was praise in its own way.
Unlike the Clone, the bubble gum, and the two who had fallen, he lasted quite a while.
Honestly, it was unexpected.
Because I know how much Draw gnaws away at mental strength, so I naturally thought he would collapse first.
But he didn't.
He seemed to have stronger mental fortitude than expected, maintaining his exhausted body by using his sword planted in the ground like a cane.
But that too ends now.
If I throw even a single one of the throwing knives in my hand, he will die.
"I'm curious. Why would someone armed with that level of mental strength join a cult?"
That was a question born of pure curiosity.
If you were to speak of the mental state of most who join cults, you would say they have fallen into delusion.
But this swordsman was not like that.
He possessed firm convictions and mental armament.
Why would such a person join the Black Moon, no different from a cult with talk of prophets and dominating humanity?
"…Because I hate them."
He spat out a single word, holding his breath.
"Who?"
"Humans."
"…."
We had only exchanged a few words.
"…That's a bit of a shame."
But it wasn't hard to roughly grasp the situation.
'There were cases like this from time to time.'
Those who came to hate humans due to some circumstances or events.
My martial uncle Jeong Do-hwan was also such a case.
If I had known his circumstances earlier, I might have walked the same path as Jeong Do-hwan.
But.
'It was too late.'
He had gone too far down the road to turn back.
"Well, everyone has their own circumstances. That isn't wrong, it's just a different path."
I don't fall into the stubborn belief that I am necessarily the correct answer.
Everyone simply chose different paths.
And right now, I don't have the time to undo all of that.
"Go on ahead to hell."
I threw the throwing knife, turning away from the swordsman's eyes filled with resentment.
Puk!
He who had barely been standing could not block that strike and lost his life.
'I'll probably follow soon enough myself.'
A path built upon the sacrifices of countless people.
No matter how much it is for humanity, I who walk a path of blood will not reach heaven either.
"…."
I shook off my thoughts and surveyed the surroundings.
I had succeeded in eliminating five Awakeners with powerful traits: Lightning Flash, Draw, Mist, Shadow Movement, Clone, etc.
And then.
Footsteps.
I turned my head toward where I sensed a presence.
"You've come."
I greeted him.
"…."
Answering the greeting with a nod was Jeong Do-hwan in a black hanbok, like a reaper.
It was not a sudden visit.
I had signaled through radio, and he appeared matching that time.
"Is it enough to handle these ones?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Then let's begin."
I stepped back so he could work comfortably.
A black mist-like energy emanated from his widely spread hand.
Mist imbued with the domain of death, which only the Guide of Death could handle, spread around.
The moment the mist reached the corpses of the five Awakeners, it enveloped the bodies as if they were alive.
Ssssh.
Something gray and cloudy gradually began to reveal itself.
At first it was too faint and hazy to make out, but soon it took complete form.
「Huuuh-」
That which let out a sobbing sound was a Spirit (靈).
A crystallization of supernatural phenomena that humanity had yet to uncover, such as souls and spiritual essences.
「Lost souls who have lost your way.」
A gloomy voice echoed as if resounding underground or in a cave.
Pupil-filled eyes stared at the spirits of the Awakeners.
Tremble-
Their forms began to blur as if trembling.
「Answer my question.」
To spirits, the Guide of Death was an absolute existence that could not be refused.
「Black Moon. Tell me in detail what you know of this organization.」
The reason I hadn't taken the risk of capturing them alive as before.
It was because Jeong Do-hwan, the Guide of Death who could handle spirits, had joined as an ally.
Because if we used his power to handle spirits, we could extract more accurate information from those bound by contracts.
「Huuuh-」
「Huuuuuh-」
The spirits trembled uneasily.
It was a gesture of refusal.
Naturally.
There was no reason to act favorably to someone associated with me, who had killed them.
Even if he is the Guide of Death, in his current state where he has been unable to evolve his trait, dealing with those spirits full of resentment would be quite difficult.
'That would normally be the case.'
But the one accompanying Jeong Do-hwan is none other than me.
「Obey my words!」
Incense rising from incense burners situated on the ground.
And even straw mats (草席), bundles of dried wild herbs that had not suffered from pests.
Because funerary items that further strengthen Jeong Do-hwan's trait were present, he could manifest power far greater than before.