Chapter 47 (1/2)

Chapter 47 – Depth of the Abyss (1)

Normal 'skills' would activate at the mere thought or utterance of it. Persisting to use skills in that complacent manner, however, would result in loss of 'depth'. My past self didn't know that, and only after entering Rakshasa Citadale did I realize I was wrong. Perhaps…it may have been an excuse, that being unable to reach the apex was because I had been a Magic Swordsman.

'I hadn't explored deeply.'

I had thought it wasn't possible chasing after those geniuses. I didn't search for the reason why geniuses were geniuses. I settled for self-consolation, that because they were geniuses it was possible for them.

No. I was wrong starting from my presumption. They had known how to 'disa.s.semble' skills. They were able to reach the 'apex' because they had endeavored to understand everything about skills, their theory and structure. Of course, if that was a talent as well then it could be called a talent, because it was a feat which entailed looking at the exterior of a completed machine and a.s.sembling the interior. Here in the place, only after looking into the interior did I realize the error of my ways. Was I to be relieved about this, or to curse at my own stupidity…

The reason why the Heartless Soul Stealer Blade had stopped at the 9th level was simply because its matching 'chakra mind art' was missing, and the other Magic Swordsman skills couldn't reach Lv10 because I only knew how to simply use them.

The only limitation of a Magic Swordsman was that it wasn't possible to learn 'S-rank skills'. Just that. But perhaps there may even be a way around that as well. I had lost myself in the use of the skills and rapid initial development, however, and failed to see what was important, ignoring it.

'Dumba.s.s.'

Could there be anything more stupid than this? And to think, despite it all I kept harping on about the apex. I had a mind to hide in a rat hole out of embarra.s.sment.

Growl!

Etaqua approached and licked my face, instantly covering it in s...o...b..r. Having felt the disturbance in my heart, he was trying to comfort me in his own way.

“Rascal.”

Etaqua was innocent. He was like a white drawing paper, albeit of a large size. Anything that was written or drawn was taken in as is, so his achievements in 'Hundred-step Ghost Fist' were higher than me. Etaqua was in the midst of learning how to maximise the use of the least amount of mana in order to a.s.sist physical attacks.

I wasn't alone. I had more time than I did in the past, and the ways in which I could grow stronger were unlimited as well. Everything depended on my will.

“Then let's have another go.”

I held out my palm, and Etaqua moved his tail to face my palm. And then…

Whooos.h.!.+

Wind gathered between my palm and Etaqua's tail. It gathered into a sphere and continuously spun in a spiral. It was an extremely delicate process. The slightest loss of concentration would result in the spiraling sphere to scatter into air. It was a kind of compet.i.tion. Whenever there was time like now, together with Etaqua I would practise the theory of force penetration regarding the aspect of 'rotation' and to maximise it.

..

..

My shoulders felt light. I relaxed all tension in my body after hearing Yuseol's words of advice. Doing the best I could to produce the best possible result still wasn't enough, so it was only natural that being stiff as a board would only drag me down.

'If you can't avoid it, enjoy it!'

From then on I began to 'enjoy' everything I was going through. Many times I had to grit and bear the merciless pain, but it lessened a degree when I thought of it as the foothold for my success. As time went by, the surrounding reactions changed as well.

“Truly have to admit his willpower.”

“I feel raring to go just watching.”

“There was a time when I was like that as well.”

Yaksha were warriors at their core. Watching the weakling, namely myself, putting in unceasing effort and diligently working roused their emotions as well. There must have been a sense of pressure too. Day by day I was changing slowly. They were also aware of that fact, because they watched every day. They wouldn't want to taste the humiliation of being caught up to by someone they thought of as a weakling, a bottom-feeder.

Gibber! Screech!

A rank 2 white monkey. I still wasn't its opponent with my current abilities. It laughed cringingly upon seeing me appear again. Seeing the guy getting beaten up every other day unfailingly show up again, it must find it funny. Opening Mind's Eye, I examined its status window today as well.

Name: Rank 2 White Monkey (Value – 7,850)

Race: Beast

Stats:

Str 55b Agi 60a Con 53b

Int 41b Mag 51b

Potential (260/300)

Skills: 108 Dash(Lv5), Free Breakfall(Lv3), Monkey Fist(Lv6)

The abilities of rank 2 white monkeys were approximately within this range. The stats itself were similar to rank 3 white monkeys as well, but the problem was that they knew how to use martial arts from rank 2 and above. 108 Dash and Monkey Fist. These two made for an extremely tricky combination.

'Today, I will win.'

But today I was different. Today, at least, I decided to take it extremely seriously. I took a stance and clenched my fists. Deeping inhaling, I then slowly moved my feet.

Screeech!

Had it noticed the difference in my atmosphere compared to the past? The white monkey bared its teeth as it ferociously pounced at me.

Boom! Boo-boo-boom!

The Monkey Fist raining down from the air was greatly intimidating. It gave off the impression as if the fists were increasing by two, and three. Instantly my shoulder was sc.r.a.ped by a fist and my body was blown back. But it didn't sound like it had hit muscle, instead sounding as if it had hit a sack of rice. This was due to the effects of Vajra Body, an external art that reduced the damage of physical attacks. I had intended for this as well. I had no thoughts of blocking in the first place.

'Trade flesh for bones.'

Wham!

Focusing the subtleties of Hundred-step Ghost Fist, I attacked the white monkey right in its stomach. It was sent flying far, getting up again stumbling and shaking its head.

Screech!

Enraged, it then stomped the ground as it pounced at me using movement arts. I didn't dodge. During the past few days my Vajra Body had reached the 3rd level.

'3rd level Vajra Body has roughly 30% physical resistance.'

I was in the midst of feeling, with my whole body, the thrice effect of roughly 10% resistance having increased with the rise of each level. At 3rd level, I got the feeling that even if I was stabbed with a sword, it wouldn't even pierce me properly.

Bam! Smack!

It was a hideous slugfest. No matter how much my physical resistance had increased, the white monkey's attacks still shook the entirety of my body. But the white monkey as well couldn't remain unharmed. While Vajra Body was at 3rd level, Hundred-step Ghost Fist was still at 1st level.

'It's hard to use it to good effect unless I can get real close.'

In exchange, there shouldn't be anything better for attacking than Hundred-step Ghost Fist in extreme close-quarters.

'Now.'

I clenched my jaws, and caught the white monkey pouncing on me with my left hand. After locking it in place to prevent evasion, I struck the white monkey's body with my right fist.

Bam!