Chapter 12 Part1 (1/2)
<chapter 12.=”” joker=”” apprentice=”” -=”” 1=””>
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's spirit changed, and Jin, who he was communicating with, was the first to react to it.
”You're going to face it head on? You've been attacking using Catapult all this time; can't you just keep doing that!?”
”No matter how much stronger I've gotten from the Avenger skill, there's no guarantee I'll be able to penetrate it's skin. It's even more impossible due to the blood whips that ensued from the direct hit to the stomach.”
The blood whips were quick, powerful, and contained deep magic within, so they were even strong against magic attacks, but against Self-Destruct, which was both powerful and explosive, they seemed to have futilely disappeared, so he could determine that they had low durability.
If there was one thing he trusted in, it was this: that he could take it down right now, while his abilities were strengthened by the Avenger skill!
”There's no other way. I'll make sure you can get away before you die, so go!”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo firmly resolved himself, pulled out his sword, and gripped it. A sword would be more suitable to deal with those whips that nimbly flew towards them than a heavy axe. He wasn't yet confident in his martial arts proficiency, but he had no choice right now.
”Everything doesn't work out if I'm the only one who survives, though... Ah, whatever!”
In the end, Jin gave up and instantly changed directions, das.h.i.+ng towards the Treasure Eater. As if it were awaiting them, it sharpened its blood whips akin to skewers, and the whips flew everywhere!
Compared to last time, they were much weaker, but in exchange, there were at least twice the amount pressuring him from all sides. With Jin's astonis.h.i.+ngly quick reactions, they were able to avoid around half of them, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had to deal with the rest.
'If I fail, I just have to get Jin to run away, and die alone. From there, through Invisible Heart, I'll become level 4, and can then kill it. ...However, if it's at all possible, I'd rather not die...!'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo glared and gritted his teeth. Then, he activated Combat Sprint, and drew at his connection with Jin.
He desperately needed Jin's speed right now. If he could apply even just a little bit of that speed...!
[Guwooooooooooh!]
No matter how superb Combat Sprint is or how much he communes with the highly agile Jin, it was impossible for him to ascertain the trajectory of each and every one of the attacks a level 5 elite monster launched.
Because of that, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided to think in reverse. He didn't track the attack's starting point, nor its trajectory. Instead, he grasped its final destination and would block it from there!
'First, I'll take care of the ones closest to me in order... Now!'
His decision was truly outstanding. His senses, which he sharpened as much he could, caught the whip flying towards his head; at the same time, he instinctually thrust his sword, successfully cutting through the middle of the whip! The severed whip returned to being a normal stream of blood, and futilely moistened the ground.
[Kyaaaahk!]
The Treasure Eater yelled, but that was just the beginning. Immediately after severing one whip, his sword turned directions, as if it were alive, and cut through another whip! And faster, even faster than before!
'I can do it... I can! Now!'
He perfectly detected everything within the narrow radius, with him at its center, and struck down anything that trespa.s.sed within. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wasn't well aware of it yet, but this was often called the 'Defense Zone' by the Empire's knights.
It was a skill that could only be developed by balancing one's physical senses and mana senses; it wasn't a standard skill, but it was certainly something a defender must learn. The level of a knight will differ based on the width of this 'Defense Zone', so it wasn't necessary to say just how important it was.
[The Low Rank Combat Sprint skill has become Lv9. Agility has increased by 3.]
[The Low Rank Bursting Thunder skill has become Lv8. Strength, and magic increase by 1.]
[The Low Rank Horseback Riding skill has become Lv5. Agility has increased by 3.]
[The Low Rank Mana Bone skill has become Lv7. Magic has increased by 5.]
[It is possible to level up to level 4. Would you like to receive the karma that has been prepared for you alone? It is also possible to very briefly put it off.]
While in the middle of that his skills rose, and he acquired stats, allowing for the level up he had so ardently wished for. However, it was truly ironic that he didn't read the messages as he was so focused on cutting down the whips and advancing closer to the Treasure Eater.
[You have deferred receiving the karma you must receive in favor of your immediate revenge. That is a true Avenger's instinct. The Beginner Avenger skill has become Lv10, evolving into the low rank level. All stats have increased by 2. When you fight against the target of your revenge, all abilities increase by 40%, and when you succeed in your vengeance, your stats increase.]
'Good... My detection range is gradually widening!'
His Avenger skill grew, and the increased abilities sharpened his senses and quickened his attacks! He didn't let go of this momentum, drew all his strength, and moved his body.
[Kuwaaaaaaaaaaaahk!]
The blood whips, which seemed like they would immediately pierce through his head, were cut apart like straws, spreading blood everywhere. His physical senses, his mana senses, as well as Jin's connection harmonized together, causing him to fall into a trance.
Even Jin, who had a connection with him, had fallen into a trance as well!
'Huh!?'
How long had he been instinctually swinging his sword around and running around with Jin? There were no longer any whips that stretched out from the Treasure Eater.
By the time he noticed, he had already arrived right in front of the Treasure Eater. He had successfully severed all those whips! Though there were holes pierced through his armor in various areas, he had survived.
”Now, let's start the second round Ste...”
[Kureureuaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]
However, the moment Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was going to make a bold declaration, Steve roared and spat out a clot of blood, one so large that it looked like it could trap both Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Jin.
It had seen how easily Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had taken care of the whips, and purposefully acted as if it were panicking, drawing him into a close distance!
”Ugh!”
”Heut...!”
At that timing, many things happened; firstly, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo aimed at the Treasure Eater's gaping maw, due to it spitting out a blood clot, and launched his arm inside.
[The Low Rank Catapult skill has become Lv5. Agility has increased by 2.]
The moment he launched his arm, the force pushed both Jin and Lee s.h.i.+n Woo back; Jin actively utilized the ensuing recoil force and moved his body backwards. It was a perfect evasive maneuver.
However, it seemed as though the Treasure Eater had expected them to run away, as the spat out blood clot followed them with an absurdly quick speed! It swelled brutally, as if it were part of the main body!
”Heup...!”
He needed to use all the methods available to him now. He gritted his teeth, stretched his remaining arm forward, and activated his Acid Poison Spray skill. Like the Acid Ghoul had, he focused his mana and spewed the Acid Poison in a straight line!
It was his sole skill that had reached the intermediate level, and befitting of a high rank skill, the Acid Poison spewed out like a laser; it struck the blood clot, emitted a hair-raising noise, and melted the blood clot away!
”Self-Destruct!”