Chapter 48
The greater the skill’s potential, the more likely it was to be named after various myths worldwide, such as Amaterasu, Isis, Loki, Hermes, Devi, Vishnu, Shiva, Ares, Gaia, Geumgang History, Chang’e, and Emperor of China. These names were also used as indicators for dividing the skills into classes in databases. No one knew the mechanisms behind the skill names, but it was undeniable that while the hunters who had them were all already strong to begin with, these names gave them even more confidence.
The closer the hunter was to S-class, the more likely it was that the individual would derive their codename from their major skills. The codename of the unofficial Sixth Virtue, who had been the original owner of this skill, was Odin. He was flighty in daily life, but became the incarnation of Odin during battles. He was like a thunderstorm itself, and my stats, for now, would be as low as those mutts to him. But now, it was the time to let these mutts have a taste of my thunder!
***
Swoosh.
My swing beheaded the Declan perfectly, and I didn’t even feel my sword cutting through its spine. Normally, I could only do this at E-class Strength, but the lightning flowing down my blade made it possible. If I could continue effortlessly beheading them in one stroke, I could go through this by myself.
I waited behind the broken door, since this was an advantageous spot. No matter how many mutts there were in front of me, the number of those who could attack me at any given time was bound to be limited.
The problem was how long my Strength would last…
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
The message dissipated as another mutt’s head was shoved through the doorway, and its chest filled the spot where the message popped up.
Sshhluck!
I stabbed it so hard that the blade stuck out of its back before pulling it out. I kicked the corpse away as it leaned toward me.
Following that, I pierced the third mutt’s face, and the monsters must have realized something was off after seeing three dead bodies piled up in front of me. Another came jumping in thoughtlessly and became number four. I kicked the body under my feet.
The mutts were no longer sprinting towards me, but they were still willing to fight. The number of them increased while they maintained their distance from my sword. I quickly checked the corridor behind me. If they had triggered the alarm, one of the remaining doors in the entrance would have been opened, and another pack of mutts would’ve rushed in.
Fortunately, there was no sound from the back, which meant the alarm had not been triggered yet. Was there a sorcerer who knew how to trigger the alarm among this bunch of Declan scouts?
Since I didn’t have the Monster Alarm Insignia, they were more intimidating to me. The only thing that comforted me in this situation was that there was probably only one sorcerer. I was risking my life depending on that fact, and if I faced another group… And if they had a sorcerer… Damn it. I had no choice but to believe in myself.
The confrontation was getting prolonged. Considering my F-class Strength and the duration of my skill, I couldn’t waste any more time. I had to either advance or retreat, so I took a step backward and then another.
My leg had not recovered as I still felt the pain, and I would drive them into a frenzy if I showed them my back. I saw countless mutts through the open door. How many are there? I had to kill all of them but didn’t have a tanker or a healer with me. There was only one wounded damage dealer: me.
***
Even though this was one of the many rooms in the dungeon, my goal had changed instantly from completing the One on One Battle quest to mere survival. This situation was inevitable, since I had to come here alone. However, there was no other option as the world had changed and I came in of my own volition.
Oh, mother… Mother…
One of them jumped toward me as if it had noticed the anxiety in my eyes. I realized that its muscles were particularly more developed than others when I stabbed its chest. My eyes widened in surprise when I felt the tip of my sword breaking through its skin, muscles and ribs. Although the sword punched through its back, I knew that this monster was different from the others. I reached out in a hurry to block its darting head, but it moved faster and dodged my hand.
The mutt pushed its head and chomped down on my shoulder with all its might. My legs shook, but I couldn’t let go of my blade. I was fortunate I hadn’t taken my hands from my sword as it pushed itself until the sword’s guard slammed against its chest.
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
This freak finally died, and the head that bit me was tearing into the flesh of my shoulder with the weight of its limp body.
“Ugghhhh…”
I tried to shove away the body as the pain increased. The dead mutt’s teeth were digging into my shoulder and its jaw would not open. I saw other mutts swarming over the dead one’s shoulders, and if they recognized what was going on, it was over for me.
If they poured out at once, I could no longer attack or endure them. I counted up to three inwardly and pushed the dead mutt’s body as hard as I could.
“Aahhhhhhhh!”
I couldn’t stop myself from screaming as the dead monster’s head finally snapped backwards with a chunk of my flesh still in its mouth.
“Ughh…”
I managed to pull out my sword, and kicked another one rushing at me as it jumped over the corpses of its fellows.
Shit. I thought I had gotten used to F-class Strength, but no. I had miscalculated and instinctively raised my sword vertically. That foolish mutt tried to turn itself in the air, but of course, it couldn’t and pierced itself on my blade.
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
I didn’t care about the notifications anymore as I could tell the mutts were dead without it. I couldn’t throw off its body without letting go of my sword, so before I stood up, I took out a dagger from the sheath and threw it at the mutts. Only one fell down, and I didn’t have enough time to think or react.
Earlier I wanted to ignore all of the unspoken rules such as not screaming or not showing my back to the mutts because I desperately wanted to escape this dungeon. However, I didn’t have an Escape Insignia.
My muscles wriggled and my heart beat wildly. My instincts and intellect started giving me different orders. Even after countless experiences like this, I couldn’t get used to it. When the shadow of death was just around the corner, the bloody hand shook again. However, I had not come here without my final trump card.
I exposed my neck to the one rushing toward me. Turn your head back and bite my neck like Dracula and a werewolf.
“Come on in!!!”
***
Crunch!
[You have activated the trait ‘The Man Who Overcomes Adversity.’]
There was no shock and instead, I felt quite calm.
[Your Health class has changed. Change: F → E]
[Your Strength class has changed. Change: F → E]
[Your Sense class has changed. Change: F → E]
[The effect of Odin’s Wrath has changed. Change: F → E]
[Your injuries will be slightly healed.]
[You will be immune to pain temporarily.]
At that moment, I saw a blue light on the ground. The sword that had been standing up due to being stuck in the corpse was now tilting to the side as it melted the mutt’s flesh due to Odin’s Wrath. I reached out to the smoking, stinking void that had been created in the mutt’s body and grabbed the handle of the sword. Following that, I immediately beheaded the monster biting my neck in a single stroke.
I now could feel the strength of the death grip from its teeth when it died, which was unable to feel with my previous F-class Sense. I struck its head with my left fist, and its head bent sideways with the sounds of bone splintering.
Of course, the pain was intense as I felt my skin being torn off by its fangs.
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
I stood up and killed three at once. I sliced one in half at an angle, lowered my blade to slice upwards, and opened it up from crotch to sternum. My sword vertically slashed the third one, and when the mutts hesitated, I used the time to step back with my eyes on them.
They had some intellect, particularly regarding battles. The distance from the entrance was wide enough for them to spread out.
Some of them turned around and tried to attack from behind, but I didn’t let them do that. The rear would soon be completely blocked, but I couldn’t let them obstruct my line of retreat. Four mutts had gone behind my back, and I was now capable of killing all of them.
It became much easier to use my sword with my strengthened skill class, and I was able to swing the monsters much more without dropping them on the ground.
Even if my leg was injured and out of control, it was still better than the leg of an unwounded civilian. That was the difference between class F and E.
I got rid of the four mutts in the rear, and others came behind me like moths to a flame.
And now, their heads were rolling on the floor, pouring out blood.
[You have defeated the Declan scout.]
[You have obtained 2 points.]
[Declan Extermination: Defeat Declan scout 17/60]
Odin’s Wrath lasted thirty minutes, but the trait ‘The Man Who Overcomes Adversity’ only lasted five.
[The Man Who Overcomes Adversity time remaining 0 hours 4 minutes 00 seconds]
[The Man Who Overcomes Adversity time remaining 0 hours 3 minutes 59 seconds]
From the corner of my eyes, I could see the notification messages changing every second. I started running backward, and their growls became louder, as if telling me they wouldn’t let me escape.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om