Chapter 40

Chapter 040

In only a few days, the investigation team was formed.

Persica, Jin Sohwi, and I led twenty people toward South Spirit Mountain.

“The mountain terrain is rough, so be careful.”

South Spirit Mountain was a lonely, towering mountain standing in the southern part of the second floor.

There was a tributary of the Styxia River nearby, so it was extremely humid, and because the trees and undergrowth were dense, it was difficult to move through.

‘Coming here in person is absolute torture.’

It was unpleasant and exhausting.

When I had seen it through a monitor, it had not looked like much, but experiencing it in person, there was no hardship quite like this.

The problem was that the discomfort index was not the only thing tormenting us.

“Cough, cough! Ugh, I feel nauseous.”

Persica, whose complexion had turned pale, ran to a nearby thicket and vomited.

It was because of the side effects of the second floor.

“Is it not funny to suffer Hypoxia even inside a forest?”

“Sohwi, you seem fine.”

“For all I may look like this, I am practically someone who has nearly graduated from the second floor.”

The way he grinned made me rather envious.

It was not as though I was completely fine either. I was only relatively better, but I had been dizzy and nauseous for a while now.

‘I have to increase my Mana quantity quickly.’

Every Mana Stone we obtained from this investigation would be thrown into Mana Stone Absorption.

While I was burning with the desire to overcome the side effects, Jin Sohwi approached beside me and spoke in a subtle voice.

“Once we return and you create your Dantian, let us have a Sparring match.”

“Do you have to talk about fighting in front of someone who is suffering?”

“What am I supposed to do when I am itching for it? I am the person who watched the entire process of you learning the White Cloud Sword Method.”

From the moment I learned the White Cloud Sword Method, Jin Sohwi had wanted to Spar with me.

Apparently, if there was someone who showed promise, he wanted to fight them once.

He already had a strong competitive streak, and after seeing me learn the White Cloud Sword Method in an instant, his body seemed to be burning with eagerness.

“Fine, then. It seems like it would help me too.”

“Good! Young Lady Persica, how about a Sparring match with me later as well?”

“Shut…… up…… do not talk to me…….”

That side was hopeless.

I had tried to leave her behind because I thought she would be like this, but she insisted that she would go and followed us anyway.

Well, even though she looked like that, she did not fall behind and fought well enough, so I could not say anything……

‘At this rate, she will collapse.’

Her face had no blood in it, making her look like a walking corpse.

Since the condition of the investigation team members was not very good either, it seemed best to finish the investigation as quickly as possible.

“……Ahead. Gigantia.”

Persica, who had been looking ahead with a haggard face, announced the approach of the Gigantia.

Seeing the grass sway in the distance, she quietly gave instructions.

“Isran, take the front. Young Master, watch both sides with the others. I will watch the rear.”

“Understood.”

“My name is just Jin Sohwi.”

We swiftly dispersed into position.

I, whose condition was relatively fine and whose ability was far superior, took the front.

Jin Sohwi, who was the most intact, took care of the team members and watched both sides.

And Persica watched the rear, where vigilance was needed.

‘Her orders really are good.’

Every time I saw her give orders like that immediately, I found it quite fascinating.

She was naturally suited to be a leader.

─Chrrrrrr……

The distinctive cry of a Gigantia tickled my ears.

I raised my sword while looking at the massive centipede approaching.

‘Shall I try the White Cloud Sword Method?’

I was curious about how much power “complete” swordsmanship, unfolded while operating Mana, would display.

I did not have the Skills or Magic to use with it, but I could simply omit those parts and connect the rest.

The White Cloud Sword Method was easy, so before trying Ishara’s swordsmanship, it should be good enough as a warm-up.

─SHRIEEEEK!

My lightly stepping foot nimbly dug into the Gigantia’s opening.

At the same time, the Mana throughout my body activated and began circulating along with my movements.

[White Cloud Sword Method: Buddha Patriarch]

[First Form – Rising Cloud]

CRUNCH!

The strike I smoothly swung upward cut through the hard carapace in an instant.

Even putting aside the improved performance of the sword, I could feel that its power had increased several times over compared to before.

‘So this is the feeling.’

The motto of the White Cloud Sword Method was strength within softness.

The movements were soft like a dance, and the sword strikes were firm like waves.

I infused Mana into the chant that connected the twelve forms.

Then my footsteps became clouds, and the sword strike I thrust out became a surging wave.

[White Cloud Sword Method: Buddha Patriarch]

[Second Form – Gathering Turbulence]

CRACK!

─Shrieee……

The Gigantia, whose mouth was cleanly cut away first, died on the spot.

I had not even aimed for a weak point, but it died in one blow.

This clearly showed how great the amplification of attack power from swordsmanship was.

“Not bad.”

It felt fairly good.

I swung my sword without stopping, and it did not take even five minutes to slaughter the remaining ones.

‘As expected, it is easier than Ishara’s swordsmanship.’

Buddha Patriarch had a low frequency of Skill usage, and among the forms, there were even some that did not use Skills at all, so it was convenient to use.

In truth, most Martial Arts were apparently like this.

Skills merely decorated the decisive blow, and most of the time, the ordinary sections were the majority, just like this.

What made Skill usage almost compulsory was the unique peculiarity of Ishara’s swordsmanship.

That was because it was swordsmanship built on the basic premise of using “Parrying.”

Since Parrying had to be operated like a basic attack, it took that form, and the difficulty also shot upward as an added bonus.

“Is that truly the swordsmanship of a junior so far beneath us?”

“So it was true that he reached Great Completion in Buddha Patriarch in five days…….”

“It took me five years just to reach that point!”

Voices of astonishment came from here and there.

Seeing that they were watching me, it seemed the other sides had already been cleaned up.

“Just how much do you intend to crush the spirits of our House members?”

Jin Sohwi approached from the side and spoke mischievously.

“The more I see you, the stranger you become. No matter how outstanding your talent may be, your speed of learning is bizarre.”

“Who knows. Maybe it is because it is easier than what I was originally learning.”

“Easier……?”

Jin Sohwi’s voice jumped slightly.

Hm…… Was that a little rude?

In a sense, it might have sounded like I was looking down on the White Cloud Sword Method.

“Sorry. I spoke too harshly—”

“It is only natural that Martial Arts have ranks, so do not mind it. More importantly, you say it is easier than your original swordsmanship? If possible, could I see it once more?”

Rather than being bothered by the fact that I called his House swordsmanship easy, Jin Sohwi seemed more curious about Ishara’s swordsmanship, which I used.

He had seen a glimpse of it when we first met, so his curiosity seemed to have exploded.

“When there is a chance.”

We stopped marching for a moment and examined the dead centipedes.

It was to organize the characteristics they had shown and decide the direction we would take.

“They felt more persistent than usual, right?”

“Yeah. Their aggression seems to have risen tremendously too.”

Gigantia were generally timid creatures that did not leave their territory easily.

As long as one did not enter their territory, they were considered non-aggressive monsters.

On top of that, they had the characteristic of fleeing when their Health dropped……

‘They fought as though their lives depended on it.’

The ones that had died in one blow were one thing, but it was strange that even after receiving fatal wounds, they did not flee.

It was as though their eyes had rolled back for some reason and they had gone berserk.

“Young Master, does anything come to mind?”

“Hmm…… If anything, there are too many possibilities. There are countless reasons monsters might go berserk.”

That was true.

Ethrana Exodus was also a famous event restaurant.

I remembered users lamenting that even when similar events occurred, the causes were all different.

They said that because there were too many possibilities, it was hard to make a strategy.

“Hm?”

As I was nodding because that thought came to mind, I suddenly felt gazes on me and raised my head.

Sure enough, everyone, including Persica and Jin Sohwi, was looking at me.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Do you not know anything?”

“Isran, you seem to know many things.”

“…….”

……Yes, I am a vending machine that spits something out when pressed.

I did not know about Jin Sohwi, but Persica seemed to think of me as something like Wikipedia.

It could not be helped. If a newbie called for help, what could a veteran player do but step forward?

“In cases like this, most of the time it is solved by beating the boss.”

There was no need to take the long way around.

Minimize hunting, break through in a straight line to the boss zone, then hunt the Leader.

Most of these berserk events returned to normal if the head was reset.

“Good. Then let’s do that.”

Watching Persica decide entirely according to my words, the investigation team members expressed concern.

“Will that really be enough?”

“I do not know much, but…… I think it would be better to look around a little more……”

Their opinions were reasonable.

Normally, gathering more data and cross-checking it would be the orthodox method.

I thought so too, but Persica snorted and answered.

“When we do not know what is what, roughly listening to him usually turns out to be right.”

“…….”

“If you understand, let’s go. I want to finish quickly and rest.”

It was quite outrageous how openly she treated me like a wiki.

Are you sure about that? Are you going to take responsibility if people suspect me of being a Possessor because of that?

‘Come to think of it, I already did something grand enough for that.’

Well, the game had ended the moment I chewed through Buddha Patriarch in five days.

The reason I was not being suspected despite that was probably because of Jin Baek.

He had gone around shouting to the whole neighborhood that I was a talent monster bestowed by heaven or whatever.

“Do you know the boss’s location?”

“I know that. I will guide you.”

Jin Sohwi took the lead until the boss zone.

We cut through the dense forest and climbed the mountain, completely exhausted.

‘I feel like I am dying.’

I miss my mom and dad…….

Sorry, Ishara…… for making you run around places like this all the time in the game……

While I was having a belated time of repentance, Persica, now half a corpse, stopped the expedition team.

“Stop…… Hah…… St-Stop…….”

She was about to stop breathing.

Persica, almost collapsing as she panted, placed her ear against the ground.

A few seconds passed like that before she opened her mouth.

“Something large is approaching.”

“Hey, Sohwi. Come to the back and watch the people.”

“I will do that.”

I switched positions with Jin Sohwi.

Standing at the front, I asked Persica.

“How many?”

“One.”

“I will take it.”

I had wanted to try Ishara’s swordsmanship too, so this worked out well.

I would use this bastard as the opponent and—

SHAAAAK!

“……Hm?”

However, when the creature revealed itself, I paused for a moment.

‘Why is this appearing now?’

It was a centipede whose body was one and a half times larger than an ordinary Gigantia.

A kind of Named Monster.

According to the setting, when this thing grew up, it later became the boss……

‘But this one should only appear after the boss has been defeated, right?’

Something was strange.

I had a bad feeling, but since it revealed hostility for now, I aimed my sword.

Since it had come to this, I would take it down as quickly as possible.

‘Shall I try it?’

I assumed the preparatory stance that Ishara’s swordsmanship had.

Until now, I had restrained myself because I was afraid my body would break.

Since I knew my Mana operation had been wrong, if I messed up, I could end up in a state similar to when I had used my Unique Ability.

“A moment should be fine.”

The bastard charged.

At the same time, the sword I swung upward precisely burst with a violet flash of Mysticism.

BOOM!

The bastard, deflected by Parrying, staggered dangerously.

At the same time, using that Parry as the starting point, I detonated Mana throughout my entire body.

“……!”

A sensation both unfamiliar and familiar tingled through my spinal cord.

My steps extended in a strange yet light rhythm.

My form, shooting forward as if possessed by a god, activated Parrying accurately against the centipede that had just begun charging.

CLA-CLANG!

Wait, did I just measure the timing?

No. I had not calculated it. The Parry had simply burst out naturally.

The next one, and the one after that too.

I skipped the entire process of measuring the angle and timing, and drove every Parry into the right place at the right time.

CRAAANG! CLANG! CLAAANG!

The centipede looked almost pitiful as it bounced away like a rubber ball every time it attacked.

After being bounced around and accumulating wounds, the creature eventually let its body go limp and trembled.

Its Groggy had burst.

STAB!

─Shrieee……

Like that, the centipede, stabbed through its weak point by the accumulated 「Counterattack」, died.

It had all happened in a moment that did not even last thirty seconds.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Everyone was at a loss for words.

I was surprised too.

Honestly, I had not expected it to be this strong.

When I used the White Cloud Sword Method, the Gigantia had at least resisted, but this time, even a Named-class creature had been helplessly beaten down.

‘This is insane.’

The bastard had been thoroughly played around by my movements.

I bound it with chaotic trajectories, restricting and guiding its actions.

Within the sword dance I unfolded, the bastard could only perform the actions I allowed at the moments I allowed them.

‘It was not that I did not measure the timing…… There was no need to measure it.’

I realized the true nature of the sense of incongruity.

Because its movements and attacks were all in my hands, there was no need to deliberately wait for an attack and measure the timing.

I had guided it so that Parrying would burst at the moment I wanted.

‘This is an incredible technique.’

Even though I had only unfolded it for a brief moment with a rough outline, it was this powerful.

If I created a Core and became able to use this completely……

“Ugh.”

My thoughts ended there.

As expected, the backlash came.

Along with intense pain throughout my body, I felt the side effects I had been suppressing surge in all at once.

In the end, I vomited everything in my stomach.

“Uweeegh!”

Ugh…… My stomach burned.

Jin Sohwi, who came over and patted my back, spoke in a dazed voice.

“So your words about the sword method being easy were not a joke.”

“Give me a Potion…….”

Perhaps everyone else felt the same astonishment as the stunned Jin Sohwi.

From that day onward, no one in the expedition team objected to my words.

***

After several days of mountain travel that felt like death, we arrived at the summit of South Spirit Mountain, where the Leader was.

The ceiling of the second floor felt close enough to touch.

Thinking that we had broken through the dense jungle to climb all the way here, my mind grew faint all over again.

“Something is strange.”

However, the situation before us was unusual enough that such impressions no longer mattered.

The closer we got to the summit, the more dead Gigantia corpses were scattered everywhere.

“Did they kill each other?”

“These centipedes do not have such a habit.”

Just as Jin Sohwi said, the centipedes had traces of being killed by others all over them.

Some had holes in them, while others had been burned.

The traces varied, but I could tell what sort of technique it was.

‘Magic.’

Someone had killed them with Magic.

In other words, there was someone here before us besides ourselves.

“Let’s go to where the boss is.”

We hurried toward the cave at the summit where the boss should have been.

Originally, it should have been a place filled with ominous energy and packed with Gigantia.

There, the boss of this place, Gigantress, lay dead with a hole in its head.

“It is already dead?”

Persica checked the bastard’s wound and shook her head.

At a glance, that was clearly a fatal wound.

I realized that I had not been mistaken when the Named Monster appeared earlier.

“Let’s leave. I have a bad feeling.”

Here too. There too.

Gigantic centipede corpses were sprawled throughout the cave.

Some were so old that most of them had rotted away, but others were not very decomposed.

‘They are all Gigantress.’

Someone had definitely killed the boss every time it respawned.

Only then did I realize why the centipedes’ eyes had rolled back like that.

‘Damn it, why did I not think of that?’

It was too foolish a thing to do, and there were not many people who knew about it, so I had not even considered it.

The berserk event that occurred when the boss was killed repeatedly in the Gigantia Nest.

This was a summoning gimmick.

It was a kind of ritual that summoned South Spirit Mountain’s “Hidden Boss.”

“We are going back. As quickly as possible!”

“What is happening—”

“I will explain later. Right now, we need to get out of here—”

RRRRRRR……

At that moment, as soon as we left the cave, I felt an unusual vibration rising through the ground.

“Wh-What is that?”

“The mountain……”

The people began to panic.

“We are screwed.”

It was too late.

At the shadow suddenly cast over us, everyone’s gazes turned toward the sky.

“…….”

It was a centipede so gigantic that one might as well call it a dragon.

A centipede that had failed to become a dragon.

The master of the spirit mountain.

“……Great Mountain Centipede.”

The Hidden Boss, Great Mountain Centipede.

It was a 5-star Boss Monster.