Surviving the Primeval Era (3)
The pain gradually subsided. Yet the aftershocks lingered, sending pinpricks of heat tingling through every corner of my body.
Phew.
I had genuinely almost died—from shock, if nothing else. It had felt as though I was being ripped apart alive. Even so, somehow I had endured the agony without letting out a single scream. A quiet swell of pride welled up within me.
Running a hand over my abdomen, I found the puncture wound completely healed. Even tensing my core brought no pain. Was I completely recovered? What was more, my skin felt slightly firmer, denser than before. That, too, had to be the result of circulating magic power through my entire body. Who knew channeling mana would yield such benefits?
I crawled slowly out of the makeshift burrow beneath the tree roots, surveying the surroundings before taking stock of my physical condition.
I arrived at a conclusion.
“...If I fight one again, I think I could take it without a scratch.”
“[I told you dangerous hunting is out of the question!]”
Magic power really was a fantastical substance. Simply possessing it bestowed all manner of beneficial effects. Moreover, having opened my magic circuits, my body felt indescribably refreshed—past peak condition, so invigorated it felt like I was riding some kind of high.
Still, don't stories usually say that clearing magic circuits purges impurities from the body? This part diverged from what I thought I knew.
“[Because there were no impurities to begin with.]”
What?
“[I’m not sure how you changed during the dimensional transit, but a body that pure is difficult to craft even if someone tried on purpose. Fascinating, isn't it?]”
“That’s...”
Somehow, that pristine cleanliness felt creepy. It made it sound as if someone had scrubbed every inch of me clean and assembled me stitch by stitch. Well, I suppose a good thing was still a good thing.
“More importantly, any change in my stats?”
“[Yes, of course! Strength, Agility, and Stamina each rose by 1, and your Magic Power shot up by 5. It’s an incredible improvement!]”
No wonder my body felt almost excessively light.
Sliding smoothly into a full split, I reviewed my growth over the past few days. Starting from an ordinary human baseline, I had advanced to a level a good couple of spans beyond human limitations. If I entered the Olympics right now, I could sweep gold medals across the board regardless of the event.
Yet the process hadn't always been smooth, nor had it been safe. Yesterday in particular, I had genuinely skirted death.
Ugh...
Just recalling it brought on a throbbing headache. That sensation of the world freezing for an instant—and alongside it, the horrific memory of the raptor's talons tearing through my flesh.
“[Are you all right?]”
Reigning in my breathing, which had grown ragged without my noticing, I patted the back of my neck with the back of my hand. It was drenched in cold sweat.
Thanks, Belba.
“[Hang in there. If I knew how to feel pain, I would have shared the burden with you. It’s a pity. Truly.]”
Sure, sure. I'm glad you're here.
Giving a small nod, I reflected on yesterday's battle once more.
The odds had definitely been in my favor. In fact, it was more than that—I had been confident I could win without taking a single hit. From the moment I resolved to hunt a raptor, I had taken my time observing and analyzing the beast. Its instantaneous acceleration. Its maximum output of power. The shearing force of its favored talons. Even any trump card it might conceal. I had spent two full days preparing and exhausting myself for that single hunt. And I had concluded that it was weaker than me. That I could easily bring it down.
Indeed, the raptor's stats weren't as high as one might expect. I held a clear advantage in both strength and speed, and the techniques I utilized were far superior. It was a fight I couldn't lose.
Yet contrary to expectations, the outcome was me dipping my head into the River Jordan and barely clawing my way back from the grave.
Why?
The reason was simple: I had no idea how to properly wield the power and body I possessed. In other words, I lacked technique and experience. Unlike the raptor I had faced.
No matter how much raw power I held, until recently I was an ordinary civilian who had never even swung a kitchen knife in anger. The raptor was a wild predator that staked its life daily to secure its meals. The gulf between us was vast—vast enough to bridge an overwhelming difference in raw capability and inflict a mortal wound.
In the end, I survived and the raptor died, but... if we had possessed identical strength and speed, I wouldn't have lasted ten seconds. Of that, I was certain.
“So, I’ve decided to put a stop to it.”
“[Really?]”
“Yeah. Perfecting control over the power I already have has to come first.”
Clumsily inflating my frame without knowing how to use it would only multiply the danger. What I needed was something more fundamental.
“I need to build actual skill.”
Stats weren't everything. If I kept growing by just throwing rocks like before, I was bound to be devoured by a stronger enemy eventually. This battle had made me certain of that.
As I finished my stretching and began carving a spear, Belba cried out in shock.
“[You’re going to fight again?!]”
What else was there to do?
Belba had, well, an overprotective streak. It made me feel like I was getting special treatment, though.
Honestly, I knew full well how reckless my plan was. I had nearly died just yesterday, and here I was, setting out to fight again. Madness, pure and simple.
Yet both the raptors and I occupied the absolute bottom rung of this world's food chain. Just look at the pterosaurs soaring through the sky—not long ago, I watched one fire a sonic blast that blew a dinosaur tens of meters long into bloody chunks. Was there any guarantee such a monster wouldn't suddenly drop right in front of me tomorrow?
No one else was going to take responsibility for my life. I had to protect it myself. Besides, on a personal level, I burned with a desire to grow stronger. The justification and the practical benefits were both crystal clear.
“[But...]”
“Don’t worry. If things look bad, I’ll run. Raptors can’t climb trees anyway.”
At least when it came to climbing trees, no creature in this vicinity could beat me. And this was a dense, sprawling jungle. If push came to shove, I could bolt in an instant.
Having reassured Belba, I selected a suitable raptor and spent several hours observing it, just like before. The verdict: my Strength, Agility, and Stamina were all vastly superior. It didn't seem to possess any special abilities, either.
All right. Don't let your guard down. As long as I stay alert, there shouldn't be any danger.
Dropping down from the canopy, I settled into a stance. Spotting me, the raptor let out a screeching roar.
“Belba, translate.”
“[Bizarre prey! Looks hideous!]”
“[A human who does nothing but pointlessly dangerous things!]”
“...The second one is just what you wanted to say!”
I thrust the spear forward in a straight line.
Now that combat had begun, the increase in my stats made itself keenly felt. The spear shot out far faster and harder than before, streaking straight toward the raptor's throat.
“Kraaaah!”
The raptor leaped backward in a panic, retreating several paces.
...Huh? That was a reaction it had never shown before. I hadn't done anything special, so where did that difference come from?
More importantly, this was an opening. My thoughts, accelerated by intense focus, laid out multiple choices before me.
Step in deeper?
Fall back and watch?
Its posture was broken, making this seem like the prime moment, but having been mauled yesterday, I hesitated to charge in recklessly. In a situation like this, what was the right way to attack?
My deliberation didn't last long.
Taking a step forward, I leaned slightly back, coiling like a spring, and hurled the spear with all my might.
“Kh... khehh...”
Whoa.
The launched spear flew at a speed that felt unbelievable for a throw of my own making. Even I could barely track its flight. My physical strength alone couldn't possibly have produced that kind of velocity. In fact, as if magic power had assisted the movement, a subtle heat began to bloom across my body.
“[That’s right. You naturally channeled magic power just now.]”
No wonder. Before coming here, I had tried throwing spears several times with this body, so I knew I couldn't produce even half that speed on muscle alone.
I stared blankly at the spear, which had completely pierced through the raptor's neck and embedded itself deep into the tree behind it.
“...Now what do I do?”
This... ruined my plans.
I had intended to hone my combat instincts through repeated clashes with raptors. But for that, I had simply grown too strong.
I clenched and unclenched my fists a couple of times. Was this what it felt like to wake up as One-Punch Man?
Right then, my body began to heat up even further. At the same time, an unsettling sense of euphoria washed over my mind. My heart pounded relentlessly against my ribs, and a grin refused to leave my lips. An exhilaration incomparably stronger than any pleasure I had ever experienced drummed against my skull like a feverish beat.
What is this? What am I feeling?
Was this what doing drugs felt like? I had never tried them, but it seemed impossible for anything to feel better than this. Suspicion began to creep in. Had I been hit with some kind of mental attack?
“[It’s because your emotional state is in complete shambles. You were suddenly transported to this dimension, faced mortal peril, and stayed in a state of extreme tension, which overloaded your brain. When you used magic power on top of that, your ability to regulate dopamine temporarily short-circuited. You're not in your right mind.]”
Belba offered an apt diagnosis.
Mmm.
Did that mean I would feel like this every time I channeled mana from now on?
“[As you grow accustomed to using it and your realm advances, the side effects will gradually diminish.]”
That’s a relief.
More urgently, I needed to get these boiling emotions under control right now. Hiding in a safe vantage point, I took slow, measured breaths.
Dark impulses shoved violently at my back.
I want to kill. I want to slaughter them. I want to grow stronger. I want to tear them apart and devour their flesh.
Whenever I shut my eyes, a vision flashed through my head of myself drenched in blood, ravenously ripping into raw meat. If I failed to master the emotions roiling within me, that was precisely the monster I would become.
And then I would die. Losing my mind wouldn't make me any stronger.
“[If you go insane, Miss Yoo Yeon-ah, I will be terribly sad!]”
Same here. If Belba ever changed, I would be deeply sorrowed too. Come what may, Belba was the only one here by my side.