Chapter 280
Chapter 280
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.62 – What Cause Has a Knight to Fight? (2)
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A tremendous roar, thunderous enough to make one wonder if it truly wasn't lightning striking, didn't just shake the entire space—it hammered into it like a fist.
The weaker monsters' eardrums burst outright, leaving them passed out with eyes rolled back. Even the larger or tougher ones didn't faint, but they froze in terror for a moment, trembling like aspen leaves.
Lion's Roar.
As the saying goes, a lion's roar subdues all beasts, just as the Buddha's sermon subdues demons. But Lee Han's roar wasn't about overwhelming them with profound dharma power or enlightenment like the Buddha's teachings. Instead, it embodied sheer spirit and fighting will, smashing the foe outright.
A path of subjugation through raw power.
Though he'd borrowed the name, it was a bold declaration that he was forging his own way. As long as Lee Han kept growing, his Lion's Roar would evolve endlessly.
Proof of that: a year ago, it had only subdued a handful of cadets with sound alone. Now...
Zzzzt!
[Grrrkk?!?]
[Kekekeek!]
[Sssss...]
...it even forced back high-grade monsters.
Brrr...!
Orthos trembled as if it had never been so cocky moments before.
Blood streamed from its eyes and ears. Slash wounds like knife cuts appeared across its body. Its massive snake tail writhed in agony, vomiting blood.
These were injuries from the Lion's Roar's powerful sonic waves battering Orthos's entire body with focused intensity—proof that Lee Han hadn't just bellowed mindlessly like the other monsters.
"Bet you can't do this, huh?"
Sound wasn't about scattering force through space. It was concentrating it on the target—like slamming a hammer or slashing with a razor blade.
This was the realm of true technique, one form of the Lion's Roar that Lee Han aimed to perfect.
'Using it like those soundwave arts from wuxia novels is tricky, but this much is easy with the right knack.'
With proper practice and finesse, he might even pull off telepathic whispers soon.
...Well, practice could wait.
[Kaaak!]
Bam!
"High-grade monster living up to the name, I see."
For now, he had to tangle with this beast.
[-Kahaaak!!]
Orthos, shaking off its fear and injuries with rapid recovery, kicked off with its hind legs.
Whoosh!
For something bigger than five bulls combined, it was absurdly nimble.
Cheetah-like speed. Any other knight might have panicked and had their throat ripped out.
But...
Whoosh!
"That your best?"
[!!]
Lee Han countered lightly with Divine Arrow Flight, overtaking Orthos with bizarre agility. He took it a step further, coiling for a punch.
[Saaaaah!]
Orthos realized evasion was impossible and shrewdly whipped its snake tail to shield its head. But that was...
Crack!
[!?]
...a blunder.
Or more precisely, treating this human like any other knight.
Drip...
One head's eye exploded outright.
Even though it had clearly blocked the strike!
Known for superhuman intelligence, Orthos was more baffled than pained by the impossibility. Disbelief twisted its features.
"Dogs can make faces like that, huh?"
[Grrrng...!]
"Why get mad if you're admitting you're a dog?"
Thwack!
[?!!]
Another head spun around.
It had dodged this time!
Its fangs shattered. Jawbone cracked for sure.
Even Orthos's brilliant mind couldn't comprehend the alien attack. It upped its wariness of Lee Han.
And then...
[......]
"Not moving now?"
[......]
"Smart one, aren't you? Even knights lose their heads first time they eat a Ridge-Shatter Fist. Damn, you're better than your average knight. Still just a monster pup, though."
Orthos ignored the taunt, staying ice-cold.
This was the terror of a top-tier high-grade monster.
It could strategize. It learned human techniques.
Smart. Deadly smart. Survive the enemy's grasp, steal their tactics and skills—then grow stronger next time.
That's why...
Fwoosh!
"...Huh?"
...Orthos bolted, launching its body away.
Unfathomable, freakish attacks.
No point fighting—pure loss. Pride be damned, it chose full retreat.
Unthinkable for a monster whose instincts screamed to charge humans on sight, hatred etched into its brain.
A dopey exclamation from the foe was only natural.
And to rub it in!
[Saaaah!]
Orthos activated its trump card to make the fool look even stupider.
Shhhrk—
Its fleeing form faded to transparency. Footsteps grew faint.
"!?"
[Kaa!]
Shock rippled from behind. Orthos smirked inwardly.
The ability that toyed with hunters for five years straight.
Stronger or not, good luck catching what you can't see or sense!
[Grrrng....]
[Kaaah!]
One head wanted to kill the human while invisible. The other barked refusal.
Invisibility didn't last long. A stray attack could reveal its position—pure self-harm.
Orthos had zero interest in dying on ego...
"—Found you."
Crunch!
[!!?]
[!!]
[??]
Two heads and snake tail gaped in horror.
Not just blocking them barehanded—that was nuts. Pinpointing them while still invisible?
Grip!
"Wondering how I spotted you?"
He squeezed. Orthos's colossal body slowly lifted into the air.
Strength beyond human.
"Hid your presence and looks great. But not this."
Pluck.
"Should've masked your scent."
[...?]
Before doubt could form, Orthos flipped upside down. Then...
Whoosh!
"—Tombsone Piledriver."
...slammed skull-first into the ground with all his might.
BOOM!
* * *
Crackle... crack...
Orthos, pile-driven into the earth, convulsed and blacked out, eyes rolled back.
One head's neck snapped backward—instant death. The other clung to life.
The snake tail still had wits about it.
[S-saaah...]
Tears welled in its eyes, pure terror.
Begging for mercy.
"Tch, piledriver's not supposed to be like that. Too damn big, huh?"
No pity from him.
Just regret over his technique's sloppy execution.
Too bulky, two heads—didn't feel like his usual moves.
He smacked his lips, pondering another go since one head remained. But then...
"No distractions..."
Lee Han dismissed wasted thoughts. For the first time, he drew his sword.
Shing.
Despite a dunk in water, the blade gleamed murderously sharp, poised to pierce hearts and sever necks.
He didn't kill every foe who showed hostility. But monsters and mages? No mercy worth giving.
[!!?]
The snake tail screeched desperately for life. Lee Han's eyes and sword stayed pitiless.
"Next life, get reborn as some rich kid's dog or cat instead of a monster."
Slash!
The ruthless blade swung to bisect Orthos with full force. But...
Clang!
"...?"
"Hmph! Impressive swordsmanship for a monster!"
"......What the hell is this?"
The sword halted, foiled.
No—deflected.
"You..."
Lee Han blinked at the one who'd casually parried his full-power swing.
Pretty good.
Not arrogance. He just averaged white kittens and run-of-the-mill territorial knights. Blocking his strike felt fresh.
But as Lee Han marveled...
"Amazing! To think a humanoid monster wielded such potent sword arts!!"
...so did the foe.
...Except.
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
Humanoid monster? Lee Han's brow furrowed. Before he could retort...
"Hah! That inhuman aura couldn't belong to a human! You looked suspicious, but...!! You're a monster after all! Show your true form, beast!!"
"...I'm human."
"Lies! How could a human lift Orthos barehanded?! Pierce its invisibility with scent alone?! That's no human feat!!"
"No, that's..."
"No human knocks out monsters with a roar alone!!"
"......"
"Must be an ogre or troll in disguise!! Knight Felix de Modred will slay you!!!"
"......"
......Why?
Every claim was deniable point-by-point. Yet somehow...
'Can't even refute it.'
Lee Han felt a tiny sting from the knight's train-whistle bellow, like it'd boiled his heart raw.