Shatter (3)
In the Soul World, monsters and demons occasionally possessed Berserk. Eyes bloodshot red like mine was standard, and it triggered when their health dropped below a certain threshold.
Creatures with Berserk were notoriously tough to take down, thanks to their stun immunity. No matter how battle-hardened a warrior was, pain always created an opening. But those in Berserk mode? Nothing. They charged without flinching, as if they felt no sensation at all. That mindset—you die, I die—forced you to stay sharp. One slip, and you were done for.
They varied by size too. Small ones were fast but fragile; large ones sluggish but tanky. Strategies differed, but one rule held: don't trade blows. Dodge first, always. Even in the game. Reality? Worse.
No wonder Hector nearly died against me when I went Berserk.
Berserk has been released!
I realized my theory had hit the mark and paused. Whether I'd suppressed it with reason or time ran out, Berserk deactivated on its own. Sensations returned gradually, and my face—struck clean by Lize's fist—throbbed.
Looks like senses dulled only during Berserk.
I felt the burning in my chest cool bit by bit.
"Hmph."
I snorted hard, expelling a clot from my nose. My regeneration staunched the bleeding fast. Lize's punch must've cracked the bone. But Berserk let it heal before the pain could register. A dull ache? Bearable.
The control window's too short?
Maybe stopping attacks ended it. In the Soul World, distancing yourself from a Berserk monster deactivated it after a delay—a cheesy exploit. Health didn't fully recover post-release, just a bit.
In other words, to sustain Berserk, keep attacking until health hit zero.
"That surprised me. Pushing through my punch like that."
Lize spoke as I pondered. Her tone said she meant it. Who wouldn't be shocked by a drugged-out berserker who wouldn't flinch?
She'd fought plenty of Berserk demons and monsters, but a human? First time.
Not enough.
I wiped under my nose and gripped my axe tight. More to test: Did attacks sustain it like in the game? Could I claim Berserk as my own?
Freely wielding it? Game-changer. Even the world's strongest flinched at pain. Exploit that instant for a reversal.
Plus, my regen.
"Again."
"Understood. But let's add a condition."
"Condition?"
I tilted my head at Lize's words. Why not keep it simple?
She explained as I grumbled inwardly.
"I'll counter like in sparring. Your style's unrefined—raw instinct, no form."
"Yeah. True."
"And getting used to near-death is good. People freeze facing it."
Yeah. Direct brush with death? Body locks up. I'd felt it. Imagine a truck barreling at you—most freeze and eat it.
Veterans shrug it off from repetition.
Psych issues aside.
Wild survival made me numb to it too, thanks to Wild Instinct. But Lize's punches? Dodged some, not all. Weird—Wild Instinct screamed danger, yet her fist was at my nose before I reacted.
"But Brother Sivar, Berserk takes time to trigger. Fine for gradual drain, fatal against a big hit."
"Ah."
I nodded at her feedback. That explained the misses. Wild Instinct had carried me through hell, but imperfect. Danger spiked anxiety, wearing me mentally.
"Raise the auto-trigger threshold. Or master full control."
"Got it. I'll try."
"Good attitude. Now..."
Tat!
Lize blurred forward like teleporting.
"Let's go again."
Her fist flew at my face as she finished. I widened my eyes, then jerked my head aside. It grazed by, hair slicing with a whoosh.
Full hit? Disaster.
Kwak!
I swung Ragnarok at her side. Solid impact, but shallow. Her durability was insane. Pierce that? Ragnarok was out; Usk axe only?
Her low kick whipped at my leg next. Thigh like a log.
How to break through?
I dodged, glaring. Goal: land a clean hit. Easier said.
Narrowing my eyes, I spotted something odd.
Wait—the axe bit earlier.
Last time, full power barely scratched. Now? Unusually soft. Relative to her, anyway—still tougher than Usk hide.
But suspicious.
Focus hardens her up?
Made sense. Last hit was blatant; this was counter—she didn't brace.
"Deep in thought, eh?"
"..."
I hurled Ragnarok to check. Fast poke, but she swatted it casually.
I charged with the Usk axe.
Force an opening.
The dent healed—divine power, not regen like mine.
One way: evade, whittle relentlessly.
I got their frustration now—tireless, hits like trucks. Terrifying up close.
But I'd grind.
Kwak!
Dodged, swung Usk axe at her side. Deeper than Ragnarok. Usk-tusk edge lived up.
She hadn't expected that.
"Dangerous weapon."
Cool tone, but surprise flickered. She'd watch for it now.
I reclaimed the axe before her counter, then mentally called Ragnarok.
She sensed it, backhanding without looking.
Tung!
It bounced. She caught my gesture, recalled it fully. I charged berserker-style.
"Hup!"
Ting!
Counter timing off—her tensed muscle flung it. Like striking iron.
Tensing hardened her. Noted. Now, probe slowly. Time no issue.
One hit, I'm gone.
Dodge everything.
We mirrored: regen-tank aggression. She was superior—Kwonseong mastery vs. my zero technique.
"Dual-wielding's inefficient—hands differ in skill. But you handle both flawlessly."
"Ambidextrous."
Originally lefty, wolf bite forced right. Survival flipped it. Silver lining.
"As I thought. But..."
She stepped forward—shrinking distance like a spell. I was mid-charge, startled but braked.
Thuk!
"Guh!?"
Too late—jab smashed my face. Light jab, no flyback. Still rattled.
As I stumbled, she grinned.
"Fatal flaw. Ambidextrous, but lead foot's always left."
"Ah..."
Spot-on advice. Unseen by me. Lead foot telegraphs. Footwork basics.
As Kwonseong, she read my next move from steps.
"Come again."
Post-tip, I mixed feet too. She gave leeway for efforts—good pick.
Goal unchanged: self-trigger Berserk.
"Stronger attacks now. Keep pushing."
She ramped speed/power. Manageable before, now grueling. Mana barely tracked her.
Still countered some. Took punches, landed axe strikes.
"Tch."
Spit blood, glared. My face throbbed; she lounged. Winnable?
Full throttle? No chance.
"Here it comes."
Death-fist incoming. I dropped stance as she posed.
Time to flop dramatically.
One axe or dual?
Distracted? Adapting? Her fist filled my vision.
Death etched in my mind.
Normally frozen—but body moved. Wild Instinct?
No time—instinct raised both axes, blocking my face.
Wait...
Jjeeng!!
Too late—gut punch. Her fist pulverized the double-block. Shock rippled through.
Ears rang.
Worse: axes shattered.
Wajangchang!
Fresh Usk axes—and Ragnarok. Rushed block, no mana reinforcement. Shattered clean, not glass-like shards—no face shrapnel.
"Oh."
Lize looked shocked too.
Before Death mark faded, I glanced down. Pretty wreckage: Usk bits, Ragnarok fragments. Handles only in my hands.
"Uh...?"
I stared blankly, knees buckling.
Usk aside—Ragnarok. Divine-tier. Hector's heirloom for Kara.
Now rubble. Not bravado—instinct acted.
Unfair.
"Sivar. You okay?"
Kara approached, checking me over wreckage.
Her face muddled my head more. Fix it? How?
Soul World broke weapons often, but never this.
"Kara... that... sorry..."
Death echo, chaos—I babbled between her and axe.
No blame for Lize. My fault.
Heart wouldn't calm. Speechless, frozen.
Walak!
"It's fine. Fine. Don't cry, calm down. We'll ask Gulrak directly later."
She hugged tight, patting my back. Heart slowed.
Guilt lingered, amplified by near-death. Injustice too.
"Brother Sivar, vent—rage, cry, both."
"What? Kid's scared shitless."
"Teach emotions. Key to taming Berserk."
Lize fanned flames; ignored. Lips clamped.
Cried plenty in wild—rage-fueled. Then? Numb.
Dokun! Dokun! Dokun!
"Shii..."
Heart urged: release the knot. Resisted, cracking.
Kara's embrace melted me—like Ellie cuddles, but looser.
Cry now? Baby treatment...
No. Never.
Faith has increased!
Faith has increased!
Faith has increased!
Fuckin' Chaos. Quit pushing. Gonna cry for real.
Lips sealed, eyes welled anyway. Berserk off, emotions erupting. Chaos toying.
"H-Hey? Sivar, no crying. I'm fine? Can fix it."
Kara patted, seeing my face. Calming intent.
Did she know? Her kindness poisoned me.
Juruk—
Tears overflowed. First hard, rest easy.
"Uh-uh..."
I sniffled, lips tight. She patted harder.
"Fine," "No biggie," soothing words bliss.
Trait: Berserk has been removed!
Trait: Rampage acquired...
System blurred past.
"No crying. Stop and candy's yours. Got it?"
Just... clung to Kara. Nothing else.