Chapter 160
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Kobolds and the Underground Labyrinth
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Their roars crossed paths.
I deliberately shouted as loudly as I could. Kobolds perceived the world through hearing and smell, not sight. I wondered how I appeared to it right now.
A human smaller than itself?
Or a colossal being matching that roar?
Whichever it was, the guardian charged at me. Protecting the queen, it probably didn't care what kind of enemy I was. It simply crossed its chain-wrapped arms to guard its vitals and barreled toward me with a body slam.
—Kyuooh!!
"Such agile movements!!!"
But I wasn't about to take that hit.
Using my momentum, I threw myself sideways, rolling to dodge. Of course, it didn't work on a creature that saw through sound. It skidded to a halt, twisted its waist sharply, and swung its arm.
—At the same time, I sprang up in a jump.
With its upper body exposed, this was the perfect moment to strike. Riding my momentum, I soared upward and thrust my sword straight in.
—Puk!
Blood sprayed.
—Gyuooh!!
The blade pierced its flesh and shredded its guts. Had I won? "Hahat...!" The thrill of slaying a being larger than me surged through my body. Just as laughter burst from me in victorious ecstasy...
—Hwak!
The guardian, gutted through the stomach, whipped its arm like a lash. A hole in its belly, and it was still reacting like this...? Split-second decision. I released the sword and raised my gauntlet-protected forearms to block. Dodging was impossible—
"—Kak?!"
An unbelievable impact smashed into my forearms! I flew several meters, tumbling across the floor. Ow, fuck...! That shit hurts like hell!
It took a sword to the gut and wasn't subdued? A kobold with that kind of willpower! Thud, thud, thud! It was still charging at me, spewing blood, intent on killing.
"You fucking bastard..."
I suppressed the pain.
The approaching monster raised its fist like a hammer.
Taking a hit like that would shatter bones.
—Kwang!
Its fist slammed into the ground like lightning, kicking up dirt. I rolled to dodge and lunged to retrieve my sword. But...
—Gyuwah!!
"You little shit!"
As if anticipating, it positioned itself to block me.
Did it understand? The concept of weapons?
...No way I could reach my sword like this.
"Just give me one break. I messed up, okay?"
Panicking, I clenched my teeth and tried negotiating. A creature this smart had to understand human speech.
"Ah! You cowardly fuck! Give me back my sword!"
My trusty bastard sword, always protecting me, was gone. I was going insane without it. Cold sweat beaded as anxiety surged. A grim future unfolded before me in an instant.
Fight that bulk without a sword?
Impossible, even in my dreams!
"Give me back my sword, you fu—cking bastard!!"
Then I had to take it down and reclaim my sword!
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
In my frenzy, I roared. Transcendent terror wrapped my body, and an unbelievable manic impulse surged from within. Right now!!!! Kill it and get my sword!!!! Or I'd die, and everyone else too!!!!!!
"Kim Katt Dropkiiiick!!!"
I gathered all my strength and unleashed a dropkick. —Puk! The guardian, clutching its gut, blocked my kick with one arm. Kicks wouldn't work after all... Then!
—In frozen time, I searched for what I could do. Retrieving the sword now was impossible. Waiting for it to collapse from blood loss wouldn't work either—too many enemies.
Most kobolds were swarming Cloudy, who was unleashing fury, but with her mana depleted, who knew how long she could hold? I couldn't drag this out... I had to kill it fast!
Emotions blazing with fear!
They whispered what I could do to survive! Taekwondo honed to the limit. Executive Fist Method at the master's realm. And the Demonic Cult's most vicious secret martial art, Heavenly Demon Divine Arts!
—Kyuoohsaah!!
"Kraaaaaah!!"
Time resumed.
—Hwak!
The guardian's arm swept the ground.
Slower than before. A hole in its gut would do that. Blood sprayed like a fountain from abdominal pressure, its innards on the verge of spilling.
—Kyuuu...!
Yet its body seemed sturdy still.
To stand in that mangled state...
This... this was the difference in overwhelming class? Had my enemies always felt this against me?
Suddenly, respect for those shit-tier monsters welled up.
To tiny, weak goblins and kobolds, I must have seemed that massive and tough.
"Then."
But those little monsters always charged to kill me. Despite the overwhelming class difference. Just feral beasts sinking teeth into the enemy's throat!
That was a monster!
"I'll become a monster."
I planted my foot. Walked slowly... and then.
Ran.
"Juwaaaaaak!!!"
The kobold guardian's muscles looked like a brick wall fortress. My kick hadn't fazed it, and it fought on tough even after a gut stab.
It was, yeah. Hate to admit it, but.
A macho beast.
—Kyuooh!!
The macho swung at me. But its balance sucked. I dodged easily and punched its relatively softer side. Gyuak! Its scream erupted.
"Come on, you musclehead."
Then a mythic exchange unfolded. I landed punches and kicks. It abandoned defense, attacking wildly. I calmly dodged and blocked the barrage, but couldn't evade everything.
"Kuhak!"
Its chain-wrapped forearm smashed my chest. The impact hurled me, rolling three times. Without chest armor, my ribs and heart would've been crushed.
"...Can't win?"
Kneeling, the guardian with protruding guts approached like a prophet of doom. It ignored its own life, burning it to eliminate the intruder.
"Me."
—Grit!
My teeth ground.
No matter how trained, bare human flesh couldn't match monsters. Muscle structure and durability differed. That's why humans wielded weapons. Without them, no victory.
I had no weapon now.
Desperately seeking openings to retrieve my sword, but the guardian marked me too tightly.
All I could do was attack with my body.
—Kyuooh!!
"Kuh!"
Last gasp brilliance. They say candles burn brightest before extinguishing. The guardian meant to burn out completely. —Kwang! —Kwak! Its arm felt like a massive log with overwhelming weight.
—Kyuoohok—!!!!!!!
Its rampage accelerated. I barely blocked with chest plate and gauntlets. Meanwhile, Cloudy, Winia, and Elise fought desperately.
I had to do something...!
"You fucking prick!"
I barely dodged the onslaught and punched its spilling guts.
—Kyuek!
"How's that taste!"
My fists and kicks couldn't overwhelm it. Taekwondo, Executive Fist Method, Heavenly Demon Divine Arts—all useless shit. Fucking worthless martial arts, goddamn it. Nothing but curses came out.
Only regret for not carrying two weapons.
By the way, my knife was in the bag I'd set aside earlier.
I faced the rampaging guardian with primal weapons: arms and legs.
"Haha! What's wrong! Tired already!"
After another two minutes of exchange, its movements visibly slowed. Rampage over. Gasping raggedly, its face was pale like a drowned corpse. Blood pooled around it like a river.
Blood-fueled rampage.
If it couldn't kill me in that time, no chance for you!
"Lost too much blood, huh."
Truth is, Taekwondo lacks practicality.
Executive Fist Method used by executives? Same issue.
Heavenly Demon Divine Arts? Needs inner energy to activate.
I regretted mastering these shitty arts to the extreme.
"But."
What if I combined those three into one? Unleashed the ultimate fist-and-kick art? Then pounding a bloodied kobold guardian like this would be a joke!
—Puk!
I went on the offensive again. No, not an exchange anymore. It was too slow. Chain-wrapped arms couldn't touch me; my punches ravaged its wounded flesh.
—Kyuooh!
As the finishing blow landed, the guardian wailed. —And transcendent inspiration flowed through my fist... This vibration. This impact...!
This sensation!
The 'clue' touched my hand!
"Extend the leg."
—Hwiiik!
The fluid, natural kick was Taekwondo.
"Thrust the fist."
—Bungzung!
The violent, childish punch was Executive Fist Method.
And.
"Heavenly Demon Divine Arts."
Heaven Beyond Heaven martial art.
"Rear naked choke."
I closed on the retreating foe amid my combo. Like a moth taking flight, I jumped, clung, crawled awkwardly to its back, and secured the rear mount. —Kyuu... Exhausted, it couldn't shake me and toppled under my weight.
"I am the Fist King."
Rear naked choke blocks carotid blood flow with muscle constriction, a forbidden technique leading to death.
"Katt-Oh."
From the battle, I'd gained transcendent insight into 'fist', 'kick', and 'body'. Using that sensation, I choked the guardian's neck.
—Kuk, kyug...!
Blood gushed freely.
Guts and blood all spilled out. No resistance possible. A sword would've been simpler, but losing it led to this enlightenment—I became the Fist King.
"Rest now, loyal guard of the queen."
—Gyuu...
"You've done your duty."
Its twitching body went limp.
"I was just too strong."
...It met its end.
The gut stab was too much from the start.
Failed to kill me in rampage time—defeat inevitable.
Releasing the corpse, I surveyed the chamber. It was a Skull Triple Futaba Park ravaged by the slaughter squad once over. Spraying blood mist, severed limbs. Rampant death.
Nearly a hundred kobolds massacred by three women.
—Chwak! Even my eyes could track Cloudy's slowed swings as she cleaved a kobold, —Puk! Elise, laughing maniacally, swung her mace wreathed in holy light.
Winia? Fighting hard, but mana had limits.
I retrieved my sword.
Courage surged from the hilt.
Power boiling within!
"I am!!!!"
Dozens of kobolds remained. All guardians down. Just about ten kobold warriors and dozens of workers left.
"Fist King Katt-Ohhh!!!!!!"
Roaring like a lion with brutal swordplay, all eyes focused on me. The momentary gap—I charged into it.
"Kieeeek!!!"
The Fist King knows no fear.
Because I have comrades I trust! No more kobold reinforcements. With our overwhelming force bolstered, we held absolute advantage!
Proved as I dove into their midst, swinging—scattered kobolds froze, unable to react.
"Cloudy! Elise! Winia! Activate the power of friendship!"
"That blackie's going nuts again! Sis! Now's our chance! Get the queen quick!"
Kobolds from Cloudy's side swarmed me. Winia's shout rang out—she'd send Cloudy for the queen.
"I'll carve you all uuuup!!!"
To clear the path, I unleashed Hill Wind, a storm of blades. Surging courage fueled my strength! For the awakened Fist King, nothing impossible!
—Clank!
—Clank clank clank!!!
Then chain sounds echoed.
—Kyuuuuu!!
And the queen roared.
"Fuck!"