Chapter 402
Chapter 402
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 402
Chapter Title: Harpy Lady
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"How dare a pathetic human!!"
Running away from me right in front of my face? There's no choice but to kill her. A bizarre surge of courage and obsession gripped my mind. This harpy seemed pretty confident in her skills, but she was no match for the Heavenly Demon.
You fucking bitch!
"Heh heh heh! What a load of horseshit, you goddamn cunt!"
A kind of euphoria welled up alongside my battle lust.
The harpy bitch right in front of me wasn't some powerhouse. She was a weakling I could toy with however I pleased! A frail piece of shit like her had to become fodder for my blade!
I'll definitely kill her!
"Just hand over your neck nicely, you worthless worm—!!!!!!"
I spread the surging mana throughout my body and charged at the harpy clinging upside down to the ceiling. Time to finish her with a jumping strike!!
—Kyyyaaaaah!!!!!
At the same moment, the enraged harpy let out a shriek and kicked off the ceiling, lunging straight at me. It was damn fast. Her eyes were rolled back, so she must've been pissed beyond belief.
—Shweeeek!
Her demonic talons slashed toward my face.
Of course, it wasn't fast enough to catch me off guard. I swung my sword wide, intending to cleave the bitch in half from head to toe.
—Chaaeng!
The blade clashed with her talons, producing a deafening clang.
"You little shit!"
"Kieeeek!!!"
Since I was mid-jump, I couldn't use the Execution Slash. That must've been why her talons deflected my sword. —Pajjjt! Sparks flew. It was a pretty nimble move, all things considered.
"I'll kill you, human!!!"
"Don't go throwing around talk of killing like you mean it, you fucking bastard!"
I twisted my body on landing to dodge the talons. —Swaaak! The harpy dove deep, grazing past my body. We were in close quarters, but my stance didn't allow for a thrust.
"Asura Blood Claw!"
—Pukeok!
I instantly released one hand from the sword hilt and unleashed the Asura Blood Claw. But her side was protected by her wings.
My sword could've torn through them, but the Asura Blood Claw fired from this unstable posture couldn't land a solid hit.
"Kieeeek!!!"
The harpy writhed nimbly and wailed as if begging for nightmares. It was the cry of a true monster bird. She pulled out of my range while screeching like that.
But I'm a man who never lets weaker prey escape!
Today, I'll feast on this harpy and grow stronger with her blood...! An irresistible impulse seized my heart.
"Keeeek!!!"
I gave in to the uncontrollable urge, slashing at the harpy as I pursued her. —Whiiik! —Pukeok! The furious harpy resisted fiercely, calmly parrying my attacks.
Has she gotten used to the Execution Sword Style?
"I'll rip you apart!!!"
"Pathetic human, how laughable!!!"
—Pasat!
—Pasasasat!!!
"Shit, fuck!"
It happened in that instant. The harpy shot toward the entrance in a flash, then flapped her wings violently, sending a barrage of feathers flying at me. Caught off guard, I raised my arm to block them.
—Pasat!
—Pabababak!!!
"You bitch! Using tricks now?!"
Sharp feathers grazed my armor. They couldn't dent the metal plates, but they were shredding parts of the quilted armor.
Taking one to the eye would've blinded me at least.
You cowardly bitch! Shooting feathers like arrows.
"Kieeeek!!!"
After the storm of winged arrows battered me, the harpy dove at me again. Yeah, she knew petty tricks like that wouldn't beat me!
"Die, you cunt!!!"
The harpy's speed was insane. And those extending talons were plenty threatening. If they hit, anyway. Just bisect her and be done with it.
With that in mind, I timed my swing perfectly. I'd pile her head atop the tower of corpses built from those felled by my honed murder arts!
—Swaaak!
My sword sliced empty air in an instant.
"No way!"
The attack missed.
The harpy veered slightly, slipping past me into the cave's depths. Tremendous speed... Did this bitch...?
"Fuck!"
She's got behind me!
"Keeheeheeheet!!!!"
I spun around quickly, but she turned even faster. Her talons were already flying at my face.
A high-speed evasion followed by a rear strike!
"Fuuuuck!!!"
This is why fighting new bastards sucks balls!!! Swallowing my shock, I tried to defend with my sword nimbly.
Taking those talons to the face would be a severe wound at best!
"I'll rape you and chew on your liver!!!"
—Chaaeng!
Sparks flew. Blocking the attack from this awkward stance sent my sword flying backward—what a fucking pain! As it slipped from my grasp, intense危機 flooded my mind.
My knife? Dropped it during the kidnapping!
Only bare-handed fighting left!
"Kyyyaaaaah!!!"
"Uoooooh—!!!!!!"
No choice but all-in now! Can't grab the sword yet, so tank it with my body! —Swaaak! Incoming talons again. Can I block?
Block it.
—Pukeok!
I dramatically raised my hand, using the gauntlet to block. —Pachichik! The metal plate shredded like when I fought Elise. Insane power.
Going bare-handed against this is suicide!
—But.
"Execution Fist Style!!!"
To me, the Heavenly Demon who conquers all under heaven, master of the Execution Fist Style.
"Foolish male! A mere human daring to fight bare-handed—"
Weapons like that.
—"Heavenly Demon Supremacy."
Were never needed from the start.
I stomped down with explosive force, and extreme speed enveloped me. No point widening the gap without a weapon anyway. I launched myself straight at the harpy. Would it work? No idea. Nothing else to do right now.
—Chwak!
Talons incoming. I tilted my head slightly to dodge; the long nails grazed my cheek. It burned. Blood sprayed, so it'd scar. Claudy would love that.
And then.
"Heavenly Demon Sky-Splitting Palm."
The harpy's eyes widened—she hadn't expected me to charge in. She was a strong monster relying on innate physical prowess, but not a warrior who'd survived life-or-death battles against equals like me.
Adaptability, reflexes, killer instinct. She fell short compared to me. That's what decides life and death.
—Time seemed to slow.
The sky-shattering palm power gathered in my fist. The feel of true Heavenly Demon Sky-Splitting Palm was identical to the Execution Slash.
"Gut's wide open."
I unleashed the mana concentrated in my forearm in one burst.
That was it.
—Buuk.
Her abdomen felt solid at the fist's tip. But not as tough as iron plate. The Heavenly Demon Sky-Splitting Palm drove through her hide. Then, slowed time snapped back, delivering full power.
"Farewell."
"Keehyuk?!?!?"
I drove it home.
—Pukeok!
"Kyyyaaaaah!!!"
The harpy rocketed like a cannonball, slamming into the cave wall. —Kwaaang! A roar echoed with dust clouds.
Perfect counter. Taking a mana-infused Heavenly Demon Sky-Splitting Palm head-on? She'd be wrecked inside and out.
"How's it feel to be hunted by the prey you saw as game?"
I snatched up my sword and approached the dust, where the harpy clutched her gut, vomiting blood and coughing.
No bird-brained bitch like her could ever smash Kim Katt.
"Kuh... Kuheok! Cooluk! Y-You human...! How dare you, how daaaare you!! Kehak!"
"Who said they'd rape who?"
"Kuhhh... To think a male this strong...!"
The harpy glared up at me, eyes bulging.
Resentment in those eyes... or not?
What is it?
A strange gaze.
"Yeah. I'm strong."
I raised my sword.
"But I didn't win because I'm strong."
Purely physically, her strength might match or exceed mine—who knows—but she had natural wings for flight and talons that rent iron.
But is that true strength?
Does innate physical superiority equal strength?
"You lost because you're weak."
No.
Only true skill, proven through relentless training and real combat, deserves the title of 'strength.'
With that declaration, the wide-eyed harpy bared her fangs and roared.
"Ki, kyyyaaaaah—!!!!!"
"Dieeeee!!!"
I swung.
—Chaaeng!
Even wounded, she was a harpy. She barely blocked my sword with her intact talons. These monsters' vitality was insanely tenacious compared to humans.
They could muster a final burst even when injured.
"Heh heh heh! All you can do now is cute little resistances!"
Calmly whittle her down and finish it.
She's already hurt. Going for the killshot could backfire, so stay cautious. Who knows what power harpies might hide.
I kept slashing like that when—
"Kiiiiiit...! Kyat!!!!"
"Shit, fuck!"
—Pasasat!!
Feathers flew in that instant. I reflexively covered my face and stabbed down. She could fire them even from that position?!
I hadn't thought of that—
—Paat!
"No, you fucking bitch!"
In that moment, the harpy unleashed her last reserves, kicking off the ground and flapping her wings. Her body lifted, exploding with speed as she bolted for the cave entrance!
"Ah, fuck!"
And just like that, the harpy flew out of the cave.
What the fuck!
I let the bird I'd almost caught get away!
"Hrm..."
I stared at the cave entrance. The sun had set; it was night. Feathers swirled before my eyes. First came emptiness, then it faded.
"Ha, fuck. Yeah. What would killing her change anyway? I'm stuck here regardless."
Killing her wouldn't make much difference. Dead or escaped, same shit.
Drained, I slumped against the cave wall.
No clue where the other three are. Kidnapped by harpies, so they'll get raped for sure. One'll cry, one'll laugh.
And those fuckers Palchion, Jenis, Anna—what're they doing now?
Did they report my kidnapping to the guild? Even if they did, no rescue party's coming. Guilds aren't that charitable.
Lucky if a harpy subjugation quest pops up... But the guy who was crying said it'd been ten days since the kidnappings.
If harpies were snatching people, there'd be news... Who knows.
Unclear.
Even if Claudy and Winia know, it'll take days.
"Fucking hell."
How the fuck do I escape this place?
I stood and headed to the entrance.
"..."
A hole in the cliff face. The ledge out front. I stood there, gazing at the sky. Stars twinkled; a few shadowy harpies flew about. The drop below was as bottomless as the dark sky.
Just jumping down? Suicide.
"Totally fucked, for real."
I chugged from my canteen and gnawed on some hardtack.
Who'd have thought this shit would happen.
Killing a few harpies won't cut it.
Climb the cliff?
Best option now, but if harpies attack mid-climb, it's a one-way ticket to hell.
I can't die here.
Save that as a last resort.
Nothing else to do, no other harpies incoming, so rest up. Can't escape without stamina.
I went deeper into the cave, lay down, and closed my eyes.
Of course, staying on high alert meant no real sleep.
"Ah."
And when the sun rose.
I knew I was fucked.
"Kekikit! A male who smashed Shila?"
"How'd a strong male like that get kidnapped by those kids?"
"Shila must've been the weak one! She's always been weak!"
"Weak! Weak!"
A commotion echoed.
I was combat-ready, but honestly, nothing to say but fucked.
"Oh my, oh my, that must be him!"
"Pitch black! Pitch black!"
"Kyahaha!"
They appeared: tall, slender harpies like yesterday's, with colorful hair. A group of pretty naked monsters had come for me.
They pointed at me, giggling among themselves.
"Hey, you! Speak up!"
"Did you smash Shila?"
"Smashed her! Smashed her!"
Fuck, piled on top of piles.
"What a load of bullshit, you cunts."