Chapter 619
Chapter 619
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 619
Chapter Title: Basilisk Hunt
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—Thread Slash.
The burst of spent mana exploded outward, pushing my physical abilities to their absolute limits. Faster than the strike that unleashed it—even though I'd performed it myself, it was so swift that my eyes could barely track it.
—Clang!
And just like that, I'd cleanly sliced off the tip of the basilisk's crocodile-like snout.
Its attack had been incredibly fast and unpredictable, but it still couldn't touch me. —Splash! The severed chunk of its jawbone flew through the air, spraying crimson blood everywhere.
Looked like its nose was over there now.
As Master Dasan Jeong Yak-yong once said about Seoul:
"Keep your eyes open or you'll lose your nose."
Exactly like that.
—Kyaaoooooh!
The basilisk thrashed in agony, abandoning its limbo stance as it flailed wildly. Blood sprayed from its erratic movements. What was this, some Metal Slug zombie bomb?
"Heh heh heh."
Strong. Fast.
And huge. Tough.
The beast was a monster in every sense, but right now, it wasn't even a match for me. Just something to dodge and stab until it died.
The old me would've been screaming about family honor just to psych myself up enough to charge.
But my heightened senses and physical prowess, honed skills, and battle-hardened experience filled me with unshakable confidence and fighting spirit.
No fear meant I could see its moves clearly, and seeing them clearly made killing it simple.
—Boom!
Even with its jaw half-severed, the basilisk nimbly twisted its body to face me.
But it didn't attack right away.
Hesitating?
Or trying to flee?
—Kyauuuuuh...!
A roar laced with fury leaked out.
"You."
The thing was scared now.
Terrified.
"You're afraid. I can see it. Your fear. And me? I'm not scared at all."
Its trembling body and eyes proved it.
At this point, it was starting to look like easy prey. Karin and Liztina had told me to get used to fighting with a superhuman body like theirs, right?
I already was.
"That's the Heavenly Demon, Kim Katt."
—Boom!
Unable to overcome its fear, the basilisk kicked off the ground. This time, it was a straightforward body slam, charging straight at me. The earth shook, dust billowing up.
—Rumble rumble rumble!
A brute-force battering ram attack. Probably its most confident move. But its mindset wasn't that of the dominant predator it usually was.
Fear masked as fighting spirit.
—Just like the old me.
That made it a decent attack, even while bleeding profusely. A body slam from that massive frame had to pack cannonball-level power. And the sheer thrill of something that huge barreling toward you...
Of course, I wasn't afraid.
—Rustle.
I just walked slowly toward it, sword at the ready, timing it like a matador.
"Kieeeekeeeeee!!"
I bellowed a battle cry and thrust my sword forward.
—Kyauuu...!!!
The charging basilisk slammed on the brakes, flinching and trying to pull back.
Too late for second thoughts, you bastard!!
"You dare!!!"
—Kwaang!
I kicked off the ground, slipping to its side and positioning myself against its exposed flank. Before it could turn, I drove a dropkick right into that massive target.
"Kim Katt Dropkick!!!!"
—Thud!
The impact felt like stabbing with my soles as I shoved it away. My heels pierced its scale-covered side like awls. The dropkick landed perfectly. I could feel its ribs and flesh shattering under the blow.
—Kya, kyaaoooh!
In that position, I unleashed the Internal Crush Technique I'd practiced so many times. Channel mana inward to rupture its insides. Simple enough—just like when I burst the death worm's head.
"Die!!!!"
—Pop!
A moment of focus, and the mana surging from my toes exploded its flesh.
—Kyaaoooooh!!!!!!!
Its colossal body jolted from the crush-enhanced dropkick, skidding three meters sideways before toppling over.
I'd shoved that elephant-sized bastard with my feet.
—Drip drip.
The ruptured flesh had practically detonated, spewing scales, bone shards, and blood in a pitiful mess.
A resounding success.
But no need to celebrate.
It was expected.
I'd planned for exactly this.
"Worthless shit."
Now that I'd faced it, the basilisk wasn't all that impressive. Bigger and stronger than trolls or sasquatches, sure, but that's how it felt. The monster that wrecked multiple merchant wagons with mages aboard? Bounty of 40 silver?
"Not enough to take me on."
—Tap.
I landed lightly and approached to finish it off.
—Kyauuuk...!
But monster vitality is always astounding. Even mangled, the basilisk decided to retreat, slinking away without a hint of fight left.
"Not getting away!"
—Leap!
I jumped right onto its back.
"Basilisk Rider Kim Katt...!"
The moment I mounted, I plunged my sword into its vast back.
—Stab!
Aiming straight for the spine.
—Kweeeee...!
Thick hide, hard scales, solid bones—none of it could withstand the Heavenly Demon Kim Katt's sword aura.
My Living Sword sank deep into its back, rendering any defense meaningless.
—Kyaaoooooh!!!
The basilisk shrieked in agony, thrashing wildly to shake me off. Blood and gore poured from its severed jaw and exploded flank, splattering everywhere.
"Futile struggling!!!!!"
Of course, I didn't budge amid the chaos. My sword was lodged firmly in its spine, gripping tight.
Anyway, I'd properly gauged the basilisk's level and my own combat ability.
No reason to let it live any longer.
"It's over!"
—Tzzzzk!
I twisted harder, driving the blade deeper to sever the spine completely.
—Thud.
All strength drained from the basilisk's body.
My victory.
I leaped off its back to decapitate it.
Power surged through me now. It felt like my control over my body was freer than ever, without usual limits. Maybe from killing the death worm with that insane skydive.
Some psychological shift was palpable.
Especially with Cloude and Winia watching. I had to be the best, show them what they deserved.
So I'd finished it solo before they could help.
A Heavenly Demon should.
"Heh heh heh, Cloude. Winia. Caught it in no time, huh? Didn't even need backup."
I shook the blood off my Living Sword and sheathed it. My girls stood there, watching me.
—...
Pretty shocked, huh?
Their eyes were wide.
"D-Darkie? You took it down solo?"
Winia looked up at me as I approached.
Amazed by my feat.
"Heh heh heh, that level? Solo, easy. Surprised?"
"N-Not surprised so much as... our Darkie's insanely strong? Thought it'd be a brutal fight..."
"No hug?"
She set her staff down and hugged my chest. I removed my gauntlet and stroked her shoulder.
"Cloude? See that?"
I called her naturally. She was already beaming, jumping into my arms and wrapping around my neck.
"Katt! You were amazing! Yeah! That's how it should be!"
—Mwah, mwah. Mwah.
She showered my cheeks with kisses, overflowing with affection. Why not the lips? Later.
"Of course our Katt can slaughter a beast like that effortlessly! Heh heh heh, I almost jumped in midway... but figured you had it solo. Sorry?"
So that's why no assist. Wanted to watch me solo it.
"Heh heh heh, it's fine. Wanted to show off too. Damn, this feels good. How'd I look, Cloude?"
"Perfect... Yeah. Mama's thrilled. Soloing basilisks now. Goal's so close?"
Her face flushed, eyes sparkling.
Gonna have to pamper her focused later.
"Not yet."
"Huh?"
"Still not enough. Long way to go. Gotta push further."
Truth is, Cloude could kill a basilisk in three seconds flat. Me? Takes longer. Still miles from catching her.
Miles and miles.
The road ahead is long.
"Gotta get stronger than this."
She just nuzzled into my neck at my words.
"Love it... You're the best, Katt. My strongest warrior... How do you always make Mama so happy? What should I do for you... Katt. What does Mama do? Bed like usual? Or more girls?"
She was over the moon about my solo kill. It was impressive enough to see.
"Just stay by my side. Like always?"
"Katt..."
Seeing her this happy made every sword swing worth it.
Truth is, this is why I've pushed so hard. Without Cloude, I'd just scrape by learning swordplay from Karin, adventuring at a snail's pace.
Crying over 1 silver, that life.
Average adventurer skills, slow crawl to the end, then drop dead someday.
"For real..."
With both wives hugging me, Winia said:
"Our Darkie's straight-up badass. Even so, taking that down with just a sword... Thought it'd be risky, but you toyed with it?"
"Heh heh heh, learned from Karin and Liztina. Fought plenty lately. Not a magic user. Anything that fights with limbs, I won't lose. Obvious I can play with it."
Honestly, not even tough.
Just a basic beast.
Internal Crush? Didn't even need it—decapitation would've been trivial.
"But Winia, how strong is a basilisk exactly?"
"Way stronger than trolls, several times over. That size? Could eat three trolls solo. Basilisks claim huge territories."
"Three trolls, huh."
Not bad, satisfying.
"Katt... Mama wants to go back now... Panties are soaked... Yeah? Can't hold it. Let's duck into those woods quick..."
"No, sis, what?! I get you're excited, but we gotta butcher the corpse first! Darkie, let's go!"
"Yeah!"
I scooped up the fired-up Cloude and headed to the basilisk with Winia. Blood pooled in a puddle.
Damn, butchering this'll take work.
"Darkie, can't carry it all. Grab the head for the bounty, heart for Risha sis, and the priciest liver first, then head back. Guild report'll get the merchants to send wagons and laborers."
"Smart. Cloude? Can you stand?"
She shook her head silently in my arms.
"I'll do it when we get back. Rest a bit, okay?"
"Yeah... Okay."
I sat her on a nearby rock, then Winia and I quickly butchered the basilisk.
First, drew my sword, unleashed sword aura, and beheaded it in one go.
Too bad the jaw slice mangled the head. Wanted it pristine for Karin, but unavoidable.
Then rolled the body over, slit the belly, and pulled out the guts. Liver was intact—worried about the shattered ribs.
Heart was perfectly healthy.
Healthy and fucking huge.
Covered in gore, the basic butchering was done.