Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Dimension 64
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[ Dimension 64 ]
The time until noon the next day was filled solely with preparations and deliberations for the hunt to come.
Even after two meals, the exceptional nutrition kept hunger at bay. Just like yesterday, I spent a total of 40 gold on two sets of rations and lodging.
The second night passed without incident as well. Others might have been busy with the newcomers, but since I was still alone, it felt much the same as the day before.
The only change was that today was the day I had killed a person—and truly crossed the line.
I fell asleep pondering how to deal with the people arriving at noon tomorrow.
I awoke once more to a strangely dim morning.
The Transcendent World was clearly an artificial environment, but aside from the unusually dark mornings, I didn't sense much difference.
I rose early, reviewed the information I'd gathered yesterday once more, wandered the village to confirm the terrain and landmarks, and mapped out the most efficient routes in my mind.
Back at the inn, I opened my inventory. With two potions still remaining, I skipped buying more.
My gaze now turned to the three remaining weapon selection tickets.
'Can I sell weapons obtained from these selection tickets?'
I headed straight to the village equipment shop.
The NPC greeted me with emotionless eyes.
I placed the plain iron sword from my first reward—the one with only [Durability Stage 1]—onto the sell slot.
It worked. Though at a pittance, items granted by the system were valid tradeable assets.
I had confirmed they could be sold for gold.
Then another thought about weapons crossed my mind.
Was sticking to just the sword the right choice?
There was no reason to fixate on one weapon type.
Who knew what powerful weapons might come later? If a superior one wasn't a sword, I'd have to adapt to it anyway.
Beyond that, different weapons could prove more useful depending on the situation.
Keeping all possibilities open and preparing for them—that was my way.
I immediately used one weapon selection ticket.
The familiar images of a sword, spear, dagger, and blunt weapon appeared before me.
Without hesitation, I chose the 'spear.' A hefty iron spear of considerable length materialized in my hand.
I used the next ticket to select 'blunt weapon,' and the last for 'dagger.'
The blunt weapon resembled a hammer, and the dagger was longer than it looked— a two-handed dagger, in fact.
Now my inventory held all four basic weapon types.
I headed outside the village to an empty lot free of people and began testing the new weapons.
First, the spear. Long and heavy.
A few swings confirmed its clear advantage in reach.
But compared to the sword, its motions were larger and clumsier, ill-suited to leveraging my speed.
Next, the blunt weapon. A heavy lump of iron. Its destructive power looked promising.
Striking a rock produced a crack far larger than the spear had made.
Yet its weight was concentrated at the head, making precise control harder than with a sword, and it relied excessively on raw strength.
Finally, the daggers. Gripping one in each hand felt like they clung perfectly to my body.
Very light and fast, but fatally short on reach and power.
Suitable for assassination perhaps, but hopeless against multiple foes.
After this brief test, I reached a conclusion.
For me right now, the 'sword' remained the most balanced and efficient weapon.
Still, familiarizing myself with the others wasn't a bad idea.
Options-enhanced variants might appear later—who knew?—so I needed at least basic proficiency with everything.
I stowed all four weapons in my inventory and prepared for the second human hunt.
I chose a different spot from yesterday.
The two-story building was too far for an optimal ambush.
I positioned myself right in front of the spawn point.
Here, the instant the light faded, I could pierce my target's throat or heart without a second's delay.
There was no inner turmoil whatsoever.
The tension before my first kill was long gone.
This was simply my task—my most efficient path to growth.
I felt the Alignment: Evil effect gradually seeping into me.
Unlike effects that only triggered during truly wicked acts, its power was profound.
Evil deeds stripped away unnecessary emotions, leaving only cold reason and sharp judgment.
I was stronger than yesterday, primed for even greater cruelty.
I reviewed the community intel once more.
The newcomers fell into two groups.
One top-ranked player from a dangerous zone with a unique ability, and a bunch of powerless civilians.
Today's goal was clear.
Assuming 5-6 arrivals on average, identify and eliminate the unique ability holder first.
The rest posed no threat.
With stats equivalent to level 10, I could handle dozens of civilians without issue.
They were mere sacrifices to fulfill the Path of Evil title conditions.
I opened my status window to check the title's progress.
Odds were low I'd complete it today. But tomorrow? Almost certain.
What reward awaited? A thirst for new power welled up.
Noon.
As expected, the air quivered faintly, and the central spawn point in the village erupted in blinding light.
In the distance, faint glows rose over Zone 1's meadow too.
Slimes were spawning.
But my focus was solely on the light before me—and the new Soul Origins emerging within.
I stood boldly before it.
Unlike yesterday's peeking from the second floor.
My overwhelming stats dulled any fear of unique abilities.
My hand gripped the sword hilt, drawn from inventory.
Muscles coiled like springs, every nerve locked on the light.
The light peaked, then faded.
The instant seven people appeared, I was already lunging.
"Aaak…!"
All seven clutched their heads, staggering from the sudden info dump—that split-second vulnerability.
I stood behind the woman with long braided red hair, the first to lift her head and scan her surroundings.
The others hadn't grasped the situation yet.
They didn't even realize death's shadow had already crept among them.
Puk.
A silent rupture, my sword piercing her heart precisely.
A flawless ambush, no time even for a scream.
Her eyes widened in shock, red blood spilling from her mouth.
If she was rank 1, her ability was lost forever, unidentified.
I twisted the blade to shred her heart, slashed her upper body in half, and withdrew.
Spinal fluid sprayed with the blood, but I ignored it.
Without confirming her collapse, I turned to the next target.
Only then did the remaining six grasp what was happening.
"Wh-what?!"
"What just... happened…?!"
In their eyes: the corpse of the woman who had been a stranger moments ago, and me standing behind it with a bloodied sword.
Confusion and terror dominated their faces.
"Who the hell are you…?!"
A massive man covered in tattoos muttered in disbelief.
Unlike the other five terrified civilians, his eyes held the glint of battle experience.
Instinct marked me as the greatest threat.
I didn't answer.
I simply selected the next prey swiftly.
My gaze fell on one retreating in fear.
I needed to find the unique ability holder, but with everyone panicking, I struck first.
"Th-this psycho…!"
As I readied my sword again, the tattooed man spat curses and dropped into a stance.
Bare-handed defense, no thought behind it.
I ignored him, charging my chosen target.
"Uwaaak!"
The civilian man screamed, fumbling for something, but too late.
My sword grazed his throat.
Blood fountained from his neck as he toppled, eyes bulging.
In that moment, a powerful surge from behind—the tattooed man's fist hurtled toward me.
His body swelled momentarily, muscles bulging.
Enhancement-type unique ability. The true rank 1 was this guy.
He likely possessed superhuman strength beyond civilians, but against my level 10 equivalent power, he was no threat.
With Agility at 10, I twisted away effortlessly, dodging his punch.
His fist sliced empty air, and my sword exploited the opening, deeply slashing his side.
"Kuhk!"
The strike meant to bisect him was partially blocked by his massive muscles.
I'd hesitated at the sudden swell, failing to commit full power while evading.
He endured the pain, swinging his other fist.
I parried with my sword.
Kang!
A dull clang, his body staggering.
His punch packed power, but couldn't overcome my sword's overwhelming force and stat gap.
He recoiled in shock at how easily I'd blocked.
Meanwhile, the remaining four scattered in terror, fleeing.
The tattooed man had no spare capacity to help. He couldn't even guarantee his own survival.
"Sp-spare… me…!"
Before he finished, I closed in.
Absorbing his desperate final punch on my shoulder, I thrust into his abdomen.
Resistance from bone and muscle yielded to my powered blade.
I sliced upward, vertically halving his torso. He collapsed, spraying vast blood.
His twitching corpse soon crumbled to dust.
That was my first incoming attack.
But my shoulder was fine. Despite its visually devastating force.
Now, the priority was the escapees.
With the unique ability holder slain, no further threats loomed.
Just four fleeing rats left.
Eyeing their footprints on the ground, I stepped into the alleys.
The village had become my vast hunting ground.
The first rat hid in a nearby rundown building's warehouse.
As I opened the door, he screamed and swung a dagger.
Having just felt my Defense in action, I briefly considered taking the hit—but decided against it.
I easily twisted his wrist, subdued him, and slit his throat. The message updated.
Out of the warehouse, I scanned around.
The second rat cowered behind the well.
Spotting me, she begged for mercy, hands clasped.
I ignored her pleas and pierced her heart.
The third and fourth were together.
They'd barricaded themselves inside the equipment shop with furniture.
Instead of breaking the door, I smashed a window and entered.
They screamed and lunged clumsily, but their amateur swings never touched my village-bought gear.
I took their lives one by one, in turn.
Seven in total. Less than five minutes to finish them all.
The system cleanly erased the corpses and bloodstains as always.
Silence returned to the plaza.
I checked the messages.
Today's hunt brought my human kill count to exactly 10.
I selected confirm.