Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: I'll Become a Parrying Master! (4)
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“Woah!”
Ttak-!
“...!”
Four consecutive parries successful.
...But this time, it was a close call.
I had the timing down. The attacks kept changing every time, so the parry window wasn't consistent, but as long as I calculated the shrinking speed, it was no problem.
“How...! How the hell are you blocking with that pathetic stance─!!”
The real issue was that my body couldn't keep up with the calculations and cheats.
“Tsk... Beats me.”
“What...?”
I had no idea why it was working either.
I was just swinging my sword and shield in time with the timing, barely.
Less swinging and more just holding them out in front half the time.
“Sorry 'bout that.”
“Human!!”
If I were that wild boar, I'd be pissed too.
It was clearly a crappy stance, yet somehow not even grazing me.
I felt bad using the sloppy form my Infinite Gallery masters had cursed and sighed over, deflecting every attack.
'But I parried, right?'
In the real world, results are everything.
Whoosh─!
'That's five.'
I gripped tighter as the beast grimaced and charged, face twisted.
A red glow burst from the tip of its bluish dagger. I thrust my sword at the perfect timing, matching the swings I'd seen countless times.
Ttak!!
The moment the light overlapped the circle, my sword slammed precisely into the dagger.
No follow-up skills, no way to shatter the dagger, but I could neutralize its attack perfectly.
“What trick is this, human!! How can a lowly creature like you read all my attacks!!”
'Now for the special pattern.'
I swallowed hard at the furiously barking beast.
Wiki said it attempts big motions for this one.
'Body slam? Or switching to a kick?'
From what I'd seen, it only did close-quarters, no magic skills.
So its options were limited.
Wiki specified 'big motion,' so no cheap tricks like throwing the dagger or kicking up sand.
At least not until the five-count reset.
Scrape... Scrape...
The gritted beast dragged its feet backward.
Why increase distance? Not like it'd pull a ranged attack now.
“I'll kill you...!”
'Here it comes.'
Thud...! Thud...! Thud─!!
It finished speaking, eyes bulging, and charged at me.
Much faster than before, the vibrations shaking the ground and reaching me.
Grip...!
“Uoooo─!!”
It tucked its fists at its waist and leaned its upper body forward slightly.
A bit clumsy, but ferocious. Charging like it would bulldoze any obstacle in its path.
'Knew it.'
How to parry that? Could my wooden sword even block it?
Shield up front didn't feel safe either.
Flash.
Red light leaked from its entire body.
A massive light and circle, on another level.
'No way I can block that.'
Timing might line up, but I was sure I couldn't deflect it.
-Neutralize this attack to induce brief groggy state.
'Doesn't have to be a parry.'
What were the conditions?
How to block it without parrying?
Thump! Thump!
My heart pounded as it closed in, its ugly face making me swear off pork forever.
The massive frame loomed, glaring like I was its mortal enemy.
'...Don't panic.'
Parrying that was impossible, but I could read exactly when it'd hit me.
Take it slow and steady.
Per Wiki, patterns repeat anyway.
Regular attacks I could parry, so test the neutralization step by step.
“Uoooooo!!”
“...!”
It was right in my face when it suddenly raised its hands overhead.
I'd expected a body slam, but surprisingly, it lifted the daggers.
Aiming to slash me X-style? I tensed my toes as both daggers swung toward me.
'Now...!!'
The moment the red light fully overlapped the circle, I threw myself sideways to dodge.
Thud...!
'Groggy?!'
I rolled on the sand and whipped my head around.
Regardless of outcome, I wasn't attacking this time.
Needed to gauge attack window and its reaction beforehand.
'With my skills and this wooden sword, how many swings could I even land?'
I had to pinpoint my offensive limit to conquer this boar and Floor 20.
“Not a human, but a rat.”
“...”
I squinted at it slowly turning after whiffing.
Probably failed the pattern break.
Panting hard, but no groggy signs.
“Scared this time? Why not block with your shitty skills?”
“Nah~ Taunt all you want~ You can't touch me anyway~.”
“...”
I cupped hands to my mouth like a megaphone at its voice.
Block? Why would I?
This was a sure win, even if it took forever—I wouldn't lose.
“Squeal like a pig getting slaughtered your whole life, see if I budge.”
“You little...!!”
“Oh, didn't get that?”
“What...?”
“Oink oink!”
“Uwaaaaa─!”
For the record, this is how you taunt.
Ttak─!!
“Hoo...”
I roughly wiped sweat from my forehead.
Laughter slipped out at the boar, driven mad with rage.
'Thanks. EXP's piling up like crazy thanks to you.'
Roughly thirty parries in?
Its attacks weren't landing at all.
Early ones were riskier, but as parrying got familiar, my defense solidified.
“Huff, huff...!!”
Conversely, rage-blinded boar tired faster, pouring emotion into every swing.
“Tired already? That's it?”
“What the hell are you...?”
“Just a normal guy with no skills?”
I shrugged at it, chuckling.
Sincere words, but it grimaced anyway.
Truth was, I had zero abilities. Just riding Wiki's info.
'Haven't seen groggy once, though...'
Not a big worry, honestly.
Compared to the boar, I had plenty stamina left.
Stand still till it charges, parry on the red light click.
Step back briefly, parry again as it grits teeth and comes back.
Recalling Floor 10, repeat forever and it'd drop first.
Ttak!!
“Whoa.”
“Again!! Againnnn!!”
Fourth block now.
One more and special pattern kicks in.
'Special pattern's definitely weaker too...'
The six-cycle attack speed had slowed noticeably.
Red glow from its body much dimmer than start.
'Gonna deflect this one.'
Attacks varied a bit, but timing was all that mattered.
“Humaannnn!!!”
“Not running, don't worry.”
I smirked at its trembling dagger hand.
Sky had turned crimson sometime.
No clue if much time passed or sunset already.
Nonstop exchange blurred time tracking.
Taat!
“This time I'll kill you!!”
“Why so mad?”
That much stress is bad for health.
Flash-
I pitied the boar as I raised my shield.
Sword had farmed enough EXP, now shield parries too.
Ttak!!
Shield hit dagger on timing, deflecting the attack.
Its arm veered off, stumbling off-balance as I stepped back lightly.
Parry gave a tiny attack window, but at my skill, no point risking sloppy hits—I stuck to parries.
'Five down.'
Gonna deflect this special pattern.
Honestly, zero fear now.
Patterns fully memorized—not worried about dropping.
“Again... with that shitty stance!!”
“Cut the broken record, got nothing else?”
“Shut up...!!”
Thud-!
I blinked as it smacked its own thigh in fury.
I didn't think I was that good, but max rage after a newbie lands a few?
“Just admit you're weak...'
“Uaaaaah─!!”
Grip!
I raised my wooden sword as it charged on my cue.
Attacks varied, but didn't matter.
Its patterns, seen endlessly, etched in my brain.
Flash-!
'Brutal.'
It leaped right up to me, glaring down mid-air.
Gripping right dagger crushingly, teeth bared to kill.
'Now.'
Kang─!!
“Oh!”
“...!”
My wooden sword struck its fist half-beat faster.
Fatigue from prior attacks? Or perfect parry timing?
Impact opened its hand; dagger flew to the colosseum wall.
It landed late, panicked, looking around—I gripped hard.
'Groggy or whatever...!'
EXP maxed; time to head to Hideout.
No hesitation, I swung wooden sword at it fiercely.
Thud─!!
“Ha.”
Aimed precisely for throat.
Hit the side exactly as intended.
“Hu...man...!!”
'Still looks too fine.'
Sharp but wooden, so no cut? Or my weak swing?
──One problem, though.
Grip...!!
“You thought this puny thing... could kill me─!!”
It grabbed my sword, crushing with force to snap it.
'Won't come loose...!!'
Yanked hard, stuck. Pushed to topple? Immovable.
Crack.
Then, subtle sound from wooden sword.
'No way...'
Crack... Crunch!!
Week of nonstop swings.
Deflected Floor 15 arrows, endured dozens of parries.
'Damn...!!'
My precious 1,000 TP wooden sword finally gave out.
Taat!
Dropped it quick, backed way off.
It clutched throat from impact, but my sole weapon gone.
'...What now?'
Its face flushed rage and humiliation.
Look screamed 'You're the first to hit me...!'
“Good fight. Call it a draw?”
“Shut your mouth!!”
“Figured.”
More offense and defense wins for me, gracious offer...
“No need for pride. Pathetic I let vermin like you land a hit...”
“...What?”
“I'll smash you our warriors' way...!”
“You fucking...!”
It tossed knuckle-dagger from left, then ripped clothes—top and bottom.
“Uwaaaaa!!”
Raw, beastly, it glared skyward and bellowed mightily...
Flash-!!
'Already?'
Hadn't even attacked yet, but light exploded incomparable to before.
Game would flash red screen in mortal danger.
Click...!
“...Insane.”
Watched light shrink to circle; it suddenly planted hands on ground.
On all fours, snorting wildly like reclaiming primal ancestry.
'Definitely way more threatening...'
Less scary swinging daggers with that bulk than charging like this.
“Kuuuiiiik!!”
“It's a real piglet...!!”
Faster on all fours.
Squinted as red light aligned with circle.
'Can shield block that?'
Pattern changed suddenly. Death throes, probably.
Head spun: how block? Can I? How long repeats?
'Just time it...!'
It barreled on without slowing.
No clue where to hit, but swung left shield arm wide anyway.
Smaaash─!!
“Guhk...!”
Kabooom!
Shield edge smashed head perfectly. But collided, flew to wall far.
'My back...'
Back wrecked.
Could force up, but no dodging rolls.
Instinct said wall-crawling max.
'Need to attack now...!!'
Boar down, concussed? Writhing in pain.
Should close and strike, but no weapon. Shield flung far from impact.
'Damn...'
Die already, but probably not.
Up soon, charge again.
Scramble for any way, none in sight.
'Wiki silent too.'
Gritting teeth, scanning around briefly.
“...Ah.”
Within arm's reach: its knuckle-dagger lay dropped.
From first special deflect, the one I'd knocked away—now beside me.
“Hu...man......!”
“Fuck... shit...”
I shut eyes tight then opened at it staggering to all fours.
No escaping.
Bare hands? No suppress or parry.
Sole option left—
'Fuck, I wanna die.'
Flailing with the weapon from its pants.
'...Still warm.'
Held constantly for attacks, duh.
Not weird it's warm, but...
Swish.
“Come at me, you filthy bastard...!!”
Tears welling for some reason, I bit lip and yelled for real.