Berserk Awakening
"I am a genius! Monsters! Demons! When I ingested the nutrients they contain, I discovered that the enhancement circuits engraved throughout the test subject's body activate even without mana! In theory, buff magic can also be cast on its own! Remember this well, you stupid bastards! I! Have completed a system that can use the demonic energy in monsters like mana! That's the end? Absolutely not! If it enters the awakening mode I named Berserker..."
In the central region of Monster Island. Just before the rugged valley began beyond the dense forest, somewhere on a wide, flat plain.
"Chwiik!"
The orc warrior standing guard with his spear whipped around. Thick saliva dripped from his protruding tusked maw, an impressive sight.
Drip, drip.
His hunger-crazed gaze fixed on the empty air, where savory smoke wafted tantalizingly. Beyond the wooden barricade of the orc tribe's camp, a tribal feast was in full swing.
"Kkek kek kek!"
Hot steam snorted from the excited orc's nostrils. Just moments ago, roars and groans had erupted from the "today's meal" beyond the barricade.
By now, goblins, trolls, deer, and bears—mouths stuffed with sweet apples—were roasting alive over the bonfires.
His shift was almost over.
"Kkek chwiik!"
Drip drip drip.
Anticipating a properly cooked morsel upon entry, hot saliva poured from the spear-wielding orc's maw.
The feast had raged for days now. Had such banquets happened this frequently before? No.
Catching so much game daily, brazenly lighting massive fires that scattered scents everywhere—those were taboos in this tribe.
All because of the nearby troll tribe. Deep in the swamps down that stream—they were a headache, liable to attack at any moment.
But they'd vanished sometime ago.
Whether hunting boars or deer in the forest and valleys, or gathering warriors to hunt tigers deep in the jungle.
The trolls who always interfered, turning hunts into bloody brawls, were nowhere to be seen.
"Chwiiiiiik!"
The orc grinned with a toothless leer, drool spilling thickly. Now, nothing to fear in these parts.
Lone wandering trolls were now just rare delicacies. All would be devoured! Delicious things!
This orc, drooling greedily, naturally couldn't know.
Why the rival troll tribe in the swamps had suddenly disappeared.
What had utterly crushed them—beings even this tribe hesitated to wage full war against.
For this local orc tribe, ignorant of such matters, only one direction remained a threat.
The distant mountain ridge. Watch for ogre hulks descending from beyond, or thunderbird shadows blotting the sky—and this tribe could claim dominion over the region.
Rabbits, foxes, goblins, deer, trolls, bears, tigers.
Unlike other orc tribes scattered across the island!
They could hunt and tear into those savory scents roasting alive beyond the barricade whenever hunger struck! Every day!
As the orc sentry inhaled the intensifying aromas from the barricade, drool dripping once more.
Drip, drip.
"Egg drur."
The orc whipped around in shock.
Slash!
His head was already separating from his neck. In his final moments, the orc glimpsed.
"Fuck, you're ruining my appetite."
A monster he'd never seen before.
Several weeks had passed since my ascetic-like routine began.
Muscle training, real combat. Devouring dead monster flesh.
Each time, my body recovered beyond its limits from the damage, transcending human boundaries.
Repeating these torturous acts that abused my senses of touch and taste, I'd clashed with countless monsters in life-or-death struggles.
Yet still.
Such sights remained unfamiliar.
Thud.
Inside the sprawling wooden stockade. Bonfires everywhere roasted monsters and beasts writhing with apple-like fruits in their maws.
Surrounding them, packs of orcs drooled foul saliva, tearing into roasting flesh.
"That drool stinks like shit."
That was when.
"Chwi?"
"Chwiik?"
Atop the tall central watchtower, two orcs spotted me.
As they reached for the massive gong hanging from the roof, I swiftly gripped the two daggers at my waist.
Thwip thwip thwip.
Yanking them back and flicking my wrists like slingshots, the daggers—stolen from goblins—embedded in the orcs' throats.
My throwing power exceeded expectations; the orcs floated briefly before tumbling over the railing.
Thud.
Thump.
"Ehey~ Power control's trickier than I thought."
Still, the forearm and triceps felt solid—satisfactory.
"................!"
Dust clouds from the falls drew every orc's gaze from the smoky bonfires.
Dozens of pig-headed brutes turned their maws toward me in unison.
"Chwiik! Chwiik!"
"Kkek kek kek!"
"Chwi hihiiii!"
"Chwiik!"
"Tsu hiiiiiik!"
"Chwiiik!"
Hideous mugs fit for sacrifice frothed steaming saliva, grabbing axes and swords—a spectacular sight.
Unlike smashing troll tribes, I'd aimed for quiet elimination this time. Power control still tricky.
"Well, whatever."
Just sweep them all away.
Sneer.
Adrenaline surged deep in my chest.
Boiling battle lust heated my body from toes to scalp.
"Let's just... doooo iiiit!"
"Chwiiiiiiiik!"
With a roar, my body launched.
Literally.
Boom!
A deep footprint cratered where I'd stood; amid rising dust, I vanished.
"............Chut!"
Collision alone hurled the lead charging orc's stinking body backward.
Rumble rumble boom!
The orc flew straight like a laundry line, bowling over the rest.
"Kkwiik!"
"Chut!"
"Chiik!"
"Tchuk!"
Orcs scattered like bowling pins, eyes rolled back, grotesque squeals erupting from pig snouts.
"Chwiik!"
"Chiiik!"
I leaped lightly, seeing orcs stab swords and axes at my former spot from both sides.
Tap.
Landing, I seized their heads and smashed them together—crunch!
Watermelon burst; two orcs crumpled.
Movement behind me as I shook my hands.
"Chwiiiiik!"
Spear this time.
Swish.
Dodging with a casual waist bend, I spun and elbow-smashed.
"............Kwang!"
Jaw shattered, the orc knelt and collapsed.
And.
"Hupcha."
Kicking up the falling spear, I snatched it midair with my right hand and tensed.
"Hngh!"
Bulge!
My grotesquely thick-muscled right arm, veins popping.
Reared back over my shoulder.
"Kuh huaaaacha!"
Whiiiiiish!
Black line streaked the air; the charging orc horde impaled themselves en masse.
Admiring the orc kebab smugly.
Then—a stinging in my side.
Axe blade embedded.
In the moment of overexertion, some rear orc had thrown it.
"Chwi hihihihi!"
Dozens charged from all sides; one orc in back smirked victoriously.
Sneer.
Returning the smile, I inhaled deeply and hunched my body maximally.
Time to unleash.
The limit I'd pushed devouring monsters until yesterday.
"Huuuuuup."
Chest and gut ballooning with breath, I sensed every muscle, nerve, sensation.
Thump!
Thump!
Tensing my lower abs.
Exhaling fully, I detonated the mysterious energies accumulated throughout my body.
Kraaaaaaaa—!
A skull-to-toe crackling roar erupted; the energies surged through me.
"Whew."
Now I knew without looking. Muscles swelled; bizarre steam rose from my body.
Each footprint scorched the ground; vision wavered, eyes gleaming strangely.
"This is... Berserk Mode."
An awakening state from the secret lab logs. Fruit of recent weeks' ordeals (training, fights, monster ingestion).
This "test subject" body surpassed drugged humans—not just in muscle, but stored excess monster nutrients from repairs, exploding them at once!
The power? Such that.
Clank.
The side-embedded axe fell; muscles ballooned denser, harder.
"Chwiiiiik!"
"Chwiik! Kkuiiiii!"
"Kkek kek kek!"
"Chwi hihiiii!"
"Chwiik!"
I kicked the lead orc's jaw amid their murder-lust charge.
".....Chyut!"
Grabbing its airborne ankles with both hands.
"Uryaaaaaaa!"
Spinning in place, I swept away the horde with it.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
A bizarre whirlwind formed. Ground dust, blood spewing from the spun orc's maw, scattering flesh and blood from colliding orcs—mixed into a massive vortex.
".....Chwi, chwiik!"
"Giant Swing!"
".....Chwiiiiiiiik!"
"How's that? Fun, right? Huh?"
One rotation. Two. Three.
Each spin transmitted heavy feedback, pounding my heart.
Like perfect sync with a ideal workout partner, conditioning the whole body flawlessly?
This surging vitality! Uncontainable explosive power!
"Kwieeeeeeee!"
"Chwi, chwi iiiii!"
"Chiiik! Chik! Chiiik!"
Spinning vision accelerated.
With each turn, orc screams amplified; something splashed my body repeatedly.
Stinking—blood and flesh, probably. Didn't matter.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Post-workout, nutrients abounded to grow this overworked body.
Larger performance next, bigger growth, and...
"Aaaah."
...Survival aside, wasn't this the perfect virtuous cycle athletes dream of?
Delicious workouts and flawless growth! The exquisite routine meshing perfectly!
Fuck, this is happiness, I thought, licking blood from my lips.
Probably.
The orcs' faces flashing in my sight brimmed with massive terror.
The same moment.
Somewhere on the continent across the Dead Sea.
"Oh my? No way?"
"Indeed. Congratulations."
"What do I do, what do I do!"
"Haha."
The palace messenger who'd alighted the luxurious carriage smiled warmly at the fretting head maid.
She held a letter sealed with the Carbon Kingdom's emblem. Both sender and recipient knew its contents at this juncture.
"A royal ball!"
"Seeing you so happy makes me glad too. Hurry and deliver it."
"Deliver? You bet!"
The grand ball hosted by Carbon Kingdom, attended by nobles—a pinnacle of social activity.
The Hellenger heir had been invited!
"Even pretending otherwise, our young master waited so long for this."
The head maid naturally couldn't imagine.
Ivan Hellenger. The troublemaking heir, upon receiving the letter, would head to smash Monster Island in the Dead Sea to draw attention at the impending ball.
