Chapter 154
Chapter 154
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Annoying Attention
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Otherworlder Ranking 3rd.
The Otherworlders that Almiraz and Swordmaster Il-hyung had described as being on another level entirely.
One at the pinnacle among users.
They said poison was her specialty, but even from what she'd shown so far, her talents seemed pretty diverse.
It was too early to pin down her fighting style.
One thing was certain, though.
That bitch named Poise, clutching her face and staggering from my swing.
This damn mutt was playing possum.
Slash!
The sword grazed her face.
Right after, Poise's face split cleanly in half and slid off.
Clunk.
An odd sound for a human face hitting the ground.
I didn't need to look to know it was made of wood.
Just before I sliced it, Poise had left a clone and moved elsewhere.
"I said just a moment, right?"
About 15 meters away from me.
In a normal fight, it'd be a decent distance, but to superhumans like Otherworlders, it meant nothing.
I could tell without even focusing.
That one was a clone too.
No need to listen to some clone when she'd already struck first and kept her real body safe.
"Just a quick chat."
I cleaved it vertically in half.
Caught off guard by the speed, the clone's eyes widened as it split apart.
But the next instant, even I had to gape a little.
"Le"
"t's"
"ta"
"lk"
"a"
"bi"
"t"
"Pl"
"ea"
Nine of them.
No, clones kept popping up everywhere, forming a chorus.
No need to humor their bullshit.
Whoosh.
The flames coating my sword roared fiercely, expanding the attack range.
Twirl.
One swing scattered the clones.
The exploded ones turned into trees, bushes, rocks, and the like, each different.
The earlier clone had been wood too, and since her wood vine attacks were especially huge and powerful, I'd thought wood was her main thing—but apparently not.
"Haa. You're really ferocious."
This time from above.
The moment I looked up, the wood shards that had been Poise's face at my feet writhed.
I ignored it and slashed at the airborne Poise.
The wood at my feet was already useless anyway.
As I'd figured, the writhing wood went still, and the sky clone got hit by my sword energy.
"Huh. Ow."
This time, the clone crumbled into countless cube fragments.
As I focused and braced for the next attack, a voice came from behind.
"Hmm. Is that the ruin attribute? I was trying to recycle the scraps, but they're already out of my control."
No end to them.
Her relaxed tone pissed me off.
What gave this wench the right to act all chill when I was going easy on her?
I closed my eyes.
"Oh, decided to listen now? Smart choice. Actually, not just you—I've sent reliable minions to your friends too. We can have a nice talk... right?"
I ignored the yapping clone and charged the opposite direction from it.
"Huh? Running? Not a great choice."
The giggling clone's face stiffened instantly.
And I swung my sword toward the ground...
Roooaaar!
A massive tree root erupted, dwarfing anything before.
So what?
I sliced through the skyscraper-sized tree in one flaming swing and pressed toward my target.
Boom!
I cleaved the buried wood.
"Kuh!"
The woman hiding inside revealed herself.
Unlike before, her voice was blatantly panicked as she reached out.
Kaboom!!
A green explosion erupted.
A brilliant attack that checked me and blasted me back.
But so what?
Dispelling the poison mist and pursuing her took just one breath.
Her sweaty, flustered face was pretty hilarious.
"Poise."
"......"
"Not laughing anymore?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Otherworlder Ranking 3rd. Poise.
Not her real name.
She hadn't revealed her true name to anyone since coming to Elryunar.
She wasn't attached to it anyway, and in this world where weirdos actually existed who might cast strange spells upon hearing one's "true name," revealing it would just invite trouble.
One word to describe her: a mighty female general.
Rankers were monsters among monsters.
It was just a hypothesis among users, but treated almost like gospel.
That among the thousands of Otherworlders, each was an "expectation" summoned to this world for their recognized "talent."
The finest prospects acknowledged from infinite parallel worlds.
Among those thousands, the ones who earned even greater strength—or rather, awe—were rankers. And among them, the three top rankers, including 3rd place, were called beyond the heavens.
Lately, Swordmaster Il was gunning for beyond the heavens territory, but in Poise's eyes, the gap was laughable.
Since arriving in this world, she'd faced countless crises.
A genius and ruler praised in her original world, she'd gained a mighty body upon coming to Elryunar—yet lost some confidence instead.
This world's experts, monsters, nature, users, and gods... all casually surpassed her expectations.
For her, there'd been only one true brush with death since arriving.
Almiraz.
Monster Rabbit.
Originally a mage who'd abandoned the gods for some reason and been abandoned in turn, losing all magical talent.
She'd once tried to capture that power-lost monster, and Almiraz naturally resisted.
Scoffing, they'd fought, but she remembered nearly dying and barely surviving with her comrades' help.
And now. She felt the same.
'Real terror. Second time today.'
Far stronger now than when fighting Almiraz, Poise felt the exact same vibe from Dre as that monster rabbit.
Countless clones. Countless summons. Vicious poison.
Scattering them casually felled most foes—even those strutting around as powerhouses.
But the guy before her casually slashed through it all and wouldn't let her rest.
'How the hell does he know which is the real me?'
For close-range fighters using narrow but powerful attacks, her clones were the biggest hassle.
She could summon tens of thousands at once if she wanted, and her real body could blend into plain wood or whatever—not clones or skills. Without detection or AOE skills, hitting her real body was near impossible.
So she'd figured Dre would be easy.
From videos, Dre had master-level skills and was strong, but his matchup against her sucked.
Investigations showed no detection skills.
She could capture him easily now and negotiate a "smooth deal."
Or so she'd thought.
'Driving me insane.'
His sword strike grazed her forehead.
The stinging pain furrowed her brow instinctively.
A few minutes had passed already.
Shouldn't the vicious poison have seeped in? Was he unaffected?
'Poison resistant. No, even without that skill, this bastard would find another way.'
This monster who cleaved the world's hardest stone or wood without hesitation chilled Poise to the bone.
This body of hers—what was it?
Human-looking, but Otherworlder flesh surpassed monsters.
Natural healing and stamina aside, getting smashed into boulders at insane speeds was just "ow~" for mid-tier users.
Poise was a ranker—even an island-wiping attack only shaved her HP bar a bit.
But to the guy in front of her, that didn't matter.
He suppressed any toughness with one swing.
Just like Almiraz.
'No, maybe more annoying.'
The rabbit had unimaginable finesse.
Using minimal Ryunar to cleverly wreck Otherworlder bodies for near-instant kills.
But this guy brainlessly swung his sword, and every hit was lethal.
'Underestimated him.'
She had to admit it.
She'd misjudged his strength.
Dre had beaten Almiraz.
But Almiraz terrified even rankers largely due to "privilege seal."
Dre probably had the least affected "talent privilege," so no combat debuff, barely winning.
Stupid assumption.
'Big mistake. Damn it.'
Her perception was off.
She'd planned a light threat for a slight edge in talks, but this guy needed full prep to fight.
Not someone to bully as a subordinate—he needed total domination or eager recruitment as an ally.
Too late for regrets.
And even if there was a way out, she wouldn't take it.
Poise was a ranker too.
A battle and adventure junkie at heart.
Bzzzz!
Various bug monsters swarmed Dre, only to shatter or burn to ash.
Multicolored poisons exploded on contact with fire; her prized root attacks got lopped off in chunks.
This monster casually nullified attacks even rankers struggled with.
But what pissed her off more was...
"Not laughing anymore, Poise?"
That blank expression needling her. That face.
"Brat."
After rolling in this world for over a decade, who did he think he was?
Sure, she'd picked the fight, but with that attitude, no way she'd go easy.
'Underestimate this world, and you're done.'
Plan overhaul.
No deal? Subdue him anyway.
Poise seriously reconsidered her tactics.
'Bug collection, forest collection, poison collection—none work.'
Poise lacked confidence in close quarters.
Above average, sure, but ranged was her specialty.
And Dre was a close-combat specialist.
On par with that Otherworlder killer—or "mage killer."
She'd let him close in.
One option left.
Her trump card.
"Heh."
"!"
Dre's face showed bewilderment for the first time.
Good instincts, Poise thought.
Most would retreat or charge.
Usually retreat.
And Dre—
Whoosh!
Rushed faster and fiercer than ever.
Seeing that, Poise felt lucky to meet him early.
A bit later, she'd have lost.
Meaning, she wouldn't lose now.
Dre's sword flew to bisect her.
Two choices. A special move rarely picked.
Brave.
Mental fortitude beyond others.
But neither was right.
From 3rd rank, they were beyond the heavens.
There was a reason for that phrase.
A single technique.
Heart Realm Declaration.
'Don't wanna show my full power yet. But... gotta use it here.'
Crunch! Cruuunch!
"What."
Dre's eyes bulged.
[Ooooh!]
[Aaaah!]
Two house-sized summons.
One a forest golem woven from grass, trees, gravel, soil, ponds—countless things.
The other a Poison Drake Dragon that melted even powerhouses on touch.
Summons even rankers couldn't ignore.
Summoning them shorthand drained her mana massively, but Poise smiled.
'Stalling.'
Buying time for Heart Realm Declaration.
As she planned, the mighty summons got unsummoned in two swings.
That was enough.
Poise uttered one phrase.
Heart Realm Declaration.
Done.
Repeating it mentally, Poise grinned.
The world changed.
Roooaaar
"?!"
Poise vanished.
Teleport?
That thought faded fast.
The scenery was too different.
A green sun blazed; sky and space filled with poison mist; ground a sticky poison sludge.
What the hell?
As Dre gawked, Poise spoke from afar.
"Welcome to my world."
Dre charged silently.
That instant, the ground rippled into a poison sea.
Dre didn't flinch, stepping through the air.
"What the—?"
Poise muttered in awe at the divine skill, then chuckled.
"Doesn't matter."
Boom!
"Kuh?!"
A massive poison blast in midair repelled Dre.
He'd barely blocked with an air shield; in that gap, Poise vanished.
"You damn bitch..."
Before cursing fully—
Roooar!
"!?"
The ground plummeted away.
Not Dre rising—the earth falling.
Drifting clouds swirled like a typhoon to engulf him; swarms evoking acrid smoke gnashed teeth to bite; distant ground sprouted impossibly huge plants turning tendrils to spears for skewering.
The world itself morphed to kill one man.
Looking up, the green sun drew closer.
Utterly impossible.
Had he been teleported somewhere unnoticed? Dre smirked.
No such world existed.
This was a skill.
No.
Something special unworthy of "skill."
Ridiculous.
Users could do this?
And ridiculous.
"Fun."
Thinking this would kill him?
"Hmm~"
In a peaceful forest utterly unlike the poison realm, Poise stretched and checked her watch.
About 15 seconds since dragging him in.
Ways to counter Heart Realm existed; one was escaping before full lockdown.
Normally undetectable, but once fully manifested, it became another universe, endlessly expanding.
So, find the exit before expansion.
'Near impossible, though.'
No complacency.
Dre would find the exit.
With senses strong enough to track her real body, very possible.
But he'd emerge far from normal, she was sure.
And right on cue.
Fwoosh!
Space rippled; a figure burst out.
Heart Realm Declaration.
Muttering quietly, Poise sent him back in.
"Hmmm."
Mana, down to 2/3, dropped further.
Barely half left now.
To prepare for surprises, she'd dropped the inner maintenance and exited, harshly draining mana.
Maintaining like this wouldn't regen; it'd trickle away.
Still, two days viable.
As a pinnacle Otherworlder, her mana pool was oversized.
Real-world two days was a lifetime inside.
"Impressive guy."
If he'd known about Heart Realm Declaration beforehand, he wouldn't have fallen so easily.
But once trapped, no chance for Dre.
"Lock him for a century?"
A day in, he'd be neutralized; enter then and adjust time.
That arrogant punk would be humbled.
Rebuilding his shattered mind would suck, but best way...
Krshh!!
"Huh."
Glass shattering.
Literally—midair scenery fractured into glass shards scattering.
"...No no no. Hey. Wait."
Black void in the broken vista.
It split in two.
"You're kidding?!"
Craaaack!!
Kabooooom!
The black space widened; shockwave fluttered the wide forest in an instant.
Bracing the gust, clutching her whipping coat, she stared ahead.
From the rift, a black silhouette emerged, eyes glowing red.
"What the actual fuck..."
Poise spat vulgarity after ages.
What was this?
He hadn't crawled out the exit.
He'd smashed a new one.
As scenery restored around the exit, Poise felt cold sweat trickle down her cheek.
How?
That sword.
Plague Dragon Malakia. Dragon corpse-splitter with nonsensical power.
Never fought dragons, but user records drilled their nature into her.
So she'd figured the sword's might was limited to close/physical via special skill—still too cheaty.
"Sliced space...? Kuh!"
Not even time to gawk.
Ground-surging sword strike tore at her; simultaneously, sky-net of slashes closed in.
Space Sword, prison form.
"Eek...!"
Boom!!
Poison blast repelled the dual forces but couldn't fully block; sword marks scarred her coat.
No ordinary coat—a unique item.
Energy slashes this potent? Chilling.
And.
Swish!!
Dre closed in faster than a ghost.
Grinning.
Veins popped on Poise's forehead.
"Fine."
Bring it.
Grinding teeth, Poise's mind raced.
Heart Realm Declaration: failed.
But only because she wasn't inside.
Long inside, the world solidified—no full release meant she couldn't trap just the foe while outside like now.
That was mere "binding technique."
Power differed vastly inside vs. out.
Safety precaution only; Heart Realm Declaration was for wielding transcendent might in her world, unbound.
She admitted he was a monster beyond imagination.
But she wouldn't lose.
Poise was that strong.
And.
"......"
Eyes met Dre's.
No rage. No leisure. No smile.
Seriousness devoid of powerhouses' usual superiority tells.
Why?
Yet it seemed more relaxed, mighty than any.
'No, even more...'
Something in her mind fragmented.
And an unfamiliar, inexplicable emotion welled.
She didn't know it, but universal and unwelcome.
Fear.
Randomly, Poise's essence wasn't warrior.
Closer to merchant chasing any edge.
Thus, her decision swift.
"Let's stop. Dre..."
Kwak!
Sword strike blasted her away.
Skidding to halt with grinding feet, as Dre closed instantly again, Poise spoke.
"Hey, uh... truce?"
Bam!
Sword clashed wood.
Full Ryunar pour barely blocked momentarily. Dodging follow-ups, she thought again.
Merchant eyes, coldly assessing objectively.
She wouldn't lose.
But win or lose, she'd be ruined.
Initially thought severe injury like losing a limb, her too battered. But resisting showed it'd be worse.
Normally, shrug as acceptable loss.
But this was near-prophecy.
Continuing, she'd perish.
'What to do.'
Dre showed no sign of stopping, still energetic.
When limbs were wrecked, would talk work?
No.
Floating Island flashed: self-amputating legs, embedding stone replacements—madman.
Normals weigh losses; this guy fundamentally different.
Her sharp mind spun overtime.
"Ah."
Conclusion reached.
Do that.
But how?
'Been ages since I did. Wait, ever?'
Amazed at her own character, Poise slumped her limbs.
Dre considered trap but charged anyway.
Stab!
Sword plunged deep into her arm.
Not severed—Dre stopped himself.
"?"
"What. Not cutting?"
"Hmph!"
Thinking mockery, Dre punched her face.
Grabbed her flying neck, choke-slammed to ground, mounted.
Any twitch, she'd be minced.
But Poise casually said,
"Beat me till you're cooled off."
"..."
Dre didn't refuse.
Raised fist, smashed her pretty face.
Splat! Crack! Splat!
Meat tenderizing sounds.
Mashing her face, Dre paused, head-tilting with question mark.
"What're you doing."
Poise grinned through blood.
"Ah... heh heh heh ha ha ha? Shorry... pleash forgive me?"
Utterly casual tone, no remorse.
As he aimed solar plexus then face again, Poise giggled sobbingly.
Dre lowered his fist.
Face screaming, "What the hell is this psycho?"
"Oh, sho cool now?"
"...Huh."
Dre got off her.
Fight over.