Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Don't Bluff
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Aiden glared at the slaughter monk standing before him, his mind racing.
'He's different from before.'
Previously, facing him had felt like standing before a tidal wave—unthinkable to even imagine resisting.
But not now.
Thanks to Jun and Terdin's efforts, the slaughter monk was far weaker than before.
Meanwhile, Aiden himself had grown beyond comparison to his third-layer days.
This wasn't arrogance or overreach; it was simple reality.
'But am I stronger than him?'
If asked that, he could confidently say no.
Even now, the slaughter monk showed no openings.
'But I don't need to create one myself.'
His goal was to buy time until Jun's next spell was ready.
And sure enough, the impatient slaughter monk moved first.
"Asura Salvartha!"
The slaughter monk was well aware his situation was dire.
But he knew how to turn it around.
"First, I need to clear away that rock lump."
His initial target: the golem, its sand body hardened like steel.
Woooong!
The golem responded with a sound like a derisive snort.
As if to say, What can you do in your weakened state?
Blood Collapse Fist
[Full power infused with remaining karma]
The slaughter monk had no intention of dragging this out against the golem.
He poured his dwindling slaughter karma into his fist and unleashed it.
Woooong!!
The golem crossed its arms to block, but...
Thud!
'That mad bastard.'
Jun bit his lip watching the scene unfold.
The slaughter monk's fist, shrouded in dark crimson energy, pierced not just the golem's arms but its entire body.
'He's not holding back on his karma at all!'
A power that would fade anyway under Eleanor's holy magic.
Better to burn it all in one go—that was his bold decision.
Leaving the golem crumbling like a sandcastle before the waves, the slaughter monk switched targets.
"I'll claim your karma, young master!"
Truth be told, the slaughter monk hadn't chosen this war of attrition lightly.
His goal was Aiden.
For one who grew by accumulating slaughter karma, imperial blood was the ultimate boon, no different from a divine elixir.
He struck with full force.
His fist, laden with that intent, shot forward.
'Here it comes!'
Aiden barely reacted in time, raising his sword blade to guard his chest.
"...!!!"
At that moment, Beast's Body triggered a fierce rejection response.
Thankfully, Aiden trusted the warning and lifted his sword overhead.
Then—
Thwack—!
"Guh...!!"
The incoming fist vanished, replaced by the slaughter monk's leg slamming down like a guillotine.
'What the...!'
Cognitive dissonance hit—Aiden's mind reeled.
"Sharp instincts!"
The slaughter monk treated Aiden's confusion as expected and swung his leg again.
'Head again...!'
The slaughter monk leaped off the blocked leg, spinning a roundhouse kick at Aiden's head.
Aiden tried to parry with his sword, but...
"...!"
Once more, Beast's Body reacted.
Aiden abandoned defense and leaped back.
Blood Collapse Fist
[Blood-infused strike craters the earth]
Krummmble!!!
"What trickery..."
The slaughter monk's blood-soaked fist hammered where Aiden had stood moments ago.
The ground cratered like a bomb had hit. Cold sweat trickled down Aiden's back.
'That's...'
Now he understood why his senior's golem fell so easily.
He'd have died if he hadn't dodged.
It was that lethal a blow. But how had he failed to sense such savage energy?
"Ah."
"Keh heh. As expected of one who bears the first emperor's blood. You've caught on, young master."
"Killing intent..."
That was it.
The unimaginable slaughter karma had cloaked his senses like fog.
Even after telegraphing a fist to smash him, the leg had followed.
"A mere trick, but you're in no position to complain."
The slaughter monk charged at Aiden again.
Even knowing this changed nothing for Aiden.
No matter the first emperor's blood, he was only level 5.
He had his aces, but controlling a body that flinched at killing intent was impossible.
"...!"
An elbow slashed down from above.
Aiden backpedaled, but the slaughter monk's foot speared toward his gut like a spear.
Jun's shield shattered like paper.
Aiden barely yanked his sword up as a shield, but the impact rattled through his body.
"Gah...!"
Thump, thump thump thump!
He tumbled across the ruined sands before regaining his footing.
He looked up—the sunlight vanished.
He rolled aside; the slaughter monk's fist cratered his previous spot.
"Huff, huff...!"
"Nimble enough, but that's all you've got. That wind-infused strike was just once, eh?"
Aiden's Gale Fury Slash boasted blinding cast speed for its power, but...
It wasn't beyond the slaughter monk's reaction.
The first hit succeeded thanks to the wind spirit's aid, but it had crossed the island and fallen dormant again.
'And I'm not sure it could counter his earlier technique anyway.'
But...
'It's not hopeless.'
Why?
He felt he could manage.
Even after nearly dying multiple times.
Why was that?
"Don't bluff, you bald monk bastard."
It was probably because of Jun supporting him from behind.
"Bluff? Is that truly what you think?"
"Act all relaxed as you want—it only hurts you."
"Haha... Relaxed."
The slaughter monk turned toward the sea.
Currently blocked by Iron Rampart, but...
"Do you really think you're the only one stalling for time?"
"...What?"
At that instant, an enormous mana vortex surged.
From the direction of the city—and Wrath of the Sea God.
Beyond the steel walls, a pillar of murky emerald light erupted skyward.
"...Damn it. So that's what you were planning to unleash this time."
The raid had failed.
His worst fear had come true.
"I figured you'd know by now, but you knew of this incident too."
"With two imperials showing up here? Of course your eyes lit up."
The clear sky darkened in moments.
The sea's wrath was about to begin.
"Let's see if you survive until then."
"Haha..."
You son of a bitch.
Jun grinned whitely.
"You're really underestimating us."
"Hm?"
Ignoring the slaughter monk, Jun called to Aiden.
"Aiden. Body holding up?"
"Yes, Senior."
"Adapted?"
"Plenty."
"Good. That's your talent. Got it?"
He sparred daily with Heavenly Dragon Knights.
And every time, their awe bordered on fear, admiration on reverence.
These empire's pride, men who pierced the heavens and brushed the sun, paled before Aiden daily.
'No wonder he's the game protag.'
The slaughter monk?
A monster, sure.
Level 7 to 8 in a year.
But not on Aiden's level.
"Took a bit to infuse the imagery."
"It's fine."
[Interpreting Verbal Command...]
[Interpretation complete.]
[Verbal Command influence from 'Odyssey of the Lazy Pilgrim' reduced by 25%.]
[Multiple Chant]
[Enhancement: Elemental Body - Wind Attribute]
[Imbue: Elemental Armory - Wind Attribute]
[Enhancement: Strength Body]
Such buffs might poison Terdin, unaccustomed to syncing breaths.
But Aiden was different.
Each spell carried precise imagery, all tailored for him the moment they landed.
"I won't let you!"
The slaughter monk went all-in.
As if to end it now, he tapped his last reserves of karma.
Dead Mountain Blood Sea
[Overwhelming slaughter aura unleashed]
His body bathed in dark crimson once more, an immense killing intent billowed out.
Around Aiden, winds howled.
Like the eye of a typhoon, razor winds churned violently, ready to shred everything.
And when they clashed—
Blood Collapse Fist!
Gale Fury Slash!
Seeing Aiden aim precisely at his fist, the slaughter monk smirked.
The Blood Collapse Fist coiled around his fist was a feint.
Sensing unease from Jun and Aiden's exchange, he'd faked a full-powered punch.
Iron Mountain Kick
[Lost art of his homeland resurfaces]
Power from his vanished homeland, unseen for thirty years, gathered in his leg.
No need for Blood Collapse Fist to kill this blond blue-eyed man.
His raw strength sufficed.
Perhaps because he'd rarely been pushed this far.
Or dulled by years as a top predator.
The slaughter monk overlooked key facts.
First: his mental fatigue dulled his perception.
Second: Aiden's innate talent from thick imperial blood.
Third: he'd underestimated that sly mage's preparations.
"I told you. Remember my name."
"...!!!"
From empty air, someone lunged.
The bloodied knight captain swung his sword.
Terdin.
Materialization - Iron Path
In that split second, Aiden and Terdin shot forward.
The only one left standing still: the slaughter monk.
"Heh... Hahaha."
On the golden earth, he laughed skyward.
Then abruptly stopped, muttering to himself.
"Something felt off. So that's it. Clever, young master."
His gaze fixed on Aiden.
"That power dwelling in your body... It'll devour you someday. Ruin you soon enough."
"..."
Aiden's body flickered with blood-red energy.
In their final clash.
The slaughter monk had endured Terdin's strike to pour everything into Aiden.
A death-defying blow.
Aiden had sensed death and tapped a forbidden power—just for a moment.
The slaughter monk saw it clearly.
"I'll wait ahead in the afterlife, blood of my enemy. I'll savor your downfall from there."
"Bullshit. Think I'll let that happen?"
Jun's words drew his gaze.
"Who knows. If you survive again, young master, even I will concede."
With that, the slaughter monk's body crumbled.
Arm and neck severed by Aiden and Terdin fell away; the rest dissolved into dark crimson mist.
The end for one who exhausted Blood Mountain Reincarnation without gaining karma.