Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Choice and Focus (2)
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The landscape inside the gate Kang Sa-hu had entered was a vast grassland at early dusk.
Unknown weeds blanketed the plain, releasing a sharp, bitter scent every time the wind blew, while the striking red sky lingered, the sun not yet fully set.
As Kang Sa-hu took in the view from atop a Giant Hound, his senses picked up the faint presence of monsters stealthily closing in on him.
He turned toward the source of the aura and spotted a canine monster wrapped in long, porcupine-like spines.
"Steel Hide Jackal, huh."
Confirming the name floating above the monster's head, Kang Sa-hu leaped down from the Giant Hound.
Standing three meters tall, it was equivalent to jumping from a two-story building—a height that could easily cause injury if mishandled.
But this was a body that had undergone awakening and grown through countless hunts.
Dropping from that height was no more burdensome than walking on flat ground.
'I definitely have levels too.'
He hadn't checked his stats on a monolith like other hunters, but Kang Sa-hu was certain.
Otherwise, there was no explaining how his body—belonging to someone who hadn't even walked 10,000 steps a day, let alone exercised regularly—could have improved so dramatically.
'It's not just stamina. My strength has increased too.'
He'd weighed it: over 20 kilograms at least. Yet he held the newly acquired [Blood-Drinking Scythe of Hell's Duke Demadr] as effortlessly as a wooden stick. A fierce glint sparked in Kang Sa-hu's eyes.
'That explains why this item was recommended.'
Gripping the scythe in his right hand, Kang Sa-hu kicked off the ground and charged forward.
Kang! Kang-kang!
Krrrng!
Realizing their position was exposed, the Steel Hide Jackals abandoned their low crouch and lunged toward Kang Sa-hu.
Kang Sa-hu calmly adjusted the distance before swinging the massive scythe in his hand. The blade's sharp tip plunged deep into a Steel Hide Jackal's flank without a hint of resistance.
Chaeng! Cha-chaeng!
Krrang!
Instinctively judging that Kang Sa-hu couldn't follow up immediately with the scythe embedded in their comrade, the Steel Hide Jackals bared their fangs and charged.
The Giant Hound, which had been sitting obediently behind without intervening on command, bared its teeth and shifted its haunches to join.
'Stay put.'
...!
At the mental command from Kang Sa-hu, the Giant Hound planted its haunches back on the ground.
This was his first time engaging in close-quarters melee combat, but after deciding to fight with the scythe directly, he'd immediately researched relevant info. Calmly pulling back, Kang Sa-hu tensed the arm gripping the weapon.
Sguk.
"Hm?"
He'd tried to withdraw the blade easily by reversing the angle of penetration, but it slid free without resistance, slicing through bone, organs, and muscle. The scythe's cutting power momentarily startled him.
But only for a moment. Seeing the Steel Hide Jackals closing in, Kang Sa-hu shortened his grip on the scythe and swung it in a circular arc.
Sguguguk.
Kuh, kyeng!
Their necks and bodies cleaved like water, without resistance, shattering into chunks on the blade. Fear flickered in the Steel Hide Jackals' eyes.
Kang Sa-hu was just as surprised, pausing his assault to stare at the scythe.
"What kind of cutting power..."
Normally, muscle and fat would cling to the blade, requiring force to sever bone. But this blade was sharper than imagined.
So far, he'd only swung it; he'd never needed extra force to cut through bone.
Analyzing the situation, Kang Sa-hu nodded.
"...The performance is brutally reliable."
It wasn't recommended for nothing—and it certainly wasn't worth 100,000 points by accident.
Kya, kyeng!
Ku-ku-kyeng!
While he inspected the scythe, the Steel Hide Jackals that had been circling for an attack seized the chance and fled for their lives.
Watching them go, Kang Sa-hu summoned three more Giant Hounds with a soul core.
"Keep watch around us."
Woof! Woof!
The four Giant Hounds positioned themselves around him—east, west, south, north—like guards, at his command.
Confirming their formation, Kang Sa-hu fixed his fierce gaze on the scythe in his hand.
"......"
Kang Sa-hu stared at the description, at a loss for words.
He remained blankly fixated on it for a while, as if his thoughts had frozen, before finally forcing his mouth open.
"So that's why it was sealed in chains."
He'd relied solely on his innate necromancer magic rather than awakener powers, so items hadn't interested him much.
He couldn't say for sure if an attack power of 195 was high or low.
But even without that, the rest of the info made it clear how absurdly powerful this weapon was.
Han Si-yeon, an A-rank awakener, could have at most three skills when measured on a monolith.
Kang Ji-ye, praised for her high potential due to more skill slots, had five.
Yet this single weapon granted its user three skills.
And though he couldn't confirm yet, the name alone made [Demadr's Authority] feel instinctively overwhelming.
"It lets me wield the authority of Hell's Duke Demadr."
He'd forced open the shop through the monolith's core, bought a weapon sealed in chains against the rules. The challenge had paid off beyond imagination.
"...I'll figure it out slowly."
Gripping the great scythe more cautiously now, Kang Sa-hu leaped back onto the Giant Hound.
Recalling the item description, he thought about activating the special effect [Weapon Change - War Side Mode]. Instantly, the method surfaced in his mind.
Clank, kang!
The blade, which had hung low toward the ground, rose straight up.
It now resembled a medieval polearm like a pollaxe, with the blade parallel to the shaft and greatly extended.
It looked akin to a guandao, but as a transformed scythe, the blade was far longer.
Though obtained by chance, his lips curved in satisfaction at this exceptional weapon.
Karr-rung!
Kki, kkiing!
The Steel Hide Jackals whimpered under the furious howl of their leader, the Steel Thorn Jackal.
Fifty of them.
Over half of the 99 Steel Hide Jackals under its command had been massacred in an instant by a single enemy.
That alone was enough to drive it mad with rage, but the reports from the survivors enraged it even more.
Kki, kkigiiing.
Krrrng.
Glared at by its leader, the Steel Hide Jackal repeated the same report while gauging its mood. The Steel Thorn Jackal growled harshly from its throat.
Something flew from the sky, killing comrades instantly?
Something sharp erupted from the ground, wiping them out?
Bled out from a single cut, unable to stop?
None of it made sense—or was imaginable—from the Steel Thorn Jackal's perspective.
But it couldn't afford to rage forever.
The enemy that had terrified its subordinates into losing the will to fight was approaching, its scent growing stronger.
Awoooo—!
The Steel Thorn Jackal raised its head and summoned the Steel Hide Jackals.
The survivors—those not yet dead—gathered at the howl.
Thirty-two in total.
Over two-thirds of its forces gone. Fresh fury surged, but it didn't last.
"You're the boss, I take it."
...!
Black robes fluttering, astride a Giant Hound, wielding a massive scythe and looking down on them.
That sight alone set its sensitive beast instincts screaming wildly.
That being is dangerous.
That's an impossible monster.
Ku, krrng.
Its body shrank instinctively, tail curling between its legs.
Trembling, it backed away without thinking.
Thud.
The foe descended to the ground, exuding an absurdly murderous aura from its small frame.
The Giant Hound carrying it glanced over, then retreated.
"Let's begin."
As the enemy raised the great scythe and radiated killing intent.
The Steel Thorn Jackal, thrashing desperately against its terror, snapped back to survival instincts.
Ku-kyeng!
Kki, kruang!
At their leader's command, the Steel Hide Jackals screamed battle cries and charged.
But.
"Skill."
The enemy swung the great scythe once.
"Great Scythe Thorn."
Hell unfolded.
Thudukwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Chaechaechaeng!
Kkukyaeeeaeng!
From beneath the vast grassland, scythe blades identical to the enemy's weapon erupted.
Like a lotus of great scythe blades blooming around the foe, razor-sharp petals surged in all directions.
It resembled a maw of blades yawning wide to devour them.
Ku-kyeng!
The Steel Thorn Jackal charged with suicidal fervor.
Most subordinates dead in one attack, but no fleeing or surrender possible.
All it could do was bite the enemy's throat, however slim the odds.
The foe shook its weapon once, transforming it.
It straightened like a rigid tree trunk, evoking inexplicable dread, but it couldn't stop.
Sguk.
It dodged swiftly, but a tiny wound grazed its back.
Such a scratch would heal quickly.
Realizing it was just a scrape, the Steel Thorn Jackal circled the enemy, ignoring it—until it noticed the anomaly.
Ku, kyeng...?
The blood.
It wouldn't stop.
Ku, krr, kru...
A mere scratch.
But the blood pouring from it was unnatural.
After circling briefly, a puddle of its own blood had formed. Dizziness hit, and it collapsed.
As its body shivered from blood loss, terror consuming it.
The enemy approached right before it.
"I'll end it quickly."
The foe presented its palm, aiming.
Then, options appeared in the Steel Thorn Jackal's mind.
[Die in agony like this.]
[Or offer yourself and gain peace.]
Not words, but instinctively, it knew only two choices remained. Thrashing, the Steel Thorn Jackal selected.
Too painful.
Want it to end.
Submit.
That sufficed.
A soothing energy flowed into its body.
Its mind faded. The Steel Thorn Jackal closed its eyes.
Kang Sa-hu grabbed the soul core of the Steel Thorn Jackal, which had submitted willingly, and looked up.
At the same moment, a message window appeared.
You have cleared the F-rank Gate.
Familiar with the ensuing clear points message and escape gate generation, Kang Sa-hu let out a long breath.
"Still awkward."
The weapon's excellence prevented hunting struggles, but moving his body, managing distance, swinging—that felt incredibly unnatural to him.
From midway, he'd shifted to skill-focused combat to test effects, clearing quickly. Otherwise, it'd have taken far longer.
"Not enough yet."
He'd already confirmed his physical abilities.
Stamina, strength, vision.
All vastly improved beyond before. What he needed now was one thing.
"Experience. And practice."
His choice made, focus was all that remained.
Aware of that, Kang Sa-hu slung the [Blood-Drinking Scythe of Hell's Duke Demadr] on his back and stepped toward the connecting gate outside.