Berserker's Full Fury

"You have to come at me with full sincerity from the start!"

"That was my plan from the beginning!"

I accelerated the spear tip forward. A sharp thrust sliced through the air.

Hana Yoon? Or just Yoon? What should I call her?

Anyway, Hana Yoon blocked all my attacks using the flat side of her greatsword. It felt like stabbing a wall. How the hell does she wield something that heavy so effortlessly? And not only that—she moved fast even while swinging it. Her strength surpassed So-hyun's, yet her balance was impeccable.

"Fast!"

"Just defending won't let you beat me!"

"I never planned to!"

Hana Yoon swung her greatsword upward. I leaned back to dodge. The upward slash was so quick it whistled through the air—whoosh. She was merciless. One moment of carelessness, and she'd crush one of my limbs.

I absolutely can't let my guard down!

She quickly reversed the upward greatsword and swung it downward. This time, I stepped back to evade. The blade slammed into the floor, shattering the concrete. Debris scattered everywhere. Wouldn't that dull the edge? But it didn't have a sharp edge to begin with, so she probably didn't care. As I said before, that weapon wasn't for slicing—it was for smashing.

I had no intention of just dodging forever. She stomped on the embedded greatsword and thrust her spear forward.

"Hup!"

"—?!"

She dodged, and my spear only grazed her neck slightly. If she wasn't going to hold back, neither would I. That's the mindset needed against an opponent like this.

But... the sensation of the thrust felt off. Her skin looked thin, but it felt thicker than expected. Not literally thick, just the feedback. I could've wounded her deeper, but it only drew a few drops of blood.

Come to think of it, high strength boosts defense too, right? I knew that intellectually, but feeling it this viscerally was a first.

While I pondered that, Hana Yoon counterattacked. She forcefully lifted the greatsword I'd stepped on. Her strength was insane...!

"Haaah—!"

"Huh...?"

I used the momentum to leap back, widening the distance. A brief standoff ensued. Neither of us rushed in recklessly. Hana Yoon wiped the blood trickling from her neck with her thumb and spoke.

"Honestly, I'm impressed. You're the first person I've fought evenly with."

"Same here."

"So I'll go all out without holding back!"

"...?!"

I questioned if this wasn't her full power already, but then a change came over Hana Yoon, drawing my eyes. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It vaguely resembled an orc's enhancement. Though she didn't get uglier. A faint red flush spread over her body, and her eyes turned bloodshot, like they'd been dyed crimson. She seemed fine moments ago, but suddenly her breathing grew ragged.

"Haa... If you do this... I can't hold back either! Survive on your own!"

"What... are you...?"

Hana Yoon was twenty-eight. She'd enlisted as a non-commissioned officer right after turning twenty. Eight years as a soldier, rising quickly to sergeant at her age. The apocalypse hit while she was on leave. She tried contacting her unit immediately, but communication was down, and society collapsed too fast for her to return.

Yet Hana Yoon never lost her sense of duty. She'd become a soldier solely to protect people. You might ask why not police or firefighter, but she chose the military for its image of ultimate strength. Even in professions meant to protect, people often flee when danger strikes. Not her—she moved to safeguard others.

She ended up at the mart naturally, and saving people from thugs awakened her [Class]: [R Berserker].

The [Berserker][Class] didn't quite match her upright character or daily conduct. She'd always been principled, living by her convictions without shame since childhood. To others, it might seem odd: in a peaceful world, would she sacrifice so much, choosing a job few women would? But public opinion couldn't break her. And yes, she had extremes. Maybe the [System] accounted for that in assigning her [Berserker].

She wasn't thrilled with the [Class]. She rarely used [Berserk] unless absolutely necessary.

"This sensation... it's so unpleasant!"

It didn't erase her reason completely, but the feeling she might harm someone unknowingly was revolting. Using it now meant she fully acknowledged me.

I noticed the invisible change in her beyond the visible. Her haughty tone was the same, but before it was superior-officer arrogance; now it was just mad. She grinned ferociously at me.

She's sexy...

Well, it looked sexy to me. But this wasn't the time for such thoughts. The honey-trap trope from books flashed in my mind.

If this keeps up, I'll really die...!

I snapped to attention.

"Please don't die—!"

No sooner had the words left than Hana Yoon charged. The wind whistled louder, the floor cratered deeper. It wasn't just looks—her stats had surged. Strength aside, her boosted agility made dodging tough. Within minutes of resuming, I took a hit.

"Gaaah—!"

It only grazed my left shoulder, but a chunk of flesh tore off. Luckily, it created an opening for her too. Her eyes fixated on the spurting blood.

"Blood~!"

"Crazy bitch!"

It hurt like hell, but I couldn't miss the gap. I kicked her abdomen hard, creating distance. Despite the force, she seemed unfazed, licking blood splattered on her cheek with her finger. Utterly alien.

"Mmm, delicious~! More~ more—!"

"Ugh..."

A bit deeper, and half my shoulder would've been gone. Bone was intact, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thankfully, but moving hurt. As I faltered, my companions watching paled.

"She changed suddenly!"

"Shouldn't we stop it...? Oppa looks badly hurt...!"

"Don't lose, Oppa!"

Seo-rin fumed helplessly at the shift; Da-on teared up in worry. So-hyun clenched her fists, praying I wouldn't lose. The old man who'd watched beside them spoke.

"The sergeant is using that [Skill]..."

"Can we... stop them...?"

The old man shook his head at Da-on's plea. She wanted to press why, but he pointed at us first. All three saw it.

"Those two show no sign of stopping. How could we intervene...? No one here can stop them... They'll end it themselves somehow..."

They were too heated. The pain was momentary for me; I focused utterly. Hana Yoon had no desire to end the thrill. That's why she'd used the [Skill].

"Oppa—!"

Da-on called loudly. I glanced sideways, raising my arm to signal I was fine.

"Oppa..."

My intent was clear.

"You idiot... Why risk your life here! ...If you lose, I'll kill you!"

"Oppa, please don't get hurt more...!"

"I've never seen Oppa like this..."

Unable to intervene, they could only cheer. Seo-rin considered magic to block; Da-on prepped to heal instantly. So-hyun felt awkward at this unfamiliar side. Was this my true self? Or changed by the world?

"Oppa, you have to win...!"

Each prayed in their way for their feelings to reach me.

This fight needs an end. I knew Seo-rin, Da-on, and So-hyun worried, but it had to happen. She enhanced? I'd do the same. She'd given me the window—intentionally or not. She looked ready to pounce but needed to recover her heaving breaths up to her jawline. Makes sense; no-risk power boost would be broken. Probably guzzles stamina massively. It must!

Next clash ends ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it. If I falter, I'm dead. Current her would kill mercilessly. I didn't want to kill, but if I don't, I die. No choice.

I dumped all remaining [Coins].

Coins depleted, another message popped.

A [Quest] after ages. Hana Yoon got one too—she glanced at the air, waving her hand dismissively. 5000 Coins means at least a Lv.16 monster equivalent... But she's no Lv.16 human. A bit underwhelming, but the skill makes up for it...

"How long you gonna stall? Scared of me with this arm?"

"What?"

Old her would've ignored cheap taunts; current her ate it up. Eyes said it: from "kill" to "tear apart." Terrifying!

"Come on! I'm bored!"

Fight before she recovers stamina—advantage me.

"I'll kill this motherfucker!"