Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Where Fear Hardens
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"Hoo."
With the goal of escaping the Flooded Area finally achieved, Hwan-in felt a weight lift from his mind.
Honestly, the Flooded Area had given off such an unnaturally bizarre vibe that he couldn't relax for even a moment.
But this place felt like a normal natural ecosystem.
The grasslands and forests teeming with ordinary life soothed his spirits.
That said, there were quite a few wild animals and beasts around.
Any slight movement drew their eyes, and they'd growl from afar while scouting or watching him. If they thought he'd invaded their territory, they'd attack without hesitation.
But that wasn't a problem.
Ever since fighting that pack of dozens of dogs a few days ago, he inexplicably started seeing enemies' movements crystal clear.
And with Spirit Possession boosting his overall physical abilities by nearly 20%, battles didn't even feel like battles anymore.
Instinct-driven, straightforward attacks from wild animals—untouched by human malice—were easy to read.
"There's some here too."
Squawk? Chitter!
"Hold on."
As Emergency Ration urged him on, Hwan-in dug into the earth until a thick root emerged. He grabbed it and yanked it out with a flourish.
Chunks of dirt rained down, revealing several potato-like tubers attached.
Chuu~!
Spotting the small insects and earthworms tumbling out amid the soil, Emergency Ration flapped its wings excitedly and pecked them up.
Avoiding snake-apple-like mountains by skirting around them, Hwan-in gathered a sizable haul of edible plants and root vegetables scattered across the not-too-vast field like lures.
Some looked like potatoes on the outside but sweet potato inside; others resembled daikon but were red; there were finger-thick wild bellflowers and burdocks, fresh sprouts, and even bellflower roots.
Digging turned up plenty of earthworms and bugs too, delighting Emergency Ration.
"Hm."
The sun was dipping toward the horizon. Hwan-in checked the two blue leopard hind legs tied to his waist.
He'd killed it during the day and butchered it for protein. The meat had a yellowish-green hue, like spring oil-green.
No change in color yet.
Scanning the area, Hwan-in spotted a lone towering tree rising amid the rugged basin terrain.
About 10 meters tall, it grew jagged like coral, but its thick trunk and height made it perfect for overnight.
He climbed right up, using his stone axe to lop off leafy branches and drop them to the ground. Then he stabbed the bare earth repeatedly with his sharpened-tip Black Club.
"Good thing the ground's soft."
The Black Club's iron-like hardness let him use it as a makeshift shovel.
After churning the soil, sweeping away dirt, and repeating, he dug a 50cm pit. Recalling bushcraft knowledge, he began crafting a sunshade.
Materials: tree branches his height, thick with leaves, that he'd cut down.
The tree and small hill would block the rear; he just needed to shade the front.
If only I had beast hide, it'd be easier.
Finishing before sunset, he built a roaring fire in the pit, then roasted the blue leopard meat over the embers.
He skewered fist-sized chunks on wooden spits made from his Multi-Tool and grilled them kebab-style.
He arranged the wild tubers gathered earlier near the bonfire to cook in the heat, turning the spits to roast evenly.
"Hm."
As the meat cooked, it turned white, releasing an intense gamey stench he'd never smelled before.
Still, better than roasted monkey. After days of veggies only, he wasn't picky.
Once fully white and well-done, he sliced a leopard skewer with his Multi-Tool knife. Not the worst—tough and gamey, but edible.
Confirming it was safe, he shared some with Emergency Ration staring up expectantly.
"Here."
Sliced onto a leaf, it pecked away happily with its beak.
Hwan-in took a bite of the well-charred dark meat, then ate steadily without expression.
Devouring one thigh-sized leg over 30 minutes of grilling and eating, he rubbed his still-hungry belly.
4kg down, and no fullness.
Why's my appetite ballooning? Superpower side effect?
Come to think of it, his fuel efficiency had improved.
Past three days: heavy activity, sampling various edible plants.
Fiber alone couldn't cover daily calories. A normal person would've starved and weakened.
But Hwan-in handled fights fine, never starving desperate.
Just a bit peckish, that's all.
"......"
In this situation, eating more wasn't bad.
If overeating fattened him, he could cut back.
Anyway.
Each breath brought gamey burps—even strong-stomached Hwan-in struggled.
He pulled a bellflower-like root from his bundled running-shirt veggie sack and chewed. Bitter greens should mask it.
"Hm?"
This reddish-brown root mixed just-right bitterness and spiciness.
Knowing this, he'd have paired it with meat.
Chewing, he pondered the remaining leopard leg, then rekindled and skewered it.
Temperatures weren't dropping much; it'd spoil overnight otherwise.
But grilling stirred his gut again.
No choice—he ate the potato-sweet potatoes and red daikon meant for rations.
Potato-sweet potato: fluffy mash of both tastes and textures.
The red daikon oozed blood-like juice while roasting—without color safety, he'd never touch it.
Split open: red liquid pouring out...
But taste? Excellent.
Strawberry-pomegranate juice blend.
4kg meat, three fist-sized roasted potato-sweets, one arm-thick roasted red daikon later, Hwan-in finally felt satisfied and exhaled.
Prepped tomorrow's meat, topped with white cherry sugar, filled belly, rested—head cleared, overlooked worry hit.
He'd roasted two hind legs.
This smell might draw nocturnal beasts.
Worse: that gray-dark mountain range. Tough monster there? Pack leader? Den?
"......"
Dogs had keen noses; determined pursuit unstoppable.
Crossing open fields now? Nocturnal ambush, chaos.
Hwan-in snapped the spiraling worries, harvested fibrous grass stalks for cord, strung six meat skewers like dried fish.
Covered fire pit with branch-shade, packed gear, climbed the tree.
5m up. Curves for footing, but Spirit Possession made it easy—he noted its potential.
Possess a skilled soul: wield their skill temporarily.
Post-possession: remnants linger, practice makes it yours.
More skilled souls: stronger self.
But not that simple. Tree-climbing, swimming easy; complex skills take time.
Settling on a flat branch-spread spot, he hung skewer-string on a limb, stripped pants to check thigh wound.
Healed fully.
Skin taut, but no reopening in fights—cured.
Pants on, legs stretched, back against thick V-branch. No falling risk.
Patting Emergency Ration wedging between legs, he eyed eight soul orbs on Deer-Antler Staff horns.
Merit of partial skill inheritance: immeasurable.
Speculation: master-soul possession? Like spear expert.
"......"
Thinking Spirit Possession dredged battle regrets.
If I could command souls sans staff, I'd crush mobs.
Staff-required for Spirit Possession, Soul Burst. Orb durations too.
Gripped staff, focused: orbs floated firefly-like.
Gazing at souls swimming in gray dark, recalled recent growth.
Max orbs up: proficiency boosts count/duration.
Repeat: staffless use eventual?
But... killing masses to stock orbs.
Hwan-in scoffed karma pre-powers.
Now? Soul powers unsettle denial.
Snapped reverie with cynical smirk.
Sentiment for survivors.
Respect life? Die.
Flip: neglecting self = karma?
Knowledge-lacking rumination = contradiction. Proceed as before.
Head back, gazed night sky through leaves.
Deceased parents pushed books—often lost in thoughts, tiring himself.
Dozing fitfully, sensed nocturnal beasts nearing tree.
Peering down: three hyena-like scavenging fire pit.
Soul Vision: red-green mix glowed vivid in dark.
Scanning basin: just those three.
Hunting?
Four orbs near expiry: two ~20min, 43min, 45min.
One non-skill lowest-grade aside, all basic. Gripped staff, silent Spirit Possession on 20min orb...
"Go."
All three in Soul Burst range: whispered double stack.
x2 Overlap
Boom!
Yelp! Squawk!
Keh.
Intangible blasts flung three everywhere.
One: bad hit, dangling broken foreleg.
Hwan-in leaped 5m down, spearing a staggering one's back.
Screech!
Sprinted, pierced nose-bleeding flailing one's throat; stone axe cleaved last writhing cripple's neck.
Deep-backstab hyena wheezed, collapsed; throat-pierce instant death; axe-split frothed, twitched still.
Confirmed deaths, poked broken foreleg with spear shaft.
Double Soul Burst snaps weak bones.
Duh—flings kg masses. Directional force breaks.
But two orbs? Not efficient.
Single bursts for openings, spear finish better.
Another skill-less lowest-grade.
Soon, pale smoke from corpse—absorbed as orb.
Distinguishing souls tedious; his scale: lowest-grade (smoky no-skill: green monsters, beast-heads, retriever-dogs, hyenas).
Lower-grade (form/skill: twin-tail monkeys, frogmen, lizardmen).
Currently two tiers; experience adds more.
Reason: horse-deer soul's superior presence/form.
Monster gull, giant rabbit, blueflame tiger souls...?
Beast-tier souls special.
Regret sparing six-legged horse-deer; giraffe-sized, powerful soul likely.
Anyway, bloodied tree? No lingering.
4hr rest: fatigue gone. Moonlit, Soul Vision night-sight—time to move.
Up top, packed, checked staff orbs.
One hit 8hr: whoosh, smoked skyward.
"......"
Of seven, eyed vivid one: daytime blue leopard, sole lower-grade.
~2hr left.
Verified: capacity = duration.
Test leopard later—leaped down.
Fruits of varied colors/shapes on mismatched trees: unsettling harmony.
Like facing gaping carnivorous plant—pumpkin-striped watermelon-sized apartment-block Venus flytrap.
"Hmm."
Skirting gloomy gray-shrouded hill, glanced at dozing-then-startling Emergency Ration on shoulder.
Funny near-falls; worrisome drops.
Usual spot: beast-hide roll at side...
Abandoned nest idea; gear minimal: veggie bundle, five weapons.
Alert through dark fusion, thrice sensed beasts—no fights.
Dark-gray wolves (black hue) trio; two exact tree hyenas; camel...ostrich? hybrid slunk away under gazes.
"......"
Watching camel-ostrich retreat, slight regret.
Three new orbs aside, others expiring—hoped for brawl.
But attackers bailed naturally.
Unbeknownst: post-crash death/awakening, his eyes/body leaked subtle killing intent, meshed with odd temperament.
Dog pack stimulated, attacked.
Oblivious, vigilant endless march past trap-mountain; dawn broke.
Whoosh—
River again.