Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Forest of Delusions (7)
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The Forest of Delusions was no inviolable sanctuary.
There were no barriers to keep anyone out. Be they lost wanderers or villains lurking with ill intent, anyone who made it to the forest's hidden threshold could step inside.
Yet paradoxically, it was this very ease of access that made it an untouchable hell.
In other words... this forest was a nightmare realm where every intruder's darkest dreams manifested without limit.
Kadim gripped his sword hilt tight and brought it down on the creature's skull like a club.
Craaack!
- Kraaaah!
The red blade didn't stop at splitting its head. It tore roughly through the throat and down to the tip of its guts. The bisected upper body spilled entrails and blood in a gory heap before collapsing in a stagger.
- Grrr... grrr...
"......"
Kadim wiped the blood from his blade and looked down at the monstrosity.
Blood-red eyes, a spine hunched like a hunchback's, claws curved like sickles... Add horns, and it could pass for a demon. But strip away those traits, and the closest match was something else entirely.
An elf.
Those pointed ears and pallid skin were hallmarks of a typical elf.
This twisted elf wasn't alone. Beyond the thick trees and dark green underbrush, crimson glares swarmed like fireflies drenched in blood.
- Krr... krr...
- Krr... krr... krr...
- Krrrrrrrr...
Over a hundred, at least. He'd only meant to scout the unfamiliar presence, sip some demon blood, and head back to the others. He hadn't expected to run into this many elves.
'Of course, they're not real elves...'
Kadim was certain. These were illusions, too.
But different from the last ones.
Unlike those ghostly demons, these had a tangible presence. The split elf reeked of fresh blood. And the landscape around them looked like any ordinary forest...
Only one conclusion fit.
'...Someone else is in this forest besides us.'
These mutant elves were likely someone's illusions made flesh.
- Kraaaaooo!
- Krh... kraaaaooo!
Whoever it was, they felt real enough. The horde of vividly manifested mutant elves charged. At the same instant, a sharp urge for blood stabbed through Kadim's mind.
It was unexpected, but no big deal. The solution was clear.
Carve a path and crush the illusion's source.
Kadim gulped down demon blood and hurled his lightning-infused axe to open the fight.
Bzzz-crackle-flash!
A searing blue streak sliced the dark, spinning lightning smashing into the vanguard. Elves near the impact scattered, blasted away as thunderous roars and screams echoed.
―――― Boom-boom-booom!!
- Kraaaaah!
- Kraaaaah!
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—thunk!
The thunderbolt exploded nearly ten elves on the return. The Iron Blood Ghost trembled like a beast robbed of its prey. Quiet down, Kadim thought, you'll feast plenty now. He steadied his grip.
Then, reveling in the rising bloodlust, he charged.
"Hraaaaaah!"
Feral momentum crashed through the treeline. A merciless swing cleaved the lead elf's flank.
―――― Craaack-splat!
It severed the spine and bisected the waist clean through. The blade's force didn't wane—it shredded two more at the hips and pulped the guts of one at the rear before finally slowing.
Kadim kicked the staggering elf's gut free and yanked his sword out. Elves clustered from the side, lunging. He dropped low, thrust like an arrow, and pierced an eye socket. Then he pressed forward, splitting only those ahead as he burrowed into the pack.
Craack! Craaack-splat!
- Krao... krh...
- Kraaaaah!
Due to their hunched backs, the mutants fixated on ankles with their sickle claws, like farmers harvesting rice.
But none reaped their harvest. Crushed to pulp under brutal kicks before they could reach.
Splat-crunch! Splat-crunch!
- Kek!
- Kraook!
Even as more swarmed, the tide didn't turn. The warrior's stance allowed no openings. He was diving into their encirclement on purpose—like a bomb detonating at the heart for maximum damage.
Just like this.
―――― Booom-booom-booom-crash!
At the dense core, the red blade unleashed the gorged blood in a frenzy.
- Krao, krheeeeeek!
- Krheeeeeek!
Boom-crash-crash!! Rumble...
Bloodlust rippled outward from the warrior, vast and devastating. Thick trees toppled; the swarming horde shattered. Limbs and chunks flew; bloody mist sprayed over the collapsing corpse piles.
The 'Blood Accumulation' slash proved its dominance in mob fights once more.
But it wasn't over. Before survivors could regroup, Kadim detonated his second bomb.
Focus sharpened—and the vivid crimson glow of 'Acularanos's Tattoo' flared.
Rumble-rumble...
His hand hit the ground; a massive hybrid head—goat and lion fused—erupted. The 'Insatiable Devourer of Miracles' surged like a shadow tsunami, mercilessly engulfing the remnants.
- Kraoo, kraaaaooek!
- Kraaa...
Splat—burp! Kraaaaooo...
The elves' death cries faded like after-dinner belches. Two AOE blasts, and the hundred-strong horde was nearly wiped.
Kadim raised his sword in the brief lull, inspecting it.
Hummm, hummm...
The Iron Blood Ghost thrummed with battle excitement. Despite the rough use, no chips or damage showed. It'd hold against high demons, but time would tell... Worth reinforcing the durability.
'Acularanos's Tattoo' overwhelmed the illusions as expected. The berserker smirked crookedly and charged the demoralized stragglers.
Few originals remained; most were late reinforcements. Tracing back their approach should lead straight to the source... or so he'd thought.
Then he spotted the anomaly.
Kadim's eyes twitched.
Severed ankles littered the brush. Familiar somehow. But that he could overlook... not what lay before him now.
- Kekekeke, you pathetic loser! Kekekekeke, a stinking ugly freak like you hitting on me?
- Kekeke, your head broken or something? Kekekeke, ever looked in a mirror? Kekeke...
Ilenias with rolled-back whites and sneering mockery.
Not the real one, obviously. Crude clones compared to 'Silver of the Fallen Kingdom's' replicas—laughably shabby. But the implication was clear.
The illusion's source knew Ilenia.
- Kekekekeke, you moron! Drooling over women your whole life...
Splat-crunch!
- ...Kyaa!
Kadim smashed the fake Ilenia's head and rubbed his chin gravely.
This untouched forest. He'd assumed a native elf spawned the illusions—now disproven. Not Duncan or Ilenia either... Doubts swirling, he hurried on.
In a dim nook, he finally saw it.
A grotesquely swollen black flesh orb.
Stumpy limbs hacked off, like a mud ball. A toad-like face in the center puked out mutant elves and Ilenia clones relentlessly.
"Koooorp, kweeeech! Kweeeech!"
Squelch, squelch-squelch...
- Krao, kraooook...
- Kekekekeke, tough job, huh...?
Kadim scowled. A familiar face, sort of.
"What are you? Why are you here?"
"Krhek, hek, urk... H-hey, barbarian..."
Simple mercenary Benson lifted bloodshot eyes pleadingly.
"S-save me... Gurk... They're keep... keeping coming out of my mouth... I-I just wanted an elf... and that girl... Gururk, not to puke them up..."
"Answer the question. How'd you get here?"
"C-cave... Big cave... F-followed it here... L-looking for elves... and her... Was fine at first... Then severed ankles appeared... My body changed like this... Gweeeech!"
"......"
Pieces fell into place.
This fool chased them after Ilenia rejected him. Stumbled to the root cave somehow. Saw the patrol ankles, passed through, entered the forest—but trauma from those sights mixed with his lusts, birthing these illusions...
The body mutation puzzled him. Gasping, Benson whined: elves and girls popping from odd places, then inside him...
"H-help me... I-I won't touch her again... Won't go near the woods, please... Kweeeech!"
"......"
...Endlessly spawning nightmares from that form seemed the penalty for unguarded intruders.
Fainting or dying dispersed illusions, so it trapped them like this. The forest's malice rivaled demons'. But his fate was separate.
Too broken for mere blood-drinking. To end the source, Kadim raised the Iron Blood Ghost.
Shing—
The toad face paled.
"W-wait, what... what're you doing? B-barb—no, sir mercenary, my bad. I'll do anything, just lower the sword..."
Begging changed nothing. Chilling killing intent loomed. Benson snapped.
"You bastard! Drop the sword! This is all your fault!!"
"......"
"If not for you, this wouldn't happen! I was so close with her... Damn it! You barged in clueless, ruined everything, made me chase you here!! Because of you, I ended up like this, you fucking barbarian!!"
Benson spewed filth, then sobbed.
"You... you can pick any street barbarian slut! For me, it was just her! One pretty girl, simple as that... Wasn't greedy... Elves weren't even needed... Why take her... Why drag me here... Kweeeech!"
Emotions synced; illusions turned hostile. Even a fresh elf from his maw glared, nose wrinkled.
- Krao, krrrr...
Craack!
- ...Kuhk!
Kadim split the mutant's skull and stared blankly at Benson. Too absurd to anger or refute. He'd just honor his word.
"...Remember what I said before?"
"Hek, hek... What?"
"When you begged to join us. My answer."
Toad eyes bulged.
He remembered. When he'd politely asked, the barbarian had said:
Get lost. Before I gut you and rip out half your insides.
"...You didn't. So I'll keep mine."
"Wh-what? W-wai..."
―――― Craaack-splat!
"...Kaaaaaaaah!!!"
The merciless slash rent the bloated belly. Peritoneum split; pus flooded like a burst dam.
Mostly fluids inside—few organs. Kadim butchered like livestock, slicing viscera bundles with expert cuts. Slimy guts spilled through the gash.
"Krhheeeek, cough, cough, grrr, grrr..."
Benson foamed, convulsing. Toad face blackened; stumpy limbs jittered like electrocuted. Mind fading, twisted elves and women dissolved. Soon, nearly half his organs were gone.
But Kadim didn't stop.
Red eyes gleamed coldly. Precise cuts turned frantic. He tore organs bare-handed. Lavish blood and lingering bloodlust awakened something.
Blood, flesh, more slaughter—the inexorable craving.
No mere forest illusion could compare; true frenzy descended. Distorted red vision locked on the horns sprouting from Benson's temple.
"[......As expected. You filthy demon spawn are the culprits behind this forest hell.]"
"Grr... grr..."
"[Tormented humans with nightmares for fun? Then I'll be your nightmare.]"
Craaack-splat!
The barbarian yanked and chewed gut strands. Agony and terror oozed like pus. Benson screamed in fading awareness: too painful, stop, my fault, mercy just once.
The frenzy feast raged on until even the heart was ripped free, leaving him hollow.
Craack!
Thus, simple mercenary Benson learned not to complain about his lot.
Kadim cracked his eyes open.
"...Ptoo."
A foul metallic tang rose in his throat. Not demon blood. He spat, unnerved—chunky mystery meat came with it. The disgust deepened.
It was early dawn; still in the eerie forest.
"......"
No sign of the others. Recalling: he'd split off, butchered someone, lost himself to frenzy.
No time to dwell. Find Duncan and Ilenia first. They weren't far—presence prowling a short south jog away. He grabbed his weapons to hurry there.
But as he rose, this caught his eye.
Branching shadows wreathed in dazzling glow.
―――― Hummm, hummm, hummm...
"......"
No ordinary thing. Chest tightened with pressure, uncanny familiarity. Kadim knew instantly.
That's the source turning this forest into hell.