Unchained Laughter

[Kuhahaha!!!]

Black Eye swung his massive sword as if reveling in his freedom from long years of bondage.

A notification suddenly appeared before me.

So this is the quest.

My eyes went straight to the quest reward: Parahum's Secret Map.

Does that mean there's another secret spot besides this one? I can't believe there's a place I don't know about...

I'd conquered Pharhum's Tomb five times and thought I knew every inch of it. But ever since Parahum's sudden appearance, everything happening—from that to this secret map—was stuff I'd never experienced in the game before.

[Huuuup...!!]

But Black Eye swung his greatsword with all his might, as if shattering even my unease.

The head of one of the standing knight statues shattered under his attack, making it stagger.

[Just smash 'em all, right?]

Black Eye's assault was just the beginning. He seemed almost pleased that so many smashable statues remained.

[Kaaak!! Kaaaaak!!]

The three-headed wolf statues next to the kneeling knight statues let out eerie howls and charged at Black Eye.

Grrrrrind...!!

[Those who covet the king's heart must repay their greed with death!!]

The knights' shouts rang out fiercely, tearing at my ears as they rose. With every movement, black smoke billowed ominously from their bodies, filling the tomb with wails of the damned.

The two wolf statues leaped in at unbelievable speed.

"Watch out...!!"

Before I could intervene, the wolf statues bared their fangs at Black Eye.

In that instant, Black Eye slammed his hand to the ground, and a massive shield wall erupted around him.

The statues crashing in with mouths agape slammed into the wall with a thud!! and collapsed.

It was a skill he'd gained from devouring Kuntaka.

As the statues bounced off the wall, he lifted the barrier and crushed one's neck with its edge.

Crack...! Puheok!!

A dull sound rang out as the hellhound statue's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head shattered to pieces, and the other had its torso pulverized by his swung sword in the blink of an eye.

Taat-!!

I kicked off Black Eye's shoulder and launched forward, swinging my sword at the knights behind the wolf statues.

"Hup...!"

Holding my breath, points connecting the sword's path appeared before my eyes, and as if time had slowed to a crawl, the blade followed the technique.

The knight statue raised its sword to block, but Tesaro's blade flashed like lightning, shattering its wrist entirely.

Shatter...!

But as the statue crumbled to dust under countless strikes, three more knights burst out from behind, swinging swords and spears at me.

At that moment, Black Eye hoisted his greatsword overhead and brought it crashing down.

Blue flames clinging to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blade in mid-air left afterimages and exploded, blasting the charging knights away.

The lead knight's head exploded like a cannonball into the lion statue behind it with a thunderous boom.

The massive lion statue staggered, shaking its head as if dazed by the impact.

[Kaaaaang!!!]

The other lunged at Black Eye, swiping with its massive forepaw.

Black Eye didn't retreat. Like a beast tamer, he smashed his sword down on the lion's head with full force.

Each swing added wind pressure, slicing chunks from the lion statue as stone crumbled like flesh tearing away.

[Pathetic vermin.]

Black Eye began to ravage the statues. It was just like his days as the War God—proving he was the most alive thing on any battlefield.

[Do you remember when I said I wanted to test it?]

"Of course. Hell, that's what I've been waiting for."

Black Eye smirked at my nonchalant reply.

[Though I can no longer use Chilya, since becoming a Sin-su body, I've developed a new swordsmanship.]

Wuuuuung...!!

A fierce aura surged from Black Eye's greatsword, forged of Sin-su power.

[When you defeated me, I gained insight from your fusion of magic and swordsmanship—something the living Gulak, who wielded Chilya as a powerless northerner, could never have imagined. But now, as a Sin-su body, I wield Sin-su power in place of magic.]

Crunch-!!

Black Eye stepped firmly on the fallen lion statue's head, shattering it like dry firewood.

[Crave.]

He intoned the single word like a chanting mage or a priest in ritual, and an air of reverence emanated from him.

Wuuuuung—

The flames blazing on his Sin-su greatsword vanished in an instant.

No, they're contained?

Until now, the Sin-su power had flared like flames, making the blade flicker as if on fire. But now, the power that had scattered wildly with his magic condensed into the sword itself.

He swung fiercely, flames trailing the sword wind and slamming into the surrounding statues.

Even the emotionless statues seemed to cower before his strikes.

Incredible... It's like Chilya 1st Sword fused with Yong-gong Geom-sik. But distinctly different from either.

I watched his swordsmanship in awe.

I'd mastered both Yong-gong Geom-sik and Chilya, but it had never occurred to me to combine them into something new.

Of course, since I hadn't perfected Chilya yet—but I couldn't help admiring Black Eye's knowledge of sword forms.

"......"

As I watched, I felt myself being drawn into his sword dance.

Each explosion of Sin-su power in his sword conjured a vivid image before my eyes, like the trajectory points when first learning a form.

That's when it happened.

...Huh?

I couldn't help being startled by the unexpected notification.

"What the...?"

I was baffled by the unforeseen trait acquisition.

An unexpected discovery.

But every skill in my memory had existed in this world.

If Black Eye hadn't become a Sin-su, this swordsmanship couldn't exist.

Like the quest I'd created for Tonpe, Black Eye inventing a new swordsmanship might be another singularity.

And unlike other traits, no level. It's a Passive trait... Meaning it applies beyond swordsmanship—the more techniques I witness, the stronger it gets.

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly without realizing it.

It wasn't just the faster skill acquisition that amazed me.

Techniques are skills.

If just watching boosts my abilities, what happens if I create one?

Squeeze—

I gripped my sword and thrust at the charging statues.

Was it from seeing Black Eye's swordsmanship? An inexplicable thrill made my lips twitch upward.

A new reason to complete Chilya as soon as possible.

The two giant statues beside the coffin raised massive spears and slammed them down.

Without either of us yielding first, we swung our swords back-to-back.

Over half the remaining statues were even larger giant ones, but a single blow pulverized their torsos.

With the final statue destroyed, a silver reward chest appeared.

[Huu...]

Black Eye finally exhaled lowly, catching his breath.

[Still much to refine.]

His words said one thing, but his expression showed satisfaction with his new swordsmanship.

Flash-!!

Confirming the magic barrier around the coffin vanish with all statues gone, I checked the chest first.

I hit [Accept], and with a click!, the lid opened to reveal a weathered map inside.

"Hmm."

Secret spots in dungeons usually held items. I wanted to check it out right away if time allowed, but hunting Parahum's specter on the third floor came first.

I tucked the map away and approached the Death Flame atop the coffin.

Step- Step- Step-

As I neared, I braced for any lingering traps, but thankfully, the guardian statues had been the coffin's only defenders—nothing else appeared.

"Good."

I slowly reached for the Death Flame.

"If I were you, I wouldn't touch that."

That was when it happened.

Just before my hand made contact, an unexpected voice made me turn.

"That heart's the final trap."

I couldn't hide my surprise at the figure standing behind the shattered stone wall.

"Why the hell are you here...?"

Hidden Eater Isabel Silver.