Chapter 53: Triple Quad. Something That Can Never Be Lost!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: Triple Quad. Something That Can Never Be Lost!
“Kwahahahaha!”
Before the echoes of the thunderous roar could even fade, a fit of mad laughter rang out from all directions.
“Ugh!”
-Master!-
Seo-un had read plenty about the martial art known as the Lion’s Roar in novels. He had always dismissed it as a simple technique that used internal power to shout loudly and irritate the ears, but that misconception was currently being shattered to pieces.
It was a terrifying technique. It rattled his skull, his chest, and his stomach, causing the internal power resting quietly in his Dantian to boil over. As the energy throughout his body surged uncontrollably, the power he was channeling into his legs became unstable.
Staggering as he barely managed to find his balance, Seo-un clamped his hands over his ears and tried to calm his internal power. However, a true Lion’s Roar was not a trivial trick that could be avoided by simply blocking one's ears. The strange resonance vibrated through his entire being; there was no shutting it out.
‘Kaier’s Barrier.’
A faint golden veil shimmered briefly around Seo-un before vanishing.
Thanks to Kaier’s Barrier—which was designed to block physical attacks—the sensation became slightly more bearable. Realizing that sound, too, carried physical force, Seo-un opened his subspace, pulled out Cameron’s Necklace, and threw it around his neck before dropping into a lotus position.
He had to stabilize his internal power before this damn Lion’s Roar ended. If he kept moving in this state, he might die from a fatal internal injury before he could even fight back.
‘Where did a monster like that come from?!’
As he gritted his teeth and began to circulate his energy, the abundant Nature Qi of Cloyd entered his body with every breath, soothing his turbulent power.
In terms of time, barely a minute had passed. During that brief window, the cacophony of battle erupted not far behind him.
—Whoosh! Boom!
—Fwoosh!
—Cr-crack!
As the Lion’s Roar subsided and its echoes faded into the distance, Seo-un snapped his eyes open. Just as he was about to sprint forward, a middle-aged man who looked utterly deranged—with wild red hair sticking out in every direction—dropped down directly in front of him.
The man’s eyes were terrifying; the expression ‘eyes pouring out light’ was the only way to describe them.
“Another new one! Kwahahaha!”
Just hearing the man’s laughter made Seo-un’s body recoil, a reflexive trauma from the sheer power of the Lion’s Roar he had just endured.
Behind him, the four enemies he had been wary of were just arriving. Meanwhile, the madman who had jumped ahead to block them was, unfortunately, standing right in his path.
Was this what they called being caught between a rock and a hard place?
‘Damn it, I’ve been far too lucky until now.’
He had no choice but to fight. No matter how he looked at it, he wasn't fast enough to shake off this madman and escape. He never imagined that his failure to obtain a decent Lightness Skill would come back to haunt him like this.
Glancing back, he saw the four exhausted enemies entering his field of vision. They, too, seemed flustered by the situation.
He was alone. There were four enemies behind him.
Seo-un shook his head as he calculated how much time the enemies could buy him if he ran. The madman in front of him, who was grinning as if he’d found a prize, clearly had no intention of letting him go.
“Whew.”
He took a deep breath to steady his ragged breathing. He hopped in place to loosen his limbs, which had stiffened from tension. Only then did he realize just how much his body had locked up.
‘Boundless Fist, Muryeong Phantom Step, Ice Lance, Kaier’s Barrier, Kaier’s Echo, Basic Barrier.’
He mentally cycled through his arsenal. At the same time, he tried to clear his head of the countless combat scenarios flashing through his mind. Every scenario was defensive, focusing solely on how to react to the opponent.
‘If I’m scared, I lose.’
As the Baekmu Juyeongong began to swirl through his body, Seo-un’s gaze sank deep and became emotionless. Seeing the change in his eyes, the madman’s expression shifted.
“Interesting! This is interesting! This world is fun! Kwahahahaha!”
Just then, a voice called out to Seo-un from behind.
“Hey! I know we’re enemies, but why don’t we join forces for now? Against that madman…”
“Fine.”
He answered without looking back. From this moment on, he couldn't take his eyes off the enemy for even a second. He could feel the opponent’s momentum shifting rapidly through his senses.
-He’s coming!-
At Hamit’s warning, Seo-un stepped back. With his arms hanging loose and his face thrust forward in an absurd manner, the madman’s rapid approach felt like that of a wild beast.
—Clang!
Seo-un’s hands throbbed as he used a prepared Concussive Fist to deflect the sharp Fist Qi flying from the man’s casual swing.
Gritting his teeth as the man stayed glued to him despite his retreat, a surge of mana erupted, and a mass of flames streaked past him toward the enemy.
—Whoosh!
The man emerged through the flames, having only singed the tips of his bright red hair and beard. His crazed smile never wavered. With his fingers half-curled, the man reached for Seo-un’s face, his presence looming and massive.
It felt as if a giant tiger were pouncing on him.
Just as Seo-un was about to pour internal power into both fists and take a step forward, a knight with a shield and a martial artist with a short blade moved in beside him, taking their positions.
—Clang!
The blade accurately struck the man’s fingers as they flew toward Seo-un’s face. Was it even possible for a human’s fingers to make such a metallic sound upon impact?
‘Crazy!’
Cursing inwardly, Seo-un threw a punch. The martial artist who had blocked the hand aimed at his face was sent flying back, coughing up blood, but Seo-un couldn't afford to be shocked.
The only thing he could trust was the Boundless Fist that had protected him all this time.
Penetrating Strike.
He drove the strike into the man’s completely exposed chest, but the sensation was bizarre. He had expected resistance from the opponent’s internal power, but the impact felt soft, as if he were hitting the surface of water.
Gritting his teeth, he threw another punch. The shadow created by the madman’s hand loomed over his face, reaching his very nose, but it was too late to defend or evade.
—Thump!
A Concussive Strike slammed into the man’s chest in succession.
‘Kaier’s Barrier. Barrier.’
He cast both barriers simultaneously. Even then, he struggled to twist his body and avoid the man’s touch.
—Thwack!
Just as the man’s hand was about to touch his forehead, the knight, radiating a golden aura, used his shield to blast the man away.
“Huff… huff…”
The knight panted so hard his shield shook, showing just how much stamina that single skill had consumed.
The madman, who had been sent flying back, lay flat on the ground for a moment. Fortunately, during that time, the martial artist returned to Seo-un’s side after tossing a pill—likely medicine for internal injuries—into his mouth and tearing a recovery scroll.
“Are you… okay?”
At the knight’s question, the martial artist, who was focusing intently on the enemy, replied.
“What about you? Are you okay?”
“Of course not. I won’t be able to use that skill again for a while.”
The martial artist fell silent as the madman stood up. His savage, beast-like momentum had vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
Looking at the knight with wide eyes, like a child full of innocent curiosity, he spoke.
“What was that just now? It wasn't the logic of Striking Across the Mountain, nor was it the logic of Shattering Shock. What was it? Why was I pushed back and knocked down?”
To show such pure curiosity and ask such a direct question to an enemy he was prepared to fight to the death—it was clear he wasn't in his right mind.
However, behind them, a teammate was incessantly creating mana waves and storing magic in a staff. If they could buy even a second of time, they had to do whatever it took.
“It is the strongest skill I can use among Paido’s skills. It’s a finishing move that can shatter the entire body of an Ogre weighing nearly a thousand kilograms in one hit, yet you are unscathed.”
The man ignored the knight’s bitter gaze and crossed his arms, lost in thought.
“Skill? Technique? Is the lineage different?”
As the man continued to mutter to himself, Seo-un whispered.
“Why on earth did you clash with that madman?”
Even if others didn't know, a martial artist couldn't have failed to realize the danger of that man. He possessed a savage aura that made one’s skin crawl. Even feeling a fraction of that energy carried on the wind was enough to make one’s hair stand on end; there was no way a fellow martial artist hadn't sensed it.
“Do you think I did it because I wanted to? As soon as I felt that energy while searching for items, I ran out of the city with my teammates. It wasn't our choice that he followed us! Of all people, it had to be the Lust Demon!”
The Lust Demon. The martial artist clearly knew him. The four syllables he uttered were undoubtedly the madman’s title.
“He must be a famous expert.”
“Famous doesn't even cover it. There are countless experts who have fallen to that lecher.”
Seo-un had already suspected as much just from the word ‘Lust.’
‘A sex offender.’
As he glared at the man with eyes full of contempt, the martial artist’s next words made Seo-un’s hair stand on end once again.
“He’s a lecher obsessed with men. If we lose here… we will have to live with an indelible disgrace. If it looks like we’re going to lose, you’d be better off taking your own life.”
‘Obsessed with men… so that means…’
-It means your purity is at stake, Master.-
“Ah…”
At Hamit’s blunt confirmation, Seo-un felt the strength drain from his legs.
-Master! You must never let your lower body go limp!-
Just then, the madman’s expression changed once more, and he began to regain that crazed smile.
“Hehehe… Hahahaha! Kwahahahaha!”
The sound of his mad laughter, as he leaned back his waist, echoed through the forest once again.
“What are you standing there for? Get over here, quick!”
Looking back, a man in a shabby robe had thrust a long staff into the ground. Simultaneously, a translucent blue barrier formed around them.
The martial artist and the knight, who had already taken refuge inside, urged Seo-un to join them. As he clutched his pounding chest and stepped inside, the effects of the madman’s Lion’s Roar vanished completely.
“This is…”
“This gentleman’s work. He’s an Alchemist.”
Was it because they were facing a powerful enemy? The knight revealed his teammate’s information without hesitation. Or more accurately, it might have been possible because the appearance of a madman who enjoyed the company of men had created a powerful sense of solidarity among them.
“If only I’d had more time, I could have made an item to trap that madman!”
With a look of regret, the Alchemist pulled a potion from his subspace and handed it to the martial artist. The martial artist took a sip of the pale red liquid and passed it to the knight, who also took a sip before handing it to Seo-un.
The knight patted Seo-un on the back as he reflexively took the bottle.
“Don’t give me that look. Even if this is Cloyd, when we help each other, we have to stick together properly.”
Those words resonated strangely in his heart. As he gulped down the potion, a notification rang out, and his body felt incredibly light.
[A powerful energy surges. Strength stat has increased significantly.]
‘Significantly?’
Checking the numbers, his Strength stat had increased by 20. Seeing the value had risen by nearly 40%, he discarded his prejudice against the Alchemist class.
‘They aren't just a weak bunch who only make items to earn money.’
The moment the madman’s laughter abruptly stopped, he cast his gaze toward the group.
“Try it again!”
The man, who had been laughing as if enjoying himself, suddenly contorted his face in rage and lunged at the knight.
At the same time, the three of them threw themselves toward him. Completely ignoring the martial artist’s swift blade and Seo-un’s fist, the man’s hand flew toward the knight’s shield.
“I shall drain you of every last drop of your Vitality!!!”
At those words, a thought flashed through Seo-un’s mind like a bolt of lightning, rapidly clicking into place.