Chapter 78: Terraforming - White Ape's Fury
*Ding!*
Assassinate the Rebel Leader
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to leisurely read the skill description. I was being chased by five combatants right now.
As I expected, their speed matched mine pretty well. They couldn't catch up.
"Damn it...! Why is this trainee so fast?!"
"It's fine! His mana will run out soon! We'll wear him down in a prolonged chase— we have no choice!"
"When we catch him, I'll rip his limbs off, you bastard!!"
Unfortunately, the mana I had in reserve was the highest among the six of us racing through the forest. Why couldn't they catch me? Simple. They were weak.
If they had stats like Gerard or the instructors like Chris and Brack from seven years in the future, they would've overtaken me in no time. But these guys were just regular combatants.
Thanks to Kaya from seven years in the future and Mahal, the Indian combatant who led us during training, I learned that.
Regular combatants were far weaker than instructors. Or rather, the reverse—instructors were incomparably stronger than combatants, which was why they could serve as instructors.
It was midday now, with the sun high in the sky. Thanks to the buff from Sun Command Day-Day, Bay Rumors Moon-Moon, all my stats got a +6 boost, putting me on par with each of them individually.
And I have overwhelmingly more mana.
There was no chance they'd catch me. My plan was just to keep circling the forest until their mana ran dry, then hide somewhere and wait for the rebellion to get crushed once they dropped from exhaustion.
That was my plan, and so far, it had gone off without a single mistake—perfectly.
"Damn it...! Why! Why does that bastard still have mana?!"
"Shit!"
- Thud thud thud!!
- Thud thud thud!!
Their mana seemed to be hitting rock bottom as they chased me. I was just starting to scout for a good hiding spot when...
- BOOM!!
...a disaster I should've kept in mind but had forgotten in my focus on killing Gerard crashed down on all six of us.
"Wha...?"
- Crunch crunch!
"Grahk..."
The number of combatants chasing me dropped from five to four. One had his waist bent backward and died on the spot. Obviously, I didn't do it.
Fuck... Forgot about this guy...
- Screeeeech————!!
Not yet fully aged. In its prime, the Baekwonhu—still unnamed as Victor—had come for us.
"B-Baekwonhu?"
"Why is it so close to human territory?"
"I-It’s charging!"
- Screech!Screeech————!!
It was insanely fast. The mana-using beast charged at speeds beyond its stats.
"Group up! Don't give it an opening!"
"Why is everything going wrong? Why?!"
For some reason, Victor ignored me and targeted the clustered combatants first. But I couldn't run. If I even twitched to flee...
- Screeeeech————!!
Boom!
"Kuh!"
...it leaped straight at me. I had no choice but to bide my time until it went after the combatants.
The situation sucked. Even teaming up with those combatants, beating it outright would be tough. Why? Because those four leftovers were useless—no help at all. They'd just get in my way.
"D-Damn! My mana... it's almost gone...!"
"Urk... Graaaaaah!!"
- Crunch crunch!
- Screech!Scree—!!Screeech—!
They'd burned most of their mana sprinting long distances. As proof, another life vanished under the Baekwonhu's claws.
Not that I cared much. If my enemies threw away their lives to buy me even a little escape time, I'd let them toss as many as needed.
Thud!
The moment I saw the Baekwonhu clash with the combatants, I spun around without hesitation and bolted. Pulling trainee leather armor from my inventory and slipping it on as I ran.
- Bang!Boom!
"Stab iiiit!!"
"Gaaaaah!"
Fierce combat noises erupted behind me. The human screams grew fewer the farther I ran—from three to two, two to one, then silence.
- Screeeeech————!
From afar, it let out a victory roar.
...Of course, it was faster than me. I'd be caught soon.
Did I have no choice but to fight? Damn, do I really have to dump all three orbs into this bastard?
The yellow orb, blue orb, and now the red one. All because of Victor.
But at least... I'll take out one eye.
Unlike the original, the Victor from seven years later had a bum eye. Proof I'd inflicted real damage.
I drew a sword from my inventory—not the one I failed to recover from Gerard, but the training camp blade from seven years in the future.
Thud thud thud thud!!
Even with barely any mana left, the beast that soloed five combatants showed no fatigue as it pursued me relentlessly.
Better to face it head-on than get jumped from behind. I turned, squared up against the charging monster, and prepared to dodge its rush.
- Screeeeech————!!
"Hup!"
Whoosh!
Rumble rumble gruuumble—!
It swung both massive arms wildly, gouging the ground where I'd stood. Trees in the path of those pillar-thick limbs shattered or splintered.
Taking that swing head-on would've doubled my bones. I barely leaped aside, dodging the arm, then slashed at its thigh while its massive leap left it off-balance.
- Screeeeech————!
"Urk... Why is it so damn tough?"
Its hide was insanely leathery. Even with mana-infused arm strength, I couldn't tear it easily. Was it this crappy training sword? Shit, I should've swiped one from the combatant barracks...
- Screeech—!
Splat—!
"Gahk...!"
A brutal impact to my side sent me tumbling across the ground. I'd been watching all its limbs—no hand strike. I'd anticipated monkey tail attacks too, covering hands and feet...
But I never expected such a heavy tail blow.
- Scree hee hee heek!!
"...Fucking bastard. Laughing at me. Ptoo."
I spat blood—nah, saliva—from my mouth.
It was toying with me. It had a chance to pounce while I was down but held back, mocking my flailing instead. A cunning not befitting a mere monster.
The leather armor draped over my shirt was shredded from the ground drag. Useless now—it'd just hinder me. In front of the beast calmly watching, I boldly stripped it off and tossed it aside.
Then I pulled out the Baekwonhu leather armor from seven years later...
Baekwonhu leather armor...
...Huh?
*Ding!*
Equipment | Level: —
Effects: 30% Resistance to Swords and Blades
Leather armor crafted from the hide of the mighty mana beast, Baekwonhu. Increases resistance to edged weapons by 30%. Provides minor cold resistance.
"...Fuck me. My lack of real combat experience is hitting hard."
I equipped that leather armor for now and stowed the sword in my inventory. Empty hands now. Anyone seeing me might think I'd given up, but I felt the opposite.
"Haha... Armor made from Baekwonhu hide with 30% blade resistance... And I was dumb enough to hack away with a sword?"
If Baekwonhu leather blocks blades effectively, of course the beast itself resists them. Obvious in hindsight. Good thing I realized now.
I clenched my fist. Assumed the basic stance of Thousand Fists One Kick: One True Fist.
The form I'd drilled nonstop for two weeks—14 days, 336 hours—in the White Whale's Footsteps world, skipping rest, meals, even sleep.
Now I had confidence. Unlike before, my attacks from here on would hurt.
Sensing my shift, it snorted in displeasure at my fearless stance. It braced to charge.
"Come on, you monkey fuck."
I set my stance.
I hadn't even considered this technique against its initial leap. That first swing built momentum from hundreds of meters, slamming with insane force.
But now? At this range, no big acceleration.
Then I can use it. In theory!
First real use since acquiring it. But martial skills implant perfect theoretical knowledge on acquisition. I knew exactly how to execute it. Stay calm, and it'd work.
Thud thud thud thud!!
- Screeeeech————!!
Four steps, and it was on me. Massive leg power and long limbs made it possible. The white giant bulk loomed to crush me.
I held One True Fist and shifted my legs. Unleashed the sole kick of Thousand Fists One Kick.
'Evil Intent Kick!'
Its palm swiped empty air. My body flowed smoothly past its charge.
It glared in shock.
- Scree?!
The brute's opening gaped wide. I drove One True Fist into its ribs without hesitation, packing max mana for that split second!
Crunch crunch cruuunch—!!
- Greeeek...?!
Crash!!
The Baekwonhu screamed in agony, flung sideways. That huge frame, toppled by my tiny fist—smaller than a kid's head.
A catharsis unlike sex washed over me, pleasure rippling through my body.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
In that instant, the mana I packed was just 1/5 of my reserves. But enough to shatter ribs. Perfect side hit—a vital organ cluster. Way worse damage than it looked.
Success!
First Evil Intent Kick nailed. It wasn't a kick—nor a speed move. Read the foe's intent in their attack, find the flow's disruption, and strike. A pure counter, impossible without an opponent.
Why I'd never used it till now.
- Grek... Screek... Scree...
"Hahk... Hahk..."
Wracked by unforeseen organ-shaking pain, it couldn't recover. I closed in fast.
It clutched its hit side, prone, stifling groans. Ironically, its face was right in front of my nose.
"Kuhaha! So that's why you were missing an eye, you fuck!"
Vital spot in plain view. No reason to hesitate. Slam my strongest blow.
With Thousand Fists One Kick leveling from 0 to 1, unlocking Twin Shaking Palms. Left and right hands unleashed its secrets.
Infuse mana...!
Splat—!
- Screeech—?!
Fist to closed eyelid. It screamed, trying to lift its head. I didn't let it.
My right fist outsped its head lift, smashing its bulging pupil.
Shake it...!
Splaaat!
On impact, my infused mana vibrated wildly in its eye. The fragile orb couldn't withstand a second.
Spluuurt—!!
- Gyaaaaaaaah!!Grk!!Spluuurt!!!
Red blood sprayed everywhere, soaking grass. Right eye remnants shredded beyond recognition. Even a quarter-area of surrounding skin ground off.
My best shot, dumping most remaining mana. Had to pack that punch.
- Splat!
"Kuh?!"
Its huge, brutal hands seized me. Its sole remaining eye glared, bloodshot with pain and rage.
Stay like this, and it'd pulp me. But...
"Heh heh heh... Hey. Monkey boy."
- Gyaaaaaaaah————!!!
"See you in seven years."
- Gyaaaaah—!!!
With my free arm, I pulled the red orb from inventory and poured my last mana scrap into it without pause.
Familiar light filled the area, mana surging. I closed my eyes, accepting it.
Soon, I blacked out.