Chapter 65
Thud, thud—
Blood dripped from the corner of Demun’s eye and fell to the ground. The crimson-tainted vision. Demun couldn’t believe the situation unfolding before him.
‘What, what’s… why…….’
His thoughts jumbled, unable to form coherent sentences.
Puck—
“Kkhre—”
The sound of another comrade’s breathing ceasing echoed from not far away. As he turned, he saw a sword piercing his comrade’s neck.
A sleek, crimson-hued sword.
Pshewt—
The sword, now extracted from his comrade’s neck, was pointed at Demun.
“Not bad, I suppose. You got one right.”
Suhyuk nodded in acknowledgement. Demun’s face still held an air of disbelief. Regardless, Suhyuk charged towards Demun.
“Hey!”
Demun reflexively swung his axe. Though the force behind it was lacking, it wasn’t a bad defensive reaction.
But.
“Good job.”
Sshweet—
As the sound of flesh being sliced filled the air, Demun confirmed with his own eyes that his familiar body part was flying away.
“My… arm?”
The axe still clutched in his hand, Demun’s arm had been severed.
“Ahhh!”
The scream was more out of fear than pain. For a mercenary like him, losing an arm might be as terrifying as death itself. Blood spilled in clumps to the ground. His gaze wavered, stumbling backward.
“You reacted well. If you hadn’t swung that axe, it would’ve been your neck that got severed.”
Suhyuk stood still, speaking in the same spot.
“It might’ve been better for you, but—”
“You…!”
Demun’s gaze fixed on the crimson-hued sword in Suhyuk’s hand.
“You’re using a magic sword!”
“……?”
At Demun’s sudden outburst, Suhyuk tilted his head, looking puzzled.
“Ah, you’re right.”
Demonic swords consumed the user’s life force. While it was true for low-grade demonic swords, the performance of higher-grade ones increased exponentially.
In exchange, the magic sword demanded not just the user’s stamina but their fundamental energy— their lifespan. Demun seemed to think that the magic sword in Suhyuk’s hand was of that kind.
However.
“What can I say? This is my livelihood.”
『’Selfish Sacrifice lv5′ resists the damage from the ‘Nameless Magic Sword’』.
『Resistance successful』.
『The user’s stamina and mental energy are fully recovered』.
The ability of the magic sword Suhyuk wielded was exactly at the level that the 5th-level ‘Selfish Sacrifice’ could handle.
“If you’re unhappy, you can buy one yourself with your own money.”
“This is—”
Scorch—
Just as Demun was about to say something.
“Ch—…”
A crimson afterimage moved, drawing a straight line across Demun’s neck. Before he could finish speaking, Demun’s head had flown off.
Thud.
『’Demun’ has been defeated』.
『You have been attacked by a party member』.
『No penalty has been applied.』
As Demun’s lifeforce ceased, the message played. Fortunately, there were no penalties for killing the three of them. Since they were the ones who had first seen Suhyuk as an enemy and attacked, it was only fair.
With that brief episode concluded.
『’18months’ has donated 1000 points.』
『Since when did ‘Vulture’ mean kill everyone? Let’s make this ‘Demun’ from now on.』
A donation came in as if it had been waiting for this moment. Suhyuk flicked the remaining blood off his sword and responded.
“Thank you for the donation, 18months. But ‘Demun’ doesn’t sound quite right. I’ll think about it.”
Despite his reluctance, the viewers had their own ideas.
If ‘Demun’ is off, how about ‘Demon’?
Let’s go with Demon Sword.
Shout “Cry, Demon Sword!” and I’ll donate more.
Lolol “Cry, Demon Sword!” hahaha
“Cry, Demon Sword?”
Just imagining it gave Suhyuk a headache. He shook his head. From the start, his streams had been about skill, not clowning around like ‘Bald Suhyuk.’
“…I’ll pass.”
After a brief interaction with his viewers. Suhyuk looked at Bale and his colleagues, who were watching him from the entrance of the Thunder Cave.
Holding up the Thunder Imprint, he asked.
“Do any of you want this?”
Bale quickly shook his head in alarm.
“No, no! It’s yours, Suhyuk, of course!”
“We have no claim to it at all. It’s all thanks to the lightning that you got it.”
Both Bale and his colleagues vehemently refused. Having witnessed what happened to Demun and his men, no one was foolish enough to covet it.
– Cowards
– This is why little brats are quick on their feet…
– If he asked for it, it would have been “Demon Sword!” time
– LOL Demon Sword!
Suhyuk, sharing the same objective, clicked his tongue in disappointment. It wouldn’t have been bad to ditch them here.
‘No helping it, I guess.’
Suhyuk placed the Thunder Imprint in his inventory. Whether he would use it or sell it at an auction was still undecided.
It wasn’t something he needed to decide immediately, so he left it in his inventory for now. With preparations complete, Suhyuk began walking into the cave.
“Let’s go.”
While contemplating how to best utilize these leeches who thought of riding the bus.
***
The interior of the Thunder Cave was unusually bright. The ceiling, though blocking out sunlight, was dotted with yellow lights that acted as natural lanterns.
Step, step—
In the quiet cave.
The only sound was the footsteps of the raid party led by Suhyuk. Everyone was tense, knowing that monsters could appear at any moment.
And then.
Bzzz—
On the path entering the Thunder Cave.
Bale’s kit buzzed.
『Jenny: Are you sure this is okay?』
Jenny was the player just behind Bale, whom he had met in the community and formed a party with.
『Bale: What are you talking about?』
『Jenny: What we saw earlier. I have a bad feeling about this.』
They communicated via text on their kits, fearing that even whispers might echo through the quiet cave.
『Bale: Don’t worry. All we have to do is avoid doing anything dumb like those idiots earlier.』
『Jenny: Still, I feel like we’ll just get blamed…』
『Bale: That’s a risk we have to take. And until we make the first move, Lee Suhyuk can’t do anything to us.』
Tap, tap-tap—
Bale’s fingers moved swiftly over his kit.
『Bale: All streamers are like this. Because of their image, they have to kowtow to people like us. We just need to quietly hitch a ride.』
『Jenny: Will he really share the rewards?』
『Bale: We’ll just have to insist-.』
As they were busy exchanging messages.
Howl—!
From deep within the cave, the cry of a beast—whether dog or wolf—echoed.
And that howl.
Howl, howl-howl—!
Quickly spread to the rear as well.
“At the back too?”
“But we just came through there; there was nothing!”
The source of the howls soon revealed itself. Wolves with silvery fur tinged with a faint yellow glow. They bared sharp, agile-looking jaws and teeth as they howled.
But calling them wolves seemed insufficient given their size. These creatures were closer to tigers than wolves in stature.
‘Those must be….’
“You’ll probably encounter Lightning Wolves first.”
Schneider had informed him about these creatures. Though knowing their name wasn’t particularly challenging, even without Schneider’s help.
The important part was not just the name.
It was Schneider’s wealth of knowledge, gained from numerous challenges and relentless research over many years.
“They’re not impossible to kill, but it’s a waste of stamina. There’s an easier way.”
Whoosh—
Ignoring the Lightning Wolves behind him, Suhyuk charged forward. Bale shouted in surprise.
“Suhyuk! What about us?”
He felt like telling them to handle it themselves, but Suhyuk’s focus was already on the smallest Lightning Wolf in the pack.
“They’re quite peculiar.”
Howl, howl-howl—!
Lightning Wolves blocked his path.
“Typically, the leader of a pack is the largest one, but not these guys.”
Several Lightning Wolves lunged at Suhyuk, brandishing their claws and teeth. Instinctively, their long claws aimed for his heart, while their huge jaws sought to snap his neck.
But even amidst this chaos, Suhyuk’s focus remained on the smallest Lightning Wolf.
Whissh, crack—
Two Lightning Wolves brushed past him on either side. Their claws and teeth gnawed at the air as Suhyuk smoothly dodged and passed them.
Swish—
His steps became lighter. He glanced at the shoes he was wearing.
‘These work well.’
The Nimble Thief’s Footwear.
An item that increased movement speed and jumping power, ensuring simplicity and efficiency. Leaping over the two Lightning Wolves, Suhyuk dashed toward the leader of the pack.
And in the next instant.
Crackle—
Howl, howl-howl—!
The leader, glowing with yellow sparks in its fur, roared fiercely at Suhyuk before swiftly charging.
Flash—
Appearing as though it had used a lightning bolt, the Lightning Wolf leader materialized before Suhyuk’s eyes.
Crash—!
Thud—
The leader’s front paw struck the ground so powerfully that it tore up the rocks. The speed and strength were far beyond the other Lightning Wolves.
‘This is it.’
Howl, howl—!
Crackle—
The leader’s fur gradually turned more yellow. Size didn’t matter. The thunderous power within it was the true mark of the leader.
‘This one’s the leader.’
Thus, responding in kind:
『’Lightning’ is activated.』
『’Lightning’ imbues your feet.』
Suhyuk increased his tempo.
Flash—
He spring-boarded swiftly into the air. The Lightning Wolf leader’s snapping jaws bit into the wall where Suhyuk had been.
Crunch—
Grar-?
The disoriented leader felt something odd in its mouth.
Thud—
A sharp red blade pierced through the Lightning Wolf leader’s head.
『’Lightning Wolf Leader’ has been defeated.』
『’Lightning Wolves’ morale decreases.』
『You have leveled up.』
『Strength increases by 1.』
『Agility increases by 1.』
『Stamina increases by 1.』
Regardless of how many times he heard it, the message was always pleasing. The Lightning Wolf leader was a significant source of experience.
And with the leader dead, the pack.
Whimper, whine—
Grar—
Upon making eye contact with Suhyuk, they became like frightened puppies. The leader was dead. Now, only the final stage remained here.
“As long as you take down the leader, then from that point-.”
Just as Schneider had informed him. After a moment’s contemplation, Suhyuk spoke to the Lightning Wolves.
“-Sit.”
And then.
Whimper—
Whine, whine—
Dozens of Lightning Wolves crouched and sat down.
“I’ll be the new leader.”
TL’s Corner:
Demun is 데먼 and Demon is 데몬
And the last part.