Chapter 44 - Complacency
“Zhenyu! Zhenyu! Do you have any explanations regarding the accusation that you paid Artigan off to spare you and your teammates?”
- Ortris, famous orcish reporter.
- Zhenyuxin, aka Feng Zhenyu of the Rising Yets.
Far, far closer than Seffara had been when she’d thrown her container.
He used [Instant Dodge] to reposition. The skill normally forced his max velocity towards a direction he chose. This time he pushed against the skill to try to decrease the speed. It didn’t quite work. His left foot smashed into the ground, hard, absorbing the impact of the landing.
There was a whumph of wind–the bullipede was already passing him.
His soulsword flashed outwards, piercing the bullipede’s side as it went past. The blade held with his right, his left hand holding down his wrist. His hands trembled as he fought to not lose control.
Ryan let out a scream.
“Ahhhhhhhh!”
What felt like an eternity passed in a moment as the entire length of the bullipede rushed through his sword. He had to fight against each segmented section, pushing the blade against the torrent of carapace.
When it ended, his own pushing force ended with him pushing straight ahead.
Seffara had been right, it was like cutting through an oncoming train. His wrists would have snapped if he’d used one hand. He breathed heavily, arms shaking, then turned around to see his handiwork.
The bullipede writhed behind him, desperately trying to right itself, not understanding that it was already dead. A gash started from the first third of its body and ran down its entire length. It bled green and revealed the pulsing insides of a dying insect.
“I win.”
He put his blade on his shoulder and started his victory whistle, walking towards the dying insect.
It screeched at him and kept scrabbling at the ground, probably wondering why it couldn’t move its body properly. It tried to coil up–but then finally noticed the giant wound on its body. The bullipede straightened up and flopped onto the ground, away from him, trying to flee.
Ryan could feel his Epic building. The bullipede started trembling, desperate. Its compound eyes meant that it couldn’t look away from him.
Finally, the monster in front of him felt true fear.
The [Rogue] approached the giant mass of an insect, he casually dodged the flailing twitch of the dying bullipede as it attempted a desperate attack. He took another step forward to stab and–Gamielle appeared at his side.
“What are you doing?”
“Killing it. Why?”
“Just leave it to die. You almost died right now.”
She pointed at his chest.
Ryan stepped out of range of the bullipede and looked at where she was pointing. A small tear was visible at his chest. It was where the tip of the bullipede’s tusk had grazed him. He’d been so focused on stabbing the insect that he hadn’t even realized how close that attack had come to killing him.
“Huh.”
Gamielle looked at him, like she was concerned about him. The bullipede let out another screech and Ryan walked around her.
“You’re ruining my achievements, get out of my way.”
He took out his shield from his back and held the soulsword in his right. It twitched futilely as Ryan dodged while keeping the shield close to his torso. Then he stabbed forwards.
[Double Stab]
It twitched again and a strike came from his right, he weaved backwards then stabbed it again. This time trying to activate the skill without the Trial System’s help.
A screech of pain, a twitch again, this time Ryan parried. It was far too weak now. He stabbed forward, trying to focus on the skill activation.
What were Zahiru’s words again?
Did he even need it?
He remembered the feeling earlier of forcing his [Dangersense] to listen. He pulled on something else, his Epic. Burgeoning with all the momentum of soloing a monster that tunneled around in Sector Four.
Listen to me and activate by yourself you sonofabitch.
| Precursor skill [Quick Stab] (common, Active) learned!
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