Chapter 4 : Chapter 4
Chapter 4. Kill Kill Kill, So Refreshing!
Two hours later.
Wu You lay sprawled on the ground inside the cave, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out and his brain had turned into a lump of thoroughly stirred paste.
“I cannot do this anymore… I really cannot…”
He weakly begged the skill panel.
“Masters… ancestors… please let me catch my breath. I promise that once I recover, I will make up all of your ‘ultimate forms’ and ‘cosmic concepts.’ I swear it. Just give me a little more time…”
[Straight Thrust] trembled slightly, indicating “noted for now.”
The lights of [Horizontal Slash] and [Block] dimmed, tacitly allowing a temporary break.
The aura around [Quick Step] also stabilized.
Wu You had just let out half a sigh of relief and was preparing to sleep and recover his energy.
Suddenly, the gray icon representing [Upward Slash], which had been silent for quite a while, began flashing wildly in his mind.
It was accompanied by urgent “beep beep beep” notification sounds.
“Huh?”
Wu You’s heart skipped a beat.
What was that runaway ancestor doing now?
Immediately afterward, a long string of information forced its way into his consciousness, carrying an almost smug emotional tone.
【Remote Real-Time Battle Report from “Upward Slash”】
【Phase One: Clearing the field. Location: outskirts of the Dark Forest. Kills: Slimes x23. Soft and limp. Extremely poor tactile sensation. Highly insulting to my dignity, but fortunately they were numerous. Evaluation: Boring, though acceptable as a warm-up.】
【Phase Two: Challenge. Encountered Elite Fanged Wolf x1. This creature dared to bare its teeth at me! I responded with Basic Upward Slash. Within three moves, I launched it three meters into the air and nailed it onto a tree trunk! Refreshing!】
【Phase Three: Harvest. Accidentally entered a small Goblin camp. Mere green-skinned trash dared to throw stones at me? In fury, I unleashed twenty-seven consecutive upward slashes. The camp is now quiet. Gains: several crude iron fragments, several copper coins. Useless, but proof of my glorious achievements.】
【Latest Report: Deep within the forest, encountered a Mutated Thorn Demon Vine, judged as Elite+. Its vines are tough, and its poison troublesome. After thirty rounds of fierce battle, I finally grasped the true essence in a desperate moment! Upward Slash does not only strike upward. It can also break hardness, shatter sharpness, and counter ten thousand techniques! My edge shall challenge everything!】
【Ding! Your skill “Upward Slash” has successfully evolved into “Enhanced Upward Slash” after relentless combat and enlightenment. Effect: greatly increased attack power, with additional beginner effects “Armor Break” and “Spell Disruption.”】
【“Upward Slash” transmits an extremely excited yet prideful thought: Host! Do you see my potential now? Nothing is beyond my challenge! Lying around with you would be a waste of my talent! I will continue my journey. My next goal is to challenge stronger opponents! Do not worry about me. Unless you have energy supplies.】
Wu You stared at this long “battle report,” which practically came with tone and commentary.
His entire mind went numb.
He opened his mouth, but it took a long while before he finally muttered to the empty air.
“Wait… brother, did you run away to prove yourself, or to start some kind of wilderness survival adventure? And you are even providing real-time commentary and performance summaries?”
“Killing monsters is fine, but where did you get evaluations like ‘extremely poor tactile sensation’ and ‘highly insulting’? You are a skill, not a food critic!”
“And what do you mean nothing is beyond your challenge? Why do you not just fly into the sky while you are at it!”
“And the most ridiculous part is your final line, ‘Do not worry about me.’ Where did you learn that? And what do you mean ‘unless you have energy supplies’? Are you thriving out there while still thinking about the little scraps that might exist in your poor host’s pockets?”
Wu You felt completely overwhelmed.
He rubbed his throbbing temples and sensed the slight increase in strength within his body caused by the evolution of [Upward Slash].
His feelings became even more complicated.
On one hand, an employee running off to work overtime and generating results for the company seemed like a good thing.
On the other hand, this employee was far too independent, far too troublesome, and could even write long bragging reports about his own performance.
How was he supposed to lead this team in the future?
He looked at the four skill icons on the panel that were temporarily behaving themselves.
A bad premonition rose in his heart.
Sure enough…
The icon of [Straight Thrust] began flashing rhythmically, transmitting a clear thought filled with competitive pride.
“If it can do it, so can I! Farther, faster, sharper! Energy insights, immediately!”
[Horizontal Slash] also began vibrating unwilling to fall behind, sending out a domineering message.
“Range, power, crushing superiority, transcendence, resources. Deliver them now!”
Even the usually steady [Block] released a calm yet firm thought.
“Immovable as a mountain, defending the ultimate front. True strength requires deep accumulation. Resources are the foundation.”
Meanwhile, [Quick Step] simply simulated the sound effect “WHOOSH—WHOOSH—” as if breaking through the air in Wu You’s mind.
Its meaning was obvious.
Running away—no, training—I am good at that too.
Wu You: “…”
His vision darkened.
He could already see his future life.
Either he would spend it desperately searching for energy for these skill ancestors and racking his brain to invent “high-style concepts.”
Or he would be bombarded by endless messages of flashy battle reports, bragging, and resource demands from each of them.
“Did I bind a system…”
Wu You lay flat on the ground, staring at the pitch-black cave ceiling as he muttered in despair.
“Or did I adopt four—no, five—gold-devouring ancestors that are starving but extremely motivated…”
“That damn goddess…”
He gritted his teeth.
“This is all your fault! When my ancestors… no, when my skills grow strong, just wait and see how I—”
Halfway through his threat, he looked at the thoughts in his mind that were constantly urging him for “updates” and “resources.”
Then he thought about his empty pockets and his nearly exhausted imagination.
In the end, all his grand declarations turned into a long sigh.
“Sigh… I should first think about where to pick up some magic cores tomorrow… or how to invent an even cooler ultimate concept for Quick Step to keep these kids happy…”
Outside the cave, a crow suddenly let out a strange cry.
It sounded as if it were mercilessly laughing at him.