Chapter 9 : Chapter 9
Chapter 9. Hey, Glutton, Wake Up. Work Is Done!
Wu You sighed.
Resigned to his fate, he drew his iron sword and looked at the blue jelly-like Slimes bouncing toward him.
His gaze turned strangely kind.
“Forget it… the cores are gone, but at least the experience points—and snacks to feed the ones at home—cannot go to waste.”
He issued a command to the skills in his mind.
“Dinner time, everyone. Go easy on the lifting. This time, leave the bodies intact… no, leave the cores intact!”
Enhanced Upward Slash lit up excitedly.
【I have been waiting forever! That flashy fireball earlier looked fancy, but nothing beats a good sword! Watch this!】
Wu You gripped his sword and looked at the approaching Slimes.
He took a deep breath.
“Alright, stop arguing and get to work. Remember, leave the cores!”
Enhanced Upward Slash responded first, the blade glowing faintly.
【Watch me! Everyone move aside! Let me start things with a beautiful opening—】
Wu You instinctively flicked his wrist.
A smooth Upward Slash swept out, the sword tip precisely hooking and launching a Slime that had just pounced.
The Slime traced an arc through the air and landed with a wet SPLAT in the distance.
Its core had been shattered by the clever force of the strike.
The gelatinous body collapsed limply, and a small blue Slime Core dropped out.
【Beautiful! Host, that cooperation was not bad! See that? That is efficiency!】 Upward Slash bragged proudly.
Straight Thrust immediately objected.
【Efficiency? That was flashy nonsense! A true sword strike should move forward without hesitation and kill in a single blow! Host, use me!】
Wu You felt his arm guided by a sharp, focused intent.
The sword tip shot forward like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
“Pfft!”
With a soft sound, the sword tip pierced another Slime’s core instantly.
The Slime stiffened and collapsed into a puddle of slime.
Its core dropped out.
The entire process was fast, precise, and ruthless, without a single wasted movement.
【Hmph. Well?】 Straight Thrust sent a calm yet arrogant thought.
Horizontal Slash became restless.
【Area damage! Crowd clearing! Host, sweep them all! Let them witness what true domination looks like!】
Wu You rotated his wrist.
The blade swept horizontally, a sharp arc of light flashing through the air.
Three Slimes that had jumped forward side by side were cleanly sliced across their middles.
Even though Slimes technically did not have waists.
Their cores were still cut through by the sharp sword energy at the same moment.
They collapsed simultaneously, and three Slime Cores clattered onto the ground.
【Hahaha! That felt great! This is how you clear mobs!】 Horizontal Slash roared with excitement.
Block sent a steady pulse of thought.
【Three incoming from the left. Host, prepare for defense and counterattack.】
Wu You stepped left as instructed and held his sword horizontally.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Three Slimes smashed into the blade, slime splattering everywhere.
Wu You flicked his wrist and used their own momentum to deflect them backward.
They crashed into the Slimes behind them, causing a brief wave of chaos.
【Hm. Acceptable rhythm.】 Block expressed its satisfaction.
Swift Step also began trying to show off.
【Host! Footwork! Footwork! Over there! Yes! Circle behind! Perfect! Dodged the slime spray completely! Look at my elegant steps!】
Under Swift Step’s guidance, Wu You’s movements became light and elusive.
He weaved through the Slime group, always avoiding the sluggish slime attacks while finding the best striking angles.
For a while, Wu You became incredibly busy.
Inside his head, however, the skills were even noisier.
Upward Slash: 【Yes! Like that! Launch it! Elegance never goes out of style!】
Straight Thrust: 【Host, focus! A thrust requires absolute concentration! That last angle was off by 0.5 degrees!】
Horizontal Slash: 【Area! Pay attention to area coverage! Two escaped on that side! Sweep them! Yes! Perfect!】
Block: 【Sneak attack from the right rear. Already blocked. Counterattack recommended with Straight Thrust.】
Swift Step: 【Faster! Faster! Host, you are too slow! Keep up with my rhythm!】
Wu You felt like a puppet on strings.
His body was being directed by five different directors taking turns giving orders.
He could not help complaining aloud.
“Can you all unify your opinions?! And Swift Step! Stop shouting and watch where you are going! I almost ran into that tree!”
【Hmph. That is because your fundamentals are too poor to cooperate with our refined teamwork.】 Upward Slash spoke in an elder-like tone.
That comment seemed to provoke someone.
【Teamwork?】 Straight Thrust’s previously calm intent suddenly turned sharply aggressive.
【Upward Slash, you only act superior because you evolved earlier and gained some experience outside. Do you really think you are the leader now? Your flashy tricks are worthless before a true master!】
【What did you say?!】 Upward Slash’s icon flashed violently.
【I evolved through real battle! I can lift anything! And you dare call me flashy?!】
【Evolved?】 Straight Thrust’s intent burned with competitiveness.
【If you can evolve, why can I not? Host! Watch carefully! I will show you the ultimate thrust! The true extreme of piercing—Radiant Thrust!!!】
In that instant, Wu You felt his sword arm wrapped in an extremely concentrated sharp intent.
The will behind it was burning, pure, and unstoppable.
It resonated wildly with all the concepts that had been planted in his mind earlier about speed, penetration, and radiance.
A sudden realization struck him.
Facing a slightly larger Slime lunging from the side, Wu You poured all his strength and focus into a single thrust.
He did not shout the skill’s name.
It was just the simplest straight thrust motion.
But this time, the tip of the iron sword dragged behind it a streak of light like a fleeting firefly that was almost impossible to see with the naked eye.
“Shhh!!!”
A faint sound like paper being pierced echoed softly.
The sword tip touched the Slime’s core.
It did not explode or tear through it.
Instead, that single point of light sank directly into the core.
In the next moment, the Slime’s entire body lit up from within.
Countless thin threads of light spread through it.
Then it silently dissolved into the finest glowing dust, drifting down like glittering powder.
A slightly larger and purer blue Slime Core fell to the ground with a clear clink.
The entire process was quiet, swift, and strangely beautiful, yet filled with absolute destruction.
Wu You froze in his thrusting stance.
Even his mind went silent for a moment.
【Ding! Your skill Straight Thrust, under the catalysis of intense competitiveness and the host’s early conceptual guidance, has successfully evolved into Radiant Thrust. Effect: Extreme speed and penetration. The attack carries a weak purification effect, dealing additional damage to low-tier undead and dark creatures!】
Radiant Thrust sent a cold and proud thought.
【Did you see that? This is the ultimate form of a thrust. Upward Slash, you are outdated.】
Enhanced Upward Slash flashed wildly in anger.
【You brat! You ambushed me! That does not count! Host! Let us compete again! I will launch a hundred enemies into the air!】
Horizontal Slash became excited as well.
【Wow! That new move looked amazing! No way, I want to evolve too! Host! Quickly! Think of an even more powerful slash for me! Something that can split mountains and cut rivers!】
Block remained steady but resolute.
【Absolute defense… It seems there is still room for improvement. Host, when will the concept of a world barrier be completed?】
Swift Step spun around excitedly.
【Fast! So fast! I want to be even faster too! Host! Space-time travel! Shrinking the land to a step! Hurry and imagine it!】
Wu You looked at the skills in his mind that were once again arguing loudly while demanding upgrade packages.
Then he looked at the more than twenty Slime Cores scattered on the ground.
He could also feel the noticeably stronger power flowing through his body.
For a moment, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.
He shook his slightly numb arm and collected all the Slime Cores first.
Then he glanced at Vivian, who was still unconscious nearby.
“Hey, glutton. Wake up. Work is done.”