Q: Do you forgive those who betrayed you?
Shi Ling: Never.
Q: Will you take revenge on them?
Shi Ling: Never.
Q: Why?
Shi Ling: I don’t want to.
…
*New inherent attribute added:
【Karma】— Effect unknown
*Detected abnormal attribute enhancement:
【Mental Resistance】 Level.∞
*Detected abnormal offensive enhancement:
【Perpetual · Beyond Boundary · Ten】; 【Time Barrier · Ten】; 【Spatial Will · Ten】; 【Space-Time Ability】 level.MAX; 【Spatial Rift · Ten】; 【Cataclysm Attack Factor · Super Instant Death】; 【Sin and Calamity · Judgment of Arbitration】
*[Collapse Mode] in use
*Abnormal status under repair
*Emergency downgrade to [Execution Mode]
——————
…
It’s only been a few hours since that incident, so why am I in such a hurry…? Can the one before me give me the answer?
Though her frantic attempts to flee leave me puzzled, that doesn’t excuse what she’s done.
Hey, I’m talking to you. Look me in the eye.
‘Huh…?’
Why are you pretending not to understand? Do you think hiding behind that cloth means I can’t see you?
‘Huh?! Y-Y-You! How can you see me?!’
Hmph… spoiled rotten, I see. Can’t even handle a little thing like this. No surprise—she’s the adopted daughter of the master of the 【Meditation Corridor】, isn’t she?
Come to think of it, where are the monsters? A room this size—like a plaza—would normally be where the boss waits at the end of a dungeon, so the small fry appetizers up front are a must… But I doubt this one here has the authority to pull off something that grand.
‘Awoooo!’ A wolf’s howl suddenly rang out from nearby—different from the one I’d encountered a few days ago in Maletus.
After a few more roars, the demon wolf came into view. Just as expected—
Without a second thought, I channeled the Force, hurled the wolf high into the air, wrapped it in space-time chains, and then blasted it with a volley of multi-fireballs, engulfing it in flames…
Watching the embers rain down above me, I gave a tentative puff, and to my surprise, the ashes passed straight through that soul and fell to the ground as if nothing had happened.
“Mm. It’s all coming back to me… Huh? Me?”
*Abnormal enhancement removed
*Entered [Peace Mode]
*To avoid disadvantage, 【Judgment】—【Sanction】 toggle enhanced
Gazing at the unfamiliar sea of flames around me, I instinctively clenched my fist and then released it. Everything I could touch reminded me that I was still alive.
‘Y-You! You’ve really got me riled up now… But fine, since you were able to touch me, I’ll let you off this once.’
“Hey, wait!” I reached out, trying to use the Force to stop her, but she didn’t halt—instead, she got spooked and fled in a flash.
Oh, right. Even the Force has to obey physics… No, wait. The Force itself doesn’t follow physics at all.
Anyway, without a physical form, the Force can’t grab or manipulate it. I see, I see.
Come to think of it, why has the ground been rumbling since the very beginning? Listening closely, I can hear the crash of walls crumbling too. Could it be that someone’s just smashing through walls to get around? Ha-ha—
No sooner had I dropped that flag than a person burst through the corridor wall, right in my face. At the same time, a massive boulder came flying toward me and shattered into pieces not far from where I stood.
This is no joke. Sure, 【KRYY Blood】 can keep me alive as long as the damage comes from range, but if I took a direct hit… Terrifying. Truly terrifying. I might not be able to reform—!
“Th-This… Is this…?”
Footsteps that shake the very earth, a stature rivaling the city walls, a colossal frame that could serve as a supply of food if needed… This is a giant orc—the type typically used for siege and demolition. But with brawn over brains, they’re usually bossed around by the smarter orc breeds if they lack intelligence.
And now, one of them stands right before me… I wonder if someone’s orchestrating yet another ridiculous spectacle.
I let out a sigh and shifted my gaze to the beast’s neck. Usually, giants fight bare-skinned, but this one was clad in black steel armor. If I could take it down in one hit, the rest would be smoother, and casualties would be minimal. But still… All these scattered nuisances are such a pain.
*Alert: Boss-class giant orc detected
*Issuing extermination notice
My hands are drenched in blood and gore. Just how many… how many towns did it take to get to this state?
‘Urgh… Urgh…!’ The beast twitched its face—it had spotted me. Well, I’m the only living person standing right in the middle of the arena; it’d be harder not to see me.
The pressure is suffocating… The feeling of being forced to fight is unbearable. But come on, then.
‘Human…! Human…!’ The giant orc slammed its massive axe onto the ground, and the entire floor shook. I stood still, gazing up at its unfathomable height.
This… It can talk? Does it possess high intelligence?… No, maybe I just misheard.
I shook my head and steeled myself, looking up once more at the giant orc, quietly analyzing its weak points.
Using a bladed weapon on the neck would be a good idea. Direct spell bombardment to the head works too. Or I could use my new skill 【Soul Grasp】 to attack its soul directly—also a solid option.
The ground trembled more violently. I knew it was approaching, but there was no rush yet.
Because right now, nothing is holding me back. If I can cut loose and fight freely, no one stands a chance against me… Even if I’m just a “weakling” in [Peace Mode] right now.
“Oh no, look what I’ve done—leaving you hanging like that.” I cracked my knuckles and began walking slowly toward the giant orc.
A blade as long as a machete formed on the back of my hand, and an unconscious smile spread across my face… Since my one and only purpose vanished eighteen hours ago, there’s no reason to keep hiding anymore—
Back then, I kept a low profile to avoid standing out. Now, it’s about letting loose.
“Take it easy.”
*【Combat Strategy】 adopted
“I’ll make it quick and clean.”
Truth be told, I had no idea how long it would take to bring this thing down. They say giant creatures have thick hides and high defense, so smaller attacks would probably just chip away at it bit by bit.
So this time, I’ll treat it as a skill test—throw everything I’ve got at it. Though I’ll set aside 【Purple · Perseverance】 for now since I’m not confident in its counter range.
For my right hand, I’ll test out the sharpness of 【Blue · Honesty】. For the left, I’ll gauge the range and destructive power of 【Yellow · Justice】—
It’s not like I never tested my abilities back in the Glimmerwood Grove. It’s just that back then, I only gave them a rough try… and the resulting destruction was so intense that I was afraid I’d level the entire forest, so I stopped.
But that was then, and this is now. Plus, I can control it now… Well, no, I can’t say that with certainty.
I pointed my left hand at the giant orc’s left leg, and a bright yellow gleam filled my vision—
‘What is the human… doing…?! —!’
A blindingly intense beam of light pierced through the air and struck the orc’s leg. The sheer force of the blast kicked up a cloud of dust from the ground, completely obscuring the lower half of the scene.
Though the “fog” kept me from seeing the exact extent of the damage, odds are it went straight through. If it could still hold its ground after that, it’d have to be a real pro.
But that’s not the kind of “pro” I’m talking about.
Without waiting for the dust to settle, I charged in, relying on memory, and slashed sideways with the azure blade on my right hand—the sensation of cutting through flesh traveled up my arm. Realizing I’d landed a hit, I drove the blade deep in, stopped my momentum, and leaped upward with force.
‘GRROOOAAAH!’ The orc’s roar was deafening, echoing through the entire chamber. But I knew these creatures had incredible endurance—even a fatal wound wouldn’t bring them down easily.
That roar was more out of sheer rage at being toyed with like this.
After rising to a certain height, I stayed lodged in the orc’s leg. Aside from the beast’s stomping, all that remained was the steady drip of blood…
“That should do it. That leg’s useless now.” Honestly, though, I had to admire the orc for staying still despite the pain—all to maintain its combat advantage.
After letting the azure blade dissipate, I landed on the ground and set my sights on the orc’s other leg—
It was breathing heavily, clearly furious at me, and seemed to be winding up for a massive kick.
If that’s the level of damage we’re talking about, then my 【Purple · Perseverance】 should be able to counter it… With that thought, I stood my ground and waited.
‘Human! I’ll crush you to pieces!’ The giant orc declared, swinging its right leg into motion. The sheer size of the object created a rush of displaced air, and I felt the gust hit my face.
Even a tank wouldn’t survive a kick like that—or so I figured. But since I had no real point of comparison, I couldn’t be sure…
“Ah, did it already hit?”
It did land, but the “resolution” was still as bizarre as ever.
First, it forcibly halts the incoming attack’s momentum, then rebounds it with counterforce. The result is a return strike—formed by a full-body “barrier”—equal to the original attack.
It’s like a mirror reflection, except no mirror can dish back several times the damage.
‘GRROOOAH!!’ Another furious roar. And I watched with my own eyes as its leg bent and warped from the impact of its own strike—just for a split second.
Talk about tripping over your own feet…
