The mountain collapsed, sending up a massive cloud of dust.
In an instant, visibility was completely cut off.
A heavy silence settled over the area.
The screeching friction and deafening roars that had filled the air moments ago were gone, as if someone had flipped a switch.
The Rakshasa horde froze in unison.
It was hard to believe these were the same monsters that had been charging at them with murderous intent just seconds earlier.
"Master."
Jinhyuk raised a hand toward Dark and Seira, who were staring in his direction.
Spacing out in the middle of a battle was practically begging to be killed, but he decided to wait a little longer.
He wanted to see what decision the owner of the horns would make.
"Captain."
Kancho had crept up beside him, ears twitching.
His face was more serious than ever.
"I've seen this before…!"
"Seen what?"
"This situation. This atmosphere. I've seen it in romance movies. Something amazing is about to appear. The real boss is coming!"
Jinhyuk broke into a sweat.
What kind of romance movies had this kid been watching?
Just as he was about to ask for the title, something purple burst out from within the dust cloud.
A moment later—
Ssssshhhhh…!
Glowing patterns began forming on the ground.
Vivid violet lines spread outward from the center.
When they completed a symbol about ten square meters wide—
BOOOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion shattered the silence.
Something shot out of the dust cloud and landed near Jinhyuk and Kancho.
Kancho bent down and picked it up.
It was a Rakshasa's head.
"Just like in the movies! So exciting!"
"Ugh…"
Jinhyuk snatched it away and tossed it aside.
It had started regenerating. It was disgusting.
The explosions and tearing sounds didn't stop.
And they weren't coming from their side.
Seira, Dark, and the others were standing perfectly still.
Slash!
A large amount of blood splattered across the ground.
Jinhyuk took a deep breath.
All he could see inside the dust was a streak of light moving at terrifying speed.
Still, he had no doubts.
What was happening inside was a one-sided massacre.
Body parts kept flying out, forcing him to dodge.
"Something came out again!"
Kancho tried to pick it up, but Jinhyuk quickly grabbed him and tucked him under his arm.
Kancho confiscated.
Before long, the dust settled.
Dark whistled at the revealed scene.
"Brutal."
That was putting it lightly.
The entire field was soaked in crimson.
"Just like a romance movie!"
Now Jinhyuk was sure.
Whatever Kancho had watched, it definitely wasn't romance.
It was horror.
Slasher films. Monster movies. Predator, Alien—stuff like that.
"He's insanely fast."
"Yeah."
No wonder that light trail had been so quick.
The horned master was slaughtering Rakshasas one after another at impossible speed.
"His body looks like chocolate."
He was about 175 centimeters tall, with lean, perfectly defined muscles.
Jinhyuk lifted his shirt and glanced at his own stomach.
He trained with Seira regularly, but he was still far from having abs like that.
"I'm jealous."
He muttered sincerely and looked up again.
The battle was mesmerizing.
No special weapons.
Just fists and kicks.
Yet every blow made Rakshasa bodies explode.
They regenerated again and again, but it didn't matter.
They were nothing more than punching bags waiting to be destroyed.
"This isn't a fight. It's hunting."
Jinhyuk nodded.
Dark was right.
The gap was too wide.
This wasn't combat—it was slaughter.
The enemies seemed to realize it too.
The horde was visibly stiff with fear.
Was it because they sensed his strength?
Because they understood the difference in power?
Not just that.
They had charged at Seira before without hesitation.
This was something deeper.
A primal fear etched into their instincts.
So intense that even their bodies refused to move.
"Let's go. Keep some distance from him, just in case."
Not because Jinhyuk thought he'd lose.
But the fortress was huge, and there were still countless Rakshasas inside.
Helping out would save time.
He raised his weapon.
Break time was over.
Cleaning resumed.
How much time had passed?
"Hoo…"
Jinhyuk wiped the blood from his forehead and looked around.
Even hardcore horror fans would turn away from this scene.
He probably wouldn't be eating meat for a while.
Ding!
[All Rakshasas in the Ancient Fortress have been defeated!]
[The souls devoured by the Rakshasas are being released!]
Colorful lights rose everywhere.
Streams of light flowed from the corpses and soared into the sky.
"They were trapped for a long time," Camella murmured.
She closed her eyes and clasped her hands.
"May you finally rest in peace."
Jinhyuk followed her example.
So did Kancho, Momo, and Elia.
"Go to a good place!"
"We beat up the Rakshasas for you!"
When the last light vanished, they opened their eyes.
Soon after, Seira joined them, shaking blood from her weapon.
Dark, who had gone deeper inside, was still missing.
They all turned in the same direction.
A blood-soaked figure was approaching.
The horned master.
He walked casually, as if nothing had happened.
As if the red stains were just paint.
Ding!
[Renya (煉夜), the Steel Oni Tempered in Darkness, has awakened from his seal!]
"An oni?!"
Jinhyuk had suspected something, but this was unexpected.
Another new race, after elves and yordles.
And with a Chinese name, too.
[New card acquired!]
[Yu Jinhyuk]
Class: Collector
Unique Trait: Card Collector
Current Cards: 7/10
Seira KincaitenKanchoDark CastroMomoElia FosenCamella SirinRenya (煉夜)
[Renya (煉夜)]
Title: Steel Oni Tempered in Darkness
Class: Martial Artist
Rank: Unique
Level: 116
(Advance upon reaching level 120)
Unique Traits:
Fighting SpiritOni Killing Fist
Skills:
Slaughter Form IDeploymentSlaughter Form IISlaughter Form III
Relics: None
Motto:
"I trust only my own body."
"Damn…"
Jinhyuk rubbed his chin.
No relics at all.
A hardcore macho type.
"His eyes are purple!"
"His hair is blue too! Totally looks like a biker gang member!"
Kancho must've been watching crime documentaries again.
He clenched his fists and puffed out his chest.
"Biker gangs need discipline from the start! Yordle Ranger Vice-Captain Kancho, moving out!"
Before anyone could stop him, he marched forward.
Just before he reached Renya—
"Oh? You finally showed up."
Dark arrived late and put a hand on Renya's shoulder.
Then—
BOOOOM!!!
"Huh?!"
Dark was sent flying.
"Don't touch me. Weakling."
Renya's low voice echoed as dust rose from the rubble.
He'd flown pretty far.
Everyone froze in shock.
Everyone except Seira, who smiled in satisfaction.
"Seems like a good guy."
Renya took a few more steps and stopped.
He now stood before Kancho.
Jinhyuk clenched his fists.
You've got this, Kancho!
Renya looked down.
Kancho looked up.
A storm before the storm.
But—
"Sa-lute! Yordle Ranger Vice-Captain Kancho reporting! Nice to meet you, sir!"
Everyone's mouths fell open.
Dark's flight had already established the hierarchy.
"Little schemer."
"He'd sell his soul if it helped him survive."
Elia and Camella clicked their tongues.
They secretly vowed to discipline him later.
"Hey! Why do you have so many tattoos?!"
Momo waddled over.
"What are these little things?" Renya muttered.
He gently patted their heads and walked past.
He'd sent Dark flying, yet treated them gently.
Apparently, he liked cute things too.
Which left—
Gulp.
Jinhyuk swallowed.
He wasn't strong.
He wasn't cute.
This was bad.
Renya stopped in front of him.
Their eyes met.
Jinhyuk braced himself.
Then Renya knelt, placing one fist on the ground.
"Whoa, no need for that—"
"As a martial artist, paying respect to my master is basic courtesy."
He was surprisingly polite.
Apparently, Dark had just rubbed him the wrong way.
"I'm Yu Jinhyuk. Nice to meet you."
"Renya. From now on, I'll destroy your enemies with everything I have."
They shook hands.
Renya tilted his head.
"Why were you nervous?"
"You noticed?"
Figures.
"I was worried I'd get sent flying like Dark."
"Strong? You?"
Renya studied him, then smiled.
"You don't know yourself very well."
He examined Jinhyuk's body.
"You need more training. You'd get blown away by the wind. Start today."
He gave a thumbs-up.
Great.
Another training regimen.
Meanwhile, Jinhyuk and the others slowly backed away.
Renya frowned.
Then a voice reached his ears.
"Done greeting your master?"
It was the Immortal.
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T/N:
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