Chapter 84: Twenty-first Floor, The Colonized Planet (3)

「Invisible message: Welcome to a Low-Class Colonized Planet. Destroy the slave factory or survive. Time remaining: 53 minutes 41 seconds.」

***

Damn it!

I didn’t have the time to retreat. Left with no other option, I reacted instinctively, swinging my right foot to intercept the Overseer’s incoming tail.

Although the tail strike hadn’t landed, my defensive movement had been far too reckless.

With no follow-up plan in place, my balance shifted slightly after parrying with my right foot. Before I could regain my footing, the Overseer’s sword was already slicing through the air towards me.

Thrown off balance, my defensive options were limited.

I pushed off my still-grounded foot and rolled sideways. The Overseer’s sword sliced sharply through the spot I had occupied just moments ago.

Whishh—

The blade made a whistling noise as it cut through the air, sending a shiver down my spine.

After rolling across the ground, I sprang to my feet with a quick, fluid motion. I stood tense and ready for the Overseer’s next attack, but to my surprise, it had remained standing in the same position, showing no intent to pursue.

“You blocked that? Not bad. Your instincts are sharp, aren’t they?”

Its eyes glimmered amusedly as it smiled leisurely. A thin, elongated, reptilian tongue flicked out between its lips, running along them slowly.

“You must still be struggling. See, a few physical reinforcement spells won’t change the outcome.”

The bastard muttered to himself again, and its calm demeanor kept distracting me.

Do I really look that easy to defeat?

“Just die peacefully, will you—”

“Shut the fuck up!”

I gripped my axe tightly and charged once more. With almost contemptuous ease, it blocked my swing.

Clang!

The axe rebounded from the impact, but through sheer strength, I brought it down onto its sword again.

Our weapons were locked momentarily in a contest of power, and The Overseer’s expression twisted in annoyance.

“How dare you interrupt me while I’m talking, you disrespectful asshole!”

It pushed on its sword harder, now displaying a strength that dwarfed what it had shown earlier as if it had only been playing around before. Instantly, it shoved my axe violently backward.

If I had kept trying to hold my ground, I would have been pushed off-balance.

Stepping back, I relaxed my arms as I flicked my wrist to reposition the rebounding axe. My instincts then screamed sharply, causing me to tense as the warning rang through my mind.

“Ch-chik!”

The Overseer thrust its murky blade forward, leading me to spin my axe in response.

Clang!

I barely deflected the strike, having tilted my axe blade just enough to divert the incoming sword’s path.

“Guh!”

The force behind the thrust didn’t disappear, however. It pushed me back and caused my upper body to tilt backward.

Simultaneously, the Overseer twisted its wrist. The slight movement sent its blade shooting diagonally toward me in a snake-like trajectory.

It was too late to dodge. Even raising my axe to defend seemed impossible.

But then... In that split second of extreme focus amidst the chaos of battle, Sixth Sense struck like a bolt of lightning.

The 70,000-point gauntlet!

A gut feeling told me I could block its sword with my gauntlet.

Can it really withstand this?

Rationality immediately stepped in, trying to hold back my Sixth Sense. The enemy’s sword didn’t look like something that could be stopped so easily. I was worried the Overseer would slice my hand clean off if I followed my instinct.

Fuck, worrying won’t change anything now.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

It was a pointless concern. My Sixth Sense had already made its point clear, and beyond that, I had no other option left. Even though I had armor, it was better to lose a hand than to let the blade carve into my torso.

Suppressing my remaining anxiety, I thrust my left hand forward, hoping the gauntlet would endure the impact.

At the same time, I channeled lightning into the axe in my other hand before swinging it downwards.

The sword collided with the gauntlet.

Clash!

As the Overseer’s sword scraped sharply against the gauntlet, it wedged itself into the narrow gaps between the scales and stuck.

It did it!

A dull pain radiated from my left hand, but I inwardly rejoiced and tightened my grip on its sword.

The Overseer’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback that the gauntlet had withstood its attack. It yanked roughly on its sword, attempting to free it.

My left hand trembled from the strain, and although I was losing ground, it didn’t matter. My axe was already descending toward its exposed head.

Seeing the incoming strike, the Overseer’s eyes widened like saucers. Realizing it couldn’t evade in time, it hastily twisted its head and tried to move out of the axe’s path.

Crack!

My axe crashed down on its shoulder. The impact resonated through my arms, and I thought for a second that I had struck solid stone. The scales on its shoulder shattered like glass, sending shards scattering in all directions. Some of the shards grazed my cheek, causing small lacerations that stung sharply.

Shit! I was aiming for its head.

I suppressed the regret bubbling up in my mind. What was done was done. I needed to stay focused. Thankfully, my situation had improved significantly.

Blue blood surged violently from the gash and painted the air in a grotesque spray. The blood arced through the air before descending upon my face, neck, and shoulders. Suddenly feeling the chill of the blood against my cheek sent a jolt through me, and its metallic tang filled my nostrils, sharp and bitter.

The Overseer’s face contorted into a look of anguish, distorting its features. Seeing that expression brought a smile to my lips. With a wound that severe, there was no way it would be able to use its left shoulder again.

Its gaze shifted, focusing on the gauntlet wrapped around my hand. Shock and disbelief washed over its face.

“What the hell is this? How did you get that gauntlet?!”

“None of your damn business, mother fucker.”

Snarling, I tightened my grip and forced the axe down even further.

Crunch!

The blade drove deeper, grinding against bone as more scales shattered beneath the pressure. If I could just push it a bit more...

But my thoughts were abruptly interrupted. Everything blurred without warning. The Overseer’s figure receded as my body was hurled backward, thrown mercilessly through the air by a force that took me completely off-guard.

Pain erupted in my abdomen.

Fuck.

Its tail had struck me full-force in the stomach.

Hot, thick liquid surged up my throat, spilling out of my mouth, and the familiar taste of iron flooded my tastebuds—it was blood, my own blood.

Damn, just how strong is this guy?

As that thought finished flickering through my mind, my body collided violently with the ground. I felt an explosion of pain that radiated from my head and down my spine. Stars flashed across my vision.

Despite the fog clouding my thoughts, the searing agony in my abdomen remained painfully clear.

“Where did you get that, you filthy bastard?!”

The pain shooting through my ribs left me disoriented, and I barely registered the faint ringing in my ears. The Overseer’s voice cut through the haze like a blade, disjointed and fractured, yet pulsing with wrath.

Its rage was unmistakable. Instantly, the oppressive energy radiating from it shifted, growing heavier and more dangerous.

At that precise moment, a brilliant glow enveloped my body. My pain ebbed away, and my senses sharpened as the fog lifted from my mind.

Doppy had once again cast a healing spell at a pivotal moment.

I pushed myself off the ground, regaining my stance as I adjusted my grip on the axe.

The Overseer had retrieved its discarded sword while I had been flung through the air. Its demeanor had changed once more. It was now calm and composed, starkly contrasting the blazing fury from before.

Seemingly standing there calmly, its unwavering gaze fixed upon me.

Its voice was disturbingly steady, carrying a chilling undercurrent of menace, “So, you’re not going to answer me, huh? Well, it doesn’t matter how you came to possess it. I’ll just take it back.”

From how flat its tone was, I couldn’t tell if it was speaking to itself or not. Its erratic shifts in mood were unsettling, almost like it was suffering from some sort of mania.

Even still, I could sense its simmering anger beneath the collected facade it displayed. Powerful waves of mana rippled violently around it, distorting the air with their intensity.

Damn it, what is this? A second phase, like some sort of video game?

I exhaled slowly, readying myself.

Can I really win this?

For a fleeting moment, I considered retreating. I then recalled my earlier strike, my one successful blow that had rattled it.

I have no choice but to go all in. Just like I realized before, in order to gain something greater, I have to sacrifice something.

After all, I still had one final trump card. It probably thought I would try to intercept its sword with the gauntlet again, but it didn’t know about the real ace up my sleeve—the Master of Shadows skill.

Even though my veil had been lifted, I still held dominion over shadows. Using the shadow spears now would be too risky since it could have watched my previous fights and learned about that strategy.

No, I have to hold back and rely on something else.

My strategy would center around the shadow arm and Lung Shark’s Dagger. They would be the key to bringing this battle to a conclusion.

“Just die!”

The Overseer’s roar reverberated through the air, and I could tell its voice was crackling with barely restrained fury. It surged forward in a headlong charge, a blur of deadly intent that clearly intended to finish this battle here and now.

I mirrored its charge and changed my grip on the axe to give me a bit more reach, purposefully exaggerating my movements. Attempting to mask the shadow arm, I let lightning course through my body and enveloped myself in a veil of crackling energy.

Less than a heartbeat later, we collided. As we clashed, I revealed the hidden shadow arm, striking with the dagger clutched in its palm—straight toward the left side of its neck.

“Urgh!”

I spotted a flicker of panic cross its eyes.

Caught off-guard by my maneuver, it hesitated. If it blocked the dagger with its sword, my axe would cleave through it from the left. If it blocked the axe, the dagger would pierce its throat.

My timing was flawless.

Moreover, with its left shoulder already incapacitated, it wouldn’t be able to respond quickly.

“Hisss—!”

Like a cornered serpent, it released an aggressive hiss that grated on my ears. Having made its decision, it shifted its sword into my axe’s trajectory. Simultaneously, it arched its upper body backward and tried to evade the dagger.

So, that is its plan? Deflect the axe and dodge the dagger? This battle is over.

I couldn’t help but smirk. It was fortunate that it wasn’t aware my shadow arm could extend further than a normal limb could.

The sword and axe clashed. In the blink of an eye, I redirected the rebounding axe before focusing on the shadow arm. Stretching impossibly, it managed to drive the dagger deep into the side of the Overseer’s neck.

“Ga—!”

Its gasp was strangled, the sound cut short as it faltered and lost its balance, staggering backward. Yet, even still, its lips curled into a manic grin. I quickly realized why as its tail whipped around from behind and aimed directly for my neck.

My axe was still positioned above my head, too out of the way to intercept the incoming strike. I caught a gleam of triumph in its eyes as the tail closed in, swift and deadly.

Instead of panicking, however, I locked eyes with it and smiled.

Lung Shark’s Dagger will automatically defend, you idiot.

The only reason I had dared to take such a risk was that I knew I could count on its automatic defense and my shadows to shield me.

My shadow arm withdrew at a blinding speed and intercepted its tail mid-strike. At the same time, I swung the axe down with tremendous force.

“No...

Guh!”

It couldn’t avoid it this time.

Crack!

The double-headed axe crashed through its skull, splitting it open and cleaving through scales, bone, and tissue. Thick, blue blood oozed from between the fractured scales and shattered bones.

With one final push, I drove the blade in deeper, before tearing it free with a powerful yank. Blood erupted from the gaping wound and shot up like a fountain into the ashen sky. I stood there, transfixed, watching the blood arc through the air.

The moment felt surreal, like a twisted painting set in a smoky, overcast backdrop. Then, a heartbeat later, the blood that had soared high into the sky rained down on me in a deluge of aqua.

***

Community of the Dead

[Holy crap, that was insane.]

[No way, he actually pulled it off.]

[Lol, I seriously thought he was a goner this time.]

[ 😂When he got tossed around like that, I thought, “Yep, this is it for him.”]

[This was my first time seeing Su-Hyeok get knocked around like that. Had me on edge.]

[You non-believers. I knew Mr. Su-Hyeok would come out on top.]

[Yeah, yeah, shut up, you fanatic.]

[But seriously, that was a masterpiece. The way the black lizard’s blood splattered everywhere... wasn’t that like a scene straight out of a movie?]

[Agreed. It looked like a scene from a high-budget film.]

[?? What happened? I was busy watching Cole shoot arrows.]

[AHAHAHA, you missed out on the highlight of your life, man.]

[Lmao. Why would you even watch that?]

[? He’s good-looking.]

[... Okay, fair point. No argument there.]

[No, seriously, what happened?]

[Su-Hyeok just created a new legend. You missed out big time.]

[Someone please fill me in. :( ]

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has slain the Factory Overseer of a Low-Class Colonized Planet. An unbelievable achievement! All stats +2.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has destroyed a slave factory on a Low-Class Colonized Planet. All stats +2.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Lightning Essence is now lvl 10. Sixth Sense is now lvl 11. Indomitability is now lvl 12. Combat Focus is now lvl 16. Master of Shadows is now lvl 6. Flash Strike is now lvl 7. Pain Resistance is now lvl 9. Iron Skin is now lvl 6.」