CHAPTER 67: IS IT WORTH IT?

Leon knew that if he allowed the Mosspounder to clap its hands, it would be over for him. He had no counter for the shockwave its clapping produced.

’Fuck it!’

He sidestepped to avoid a green spear and then used Sprint Boost four times consecutively, pushing his body to the limits.

He was already holding his breath, which was putting a toll on his body since he was fighting an intense battle while also maintaining Iron Skin.

Using Sprint Boost four times in a row pushed him to the absolute edge, but he wasn’t willing to give up after coming so close.

His quick speed brought him to the backside of the Mosspounder, and even though his head felt like it was splitting apart, he gritted his teeth and jumped onto the Mosspounder with his War Hammer raised high.

All of this happened so fast that even the Mosspounder couldn’t react, but that was also because it had been preparing an attack and couldn’t cancel it quickly enough to defend.

Leon used that to his advantage and poured all of his strength into one attack. His muscles tensed as he resisted the urge to shout, bringing the hammer down on the Mosspounder’s back.

Boom

The hammer smashed into its back with a loud boom, caving in the holes, moss, and all the fungus inside them. The monster staggered forward, its attack cancelled.

KEEEEEEEEEE

Before Leon could even stabilise himself, the Mosspounder, for the first time, opened its deadly maw to let out an inhuman scream that made Leon’s hair stand on end in horror.

He wanted to cover his ears to resist it, but he didn’t get the chance. He was already exhausted from pushing himself so hard, so he didn’t even have the energy to dodge the Mosspounder’s next attacks.

The Mosspounder had gone berserk, its green eyes turning crimson with rage. It slammed both of its hands together, sending out a powerful shockwave that cracked the Blackwood Trees around it.

Leon was thrown back as if a speeding train had slammed into him, and dozens of vines hardened into pointy spears and shot toward him.

This time, he couldn’t dodge them.

The Iron Skin shattered as the green spears tore through his body. First it was his hands, then his thighs, forearms, ribs, chest, belly, guts, mouth, nose... and finally, his head.

...

"AGHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Leon could never get used to the pain, especially when his whole body was skewered. Pain so terrible that it shook his very soul assaulted him from every part of his body.

He screamed in agony, his blood feeling as if it was running in reverse as sweat leaked from every pore of his skin. His mind churned with nothing but pain.

And there was nothing he could do to avoid this fate. He could only endure and hope he survived it.

Just then, the door of his room burst open as Amber walked in. Her face was full of confusion and concern as she turned to look at Leon’s bed.

Even in the darkness of the room, she could clearly see his curled-up figure, and it was only when she stepped inside that she heard his painful screams.

They chilled her heart as she instantly appeared beside him and picked up his body. Her Mana began to scan his body and soul for the reason behind his pain, but she found nothing.

His body was in perfect condition if she overlooked his heart pounding against his chest as if it was about to burst out, along with the sweat drenching him. But that could be concluded as the aftermath of the pain.

But where was the pain coming from?

Even his soul was fine.

She quickly took out a few healing potions and also used her powers to make his body relax. Such a fast heartbeat wasn’t good for him.

’The only explanation is Phantom Pain? But what happened to give him this Phantom Pain?’

She scanned the room and found nothing amiss. Everything was neatly arranged, and there was nothing suspicious.

Amber narrowed her eyes, unable to understand the situation at all, but her heart ached at hearing his screams, so she hugged him tightly without caring about his sweaty body.

"It’s okay. I’m here! You’ll be fine!" she whispered softly in his ear, hoping to give him something to hold on to because in this condition, his survival depended on his willpower alone.

There wasn’t any cure she knew of for his condition.

She stared at his face, contorted with pain, and felt a pang deep in her chest. She didn’t like seeing that expression on him at all.

She was used to his cheeky, dramatic side, the one who always had a smile on his face. Even in the Flame Knight Dungeon, he hadn’t been in this state.

’Just what is this secret you’re holding?’ she thought while rubbing his back. ’Is it worth all this pain?’

She didn’t get an answer, nor was she looking for one. At that moment, she just wanted Leon to wake up and smile at her again.

She wanted to see that cheeky smile one more time.

Amber couldn’t even remember the last time she had felt this helpless. She wanted to make his pain go away, but there was nothing she could do. Even as a Tier 11 Ascended feared by all, she was powerless.

She bit her lips to suppress her emotions and stared at Leon. ’Why do you always manage to mess up my emotions?’

Slowly, Leon’s screams died out, and his breathing returned to normal. It was as if nothing had happened to him.

Just like always, Leon woke up from the ocean of pain but this time, there was warmth waiting for him ashore. He grabbed that warmth with all he had, holding it so tightly as if afraid it would disappear.

In the cold ocean full of pain, that warmth was like a ray of sunlight that swept away the chill invading his body and soul. Feeling relaxed and comforted in that warmth, Leon smiled and drifted to sleep once again.

The pain he experienced today was the worst of anything he had felt before, so even his soul was exhausted. All he wanted was to rest, and that warmth allowed him to.

Amber looked at Leon with a complicated look flickering in her eyes. She checked his body and soul once again, finding everything normal.

Even his heartbeat had returned to normal.

Just then, Leon held her hand tightly, clutching it near his chest. He hugged her arm, and a subtle smile formed on his lips, stunning Amber.

She couldn’t keep up with the sudden change in events. Wasn’t he screaming in pain just moments ago, as if he was on the verge of death? Then how could he now be sleeping so peacefully with a smile on his face?

Only then did Amber understand what Leon had meant when he said he understood it better than anyone in response to her words: "Anything that can help you progress fast never comes without a price."

This wasn’t the first time he had experienced something like this, and he had always had to endure such pain — alone, in the dorms, without anyone to hold him through it.

Amber sighed and made herself comfortable in his bed. She stared at the ceiling and wondered, ’Is pain really the constant in this world? Is it really worth it?’