CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57 - RUSTY SWORDMANSHIP

I glared sharply at the monster, then activated [Eye of Desire].

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NAME: –

RACE: Lizardman

CLASS: Scaleborn

RANK: C

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No name. Low-rank monsters usually didn’t have one unless they were special. And despite being only a Rank C, I knew one thing very well: When it came to pure physical strength... monsters always outclassed humans of the same rank.

My heartbeat picked up, fear slithering into my chest, yet my body slowly remembered what close combat felt like. It had been so long since I last wielded a sword. It felt like digging up an old memory that had been buried for years.

The Lizardman let out a harsh hiss. Its sharp teeth scraped against each other, creating a screech that stabbed into my ears. In a blink, it lunged, claws aiming straight for my face.

I quickly shifted into a fighting stance my father once drilled into me. Left foot forward, body turned sideways, sword guarding my chest. But my movements were stiff... awkward... like my body had forgotten the proper flow of battle.

At the last second, I stepped aside and slashed Mindrender across its chest.

SHLAASSH!

Dark green blood splattered out. The monster roared furiously, staggering from the impact. But of course, that wasn’t nearly enough to bring it down.

It came at me again, fiercer than before. Its scaled arm slammed the asphalt, cracking it. I jumped back, breath catching in my throat, striking a quick cut at its arm.

CLANG!

Like hitting stone. Its scales were insanely tough. The strike only left a light scratch.

I kept darting in and out, dodging its brutal swipes. My breathing grew uneven. The sword felt unfamiliar in my hands, heavy and rigid. Each movement felt wrong. Too late or too early. My swordsmanship had rusted badly.

The Lizardman grew even wilder. Its breaths came in short bursts. Its eyes bulged wide... I saw hatred, hunger, and an unstable frenzy swirling within them.

Was that Mindrender at work?

I wasn’t sure... maybe I was just imagining things. Monsters like this always looked hungry enough to devour you alive.

It slashed toward my throat. I dropped into a crouch instinctively, nearly losing my balance. Panic shot up my spine. But... I saw an opening. The earlier wound across its chest was still wide open. Scales torn apart.

A chance.

I tightened my grip. Then thrust forward with everything I had.

Stab!

Mindrender pierced through scale, flesh, bone. The Lizardman’s body froze. Its blood gushed over my hand and blade. Its eyes widened then dulled slowly as its tongue slid free and its weight collapsed, almost crushing me.

I pushed the corpse away, panting.

A notification flashed into view.

[Successfully killed Scaleborn Lizardman]

[Received 30 EXP]

I stared at the number... and a small smile tugged my lips. "Not bad."

If I could use this opportunity to kill a few more, I could clear part of my Weekly Quest before entering the Dungeon later.

But I didn’t get the luxury of enjoying that victory.

RAAAARGHH!!

Two more Lizardmen suddenly leapt out from behind an overturned vehicle. Their claws stretched forward, jaws gaping. Another one jumped to my side with an ear-splitting growl.

I yanked Mindrender out of the earlier corpse, green blood still dripping from its edge.

"You guys just do not want me to breathe, do you?"

The first monster’s claws came swinging.

CLAAAANG!

The blow slammed into Mindrender so hard my grip almost slipped. The second monster rushed behind me, its talons reaching for my spine. I rolled forward, scraping my skin against the rough asphalt and feeling a sharp sting everywhere.

"Damn..."

I rose to my feet, breath ragged. They refused to give me even a moment.

The nearest Lizardman lunged again, jaws wide enough to bite my entire head off. I twisted to the side and slashed horizontally.

SLASH!

The blade struck its waist, but its scales barely gave. The minor wound only enraged it further. A claw strike whipped across my arm.

"Agh!" Warm blood dripped from the torn skin. Why didn’t the Aegis Pendant activate? Was it because the attack wasn’t lethal enough? Or did it require a death blow to trigger?

I staggered back. Each retreating step made my legs weaker. It was painfully obvious how flawed my technique was. I was making too many mistakes.

If this was how I looked against low-rank monsters... how could I possibly clear a Dungeon alone?

That thought ignited a fire inside me.

Three Lizardmen circled me in a half-moon formation. Their low hisses rumbled in their throats, saliva hanging from jagged teeth, claws gleaming under the trembling streetlights.

I swallowed hard.

"I’m not losing over something this trivial."

I rushed forward again.

One of them launched first. Its claws nearly grazed my cheek as I swerved left, slipping almost embarrassingly on monster blood. I countered with another fast swing, only scratching its scales.

The second attacked from the right. I raised my sword in time to parry. The impact jolted all the way up my arms.

Shit.

The third went low. I stepped back half a pace, yet its talons still tore into my thigh. Heat shot through the wound, my breath shaking. But stopping wasn’t an option.

I counter-attacked. My footwork was stiff, strikes rough. My father would scream at me if he saw me fight like this. But instinct kept my sword moving, fueled by survival.

I batted away a claw swipe aimed at my shoulder and thrust straight forward.

Mindrender drove into the left ribcage of one Lizardman.

Its shriek was shrill. The monster writhed violently. I yanked the blade free, black blood splattering over my face. As it dropped, the remaining two came at me even more viciously. Maybe Mindrender was messing with their minds. Or maybe they were simply enraged.

I stepped in and out rapidly, barely dodging a strike that could have taken my head. Chaos and adrenaline blurred each breath.

A tiny opening showed itself. Just enough for a tight swing toward the neck.

The Lizardman’s head flew, rolling across the pavement.

One left.

It tackled me full-force, its reptilian weight slamming me into a car hood. Pain exploded down my spine. The monster gaped, fangs inches from my face.

For fuck’s sake! Why wasn’t the pendant working?! Was I scammed?!

I held its jaws open with one hand, but its strength was overwhelming. My left arm trembled uncontrollably under the pressure. Panic clawed up my throat, but I forced myself to stay focused.

My right hand moved. Quick thrusts. One. Two. Three.

On the fourth stab, Mindrender pierced its skull.

The monster went still. Its limp body collapsed onto me.

I shoved it aside, barely managing to stand. My body throbbed with cuts and deep slashes, warm blood soaking my clothes. My leg screamed with pain every step I took.

Then more notifications flickered into view.

[Successfully killed Scaleborn Lizardman]

[Received 30 EXP]

[Successfully killed Scaleborn Lizardman]

[Received 15 EXP]

[Successfully killed Scaleborn Lizardman]

[Received 15 EXP]

60 EXP in an instant.

I gasped for air, my hand shaking. Small wounds burned all over my skin. Sweat and blood mixed, dripping from my chin.

"Kuh..." I straightened up. "I can... still move..."

But before I could take even a single calming breath—

GRRAAAARRRGHHH!!

A thunderous roar erupted to my left. I spun around and spotted more Lizardmen sprinting toward me, their scales catching the streetlight. Some swung chunks of metal and concrete like makeshift weapons.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Enough to tear me apart if I slipped even once.

I raised Mindrender.

The sword pulsed again, like a living thing with its own hungry heartbeat.

Pain, fear, exhaustion. Everything blended together.

Yet beneath all that was something stronger.

A desire to survive.

A desire to grow stronger.

I really had changed.

"Damn it..." I hissed, breath unsteady. "Where the hell are the other Hunters...?"