Samquad: The Proper Way to Handle an Ambush):
As Seowoon nervously opened the box, the first thing that caught his eye were several martial arts manuals.
[Manual of Yin Absorption Art. A martial technique that teaches how to absorb masculine energy during intercourse. When used during relations with a man…]
Smack!
Without reading another word, Seowoon threw the manual to the ground. As if that wasn't enough, he wiped the hand that had touched it aggressively on his clothes.
Ki-chan, puzzled by the unexpected reaction, picked up the manual out of curiosity—only to mimic Seowoon's exact reaction a second later.
"Wh-What is this?!"
"What do you think? That's the perverted bastard's secret art. If we'd lost, you or I… yeah, it wouldn't have ended well."
Seowoon caught Lyle's gaze and quickly cut himself off.
Lyle, not understanding a thing they were talking about, kept staring at the two with a curious expression. Meanwhile, Ki-chan was still shivering in disgust.
Unable to explain the specifics to the still-young Lyle, the two moved on in silence to inspect the other items.
[Manual of Gale Steps. A footwork technique created by the monk Hwagog of the Daeseong Temple. It became associated with demonic sects after Daeseong Temple was annihilated by demons.]
[Manual of Bloodbone Grip. A secret technique of the lecherous demon Yu Tzu-yen, it trains the shoulder and elbow joints to execute attacks from strange angles. Known for its bizarre forms.]
"There it is!!"
The perfect match for his Mujeol Fist. And on top of that, the much-needed footwork technique. It couldn't get any better.
Clenching his fist in excitement, Seowoon shouted, and Ki-chan's eyes sparkled.
"You got what you were hoping for?"
Instead of replying, Seowoon handed him the Bloodbone Grip manual. Ki-chan then passed it to Lyle.
"Just hold onto it for now and catalog it."
Lyle tilted his head as he read the item description.
"Uh… this kind of item isn't really my thing…"
Seeing Lyle's uncertainty, Ki-chan gave him a reassuring smile.
"I focus on magic too, but it's good to learn basic self-defense. You need to survive even when you're alone."
With that, Ki-chan also handed over the Gale Steps manual and completed the cataloging. The manuals returned to Seowoon's hands.
As soon as Seowoon learned Bloodbone Grip and Gale Steps, a notification popped up.
[You have learned Bloodbone Grip. If you also learn Flame Yang Technique, the power of Bloodbone Grip increases by 20%.]
The Flame Yang Technique must have been the core method of the crazy guy he had just killed.
'Even if I find it, I'm not learning that. If it clashes with my White No-Trace Inner Art, I'm done for.'
"Huh?"
While reviewing the Bloodbone Grip forms now implanted in his mind, Seowoon noticed Ki-chan's reaction.
"What is it?"
"This item's a bit unusual."
Seowoon, intrigued by the comment from someone who usually knew everything about items, took the wooden box Ki-chan handed him.
[Elixir of Spirit Balance. A spiritual medicine that balances internal energy. If you fall into qi deviation, it stabilizes your energy and mind to dispel the corruption.]
Reading the description, it suddenly made sense why the crazy guy only went berserk on Day 3.
"So we basically handed him a gas can."
"Huh?"
Ki-chan looked confused, so Seowoon explained while moving the group to a safer location.
After hearing about the lecherous demon's martial arts and background, Ki-chan immediately understood why the Elixir had amplified the guy's power.
"Killing him when we did was pure luck. If we run into someone like that again…"
Watching Ki-chan shudder, Seowoon nodded grimly.
If it had been someone like Namsagwang or the tough opponents he had ganged up on in his first round, at least they could fight back with everything they had.
But he had no desire whatsoever to risk his chastity in battle ever again.
They remained hidden in the forest where the intense battle had taken place, lying in ambush for ten more days.
In that time, they caught three more teams off guard. Now, the safe zone was shrinking dangerously close.
—Day 13. Survivors: 130/400.
"I think it's safe to assume there's no one behind us now."
"Yeah. But there could still be enemies lying in wait ahead."
"The situation's flipped."
Lyle, listening to their conversation, spoke up with a worried expression.
"But… am I really the one who should be holding this?"
He was referring to the Gold Scroll that had appeared a few days ago. It enabled instant area teleportation—forcing everyone within a five-meter radius to move together.
"You're the least mobile among us. If things go south, the ideal move is for us to gather around you and use it."
Lyle nodded stiffly, as if he'd been entrusted with a grave mission.
"Then let's start moving."
On the map, the safe zone was circular.
It shrank from a predetermined center every night at midnight, with the next zone shown on the map in advance.
Depending on the next zone's location, they might have to move a little—or a lot.
This time, the next zone was quite far.
Contrary to their prediction that the zone would shrink around the boss or buff monster, it was actually pulling away from the major objects of interest.
While the object was still barely inside the new zone, the direction had shifted. They would have to move under a starry night.
Using the cover of darkness, they crossed a vast plain with barely any cover.
In survival scenarios, traversing open ground was generally a bad idea—but they had no choice.
Lyle, gliding effortlessly across the terrain on his air board, smiled.
'Yeah… I've gotta master this.'
The beginner technique of Heavenly Glide that Seowoon had handed him. After learning it, his body control had improved immensely.
Especially his sense of balance—it let him maintain top speed on the air board without feeling off.
–He's keeping up nicely.
–Seems like all that physical training helped.
They exchanged team voice messages as Seowoon suddenly halted mid-step.
He didn't just stop—he dropped to the ground like a sack.
–Shoom!
He couldn't see clearly in the dark, but something dark and fast had just barely missed him.
"Enemy!"
He shouted loud enough for Lyle to hear, just as a surge of mana pulsed through the air.
–Iron Barrier!
From his air board, Lyle cast the barrier spell. A transparent dome instantly formed in front of Seowoon.
–Crack! Snap!
As several black projectiles slammed into the shield, cracks began to spread across it.
Lyle maneuvered the board and stopped near the barrier, glancing toward Ki-chan.
"I can't see the enemy! But I think they're hiding nearby…"
Just as Lyle voiced his concern, Seowoon stood up and stepped outside the shield.
–15 meters ahead. Four enemies.
Hammit's voice rang in his mind, and Seowoon relayed the warning via team voice.
–They're right on us. Looks like an assassin squad. Stay sharp.
A spinning wheel appeared before Seowoon's eyes.
–It's time! Spin it, master!
–Whirrr… DING! Inferno Counter! Oho! That's a killer skill—use it well, hahaha!
Inferno Counter — If you dodge an enemy attack and counter successfully, the enemy takes additional fire damage.
The skill's details downloaded into his brain in an instant.
–Clang!
Even as he stood still, a black flying dagger came hurling toward him. But Seowoon had no intention of taking the hit. He casually deflected it with his fist.
"Come out. All four of you."
He stared directly at the spot where they were hiding. As if responding to a command, three shadowy figures stood up.
They spread out in a line and charged toward the group.
Because they had kept their distance, Seowoon—facing them alone—shouted back.
"Watch yourselves!"
Unlike typical formations, where the front-line fighters clash while the rear casts spells, these guys charged for 1v1 engagements.
Seowoon had no way of pulling all three into his aggro at once. To end this quickly, he charged to meet them head-on.
–Clang!
His fist clashed with a curved single-edged sword in a satisfying crash.
At that moment, his body split—creating multiple images. The enemy's pupils shook violently.
They had never faced an enemy who split into copies mid-combat.
Normally, Seowoon wouldn't use the advanced movement secret of Shadowless Phantom Step unless it was a critical moment.
But the power behind the enemy's attack was no joke.
Even after killing the crazy navy-blue bastard and finally pushing his internal energy over 500, his fist still ached from that exchange.
This was no time for probing.
'Hammit said there were four of them, right?'
"Yeah."
That was why Seowoon was rushing the fight.
It was already risky that two of his allies—both primarily magic users—were up against enemies who specialized in close combat. And to make matters worse, one of them hadn't even revealed himself. The whole situation felt wrong.
"There are four enemies! Stay alert!"
At Seowoon's shout, a flicker of emotion passed through the eyes of the enemy with his mouth and nose covered by a black scarf.
"Detection magic?"
The guy's voice had a grating, metallic rasp to it.
Instead of answering, Seowoon lunged at him alongside his clones. The enemy quickly retreated and threw a pair of daggers.
–Clang!
Seowoon blocked both—but three of his clones vanished in the process. Now that the enemy had identified the real body, he came charging again, slashing with his curved single-edged blade.
–Clang! Clang! Clang!
His footwork was swift. And...
'This pattern…'
It felt familiar—very similar to an assassin he had fought during his first playthrough.
Every strike was executed with full force, a deadly resolve behind each swing.
There had to be openings in such full-commitment attacks—but lunging in recklessly could mean losing his head if the opponent managed to endure the counter.
Seowoon felt like he was being drawn into a life-or-death duel of one-hit kills.
Once again, the enemy's blade came crashing down from above.
Seowoon grimaced and stepped forward, thrusting his fist to meet it.
The opponent didn't hesitate at all, swinging his sword with unwavering intent.
Just before contact, Seowoon's upward punch changed trajectory—rising sharply toward the sky.
An uppercut.
But not just any uppercut—this was a dramatic, exaggerated one, the kind you'd see in action movies. It looked like a cinematic Rising Dragon Fist, arcing up to intercept the falling blade.
Then came the rebound.
–KAANG!
The heavy single-edged sword let out a wail as it was knocked slightly backward.
Most skilled fighters would've had their weapons blasted away by that kind of force, but this guy's blade only shifted about five centimeters before coming back down.
'Kyre Barrier.'
Just barely twisting his body, Seowoon dodged the descending blade—but not entirely. It grazed his sleeve, slicing it clean open.
Without that barrier, he might have lost skin—or worse.
Seowoon stepped in again, opening the tightly clenched fist.
Then, just as quickly, his fingers curled in an unnatural motion.
Like a raptor's talons, his hand flew toward the enemy from an odd angle.
'He has learned martial arts.'
The way the guy dodged was unlike how he attacked—more like a trained martial artist than an assassin.
–Clang-clang-clang!
The enemy tried to retreat, but Seowoon's grasp—executing Bloodbone Grip—was relentless.
He raised his blade to block Seowoon's bandage-wrapped hands, but Seowoon's attacks came at weirder and weirder angles, steadily pushing him back.
–Shhhk!
If not for the sudden intervention of a sharp, spear-like thrust from the side, Seowoon would've torn the guy's neck apart in three moves.
As another enemy appeared from stealth, stabbing with a sharpened rod, Seowoon fluidly dodged and backed off, crossing his arms and twisting his wrists into a bizarre, poised stance.
"A cloak of invisibility, huh?"
He'd suspected it the moment he couldn't detect anything earlier.
Fortunately, the hidden one had targeted him, not his teammates.
As the invisible attacker tried to fade into the darkness again, Seowoon dashed in first.
–Clang! Screech!
Parrying the curved blade and spear-like weapon with his Bloodbone Grip, Seowoon managed to damage the enemy's cloak.
Backing off to reset, Seowoon caught the other guy glaring at him with burning eyes.
'Yeah, I'd be pissed too.'
But mastering an item meant understanding its weaknesses.
Using a fragile cloak in direct combat without caution—that was on the enemy.
Now two of them advanced in sync, rushing Seowoon in a line.
–Clang!
Blocking the blade, Seowoon reached for the man's throat with his claw-like fingers—while still watching for another sneak attack.
"Kuh!"
Just as his fingers brushed the man's neck, the guy staggered back, clutching his throat.
Inferno Counter had activated, setting the guy's black scarf ablaze. He ripped it off and glared at Seowoon.
But Seowoon's focus had already shifted—he was frantically searching for the missing fourth enemy.
"Grah!"
A strangled cry redirected his gaze. A figure identical to Seowoon had appeared behind Ki-chan, stabbing him with a metal spike.
Seowoon dashed over in panic.
Thankfully, Ki-chan had twisted at the last second to avoid a fatal hit, then unleashed a powerful electric spell that forced the enemies back.
As Seowoon arrived, Ki-chan warily stepped back.
–It's me!
Only then did Ki-chan lower his guard, holding his bleeding side.
Seowoon handed him their only mid-tier healing scroll and watched the two remaining enemies carefully.
Now even the wounded one had rejoined, making it three versus two. Meanwhile, Lyle and the final enemy were engaged in a distant chase.
–What the hell?! He looked and sounded exactly like you!
Fighting in the dark had narrowed Ki-chan's vision. He'd been ambushed by an enemy mimicking Seowoon.
–It's some kind of transformation technique. Don't overthink it—it won't help.
As he spoke, Seowoon pulled a Plasma Orb from subspace and tossed it into the sky.
The orb rose high and burst into radiant light, illuminating the battlefield.
"Fool! Trying to draw attention?!"
"I'd rather take that risk than fight blind and lose."
The enemies thrived in darkness, cloaked in black from head to toe.
But Seowoon wasn't going to play their game.
"Lyle! Watch for surprise attacks! They can disguise themselves as us!"
Lyle nodded, expertly weaving his airboard.
Amid a hectic chase—Lyle blasting spells while his pursuer tried to finish him—the situation turned.
–We need to wipe them in one go. You know what I mean when I say 'that.'
Ki-chan's eyes sparkled with recognition.
Seowoon suddenly darted forward, creating multiple clones that lined up in a row.
"Ignore the clones! Focus on the real one!"
As the enemies shouted and charged, a bolt of lightning flew into the back of the last clone—fired by Ki-chan.
–Crackle!
The Chain Lightning spread like a fuse down the line of clones—until it reached the real enemies.
It was one of the combo techniques he and Ki-chan had developed during their real-world mountain training. The stunned enemies froze in place.
Seowoon leapt into the center of the group with a roar.
"RAAAAAHH!!"
As his shout echoed, a system message rang in the enemies' minds:
–Ding! Your physical defense drops by 10% due to the intimidating roar.
While Ki-chan blasted forward with lightning-charged hands, Seowoon's clone-enhanced form struck relentlessly from every angle.
The enemies couldn't even counter—they dropped one by one.
–Splat!
The last one standing—presumably the leader—collapsed with a crushed head. Seowoon and Ki-chan immediately chased after Lyle.
The remaining enemy had already noticed his comrades were gone and was fleeing for his life.
Activating Gale Steps, Seowoon zoomed past Ki-chan and even overtook Lyle.
–Crunch!
Just a graze from Seowoon's Bloodbone Grip at the enemy's waist shattered his spine. The man crumpled violently to the ground.
"Guhhhk!"
Seowoon stomped his head flat before he could raise it, finishing him without pain.
Then he looked back.
"Everyone okay?"
Lyle, bleeding from minor cuts, nodded firmly.
Ki-chan, arriving moments later and gasping for breath, said:
"Whew. If not for Kyre Earth, that would've been bad. He looked and sounded exactly like you. I seriously thought I was dead."
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting transformation skills either."
They opened the reward chest and grabbed the loot, then returned quickly to the area with the three remaining boxes.
"Huh?"
Just as Lyle went to open one, he collapsed.
"What the—?"
Ki-chan was stunned at the sight of Lyle's stiffened body.
But Seowoon didn't panic. He kept rummaging through the boxes.
"Hyung?"
"Wait."
After a quick dig through all three boxes, Seowoon tossed a vial to Ki-chan.
[Antidote of the Assassins. Neutralizes paralysis poison made by the Assassin Squad.]
"I found something called paralysis poison in one of the chests—figured it was this."
Ki-chan fed the antidote to Lyle, who jumped to his feet like nothing had happened.
"Hah!"
"You alright?"
"Yeah! How did you—?"
Ki-chan handed him the vial, and Lyle immediately understood what had happened.
"Chalk it up to experience. Be more careful from now on."
Lyle nodded hard.
The three of them quickly looted the scattered items.
[Mimicry Skillbook. Assassin Squad's secret skill. Allows the user to temporarily transform into a target after observing and studying them. Duration: 5 minutes.]
In the end, the best items were the paralysis poison and the mimicry skill.
"This'll be huge if we use it right."
"Yeah. I'm sure we'll need it later."
"Hyung, you should learn it."
Ki-chan tossed the skillbook to Seowoon, who grinned.
"Trying to send me into the lion's den?"
"Let's be honest—if anyone's going to get the most out of it, it's you."
Seowoon wiped the smirk off his face and learned the skill.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]