At the southernmost tip of the Cransis Kingdom lies the beautiful island of Haiwa. Despite its scenic views and proximity to the mainland, it remains uninhabited. The reason is simple: Haiwa is a den of monsters, endlessly swarming from the southern seas.
Today, Haiwa was nothing short of a living hell.
"Over there! They're breaking through! Handle it!"
"Understood!"
Crunch!
A blood-stained blade pierced a Vollark's head. The infantryman who felled it swiftly rejoined the formation.
Slash!
"Infantry, fall back! Mantars incoming!"
"Infantry, fall back!"
As Marquis Rox, slicing a flying manta-like monster with a single strike, shouted, his adjutant echoed the order.
"Knights and spearmen, forward!"
"Knights and spearmen, forward!"
The infantry echoed and retreated, replaced by knights and spearmen.
Thwack! Crack!
Knights dispatched Mantars at the front, while spearmen used their long reach to handle fleeing monsters.
The knights and soldiers moved like clockwork, executing their pre-planned strategy with precision.
"Phew…"
"Well done, sir."
After cutting down the last Mantar, the Marquis removed his helmet, and his adjutant handed him a towel to wipe his sweat.
"Every year, it's relentless. The monsters here may be weaker, but their numbers are insane…"
"The north is said to be dangerous, but we're no slouches either."
"Heh, true."
The Marquis wiped his face and returned the towel.
"How are the boys doing?"
"Young Masters Colin and Laon are fighting nonstop, like us. Both are achieving great results with exceptional martial prowess and leadership."
"Good to hear. And Yuren?"
"Well… the area Young Master Yuren is assigned to is usually the most monster-heavy, but reports say the monsters have dried up."
"What?"
The Marquis froze mid-motion as he reached for his helmet.
"Besides an initial wave of about 100, only one or two have appeared sporadically."
"What's going on…?"
"The manager who's overseen that area for ten years says it's unprecedented."
"Hm…"
Fewer monsters should be good news, but the anomaly made the Marquis uneasy.
"Your Excellency! Sharkrai sighted! West side!"
As the Marquis stroked his beard in thought, a scout's voice rang out.
"What?"
"Sharkrai!"
At the mention of Sharkrai, resting knights and soldiers sprang to their feet.
"How many?"
"Eight—no, ten!"
"Ten?"
"More from the south! About 200 Vollarks, arriving first!"
"Prepare for battle! Soldiers to the south, Water Dragon Knights to the west!"
"Soldiers to the south, Water Dragon Knights to the west!"
"Move!"
At the Marquis's command, soldiers and knights flowed into formation seamlessly.
The Marquis separated the Sharkrai from the soldiers for a simple reason: soldiers would be more hindrance than help. Even knights risked death from a single Sharkrai blow—soldiers were like paper dolls to them.
"Don't face Sharkrai alone! Stick to the plan—one team per Sharkrai! They're extremely dangerous, so dispatch them quickly!"
Experienced knights could handle a Sharkrai solo, but some knights were new. The Marquis had pre-assigned teams for them.
"Understood!"
Splash!
The Sharkrai emerging from the sea shimmered with blue and green, their auxiliary abilities already active.
"Attack!"
The Marquis charged first as he issued the command.
Buzz!
The buzzing of Mukbong, like a swarm of bees, made Hans and the soldiers cover their ears.
Swish!
After confirming Soul-Killing Smoke had spread before the gate, I hurled Mukbong toward the Sharkrai.
BOOM!
The deafening roar slowed the Sharkrai's movements.
"Kiaaak!"
"Kaaak!"
Sharks have acute hearing, a strength that became a weakness against Mukbong's sound. Their movements dulled.
Crunch!
"Kiiik!"
Three Sharkrai at the front were beheaded by Mukbong's saw-like blade without resistance.
"Kiaaak!"
The remaining Sharkrai, befitting higher-tier monsters, endured the noise and tried dodging. But…
Rip!
"Kaak!"
A Sharkrai, untouched by Mukbong, had its torso torn like paper. Another's head fell off.
Hidden beneath Mukbong's black saw was a thin, translucent blade. It tricked foes into dodging the visible blade, only to be cut by the invisible one.
Buzz!
Mukbong killed six Sharkrai and flew into the center of the monster group. It seemed to have done all it could, but its ability wasn't finished.
Crack!
When Mukbong reached the center, I clenched my fist, triggering it.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
"Kiaaak!"
"Keeeek!"
"Kaaak!"
As Mukbong exploded, its fragments split into dozens, embedding like bullets into nearby Sharkrai.
"Kraaah!"
"Kaaak!"
The Sharkrai, hit by fragments, kept moving toward the wall, seemingly unaffected.
"Urk!"
"Kaak!"
But their movements slowed, and one by one, they collapsed, clutching their chests, breathing heavily.
"It's over."
Mukbong's blades were coated with Sea Death Spear neurotoxin, which acted instantly through wounds.
"Kiii…"
All Sharkrai hit by even a fragment fell.
The initial Vollarks were fighting among themselves due to Soul-Killing Smoke, and only six Sharkrai remained unaffected. They, too, would soon turn on each other due to the poison.
The battle was essentially over.
"Counted them?"
I called to Philo, who stood gaping behind me.
"Ah, uh…"
Both Philo and Hans were speechless, staring at me. The soldiers on the wall wore the same stunned expressions, their minds seemingly frozen by the unbelievable sight.
"Young Master!"
Clyde, finally awake, climbed the wall.
"They said Sharkrai appeared!"
"There they are."
"What?!"
Clyde recoiled at the sight of dozens of writhing Sharkrai.
"What happened…?"
"Want to take them on?"
Six Sharkrai remained. Fighting them would be good experience for Arin and Clyde, so I cleared the Soul-Killing Smoke.
"They'll start fighting each other soon, so you can take them one-on-one…"
Splash!
As I spoke to Arin and Clyde, a sound came from the sea—louder than before.
"Young Master…"
I followed Clyde's trembling finger.
"What is that…"
A massive Sharkrai, at least 2.5—no, 3 meters tall—emerged, staring at the fallen Sharkrai. Red tattoos adorned its arms and chest, and it wielded a bone sword resembling a giant's spine.
"Sh-Sharkrai King!"
"What?"
Philo, clutching his trembling arms, spoke.
"I read about it in the Rox archives. Over 3 meters tall, royal tattoos, and a bone sword. It's exactly as described. That's the Sharkrai King!"
"I didn't create that…"
As I stared, our eyes met. Its blazing red eyes were pure rage.
Thud!
The Sharkrai King charged, covering 10 meters with each step.
"Arin, Clyde, no choice—you have to fight. Handle the remaining Sharkrai. I'll…"
The King reached the wall in an instant, leaping with both feet.
It soared over the wall, directly above me.
"…deal with this one!"
"Eek!"
"Gasp!"
Grabbing Philo, Hans, and a nearby soldier, I leaped off the wall.
BOOM!
"Kraaah!"
The Sharkrai King's mere landing collapsed the wall—an obscene display of power.
"Kuaaa!"
Crash!
It leaped down at me again. I threw the others back and dodged.
"Young Master!"
"Don't worry about me, do your job!"
I reminded Arin, who called out, and sprayed poison at the King.
"As expected, it's resistant. The poison won't hit right away."
Stronger monsters resist poison better, so it would take time.
BOOM! Crash!
The King's bone sword was as terrifying as it looked, shattering the ground with each swing.
Without Creator's Eye showing its attack paths, I'd have died a dozen times.
"I didn't expect you, but I'm prepared!"
Dodging a swing, I drew ten throwing weapons from my belt—crafted by Giranox—and two white ones made from Agnes, totaling twelve.
[Twelve Zodiac Blades]
Swish!
The twelve blades shot toward the King like lightning.
"Kraaaa!"
Whoosh!
The King swung its bone sword frantically to deflect them, but the Zodiac Blades moved like living creatures, embedding across its body.
A perfect blend of direct and curving strikes.
"Kiaaak!"
The King roared in pain, its eyes turning black as it activated a strange ability. But it didn't matter.
It was already over.
BOOM!
"Kraaa!"
The King's speed increased as its eyes changed, but within 30 seconds, it slowed and stopped.
"Kiiik! Kiaaak!"
Its condition was bizarre—one side's wounds rotted, another's skin melted, and black blood oozed elsewhere. It clutched its chest, gasping.
"The poison finally kicked in. Tough bastard."
Each of the twelve blades carried a different lethal poison, acting instantly through wounds.
"Kaaa…"
Despite its imposing entrance, the poisoned King was pathetic, trembling on its knees.
"Hm…"
Looking around, Hans, Philo, and the soldiers stood frozen like mannequins, their minds blank from the unbelievable scene.
Swish.
Out of respect for a tribal king, I transformed Agnes into a sword to end its suffering.
"Farewell."
Slash!
With inner energy, I beheaded the Sharkrai King in one stroke.
Thud.
A small, transparent orb rolled from its head, hitting my shoe.
"An orb?"
[Acquired Fragment of a Broken World.]
A dry female voice echoed in my ears as the world turned white.
"Where am I…?"
I was suddenly in an unfamiliar white room, cracked like shattered glass.
"Huh?"
The orb from the King floated and flew left.
Crack!
As it merged into a cracked wall, the hole vanished as if it never existed.
"What the…?"
[You have contributed to the world's restoration.]
[Reward provided based on your aptitude.]
The same female voice spoke again.
[Reward selection complete.]
[Eye of the Future Showing Death selected.]
[Playing your first death.]