Mario, wearing a protective vest with a sword on his waist, couldn't help but notice the eerie silence enveloping the outer edge of the wilderness.
At this hour, there were usually sounds: distant bird calls, the occasional howl of beasts. Yet today, the forest was unnervingly quiet, as if something had forced every living thing to hold its breath.
His boots crunched softly against frost-hardened leaves. A faint sense of foreboding crawled up his spine, tightening his grip around the scabbard on his waist.
'…Something's definitely wrong.' He inhaled, spreading his senses outward while his other hand gripped the sword's hilt. 'I've been hunting Tier 1 beasts here for a long time... But this is the first time it's been this quiet.'
From experience, animals only fell silent if danger loomed. But what could force them into such stillness?
SHHH—CRUNCH! As if answering his premonition, a slithering sound emerged, slowly growing louder.
Thump~
Mario's heartbeat jumped. He spun toward the noise and unsheathed his sword without hesitation, stepping backward slowly while keeping his eyes locked on the movement.
Movement erupted from the brush, forcing the trees and bushes apart before a shadow slid through—a quiet hiss trailing behind it, carrying a hint of hostility.
Without a second thought, Mario immediately quickened his retreat, his eyes never leaving the bushes even for a moment.
Because he knew: an experienced hunter would die the moment they took their eyes off the danger.
Then the beast emerged.
Its scales resembled polished obsidian, smooth and reflective. Light bent across its body in faint rainbow streaks. Its head alone could swallow him whole. Alien, predatory eyes locked onto him.
Mario stopped retreating and set his stance, knowing he could not outrun the creature. He did not dare avert his gaze. The moment he showed even the slightest sign of fear—that would be the moment it attacked.
'If possible... I hope it could be intimidated by this.'
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain steady while slowly releasing a hint of killing intent, born from killing an unknown number of beasts over the years. Although his mind remained clear, he could feel his body disagreeing—it was urging him to run.
But he knew running meant death.
Perhaps because of that killing intent, the beast didn't dare move. For a long minute, they remained motionless, staring at one another, each carefully analyzing the other for a weakness.
But then the snake grew impatient, and without warning it made a probing strike, its massive tail snapping toward Mario.
Seeing that, Mario unconsciously raised his sword across his chest, gripping it firmly with both hands and bracing for impact.
BAM!
The force shattered his balance. Mario was flung backward, his feet leaving the ground. He struck the earth hard, instinctively digging his hand and sword into the ground to stop himself from skidding too far.
'Urgghh…It's definitely a Tier 3 beast.' Having occasionally fought and killed Tier 2 beasts before, he immediately recognized its rank from its strength alone.
After stopping, he immediately forced himself upright, raising the sword again in front of him.
However—
The snake was already upon him, having confirmed his weakness in a single exchange.
'Crap… I shouldn't have blocked it.' Mario realized his mistake as he rolled desperately to the side, barely avoiding the snapping jaws. Before he could fully regain his footing, the snake's tail swept toward him again.
He twisted sideways, parrying in an attempt to redirect the force rather than take it head-on—but the force was still too much for his current physical strength.
The blow slammed into him, sending him skidding across the ground once again.
'I can't keep up like this…' He inhaled deeply, forcing his thoughts to settle. 'If I keep defending, it'll exhaust me to death. I need to attack.'
Dangerous as it was, attacking was still better than being crushed little by little.
Most would hesitate. Attacking drained stamina faster than defending—and conventional steel swords, even enhanced, couldn't harm a Tier 3. Only Sword Qi could pierce its defenses. Yet Mario had one advantage: the black sword.
He gripped the sword. 'Director...'
Steadying himself, he manipulated his lower body muscles, particularly those responsible for speed. His posture shifted, his weight instinctively lightening as he activated his footwork skill—Cloud Stepping.
He began bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet, keeping his body spring-loaded, ready to burst forward or retreat in an instant.
The giant snake paused, sensing the change and feeling his intent clearly.
For a moment, clear hesitation appeared in its dark eyes.
But Mario didn't give it a moment to think—he sprang forward, closing the distance in an instant.
He gripped the sword with both hands, tightening his hold on the hilt, and leapt, unleashing a vertical upward strike.
There was no need for a proper stance—his mastery of the Eight Directional Slash had already surpassed rigid form, its essence guiding his body naturally.
The sword connected with the snake's body but could not reach its head.
Mario retreated immediately, widening the distance before retaliation could come.
A shallow cut.
Yet despite that, a hint of hope appeared in his heart. 'It's possible.'
His footwork skill didn't make him faster, but it sharpened his body control. Coupled with the sword from the director, surviving the encounter had become possible.
The snake's pupils narrowed into slits. Enraged, it surged toward him.
This time, Mario's footwork was already flowing. He dodged sideways and countered with a vertical downward slash.
HSSSSRRRR!
The snake hissed violently and retaliated with another tail sweep.
Mario jumped, narrowly clearing the strike, and from midair brought his sword down again, carving yet another shallow wound before retreating.
This pattern continued.
For nearly half an hour, Mario dodged relentlessly using Cloud Stepping, counterattacking whenever openings appeared. His sword carved line after line into the snake's body.
Huff… Huff… Huff…
He kept bouncing lightly, breath growing heavier. Both body and mind were already exhausted. His gaze swept over the snake's battered form—sections of scales had been stripped away entirely, exposing bleeding flesh beneath.
Despite the exhaustion, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
'If it weren't for this sword…' He glanced briefly at the black blade. He was aware that despite his accumulated experience of hunting and skills, the sword was the one that had truly tilted the fight in his favor.
Mario dashed forward again, determined to finish the fight before his stamina failed.
However—
His instincts screamed.
He met the snake's eyes—and froze. Crimson malice burned within them.
Mario retreated instantly.
The snake had not grown faster—but it had grown berserk.
It attacked recklessly, abandoning precision entirely.
Making it harder for him to read its movements, but because of that the snake was now full of openings.
For a whole minute he continued dodging its sweeps and fangs while striking every opening it showed.
The snake's speed had grown slower from the accumulated injuries, but then came something unexpected.
It spat something.
Mario's eyes widened. He instinctively raised his sword.
The blade blocked most of the venom, but several droplets splashed onto his right hand and leg, instantly eating through his protective glove and tearing into the fabric of his pants.
Before he could react further, the tail struck again.
He blocked hurriedly.
The impact sent him flying. He slid across the ground before barely stabilizing himself.
Then—
A sudden wave of weakness surged through him, followed by unbearable agony spreading from his right side. He clenched his teeth, gripping the sword tightly as his vision swam.
The snake looked even more exhausted now, its body sagging after expelling the venom.
Seeing that, Mario tried to ready his footwork again—
Urghhh!
His legs gave out. He collapsed to the ground, still refusing to release his sword. His gaze dropped to his right side—purple discoloration spreading rapidly, veins bulging visibly beneath the skin.
'Venom…' Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright, using the sword as support.
"I don't plan on dying here," he muttered, legs trembling as he aimed his blade at the approaching snake. '...There's still someone waiting for me.'
The snake slithered toward him slowly.
Mario let out a breath, smiled bitterly, and using every ounce of his remaining strength, forced the movement skill to activate despite the unbearable pain.
But before he or the snake could finish their fight—
"Move!" A voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
He turned his head slightly and saw a woman sprinting toward him, sword already unsheathed. A familiar translucent white aura coated the blade's edge.
After passing him, she leapt.
The snake, sensing the threat, opened its mouth and spat another stream of venom.
But she effortlessly shifted her body mid-air, then struck the head of the snake.
The snake's head was cleanly sliced apart, killed instantly.
That was the last thing Mario saw before he let himself fall, a faint smile of relief appearing on his face. 'Advanced Swordsman…'