Let’s Cut Off a Piece of the Monster’s Flesh

“Gyarrr──!”

The earth shakes.

With just one roar, the forest trembles.

The armored monster, boasting a voice as loud as its huge body, threatened the team members positioned behind me, including myself.

“Grrrr.”

As if saying it wouldn’t let us go, it glared with its bright red reptilian eyes and drooled.

“…It’s been a while since I felt this.”

And I,

Patter patter!

Kicked off, facing the creature’s cry head-on.

I wasn’t consumed by fear.

I wasn’t overwhelmed by the atmosphere it exuded.

Rather, while strengthening my resolve to definitely defeat it, I carefully observed the armored monster’s movements with brightly shining eyes.

It wasn’t just talking about a feeling.

When I say my eyes were shining, it literally meant that my eyeballs were emitting a blue light, scanning the surroundings.

‘It’s fortunate that my recovery ability is good.’

Even after amplifying my physical abilities to face the monster, I have enough spare mana to enhance my eyesight like this, don’t I? Thanks to that, it’s become much easier to engage in battle.

Zing─!

As I rushed towards the creature with a bizarre form that seemed like a mix between a rhinoceros and a crocodile, I opened my eyelids wide.

The surroundings became clear.

Despite being in a space without any light except for the lamp, I could recognize all objects including trees and rocks without problem. It wouldn’t be wrong to say the visibility was no different from daytime.

‘Everything is blue.’

The only difference was that due to the influence of mana, the surrounding scenery looked blue in the pitch-black space, as if in a cosmic realm.

Even that wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, so I had no complaints. If anything, things appeared more distinct than usual, perhaps because the background was uniformly deep darkness.

Whatever the case,

“Ye-Yena? Did you really go?”

“Watch your step.”

“Rina, let’s just get out of here, at least us.”

My actions were much better compared to Erika, Rina, and Wolf, who were relying on the flickering oil lamp in the already done oil.

“…This is good.”

Isn’t this the situation where my past of studying every detail of the world setting, even though it was a virtual world in a game, is finally shining? How could I not be happy?

“Garrr──!”

Being able to recognize the armored monster swinging its heavy tail as soon as the distance closed, and being able to avoid that attack, was all thanks to my obsessive immersion in the game in the past.

Mana utilization.

The ability I had honed for thousands of hours in the game now affected this world, allowing me to skillfully draw up mana from within my body and use it appropriately.

‘Other cadets probably can’t do this.’

Being able to perform the high-level technique of eyesight enhancement, which requires spreading an appropriate amount of mana between eye blood vessels to control power, was part of that.

As I continued these thoughts, time flowed.

“Hup!”

Before I knew it, I lowered my body as if prostrating to avoid the monster’s tail that had arrived, then glanced up to look at where my waist had been positioned.

Whoosh!

Indeed, it was powerful.

The tail, which could be considered a mass of muscle, passed through where my waist had been, creating a huge wind strong enough to make my hair flutter.

“…Haha.”

Moreover, the tail that cut through the air feebly didn’t stop there, but struck dozens of innocent trees, emitting a strong sound effect of ‘crash-‘.

‘This must surpass the power of a Grade 3 monster. Does it live up to the name of armored monster whether the research is finished or not?’

In an instant, the surroundings were filled with dust.

“Gr-Grrrr──”

However, whether or not it became difficult to recognize objects right in front of me, the monster’s bright red eyes shone vividly.

Its characteristic gaze, which seemed to look down on us, was still firm, as if saying this level was nothing, that it could eliminate insignificant beings like us at any time.

“This level of strength…”

So,

“It’s fine.”

It was so good.

I expressed my current feelings with my whole body, overlaying an even deeper smile on my face that originally held a faint smile.

‘Can I finally fight properly?’

All the various things I’ve encountered so far – monsters, cadets, training facilities – haven’t given me proper happiness.

It’s true that they gave some joy and pleasure, but I’ve never fought with my full strength until now. Whenever I tried to exert my power, the duel or battle was already over.

‘The monsters from this morning were the same.’

Two Grade 4 giant monsters, of which there might be only twenty in the training ground, appeared at once, but did the battle against them give me full satisfaction?

No, not at all.

You might say they were the strongest entities I’ve encountered during my school life so far? That’s not wrong, but they were just slightly more troublesome opponents for me, relatively speaking.

But how about this one I’m facing now?

‘The Federation’s secret project…’

Isn’t this its first achievement!

It’s demonstrating skills and strength befitting its name and size, right? Isn’t it exhibiting capabilities I’ve never experienced before, where I must face it seriously to win?

The tension from the armored monster’s murky killing intent.

The thrilling excitement.

The anxiety that I could really lose my life.

And I’m fully savoring all three of these sensations because of it? How could I not look forward to the upcoming brawl and not be moved by the current situation?

Thump, thump─!

That’s why I was drawing up mana more violently than usual, to the point where my heartbeat accelerated.

“…Hah.”

In the end, engaging in combat with the monster as soon as possible was the only way to release the desire I had built up and calm the emotions boiling right now.

“Gyaaah──!”

Just then, the armored monster opened its mouth wide and thrust out its snout.

I lowered my posture to gain propulsion by concentrating mana in my soles while waiting for it to approach sufficiently, and soon, as its terrifyingly large mouth came close,

“Let’s close that mouth.”

Bang─!

I muttered towards its eyes, then wrapped my left forefoot in solid ice and stretched it forcefully towards the monster’s lower jaw. Of course, not stopping there, I closed the distance, taking advantage of the moment its tail landed on the ground.

‘As expected, defense is impossible.’

Even though it was just a lump of flesh without armor, my wrist was tingling. It was undoubtedly a reckless choice; it would have been better to dodge sideways, but I had no choice.

I had to close the distance with it.

If I just moved around trying not to get hit, I couldn’t approach, could I? It was swinging wildly without stopping. It was better to enter even at the risk of danger.

“Gyarrruk!”

Finally, as if realizing I had entered a range where it could be hit too, a change occurred in its movements that had been sluggish to the point of stupidity.

It stopped swinging its tail like an elephant chasing a fly and started scraping its feet in place, creating acrid dust.

“Everyone be careful!”

“Yena! We’ll be there soon, so just wait a bit!”

“Ugh, uuuh…”

The team members staggered from the violent vibrations.

But that was all.

They didn’t seem to dare enter the monster’s range like me; they just watched the monster with anxious eyes from outside without taking any special action.

‘To be precise, it would be impossible for them.’

I fully understood their behavior.

How could they come in when they can’t see ahead?

Relying only on a single lamp in this late night, they couldn’t approach recklessly, and even Rina was in a state where she couldn’t use magic due to exhaustion from using mana all day.

She could brighten the surroundings with holy power, but… that was only possible if Rina possessed sufficient mana. Unfortunately, it was an unfeasible option at present.

So I,

Thud─!

Wasn’t I trying to mount the monster’s back even at the risk of overexertion? To transform this currently impossible strategy into a possible one.

“Gyaaah!”

The creature finally stopped stamping its feet.

And with a roar, it swung its flat limbs, tail, and head towards me.

Darkness followed by hazy air.

The armored monster, having created enough dust to gain an advantage in my field of vision, seemed to think the time had come and attacked using all its body parts.

But,

‘Left.’

I’m not one to fall for such schemes.

I moved in sync with its attacks coming from various directions.

Although the yellow dust it created significantly hindered my vision, by exerting superhuman concentration and instinct, I managed to dodge well no matter where it threatened from.

Rather, I turned this crisis into an opportunity.

‘Its vision must be chaotic too.’

It’s just performing attacks well in this acrid space because it’s a monster equivalent to Grade 3 with a huge body… then its surroundings must look just as chaotic, right?

Doesn’t that mean I can use these conditions?

“Gyaaah──!”

Just then, the armored monster opened its mouth wide and thrust out its snout.

I waited for it to approach sufficiently while lowering my posture to gain propulsion by concentrating mana in my soles, and soon, as its terrifyingly large mouth came close,

“Let’s close that mouth.”

Bang─!

I muttered towards its eyes, then wrapped my left forefoot in solid ice and stretched it forcefully towards the monster’s lower jaw.

“Gya-Gyaaah!”

One of its fangs crumbled.

A scream that could be heard from a crow having its wings torn off rang out.

But I didn’t stop.

Without hesitation, I climbed onto the back of the armored monster, which was momentarily stiffened and groaning in pain, and stepped forward towards its lower back.

After successfully reaching the area connecting its lower and upper body, I immediately spread my legs shoulder-width apart to stabilize my posture and brought both arms to its skin.

Rip!

Then I tore at its skin.

“Keeek─!”

Even though the armored monster let out an urgent cry and its body twisted violently, even though blue blood hidden under the skin soaked my arms, I absolutely didn’t let go.

“Gya-Gyaak!”

I gripped even more firmly.

Now I expanded my range beyond its skin to the muscles.

Although it lacked armor, it was still sturdy.

It had a hardness level that most cadets couldn’t break through.

But it couldn’t block my path.

By creating ice thicker and more compact than anything else with this mana utilization ability that others couldn’t approach,

Crunch, crunch!

I could slowly penetrate the skin.

“Keeeee!”

“Shut up.”

I had no intention of showing mercy no matter how pitifully this huge monster cried.

There was no reason to run away either.

Perhaps because I had settled right in the center of its back, no matter how much this creature beneath my feet flailed its limbs and swung its tail, it didn’t come as a threatening attack.

My heart pounding as I heard its screams.

My cheeks flushing as blood spurted from the monster’s skin that I thought could never be penetrated.

I had no reason to stop, wanting to enjoy this situation even more.

“Tsk.”

But life is never entirely as one wishes.

How could I comfortably enjoy a battle with a monster when there’s an urgent matter at hand? As much as I’d like to take my time verifying my strength, I’m not alone, and I don’t know when this creature might act unpredictably.

‘The armored monster is an entity that requires that much caution.’

I frowned, clicking my tongue with a regretful heart.

“Rina!”

Then I tore off a heavy lump of flesh that had been hidden inside the tough skin with an unpleasant sound effect of ‘squelch-‘, and shouted as I threw it.

“Catch!”

Towards Rina, who was positioned far away.

“Why are you giving me this……”

She couldn’t hide her bewilderment, twisting her lips and stepping back as the grotesque lump of blood fell in front of her feet, let alone hearing my voice suddenly.

“Hold that and try to manifest mana!”

And I called out to her again, who didn’t know what to do.

‘Now she should be able to illuminate the surroundings.’

Inwardly, I recalled one of the world setting details I had studied in the past.

As can be seen from the fact that the cause of mana stone creation was monsters, monsters’ bodies were typically composed of mana. Citing that, it was certain that there would be a certain amount of mana in that muscle mass I just handed over.

What does that mean? Even if Rina has exhausted all her mana, she should be able to manifest magic by utilizing the energy contained in that lump of blood.

‘In the end, it becomes the stepping stone for team members to join.’

I needed them.

To eliminate this armored monster.

As mentioned before, assuming I face it alone, I need to give my all to win.

That meant I would have to exhaust all my strength while revealing my multi-attribute magic, that is, the characteristics I had been hiding until now.

But I didn’t want to win by giving my all to that extent.

‘Why should I?’

Why should I reveal my power here and now?

Isn’t that why I’ve kept it secret until now?

I hid it to have my own card for unforeseen situations that might occur in the future, or until sufficient growth was achieved, so why would I reveal it now? And during a mere first-year training process at that?

I wasn’t that engrossed in fighting.

I knew how to distinguish between public and private matters.

“Gyaak, Gyaaak!”

I launched myself again towards the area where my team members were, leaving behind the armored monster that was lying flat on the ground and colliding with nearby trees to protect its back.

There was no need to hold onto it anymore.

The reason I moved alone, even if it was a bit forceful, was just to obtain that muscle mass leaving blue bloodstains and hand it over to Rina.

Once the goal was achieved, I had to get away.

“Gyarrr─!”

With foam at its mouth, eyes rolled back so much that the whites were visible, and roughened body movements, it seemed that the cooperation of team members was now essential in dealing with it.

“Yena! Are, are you really okay?!”

“Yeah.”

“Thank goodness……”

“Erika, thanks for worrying, but please focus on my words for now. We don’t have time, so I’ll speak quickly. Rina, you still have that piece of meat I gave you earlier, right?”

As soon as I met Erika and Rina, who asked about my well-being, and Wolf, who alone remained silent among them, I spoke quickly, skipping all preambles, conscious of the current urgency.

“Yes, but is it really possible to use magic with this?”

“That’s right.”

“Where on earth did you learn such a thing?”

“You can learn it by studying. I learned it from books about monsters at the military academy. Anyway, it doesn’t seem like we have the luxury to discuss this now.”

Rina still seemed doubtful.

However, she didn’t reject my proposal.

She seemed well aware that we had gotten too close to the armored monster to run away anymore, and that if we hesitated even a little, everyone here would fall.

“……”

Wolf was the same.

I’m not sure if he was still scared by the monster’s appearance, but for some reason, he who had picked fights and raised objections to my words at every turn, remained silent.

“Ugh, alright.”

“Grip it as if you’re sucking in the energy contained in it.”

Well then, I should make good use of this.

“Phew, swallowing the energy……”

“Slowly feel the power of mana contained in it.”

Thinking to make good use of the reality where everyone was complying with my words, I placed the lump of flesh that gave a disgusting sensation on Rina’s hand while supporting her back.

‘Shall I give a little help?’

Then I stimulated the mana deeply dormant in her body.

Just like when I was training Erika, I secretly acted as a catalyst for Rina’s latent abilities, ensuring no one would notice.

“Huh, huff!”

And is it true that effort never betrays?

“It, it came out.”

Rina breathed roughly, staring at her outstretched palm, sweating profusely in a way that didn’t suit the cold temperature of the forest.

“Well done.”

I smiled gently, patting Rina’s shoulder as soon as I saw that sight.

“Rina.”

The light I had wanted and wanted.

A sphere created by holy power sparkled above Rina’s hand.