NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
Translated by: il0vecats
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Chapter 9: The Frenzied Pursuit
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
Hwanin’s breath grew ragged as he sprinted through the thinning forest, glancing around for a favorable battleground. He knew his stamina was waning; he wouldn’t be able to keep running for long. Before his energy completely depleted, he needed to find a place where he held the advantage over the eight pursuing green monsters.
A suitable location was not in sight.
‘Damn it.’
If only there were a large boulder like the one where he encountered the green monsters on his second day. Even a steep slope, dense underbrush, or a tightly packed cluster of trees would suffice, but the trees were spaced further apart now, and open areas were becoming more frequent.
‘Just my luck.’
Kiyaaah!!
Kkyooorr!!
“……”
Hwanin’s eyes narrowed as the green monsters’ shrill cries grew closer. Their speed was faster than he anticipated, nearly double. He could now hear their footsteps, and realized their unexpected swiftness could not be underestimated.
Previously obstructive ditches were now unseen, and there were no thick trees to serve as barriers.
With his lungs burning and breath growing heavy, Hwanin realized he could not run much further. Choosing to stand his ground, he found a spot with a tree at his back and dense underbrush at his sides to confront the eight green monsters.
He opened the pouch of paralysis spheres and emptied them into his coat pocket. He then threw the emergency rations into the underbrush and fastened the buttons of his coat.
It was a slightly thick spring suit coat. Along with his suit jacket, vest, and shirt, it should function adequately as makeshift armor.
“Huff…”
Gripping the stone axe and black club tightly in each hand, Hwanin took deep breaths through his nose, exhaling through his mouth to steady himself as he awaited the green monsters.
Kikikikik!!
Kyakakak!
Kyararar!!
Soon after, eight green monsters arrived, wearing sinister grins and showing no signs of fatigue as they fanned out in a semicircle.
Had they arrived separately, he could’ve dispatched a couple of them before facing the rest, but these creatures moved with coordinated efficiency—experienced hunters used to taking down tough prey.
‘…What’s that?’
Their eyes, faintly glowing in the midday light, appeared unnatural. He had slain 22 green monsters before, but had never encountered anything like this.
Gyaaa. Kyoorr, Kak! Kak!
The staff-wielding green monster pointed and yelled, clearly infuriated. When Hwanin responded with a stoic expression, it began striking the ground with its staff while shrieking.
Hwanin narrowed his eyes.
The green monsters’ enhanced speed and their glowing eyes, even in daylight, coupled with the apparent fear the staff-wielding monster inspired among its accomplices.
He deduced the staff-wielder was likely the source of this menace.
“……”
Kyararar!!
Foaming at the mouth, the staff-wielder frantically gestured and barked orders, while the others surrounding him prepared for an attack.
Hwanin discreetly retrieved two paralysis spheres from his coat pocket.
“Hup!”
Shooo— Thud!
Kyak!
He threw a stone he’d pocketed earlier, striking the staff-wielder’s forehead and knocking it flat on its back.
The other monsters’ gaze briefly shifted to their fallen leader. Seizing the moment, Hwanin hurled the two paralysis spheres near the leader and the spear-wielding green monster at its side.
Poof— Whoosh.
Kewk…?!
Kyik!
‘Damn, missed…’
Though the two spheres exploded into dark red smoke, the spear-wielder skillfully evaded the cloud. They only trapped the staff-wielder and one other green monster nearby.
Kiyaaah!!
Kyararar!!
Three monsters wielding bladed weapons charged at him furiously, while the remaining three followed close behind.
Their speed nearly caught him off-guard. Zigzagging dynamically, they were clearly not running at full capacity.
Grasping the gravity of the situation, Hwanin leapt into the underbrush, hurling another paralysis sphere into the foliage.
Kiak!!
Kyarr!!
Kyeee!!
With a puff, the cloud emerged, yet the three leading monsters zoomed out too quickly to be affected.
Hwanin realized their overlapped pursuits made throwing further spheres futile. Seeing two more rounding the trees.
“Whew!”
Injuries seemed inevitable for victory.
Intensely focused, Hwanin hurled his stone axe at the broken sword-wielding green monster.
Practicing with his stone axe over the past three days had refined his aim.
At a distance of 15 meters, he achieved a 90% hit rate, though it dipped to 60% at 30 meters, expanding about a 50 cm target brought it back to 90%.
With a body as a target, he’d nine out of ten hits.
Kyah!!
The spinning stone axe found its mark on the leftmost, broken sword-wielding monster’s shoulder, dropping it instantly.
“….”
That 10% came to haunt him.
Even as one fell, the short sword and spear-wielders zeroed in on Hwanin, weapons brandished.
Kiyah!
Within range, the spear-wielding monster lunged. Hwanin, with unprecedented precision, struck diagonally with his black club at the spear shaft, shattering it.
Thud— The unexpected collapse sent the green monster sprawling.
They weren’t far stronger than average. Just marginally so.
Despite twisting away, the corroded short sword slashed Hwanin’s side.
He swiftly switched the black club to his left hand, swinging at the passing monster’s head with a solid strike.
Thud!
Kehh…
When the short sword-wielder collapsed, Hwanin immediately faced the charging spear-wielder.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
His heart pounded deafeningly as a surge of heat shot through his nerves, mentally slowing the green monsters’ movements.
Tracking the spear’s arc, the monster’s movement, its bloodshot eyes locked on him, and its fierce, snarling face.
Hwanin sidestepped, grasping the spear shaft.
Thud.
Kyik?!
Alarmed, the spear-wielder tried to pull back, but Hwanin didn’t resist. Dropping the black club, he yanked the spear with both hands.
Kyaeek?!
Like swinging a barbell with a 30-kg plate only on one side, the monster’s futile resistance let him hurl it towards the short sword-wielder scrambling to rise.
Crash!!
Kyahk!
Both monsters crashed together spectacularly.
Sharp pain blossomed from Hwanin’s shoulder and side. The monsters flanking used spiked clubs on him.
“Should’ve aimed for my head.”
Smiling savagely, he used the spear to pierce one’s gut, withdrawing and blocking another attack, before delivering a front-kick, sending the second reeling.
Turning swiftly, the broken sword-wielder lay gutted, Hwanin repeated his relentless stabbing until the monster ceased moving.
With a menacing glare, he smiled—an almost feral grin.
“Kekekeke.”
Who knew military bayonet drills would be so useful.
Kyik?! Kyak! Kyahaak!
Kyah?! Kkikkit!!
As Hwanin advanced towards the green monsters tangled and disoriented by their earlier collision, their eyes had lost the strange glow, and their movements returned to the usual sluggishness of their kind.
With efficient, unyielding force, Hwanin struck them down, savoring that particular feeling when steel punctured soft flesh. The rush of excitement surged through him as he mercilessly ended their lives.
However, just as he approached the last trembling survivor, his world exploded with a sudden, shapeless blast.
Thud!
Hurtling through the air like a ragdoll, Hwanin crashed into the ground. His ears rang as his vision spun, with sharp pains radiating through his bones and joints.
“Argh…”
Bewildered, he peered towards the underbrush. A green monster, now a flushed scarlet as if in a state of apoplectic rage, stood there, pointing a staff towards him.
Gruh… Krack!
With a shriek, the staff tip glowed once more, prompting Hwanin to instinctively roll aside.
Boom!!
Another invisible force exploded where he had been moments earlier.
The vibration from the blast felt like his very bones were shuddering out of place, but without pause, Hwanin rolled again.
Slash—
Yet, the final green monster, gripping the short sword taken from one of its fallen kin, slashed his thigh as he moved.
The searing pain surged through his leg, yet it snapped him back to acute clarity.
Stay still, and die.
Still clutching the spear, Hwanin shot upright and impaled the attacking monster before it could swing again.
Gruk…
Though the strike was slightly off-target, the gash through one-third of its neck was enough to kill.
Miraculously summoned strength took over his battered body, compelling Hwanin immediately towards the staff-wielding green monster.
Kiyeek?!
Equally startled, the staff-wielder realized its staff was empty just as it aimed again. A feeling of regret overwhelmed it at the sight of Hwanin’s rapid approach.
The monster’s last words were lost in a muted gasp.
“Argh, argh…”
Having beheaded the staff-wielder, Hwanin succumbed to the realization he might be dying. Every heartbeat brought a fresh wave of pain through his aching right side. The wound on his thigh pulsated with a fiery agony, and his shoulder and side ached from the spiked club’s assault.
He cursed silently at how little speed it took to escalate his injuries to such an extent. All his previous caution felt wasted in face of this brutal encounter.
“…”
Counting the seven bodies of the green monsters he had slain, he hesitated, recognizing the absence of the eighth. Staggering, he went searching through the underbrush, discovering the last victim of the paralysis spheres struggling to rise.
Thunk.
One precise spear thrust ended its life, calmed by a sigh of relinquished energy.
Collapsing beside the corpse, Hwanin grimaced through the increasing pain as he finally surveyed his injuries. Gingerly, he removed his coat and jacket to check his wounds.
“Whew…”
Thankfully, the damage was superficial — deep bruises from blunt impacts rather than piercing injuries. The layers of his formal attire had miraculously deflected the spiked blows.
These bruises, though agonizing, were bearable with rest and recovery. More concerning was the gash on his thigh.
The damage had been mitigated by the durable fabric of his formal pants, reducing the potential severity.
Inspecting his leg, Hwanin noticed a lot of blood but no deep laceration. Gratefully, he attributed the reduced injury to the sturdy fabric, only a third of the expected cut marred his skin.
Rising from the ground with effort, Hwanin scoured the battlefield for the short sword.
There it lay, caked in rust and grime, with an oily sheen of filth covering it.
Cursing softly, Hwanin gritted his teeth and kindled a fire to heat his multitool knife.
In the absence of antibiotics, he resigned himself to the last resort of cauterizing the wound to stave off infection—an agonizing procedure liable to exacerbate risk without imminent harm.
“This cursed forest constantly forces the lesser of two evils upon me.”
He tore a strip from his undershirt, forming a makeshift bandage. Biting down on a bunched-up coat, Hwanin steeled himself.
Sizzle—
“Ghhh…!”
The excruciating pain was unmatched. Bloodshot eyes and taut muscles strained as he pressed the red-hot knife deeper onto the wound.
Seconds felt like minutes as he endured, his body shaking with the sheer force of resistance. When he finally withdrew the knife, he bound the wound tightly with the strip.
All he could do now was hope for no complications.
“Huff… Huff.”
Desperate for hydration, he rummaged through his pocket for the corona berries, noting only minor damage from the fall despite his rough tumble. Eat and rehydrate first, wash later.
He picked out the mashed berries, replenishing his energy. He noted his exhaustion, closed his eyes briefly, then heaved a long sigh, facing the daunting truth of his attacker.
What was the staff-wielding green monster?
The logical conclusion tied it to sorcery or some form of magic.
If its kind were rare, as suggested by its entourage, encountering them might remain uncommon. The lair near the gray monster seemed accidental, and Hwanin speculated his presence was a side casualty.
Decidedly complex thoughts jostled with overwhelming fatigue as Hwanin gazed up at the interwoven canopy. He heard calming bird songs, felt the soothing cool air, longing to simply collapse and sleep.
But safety dictated otherwise. Wincing, he hoisted himself onto his spear, using it as a crutch.
Barely upright, a bout of dizziness toppled him, brain throbbing like it was splitting apart, plunging him into unconscious darkness.