CH 4

[Desperate Battle Under the Moonlight and First Victory!]

In the middle of sprawling grassland, I manifested a bow and arrow in my hands and drew the string. My target was the rabbit monster ‘Horned Rabbit’ that was dozens of meters away.

It’s nothing personal, little rabbit! I aimed at its defenseless back as it was munching on the grass and released the arrow, but—

“Usa~!”

“Oh shit, I missed and now it noticed me! Time for a strategic retreat!”

As soon as it turned my way, I immediately ran away! I learned after being attacked once, but since I had zero Defense, one hit from a Horned Rabbit could take away half of my HP!

Goddammiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! They said Horned Rabbits were the weakest monsters, and they only served as a practice target, but this was my third consecutive defeat already!

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“—Haa. Seriously, Summoner, the bow, and Luck all are… as trashy as they come.”

A few hours after leaving town. I hadn’t been able to kill a single monster.

It was already dark before I knew it. It should be midnight in the real world, so maybe I should log out soon.

I sat down on a large rock in the grassland and called up the menu window.

“Where’s the logout button again… no, maybe I should check my items first.”

‘Beginner Arrows’ that I received along with the ‘Beginner Bow’… uwah, there were only two left?!

This means I can only attack twice more unless I collect the ones I’ve shot. I heaved out yet another sigh at the drawback of the bow.

“Even if I get back to town to buy some, it’s going to cost money. But since I haven’t defeated any monsters yet, I’m penniless… What the hell am I supposed to do…! What’s more, it’s night now, so it’s even harder to hit with the bow…!”

I was completely stumped. Summoner had no access to ‘arts’ that could kill a monster in a single blow, my 110 Luck was pretty much useless, and I’d kick the bucket if I took even so much as two hits from the rabbits.

On top of all that, not only did my normal attacks hardly hit their mark, there was a limit on how many times I could use them! What fucked up situation is this!

“Haaaaa, how unlucky…! In the end, the only good thing that happened to me since I started this game was meeting that nice baldheaded guy! Goddammit, I should recreate my character after all!”

It happened just as I was about to tap the logout button. Out of nowhere, the ground suddenly blew up, and a rusty sword shot out from it!

“Urameshiya… urameshiyaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“W-what the hell?!”

The mysterious sword groaned unintelligible words even though it had no mouth. I was bewildered by the sudden event, but when I looked at it, faint words appeared before my eyes.

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Rare Monster: Living Weapon

Initial equipment that was abandoned by a player. Come to life because of the grudge it holds against its owner.

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Hmm, so it was a monster. That reminded me, it was night now, so it wouldn’t be surprising if ghost-type monsters spawned. Seeing it had Rare Monster attached to its name, it must be a rare variety of monsters.

“Kishaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“?!”

This isn’t the time to be staring like an idiot! Rolling sideways, I evaded the Living Sword’s slashing attack, and promptly manifested my bow and arrow!

“Damn you, you think I’m easy prey?!”

I pulled the string and shoot the arrow! But the enemy was so thin! The arrow missed its target by a huge margin! Goddammit, now I can only attack one more time!

As I was at a loss, the Living Sword shot straight at me!

“Urameshiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

That’s it, time to go for broke! As the Living Sword flew toward me like a bullet, I spread my hands in front of me and—I caught it between my palms!

I did it! I caught its blade!

“Kishaaa… Kishaaaaaaa!”

“Khhh…?!”

But it was a persistent guy; it didn’t give up and kept pushing itself against me. Since I had 0 Strength, I got forced down to the ground!

As I fell on my back, it brought the tip of its blade closer to my face…!

“Urameshiya… urameshiyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Inch by inch, the Living Weapon got closer as it shaved my palms. It released its hatred of being abandoned by its owner in the form of an angry roar that echoed under the night sky.

But you know… you’re not the only one mad here!!!

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! I only wanted to escape from reality, and this is what I got?! I was fooled by some bastards’ lies, and now I’m going to die an unsightly death without being able to do anything about it?! What kind of sick joke is that?!

I’m not… going to fall heeeeeeeeeeeeere!”

I tilted my head with enough force to snap my neck and let go of my hands, releasing the Living Weapon! Then it grazed my cheek and stabbed itself deep into the ground due to the momentum!

“Kishaaaaaaaaaaaa?!”

Bewildered as it was, it tried to get itself out of the ground, but I wasn’t gonna let it! I grabbed hold of the hilt of the Living Weapon with all my might and manifested my last arrow in my free hand!

Instead of nocking it to my bow—

“Eat this!!!”

—I stabbed the Living Weapon’s rusty blade with it! My arm bounced back because of my lack of Strength! But who cares!

I grasped it by the tip so it didn’t break and swung it down over and over and over again!

Then, at this point, my full investment in Luck finally paid off!!!

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‘Head-to-Head’ activates! Damage increases!

‘Fatal Strike’ activates! Damage increases!

‘Head-to-Head’ activates! Damage increases!

‘Fatal Strike’ activates! Damage increases!

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Two of my skills with a low probability of increasing my damage activated almost every time my attack landed!

I acquired ‘Head-to-Head’ after exchanging fists with the baldhead. I truly thanked my ‘luck’ to be able to meet him!

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, urameshiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“?!”

That was when the Living Weapon forcefully escaped from my hand! It instantly sliced off my arm that was gripping the arrow, and then flew off while drawing a parabola to create distance between us.

And then—it charged back toward me at super-high speed with the intent to finish me off!

“Hah, well done. With one arm less, I can’t catch you between my palms again…!”

—But it’s fine. Upon closer look, cracks ran through the blade of the Living Blade; mostly thanks to my strikes earlier. It must be close to its limit as well.

Then…

“I’ll just wallop you head-on!”

I clenched my remaining hand and ran towards it with all my might!

As the distance between us closed in an instant, I pulled back my arm and swung it out at its tip!

“Kishaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Oraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Beneath the moonlight, a blade and a fist clashed!

The sharp tip of the sword easily tore through my skin and flesh, but… who cares!

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‘Guts’ activates! You survive with 1 HP from a fatal wound!

‘Head-to-Head’ activates! Damage increases!

‘Fatal Strike’ activates! Damage increases!

Critical hit! Damage increases dramatically from hitting a weak point!

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At that moment, all my skills activated thanks to my overwhelming Luck! My bones, which literally became harder than steel thanks to ‘Guts’, smashed the tip of the Living Weapon!

“Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech??!”

“Just drop dead alreadyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!”

Following my scream, my fist smashed its blade into pieces, and its remaining hilt was knocked away for dozens of meters!

At that moment, a grand fanfare resounded…!

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A Rare Monster is defeated! Your level has increased to 5!

You receive 40 stat points!

Condition: ‘Defeat a higher leveled monster on your first monster subjugation or defeat a higher leveled monster for 30 times or more’ cleared!

You have acquired the skill ‘Giant Killing’!

‘Giant Killing’: Has a very low probability of raising damage dealt to an opponent by 10%.

Taming succeeded! Rare Monster: Living Weapon has become your friend!

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“Hell yeaaaaaaaaaaah! I did iiiiiiit!”

As the fanfare continued to resound, I raised my fist into the air and savored the delight of my first victory!