The failed werewolf began scratching at himself violently, monstrous claws raking deep gouges into his own flesh. Black blood oozed from the wounds, hissing as it hit the ground. His entire massive frame trembled, spasming as the corruption waged war against what little remained of Zync's mind.
For a moment, it seemed like he might break free—but the black blood only gushed faster, and with a final, shuddering roar, the light in his blood-red eyes extinguished, replaced by soulless, jet-black voids.
"Fuck!" Han cursed, his instincts screaming. "He's already completely corrupted!"
Without hesitation, Han grabbed Raphtalia and hurled her behind him.
"Uncle!" Raphtalia cried, trying to rush forward again, tears streaming down her face.
Han turned sharply, his expression grim. "Raphtalia, stay behind me!" he barked. "He's not your uncle anymore! He can't recognize you!"
"Don't lie—!" Raphtalia began—but before she could finish, the corrupted beast let out a distorted, ear-splitting roar and charged, barreling straight past Han toward her.
Han's heart dropped. His mind raced, panic flooding in.
'Shit! How could I forget?! Corrupted monsters always hunt the source of their last emotional memory—the reason for their lingering attachment!'
Without a second thought, Han sprinted toward Raphtalia.
She froze, eyes wide in horror, as her uncle's monstrous claw came down on her.
And then—impact.
Raphtalia gasped as she felt herself jerked backward—into someone's arms. A sickening, wet sound echoed in the forest, the brutal sound of flesh being torn.
Blood splattered across her face.
The world slowed.
[Han (★) has fallen into a severe state of bleeding. His health will drop by 1 every second.]
[Han (★) has fallen into a state of poisoning. His health will drop by 1 every second.]
"Sir!" Raphtalia cried out, looking up at Han, who was shielding her with his own body.
He coughed, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, yet somehow, he managed a small, crooked smile.
"I told you..." he rasped, ruffling her head with a trembling hand, "it's dangerous..."
The old Han—the Han who lived only for himself—would never have done this.
But ever since coming here, ever since opening his heart to people like Tess, Shay, and Jenna...
He had changed.
He didn't want to see a kid who had already lost so much, die like this.
"Sir..." Raphtalia sobbed, her small hands trying to steady him.
Han staggered, turning to face the failed werewolf. His body was battered, bleeding, and poisoned—he was barely standing.
The beast loomed over them, stronger than ever. Corruption had more than doubled its strength. This thing wasn't just a mini-boss anymore—it was a level 20 monstrosity.
And Han, wounded and alone, was in no shape to fight it.
But he had to try anyway.
He gritted his teeth and raised his sword.
Suddenly—
The searing pain in his wounds dulled.
[Han (★)'s severe bleeding state has begun regenerating. Health will now drop by 1 every 5 seconds.]
A faint warmth spread through him.
"Primal Resilience…" Han realized, breathing heavily. "Right... I forgot it boosts regeneration... but…"
He tightened his grip on the sword.
"...It's still not enough."
The failed werewolf roared again and lunged. Han lifted his sword, managing to block the first wild strike—but the force behind it was monstrous. The impact rattled his entire body, and despite bracing himself, he was thrown like a ragdoll.
"Sir!"
He crashed hard into the ground, rolling to a stop beside Chloe, who was shaking like a leaf, and Dolf, who was curled up in a ball, sobbing incoherently.
Han groaned, spitting out blood.
[Han (★) is on the brink of death.]
[HP remaining: 8/76]
The corrupted beast slowly turned its hollow, black eyes toward Raphtalia again.
And it began to advance.
The failed werewolf lifted his bloodstained claws again, aiming directly at Raphtalia.
She couldn't even scream. She could only stare, frozen in terror, as death approached.
But then—
Squelch!
An old iron sword whistled through the air and buried itself deep into the beast's eye, blinding it on one side.
The monster howled in pain, staggering back, black blood gushing from the ruined socket.
At the same moment, Han's interface flickered wildly:
[Han (★)'s Poison Resistance has raised to Level 4!]
[Han (★)'s Pain Tolerance has raised to Level 9!]
[Han (★)'s Combat Logic has raised to Level 3!]
[Han (★)'s Primal Resilience has raised to Level 3!]
[Han (★)'s Sword Throw has raised to Level 3!]
[Han (★) is no longer in a state of bleeding.]
[Han (★) is no longer in a state of poisoning.]
Han wiped the blood from his mouth and forced himself to his feet, swaying slightly.
His eyes locked onto Dolf's discarded sword lying nearby.
Without hesitation, Han snatched it up.
Two swords in hand, he sprinted toward the writhing beast.
If he couldn't overpower it, he'd cut it down little by little—death by a thousand cuts.
Nothing worked better for that than dual blades.
"Raphtalia! Run! Now!" Han shouted over his shoulder, voice ragged.
Then he launched into a relentless assault.
Steel flashed.
[Skill Awakening!]
[The hero, Han (★), has awakened the skill: Dual Wielding!]
Han slashed furiously, blades slicing into the beast's thick fur and skin. His strikes were fast and precise, but even with two swords, it was difficult—the werewolf's hide was like iron.
His own battered sword cut deeper, but Dolf's F-rank blade only managed shallow wounds.
Still, every scratch, every cut, weakened the creature further.
The beast roared and swiped wildly.
Han dodged—but not fast enough.
A claw raked his arm, shallow but deep enough to tear through flesh.
[Han (★) has fallen into a state of poisoning. Health will drop by 1 point every 2 seconds.]
Han gritted his teeth, ignoring the burning pain as he continued the assault.
His body screamed at him to stop, but he pushed on, refusing to yield.
[Han (★)'s Poison Resistance has raised to Level 5!]
[Han (★)'s Basic Swordsmanship has raised to Level 8!]
[Han (★)'s Dual Wielding has raised to Level 3!]
Step by step, cut by cut, he wore the monster down.
Finally, with a gasp, the failed werewolf staggered, black blood pouring from dozens of small wounds.
Han was panting hard, every breath like fire in his lungs. His arms trembled with exhaustion, every inch of him aching with fresh and old wounds alike.
But just when it seemed like the beast might finally collapse—
ROAR!!!
The failed werewolf let out a monstrous roar that shook the trees around them.
Its fur bristled wildly, crackling with raw power, and its remaining eye—once black and dead—blazed red again with madness.
Han's face paled.
'No way—it's going berserk?!'
To be continued...
***
***
How was this chapter? Liked it?
Plot armor heavy in this one. Han would have died three times, not being for it.