Chapter 4

<Yuyeona Lv.3>

Strength: 18

Agility: 22

Stamina: 17

Magic Power: 30

Traits: [Stealth] [Swiftness] [Lightning] [Breathless] [Body Transformation]

Looking at the status screen, which has changed quite a bit from before, I feel a sense of nostalgia. It’s like I’ve become a game developer. If humanity ever arises besides me, they’ll probably live their lives looking at the interface I created.

…Will I even survive until then?

Anyway, my growth rate is something to be proud of. It’s been a month since I fell into this world, and now I’ve fully entered the ranks of superhumans.

I can generate electricity in my hands, and my nails can become as sharp as blades. I can even engage in underwater combat for over an hour. These are the results of collecting and developing traits without discrimination.

[But you got stabbed by a swordfish’s jaw! You almost died!]

Lately, Belva has developed a habit of equating my life with her own. I guess that means she values me a lot? That’s something to be grateful for.

To make an excuse, there’s no such thing as a swordfish in this world. Just a monster that looks similar. That’s why I didn’t properly gauge its charging speed and was late to react. Honestly, I got careless. Who would’ve thought it could reach me in just a few seconds from that distance?

“Besides, I’m alive. That’s all that matters.”

I chuckled as I put on the new clothes I bought. They’re made of leather, so while they’re a bit uncomfortable, they’ll probably reduce the chances of bleeding from clumsy attacks.

[Didn’t you buy any weapons?]

“I’ve never felt like I lacked attack power. It’s better to reduce variables.”

As time passed, Belva seemed to grow as well. She showed me a shop interface, saying a door to another dimension had opened. Apparently, I can buy items from other dimensions using coins earned by killing things. The items are mostly combat-related, like swords and shields, but they’ve been a big help compared to the wooden spears and rocks I used to wield.

“How’s this?”

I tapped my chest, and it made a solid sound. It seems like I can easily block attacks from the Raptors that have been showing up less frequently in my area lately.

[Looking cool!]

Of course. Even though it’s a crude armor, for this era, it’s on par with brands like ShaX or EXXmes. This is literally ahead of its time…

Let’s stop there. It’s getting kind of sad.

By the way, Belva recently informed me about the birth of a new intelligent being. A species with horns on their heads and wings on their backs—sounds like demons, right? I wonder if they’ll survive. Whether they become enemies or not, I just hope they manage to live.

“How’s that guy? Still alive?”

[He’s dead.]

…What?

“Seriously?”

[Yes. Didn’t even last a day. Just unlucky.]

Hmm… I don’t know what to say. I organized my thoughts internally and just prepared for battle. It’s unfortunate, but I don’t have the luxury to mourn. Nor do I have a reason to.

If rarity determines value, then in this world, death is more trivial than life. Instead of dwelling on the fleeting nature of life, it’s better to just focus on taking care of myself.

*

While wandering along the riverbank, I noticed a wall of tangled ivy. Curious, I cut through it and entered.

A foul smell hit me. Definitely a stench. Inside the surprisingly spacious cavern, a humanoid monster was snoring loudly, scratching its belly. Every time it did, its bulging abdomen swelled and deflated.

Ugh…

“Is it just me, or is that thing’s size no joke? Should I even mess with it?”

I was intimidated. Just by height alone, the monster looked about 4 meters tall, and it was packed with muscles.

Shouldn’t something like that die quickly from muscle hypertrophy or something? The balance is way off.

[It’s a shame that doesn’t exist. Nothing’s as abnormal as your growth rate. Oh, but you should still be careful. Just by looking, its Strength stat seems to be around… 50?]

What? Fifty?

Hearing that, I immediately straightened my posture and tensed up. No wonder I kept feeling subtle vibrations around here—it must’ve been this guy causing mini earthquakes.

Even with my superhuman body, I can roughly guess. If one stat is nearing 50, it could probably tear someone like me apart with its bare hands. Ugh. Just imagining it makes me queasy. I decided not to engage no matter what and turned to leave.

But then, the monster’s snoring suddenly stopped, and I felt a chilling sensation behind me. I quickly leaped away.

*Crash!*

A massive boulder landed where I had been standing, shattering into pieces. The fragments grazed my skin, and blood splattered. I didn’t even get hit directly.

“Damn it.”

How did it notice me? I had activated my Stealth skill before entering. Honestly, my stealth isn’t that bad—it’s reliable for erasing my presence.

There are two possibilities:

One, it was pretending to sleep to lure me in.

Two, its senses are sharp enough to detect my stealth even while asleep.

Damn. Either way, it’s a problem. I yanked out the rock shard embedded in my shoulder and prepared for battle.

[Tiny, fragile prey. I want to crush and eat you.]

Listening to Belva’s creepy translation, I spent all my coins on a steel spear from the shop. I was saving up for something else, but I didn’t feel it was a waste. A wooden spear probably wouldn’t even pierce that monster’s hide.

Even with the spear, the reach between me and the bare-handed monster was almost the same. The dagger I was planning to buy…

Before I could even get close, I’d probably get killed.

I glanced back.

The entrance was firmly blocked by the rock I just threw.

I was sure. That monster is smarter than it looks.

No, not just smarter—it seems to be above the level of a snot-nosed kid.

I thought I was the only intelligent being here?

Then what the hell is that?

[The intelligent beings I’m talking about are those with free will. That monster can’t think of anything beyond killing, eating, and fighting.]

Hmm…

It wasn’t a very convincing explanation.

There must be some criteria I don’t know about.

Anyway, now is the time to abandon all thoughts and focus on the fight.

This is the first time since falling into this world that I’m facing an opponent physically superior to me.

If I get hit directly, I’ll definitely die instantly.

Focus.

*Thud!*

Ah, damn it.

I had a rough idea when I heard it had a Strength of fifty, but that guy didn’t even run towards me.

He just casually bent his knees and jumped, and now there’s a shadow looming over my head.

He looks like he weighs a few hundred kilos, but that Agility? Really?

First, I rolled on the ground once, then lightly stabbed the monster’s body with my spear and pulled it out.

Hit-and-run using the spear’s reach is my specialty.

Even with an unfamiliar weapon, I could pull it off.

But it was meaningless.

“It’s not bleeding! What the hell!”

[Its skin is too thick!]

“So, does that make sense? That’s weird!”

Forget about chip damage.

The only way is to go for a soul-crushing blow.

Of course, in terms of reflexes, vision, movement, instincts, and all sensory abilities, that guy has the upper hand, so it’s almost impossible.

My ultimate move takes too long to activate, and its success is uncertain.

This is really the first time I’ve been in such a disadvantageous fight.

I blocked the monster’s punch with my spear shaft while jumping back with all my might.

The recoil sent me flying over ten meters, tumbling.

It reminds me of the waves I played with as a kid—being pushed back by an unstoppable force.

But I’ve created enough distance.

At this point, I can somehow prepare for the next attack.

Just as I thought that, the monster picked up a nearby rock and shattered it.

What’s it trying to do?

Is it going to throw it?

Are you some kind of Zeke Yeager?

Seeing it shrug its shoulders, a bad feeling grows stronger.

This is insane.

That monster is way smarter than it looks.

It must have seen me bleeding from the rock fragments it threw earlier and improvised an attack pattern.

Damn it.

How am I supposed to deal with that?

This time, it’s not random scattering—it’s clearly raining down rock fragments aimed at me.

The speed and danger are incomparably higher.

With such a gap in stats, even a clumsy attack like this puts me in mortal danger.

Focus.

I took a deep breath and slowly observed the Magic Power within my body.

There’s no place to dodge.

I have to block it.

I don’t have a shield.

Leather armor won’t stop that attack.

Even if I cover my face, neck, and chest with my arms, I’ll die from the next attack immediately.

I need a way.

A way to safely block that attack without exhausting my body.

*Huuuuh.*

The monster’s heavy breathing echoes, and the next moment, hundreds of fragments fly from its hand.

At the same time, I drew out all the Magic Power in my body.

A hot sensation surged to the top of my head in an instant.

There have been countless attempts before.

Attempts to use Magic Power externally to enhance defense or attack power.

But I’ve never succeeded.

Strengthening internal muscles or sharpening senses was possible,

but anything beyond that felt like a distant dream or illusion.

I couldn’t see Magic Power.

But it’s definitely there.

I need to believe.

My focus peaked, and the Magic Power moved faster than ever.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the flow of Magic Power within my body.

At some point, I felt all the Magic Power gather at my fingertips, and I immediately stretched my hands forward.

At the same time, I felt something inside me being pulled out.

In that moment, I was sure.

This is it.

The wind came.

A fierce gale, strong enough to make it hard to stand, swept in front of me.

The Magic Power gathered outside formed a vortex at my will.

When I opened my eyes, a glowing blue wind of Magic Power was deflecting the flying rock fragments to my side.

At the same time, all my senses and physical abilities began to rise due to the use of Magic Power.

The pain from my earlier wounds faded.

Even in this life-threatening situation, I feel refreshed.

That monster doesn’t seem scary anymore.

I’m in too good a condition.

The shimmering blue Magic Power flowing through my clenched fist.

Watching the monster’s movements, which now seemed hesitant, I realized.

[I can win!]

No.

“That’s not it.”

Overwhelming an opponent superior to me in momentum clearly means one thing.

I won.

It was my victory.