The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 164



Only Krnovel

Episode 164. The Forest of Dreams (7)

The ‘Forest of Dreams’ is not an inviolable territory.

There are no fences to prevent entry here. Anyone, whether a wanderer or a roaming scoundrel with ill intentions, may enter as soon as they reach the threshold of the inner forest.

But paradoxically, it was precisely this easy accessibility that made it such an ‘inviolable’ area.

In other words… … this forest is a hell where every intruder’s nightmares manifest without limit.

Kadim gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and swung it down with his shaft.

Ugh – Ugh!

-Kyahaaaa!!

The red blade not only cut through the bone, but also roughly cut into the esophagus, reaching the end of the intestines. The monster, with its entire upper body cut in half, stumbled and fell apart, spilling internal organs and blood.

– Grrrr, purr… … .

“… … .”

Kadim wiped the blood away and looked down at the monster.

Red eyes, a hunchbacked spine, scythe-like claws… … It had such a monstrous appearance that if only it had horns, it would be believable that it was a demon. However, if you leave out those features, the creature most similar to this monster in terms of appearance was none other than that.

Elf.

Those pointed ears and pale skin were typical elf characteristics.

This twisted elf was not alone. Beyond the thick trees and dark green bushes, bloodshot eyes swarmed like a swarm of blood-soaked fireflies.

– Crrrrr… … .

– Crrrrr, Crrrrr… … .

– Krrrrrrrrrr… … .

Even if we catch a small number, it would probably be over a hundred. I was just planning to check out the identity of the unfamiliar figure, drink a few sips of demon blood, and then return to where the group was… … I never thought I would encounter so many elves.

‘Of course, those can’t be real elves… … .’

Kadim was sure that those too were ‘illusions’.

However, it was different from the previous fantasy.

Unlike demons that seemed like ghosts, these guys had a distinct presence. The fishy scent of blood rose from the elf who had been cut apart as an example. Moreover, the entire landscape of this area had changed to look like an ordinary forest… … .

There was only one conclusion.

‘… … ‘I guess there was someone else in this forest besides us.’

Those deformed elves are probably someone’s fantasy made real.

– Khoooooooo!!

– Khuu, khuuuuuu!!

Whoever it was, it must have felt very real. A group of deformed elves, so vividly real, began to attack. At the same time, a sharp, blood-curdling urge prickled my brain.

It was an unexpected and unexpected situation. Still, it wasn’t a big problem. It was clear what the solution was.

Find the guy who created the illusion by breaking through the road and kicking him.

Kadim drank the devil’s blood and threw an ax imbued with lightning to open the battle.

Crackle, crackle, flash – !

The blue beam of light that cut through the darkness and the whirling thunderbolt struck the vanguard directly. As the thunder flashed, the elves near the RBI dispersed and fell, and a few beats late roars and screams rang out.

――――――――― Quagwagwa, Quagwagwagwang – !!!

– Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah -!!

– Haaaaaaagh – !

Whoosh – whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, tuck – !

The lightning returned, instantly destroying nearly ten elves. The Iron-Blooded Demon shuddered like an animal that had its food stolen. Don’t whine, I’ll feed you as much blood as you want from now on. Kadim gripped the hilt of his sword as if to appease his discontent.

Then, enjoying the rising spirit, he charged forward himself.

“Uuuuuuuup!!”

A frenzied blast of energy swept across the forest edge. A merciless blow tore through the flank of the vanguard.

――――― Blah blah blah blah – !

The power of the swordsmanship was enough to cut the spine and the waist in half. Even then, the momentum of the swordsmanship did not diminish at all. Only after the waists of the two men next to him were split open, and the bundle of intestines of the one at the end was crushed, did the strength finally run out.

Kadim kicked the writhing creature in the stomach and pulled out his sword. Green elves were rushing from the sides. He lowered his posture and quickly extended the tip of his sword, blowing a hole in his eye. After that, they only split up the ones in front and dug into the inside of the group.

Crack – Crack! Crack! Crack!

– Khuuo, kuhuk… … .

– Khaaaaah, ugh!

Perhaps due to their bent waists, deformed elves usually targeted their ankles with their sickle-like nails. Just like farmers harvesting rice sheaves.

However, none of the elves reaped the desired harvest. Before it even reached my feet, I was crushed by a harsh kick and turned into pulverized meat.

Phew – creak! Phew – creak!

– Wow!

– Kwuk!

Even as more and more elves rushed in, the situation of the war did not change. The warrior’s stance did not allow for any gaps. In fact, he had entered the enemy’s siege himself, but Kadim did not do so without reason. Bombs must be exploded in the center of enemy lines to cause the greatest damage.

Just like this.

――――Kwagwagwagwagwagagagaga – !

A red blade that violently spits out the blood it had stored up in the deepest part of the country with high density.

– Khuo, khuuuuuu!!

– Khuu …

Kwagagagagagag!! Kwaarrrrrrrrrr… … .

A wide ripple of blood spread around the warrior. Thick, giant trees fell, and the swarming, swarming masses disintegrated in an instant. Torn limbs and pieces of flesh flew out, and a mist of blood sprayed like a spray over the sloppy, crumbling corpses.

Slashes through ‘blood accumulation’ still showed unrivaled power in one-on-many melee.

That wasn’t the end. Before those who barely survived could recover from the damage, Kadim detonated the second bomb he had prepared.

Let’s focus our minds, the ‘Tattoo of Aculanos’ emitting a vivid red light.

Kookookookookookook… .

The moment I hit the ground, the head of a huge monster that was a cross between a mountain goat and a lion rose up from the road. The ‘unknowable predator’ that devours mysteries and miracles mercilessly attacked the remaining illusions like a tidal wave of shadows.

– Khuuuu, khuuuuuuuuuu!!

– Haaa… … .

Teo – Huh! Kufuuuuuu… … .

The cries of death from the elves were as meaningless as a burp after a meal. In just those two large-scale attacks, almost all of them, numbering over a hundred, were annihilated.

Taking advantage of his moment of leisure, Kadim raised his sword and examined it.

Woof woof, woof woof –

An iron blood demon that trembles wildly, excited by the first battle in a while. Even though it was used quite roughly, there was no sign of the teeth falling out or being damaged. It remains to be seen whether it will be okay to cut up a high-ranking demon… … There is no benefit in adding ‘enhanced durability’.

‘Tattoo of Aculanos’ also did not disappoint and showed overwhelming power against the illusions. The Berserker raised his mouth sharply and charged again towards the remnants who had lost their will to fight.

There were not many elves left from the beginning. The remaining remnants were mostly reinforcements who joined later. Now, if I go back in the direction they came from, I thought I would find the guy who created the illusion… … .

At that time, I witnessed a strange phenomenon.

Kadim’s eyes flinched and trembled.

Severed ankles strewn about in the bushes. It was a familiar sight. But even if I could get past that… … I just couldn’t get past these things in front of me.

-Giggles, you idiot-like bastard, cackles, a stinky, disgusting-looking bastard like you is making noises at me?

– Hahahaha, are you crazy, you? Hahahahaha, do you ever look at your own face to see what it looks like? Hahahaha… … .

The Ilenians darken their eyes and sneer.

Of course, it wasn’t me. Compared to the clones made with the ‘Silver Coin of a Ruined Nation’, they were so flimsy that it was laughable. However, the implications of them were clear.

The source of this fantasy is someone who knows Ilenia.

– Cluck, cluck, mojiri bastard, you’ve been drooling over women like that your whole life… …

Fur – ugh!

– … … Wow!

After smashing fake Ilenia’s head, Kadim seriously scratched her chin.

This forest is untouched by humans. It was thought that the origin of the illusion was indigenous people such as elves, but it has just been proven that this is not the case. However, I don’t think Duncan or Ilenia created these illusions… … . I hurried my steps with vague suspicions in mind.

And when I reached a dark corner, I finally saw it.

A grotesquely swollen, black, fleshy sphere.

Its limbs were cut off bluntly, and it looked like a ball of mud. The toad-like face stuck in the middle was vomiting out deformed elves and clones of Illenia.

“Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuupe! Kuweeeeeek!”

Creak, creak, creak… … .

– Khuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu… … .

-Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, you’ve had a lot of trouble… … ?

Kadim frowned. It wasn’t a face I didn’t know. Although it was easy to say that it was a familiar face.

“What are you doing, you punk? Why are you here?”

“Khuuuk, huuuk, ugh, hey, savage… … .”

Benson, a simple mercenary, raised his bloodshot eyes sadly.

“S, save me… … ugh… … keep, keep coming out of my mouth… … . I, I wanted to, uh, meet an elf and a woman… … ugh, I didn’t want to spit it out… … .”

“Just answer the question. How did you get here?”

“Gu, oyster…” … . Big oyster… … . Well, I followed that… … . Come here and look for the elves… … Find that woman too… … It was good at first… … Suddenly, out of nowhere, severed ankles appear… … “My body changed like this, and I said, ‘Guweee!’”

“… … .”

I finally figured out what had happened.

It seemed like this guy didn’t give up and chased after them even after being rejected by Ilenia. Then somehow it got to the root cave. After seeing the severed ankles of the patrolmen nearby, he barely made it through the cave and reached the forest, but the shock of what he saw on the way and the desires he harbored must have mixed together to create such fantasies… … .

What was puzzling was the condensed milk, which had swelled up to its body and had become grotesquely deformed. Benson gasped and complained about that too. He said that at some point, elves and women began to jump out of nowhere, and eventually even came out of his own body… … .

“So, help me… … . I, I won’t touch that woman again… … . I won’t come near the forest, not even once, so please, Kweeeeeeek!”

“… … .”

… … It seems that defenseless intruders are talking about creating endless nightmares with bodies like that.

Is it because if you lose your mind or die, the illusion disappears, so they make it like that? I frowned at the forest’s malice, which was comparable to that of the devil. Although that fact and this guy’s disposition were separate.

If it was broken to that extent, there was no other way to give it alcohol. Khadim raises the Iron Blood Demon to remove the source of the illusion.

Sling –

The face that resembled a toad was so ugly.

“Th, uh, wait a minute, uh… … What are you doing? Hey, savage, no, wait, mercenary, I made a mistake. I’ll do whatever you say, so please put down that sword for now… … .”

No matter how much I begged, the knife would not go down. A strange and deadly thing had arrived right in front of her nose. Finally, Benson rolled his eyes and shouted.

“Hey, this dog bastard! Hey, hey, aren’t you going to put down the knife? Ta, if you think about it, this is all because of you!!”

“… … .”

“If it weren’t for you, just you, without you, this wouldn’t have happened! At the time, she was going great with that girl, fuck, fuck, huh? You, without even noticing, suddenly got caught in a hunchback, so things went wrong and you followed me here!! Because of you, because of you, I ended up like this, you fucking barbarian bastard!!”

Benson, who was spewing dirty words and then sighing sadly.

“You, you could just date any savage woman you like, rolling around on the street, okay? That, that woman was all I had! All I needed was one pretty woman, really simple… … I, I wasn’t being too greedy… … I don’t really need an elf either… … Why, why did you take that away from me… … Why did you make me come all the way here, to, get in, lose… … Kweeeeeeeeek!”

In tune with his emotions, the visions displayed a distinct hostility towards Khadim. Even the elf that just popped out of its muzzle wrinkled the bridge of its nose with its eyes shining sinisterly.

– Khuo, krrrrrr… …

Ugh – Ugh!

– … … Kuhuk!

Kadim split the deformed elf’s skull and looked at Benson expressionlessly. Since it was such an absurd complaint, he didn’t even think about getting angry or refuting it. He just decided to keep his word.

“… … “Do you remember what I said before?”

“Huh, oh oh… … what?”

“Do you remember the answer I gave when you asked me to accompany you?”

The droopy, toad-like eyes bulged out.

I remembered. When I politely asked to accompany him, the savage undoubtedly gave this reply.

Get out of here. Before slicing open the belly skin and discarding half of the intestines.

“… … But it didn’t go away, so I guess I have to keep my word.”

“What, what? Okay, sleep… … .”

――――――― Crackle!

“… … Kkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

A merciless cut tore through the swollen belly. The peritoneum was cut open, and ascites poured out like a burst dam.

Since most of the contents of the stomach were bodily fluids, there were surprisingly few internal organs. As if he were slaughtering livestock and removing its appendages, Kadim skillfully cut off the bundled internal organs with a knife. The slimy internal organs were removed one after another and pulled out through the gaps in the stomach skin.

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr possible use it.” … .”

Benson spasmed, his mouth foaming. His toad-like face turned black and his stubby limbs trembled as if shocked. His mind grew hazy, and visions of twisted elves and women slowly dissipated. Soon, he truly lost nearly half of his organs.

But Kadim did not end there.

There was an eerie look in the red eyes. The restrained sharpness turned into a nervous one. Later, he even ripped off the organs with his bare hands. The lingering feeling of bloodshed and blood aroused something.

The urge for blood, flesh, and more carnage.

An irresistible confusion, incomparable to the illusions of the rough forest, came over him. His red, distorted vision captured the long horns growing from Benson’s temples.

“[… … As expected, that disgusting devil bastard was the one who made this forest like this.]”

“That’s it, that’s it… … .”

“[Have you had fun torturing humans with nightmares? Then, this time, I will personally become your nightmare.]”

Crackle! Crackle!

The savage pulled out the intestines and bit them into small pieces. Pain and fear came out like blood and pus. Benson screamed as his consciousness faded. It hurts so much, I need to stop now, I did something wrong, please look at me just once.

Nevertheless, the banquet of madness did not end, and in the end, even the heart was pulled out and the entire body was left empty and empty.

Ugh – Ugh!

Benson, a simple mercenary, finally learned not to complain about his situation.

*

Kadim slowly opened his eyes.

“… … Huh.”

A disgusting bloody smell rose from my throat. It wasn’t the smell of demon blood. I spat in disgust, but a piece of unidentifiable meat came out. Contrary to my intention, the disgust grew even more.

It was just dawn, and the place was still a strange forest of plants.

“… … .”

The companions were not seen. Looking back, it seemed like he was separated from his group and was slaughtering someone, but he was consumed by mania and lost his mind.

There was no time to think over the exact circumstances. First, I had to look for his companions. Fortunately, the two people didn’t seem to be far away. A human figure wandering around a location some distance to the south. Kadim gathered his weapons and tried to hurry over there.

But the moment I stood up, I saw this in front of me.

Shadows stretch out in dazzling brilliance.

―――― Woof, woof, woof… … .

“… … .”

It wasn’t something out of the ordinary. I felt a tightness in my chest and an unexpected sense of déjà vu. Kadim was immediately convinced.

That must be the source that turned this forest into hell.