The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 53



Only Krnovel

Episode 53. Tongue, Teeth, and Jaw (1)

“You stay in this town, Duncan.”

“Huh?!”

The news was like a bolt from the blue. Duncan was shocked and froze. Kadim gulped something down and added an explanation.

“If you go to the forest, you will most likely be possessed by a devil. “If you don’t want to die by my hands, stay here and wait patiently.”

As the surprise subsided, relief at not having to see the devil mixed with anxiety at being left alone. Duncan asked with a confused look on his face.

“But, didn’t you tell that woman to go back into the forest? Are you saying that you and the brothel woman will be okay, but I will be possessed by the devil?”

The savage nodded, wiping the blood from his mouth. It was going to be like that. It was going to be like that.

Somehow my pride was hurt, but I couldn’t go against orders. Duncan lets out a long sigh and looks around for a place to hide. Kadim gave him a weapon to defend himself with.

“Take it. I’ll lend it to you just for tonight.”

“Ah, no, Your Majesty! This dagger is….”

“The flames on the blade will be very noticeable, so use it only in emergencies. “When the sun rises and the fog clears, it’s okay to go into the forest.”

Duncan nodded, his neck breaking, and accepted the Hellfire Dagger. His sullen expression was gone, and a broad smile spread across his face.

Kadim let out a brief laugh and entered the forest alone.

The dim lights and noises of the village faded behind him. The densely grown greenery became a black canopy, blocking out the moonlight and starlight. Nevertheless, the savage’s senses keenly perceived the forest landscape. His dilated pupils and sharpened sense of touch did not miss even the slightest movement of the wild grass.

But that soon reached its limits.

What the woman said was true. She hadn’t gone more than a dozen steps, but before she knew it, a thick, dark fog had surrounded her. The scenery changes in an instant, as if a set boundary has been crossed. An energy that not only blocks vision but also disturbs the senses of smell, hearing, and touch.

It was magical energy spread by the devil.

‘… … .’

The vision just a few steps ahead of me became blurry. A strong, foul smell, like perfume mixed with rotten toner, stung my nose. The faint sounds of screaming and crying lingered in my ears like hallucinations. In order not to be suffocated by the flood of senses, I had no choice but to lower my sensitivity to perceive my surroundings.

However, Kadim twitched the corner of his mouth as if it was better.

Judging by the range and intensity of the magic, it was clearly a demon of considerable level. This time, he had found a truly useful prey. He also had a means of finding the demon without getting lost in the magic.

‘As expected, you were here.’

A line of countless caterpillars. The hornless caterpillars were scattered in any direction, but the horned ones were crawling in one direction, stabbing each other viciously. Like a turbulent current blindly heading toward the sea.

The one without horns is probably a female, and the one with horns is probably a male.

Kadim was lost in thought as he followed the flow of caterpillars.

The reason why only male caterpillars crawl somewhere, the reason why the villagers and scouts who went out hunting went missing, the reason why the woman was able to return without being possessed by the devil, the reason why Duncan could not be brought to this forest… . All of these resulted in one cause.

The demons that run rampant in this forest are of a species with just such characteristics.

‘Mae-Yeong-Jong’, a demon who tempts and seduces the opposite sex by appealing to their lust and desires.

The life captured by it craves only the devil’s attention and favor, makes extreme sacrifices and devotion, and is discarded like a devoted partner the moment its value runs out.

Although there is a limitation that it can only capture individuals of the opposite sex, it is a demon that is more difficult to deal with than the ‘Possessed Species’ once it has formed a force. It is not that its body is weak, and the possessed servants will perform unimaginable acts to protect the demon.

However, as the ability was simply powerful, its strategy was also relatively simple. Kadim knew very well how to deal with the charmed demon.

‘You just have to cut off the guy’s breath without being possessed by the devil.’

When the devil dies, the delusions of his servants will naturally disappear.

However, a simple strategy does not necessarily mean an easy path.

In order to suffocate the devil, he had no choice but to first kill the slaves of lust lurking beyond the fog.

– It won’t turn off… . … Crackling.

– … crackle, crackle… .

In the pitch-black smoke, a thick groan and a sticky feeling could be felt. Even for the most skilled warriors, it was nearly impossible to estimate the enemy’s identity, direction, and distance in this situation.

Not for Kadim. It reawakened her senses that had been extinguished. The enemy’s true identity is undoubtedly giant thorn bugs. By twisting my upper body and tensing my biceps, I built up strength and threw the salmon in the correct direction.

Parararararararaak, fur – oops!

– … Jii!

– Crackle, crackle… .

– Support, support… .

As one of them died, the others moved faster. They were moving at a speed that was hard to believe for a mere insect. Kadim caught the gravity of the salmon that was returning, and at the same time threw his Hellfire Dagger into the fog.

Whoosh – woosh, squeak, creak!

Wedge – Liquid, rumbling!!

– Jiiiii… Jiiiii… Jii…

The ax pulverized the tree into pieces and ground the heads of the insects, and the dagger flew away leaving a trail of red flames and burned the insects’ bodies. As soon as the hilt landed on his knuckles, Kadim threw it back and sprinted toward the direction where he had thrown the dagger.

– Not that big…

Ugh – Ugh!

– Yikes!

As I was making my way, I came across a guy who was standing up straight and flailing his chest legs, and I stabbed him. The mosquito’s blade cut through the soft flesh of the chin and swallowed the sticky body fluid. Perhaps it wasn’t a very satisfying taste, and the sword body trembled slightly as if it were disgusted.

– Sizzle, sizzle!

– Support support, support support support!

As soon as he retrieved his dagger, the thornbugs began to surround Kadim in earnest. Kadim calmly prepared to respond.

I threw the ax away, dodging the venom that spewed out from the snout of the guy in front. I hit the top of the head of the guy coming behind me with my fist. His head was caved in, one of his eyes was crushed, and fishy body fluid was splashing out. Suddenly, I broke the joints of his body, threw away the convulsing guy, and stabbed another spiny bug with my blade and split it apart.

Crunch!

– Squeak!

Whoa – Yeah, pararaeraeraerarack!

He retrieved the axe and threw it back. He grabbed the thorn bug by the collar and picked it up. He spun it around, shaking off the ones around him, and then slammed it into the tree with centrifugal force. The joints snapped into pieces and the kneaded intestines spilled out like vomit from the forked mouth. The other guys couldn’t move either, as they were hit by the thorns stuck in the back of the one who had swung it.

A mess of venom and fluid, viscera and screams. Insects flailing their chests and legs in a desperate manner before dying.

– Crap!

– Squeak, squeak!

The deathly scream echoed, buried in the fog. Crushed, cut, and dismembered corpses piled up in an instant. It was obvious to anyone that a large thorn bug could be no match for a barbarian warrior.

Around that time, I felt the presence of a new enemy through the tree branches. Kadim threw the salmon upward just in time.

Pararaeraraerarak – !

The falling enemy narrowly avoided the axe blade and struck down. Kadim also dodged the attack with a step and counterattacked by swinging his mosquito.

Wow!

Instead of the unexpected sound of metal being cut, a metallic sound was heard. Kadim narrowed his eyes and scanned his enemy’s appearance.

An iron shield with a tree pattern and full body armor. Blurry eyes hanging down between helmets. The side not holding a shield had crusty chest legs instead of arms.

It was confirmed that the reconnaissance party that had gone missing was there.

“Me, protect Mesetis, Messe, Mesetis… .”

Although it made strange noises and waved its insect legs, this enemy was in essence human. He was innocently captured by the devil’s hex. It is clear that if the devil is defeated, the delusion will be resolved.

But Kadim did not hesitate to kill.

Parararararararack, kwa – kang!

“Kwaaaaaaa!!”

The returning salmon pierced the armor and savaged the soldier’s sternum and heart.

If you don’t kill these guys in advance, there could be unexpected variables when fighting the demons. You don’t have to kill those who don’t need to be killed, but you also don’t have to let those who are rushing to kill you right away.

Never leave behind regrets. Kadim’s principle of action was still firm. A moment of carelessness could later become a noose that would strangle your neck. It was not too late to show compassion to the enemy after splitting their heads.

“Mr. Mesetis!!”

“Hey, protect Mesetis!!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Even to the demon-possessed soldiers, Khadim willingly gave blood and death equally.

*

Somewhere in the forest, a vacant lot fenced with the pillars of old giant trees.

Pink luminous bodies floating like fireflies illuminated the darkness of dawn. Unlike other places where fog was prevalent, visibility was clear here. However, the unique stench, which seemed to be a mixture of spices and sewage, was stronger and stronger than anywhere else.

In the center was a large, old tree stump. With tangled vines and insects forming armrests and parasitic trees forming a backrest, it looked like a throne for the lord of the forest.

A woman was sitting there, resembling a bright spring day.

Light pink hair flowing like waves of flower petals, and deep eyes under thin eyelashes had a dreamy glow. Running down the smooth bridge of her nose were plump scarlet lips, and in contrast, her clear skin had a healthy glow.

The woman was wearing a robe of faded platinum-like silk. Although it was an unaltered fabric, it looked like a dress that had been worked on by a craftsman, as the curvaceous woman wore it. The hem of the dress was long and hung down under the stump, and those at her feet kept gulping their saliva, wanting to grab it.

The woman rested her elbows on the armrests and leaned diagonally. Many of her bugs were crushed, but her other bugs didn’t care and crawled towards her. Before her eyes, countless servants were lined up on their knees, eager for her attention and favor.

She raised one of them with a slight nod.

The one who was designated was a man who was once the leader of the Galentana Corps. He stood up with a face several times more joyful than when he had been promoted for his achievements. The thorn bugs wriggled, the other monsters with shining eyes, the soldiers who had no choice but to grind their teeth, and countless jealous gazes were fixed on his back.

The woman asked the man in a seductive tone.

“What do you wish for?”

“… yes?”

“There must be something you want from me. “Tell me that.”

“… … .”

After mumbling and hesitating like a boy without a sense of shame, the ten-man leader confessed that he wanted to kiss the back of the woman’s hand. The woman covered her mouth and burst into a refreshing laugh, then smiled faintly like a crescent moon.

“Okay, I’ll allow it.”

“Really?”

“Instead, cut off your right arm and give it to me. That’s not a difficult request, is it?”

The Ten Seals smiled from ear to ear and nodded.

“Yes, willingly.”

He pulled out the dagger tied to his waist and immediately stabbed himself deeply into his shoulder.

Sigh! Tsk tsk, tsk tsk –

Bright red blood flowed as the knife cut through the tough muscle bundle. I managed to cut the muscles and tendons, but the strength wasn’t enough to break the bones and joints. The man planted his dagger on his shoulder and pounded the end of his handle with a stone, puck, peck, peck, as if striking a chisel with his hammer. When his joints became tattered and he twisted his shoulder, his arm finally fell apart.

“Here, here, Mesetis…” .”

The man offered the arm he had barely severed to the woman. Despite the pain that wouldn’t have been surprising if he fainted right away, only ecstatic anticipation was visible on his face.

But the woman had an indifferent expression. He took a quick look at the arm that was handed to her and then threw it on the floor without a care.

“I’m disappointed. I don’t have much muscle, my bones are thin, and my arms are worse than I thought. I can’t keep my promise like this.”

The eyes of the ten-man trembled violently. He rested his forehead on the stone and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mesetis! Yes, but I still have one more arm left! If you give me the opportunity to sacrifice even my left arm… .”

“No, it’s okay. My right arm is so weak, but my left arm is just fine. Would you like to go back to your seat? “We need to give other children a chance too.”

“… … .”

The Ten Seals staggered and retreated back to where they had been. The other servants giggled and sneered. The spiny bugs busily moved their claw-like snouts and gnawed at the woman’s thrown arm.

Similar things kept happening after that.

The woman made the servant stand up and asked for an arm or a leg. Her servants gladly followed her orders. She got the chance to achieve what she wanted if she sacrificed her fair share of limbs. He who did not gained nothing and lost only his limbs. Amid the thick bloody smell, his servants went back and forth between heaven and hell based on a single word from the woman.

But just as the limbs were piled up beside the stump, a fluttering butterfly flew past the woman’s ear.

The butterfly whispered something incomprehensible to humans. The woman’s elegant arms crumpled slightly.

“…All the children you sent out died?”

– … … .

“Hmm, I guess I can just refill it… but something feels off. It’s definitely not a small number… Did other demons invade this place?”

– … … .

“… Not demons, but a human male? “But how can you not be fascinated by me?”

– … … .

“Whew… That kid seems to have a lot of mental strength… Then, does that kid have decent arms and legs?”

– … … .

The woman smiled slightly after hearing the butterfly’s answer. She gently loosened the silk hem on her chest and languidly murmured.

“Guys, there’s something I really want.”

The servants’ eyes brightened with determination as if they would pick the sun and bring it to them if they wanted.

When the woman tilted her chin, the two horns hidden on her temples were fully revealed.