The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 77



Only Krnovel

Episode 77. Every Moment, Every Time (6)

Instead of rushing forward, Duncan slowly took a step back.

It wasn’t about running away. It would be foolish to compete head-to-head with an opponent of that caliber. He hid his dagger in its sheath, held his breath, lowered his footsteps, and hid among the rubble.

Agon’s angry horn furrowed his brow.

The peddler was away, leaving the group defenseless. It seemed like an easy task to just walk forward and cut off the madman’s head.

But that couldn’t be the case. There were several terrain features along the way that were perfect for hiding. The peddler’s intention to jump out at one of them and make a surprise attack was clearly visible.

“… … .”

Even if you knew about it, it was difficult to deal with. When the author decided to hide, he was strangely invisible. These ruins, where there were many good hiding places, were the most advantageous battlefield for those cockroach-like peddlers.

However, if his physical condition had been good, it wouldn’t have been a big problem, but due to the previous battle and the side effects, Agon’s angry horn was on the verge of collapsing. The pain of his muscles melting and his bones aching surged in like a tide. If he were stabbed by a dagger even once more in this state, he would not be able to avoid serious injury.

But I absolutely could not leave it alone.

That cheeky man dared to call himself a ‘fake warrior’. It was an insult tantamount to denying his entire life.

Agon’s angry horn strode forward with a curious look in his eyes. He figured that if he tried to take the group’s head anyway, the peddler would have no choice but to come out.

Sure enough, before he could even get there, a peddler appeared first.

Whoosh whoosh – !

The dagger’s hellfire did not reach this time. Agon’s angry horn quickly swung its axe as soon as it saw the rushing spirit.

Boo – Wow!

Duncan ducked as if he was kneeling and dodged the wide ax blade by a narrow margin. He turned pale and tried to walk away, but changed his mind in an instant and burrowed inside.

“Aaaah!”

Bub – ugh!

“Ugh!”

There were too many gaps. The thief struck the shin first. Duncan’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. His bones were crushed and the pain spread out. He barely resisted the urge to scream and collapse, limping away.

“……under.”

Agon’s angry horn laughed in vain. He was only good at hiding like a rat, but the peddler’s inaction was shameful to even mention. No matter how bad his physical condition was, it was ridiculous that he was nervous about facing such a person.

“Ugh, wow!”

He made several more surprise attacks, but the results were not much different. Agon’s angry horns blocked the attacks each time and counterattacked.

Chin, grunting – !

The peddler who was finally hit dropped his dagger. He stabbed the peddler with the end of the axe handle. His narrow chest caved in and his ribs broke like corn stalks.

Flutter!

“Turn it off, uhuh… … .”

Duncan falls out of shock. Agon’s angry horn struck the final blow.

Write it – oops!

“Ahhh, ahhhhhh!”

The axe blade tore through his clothes and left a long gash on his chest. It was fortunate that he had cut it while still facing him, but if he had struck with all his heart, the peddler would have already been reduced to a shapeless, meaty paste.

Still, that alone was fatal enough. Duncan was not a barbarian warrior who saw things like being pierced in the abdomen or having his limbs shattered on a daily basis.

“Geng, gegeng, ugh…” … .”

Every time he breathed, blood gushed out from his torn chest muscle tissue. His vision blurred and came back again repeatedly, and his heart beat irregularly. The excruciating pain he had never experienced before colored his mind with a color more red than fresh blood. Duncan struggled pitifully, scratching the ground with his bent fingers.

The match has already been decided. The opponent lost his weapon and was seriously injured. Agon’s angry horn swatted away the flaming dagger with his paw and looked down at the peddler.

“Under the precepts of the barren wilderness, every struggle is sacred. I highly commend the courage with which you boldly rush in, even though your power is as weak as that of an insect.”

“Geheok, oh my, oh my… … .”

“But the majestic Atala said that distinguishing between bravery and courage is also a warrior’s virtue. You should have persuaded me somehow, rather than insulting me with nonsense. This madman is really the ‘Great Warrior of Atala’, what kind of nonsense… … .”

At that moment, the peddler, who was struggling in pain, suddenly turned and jumped up.

“Get behind me, fuck!”

Then he struck the enemy’s foot without giving him a chance to escape.

Boom, boom, growl – !

Rising hellfire.

The giant’s eyes bulged with excitement. He couldn’t understand it at all. He had clearly dropped the dagger over there. Where on earth did the other one come from?

Duncan curled the corners of his mouth with difficulty. He still hadn’t forgotten the advice Khadim had given him while they were sparring and getting beaten up.

‘It would be good to make a weapon that the enemy does not know about. When the enemy swings his sword honestly, you can throw the stone you have hidden in his face.’

So before sneaking through the rubble, I snatched another dagger from Khadim’s belt, hoping to stab him with this hidden dagger when his enemy let down his guard, confident that he had won.

Whoosh whoosh – !

The surprise attack was more effective than expected. The hellfire was not extinguished by simply stomping a foot. It quickly surrounded the entire leg, eating away at flesh and armor.

There was only one way to put out this fire. Agon’s angry horn closed his eyes helplessly and recited his prayer.

“[Atala, the vanguard of the indomitable army. Look down upon your warriors, lead them into battle with torches… … .]”

Like a dusty wind, the ‘Holy Spirit of Atala’ rushed in and extinguished the flames again. However, the burden I was already carrying was enormous, so I accepted the energy once again and crossed the line.

Now the side effects have exploded out of control.

The steel-like arm fell limply. The other arm also hung tattered and tattered, and the two strong legs swayed like reeds. Duncan momentarily forgot the pain and stared blankly at the warrior melting like glue.

Iron Groove –

Agon’s angry horn dropped his axe and pulled out his iron water bottle. With a sip, there was a sip of its contents left. He was about to drink it quickly and pour it on the cut.

At that moment, a peddler who suddenly became a dead body caught my eye.

His eyes, like those of a fish, were unfocused and his face had turned purple. It was obvious that he would die within a few days.

“… … .”

Agon’s angry horn narrowed its brows and frowned in thought.

He was the one who had caused me this by committing outrageous insults. Still, it was a shame to leave him to die. Despite such serious injuries and such a small body, he never gave in and stuck his fangs in… How long has it been since I’ve encountered an enemy with such amazing fighting spirit?

The precepts of the wilderness say: Winners are right and losers are wrong. However, considering the difference in military power between the two, this duel was virtually his own defeat.

A decision was made. Agon’s angry horn approached the peddler with a solemn expression.

“… … Correct me. I was wrong. You are not a weakling like an insect, but a warrior with a will as strong as a rock.”

Then he poured the contents onto his chest.

Thick golden liquid poured out, bubbles of blood bubbled and the burns were slightly regenerated.

“Keuk, ugh! Huh… … .”

“This duel is your victory. This last sip is a tribute of surrender from the loser to the winner… … .”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh… … .”

“Of course, it won’t be easy to live because a lot of blood has already been shed. But, as if you dared to face me and still survive… … Do your best to survive somehow… … . and… … Tell it to your group. If you want to find out who the true owner of this ax is, be sure to come to Agon… … .”

“Ooooooo… … .”

“I will be waiting there… … . The madman who brings destruction and the peddlers who serve him… … .”

With those words, Agon’s angry horn turned away. Then he limped away, unsteady and unsteady. With his severed arm tucked under his side, and his wicked battle-axe dragging behind him, he turned his back to the twilight and went beyond the distant walls.

A devastated silence.

Duncan blinked slowly. The sky, which was once blue, had already taken on a reddish color, like a fallen fruit that had ripened to the point of falling.

There was no time to think about the joy of victory. A chill tightened my nerves, but after a while I barely felt any pain. His consciousness wavered like a melted candle. It didn’t seem that bad to lose my life like this.

But Duncan suddenly came to his senses.

This kind of languid compliance with death was too vain. I decided to do at least one more thing before I die. For Khadim, who will one day face that fierce warrior again.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…” … .”

He desperately crawled towards the pile of rubble, dragging his tattered body.

*

It is noon, when brilliant sunlight reaches through the collapsed rubble.

Kadim slowly raised his eyelids.

Even after waking up, it didn’t feel real at all. An unpleasant lingering feeling still lingered and ran down my spine. Kadim touches his forehead and presses his temples.

‘What on earth… … did I see? What the heck is that red thing in the ground… … .’

Memories leaked out like water flowing through a gap in my hand. I tried to recall them a few more times, but gave up. It seemed more urgent to deal with the problems of reality than to deal with the ominous contents of the dream.

A sunken pit, he was trapped in a ruin piled high with debris. It wasn’t hard to guess who had created this desolate place.

“… … .”

When I tried to stand up, I felt a pain that felt like my muscles were going to snap. It was the price I paid for being fully doped, summoning up the strength of the first round, and using an unbearable amount of strength. I closed my eyes tightly and endured the pain until I was finally able to hold my body up.

Kadim searched through the rubble for his belongings. The salmon was quickly found thanks to the ‘return’ effect, and the stone tablets used to search for blood demons and ruins were also found nearby. However, I couldn’t see a hellfire dagger and a lignified thorn, so I decided to go a little further and look around.

But before the weapons, I discovered traces that couldn’t be just ignored.

A long blood trail extending from the foot to the other side.

Kadim furrowed his eyebrows.

‘It’s not mine. It’s not the devil’s either. Judging by the remaining moisture, it must have been relatively new, but there were no signs of survivors in the city… … .’

There was a need to check whose blood it was. Holding a sword and an ax in both hands, he took steps without hesitation.

Blood stains continued into the crevices of the wreckage. The road was densely filled with junk and stones, so it was not easy to move forward. Kadim frowned and made his way through the narrow stone maze. Then, when we reached a slightly wider section, we found the owner of the blood stain.

It was a familiar face.

Duncan was lying covered in blood, holding a leather canteen in both hands.

The contents were leaking out of a leather canteen whose lid was not properly closed. A strong, fishy odor passed my nose. It was a very familiar smell to Kadim.

It was the devil’s blood.

“… … .”

His eyebrows furrowed and he twitched and trembled convulsively.

I didn’t understand. Why is Duncan, who should be at the defensive line, here? Why is he acting like that? Where did he put his luggage and dagger… … .

When I got closer and examined him, he was unconscious. Although he was breathing and had a pulse, his body temperature had already cooled and his heartbeat was weak, so it seemed like he wouldn’t last long.

“… … .”

Kadim was lost in thought.

He was not a priest with healing grace, a shaman who brewed miraculous elixirs, or a wizard who performed mysterious tricks. However, there was just one way to revive even a seriously injured person whose life was in danger. The problem was that the process was ridiculously ignorant and terrible… … .

I didn’t really want to do it, but I had no choice.

Duncan couldn’t just die. He had proven his worth. He still needed this guide and porter on his journey. And he had to be kept alive to find out what had happened… .

He held the hilt of the blood demon’s sword firmly in both Duncan’s hands and placed the blade on his forearm. Then, he concentrated his mind and activated ‘Hydra’s Tattoo’.

A clear red light blooms from the pattern.

Kadim started cutting off his forearms one after another.

Sseure – ugh! Sseure – ugh! Sseure – ugh!

The creepy sound of breaking flesh, the blood flowing steadily, the skin splitting and regenerating infinitely.

The fierce face was distorted by dark red light and shade. The intense pain of flesh being torn apart chewed on his mind. Nevertheless, he continued to cut without shedding a single groan. The red blade ceaselessly took the master’s gushing blood and offered it to the one holding the handle.

Red smoke gradually rose from Duncan’s body.

*

As the sun began to set, Duncan finally opened his eyes.

As soon as he woke up, he said proudly with the corners of his lips trembling.

“I’ll be better… … Well, I… … Ah, I won the battle against Agon’s angry horn… … . Thanks to the teachings I gave you earlier… … Hehehe… … .”

“… … .”

A chilling silence.

Kadim sighed softly, rubbing his forearm. If I had known that his head was damaged, I would have just let him die in peace. He looked away and spoke in a sigh.

“… … Just rest a little longer until you come to your senses.”