Chapter 36: Subverting Cognition
Her highly recognizable swordsmanship, each slash accompanied by a magic-like cutting technique. Based on this alone…
Lili already had an exceptionally deep impression of Liam, not to mention the spectacular scenes during their encounters.
Defeating Killer Ants, utilizing the way monsters call companions when in danger, using the ant swarm to train himself.
"Madman."
This was Lili's biased view of Liam.
To be precise, he had extreme confidence in his own strength, and those sharp eyes seemed to see through all her innermost thoughts.
Even when dealing hypocritically with the adventurers of the Soma Familia.
She didn't want to get involved with Liam. It felt like all her secrets were laid bare before this guy without reservation.
"Is this..."
"Is he preparing to clear out all these rare species monsters?"
In the dim cave environment, the faint light provided by the fluorescent fruit was refracted by the Blue Butterflies' wings, thin as cicada wings, creating a dazzling light.
The splendid scene made even Lili somewhat dazed.
The scale powder enveloping the space, even from a considerable safe distance, made her breathing a bit labored just by looking at it.
And what broke this unusually brilliant atmosphere.
Were Liam's continuous sword swings in the distance ahead. His speed was so fast that Lili couldn't even capture it with her naked eye, and with every swing.
A sword aura slash, shimmering with flowing light, would be attached!
The speed of his sword swings was very fast.
It even surpassed the speed at which the sword aura erupted. The sword aura was constantly stacking, and the oppressive feeling made her tremble slightly.
Air continuously rushed towards the cave passage, blowing away the thick Blue Butterfly scale powder that was about to converge in front of Liam!
"This guy…"
The faintly glowing scale powder was blown away by the sword aura slashes, making Lili, standing at the corner of the cave passage, feel inexplicably anxious.
Continuing to collect it, she didn't dare to imagine how difficult it would be!
But when she saw the final settlement screen of the sword aura, the battle scene once again subverted her perception of Liam's strength.
"Absolutely, through and through..."
"A monster!!"
Swinging his sword had already become an instinct. Even though he felt the burden on his arms constantly increasing, Liam still went all out.
Short swords dual-wielded in his left and right hands.
The speed of each slash was close to an afterimage, but the price was rapid stamina consumption.
The release speed was noticeably slower, the slashes imbued with a faint, flowing sword aura, tearing apart all the rare species that flapped their wings, delusionally trying to advance.
"Hah!"
He had already accumulated enough sword aura slashes.
As for the finishing move, Liam had already designed it. His hands slashed downwards from above, the sword auras converging in mid-air.
Forming a diagonal cross-slash.
It was as if some special switch had been triggered, bringing along the slower slashes from before.
Sweeping towards the remaining Blue Butterflies present. Even though these rare species monsters were already outside the attack range of the sword aura!
It was still unstoppable.
Not only did it sweep the scale powder permeating the air backward, but when the slashes, imbued with rich sword intent, swept over the Blue Butterflies, in an instant…
The remaining monsters were instantly torn apart!
「Exp +208」
「Exp +208」
The amount of experience gained from killing rare species monsters somewhat exceeded Liam's imagination, reaching the level of a Minotaur.
The most crucial thing was the quantity.
Without any intention of leveling up, by the time he finished fighting the Blue Butterflies.
The Sword Soul template's class level had exceptionally smoothly risen to Lv21. After killing the monsters, not only did magic stones drop.
But also translucent blue butterfly wings.
「Blue Butterfly Wing」
"The harvest seems pretty good."
Even without using skills, maintaining high-intensity continuous sword slashes, the simplified version of "Illusion Sword Dance" he had forcibly "manually inputted."
Its overall effect exceeded Liam's imagination.
It was like a ruthless meat grinder, facing the Blue Butterflies that were like moths to a flame, tearing apart all monsters within its attack range.
The specific price?
For a moment, he even had the feeling that these arms no longer belonged to him.
A powerful sense of exhaustion completely enveloped Liam. His rapidly heaving chest panted heavily, followed by the aching pain in his arms.
"Forced input leads to annihilation." (Humorous self-assessment of his improvised skill)
This thought inexplicably surfaced in his mind. When control of his arms returned, his gaze swept over the densely scattered magic stones and "Blue Butterfly Wings" on the ground.
Even the drops from the rare species.
The overall quantity was quite considerable. Compared to the materials dropped by ordinary monsters, the price that rare species could be sold for.
Would only be higher than Liam imagined!
"This should be enough to repay the debt at Hephaestus's weapon shop, right?"
"."
After picking up all the magic stones and dropped materials, even though his body was exhausted, Liam had no intention of resting here.
Who knew if a demonic wind would suddenly blow from the other end of the cave passage, sweeping up the Blue Butterfly scale powder on the ground? How would he deal with it then?
Just as he was about to head back, a figure, clearly a Pallum, appeared in front of Liam's line of sight.
Their gender was somewhat difficult to discern, their appearance relatively androgynous, without any particularly distinct features.
"Hmm?"
Maintaining a relatively safe distance.
It was basically certain that the battle with the rare species just now had been witnessed entirely by this passing adventurer.
Liam wasn't worried about the secret of his "demonic hand" being discovered. After all, in the dim environment, his sword attacks, fast as afterimages.
Were really hard to capture directly with the naked eye.
Maintaining a cautious attitude, mainly because the magic stones and materials dropped by the rare species were worth a bit of money, he couldn't be sure if they harbored ill intentions.
Being prepared to fight back at any time – being steady was always a good thing!
"."
To be precise, it was a state of mutual vigilance. She had already changed her appearance using "Cinder Ella" magic.
And Lili was certain that it was a look Liam had never seen before.
But the powerful strength this guy displayed, and his sharp eyes that seemed to see through secrets.
She instinctively didn't want to make eye contact. As Liam was about to pass the current passage corner, the sense of humility cultivated from being suppressed.
Directly compelled Lili to retreat.
It was this slight action from Lili that made Liam instantly realize the problem. After all, an adventurer with whom he had no grudge.
When meeting, they might not chat and laugh, but at least they wouldn't be this nervous, right?
Her gaze darted away, especially her obvious act of moving towards a dark corner to make way.
"Strong sense of sneakiness!"
"."
Her appearance was very different from Liam's impression, a completely unfamiliar face, yet there was an unusual sense of familiarity.
Combined with the confusion arising in his heart.
His expression gradually became strange. Also a Pallum, could it be Lili using "Cinder Ella" magic?
There was no point in guarding against a thief for a thousand days. (Idiom: It's impossible to be vigilant forever.)
Even if the other party really wasn't Lili, if it was a passing adventurer, it could be treated as a misunderstanding. But if it was as he guessed.
Wasn't this also a kind of warning tap?
Just as he was about to brush past the Pallum adventurer, Liam's sudden pause in his steps plunged the atmosphere into a deathly silence.
"Then let me ask you."
When he turned his head, his eyes were like a calm, deep lake. His calm tone, however, brought Lili an extremely strong sense of oppression.
"Why are you here? It can't be another coincidence, can it!"
"."
The moment her identity was recognized by Liam, Lili only felt the sound of the tightly wound string deep in her heart snapping.
A strong ringing sound echoed in her ears.
Her mind went blank for a moment. Why was it that after using "Cinder Ella" magic to change her appearance, other adventurers hadn't noticed.
Yet, only when facing Liam, her identity was still instantly seen through…
The extreme oppressiveness suffusing his calm tone brought Lili to the verge of an emotional breakdown.
The magic disguise effect completely failed at this moment, revealing her original delicate and cute girlish face, still carrying a touch of childishness.
"I said I listened to your advice, wanting to understand the working principle of poison, and then came here."
"It really was a coincidence that I met you…"
A stiff smile was forced onto the young woman's face. Even when looking at Liam to explain, her voice carried a thick, tearful tone, "Do you believe me?"
(End of this chapter)