In that moment, Rayne regained awareness of the golden sword still clenched in his right hand.
He frowned—imagining another sword in his left hand, and at that very instant, an identical one materialized out of thin air.
{DING! The weapon core has fused with you, Master. Every time you imagine a weapon, it will manifest instantly.}
The system's voice echoed inside his head unbidden, as if it already knew exactly what Rayne needed.
Rayne tightened his grip on both swords. When he imagined the blades disappearing, they vanished instantly—and when he thought of another weapon, a new shape immediately formed in his hands.
{DING! The monsters are getting closer, Master.}
{Analyzing number… nine monsters.}
Rayne kept staring at the weapons in his hands and spoke softly,
"The system, right?"
"I still can't believe this, but—"
"What's the best solution in this situation?"
{DING! If you jump, the chance of survival is extremely low—almost impossible. But if you fight, though still slim, the odds are slightly better, especially if luck is on your side.}
Rayne clicked his tongue. "Don't tell me you're just giving me options for how to die."
{If you wish to fight, it is best to study the Book of a Thousand Blades first.}
"Don't joke with me! You think I have time to study right now!?"
{DING! With the system's aid, all knowledge within the book will be implanted directly into your brain. The process takes only a few seconds.}
Rayne's eyes widened slightly. "Do it now!" he shouted without hesitation.
A moment later, his head felt as if it were being crushed from the inside.
The world trembled. His vision spun.
He dropped to one knee, holding himself up with the sword that nearly slipped from his grip.
A scream tore from his throat.
Veins bulged across his neck and temples, his body tensed, his skull felt as though it was being shattered apart.
Rayne struck his own head repeatedly, desperate to end the unbearable pain.
But a few seconds later—the agony suddenly stopped.
His breathing was ragged, his vision blurry, yet his mind was now overflowing… with knowledge.
Of swords. Bows. Spears. Guns. Everything.
Boom… Boom… Boom…
GROAAARRR…
The sound of pounding footsteps and monstrous roars drew nearer, shaking the air.
Rayne rose to his feet. His knees still trembled, but his gaze was fiercer than the beasts rushing toward him.
"I won't let them take away this life that's just started to mean something."
Golden light flickered in his pupils.
Two golden finger guards appeared on his right hand; in his left, a bow radiating a strange aura took shape.
Of all ranged weapons, he chose the bow—because that was the one he truly mastered.
Ssshhh…
The bowstring drew back. Golden light gathered, forming an arrow.
Crack!
Swoooosh!
The arrow shot forth like lightning, piercing through the chest of the leading monster.
But their skin was too tough—it would take dozens of arrows to bring down just one.
Rayne didn't stop. He drew the string again and again, even as his hands went numb.
{DING! Archery skill +1}
{DING! Killed two level one and two monsters, gained fifteen hunting points.}
{DING! Strength increased +1.}
{DING! Intelligence increased +1.}
Hundreds of arrows were fired, yet the monsters kept charging forward.
When they were only dozens of meters away, Rayne transformed the bow into a sword and a gun, then imagined golden armor wrapping around his body.
(The armor wasn't just protection—it was a weapon that amplified every attack and reaction of its wearer.)
Rayne glanced at the gun in his hand.
According to the knowledge from the Book of a Thousand Blades, firearms were the strongest ranged weapons—but also the hardest to control. That was why he hadn't used one earlier.
"I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't try this," he muttered.
He pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The golden bullet pierced the monster's hide, leaving only a small hole.
Rayne's arm jerked back violently from the recoil.
His hand went numb, but he still gripped the gun tightly.
Bang!
Another shot—missed.
The monsters were too close now.
Dash!
Rayne dashed forward, slashing while rolling under an attack. The armor helped him move freely, weightless, like a layer of air on his skin.
The battle turned insane.
Monsters three times his size lunged in waves.
Rayne ran, jumped, dodged, slashing at their legs while firing at weak points whenever he saw them.
Slash!
Bang! Bang!
His slashes barely left marks.
His bullets only pierced the outer hide.
Until one monster spewed flames.
Rayne instinctively slashed forward—
The flames split apart, reversed course, and engulfed the monster itself.
The creature roared, eyes blazing like embers.
{DING! Intelligence increased +1.}
Rayne's breathing grew heavier.
His left arm trembled violently, the bones nearly cracking from recoil.
Another monster leaped and smashed the ground, shattering stones around them.
Rayne jumped aside, almost falling, but slashed at its leg.
A shallow cut—but enough to make it howl.
The creature swung a massive claw.
Rayne blocked—and was sent flying three meters away.
His chest caved in, blood spraying from his mouth.
Yet he still stood.
{DING! Endurance increased +1.}
He bit his lip and forced his body to move.
The sword in his hand trembled, but he swung again.
His left hand was completely numb—only instinct remained.
{DING! Swordsmanship skill +1.}
A monster attacked from behind—Rayne spun and stabbed straight into its gut.
Hot blood splattered across his face. He kicked the beast back and fired twice into the same wound.
Bang! Bang!
The monster staggered, then collapsed.
{DING! Killed a level four monster, gained twenty hunting points.}
{DING! Shooting Skill +1}
{DING! Intelligence has increased +1}
{DING! Strength +2.}
{DING! Endurance +1.}
Six monsters remained—bigger, fiercer, their eyes glowing red.
Rayne lifted his sword with his right hand.
His left hand, trembling uncontrollably, still aimed the gun forward.
Bang!
The bullet bounced off the monster's skin.
Before he could react—
Thwack!!
A massive tail slammed into him.
Rayne's body was thrown hard, crashing into a boulder that cracked upon impact.
Spikes from the monster's tail pierced his chest, tearing through the armor as if it were paper.
Blood poured out, his breath ragged like a dying man's.
{DING! Endurance +2}
Even with his body nearly crushed, Rayne bowed his head, gripping the blood-soaked sword tightly.
He stared straight at the monster—his golden eyes still burning with unyielding light.
"It's not… over yet…"