The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 4: Dense Forest Arc I
Chapter 9: Survival Beyond Limits
Something is watching me.
Not close
But it sees me
[Danger Sensed]
My body tightens.
The air changes.
Cold.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
"…I have to—"
"…run."
I move.
The ground blurs beneath my feet. Branches snap behind me.
Leaves scatter as my body cuts through the forest.
Something shifts.
Not chasing.
Following.
Watching.
Waiting.
…Not something I can fight.
"Don't stop."
Even for a second—
I die.
Movement—left.
A Shadow Fang Wolf lunges.
I react instantly.
No thought.
No delay.
A step. A shift. A breath.
Everything sharpens.
My blade moves.
The wolf's claws scrape past my shoulder.
Close.
Too close.
I cut.
Clean.
It drops.
+1500 EXP
[EXP: 20,100 / 22,000]
Another appears from behind.
Faster.
I duck.
Its body passes over me.
I turn—
Cut upward.
It splits mid-air.
+1700 EXP
[EXP: 21,800 / 22,000]
A third doesn't wait.
It bites straight at me.
I block.
Barely.
The force pushes me back.
"…It was getting worse."
I step forward.
One strike.
It falls.
+1900 EXP
[EXP: 23,700 / 22,000]
[Level Up]
[Level 114 → 115]
[EXP: 1,700 / 24,000]
No pause.
No time.
Heavy footsteps approach.
An Ironhide Boar charges.
Fast.
Too heavy.
I sidestep—
Not enough.
Its body grazes my side.
Pain explodes.
Sharp.
Immediate.
I stabilize.
Step forward.
Strike.
Again.
Again.
It collapses.
+2600 EXP
[EXP: 4,300 / 24,000]
Warmth spreads.
The wound closes.
Slow.
But enough.
…Recovery.
A sharp sound—
Above.
A Razor Vine Serpent drops.
Too fast.
It slices my arm.
Blood spills instantly.
No hesitation.
I counter.
One clean cut.
It falls.
+2200 EXP
[EXP: 6,500 / 24,000]
More.
Always more.
Three this time.
Different directions.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 132]
[Level: 141]
[Level: 156]
They attack together.
Left—
I dodge.
Right—
I block.
Front—
I step in.
Slash.
One falls.
+2400 EXP
[EXP: 8,900 / 24,000]
Second—
Cut across.
+2700 EXP
[EXP: 11,600 / 24,000]
Third jumps—
I wait.
Then strike mid-air.
It drops.
+3000 EXP
[EXP: 14,600 / 24,000]
No silence.
No break.
A heavier presence approaches.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 178]
A Blackclaw Bear.
It roars.
The ground trembles.
It charges.
I block—
Impact shakes my entire body.
My arms tremble.
…Strong.
It swings again.
I duck.
Step in.
Strike deep.
Again.
Again.
Again.
It finally collapses.
+3800 EXP
[EXP: 18,400 / 24,000]
A Venomtail Scorpion strikes.
Its tail hits.
Burning pain spreads instantly.
…Poison.
My vision shakes.
My breath tightens.
I cut it down immediately.
+2600 EXP
[EXP: 21,000 / 24,000]
Warmth spreads.
The poison fades.
Slow.
But enough.
Breathing steadies.
"…I am alive…"
A breath escapes.
"…because my recovery and perception skill is working."
Without it—
I would already be dead.
More footsteps.
Two.
Then three.
Then more.
I don't think.
I move.
Slash.
Turn.
Strike.
+3200 EXP
+3400 EXP
+3600 EXP
[EXP: 31,200 / 24,000]
[Level Up]
[Level 115 → 116]
[EXP: 7,200 / 26,500]
No rest.
Fight.
Move.
Kill.
Survive.
Time begins to blur.
The forest doesn't end.
It only deepens.
And the monsters—
keep coming.
Stronger.
Faster.
Relentless.
More.
Always more.
The forest doesn't slow.
It doesn't pause.
It doesn't give space to breathe.
Movement—everywhere.
Front.
Back.
Left.
Right.
No pattern.
No rhythm.
Only pressure.
I move.
Slash.
Turn.
Step.
Cut.
+4000 EXP
[EXP: 11,200 / 26,500]
+3800 EXP
[EXP: 15,000 / 26,500]
+3500 EXP
[EXP: 18,500 / 26,500]
A creature lunges from above—
I shift—
Too slow.
Its claws tear across my back.
Pain bursts through my body.
Hot.
Sharp.
My breath breaks.
"…Too close."
I turn.
Cut.
It drops.
+4200 EXP
[EXP: 22,700 / 26,500]
Another comes.
Then another.
Three.
Five.
Eight.
They don't hesitate.
They don't wait.
They rush.
All at once.
"I have to… Focus."
I step forward.
Not back.
Slash.
One falls.
+4100 EXP
[EXP: 26,800 / 26,500]
[Level Up]
[Level 116 → 117]
[EXP: 300 / 28,500]
No pause.
Another strikes from the right.
I block—
Barely.
Impact shakes my arms.
I twist.
Cut across its chest.
+4500 EXP
[EXP: 4,800 / 28,500]
A third jumps—
I duck.
Turn.
Strike upward.
+4700 EXP
[EXP: 9,500 / 28,500]
A fourth—
Too fast.
It hits.
My side splits open.
Blood spills.
Warm.
Heavy.
"…I am not gonna die."
Recovery activates.
Slow.
Too slow.
I step forward again.
Strike.
+5200 EXP
[EXP: 14,700 / 28,500]
Another wave.
Larger.
Heavier.
Stronger.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 189]
[Level: 204]
[Level: 217]
…Higher.
They move differently.
Not wild.
Not careless.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
They attack together.
I move.
Left—dodge.
Right—block.
Front—step in.
Slash.
+5600 EXP
[EXP: 20,300 / 28,500]
Turn.
Cut.
+5900 EXP
[EXP: 26,200 / 28,500]
The last one lunges.
I wait.
Half a second.
Then—
Strike.
+6200 EXP
[EXP: 32,400 / 28,500]
[Level Up]
[Level: 118]
[EXP: 3,900 / 31,000]
No silence.
No break.
The forest answers with more.
Always more.
My breathing deepens.
Heavier now.
But steady.
Still controlled.
"…Keep moving."
A heavy sound—
Behind me.
I turn.
Too late.
Impact.
A massive body crashes into me.
I'm thrown.
The ground tears beneath me.
Air leaves my lungs.
"…Damn."
I force myself up.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 228]
A Steelhide Boar.
Larger than before.
Faster.
It charges again.
No thought of pause.
No hesitation.
I move—
Forward.
Not away.
Step in.
"You are not needed."
Strike.
No effect.
"…What is it made of?"
It hits again.
My body shakes.
Pain spreads deeper.
Recovery—
Working.
But slow.
Too slow.
I tighten my grip.
Step again.
"…YOU WILL DIE!"
Strike.
"…Just… DIEEE."
Again.
Again.
Again.
The blade digs deeper.
"It cut dragon…"
"…then who you think you are…"
It roars.
Then—
Falls.
+8800 EXP
[EXP: 12,700 / 31,000]
No time.
Another wave.
I got annoyed.
"Who gave birth to them!"
Five.
Ten.
More behind them.
"…What's their problem!"
"…They aren't stopping."
"…They are still coming."
Chapter End
Next Chapter: Survival Beyond Limits (2)
Time: Monday, 6PM GMT +5:30