The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 4: Dense Forest Arc I
Day 17.
I'm still alive.
My breathing is uneven. My body feels light—and unbearably heavy at the same time.
Blood stains my clothes. Some wounds are gone. Some remain.
…Recovery.
It's working.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
"I should have fallen…"
But I'm still standing.
"…Because of this."
[Level: 261]
[EXP: 18,400 / 86,000]
Movement—everywhere.
They don't stop.
They don't slow down.
Dozens.
No—more.
I move.
Slash. Turn. Step. Cut.
[+15,200 EXP]
[+16,800 EXP]
[EXP: 50,400 / 86,000]
Blood spills.
Not just theirs.
Mine too.
A strike lands.
My arm tears open.
Pain spreads instantly.
The wound begins to close—
…but not fully.
"…Not enough."
Another hit.
Then another.
My breathing breaks.
"I… can't keep this up…"
My vision shakes.
For a moment—
My legs almost give in.
"I'm… going to collapse…"
No.
Not yet.
I force myself forward.
[+17,600 EXP]
[+18,900 EXP]
[EXP: 86,900 / 86,000]
[Level Up]
[Level 261 → 262]
[EXP: 900 / 89,500]
More footsteps.
A presence ahead.
Heavier.
Different.
I stop.
"…What is that?"
"Appraisal."
[Level: 528]
…
My grip tightens.
It doesn't move.
Just watching.
…Like I'm prey.
Behind me—
More monsters.
Stronger ones.
No space.
No escape.
"…One mistake…"
I take a breath.
"…and I die."
They attack together.
Left—
I dodge.
Right—
I step in.
Front—
I strike.
[+19,200 EXP]
[+21,500 EXP]
[+23,800 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 262 → 265]
[EXP: 75,400 / 98,000]
It moves.
The Level 528 monster.
Too fast.
I barely react.
The ground explodes behind me.
My body trembles.
That wasn't an attack—
…that was pressure.
"I… can't fight this…"
My voice cracks.
For the first time—
I hesitate.
"…I need rest…"
"…I've pushed myself too far…"
My legs feel unstable.
My grip weakens.
"…If I didn't come here…"
No.
My eyes sharpen.
"…No."
"I chose this."
"I have to…"
"…become stronger…"
"…STRONGER!"
"…Silent Death."
Everything slows.
The world shifts.
My body becomes lighter.
Faster.
Sharper.
I step in.
Cut.
Again.
Again.
The blade connects—
This time—
It bleeds.
[+35,000 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 265 → 270]
[EXP: 12,400 / 112,000]
The monster moves.
Even faster.
I barely dodge.
Even now—
…it's stronger.
I step back.
Silent Death fades.
My body crashes.
Heavy.
Too heavy.
My breathing breaks completely.
"…I can't… use that again…"
My vision blurs.
"I'm… going to become unconscious…"
My knees tremble.
I almost fall.
But—
I don't.
"…Not yet…"
Recovery keeps me standing.
Barely.
"…I'm still alive…"
"…So I move."
More monsters.
Even more.
They don't stop.
They never stop.
"This won't end…"
[+28,000 EXP]
[+31,500 EXP]
[+36,000 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 270 → 280]
[EXP: 5,900 / 135,000]
I turn.
And run.
Even while running—
I cut.
I dodge.
I survive.
[+40,000 EXP]
[+44,000 EXP]
[+48,500 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 280 → 295]
[+52,000 EXP]
[+56,000 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 295 → 310]
[+60,000 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 310 → 327]
[EXP: 6,800 / 180,000]
My body is breaking.
But my level keeps rising.
…
"…I'm still alive."
"Half a month…"
The Adventurer Guild is quieter than usual.
A man leans against the wall.
"That E-rank kid…"
"He hasn't returned."
Another voice answers—
"He went alone."
A pause.
"…He's dead."
No one argues.
"Ren hasn't come back…"
A villager stands near the fields.
"He said he would return soon."
The wind moves gently.
No answer comes.
"…Be safe."
My legs move on their own.
Branches break behind me.
The ground shakes.
It's still there.
Following.
Watching.
Waiting.
I don't look back.
I don't stop.
…I run.
My legs don't stop.
Even when they should.
Even when they can't.
Each step feels heavier than the last.
My breathing is broken.
My vision shakes.
"…Still…"
I drag myself forward.
"…not safe…"
[Level: 327]
[EXP: 6,800 / 180,000]
Movement—again.
Closer.
Stronger.
"Heavier…"
"Appraisal."
[Level: 284]
[Level: 309]
[Level: 336]
They attack together.
Left—
I dodge late.
Claws graze my side.
Pain spreads.
I step in.
Slash.
[+9,800 EXP]
Turn.
Cut across.
[+10,600 EXP]
Third lunges—
I wait—
Then strike mid-air.
[+11,900 EXP]
[EXP: 39,100 / 180,000]
My breathing breaks again.
"…Slow…"
My body feels heavier.
"I'm reaching… my limit…"
More footsteps.
More presences.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 352]
[Level: 371]
They move fast.
No hesitation.
One hits.
My shoulder tears open.
Pain explodes.
Recovery starts—
Slow.
Too slow.
"…Not enough…"
I step forward.
Strike.
[+12,800 EXP]
Second—
Cut deeper.
[+14,200 EXP]
[EXP: 66,100 / 180,000]
My legs shake.
My vision dims.
"I'm going to… collapse…"
Movement—behind me.
Still coming.
Still endless.
"I don't need food…"
"…I need rest…"
Another presence.
Heavier.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 401]
It moves.
Too fast.
I barely dodge.
The ground explodes behind me.
My balance breaks.
"I… can't fight this…"
My knees tremble.
"…I can't…"
Something shifts.
Inside.
My body straightens.
A step.
Clean.
Precise.
…I'm not doing this.
The monster attacks—
Dodged.
Another—
Avoided.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
My body moves on its own.
Through trees.
Through shadows.
Through danger.
It doesn't fight.
It escapes.
Time passes.
Minutes…
Then—
It stops.
A hidden place.
Dark.
Quiet.
My body lowers slowly.
Control fades.
Everything returns.
Pain.
Weight.
Mine.
"…What… was…"
I collapse.
My breathing is rough.
"…Still… alive…"
Recovery works.
Slow.
Steady.
The wounds close—
…but not fully.
"…Not enough…"
"…Just… a little…"
My eyes close.
…
Time passes.
Six hours.
…
My eyes open.
My body feels lighter.
Still weak.
Still injured.
—but moving.
"…That wasn't me…"
Silence answers.
But something remains.
Faint.
Watching.
Movement—again.
They found me.
"…Already?"
Three monsters rush at once.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 298]
[Level: 321]
[Level: 347]
I breathe in.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…I can move."
They attack together.
Left—
I dodge.
Right—
I step in.
Front—
I strike.
[+11,200 EXP]
[+12,600 EXP]
[+13,800 EXP]
[EXP: 43,400 / 180,000]
More come.
I step forward this time.
Not running.
Fighting.
My grip tightens.
"…I'm still alive…"
A breath.
"…Now…"
I raise my sword.
"…I can fight more."
My breathing is steady.
Not calm.
…but controlled.
My body still hurts.
Wounds remain.
Pain remains.
…but I can move.
Movement—again.
Closer.
Faster.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 268]
[Level: 301]
[Level: 339]
They move first.
I move faster.
Strike.
[+8,600 EXP]
Turn.
Cut.
[+9,800 EXP]
Third—
I strike first.
[+11,200 EXP]
[EXP: 73,000 / 180,000]
"…Better."
More footsteps.
Heavier now.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 418]
It moves.
Too fast.
My body reacts.
Before I think.
I dodge.
Barely.
It attacks again.
I step back.
Late.
Claws tear my arm.
Pain explodes.
I focus.
Wait.
Then move.
Strike.
Again.
Again.
It falls.
[+21,000 EXP]
More.
Always more.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 487]
It charges.
Heavy.
Fast.
I wait.
Then move.
Late.
The impact shakes the ground.
I circle.
Strike once.
Again.
Deeper.
Again.
It slows.
One more strike.
It collapses.
[+28,000 EXP]
My breathing breaks slightly.
"…Still dangerous…"
More presences.
Three.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 452]
[Level: 501]
[Level: 528]
"…This is bad…"
They move together.
Too fast.
Too heavy.
I move.
Barely.
Strike.
Again.
Again.
One falls.
Second falls.
Third—
I can't fully see it.
But my body moves.
Before I think.
I dodge.
Barely.
Strike.
Again.
Again.
It falls.
[+32,000 EXP]
[Level Up]
[Level 327 → 335]
My chest rises.
Falls.
"…Not enough…"
More footsteps.
More presences.
The forest doesn't stop.
Neither do I.
[Level Up]
[Level 335 → 348]
My movements sharpen.
My reactions improve.
Pain remains.
…but it doesn't stop me.
"…I can handle this…"
Another fight.
Another kill.
[Level Up]
[Level 348 → 369]
[EXP: 12,700 / 260,000]
Silence.
For a moment.
My breathing steadies.
My grip tightens.
"…I'm still not strong enough."
Movement—again.
Close.
Too close.
"Appraisal."
[Level: 472]
[Level: 498]
They don't wait.
They attack together.
Left.
I move.
Late.
Claws tear across my side.
Pain spreads.
Right.
I step in.
Slash.
Again.
Deeper.
It falls.
[+30,500 EXP]
Second lunges.
Faster.
I barely react.
It hits.
My shoulder breaks open.
"…Too slow…"
I force my body forward.
Chapter End
Next Chapter: Elven Village
Time: Thursday, 6PM GMT+5:30