Chapter 77: Dead

Chapter 77: Dead<You have killed a Tier 0 monster, Grass Beetle>

Noah stepped back from the carcass, breathing heavily from adrenaline rather than exertion.

His hands trembled slightly as he wiped acidic blood from his blade.

That was... intense. Much more dangerous than slimes.

A quick self-assessment revealed no injuries beyond some scratches on his jacket where the beetle’s claws had come close.

The enhanced agility from his weapon had made the difference between victory and serious harm.

The sword’s sharpness and attribute points probably saved my life just now.

Other demons in the area had noticed his successful hunt.

A few nodded approvingly, recognizing competent technique when they saw it.

Not bad for a first beetle kill.

Noah checked the remaining creatures in the hunting ground.



Several more beetles roamed the area, each one representing another test of his developing combat skills.

...

I just took one down. But I need to stay sharp. Getting overconfident is how people die in this world.

Noah checked the remaining beetles scattered across the hunting ground, his grip on the Zealous Quickblade more confident than before.

The first kill had taught him valuable lessons about timing, positioning, and the Beetles’ attack patterns.

I can feel it. My swordsmanship is close to leveling up. One or two more fights should do it.

The feeling of breaking through drove him forward, but caution tempered his enthusiasm.

He couldn’t be overly excited, lest he made mistakes.

Each beetle represented both opportunity and risk.

I need to stay focused. Learn from the last fight.

Noah selected his next target with careful consideration.

A beetle positioned near the edge of the hunting ground, isolated from its companions by a stretch of open grass.

It has no backup nearby, plenty of room to maneuver without being cornered.

This beetle appeared slightly larger than his previous opponent, its carapace showing the darker coloration.

It looks more mature than the previous one...this one must be slightly stronger.

The creature grazed peacefully on the grass, its mandibles clicking every so often.

CLICK! CLICK!

Larger means stronger. But also means I will learn more if I can take it down.

Noah approached it with slow steps, keeping his footwork light and his katana ready.

The beetle noticed his presence when he reached the fifteen-foot mark, its eyes darting to track his movement.

Here we go again.

Although his heart was beating just as fast, this time it felt different.

Noah’s stance held more confidence, his grip more more firm.

The lessons from his first beetle encounter had made him come to an understanding rather than mere survival instinct.

I know how they move now. The tell-tale signs before they attack.

The beetle’s rear legs shifted slightly, the same movement Noah had observed before.



Instead of waiting for the full attack, he preemptively moved to his left, positioning himself where the creature’s aerial assault would be least effective.

The beetle launched itself through the air exactly as predicted, but Noah was already two steps ahead of its trajectory.

Swish!

The blade cut through the air, meeting the beetle mid-flight.

Noah’s attack caught it across the thorax with a strike that combined good timing and accuracy, making it potentially fatal .

Much cleaner than last time.

The beetle crashed to the ground with greenish fluid streaming from the wound, but it wasn’t finished.

Shriek!

Noah’s face twisted at h the loud screeching but he had learned to expect resilience from these creatures.

It’s wounded but not dead. I need to press the advantage.

Instead of backing away defensively, Noah advanced while the beetle was still disoriented from its failed attack.

His blade work flowed more smoothly now, each movement building naturally from the previous one.

High strike to keep it focused upward, then low cut toward the legs.

The beetle’s mandibles snapped at empty air where Noah had been a moment before.

His footwork carried him around the creature’s side, avoiding its primary weapons while repositioning for optimal striking angles

The Zealous Quickblade found its mark repeatedly.

The strikes left cuts across its joints, and deeper wounds in the softer areas between the armor plates.

Noah wasn’t going for a single killing blow anymore; he was dismantling his opponent’s combat effectiveness.

Disable first, kill second. It’s more reliable than gambling on perfect strikes.

The beetle’s movements grew sluggish as blood loss and accumulated damage took their toll.

Its attempts to take flight resulted in awkward hops that barely lifted it off the ground.

Damaging its wings from the initial strike seems to help a tom. It’s good to remember for future encounters.


Noah’s final attack came as a precise thrust to the creature’s neck joint, sliding between armor plates to sever vitals.

The beetle collapsed without the violent convulsions of his first kill.

<You have killed a Tier 0 monster, Grass Beetle>

That felt... cool. Like I actually knew what I was doing.

The improvement was undeniable.



Where his first beetle fight had been a poor attempt, this encounter had demonstrated much better combat skill.

His movements flowed naturally, his decisions came faster, his blade work carried more fluidity.

Time for one more. I can feel the skill progression right at the edge.

Noah selected a third target, another mature beetle, this one positioned near a cluster of rocks that would complicate aerial attacks.

The terrain advantage would let him focus purely on technique rather than survival.

Perfect practice conditions.

The approach went smoothly.

The beetle noticed him at the expected range and moved into its pre-attack stance.

Noah’s response was the same , he positioned himself to counter the creature’s preferred tactics before they could be deployed.

This time, Noah initiated the engagement. Instead of waiting for the beetle’s attack, he closed distance aggressively, forcing the creature to react to his timing rather than its own.

The beetle’s wing-assisted charge met Noah’s intercepting blade with perfect timing.

His strike caught the creature’s head at the optimal angle, redirecting its momentum into the rocky terrain while delivering maximum damage.