Brrrr—

The giant scorpion’s pincers twitched, fine hairs quivering as they sensed vibrations in the air, pinpointing his position and distance.

Let’s start with one.

Eun-Ho stepped past his so-called mentor and advanced.

Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!

The scorpion snapped its pincers together, making a sound like cracking stone. Then it lunged forward, flattening against the sand as its six legs and two claws surged toward him in a blur.

Fwooosh!

The desert floor exploded into sprays of sand wherever its feet struck.

Shhhhk! Shhhhk!

Its curved tail lashed forward like an armored blade, aiming straight for his chest. It meant to pin his limbs with the iron pincers, before skewering him with that venomous stinger reeking of decay. However, Eun-Ho wasn’t about to make it that easy.

“Acceleration!”

Tick!

With that sound, the world slowed, and even the scorpion’s claws halted in midair.

Eun-Ho’s eyes tracked the beast’s trajectory, calm and sharp. “Trial reward.”

[Select your trial reward.]

His tongue moved faster than his thoughts. “Unlock the Sword Force skill!”

[Would you like to spend 5 Reward Points to unlock the skill Sword Force?]

With his confirmation, a translucent window with Swordsman Skill Tree appeared at eye level.

[Sword Aura]

- Swordsman

- Sword Force

- Sword Mirage

...

[?], [?], [?], [?], [?] ...

The Sword Force box flickered, then burst open in golden light.

[Congratulations!]

[You have unlocked the skill Sword Force(Lv. 1) – a power that transcends mere weapon, a sharpness that cleaves through iron, and a radiance that pierces the heavens!]

The over-the-top announcement rang out in his head.

[Sword Force]

He remembered the crimson glow of the Chinese martial artist’s blade—a sinister, burning light, somewhere between shadow and fire. Its aura could cut with a touch, a living energy that seemed ready to devour the flame that once cloaked his sword.

However, when he grasped that same ominous power, it turned gentle, even beautiful.

“Sword Force!”

Wooong—!

His heart pounded, echoing the tremor of the blade.

[The skill, Sword Force(Lv. 1), has been activated.]

Ziiiing—!

A blue light unfurled from the hilt, wrapping around Eun-Ho’s Sky-Shattering Sword. The black blade drank in the glow like water diluting ink.

Fwaaaash—!

A soft, azure flame flickered—heatless, but alive. That reborn, dark-blue blade pulsed as he swung it down in a perfect arc.

Whoosh!

A streak of blue fire, sharper than any edge, fell clean across the scorpion’s skull. He hadn’t even retracted his sword before the creature split in half, collapsing in two directions.

[You have defeated the Rotten Venom Scorpion!]

[You have earned 500 Welfare Points.]

What?! I only aimed for the head.

The Sword Force’s power must have extended beyond the weapon itself. Besides, the one beside it fell just as easily, sliced like tofu.

Swish! Thud—!

[You have defeated the Corrupted Dung Beetle!]

[You have earned 500 Welfare Points.]

Tick!

His mentor continued to yelp, his glasses slipping crooked in shock.

“Well, well! Mr. Lee Eun-Ho, you’ve got some skill there!” the manager said with casual amusement, then swung his greatsword.

Swooosh—!

A hurricane of sand rose around him.

Rumble! Rumble! Fwoooosh!

Pure darkness surged from the wide, black blade. Thick black smoke coiled upward from the steel—longer, sharper, heavier than Eun-Ho’s blue aura. The dark energy shimmered like a living shadow, as if it could tear the very air apart.

Oh wow...

The pressure was on a completely different level from Sun Ming’s techniques. A chill ran down his spine as he muttered, “Third Eye.”

He wanted to know what kind of skill could release that kind of power.

[Skill activation has failed.]

[The rank difference is too high.]

Apparently, his ability couldn’t read someone far above his level, and the realization left bitterness

Swish—!

With one swing, three scorpion heads dropped with heavy thuds.

Swish—!

With another, a cluster of tails was hacked to ribbons.

Fwoooosh—!

The stench hit next. Green poison mist spread across the sand, vile and suffocating. The manager’s figure whirled in the haze, dancing amid the dark storm like death itself.

Eun-Ho couldn’t look away from the horrifying yet beautiful sight.

[The Legendary Human Copier title has been activated.]

[You are replicating the posture of an exceptional predecessor.]

[The proficiency of the skill Basic Swordsmanship(Lv. 5) has increased rapidly!]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Notifications chimed in rhythm with his racing pulse.

[You have observed the technique of an exceptional predecessor.]

[You have glimpsed the hidden essence of the sword.]

[The proficiency of the skill Basic Swordsmanship(Lv. 5) has increased drastically by 10%!]

[The proficiency of the skill Sword Force(Lv. 1) has increased drastically by 5%!]

So this means even just mimicking the manager’s moves is enough to raise my skill proficiency? That’s insane.

“You two alright? It’s getting dangerous. Maybe we should fall back?”

“Yes, sir, I agree! We can go back and call for support—”

“In conditions like this,” Eun-Ho interrupted calmly, “shouldn’t we be even more thorough with our investigation?”

Turning back now would’ve been idiotic.

“Huh? You don’t have to push yourself, Mr. Lee Eun-Ho—”

Even if he didn’t believe it, he said it like he did, “No, sir. I’m representing the Investigation Bureau. Giving up halfway would be unacceptable.”

“Huh... I didn’t know you were the responsible type.”

“Responsibility’s about the only thing keeping me alive.”

[Progress: 2 / 50]

I’m only getting started milking these guys.

***

It was impossible to tell whether it was day or night in that endless black desert.

Eun-Ho, his mentor, and the manager stood around the shimmering door that linked this wasteland to the company. If even one of them faltered, the fragile balance holding back the flood of monsters would collapse.

Slash—!

The cactus-like creature sprinting on spindly legs was cut by Eun-Ho, its foul-smelling sap splattering across the sand.

[You have defeated the Death Cactus!]

[You have earned 500 Welfare Points.]

Boom!

His mentor hurled a bomb, exploding the skull of a Rotting Viper.

Huh, he’s good with items, at least, Eun-Ho thought.

He’d always wondered how someone with just Basic Spearmanship had managed to climb this high in the ranks.

“Activate! Activate! Activate!”

Boom! Bam—! Splash!

His mentor skewered the monsters that got too close and hurled anything he could grab at the ones farther away. It was sloppy but oddly practiced.

It’s not quite efficient though, Eun-Ho mused.

Fwoooosh—!

Eun-Ho turned his head just in time to see the manager’s greatsword sweep across the sand, slicing a giant Spring Hare clean in half. Its bloodshot eyes tumbled loose, swinging grotesquely from their nerves.

[Progress: 28 / 50]

[Progress: 29 / 50]

[Progress: 30 / 50]

...

Each new monster slain pushed the progress bar higher. However, Eun-Ho didn’t even have time to read the messages anymore. He moved on instinct, the sword and his heartbeat striking as one.

[You have observed the technique of an exceptional predecessor.]

[The proficiency of the skill Basic Swordsmanship(Lv. 5) has reached its max!]

[The level of the skill Basic Swordsmanship has increased (Lv. 5 to Lv. 6).]

His swordsmanship leveled up. At the same instant, a bat with elongated ears swooped down from above.

[Defeat the Corrupted Desert Spring Hare!]

Swoosh—!

The sword pierced straight through its swollen ear canal. He didn’t even feel resistance—no cartilage, no flesh, nothing. It was almost disappointingly easy.

“Kyaaah! Kyaaaah!” the creature shrieked as if it were burning alive.

[You have defeated the Corrupted Desert Spring Hare!]

[You have earned 500 Welfare Points.]

This is too easy.

As his swordsmanship skill improved, the fights grew smoother, almost effortless.

[Progress: 45 / 50]

He didn’t even need to use his Acceleration skill anymore. A while ago, he’d never have survived against so many monsters without it.

I guess I’ve gotten stronger, just not to the extent of the manager.

“If it’s getting tough, fall back! I’ll cover you!” said the manager, calm and steady without a hint of exhaustion.

[Progress: 49 / 50]

The glowing progress bar crept toward completion. All around them, heaps of monster corpses began to collapse under their own weight.

“S-sir...”

“Ha...”

Even the mentor’s voice was trembling now, and Eun-Ho’s breathing was growing heavy too.

“Please... Just give us a moment, sir...”

“What, you're tired already?”

Thud!

The mentor dropped onto the sand, panting. He removed his glasses, which were splattered with green ichor and blood, and wiped them with a trembling hand. Anyone could see that he was at his limit.

Yet he still managed to say with mock concern, “Ah, no, sir! I’m fine! It’s Eun-Ho who looks exhausted, right?”

“Huh?”

Well, technically, he wasn’t wrong.

[Caution!]

[Rapid physical enhancement has caused severe muscle fatigue.]

[You’ve developed the status effect, overexertion.]

[Stop moving immediately and rest!]

Eun-Ho’s body was screaming at him to stop, but he ignored it.

“I’m fine,” he said evenly.

“Hah... Are you always this much of a show-off?”

“Not at all,” Eun-Ho replied, smirking faintly.

I’m just not like you.

Ding!

[You have activated a temporary trait Languid Vitality!]

[Your stamina recovery speed has increased by 50%.]

[Your fatigue recovery speed has increased by 50%.]

[Remaining duration: 8 hours.]

He still had eight hours left on the public bath’s buff of Languid Vitality.

[Status effect has been cleared.]

“Phew...”

The breath that felt like it’d stop eased with that brief respite. Even a short inhale seemed to flood his limbs with fresh life.

“Mr. Lee Eun-Ho, you really are a monster,” the manager said, shaking his head as he watched.

Behind him, his mentor’s eyes widened as he gritted his teeth. Then, the ground thundered.

Rumble—! Thud!

“S-sir! What’s that noise?!”

“Ssh! Something’s coming!”

The earth trembled, and layers of sand and the buried ground shifted, tearing apart. Black sand rolled like waves. Like polluted water, a foul, black smoke flowed over it, thick enough to swallow their ankles. From that mire rose what seemed like a man-eating specter. However, in fact, it was hundreds of writhing tentacles.

“Tentacles?!”

Saliva From the dusky purple flesh dripped saliva like poison, and pus-filled swellings bulged along the limbs. The creature reeked so horribly that Eun-Ho felt lightheaded. His skin prickled and he turned his head away.

“Watch out!”

With the manager’s shout, the ground erupted, and a mass of snakelike tentacles burst up like hair.

“Watch out, both of you! Aaaah!”

“S-sir! Siiiir!”

Baaaam—!

The desert convulsed as if a volcano had blown, and a system message floated into view.

[Defeat the Plague Hydra!]

***

That bastard!

Cheong Jeong had disliked Eun-Ho from the start, even before they had met.

How dare they give special treatment to a rookie who had only thrown his weight around among mediocre types! Do you even know what it took for me to get here?!

To rise up, he had worked himself to the bone, sacrificing leisure and private life. He’d given himself wholly to the company, using any method necessary.

But then why! Why would they want me to share the glory with somebody that I’ve never seen?

“Jeong can’t do it alone!”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s sharp, sure, but he is still too inexperienced. The outstanding employee has combat ability too, so they’ll make a good pair.”

That arrogant kid had somehow managed to force his way through a trial meant to weed out outsiders, then followed them here. He wasn’t just a mentee, but more of a threat to anyone’s claim on success.

He’s just far too dangerous.

Jeong knew that Eun-Ho would eventually take over his place. Besides, the manager’s mouth even watered at the thought of such raw strength.

I just need to get rid of him.

If this man couldn’t be driven away permanently, Jeong was ready to kill him. His eyes flashed with a cold resolution. Any leftover hesitation that had clung to him like sediment was gone.

Thuuud!

“Aaaaargh!”

However, there was no time to dwell on that thought right now.

“S-sir! Where are you?! Siiir!”

The manager was nowhere to be seen. Had the grotesque tentacles taken him? The situation was far worse than any nightmare.

Why are monsters of this magnitude appearing here? Jeong wondered, stunned.

The place they stood, the Desert of Corruption, had been flagged for investigation because of rapid desertification and an outbreak of low-tier monsters.

But it was supposed to be a routine special investigation and nothing more!

Usually, an assistant manager-level officer would have handled this matter alone on judgment. It was thought to be a trivial matter for reports or a quick sweep. Besides, Sector 7 had long since completed its restructuring, so there was no reason such an anomaly should occur here.

“What the hell is up with this?!” Jeong shouted.

Despite its rotten flesh and pus, jabbing it with a spear made his blade slip.

“Activate!”

Boom! Sssh—

Even when shredded by explosives, the monsters regenerated almost instantly.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dozens of tentacles surged at once.

A strand of his hair that barely dodged the oozing pus melted away. He failed to move his thigh in time—pus splattered across it, and it swelled as if burned.

“Keugh!” he choked.

Amid that chaos, Eun-Ho sliced clean through every tentacle that lunged at him.

What kind of rookie does that?

Jeong clenched his mouth shut. “Guh!”

His pus-slicked thigh felt as if it were liquefying down to the bone. He felt like he was going to die. At this pace, he would be pierced and fall before he could even find the door buried in the sand.

I can’t stay like this. I’ll make him the bait.

Jeong thought now would be his best chance, especially when Eun-Ho’s skill should be on cooldown. He knew Eun-Ho wouldn't be able to run far.

Clack—!

Desperately, Jeong fumbled something from his coat, hurling it at Eun-Ho instead of the encroaching tentacles.

“Shadow Bind!” he cried.

A scream-like cry rang out, and Eun-Ho’s shadow twitched. It was as if it were savoring the joy of moving freely for the first time, with every fiber of its being.

Whoosh—!

Then it writhed and rose, and clamped down on Eun-Ho’s ankle.

“What the?!” Eun-Ho snapped.

While the rookie’s feet were trapped in his own shadow, Jeong made his move.

Clack—!

He bolted, floundering through the deep, sucking sand as if swimming.

“I’ll tell them you died during the inspection! You can have an honorable death!” Jeong shouted as he fled.

They would naturally investigate, but he could cover it with the right story. If the bureau learned such monsters had appeared, no one would pry too deeply.

Jeong tore the sand apart with frantic hands, searching for the buried door.

“Activate.” Eun-Ho said.

“Huh?”

The black sand trembled and the desert convulsed. A whirling current of sand began to consume everything. The sand hell reached up, clutching at Cheong Jeong’s ankles, swallowing his shins, dragging up past his knees.

“No way!” Jeong’s eyes nearly popped from his skull.

It was the Death Swamp, the very thing he had only heard rumors about. Clearly, it was real. The whispered tale about the Director of Management Bureau bestowing power on a Subject came rushing back.

“No way... That rumor was true? He actually granted his authority to you?”

He’d heard stories that the notoriously formidable Director had, on occasion, bestowed fragments of his power.

“No way.”

“I’m being serious right now. Our manager saw it magnified! He said it looked exactly like the Shard of Authority!”

A newly-hired employee who’d barely survived restructuring was using a near-divine authority with ease. He’d assumed it was nonsense until now.

“Explode!” Eun-Ho shouted.

Fwoosh—!

Then, a burst of blazing light erupted from Eun-Ho palm, vaporizing the shadow-ropes binding him.

Fwoosh! Fwoooosh!

Flames spat from Eun-Ho hands like twin motors, driving him out of the sand-trap.

“Kuk... Stop! Stop it!” Jeong gasped.

The sand had already surged above his waist and was now chest deep. He could barely breathe. Black grit filled his mouth and scraped down his throat.

“Guh... I-I have to get out!” he choked, spitting each syllable with a cough of blood and sand.

Then, a cold wind sliced into his ear like a blade.

“So,” Eun-Ho said as he blasted another wave “this counts as self-defense, right?”