Chapter 33: The Unveiling of a Hidden Strength

Upon hearing my declaration, all three of them froze, stunned.

After all, my words implied that I intended to handle the remaining enemies entirely on my own.

“You must be joking,” Karen immediately challenged. “How could one person possibly manage that?”

“What kind of bravado is this from a Pebble-rank rookie? The three of us are already in this state—what could you possibly do?” Zale also protested, his voice strained.

“Get back now! Just protect those two women, and that’s enough! I… I can handle this myself!”

This fellow truly considered me a Pebble-rank novice, yet his words carried a distinct tremor.

He must have been with me when I registered at the Adventurers’ Guild. He must have seen the countless scars on my hands, and even the receptionist had been captivated. Anyone could have deduced I wasn’t a novice, couldn’t they?

Or perhaps, despite his panting exhaustion, he still wished to assert himself before me? He couldn’t be that foolish, yet his skepticism regarding my strength was undeniable.

It was a natural reaction, of course. I had always been reluctant to display my full capabilities.

Though I now wore this body and armor, concealing my true form, the habits of a lifetime made me inclined to hold back. However, this was hardly the time for feigned weakness.

In any case, it was time to act.

“Armor-clad big brother, you should still—”

[FULL CHARGE]

Before Helene could finish her sentence, the charge was complete. I lunged forward, my iron fist clenching, and delivered a heavy blow to the face of one of the humanoid wolf-beasts.

The wolf-head had no time to react before I sent it flying.

Though clad in armor, my robust physique at this moment allowed me to leverage my body’s full weight. Moreover, this body had been enhanced; it wouldn’t demand a four-block consumption if it were weak!

Naturally, I wouldn’t have sufficient confidence to handle the situation with just this slightly reinforced body. But it wasn’t just one humanoid wolf-beast I sent flying; all five were knocked back.

“This is…”

“A combat skill clone? So you can use it too…”

Helene and Karen exclaimed, their tones suggesting disbelief at what they witnessed.

They weren’t mistaken. I had indeed used clones, creating four additional ones, each engaging a humanoid wolf-beast.

[210] was the clone command, consuming four blocks.

Under normal circumstances, it would only generate one. However, with the charge boost from the [000] command, I could summon multiple additional clones, gaining one for every twenty-five percent charged.

As for whether my clones could be considered combat skill clones, I wasn’t certain. Combat skills relied not only on physical prowess but also on magic, which I had never used.

Yet, my method was undoubtedly far more convenient than the arduous and mentally taxing combat skill clones.

“You… you’re just a Pebble-rank adventurer who just started! Why… why do you have combat skill clones?!”

Zale, it seemed, couldn’t believe the armored giant before him possessed such power, and he cried out in incredulity. Still, I had only summoned four, one fewer than him, and hadn’t used combat skills on them. It shouldn’t be such an astonishing feat, should it?

However, I had no intention of addressing the three astonished individuals. Now that I had made my move, this was not the time for explanations.

“Awooo—”

“Gaaaooo—!!”

A humanoid wolf-beast let out a howl, and immediately, the surrounding demonic wolves launched a surprise attack, pouncing towards the four of us.

They had likely realized they were facing a formidable opponent, so those five wolf-heads intended to wear us down with their subordinates. That seemed to be their strategy.

“Damn it! This many… it’s too much!”

Zale grumbled, yet he braced his feet, ready to meet the assault.

“Yah—!”

“Watch out!”

Helene, behind him, found herself in a precarious situation. The light on her staff vanished, indicating she could no longer cast spells. Seeing this, Karen turned and aimed her last two arrows at the demonic wolf pouncing on Helene, but her own back was now exposed to another.

The arrows successfully pierced the demonic wolf attacking Helene. As Karen glanced behind her, fangs were already inches from her face, and then…

*Clang!*

The fangs were met by armor, and the demonic wolf was sent flying sideways, colliding with other pouncing demonic wolves.

Not just the one in front of Karen, but the demonic wolf before Zale was also knocked down by another I had grabbed and hurled.

Next, the two that lunged at Helene crashed directly into my armor. I caught their heads with a single hand, smashed them against each other, crushing their skulls, and then tossed them to the ground.

I had successfully protected my three temporary companions.

“So fast…”

“Keep up!”

Karen seemed to say something, but I didn’t quite catch it, as the demonic wolves’ assault showed no signs of stopping. I had already initiated my next move and urged them to follow my lead.

I grabbed a demonic wolf, slammed it to the ground, and stomped on it with force.

An uppercut sent another demonic wolf flying, followed by a downward smash that crushed the next pouncing wolf to the ground, kicking it away like a ball.

I caught a flying demonic wolf, choked its neck, and used it as a club to strike down other pouncing wolves.

I grabbed a demonic wolf, slammed its head, then threw it backward for Zale to cut down, or for Karen to stab with her dagger.

Under my protection, Helene finally calmed down and began casting magic again, though her mana consumption was high, allowing only intermittent attacks.

With the combined efforts of the four of us and four clones, the pouncing demonic wolves were utterly incapable of harming us.

Those three wielded weapons, unlike me, a massive figure who fought bare-handed. But I had no need for weapons; they were superfluous. Moreover…

A fist was the ultimate weapon.

***

The battle raged for a long time, even longer than the period they had fought before I intervened. Finally…

“Hmph!”

I seized the last demonic wolf, slammed it onto the ground, distorting its maw. Then, with a forceful twist of its neck, a sickening crack echoed, and it was finished.

The attacks finally ceased. The three of them gasped for breath, and my own breathing grew slightly ragged.

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

Helene coughed several times, likely overwhelmed by the stench of blood. Now, the damp mist was laced with a heavy, cloying scent of gore that, when inhaled, was truly nauseating.

The ground was stained crimson with blood, and stepping on it evoked a viscous sensation, even through my armor.

Though the demonic wolves possessed enhanced physiques, they were ultimately low-intelligence beasts. Under the commands of the humanoid wolf-beasts, they had few attack methods beyond accelerated pounces.

Even if their jaws could effortlessly tear off a person’s arm, they were no match if one reacted in time. The true fear lay in their sheer numbers and their refusal to give up. This species seemed to exist solely for slaughter.

But now, it was over. No enemies could be sensed nearby, and the battle had concluded.

Both I and Zale dismissed our clones. I raised my hand, looking at my armor, which was now stained scarlet, imbued with the same bloody scent as the earth.

It seemed we had cleared out half the forest’s demonic wolves, at least.

For my part, I didn’t particularly enjoy killing. My own past experiences made me averse to such things. However, this was a fight to the death—my sentimentality was utterly superfluous.

I truly couldn’t comprehend if such a strenuous assault on four humans was worth it to them.

No, discussing worth with such demonic creatures was pointless.

They harbored no such considerations. As long as it was prey, as long as the opponent wasn’t deemed absolutely powerful, as long as they wouldn’t perish in the fight, they would invariably use every means to obtain it, especially if it was an object for their desires.

“Um… Mr. Armor, are you alright?”

Helene approached me, looking at me with concern. She was still panting herself, and her eyes were weary, likely from excessive spell casting, yet she still had the presence of mind to worry about me.

I didn’t reply, merely nodding. I looked at the other two; they recovered more quickly, and Karen had already come to my side.

“Thank you so much, big guy. I never expected you to be so formidable. Your reactions and physical prowess are truly remarkable; you handled it all bare-handed,” she said, tapping my armor. “Even while wearing such a bulky suit.”

“…”

Zale, meanwhile, folded his arms and averted his gaze from me. Judging by his awkward expression, he was clearly displeased. Receiving powerful assistance from a Pebble-rank “rookie” would undoubtedly bring a sense of defeat, especially after he had so confidently declared, “Leave it to me!”

“Zale!”

“…!”

Karen roared, and Zale’s body flinched. He timidly turned his head.

As expected, Karen was truly the leader.

“Ugh… I know, I know! Honestly, so what if he’s a bit strong? I’m Iron-rank, and to be helped by a Pebble-rank…” He muttered under his breath, then approached me and said, “…Thank you.”

“…Consider your companions before you try to act tough.”

I didn’t explicitly accept his thanks, instead offering Zale a word of caution. For them, a small warning would be more beneficial. Moreover, I was once an unnamed hero; I certainly had the right to advise them, didn’t I?

Adventurers, regardless of rank, must know themselves and their enemies. After all, life is incredibly precious—otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here.

“You sound like a seasoned veteran,” Karen remarked. “It seems you really are an old hand.”

“But why are you only registering as an adventurer now?”

Helene posed the question, but I offered no reply, turning instead and walking towards the Blue Lake. These were unnecessary questions, and I was too lazy to invent excuses. Moving forward was paramount.

“Tsk… what’s with the posturing!” Zale remained clearly unresigned.

“Shut up, let’s go.”

No sooner had Karen’s words fallen than—

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Something seemed to dart out from the surroundings, from both sides of me. I looked up to see two humanoid shadows leaping through the mist, their targets seemingly fixed on me.