[WN] Dragon Chain Ori : Volume 4 Chapter 7 [Re-Translation]

This is a re-translation.

Volume 4 Chapter 7

 

"Uooooooon!!"

 

One of the Wild Dogs charged from the pack. The four-legged magical beast kicked off the ground, rushing to sink its teeth into the prey before it. Nozomu, too, reinforced himself with ki and dashed forward with both feet. The charging Wild Dog leaped, trying to bite Nozomu's throat, but Nozomu's katana was drawn faster.

 

"Gahyu..."

 

The drawn katana deeply slit the throat of the Wild Dog that tried to bite him, and a large amount of blood gushed out like hot water, showering Nozomu in a rain of blood.

 

(14 remaining...)

 

Nozomu's mind calmly registered that he had reduced the enemy's fighting force by one-fifteenth. Even with the raging inferno burning in his chest, Nozomu's accumulated combat experience maintained his composure, allowing his thoughts to coolly assess the opponent. However, his eyes glowed with an unprecedented fighting spirit, and the impulses overflowing from deep within his chest swept away any hesitation Nozomu had about using his power. His remaining rationality was focused on "how to slaughter the opponent."

 

Despite their comrade being killed, the Wild Dogs calmly surrounded Nozomu, observing him. There was no agitation among the other Wild Dogs, indicating a highly disciplined pack. It seemed the one that had just lunged was a scout, intentionally sent forward alone to gauge the opponent's abilities.

 

"Gau!" "Woof!" "Guo!"

 

This time, one from the front, and two from diagonally behind, a total of three, simultaneously attacked Nozomu from different directions. Nozomu took a half-step back, crossed his legs, and swung his katana while spinning his body, but the three calmly jumped back to dodge. Then, from the shadow of one of the Wild Dogs that had attacked from the right diagonal rear, yet another one appeared, using the first as a springboard to leap. It tried to thrust its sharp canine teeth into Nozomu's neck.

 

Nozomu quickly wedged his katana between himself and the opponent, but this was a bad move. Currently, Nozomu was surrounded by Wild Dogs, and carelessly blocking an attack would stop his feet. If his feet were stopped, he would be swarmed by the numerically superior Wild Dogs and devoured. That was their aim.

 

Wild Dogs, who hunt in packs, knew exactly how to most efficiently and safely take down larger prey.

 

First, they would herd the opponent and tire them out. This would reduce the opponent's ability to counterattack, but since Nozomu had instead charged towards the Wild Dogs, they couldn't use this tactic this time. Since Nozomu didn't flee, they decided to send one ahead to stop Nozomu's feet, then crush him all at once with the group.

 

The first one that went ahead was killed on impact, but they thought it would work if three of them distracted the opponent's attention while another launched a surprise attack. In fact, Nozomu was supposed to block the Wild Dog's attack, and his feet should have stopped.

 

However, reality went beyond their expectations.

 

Indeed, the surprise attack succeeded. But the next moment, the attacking Wild Dog was bisected vertically and thrown to the ground with the same momentum as its attack.

 

What was strange was that Nozomu remained in the same posture he had used to try and block the Wild Dog just moments before, and there was no sign of him having swung his katana. Normally, at the point of blocking the opponent's attack, Nozomu and the Wild Dog should have been grappling, but that wasn't the case.

 

So, had Nozomu cut it with his katana? Not exactly.

 

Nozomu's katana was faintly glowing. This was proof that Nozomu's ki was imbued in it. In fact, Nozomu had already used a ki technique.

 

Ki technique, "Phantom Void - Clad"

 

A ki technique that drastically enhances the cutting power of a blade by keeping the Phantom Void ki blade, which is normally released, contained within the sword's body. It is a higher-level version of the ki technique "Clad", which imbues one's weapons with ki to enhance their abilities. Though the name may change, it is a common technique widely used across the continent.

 

However, when it reaches the Phantom Void level, the story changes.

 

Originally, Phantom Void was a ki blade that could easily bisect even a boulder. If that were contained within a sword's body, a mere iron knife would become a legendary magic sword. Even when he used "Phantom Void - Return" in a previous battle, he imbued the ki blade into his katana for an instant to release a slash, but he hadn't kept it imbued in the blade like this time. However, Nozomu's katana remained imbued with an extremely compressed ki blade, and the contained ki showed not the slightest tremor. Nozomu used this ki technique-enhanced katana to defend against the opponent's attack. The charging Wild Dog had, in essence, impaled itself on the blade whose cutting power had been pushed to its limit.

 

The challenge with this ki technique lies in whether one can compress that much ki, and whether one can maintain the concentration required to sustain it. Phantom Void itself is a ki technique that requires extremely high ki control and concentration. Not only is it an already difficult ki technique to activate, but sustaining it is not something even A-rank experts can do easily. Furthermore, Nozomu was currently on a battlefield where life and death hung by a thread, making it difficult to maintain composure. Nozomu's skill in making "Phantom Void - Clad" possible in such a place was truly extraordinary.

 

However, Phantom Void already possessed high lethality. This technique, which continually imbued it, was also extremely lethal, and Nozomu hardly ever used it in the academy. Moreover, no matter how extraordinary Nozomu's control was, maintaining this technique severely consumed his mental strength. Losing concentration would make him unable to maintain the technique, and a lack of concentration on a battlefield would directly lead to his death. Therefore, Nozomu rarely used this technique, even on unpredictable battlefields. But now was different. Trapped by the burning rage, Nozomu couldn't think of the risks that lay ahead. He simply unleashed everything he had to vent his emotions.

 

"Wooooon!"

 

The three Wild Dogs that had been about to attack earlier now pursued him. Nozomu charged towards the one in front. He swung his katana, still imbued with "Phantom Void - Clad", in a diagonal cut, bisecting the Wild Dog. Nozomu quickly focused ki into both his legs. He used his strengthened leg power to stop his momentum and then activated Flash Step. Turning back in the opposite direction, he instantly slashed the two behind him with a returning strike. Nozomu's sword flash precisely struck the throats of the two Wild Dogs that were about to leap, deeply slitting their necks.

 

The two Wild Dogs with cut throats collapsed, profusely bleeding. The blood flowing from their throats synchronized with their heartbeats, spurting intermittently with a "thump-thump," causing their bodies to twitch violently with each pump. Eventually, the twitching subsided, and they finally became completely still.

 

(10 remaining...)

 

During this time, Nozomu paid no mind to the opponents he had just killed. If he did, death would prey on him.

 

The Wild Dogs surrounding Nozomu, having lost five members in quick succession, recognized Nozomu as a formidable and dangerous foe and changed their fighting style.

 

They refrained from pouncing, maintaining a constant distance while circling Nozomu and glaring at him. Realizing that Nozomu, whom they had assumed was prey, was an unexpectedly strong opponent, they decided to turn it into a battle of attrition instead of a quick decisive battle. Furthermore, they repeatedly feinted, waiting for him to tire. Against accumulating, inescapable fatigue, any strong opponent would eventually become sloppy in their movements and create openings. No matter how strong the opponent was, he was still just one person. He couldn't maintain a flawless stance indefinitely against enemies surrounding him.

 

This was the wisdom the Wild Dogs had acquired through surviving in this forest. It was their means to overcome enemies more powerful than themselves. Using everything they had, the Wild Dogs sought to slaughter their "enemy."

 

If I don't kill the enemies, I'll be killed. Then, let's just kill them.

 

At that moment, that was the only common ground between Nozomu and the demonic dogs.

 

The Wild Dogs surrounding Nozomu repeatedly approached and retreated, trying to exhaust him. But Nozomu also understood the Wild Dogs' aim. That's why Nozomu's actions were swift.

 

If prolonging the situation won't improve it, then it's necessary to forcefully change it.

 

Thinking so, Nozomu forcefully broke through the Wild Dogs' encirclement with Flash Step.

 

He had once been defeated helplessly by them. If Shino hadn't saved him then, Nozomu would have been secretly consumed by their stomachs. However, the current Nozomu possessed skills and experience incomparable to that time.

 

He unleashed everything he had, driven solely by his impulses. It was a display far uglier and emptier than his usual graceful swordsmanship.

 

***

 

As I swung my katana, driven by the impulses swirling within me, the katana imbued with "Phantom Void - Clad" bisected a Wild Dog that was slow to disengage, and its two halves were flung to the ground, spilling their internal organs. That left 9 remaining...

 

I didn't stop my movements and immediately turned my katana on another Wild Dog nearby. The Wild Dog tried to dodge instinctively but couldn't completely avoid it and had one leg severed. That wound would eventually lead to death from blood loss. That left 8 remaining.

 

"Gau!!" "Woof!!"

 

This time, two Wild Dogs leaped from behind. But their figures were completely visible to me. As I turned, I slammed an elbow into one's snout, and brought my katana along the side of the other's body, tearing it open with the imbued "Phantom Void - Clad". The Wild Dog with deep cuts to its shoulder and flank was thrown to the ground, and the one I elbowed staggered, having taken a hard blow to its sensitive nose. I then swung my katana to decapitate it, and glared at the survivors. Six remaining...

 

The Wild Dogs, quickly reduced to less than half their number, lowered their bodies and snarled, perhaps intimidated by my gaze. I sheathed my katana. Just as I started to charge, intending to finish them off this time...

 

"Wooooooooon!!"

 

A howl echoed through the surroundings.

 

Looking in the direction of the sound, new demonic dogs appeared from beyond the bushes. About three of them. Among them was one with an exceptionally large body. It was likely the leader of this pack. The surviving Wild Dogs rushed to their leader, then glared at me again. It seemed they had regained their morale after reuniting with their leader.

 

Nine Wild Dogs, including the leader, once again confronted me. Under the command of their powerful leader, they lined up in an orderly fashion, like a cavalry unit about to overrun a battlefield. Unified by their powerful leader, they were no longer a collection of individuals but a single, large living creature. The moment their leader, their brain, was about to give the signal to charge... I decapitated the leader.

 

For a moment, the Wild Dogs seemed to freeze. They didn't understand what had happened. And it was no wonder. Just a moment ago, they had been about to charge all at once to slaughter the enemy before them, under the reunited leader's command. Then, they realized the leader's head was gone.

 

The ki technique I unleashed, "Phantom Void." The extremely compressed ki blade, flying at such high speed, literally instantly killed their leader before the Wild Dogs could even perceive it.

 

The blood gushing from the leader's neck stained the remaining Wild Dogs crimson, making the surrounding scent of blood even denser. The metallic, rusty smell assaulted my nose, causing discomfort, but I, with my vision crimsoned by rage, paid it no mind. I stepped on the corpse of the Wild Dog I had just killed and leaped towards the survivors.

 

***

 

Silence returned to the surrounding forest. Amidst it, Nozomu stood still. Around him lay the scattered carcasses of Wild Dogs. It was a sight that would make even those accustomed to blood grimace. Not a single corpse on the ground was fully intact. Heads, legs, or some other part was missing, with the lost parts flung somewhere else.

 

The scent of blood and beast emanating from the scattered blood and flesh was tremendous, and Nozomu's nasal nerves were already numb. The massive amount of spilled internal organs were still warm, steaming as they were exposed to the chilly outdoor air.

 

"…………………"

 

Nozomu stood still, staring at a single point in the darkness-shrouded forest. The Wild Dogs he had just slaughtered were no longer in his thoughts. Instead, a warning bell rang in Nozomu's head due to the approaching presence from deeper in the forest. Soon, a thudding sound became audible. The sound, initially distant, gradually grew louder, eventually causing the trees to shake from the vibrations.

 

Eventually, "it" appeared from the darkness. A reddish-brown giant body, nearly three times the size of a human. Its thick legs, supporting its massive physique, rooted themselves into the earth like ancient trees. Some kind of beast hide was wrapped around its waist, and its torso was covered in muscles like steel armor. Its arms were thicker than a child's body, and in its right hand, it held a club as large as an adult. And most notably, it had three eyes on its face. A Triclops.

 

A powerful magical beast classified as Rank A. A giant possessing danger incomparable to the Wild Dog pack from earlier.

 

"GROOAAOOOOOOOOO!!"

 

The giant's roar shook the air. It had likely been drawn by the scent of battle and blood from earlier.

 

"………………Kukuku."

 

Nozomu looked at the giant towering before him, a smirk playing on his lips, and readied his katana. Normally, he would have immediately retreated. Confronting such a powerful magical beast posed a significant risk for him, given his ability suppression. Furthermore, this forest was a magical beast habitat, and even if he survived, there was a risk of encountering other magical beasts. Nozomu understood that avoiding battles that could be avoided was essential for survival, given the complete lack of safety.

 

However, the current Nozomu was merely seeking an outlet for his almost bursting fury, craving battle. His usual rational judgment was dormant, and his mind did not present the option of fleeing, instead continuously searching for how to defeat the giant before him. The exhaustion from his battle with the Wild Dogs also failed to rein in his rationality and impulses. He was simply overjoyed by the re-appearance of an outlet for his fury.

 

(…………kill. …………kill.)

 

Something whispered from deep within Nozomu's chest. Furthermore, he began to hear a pulsating sound, like something stirring.

 

Normally, he would deepen his guard and suppress the voice of fury and the heartbeat. However, his fevered mind did not resist those words; instead, it began to readily accept them.

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