404 – Battle of Pride (4)

It’s because I secretly get hit a lot, but objectively speaking, I’m also strong.

It’s not like I’m particularly strong, and most strong people have a hard time injuring me.

Only lightning strikes that ignore defense can inflict significant damage, but even those have gained resistance.

Unless I can manipulate space freely like Lord and Lize, I don’t need to put my heart into it.

‘Is Hector the only comparable opponent?’

People who teach me always say that I have the physical specs of a gangster, but my skills are terrible.

But even that poor thing is ‘relative’ and not absolutely poor.

Let us remember that even those who are considered poor are the ones with the highest standards of black and white. In their eyes, anything will be considered inadequate.

“··· ···”

“··· ···”

I looked down at the dancer who had thrown a powerful blow at the ship. I think I have a rough idea of ​​what she is thinking.

The face of someone who realized that their blow had no effect at all. In common parlance, it was a fucked up expression.

But does that mean I’m the type of person who would give up? Absolutely not.

The dancer took a step back, her expression hardened. A stronger attack was coming now.

“You are a strong man. You can be compared to His Majesty the King.”

“Have you ever fought?”

“Yes. And I lost cleanly.”

I beat Hector, though not in my right mind.

There’s no reason to say that, and even if I did, you wouldn’t believe it.

For the Tatars, Hector’s existence was more than just an achievement; it was almost like a ‘myth’.

A myth of a man who received the weapon of God from the Gulag and founded a country. He would never think of losing.

‘By the way, how should I deal with it?’

I was wondering as I watched the dancers strike a pose. Honestly, I hoped Luna would win even the dancers.

That way, I can cool down my last opponent, the golden sun chick. It’s a bit of a shame.

Well. In fact, it is amazing that they played three games in a row. Moreover, the Tatars are taking advantage of their home ground.

‘I don’t know about anything else, but sunlight is hard to notice.’

I glanced up at the sky. The harsh sunlight was glaring at my eyes.

Even in Soul World, there was a system that strangely obscured vision. The light was so strong that it was hard to see ahead.

At first I wondered if it was a bug, but the more I fought, the more I realized that it was because the sunlight was limiting my vision.

You can tell by the unnatural movements of the Tatar people. Luna must have noticed it only at the very end.

‘I don’t care.’

I didn’t really care whether it was the sun or the moon. I could roughly guess what the other person was going to do even with my eyes closed.

Even if you can’t guess, it’s okay. Why? Because it doesn’t matter if you get hit.

The body is so strong that it can withstand most attacks without any problems.

“Ugh!”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, the dancer approached me. Just like before, she was moving quickly.

Eventually, the dancer reached right in front of me and started spinning around, holding one leg as the center.

A sharp back kick. If successful, it can deal powerful damage, but it leaves a lot of room for counterattack.

It seems like he just realized from the blow that my body’s durability is unexpected. That’s why he used such a great technique.

-Kwaaang!

What do you do then? The dancer’s kick hit my stomach straight in the face.

It felt like metal was rubbing against metal, not flesh against flesh. It felt like it had been trained for a long time.

-Wow!

The problem was that there was a dangerous sound coming from that foot.

“Ugh······!”

The dancer grimaced in pain. It seemed like her foot was cracked.

This is why kicking is a problem. Unlike a punch, the reaction is directly reflected back to the user.

Lize has told me before. Kicks are extremely powerful, but the risk is greater than you can imagine.

Even I only use kicks when I’m finishing off an opponent or using low kicks.

‘What did Luna say then?’

I said that you don’t feel the need to use your fists because they can break down the enemy’s bones and flesh.

Even Lize nodded after hearing that and didn’t really deny it. Anyway, it’s true that kicking is dangerous.

So, most of the time, you kick with the heel or the sole of your foot, not the instep. Otherwise, it will break.

Unless you have a body stronger than steel like me or Regene, it’s best to avoid it if possible.

“······You look very relaxed.”

“I was sick.”

“I know you’re lying. What on earth did you eat to get so strong?”

I scratched my head. All I ate in the forest was meat and bugs.

The fact that my body is strong is a trait I gained after overcoming the threat of death several times. It is indescribable.

Instead, it could be explained in one word.

“living.”

“living?”

“Yeah. I survived.”

“That’s a convincing answer. That’s why it was strong.”

Maybe it’s because he’s Tatar. The dancer seems to understand.

At the same time, both fists clenched tightly. There was a faint crack of lightning.

Judging from the look in his eyes, he seems to be giving it his all. It would be rude to just ignore him.

I put down the hammer and took a fighting pose. Then the dancer narrowed her eyes even more.

“Are you insulting me? Take up your weapon.”

“If you hit me once.”

“under!”

-Phajijik!

The lightning that had been striking his clenched fist had become stronger than before. It seemed he was very angry at my provocation.

Then she opened her mouth and glared at me with fierce eyes.

“You will regret it.”

I nodded silently, and the dancer rushed towards me.

-puck!

It was less of a grinding sound than before. It was closer to the sound of flesh hitting flesh and bone hitting bone.

But it wasn’t enough. The dancer must have felt it too, because she didn’t stop with just one attack.

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

Once, twice, three times.

-Pubberbubbububub!

He continued to throw punches much faster than before.

-Tudadadadadada!

He started striking so fast that there was a slight afterimage left behind.

Fists with blue lightning flashing. Those fists slammed into my body without mercy.

But I paid no attention and stood tall. With my back straight, as if nothing had happened.

“Haa······ haa······ haa······”

Eventually, the dancer got tired of the pool and fell first. Judging from the fact that she was breathing heavily, it seemed like she had been hitting the ball hard enough to stop breathing.

It seems like he took advantage of my carelessness and hit me with all his might, but unfortunately I’m fine.

-Tuktuk

As evidence, he shook his shirt. A provocation that said your attacks were nothing more than dust.

It’s natural for a dancer to be upset. The lid has to open properly.

“Whoaaa!”

-Tudadadadadada!

A dancer who strikes my body with much faster and stronger successive blows than before.

It was stronger than before, so much so that my body shook slightly.

Then what should I do? My body is intact, without a single broken part.

Even if he got hurt, he quickly recovered with his regenerative power, so it was like pouring water into a bottomless dam.

-Wood thud! Wood thud!

Even the pain was so severe that it made an ominous sound in the dancer’s hands. And the hands were the most painful part.

Even for a dancer, the pain of cracking wrist bones would be hard to bear. In the end, she crumpled her expression and stepped back.

“Haa······! Haa······! Haa······!’

The dancer’s face became pale from repeated apnea. She held her hands together and exhaled heavily.

He still has an expression of not understanding. It’s like he’s looking at some kind of monster.

Since ancient times, people have had a fear of the unknown and have questions.

Why on earth does it do that? What on earth could be the reason for it to be like that?

The dancer also asked me if I was satisfied with that part. Her voice was slightly filled with fear.

“What the hell are you······?”

“··· ···”

“What on earth is it······ to have such a body! Are all Academy students like that?!”

The dancer shouted in a voice that was almost a frenzy. The shout reverberated through the quiet audience.

Perhaps every Tatar watching me is wondering the same thing. What on earth is this body?

This would be even more questionable, since the Tatars were proud of their physical abilities.

‘I only hit with my fist and this is what happened.’

I was thinking of answering that question. My shirt just happened to be tattered.

If we fight like this, it will only get in the way and cause trouble. So I grabbed his shirt with one hand and pulled hard.

-Whoaaah!

My skin, which had turned copper-colored, was completely exposed as my shirt ripped. I originally had pale skin, so it was always amazing to see.

Of course, it would have been meaningless even if the skin had remained the same, because of the scars that were engraved all over the body.

“ah······”

The dancer let out a gasp, not a gasp, as she looked at the scars engraved on my body. That should be enough of an answer.

Before I gained my superior regenerative powers, life in the Forest of Chaos was like a ‘war’ to me.

Food was always scarce, and sleep was hard to come by. This alone was terrible, but the predators were even more terrible.

It was common for their sharp claws to tear flesh and muscles, and sometimes they would shoot fire.

But paradoxically, my face wasn’t the only thing that was scarred. I avoided it at all costs because it would have gone straight to my goal if I had been hit in the face.

Anyway, it is difficult to find a place that is not covered in scars. Not only the front, but also the back is filled with all kinds of scars.

“Did that answer your question?”

I asked, running my hand over the claw scar on my chest. That should have been enough of an answer.

But the dancer’s reaction was a little strange. Her eyes seemed somewhat hazy.

It feels like I’m completely absorbed in something······

“······It’s so cool.”

“huh?”

“It’s really······ beautiful······”

What the heck. This crazy b*tch.

I couldn’t help but flinch when I heard the answer that it was beautiful.

But this was a mere trick. She politely paid her respects and asked in a much more polite voice than before.

“I, Io Buwar Sigurddotis, a dancer serving the Lord Gulag, beg you.”

“··· ···”

“May I have the honor of imprinting my mark on that beautiful body?”

What the hell is this crazy b*tch? I looked around in bewilderment.

[Wow······ That’s the body of a true warrior······]

[Beautiful······ How can such a strong body······]

[He’s still alive even with those scars. He’s really cool.]

Even the audience was busy muttering about my body. Most of them were compliments.

‘What is this crazy country?’

I couldn’t cover it with my common sense at all.

[Faith rises!]

[Faith rises!]

[Faith rises!]

Why are you like that again?