Dark Slash
"Swallows Return to Empty!"
The high-speed spinning tennis ball vanished from the racket in an instant. A goblin's head exploded into black ash in the distance and miraculously, the ball curved back to Shaka's hand, caught perfectly.
Since becoming an adventurer, his strength, skills, and reflexes had all improved drastically. He'd even inherited a fraction of a Level 4 senior's ability points barely enough, but far beyond what he'd had before.
"Now I can mimic my opponents' moves and turn them into 'killer tennis'!"
He struck the ball again three times in a row, like green cannonballs spinning out, each returning to him. Bump, bump, bump. Smoke and dust erupted continuously as the ball bounced between Shaka and the monsters. Most goblins couldn't withstand the damage and turned to ash instantly.
Black Cat stared in disbelief. "Hey using a tennis ball to kill monsters? Isn't that overkill?!"
Shaka was speechless... Why didn't you say that back when you called this "ordinary athlete level"?
He moved at high speed, attacking goblins while deflecting their rock throws. His racket swung like a sword, forming an impenetrable wall between her and danger.
The black cat's eyes glazed over. She relaxed and stood up, feeling safe as long as he was there. "Only a few left we're okay now."
But before she could straighten up, a goblin roared loudly: "Gabububububu——————"
"What?!" Her legs trembled, and she stumbled back. "What's happening?!"
Shaka's expression turned grave. These monsters have intelligence they shouldn't possess! Did they learn it from living on the surface... or is there a leader commanding them?
His gaze snapped to one direction. Thump, thump, thump. Dull footsteps echoed from the woods and then a terrifying whoosh split the air.
"Danger!" Shaka shouted, trying to dodge but Black Cat was frozen in place. In desperation, he stopped and swung his racket to block.
Thump, click—
The impact sent excruciating pain through his arm. The racket shattered and slipped from his grasp, and he was knocked back several steps.
"Moo—"
A thunderous roar erupted from the forest. Scarlet eyes fixed on them, hot breath billowing from its nostrils.
Oh no I angered the boss! Getting hit by that will hurt like hell! Black Cat remembered the game's realistic pain being killed here would leave a scar. But... I can't move.
Its Gone the Night Demon Queen or Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat. All that remained was Gokou Ruri, a third-year junior high school girl, trembling as she sat on the ground.
A snow-white Minotaur charged out, grabbing a stone axe from the ground. It reached Shaka in three seconds flat.
Before Shaka could stand, the axe whistled down toward his neck. No escape!
His gaze sharpened, muscles tensed, and crimson light flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand to his neck, muttering under his breath:
"Cornerstone of the world, end of time and space..."
Bang.
Not blood and flesh but a dull thud as the axe struck something hard. His hand armor deformed, then exploded into black iron filings. He groaned in pain, sent flying four or five meters into the dense forest.
In the dungeon, a Minotaur has Level 2 potential but surface-degraded ones are weaker. But this one... its color is different it's a subspecies or enhanced variant! Almost Level 2!
"How could a monster this strong be near the city... on the surface?!" That was his only thought as he crashed into the undergrowth.
Black Cat watched her "protective umbrella" get knocked away, her pupils dilating. She could smell the Minotaur's sweat and scorching breath,its scarlet eyes, fur, and dripping, foul saliva all terrifyingly real.
The Minotaur didn't give her time to panic. It raised the axe high and swung down. She shrank back, closed her eyes and heard a whisper in her ear:
"A double destiny is inevitable, shine forth! Stars, gather here!"
Foul liquid splattered on her head, blood dripping down her face like tomato juice. Then... "Moo ah ah ah ah!" A heart-wrenching scream echoed.
She looked up blankly. A long, narrow portal of starlight had appeared, swallowing the axe whole. Another portal opened behind the Minotaur, and an axe shot out, severing its arm. The beast howled in pain, swinging its severed limb and spraying black blood everywhere.
"Step back!"
Shaka's familiar voice rang out. He rushed forward, tearing off his damaged gauntlet and throwing it at the Minotaur's eyes. Blinded and enraged, the monster charged wildly at anyone in its path.
Before it could reach Black Cat, Shaka punched it in the stomach. The Minotaur spat out saliva, roaring.
"What are you standing there for?! If you don't want a premature C-section, get out of the way!!"
His teasing tone broke the tension. Black Cat shuddered, retorting: "Who wants that?! And why start with the premise of childbirth?!"
She paused, realized she'd found her voice, and scrambled back ten meters, hiding behind a tree.
Shaka was swinging his fists wildly at the Minotaur violent, but precise. He dodged every counterattack by tilting his head or sliding away. His crimson eyes traced arcs as his body moved with impossible grace.
This was "Zone" a state unique to genius athletes, allowing him to unleash his physical abilities perfectly. His temporarily boosted attributes, thanks to his skills, were now fully utilized. He'd become a top-tier Level 1 adventurer, all stats approaching A-rank.
"What do you think I've been fighting all this time?!"
After years of facing tennis prodigies who hit 200 km/h balls, dodging these clumsy attacks was child's play. He was used to fighting enemies stronger than himself.
In the chaos, he leaped up, dodged a punch, and kicked the Minotaur in the jaw. The beast staggered back, then charged with even more fury. Shaka grabbed its horns, flipped over its back, and the force made its neck crack loudly. He released his grip and delivered a side kick to its lower body... Ouch that's hard.
When the kick failed, he retreated but the Minotaur threw a punch that grazed his nose. The fist struck the ground, creating cracks, and Shaka slipped, falling to the ground. Oh no...
He looked up in surprise to see Black Cat behind the Minotaur, throwing a metal sphere that bounced off its body. Holy crap it's the bomb!
He tensed, thinking he'd been betrayed until he realized she hadn't activated the ignition. The ball bounced into his arms.
At the same time, a blood-red, grim-faced girl charged out, dragging the Minotaur's severed stone axe.
"I am Chiba's Fallen Saint Black Cat, member of the Dark Familia! You mere game don't be so arrogant!"
"Dark Slash!!!"
Pfft! Blood splattered all over her. Shaka seized the moment, shoving the metal sphere into the howling Minotaur's mouth. He grabbed Black Cat around the waist and pounced into the bushes.
Two seconds later...
"Boom boom boom——————"
The Minotaur's head exploded, and its body slowly fell to the ground.
I'll start dropping chapters again till this gets blocked again 🤨
Bonus chapter for power stones