Being carried by that hideous monster gave me a clear view of the chaos below. Humans were being torn apart. Some froze in terror and were massacred instantly. Others fought, but their resolve crumbled under fear. And then there were the few who fought as if their lives truly depended on it.
In my case, any ordinary human would have already broken down. But I am not ordinary. I have chased perfection my entire life. Fear does not belong in my dictionary.
The lizardmen encircling me hissed and snarled, closing in with their hungry eyes and twisted grins. The sound of their claws scraping against stone echoed around me. I should've been scared. Instead, I laughed.
"Hahaha…"
Was I laughing? In a situation like this? Maybe I'd finally lost it—or maybe this was who I truly was. They thought they had cornered me, but from where I stood… they were the ones trapped.
"Come at me, you ugly bastards!" I roared.
As if understanding, the lizardmen lunged forward, a storm of claws and teeth. I gripped my sword with every ounce of strength I had left, veins bulging from my arm. My body was heavy, my vision hazy, my injuries screaming in protest. Each breath felt like fire, and blood dripped from my lips. But I didn't care.
The first lizardman reached me. One glance, one swing—the blade sliced clean through its arm. It stumbled, and before it could recover, I severed its torso in half. Blood sprayed across my face, but there was no time to react. Another came for my throat. I blocked and countered, splitting its head from its body.
I let out a short laugh. "Didn't know I had it in me."
Then pain exploded in my abdomen. I looked down—one of the lizardmen had driven its claws straight through me. Rage flared hotter than the pain.
"Die," I hissed.
I swung with everything I had, cleaving its head clean off. Green blood splattered across my pale skin. But the victory was short-lived. My body grew numb, my vision dimmed, and my grip weakened. I could feel life slipping away.
So this was it… My quest for perfection, cut short. Maybe in another life I'd be born into a world where perfection was possible.
But then regret hit me—sharp, suffocating. The world had finally become interesting, and now I was supposed to die? No. I refused.
I clenched my teeth. My sword. My will. Everything.
"No… I can still move."
Even half-conscious, I swung wildly. Friend or foe—it didn't matter. Anything that came close was cut down. My body acted on instinct, desperate and furious. The only sound that existed was the rhythm of my blade tearing through flesh.
"Die. Die. Die. Die!" I screamed as I slashed again and again, the world blurring into a haze of blood and steel. Then, silence. All eyes were on me. For a brief moment, I was the center of this nightmare.
I coughed violently, blood spilling from my mouth. I knew I was done. My legs trembled.
Then—a sound.
[User has awakened a new skill: Obliterate Lv.1]
[User has awakened a new skill: Pain Tolerance Lv.1]
A wicked grin crawled across my face. My body, once heavy and broken, felt lighter. The pain dulled, my vision cleared. Strength flooded through me like wildfire.
All around me, the corpses of lizardmen littered the ground, their limbs scattered, their blood painting the earth green. But more were coming.
"Perfect," I whispered, gripping my sword.
Three of them were closest. I didn't know what Obliterate did, but I was about to find out. I took a stance, steadying my breath, recalling scenes from those shounen anime I used to watch. My voice dropped to a low murmur.
"Obliterate."
The air split. A red wave of lightning tore through the air, slicing the three lizardmen in half. Their bodies fell apart before they even realized what happened.
I stared at the destruction, stunned. Then that same grin returned.
"Just how strong is this skill…?"
Bloodied, battered, and smiling, I took a step forward, sword in hand. "With this… I will prevail."