Chapter 353: Episode 10

In the past, I could only passively respond to an enemy's "escape" and "hidden" tactics. Through coexisting with the Almeiza Machine, it gained power, and the option of "combat" was born.

Of course, even now, the main axis of my actions is to avoid combat. The mistake from a few days ago was the result of being overconfident in my own power and acting rashly; I have to reflect on that.

However, in certain situations, combat is safer than running away. Narrowing the range of choices I can make will lead to a lower chance of survival. Accurately judging the effective range of my own abilities and quickly deciding whether to fight or run is important.

I learned this from the battle with the dead tree human. No matter how much you accelerate your thoughts, if your body cannot keep up with that cognition, you will not be able to fully utilize your abilities. Ideally, I want to be able to move my body in flight without thinking.

In other words, you need martial arts. The battlefield is a world where every second counts. To think twice is to be too late. Fundamentally, I think I have been too reliant on the tactic of firing "Erosion Bullets" from a distance. Keeping distance and fighting is important, but it is not the only way.

To say martial arts is an exaggeration is an exaggeration, but I am not looking to learn advanced techniques from the start. What I am looking for first is this attitude.

In all things, those who have experienced it first. No matter how you understand it in your mind, when you are actually attacked by an enemy, you cannot react immediately. This is something only those who have constantly imagined a battle and rehearsed it can do. In terms of physical fitness and fighting skills, I feel the spirituality of martial arts is what I should emulate now.

The use of martial arts in combat lies in the kata. Whether it is sports or school, this is the same. A series of pre-programmed movements are soaked into the body until you do them without thinking; you practice so that you can master it. Quickly.

Even if you run away, you can smoothly take action by immediately switching to your own fighting style without being distracted by unnecessary thoughts and fantasies. It has the effect of speeding up thought conversion and increasing reaction ability. Learning kata may be the fastest way to acquire the spirituality of martial arts.

Of course, traditional fighting methods are not always effective. The type is fast, but inflexible. For better or worse, it is programmed behavior. Therefore, we use multiple types depending on the situation and combine them to eliminate gaps. In order to spend thought on that decision and expand the choice of connected kata, it is best to be able to complete the kata quickly. Its speed is directly related to its reaction ability.

In my memory, I feel like I am fighting like a great Shingen-ryu user. It might be different, but I got this impression from his fighting style.

The problem is the lack of detailed knowledge about martial arts. The Shingen-ryu fighting style also makes me feel it is amazing, but I don't know what it is actually doing.

I vaguely remember doing a martial art called Judo, but I barely remember it. In my previous life, I feel I didn't engage much in that kind of sport.

Martial arts are mainly techniques that assume interpersonal combat. However, fighting on the Dark Continent does not mean using techniques under fair conditions. I don't know if there are any martial arts that a beginner like me can handle that are somewhat practical against monster opponents.

As a result, I chose Boxing. It is a sport where you just hit with both hands. The basic stance of protecting vital body parts like the head and torso with both arms is also useful against monsters. The field of vision is somewhat obstructed, but blind spots can be compensated for by the subject's eyes, and Quinn has the intuitive ability to recognize "Together." I think this is the best martial art for me.

And I have been training these past few days...

"Hiss! Hiss!"

This is unexpectedly difficult. When I tried Tai Chi myself, I was keenly aware of this.

Punch. However, it is just that movement, but if you deliberately do it as a martial art, the roughness is revealed. What can I say, it is a completely amateur punch. When I observed every corner of my body with "Thought Calculation," I realized how unconsciously I was throwing punches.

I have no waist. The trunk is not aligned. The form was not solid to begin with, and the balance is even worse because the body equipment is on the right hand, and the weight is off. Unable to fully utilize it as a weapon, it is swung by its own weight. Just an outsider's analysis can reveal this much, so if an expert saw it, he might offer some worse opinions.

Then there is the element of steps. The movement of the feet is as important as the attack, and in some cases even more important. Even if they are just simply classified, there are forward steps, backward steps, and side steps.

In order to land this hit while dodging an enemy's attack, mastering the technique of this step is essential. It is not enough to just use your feet to block a guard's impact or turn to attack immediately after avoiding it. I have a hard time coordinating the movements of the upper and lower body. The steps and the punch are a disastrous mismatch.

In short, I am currently just making things happen and hitting them with my Aura-enhanced physical ability. This is not boxing. I thought boxing was a sport that only required punching with both hands, so I can only say I underestimated boxing.

Boxing is one of the martial arts that professionals in the field dedicate their lives to. It is not easy to learn. Of course, martial arts cannot be mastered in a day. There is no way but to practice steadily every day and stretch it out.

There is no coach, and there is also a question of how much training conceived with the superficial wisdom of an amateur can actually work. I had to mobilize all the manga knowledge in my memory and repeat trial and error.

Walking on a sandy beach that looks like a desert. In this place without cover, the visibility is too good. This location is easily seen by enemies, but it can be said that this location is also easy for enemies to be discovered.

A while ago, I saw a hundred-meter-class sea slug. It might be a sea cucumber. Regardless, on the sand where the giant had moved, there was a glittering path.

At first, I thought the mucus had dried and was glittering, like the trail of a slug crawling over it, but upon closer inspection, the ground was as smooth as porcelain. The quartz in the melted sand had turned into glass.

Of course, I didn't get close to the sea slug and ignored it. Such danger, if only the enemy could be seen at a glance, would be fine, but there are also many guys who don't look like much at first glance but are seriously coming to kill. I want you to stop.

After walking for a while, I heard the faint sound of waves lapping. The smell of the tide mixed with the wind. The sea was nearby.

The exploration of the beach seemed to be going well, but just as I was following the sound of the ripples, a strange ringing sound came to my ears. A high-pitched sound that makes you feel pain raged inside your eardrums.

About a second later, my tinnitus stopped, but I began to be wary of this unnaturalness. Immediately use "Together" to search for enemies.

"... Nothing...?"

I didn't feel anything unusual. Maybe it was just tinnitus.

I thought so too. A huge shadow suddenly appeared in front of you.

"!?"

It was a blue crab. It had a massive physique of tens of meters, but surprisingly, its pincers were even larger than its body. Only the right scissor leg was abnormally developed. Its appearance resembled a fiddler crab.

Two long eyes stared at you like an Antenna. The feeling of intimidation took a step back. There was a sound of stepping on the sand. With this as a signal, the enemy moved.

《Thought Calculation (Multi-tasking)》

When I entered accelerated thinking, I was already about to swing the scissors over my head like a rolling machine. An amazing speed disproportionate to its massive body. The next moment, my vision was shrouded in shadow.

An overwhelming mass was hit. The surrounding sandy ground let out a roar like a blank shot.

I managed to dodge in time. Used a side step to dodge the linear crushing attack approaching from the front. If I hadn't practiced, I might not have done it in time. It was just a paper's width.

However, the moment I was freed from the successful dodge, I was swallowed by that gap. The scissor leg that had finished hitting was swung to the side this time. Inevitable. The attack range was too wide.

Before I knew it, I was dancing in the sky. The scene jumped as if interrupted camera images were stitched together. It is natural for a blank to appear in consciousness. I suffered such great damage.

Nevertheless, I did my best. Strengthened my whole body's defense with "Hard," and jumped up as if blown away the moment I was directly hit. If I had stopped with a stick, I would have been crushed. I intended to avoid the shock as much as possible.

The result was severe damage causing fractures all over my body.

I floated in the air like a rag while thinking. Quinn was still alive, even though he was attacked by the enemy. Not dead in one hit.

Maybe this crab isn't that strong?

This is not a Nen Ability, but it is said that if you master it to a certain degree, you can feel the power gap between yourself and the other party the moment you see them. After experiencing a few blood-shedding incidents, I was able to acquire that skin-deep feeling.

If I trust my senses, I would say this crab's power is "average." Not weak, but not strong either. I was surprised by the way he appeared, but it seems his combat power is not that strong.

Honestly, I am not worried about Quinn's wounds. This level of damage is common. I would say it is light. The body is still moving, although its functions are declining. The egg soup is full. I have many options.

The problem is what to do next. He just launched an attack, and there is still some distance before his next move. Moreover, thanks to her waving the scissors, there is dust everywhere, and visibility is poor.

The enemy can no longer see Quinn. Is it better to take this opportunity to run away? I am worried about how far I can run with the injury, but I can also throw away the main body and run away like before. First, should I land and rebuild my posture?

Landed flexibly with both feet and one hand, suppressing the impact at three points. At the same time, the sound of bones crunching came from the soles of my feet. My hips and spine were in pain. The pain temporarily numbed by adrenaline flared up again.

"Gubu—"

I swallowed the vomit blood surging from my esophagus. It seems the internal organs were also hit harder than I thought. Although my consciousness was about to short-circuit due to pain, I cut off existence with "Absolute." It circulates the internal Aura and applies it to the body's repair. I hope you didn't notice...

Gurgle gurgle.

The enemy's eyes peeked through the gaps in the sand smoke, staring at us. Did the pain destroy the accuracy of Zetsu? I am unconscious. My training is not enough.

I changed my mind in an instant. Considering the speed gap between the rest and the enemy, it is already difficult to run away. What is the best way to survive? My body moves before I can reach an answer.

The instep. Pushing forward with all my might. The injured body screams from the sudden acceleration, but there is no time to hear it. Approaching the enemy without hesitation.

The enemy's weapon, giant pincer legs, possesses an overwhelming attack range. Now that they have noticed my movements, even if I try to flee, it is difficult to escape the vast attack range. However, due to its massive scale, there are places the attacks cannot reach.

It is close to the enemy. Instead, it enters the blind spot of the scissors by crawling into the chest.

Size itself is a threat. Its immense weight and the energy to move it easily crush its prey. On the other hand, a small person has two ways to fight. Do you want to attack unilaterally from a distance, or attack from close range?

The spirit of infighting is a spirit willing to intervene without fear. It cannot be done without cold-bloodedly guessing the enemy's ability, rather than being indifferent to one's own brute force. Make up your mind, concentrate your attention.

Left hand held in front of the face, right hand pulled slightly back, facing it in an orthodox manner. The enemy has noticed our approach but has failed to react. The movement of the scissor legs is agile, but the movements of other parts are at a speed the eye can follow. Even if about to be crushed, one can dodge.

Sensing the opportunity. I kick the ground, shortening the distance in one go. However, there is a miscalculation here.

The hidden scissor legs appear as if they were stored inside the body. A crab originally has one pair of pincers, one on each side. He was fully focused on the developed pincer leg on the right, but his left hand also had a hidden weapon.

Compared to the scissors on the right, it is small, but its short range makes it suitable for close-quarters combat. The enemy brilliantly missed our expectations and prepared interception measures.

I let Quinn move straight forward. If we stop here, the situation will get worse. There is no turning back. The left scissor leg opens its claws and approaches at high speed. If caught between them, Quinn's body would be snapped like a branch and cut in two.

This is not an attack that can be blocked no matter how much you reinforce with Aura. I extend Quinn's left hand as if to reach out. Then, activate the technique you prepared.

"Sage (Carbuncle)"

A red cactus appears on my left hand like a glove. The metal block blocks the approaching left scissor leg that wants to pinch it.

This is a technique for making armor for the left hand. Boxing is a martial art that fights with fists. It was decided that it is best to have protective gear to protect the hands. The right hand is close to the main body, acting as a hand guard, but the left hand is empty.

This idea had been in my mind before I decided to become a boxer. Let the virus feed on Quinn's Aura to create a red cactus. It is easy to express in words, but it is a technique that requires a lot of fine work. Control programs must be used to locally suppress the onset of infection. I spent some time learning it.

If he is explosively involved, the cactus will take root on Quinn's left hand. If that happens, the Poison will kill you instantly. Now it has inexplicably reached a level where it can be used in actual combat, but it failed repeatedly during the process of Cultivation.

The cactus quickly forms a ball covering the left fist. However, since the area around the wrist is open, it can be easily removed. Since the Aura that has developed into a cactus cannot be undone later, if you don't do this, you cannot get rid of it.

Therefore, it is not suitable for frequent use as a glove. It is a weapon for a surprise attack. It can be made to cover the wrist for a while, but in that case, it can only be removed by cutting off the left hand, so one must consider when to use it.

Nevertheless, it is still a more powerful weapon than bare-handed strikes. This glove can be strengthened through "Ken". The application technique "Ken" of increasing durability and power by imbuing weapons with Aura changes its accuracy based on its attachment strength and familiarity with the object. The cactus, which was almost born from my own body, became a weapon with high Aura conductivity for me.

And as long as it does not deviate from the shape of the cactus, it can be changed in shape to a certain extent. You can also sharpen the spikes and make them into spiked gloves. This will make it even more powerful.

In boxing, there are various fighting styles depending on the boxer, but if you are right-handed, you will quickly throw a jab with your left hand and wait and see. When he sees an opening, he often attacks with his powerful right hand.

"Carbuncle" is also a technique that uses the left hand as a Constraint. For Quinn, the right hand holding the main body is solid armor and a heavy striking weapon, but it is also the weakest point of protection. It is very unsettling to suddenly hit an unknown enemy.

First, look to the left. Use the left hand to attack, defend, measure the enemy's strength, and then release the favorite right hand. For this reason, I don't care what happens to my left hand. Cut flesh and cut bone.

The cactus forest caught between the scissor legs makes a metallic sound, squeaking, but it does not seem to have enough power to destroy the power around it. The enemy's movement stops. Anticipating this opportunity, Quinn has already swung his right fist.

There are no spare parts. Due to "Heavy", the offensive and defensive power drawn from the egg of the main body is concentrated on Quinn's right arm. Disproportionate energy is forcibly injected into his slender arm, causing his muscles to swell to the point of bursting.

If you inject as much repeated Potential Aura as possible, Quinn's arm will pop out. The collapse is repaired and fixed by Aura, identifying the line about to burst, and the energy is spread throughout the muscles without waste. Accelerated Thinking makes this possible.

Throwing a punch is not just the movement of arm muscles. It consists of the wrist joint, elbow joint, shoulder joint, hip joint, hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, and toe joints, as well as the muscles and tendons that move them. Focus on every part used to release a single fist.

Anyone who can see breath should notice that various parts of Quinn's body have 'Hardened'. "Ken" is a technique that concentrates Aura on a certain part of the body. If all manifested breath is concentrated on the fist, the power will increase several times, dozens of times that of an ordinary fist.

On the other hand, the Aura reinforcement rate of the body other than the fist is zero. It is in a state of annihilation, with no defensive power. In addition, Hard is a technique that is difficult to use itself. You must perform Aura operations with opposite properties, that is, increase the amount of Aura emitted by "Kneading" from the state of "Zetsu" blocking semen other than the fist. In addition to this, after keeping the breath leaking from the body surface with "Material" and "Hardness", release the power with "Hatsu".

Concentrate all Aura power on one point, and all other defensive power is lost. The difficulty of handling five techniques at the same time. Unless there is something special, this is not a technique that can be used casually in battle. However, Quinn used it in multiple places all over his body.

Strictly speaking, this is not "Hard". When the total body Aura is 100, the state where the fist receives 100 and other parts receive 0 is "Ken". Quinn used a technique that is usually impossible, in which she assigned 100 values exceeding her actual Aura amount to each position.

In other words, a "Ken" with the power of "Ken". This is possible because it is in a "Heavy" state of drawing offensive and defensive power from the main body. Combining the physical elements that can repair wounds with Quinn's Aura, and using the technique of "Thought Calculation" at the same time, this is a rough move.

The right arm swinging at maximum speed cannot be seen even with the naked eye. The main body uses the right hand to strengthen defense with full-power "Ken", preparing for impact. In addition, apply centrifugal force to the fist swinging from the side to draw an arc according to the rotation of the shoulders, hips, and toes.

——Heavy Right Hook!

A curved red trajectory flashes. Quinn's fist pierces the Iron carapace that has almost no chitin, and a high-pitched bell rings.

This is your all-out strike, without any cost. As a result, the enemy's armor only cracked. Conversely, Quinn's right arm is twisted so badly that the position of the joints is unknown. The main body, which originally strengthened its defense, also has its internal organs shaken, and is in a state of slight concussion.

Its reaction is so fast that this blow of mine might damage the internal organs of an insect in the forest. What Hardness. This is the defensive power of crustaceans.

However, I was able to crack the armor, even if only slightly.

"Erosion Mechanical Bullet (Cyst Shot)!"

From the pierced right arm, the main body shoots a Bullet at the wound. The two-stage attack devours the enemy's defense. The implanted seeds germinate inside the enemy's body, making it fatter and blooming. The indestructible armor that protects itself from external enemies expands the disease internally, turning it into a cage with nowhere to escape, tormenting its owner.

I thought so too. In front of me, who was convinced of my own victory, the left scissor leg that shot the Bullet fell off. Only the scissors are separated from the body.

Autotomy. Lizards cut off their tails and run away when they attract the enemy's attention. Many crustaceans also self-amputate.

The enemy perceived the abnormality of the attacked left scissor leg and immediately cut it off. Too bad, the Cyst Bullet I shot with great effort was wasted. I never thought I could prevent the onset of infection in this way.

The enemy, who had been staying in place, changed his movements greatly. He stood up from a crouching position and began to move his legs frantically. Every step is the movement of a pillar rolling up sand. Dodge with steps so as not to be trampled.

I knew it when I saw it. The enemy is trying to escape. Autotomy is a self-defense measure mainly used by creatures attacked by natural enemies to increase the probability of escape. The act of self-amputation itself represents the loss of fighting spirit. This crab felt the threat of Quinn, and Quinn launched a mysterious attack.

Do you want to run away?

If the enemy cuts off his arm and still has the will to continue fighting, he doesn't know what the result of this game will be. This would be a hard battle for me. This is the best for him.

However, victory or defeat is decided when running away. The enemy is tantamount to giving up his advantage. No matter how big the gap in ability is, a strong person without fighting spirit is easily tripped.

Eat or be eaten, the relationship is surprisingly Ambiguity, and the reversal is commonplace in an instant.

Pursuing the enemy, Quinn shoots "Erosion Machine Bullet" from the main body. It lands on the amputated left scissor leg. The Poison enters through the exposed flesh without armor, and the crab becomes unable to move.

It is very powerful. "Maybe this crab wasn't that strong?", he was about to be killed normally.

By the way, if you look at the strength itself, there are many more dangerous guys. This is incompatible. Even the "Erosion Mechanical Bullet" that can inject poisonous gas even if it bites a piece of meat is a powerful weapon that can sometimes defeat even higher-level enemies. However, it is difficult to deal with opponents whose whole body is hardened by this kind of armor.

For this reason, he invented a combination of heavy and Hard shooting bullets. I thought this enemy would be a good platform for Cultivation, so I tried to face it head-on, but I realized that there are still some places that need improvement for full practical use. After all, there are many things that you cannot know unless you try them in actual combat.

This is why the battle with the crab earlier was very helpful for verifying the technique. However, there is one point that cannot be understood. This is the situation when we first met.

First, I felt an unnatural noise in my ears, so I used "Together" to search for the enemy. After judging that there was no abnormality, the enemy suddenly appeared in front of me. Suddenly appeared, as if it had existed from the beginning. No matter how well you do in Absolute, you will not miss an object that stands out at that distance.

"Together" is a technique that requires a high degree of concentration and cannot be used as frequently as "Qi". However, the accuracy of that enemy search is the highest among the techniques I have mastered, and after I used it, I never missed an enemy.

If we limit ourselves to a Hidden point, we can definitely say that the crab is a Disaster-level threat. This is too unreasonable. If I let those things live and escape, I won't be able to explore this area with peace of mind later. In this sense, I am lucky to have killed him.

But the problem remains. If he can hide as if erasing his own cognition, there is no need to attack specifically after he appears in front of me. If I were attacked without knowing it, I would be killed helplessly.

Something caught me. What was he doing when he appeared? Is there anything suspicious?

I cannot think of an answer. For the time being, for the sake of safety, I am walking in a place some distance away from the previous location. Being more careful than usual, I frequently use "Together" to search for enemies. If the duration used is too short, the accuracy drops, but there is no help for it.

Enduring the intensifying headache, I walked on the beach while massaging my Sun temples. As I crossed an especially large sand dune, I saw the blue ocean in the distance.