Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 81

Roman and Kasa noticed that the strength demonstrated by Lorena and Cruel was slightly ahead of their own. Until the second test, the difference in levels hadn’t been so stark.

But now, it was clear. Not just two, but even Yan was part of this.

Whatever they had gained up north was evident.

As Lorena led the way, Roman followed closely behind. Despite exerting all her energy, Lorena didn’t break a sweat. Her expression was almost as if she were out for a leisurely stroll.

“Clearly, she surpasses me in terms of absolute mana quantity, skill quality, and operational ability,” Roman thought. While his physical abilities were superior due to innate physique, that was where it ended.

If they faced off now, Lorena would likely win decisively, or perhaps luck would favor her ninety-nine times out of a hundred.

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “For now, I’ll acknowledge that I’m below her.”

But he had no intention of merely trailing behind them forever…

When they reached the very front of the Abomination, Roman shouted with all his might, “You attack! I’ll handle defense!”

Lorena nodded once and slammed her sword into the ground. In an instant, she leaped onto the Abomination’s shoulder, four stories high. Her expression remained calm, as if she were on a casual stroll.

“Definitely stronger in terms of mana, skill, and control,” Roman thought.

But he wouldn’t keep staring at their backs forever…

Just then, Yan’s voice echoed in their minds: “There’s a core inside its head. That’s its weakness. The facial skin is tougher than other parts, so you’ll need to break through its snout.”

While Roman and Lorena exchanged glances, Yan was busy dissecting another Abomination. Despite their intense battle, he effortlessly severed the creature’s arm with a single sword strike.

Roman’s face twisted. “He’s incomprehensible.”

Initially, Yan seemed talentless, full of venom. But suddenly, he was darting around, creating an insurmountable gap.

“A monster,” Lorena uttered, and Roman agreed.

“Indeed.”

Lorena turned her head, her gaze piercing. It wasn’t a casual glance. When she provoked the Abomination’s wrath, a chilling cold swept through the surroundings.

And then, her sword began to change.

“Petals?” Roman frowned as white petals started appearing on the blade.

Lorena lightly brushed the petals off her sword, and they scattered into the air.

“Let’s go.”

“Are you confident?”

“Watch and protect.”

Lorena charged straight toward the Abomination’s head. White petals bloomed around her, following her path.

In an instant, the powerless petals surged along with her sprint, aiming for the Abomination’s head.

The process was fleeting. The Abomination couldn’t react.

When Lorena reached the vicinity of its snout, the creature screamed in alarm. It sensed danger.

But Lorena paid no heed, thrusting her sword.

“Haah!”

With a battle cry, she drove the blade into the snout.

Simultaneously, the white petals that had followed her now converged on the Abomination’s mouth.

The once-floating petals turned into sharp blades, slicing through the creature’s jaws.

Moments later…

The Abomination’s snout shattered.

Its green gem, the core, broke apart. And its massive body disintegrated into dust, carried away by the wind.

Landing safely, Lorena and Roman faced each other.

“Haah, haah.”

“We won.”

“It was a good collaboration.”

“Same for you.”

The battle against the Abominations continued, and their teamwork proved formidable. The mysterious Yan’s abilities remained an enigma, but together, they fought on. The petals that bloomed from Lorena’s sword held a secret power, and their victory was hard-won.

* * *

Unlike Lorena and Roman, who had been in sync from the beginning, Cruel and Kasa were completely out of tune. Eventually, a portion of Kasa’s sword strike sliced through Cruel’s hair.

“Are you crazy? Your reckless moves could have killed me too!” Cruel shouted.

“Figure it out on your own,” Kasa replied calmly, relying on his innate combat sense to avoid any major accidents. Still, the physical strain was taking its toll.

Kasa bit his lip. In just a little over a month, the gap between Lorena, Cruel, Roman, and himself had become glaringly apparent.

“This won’t do,” Kasa thought. To revive their dwindling family, he needed to excel and complete his training. But his goal seemed to be slipping away.

Caught up in his own thoughts, Kasa lost focus during battle. An Abomination’s massive fist descended toward his head.

“Yaaah! Get your act together! If you’re going down, do it alone!” Cruel cursed.

Suddenly, Cruel appeared, blocking the Abomination’s attack with his sword. His arms trembled, but he held firm.

Kasa’s lips quivered, tasting the metallic tang of blood. He sank to the ground, dazed.

The Abomination’s fist had nearly crushed him. If not for Cruel’s intervention, he’d be a crumpled heap in that pit.

“Understood,” Kasa mumbled, rising to his feet. He couldn’t afford such mistakes.

He activated her techniques: “Footsteps of Speed” and “Phantom Blade”—a fusion of speed-enhancing martial arts and illusionary swordplay. It was an impossible combination for most, but Kasa’s sharp mind harmonized the two seamlessly.

Step by step, he circled the Abomination, thrusting his blade into its hide.

Then it happened.

From the wound he’d inflicted, blood sprayed out like a geyser.

“Aaargh!” Kasa’s eyes widened. If not for his quick reflexes, he’d be blinded.

Her vision cleared just in time to see the Abomination’s massive fist descending upon him.

“Damn it!” Kasa’s hand shot up to protect his face.

But someone pushed her aside. The pain shot through her ribs, but he was alive.

“Wh-who?” Kasa blinked, staring at the spot where he’d been standing.

The Abomination’s fist was buried in the ground.

“…Cruel?”

Could this wild, self-absorbed boy really have sacrificed himself? The Abomination pulled its fist free.

Cruel’s battered form emerged. He struggled to open his eyes.

“It hurts… I might die,” Cruel managed weakly.

“Cruel!” Kasa’s shout made Cruel smile weakly.

It was a smile that conveyed more than words. Kasa’s eyes filled with tears.

“Sorry, Mom and Dad.”

The sensation of impending death overwhelmed him.

The Abomination’s fist loomed before him.

And then…

“Die, you bastard!” Cruel’s voice echoed.

The Abomination’s massive form shuddered as Cruel’s spinning blade tore through its hide.

The relentless assault continued until the blade struck the core within the Abomination’s snout.

“Whooosh!” Blood sprayed out, and the creature collapsed.

Cruel staggered to her feet.

“Body… still intact!” he declared.

Kasa nodded, accepting the weight of Cruel’s sacrifice. He hadn’t come seeking help; he’d come to fight.

“If only I’d left that bastard Charl behind,” Cruel muttered.

“Charl? The female trainee who came with us? She’s better off than I am…” Kasa trailed off.

Cruel was far superior to Kasa now, both in skill and mindset.

As he listened to Cruel’s words, Kasa realized this wasn’t the time for distractions.

“I’ll distract it while you aim for the head,” Cruel said.

“Got it.”

Kasa activated “Footsteps of Speed” and circled the Abomination, inflicting wounds on its legs.

And then, Cruel sprang into action.

Step by step, he accelerated until he was running.

And then he leaped, spinning like a wheel.

“Shrrrr!”

Cruel became a whirling blade, tearing through the Abomination’s hide. His blade was relentless, and his movements seemed inexhaustible.

“Shrrrr!”

The blade struck the core within the Abomination’s snout.

And though they didn’t know it, the surge of determination from the Abomination’s lifeless body flowed toward Yan.

* * *

Kasa gazed down at Cruel, sprawled out in a sprawl.

Cruel, nicknamed the “Wild Dog” at the training camp, was violent, arrogant, and domineering. Yet here he was, sacrificing himself for Kasa. And his strength had grown immensely since their time up north.

Kasa glanced at Yan in the distance. “How on earth did that guy manage to change this wild dog?” he wondered.

It was an enigma. But one thing was certain: Yan was different from them.

Kasa’s eyes held a glimmer of hope. He didn’t even know what he was hoping for, but it felt right.

* * *

“Hoo, hoo.”

Yan stood over the massive Abomination corpses, Ascalon in hand. He had already taken down five of them single-handedly.

But the real problem lay elsewhere.

Yan looked ahead, murmuring:

“Lich Eamon.”

A tattered robe-clad Lich hovered in the air. Its crimson eyes bore down on Yan with intensity.

-…The magic and techniques you employ.

-Are you also a descendant of the Mahtab?

Cryptic words accompanied the Lich’s gaze.