The rest of the party members turned silent at the words of the black-clothed young man.
Kyle subconsciously shook his head and blurted. "Eyy, no way. The game just officially launched, it's impossible for a player to become so strong in a single day. As for cheating, it would be even more impossible since Prime, Destiny Group's Super AI is impossible to hack..."
The blond knight's words were what the others thought of this moment.
After all, it was impossible for them to accept the idea of a player who already has the ability to slay monsters at such a level at this point in the game.
Salvator, the team's main tank, nodded his head. "Both Spectre and Kyle have a good point. However, we also can't rule out the chance that an NPC may have done this."
Queen also nodded her head as she stared at the demon's corpse, which started to dissipate. "I agree with Salvator. The one who did this is highly likely to be an NPC instead of a player."
"Guild Leader." Su Yan called out. "Should we follow that person's trail?" as she said that, she pointed her wooden staff at the footprints that were left on the barren ground.
"We should," Queen answered. "If that person happens to be a strong NPC, we can watch him battle the Demon Spawns..."
"—that way, we can gauge their power." Spectre finished her sentence.
Queen nodded and started treading forward, followed by the rest.
*****
At this moment, far away, ahead of Queen's party, a figure could be seen dashing swiftly around a colossal figure. The size difference was so huge that the former was completely dwarfed by the latter.
However, despite the gap in height and physique, the large figure that was a Demon Spawn was unable to land even a single hit at its target.
Sparks lit up the surrounding and clashing sounds were heard.
Wielding the [Cursed Blade], Sky's damage output was on a whole different level compared to before.
Boom!
As he dodged the humungous fist of the demon that was bigger than his head, Sky used [Chop], the blade of his sword flashing with blue light as it targeted the bleeding gash on the demon's elbow.
[Critical hit!]
[You have dealt 954 damage to the target!]
[The target has lost an arm!]
[The target is now in a vulnerable state.]
GRUAAAAA!!!
The Demon Spawn howled as its large left arm fell on the ground, its crimson blood spraying out like rainfall.
"Pei."
His face splattered with the demon's blood, Sky spat out as his lips turned into a grin.
Without even wiping the blood on his face, he sent out another [Chop].
[Critical hit!]
[You have dealt 1,120 damage to the target!]
At this moment, with his face smeared crimson, despite having a handsome face, he looked like an asura that came from hell—bloodthirsty and ruthless.
'Faster.'
Clenching his sword, Sky dashed at the demon's flank and slashed horizontally.
[You have dealt 790 damage to the target!]
'Faster.'
Brandishing his weapon, Sky was as if in a trance as he released three attacks in a second.
[You have dealt 810 damage to the target!]
[You have dealt 842 damage to the target!]
[You have dealt 833 damage to the target!]
'Faster!'
With no mercy on his enemy, he unleashed a flurry of attacks with his sword as he swiftly circled around the demon, assaulting it from different angles.
[You have dealt 849 damage to the target!]
[You have dealt 811 damage to the target!]
[You have dealt 877 damage to the...]
[You have dealt 898 damage....]
[You have dealt...]
[You have...]
[You...]
[...]
[...]
ROARRRRRR!!!
Howls and cries escaped the large maw of the Demon Spawn, yet it couldn't do anything as cuts and wounds, appeared all over its body.
From mere flesh wounds, nearly all of them turned bone-deep after being hacked and slashed multiple times.
Despite merely having a bit more than 100 points in Agility, at this moment, Sky used the utmost his virtual body could use as his current speed reached into extremity.
His figure was so fast that as he continuously dashed around the Demon Spawn, his silhouette turned blurry, akin to a fleeting shadow as the demon turned even more battered, grievous wounds appearing all over.
His lips dripping with crimson blood, Sky's grin never disappeared. As for whose blood it was, obviously, it was the demon spawn's.
He didn't mind the gory scene at all. He brought down his sword towards the demon, repeatedly and never-ending.
At that moment—
[The War God is watching you.]
A system notification appeared on the corner of his retina.
However, regardless of its importance, it was nonetheless drowned among the continuous appearance of notification windows in Sky's vision.
It was completely disregarded.
[The War God is surprised at your intensity and fervor.]
That notification window wasn't even noticed by Sky as he swung his sword at the demon who was bleeding profusely.
[You have dealt 888 damage to the target!]
[Cursed Blade's option effect 'Bleed' has been activated.]
[The target will suffer 20 damage per second for 10 seconds.]
[You have dealt 900 damage to the target!]
[Cursed Blade's option effect 'Fear' has been activated.]
[The target is under the influence 'Fear' for 3 seconds.]
AOOOOOO!!!
The Demon Spawn shrieked as if it had descended into madness, swinging its fists all over.
Clearly vulnerable, Sky took advantage of the [Cursed Blade]'s option effect and unleashed a barrage of sword slash, causing the continuous appearance of red-colored three-digit numbers above the demon's head.
Slash!
Hack!
Slice!
Stab!
Pierce!
Swing!
He had at least attacked twelve times until the 'Fear' effect on the Demon Spawn wore off.
However, Sky didn't let up one bit even after the monster regained its senses.
Time passed, and eventually, the demon's health dwindled down.
50%...40%...30%...20%...10%...5%..3%...1%...
And finally—
"Phew." Sky exhaled and looked up at the sky, his breathing rapid.
[The enemy has been slain!]
[You have achieved a miraculous feat!]
[You have single-handedly won against an enemy that should've been impossible to defeat given your current strength!]
[You have received World Reputation +1,000 for your Combat Achievement!]
[All stats +5.]
[You have slain an enemy 75+ levels above you! Experience points received has increased by 750%!]
[You have received 637,318 experience points.]
[Your level has risen.]
[Your level has risen.]
[Your level has risen.]
[Your level has...]
[Your level...]
[Your...]
[...]
[...]
[You have obtained: Intermediate Potion x3.]
[You have obtained: Beginner Mana Potion x5.]
[You have obtained: Demon Spawn's Eyes.]
[You have obtained: Demon Spawn's Bones x4.]
[You have obtained: Demon Spawn's Claws.]
[You have obtained...]
[...]
[...]
[You have slain a minion of the Great Demons.]
[Intermediate Sword Mastery Level 2 has leveled up to Intermediate Sword Mastery Level 3.]
[When a sword type-weapon is equipped, attack power will increase by 22%, and attack speed by 11%. Crit chance increased by 12% and critical damage by 20%.]
[+5 Strength, Agility, Vitality, and Dexterity.]
Sky smiled when he saw the numerous notification windows.
He felt a sense of satisfaction whenever he saw such things. He could even sense a faint feeling of his strength gradually increasing.
"What a magical game..." He laughed as he thanked the creator of the Everlasting World in his heart.
After nearly two decades, he finally had a platform to showcase himself.
After living in isolation his whole life and after his old master level, he finally felt a sense of belonging in this world.
'Little brat. Remember, never show your strength unless it is absolutely necessary.' Sky grinned when he remembered these words which his master had repeatedly told him.
In the real world, he was incredibly strong.
He knew of it.
That was why he always held himself back. Otherwise, his name would've been known throughout the world already.
However, in this game, in this new world, it was different.
"I don't need to hold back anymore." he threw his head back and laughed as blood dripped down his face.
The current sight of him laughing like a maniac was a sight to behold.
Holding a black sword with his crude armor drenched in the blood of the demon, alongside the immobile hulking corpse that lied on the ground which was gushing out blood continuously, the image was somewhat scary and frightening.
And right now, this sight was seen by a party of five.
*****
Queen and her party had been walking carefully and cautiously for a while, and thankfully, they never encountered a single monster and a Demon Spawn.
As they passed trees that towered up the sky, at least 10 meters tall, their surroundings became darker and darker.
The sun was setting and light had difficulties penetrating the dark forest that was filled with mysteriously large plants, flowers, and trees.
"Damn, what a spooky place." Kyle shook his head as he vigilantly looked around.
From time to time, howls and cries could be heard. Whether it came from monsters or ghosts, they didn't know.
Even the temperature in the surrounding dropped and they clearly felt it as they felt chills running through their spines.
Spectre, the young man clad in black attire, was leading the party. Since he had already changed into the Assassin Class, he was the most suitable member to scout ahead in the darkness.
His breathing was silent and composed and his senses sensitive.
It was clear that he had previous experiences playing the class.
At that moment, he halted his steps.
"Wait," he whispered.
Although his voice was low, the rest of the party heard him and they all stopped moving.
Spectre crouched down and closed his eyes.
"At least 300 meters ahead, I hear something."
"Something?" Kyle urged. "What is it? Tell us."
"Shush!"
Spectre hissed at the knight and turned quiet for a few moments.
"Fighting," he said as he stood up and looked at Queen. "There's a fight ahead."
"It could be the person who killed the previous Demon Spawn," Queen said.
Spectre nodded.
"Lead the way."
"Okay."
The party picked up their pace as they traversed the distance carefully and steadily.
After a while—
AOOOOOOO!!!!!!
A resounding roar reverberated in the surrounding, turning Queen's and her friend's faces pale.
"What the hell..." Kyle cursed as his face hardened.
Just a roar had already left them breathless. What if they were to face that monster?
"They're close," Spectre whispered. He walked forward even though his complexion was pale.
Salvator followed right behind the assassin as he tightened his grip on his round shield.
Queen and the rest followed suit.
And then, they saw it.
Up ahead, a hundred meters away, they saw a gigantic monster.
A huge head with two large diluted eyes. A sharp nose rested below it alongside a big underbite mouth.
The monster's maw was open and razor-sharp teeth capable of shattering rocks with ease were seen. It was followed by a forked tongue that hissed like a snake's. Dark smoke escaped the demon's mouth as it flew towards the human that it targeted.
The monstrous sight was simply frightening. Add that to Everlasting World's realism which bordered 100%, they felt the daunting aura that emanated from the demon, and they couldn't help but shiver because of it.
However, at this moment, what was more of a frightening sight was the image of the howling demon, with its body filled with gashing cuts and bone-deep wounds.
Even its right arm was sliced off, its connected part lying down the ground with blood flowing out.
Right then, Queen and the party's attention was completely locked onto the figure that was incredibly small compared to the monster.
Wielding a black sword and a coarse armor, the figure's black hair fluttered along with the wind as he danced around the colossal demon.
His weapon hacked and slashed the demon which seemed slow, unable to even retaliate.
Once, twice, thrice, the sword added new wounds upon the demon's body that was already riddled with lacerations.
Boom!
The demon swung its fist, yet that figure dodged it by a hair's breadth, his face bone-chillingly calm.
His expression was so indifferent it was as if he wasn't fighting a life and death battle at this moment. It was as if he had already experienced such things before, and right now, his battle with this Demon Spawn was but another one of those days.
And eventually, the most shocking thing they ever saw presented itself before their eyes—
ROARRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!
With a reluctant and resentful cry, the gigantic Demon Spawn collapsed on the ground and never stood up again.