Rain processed the memory of the ''Cloud Sword Art'', realizing it was a mid-rank technique. Within this sword art lay not only a refined sword technique but also a complementary movement technique. Only by performing both together could one truly execute the 'real' Cloud Sword Art.
Just then, he noticed three skeletons advancing toward his group. Everyone else was already locked in combat, so he positioned himself in their path. As the skeletons lunged, he initially focused on defence, gauging their strength and observing their movements. After determining that the three skeletons were manageable, Rain prepared to end the fight quickly—but paused as another thought crossed his mind. 'Why not try the Cloud Sword Art?' With his mastery over the higher ranked ''Spring Rain Sword Art'', he hoped to adapt to the mid-rank technique even faster.
As he fought the three skeletons, he became familiar with the Cloud Sword Art within minutes. This technique proved flexible, without a fixed starting move; each motion flowed seamlessly into the next, alternating between slow, deliberate strikes and sudden, rapid cuts. While he found the art compatible with his current sword, he sensed it would be even more powerful with dual swords.
With the three skeletons firmly in his control, Rain was ready to finish them off. Suddenly, Siobhan's voice cut through his focus, "Rain, to your right!" He didn't have time to turn or defend with his shield, so he instinctively swung his sword in his right hand toward the direction she warned about. His blade clashed against something hard—a metallic 'clank'—but then pain shot up his back.
As he caught sight of the Dead Scythe vanishing again, Rain noticed the three skeletons were once more closing in on him. With a surge of full strength, he dispatched them in under a minute and quickly took a recovery pill, feeling the effects as it began to heal his back and replenish his combat energy. Gritting his teeth, he thought, 'I need to deal with that Dead Scythe—it's too dangerous to leave unchecked.'
For the next couple of hours, Rain remained vigilant, constantly on guard for any sign of the Dead Scythe. He wasn't sure if it was the same one that had attacked him twice, but regardless, he stayed sharp, eliminating any monsters that crossed his path. After taking down a bone bird, he swallowed a genetic pill to restore his energy. Just then, he felt a rumbling beneath his feet, followed by deafening roars.
Turning toward the commotion, he saw four towering, grotesque creatures with exposed bloody flesh lumbering in Damian's direction. The name 'Blood Abomination' came to mind as he watched the hulking figures advance. Damian, unoccupied with any other monsters at that moment, braced himself. As the lead Blood Abomination swung a massive fist at him, Damian met it with a punch of his own. Both recoiled from the impact, leaving Rain astonished—the creature's strength was on par with Damian's, suggesting the Abomination had the power of an early True Body realm.
Rain took note of the three remaining Blood Abominations: two others stood at 10 feet, matching the lead, while the fourth, a shorter one at 8 feet, appeared to have peak D-rank strength. Suddenly, he felt a chill sweep over the battlefield as Sky approached, freezing the monsters she'd been facing before sprinting toward Damian's position. She swiftly engaged with the two taller Blood Abominations, while Damian faced off against one of the 10-foot creatures and the shorter 8-foot one. Rain observed as Damian harnessed his genetic energy, cloaking himself in full-body armor to confront the monstrous Blood Abominations head-on.
Lily called out, "Damian, hold on! I'm coming to help you." She unleashed her own strength, swiftly dispatching the monster she had been fighting, and joined the battle, taking on the 8-foot Blood Abomination.
Suddenly, Rain sensed something barreling toward him from behind. He spun around just in time to see a Blood Beast charging straight at him. Bracing himself, he raised his shield to absorb the impact, but the force was so powerful that he staggered backward, struggling to regain his balance. From the blow alone, Rain realized this Blood Beast was no ordinary foe—it was a late D-rank monster. Rain yesterday he killed a late d-rank skeleton while himself was serious injured he risk because he knows his team member is behind him yesterday but today all his team member who are stronger than him are engage in battle with equal opponent cannot support him and there is another interlopper from his vision behinf the blood he sees a dead scythe standing looking at him. Rain formed a plan facing the late d-rank blood beast to not defence or attack but only dodge, as he knows Sky will killed the two blood abnimation only is the matter of time.
Rain initially tried dodging, but the Blood Beast's speed was nearly double his, forcing him to rely on his shield to block its claws and snapping jaws. Frustrated, he thought of using the movement technique from Cloud Sword Art, though he had only just begun learning it. He instructed the chip to allocate as much processing power as possible, without interfering with his combat performance, to analyze and understand the movement technique.
He sighed with relief when Siobhan joined him, intercepting one of the Blood Beast's attacks. "I guessed right," she said, managing a grim smile. "I figured you were only dodging and defending because it's a late D-rank Blood Beast." She staggered from the impact, and Rain quickly steadied her.
"I'll keep the Blood Beast engaged," Rain said, his tone resolute. "You stay alert for any other monsters coming our way."
"You'll be alright?" Siobhan asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
Rain smirked. "You forget, yesterday I took down a late D-rank skeleton."
Siobhan nodded, stepping back to keep watch. Rain's confidence grew as he received a memory of the movement technique, understanding the basics of its execution. With renewed determination, he began counterattacking, finding that the energy of Spring Sword Art worked effectively against the Blood Beast. Each strike left jagged, rough cuts rather than smooth slices, with residual energy lingering that he controlled through his soul power, deepening the wound for a full minute and worsening the injury.
A sudden roar of pain echoed behind him, but Rain didn't look back. "What happened?" he asked Siobhan.
"Sky cut off one of the Blood Abomination's arms!" she replied, excitement in her voice.
Rain felt reassured that Sky was holding her own and figured he wouldn't need to stall for long. But then Siobhan's voice came again, surprised. "Wow... the Abomination's arm just grew back, completely!"
Rain refocused his attention on the Blood Beast, realizing he would need to finish it off quickly. The beast lunged at him with ferocious speed, its claws swiping dangerously close as he brought up his shield just in time, absorbing the impact that still sent him sliding back. Drawing on the movement technique from Cloud Sword Art, Rain side-stepped the Blood Beast's next strike, his form fluid as he positioned himself for a counterattack. His sword sliced across the creature's flank, leaving a jagged, bleeding wound. Energy from his Spring Sword Art pulsed through the blade, digging deeper into the flesh, aggravating the wound as the beast staggered and roared in pain. The Blood Beast recoiled, then charged forward again, but Rain was prepared. He parried a vicious claw swipe, using the momentum to spin and slash a second, even deeper cut across its neck.The residual energy dug in relentlessly, and within moments, the beast's powerful strides faltered, leaving it vulnerable as Rain prepared for the finishing blow.
But suddenly, Siobhan shouted, "Incoming from your left and above! I'll handle the left!" She positioned herself at his side, guarding against an approaching threat. Rain, alerted by her warning, noticed shadows circling him and sensed the wind shift above. Glancing up, he saw a Bone Bird swooping down. Timing his move, he leaped onto the Blood Beast's back, his sword plunging into the back of its neck. As he braced for the Bone Bird's assault, he raised his shield to absorb the impact, holding his sword firm against the beast beneath him as it thrashed violently. The Bone Bird attacked, slamming against his shield and forcing him to steady himself amidst the Blood Beast's intensifying struggles.
The Bone Bird soared upward again, gaining altitude. Rain saw the Blood Beast rise and prepare to charge with him still on its back. Swiftly, he withdrew his sword from its neck and leaped off just as the beast took off running. While in mid-air, Rain focused his soul energy, causing the residual energy in the creature's neck to rupture. After a few steps, it stumbled and skidded across the ground. Landing steadily, he kept a wary eye on the Bone Bird circling above. Approaching the Blood Beast, he saw its head twitching in resistance, but the creature was unable to control its body from the neck down. Rain drove his sword into its brain, ending its life.