God Slayer: SSS-Rank Abyssal System

Chapter Six: Carnage

The five hunters stood in silence, watching Samuel vigilantly. Their hearts thumped in their chests as they gripped their weapons. Everyone's eyes drifted back and forth between him and the carcasses. It made no sense for an ordinary human to be able to kill an Abyssal Creature, much less three.

“H-how are you alive?” Declan asked, pointing his greatsword at Samuel. Not only had the carrier resurrected, but he was also in perfect condition. His entire body was drenched in blood, though.

Samuel didn't say anything; his eyes were fixated on them.

[TARGET IDENTIFIED

Name: Elvis Brighton

Classification: Evolved

Species: Human

Rank: E

Level: 1

Class: Magician

Attribute: Healing

Skill: Sun Halo, LV1

Information acquisition: 80%]

[-1 MP]

He crouched and activated Savage Pounce. Elvis was the only non-combatant among the squad. But he was also a threat. As long as he was alive, he'd keep healing his teammates. And that wasn't something Samuel could afford.

[Due to your rank, you can't view stats!]

‘That’s all I need!’ he brandished the Iron-toothed Greatsword and pounced into the air. He moved so suddenly. No one could react in time.

Before anyone realized what was happening, he was descending upon Elvis. He swung his arms vertically, cleaving through Elvis's head. As he landed on the ground, the corpse swayed slowly and collapsed with a thud.

[You have slain a hunter!]

[+1 SP]

“That's one…” Samuel bellowed, sidestepping to his left. If he'd not moved at that moment, he would have been hit by the glowing arrow. He watched as it hit the ground instead.

‘Ranged attacks…’ he quickly sprinted toward the attacker.

[TARGET IDENTIFIED

Name: Joe Clinton

Classification: Evolved

Species: Human

Rank: E

Level: 1

Class: Artillerist

Attribute: Archery

Skill: Flaming Bow, LV1

Information acquisition: 70%]

Artillerist class hunters were as deadly as Magicians… if not more. They specialized in long-range attacks. The attacks’ devastation depended on the hunter's attribute.

So, Samuel decided to pick Joe next. He ran in a zigzag manner, dodging the fireballs launched at him. There was another Magician, but he didn't care. They didn't have the Healing attribute.

Joe narrowed his eyes, realizing what was happening. He immediately drew out five wooden arrows and placed them on the bowstring. The arrows transformed into golden flames as he shot them at Samuel.

Samuel managed to evade three arrows, but got hit in the chest by two. A burning sensation spread through his chest, making him cough up blood.

[-2 HP]

But that didn't impede his movement at all. Instead, he seemed to move faster. It might have been an adrenaline rush, or something else. But he was moving like an absolute monster.

Before Joe could draw another set of arrows, Samuel slashed his neck off. He didn't even stop to check the corpse dropping to the ground. He moved on to the next target.

[You have slain a hunter!]

[+1 SP]

Declan immediately blocked his way, swinging his greatsword at him. Luckily, he slid between the guards, raising his greatsword to block the slash with a powerful clang.

The squad leader had supernatural strength as his attribute. Although it benefited him greatly, it also limited him. He was slower than the average Evolved human.

Samuel exploited this weakness and ran past Declan before he could even turn. His target was Rick, the Magician with fire manipulation.

[TARGET IDENTIFIED

Name: Rick Rodriguez

Classification: Evolved

Species: Human

Rank: E

Level: 1

Class: Magician

Attribute: Pyrokinesis

Skill: Flamethrower, LV2

Information acquisition: 90%]

Boom!

Rick threw a ball of fire at Samuel, trying to incinerate him. He'd watched the so-called ordinary man kill two of his teammates. He feared he was next, so he attacked in haste.

[Sword Master, LV1 activated!]

Samuel spun his greatsword rapidly, deflecting the fireball.

[-2 HP]

The flames burned his hands, but he didn't stop. He only had to deflect the fireball, and that was all.

Rick’s pupils dilated as he saw the Iron-toothed Greatsword cleaving through the air toward him. Its purple blade resembled an Iron-toothed Sabertooth's maw.

“Shit…” he thrust his hands forward to blast Samuel with his fireballs. But it was too late.

Samuel cut his two arms off, rolling to a stop. He then turned around to face Declan and Mark. He ignored Rick’s earsplitting scream as he fell to his knees.

“H-help…” Rick muttered as he knee-walked toward Declan and Mark. “Help me—”

Samuel severed his head from his neck, interrupting his speech. He then stood upright, panting.

[-3 stamina]

“You…” Declan couldn't believe his ears. He looked at the three corpses sprawled on the ground. Their blood had already soaked the ashy ground, dyeing it crimson.

“How dare you?!” Mark brandished his spear, running toward Samuel. He'd watched the man kill all his friends without being able to do anything. He couldn't stand by anymore…

He slid across the ground and thrust his spear toward Samuel's torso. He was of the Guard class, like Declan. But he didn't have attributes like supernatural strength or durability. Instead, he possessed a Hardening attribute.

[TARGET IDENTIFIED

Name: Mark Slessor

Classification: Evolved

Species: Human

Rank: E

Level: 1

Class: Guard

Attribute: Hardening

Skill: Iron Skin, LV1

Information acquisition: 80%]

Clang!

Samuel crouched, thrusting his greatsword downward to block Mark's attack. He then activated Savage Pounce, slashing at Mark's head.

There was a metallic sound as the Iron-toothed Greatsword ricocheted off the Guard's head. He then turned sharply and hit Samuel with his spear’s shaft.

[-1 HP]

Samuel let out a stifled moan as he staggered backward. His ribs hurt badly, but he didn't dare take his eyes off Mark. Thankfully, the attack wasn't critical, or his ribs would have broken.

[The Qi cores of Iron-toothed Sabertooths can be used to rank up weapons]

The Abyssal System’s voice echoed in his head.

[Do you wish to use your ×1 Iron-toothed Sabertooth’s Qi core to reforge your Iron-toothed Greatsword?]

[Yes] [No]

‘Yes.’ Samuel didn't think twice.

[Weapon crafting initiated…

Duration: 1min]

Suddenly, a purple hue enveloped his greatsword. Declan and Mark exchanged surprised glances before frowning.

“Attack!” Declan yelled as he ran toward Samuel. “He's trying to reforge his weapon!”

He didn't know how Samuel was doing it. Evolved usually reforged their weapons with Qi cores through Evolved blacksmiths. These blacksmiths were usually Magicians or Artillerists who had attributes related to forging. No one had ever reforged a weapon instantly!

Mark immediately swung his spear at Samuel with all his strength. Once the Evolved carrier was impaled, he'd die instantly.

[Weapon crafting complete! Your Iron-toothed Greatsword has leveled up]

Clang!

Samuel blocked the spear, gritting his teeth as his hands trembled. The shaft broke from the impact, leaving Mark shocked.

Declan leaped into the air and swung his greatsword down at that moment. But Samuel was faster. He rolled away as the silver blade sank into the ground.

“I wonder how you’ll survive,” Samuel said as he slashed Declan's tendons. “Now your men are not with you.”

He watched the loaner fall with a painful scream, blood gushing out of the wounds. Mark clenched his jaw in rage and ran toward him. He thought his Iron Skin would protect him, but it didn't. One single strike and his chest caved in, blood spurting out of his mouth.

“How…” he fell to the ground, dead.

[You have slain a hunter]

[+1 SP]

Samuel fell on his knees, panting. Now that Declan was paralyzed, his mission was almost complete. All he had to do was kill the man.

“Samuel…” Declan begged. “Y-you are making a big mistake…”

Samuel didn't say anything. He was recovering his stamina slowly. When he had enough energy, he'd finish off the man instantly.

[System update!

Mission: Hunt the five hunters in this Abyssal Zone

Reward: ×1 Active Skill, ×1 Passive Skill, +5 MP

Duration: 2hrs 30mins]

Penalty for failure: Death]

[3mins 20secs remaining…]