NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Genius?
Leonhardt didn't hate humans, nor did he feel the same hatred most monsters did for other races.
Honestly, he felt curious and wanted to understand them, to get closer to them, and to learn more about them because they seemed so familiar to him.
However... he hated those who tried to trick or harm him and his things.
He killed the noble because they insulted him and threatened to sell Leonhardt into slavery.
He attacked the recruits because they planned to attack his goblins and spoke to him like dirt.
As for the mercenaries?
"Well... I just didn't like them from the start."
——
Like a mage must chant his spell using the ancient words written inside the magic circles that formed the spell itself.
Even Leonhardt needed to do this—the fact that he could perform magic reciting spells in his mind was a racial talent of the Djinn and Fae races.
In this world, martial skills were not only physical movements.
With each level up, the skills became encoded in the user's body and mind. At first, they required a mental trigger to activate.
To call out the name of their skills provided a focused mental signal and helped them adjust and execute their skills without danger and a lower failure rate. This verbal declaration essentially unlocks the muscle memory and energy required for the attack to ensure success.
Thus, amazing scenes like this happened...
——
As the volley of black arrows approached the running bandits, they showed their talent and skills. Several of their more capable members quickly grabbed their shields, pushing their unarmoured allies to the side to avoid the goblin arrows and helping them survive.
"Shield Wall!" A male holding a steel tower shield lowered his posture. Then, a blue protective aura wrapped around him and four other mercenaries.
"Instant Accel!"
—Woosh!
The hulking figure of Axel almost seemed to warp through space as his body glowed blue and shot towards Leonhardt with his greatsword held high. A masterful use of his combat skill before he suddenly shone red for a moment.
"Crushing Blow!"
"You bastard dare to kill Gale!"
He locked Leonhardt in his sights.
Axel had the perfect pace and speed to stop Leonhardt from casting—during this moment, even the goblins couldn't help. Because they just started knocking their second arrows.
A swirl of red energy wrapped around the greatsword before it slammed down, creating a burst of air pressure that pushed Leon back.
'Is this the way a warrior... a human fights?'
The world seemed to move differently for the Chimera called Leonhardt.
Able to see what should exist and that which existed only in fantasy, mana particles, the aura emitted from Axel's body and even spirits.
Yet it moved slower... at least when he was in danger.
The shining blade, dull and dented from continuous battles... the fierce wind-like blades wrapped around the edges.
『Fascinating!』
[You... stop admiring and do something!]
『Are you worried about me, Dungeon Wife?』
The blade was now close to Leonhardt's face, yet he looked towards Axel with a dull gaze.
Leonhardt twitched his fingertips... before his lips curled into a distorted smirk.
—Twang!
Before he realised it, the world had returned to its usual state. As the blade struck down, hundreds of webbed threads appeared and blocked the blow.
"Huh?" A loud thunk echoed out, surprising not only Axel but also the others, who'd stopped the arrows from causing heavy damage, stunned at what just happened. It wasn't easy to deflect or block an empowered strike.
Yet their boss used a skill that would leave him vulnerable for several seconds... his face red, sweat dripping from his forehead as the webbing slowly unravelled and melted.
"Oh, you broke my threads! Amazing, truly!"
Leonhardt's voice sounded sarcastic and elegant. It could upset even the most brilliant saint because they would misunderstand his genuine excitement about seeing something for the first time.
But... no one understood the horror of this monster, who bore the eyes of a Djinn and pupils of a Fae...
[Observed the Martial Skills: Instant Acceleration and Crushing Blow]
∟ Learned Skill: Instant Accel
∟ Learned Skill: Crushing Blow
"Hmm...?"
[Skills deemed inefficient: Use EP to fuse and upgrade?]
∟ Fusion: 100 EP
There was the dilemma of wasting Evolution Points, but Leonhardt's twin hearts were racing. Two alternating beats, one pushing mana and the other pumping enriched blood using his excess mana to temper his body.
"Evolve!"
His movements lacked finesse, but Leonhardt's steps with each movement appeared to mimic both Gale and Axel. He looked strange, as if he was trying to combine the training of both who were aiming for different extremes.
Axel and Gale were not strong or special.
They even earned their silver medal at the mercenary guild thanks to their boss, who passed away two years ago.
Maybe weaker than D-Rank adventurers, who were well-balanced in many styles.
[Skill Fusion Complete!]
∟ Tyrant Accel
∟ MP Cost: 50
∟ Increases movement speed and offensive power of all attacks by 20%
∟ Duration: 20s
The moment the dungeon wife spoke in his mind, Leonhardt's eyes opened.
He felt a change in his body.
The heart of a Fae controlled his mana and magical spells, while the heart formed of a mutation of the Djinn and Arachne blood managed his physical body and organs.
It was like this action and choice solidified the roles of his organs and bloodlines... Not only that, but Leonhardt's martial skills... used mana, meaning he didn't need to chant, only think of the skill in his mind.
—— Claws of Fire
—— Dual Cast
—— Tyrant Accel!
"Ugh... Hrrk?!"
Black blood spurt from Leon's lips—everything took less than a second to complete, and the huge Axel began to recover from his wounds.
Yet Leonhardt tried to be clever... using 100 MP, he cast Tyrant Accel twice... to see if it would stack.
And he succeeded.
As his muscles screamed, he stepped forward and travelled three metres instantly.
"Woah?! Ack..."
[Twice is the limit, you damn fool!]
『Haha!』
Without playing around, Leon spread his arms as his black nails, like steel, lengthened and looked more like blades before they began to ripple with flames, turning them scarlet red.
"Well, shall we fight for real now, Axel?"
"M-Monster! I'll fucking kill you! Everyone attack this bastard!"
Leon's eyes narrowed, and the light and pleasant aura vanished as his pupils shone red; he bit his teeth down while revealing his sharp fangs, a true monster.
Then he called out to his dear goblins.
"Emerald Guard, slaughter them all, leave none alive!
"I will deal with this fool!"
Leonhardt felt agony while abusing his new skill. Blood oozed from his lips and nose, but he ignored it and went on the attack. His gaze was like a monster's...
To the mercenaries, he felt like a phantom aiming to steal their souls.
"You--!" Axel's eyes widened before his body felt sluggish from the skill... He tried to climb to his feet, grasping the sword with trembling arms.
Regret meant nothing to Leon, who ignored his enemy's situation. He blinked forward like a ghost and reached Axel instantly with his claws primed to attack.
"HURRY YOU FOOLS!" Axel screamed.