Chapter 30: Special Training
“Un-Limited…!”
The witching hour, when even the plants and trees are asleep. Gazing up at the full moon directly overhead, I murmured quietly.
I activated Un-Limited on my right leg and right arm. I had become able to successfully activate Un-Limited in two places simultaneously.
However, I still couldn’t achieve my goal of activating Un-Limited throughout my entire body. At this rate, I’ll fall behind Cornelia.
“Un-Limited…!”
I layered Un-Limited further. This time, a torrent of power, one that felt like it would rampage if I lost focus for even a moment, dwelled in my left arm and left leg.
My entire body was already filled with so much power that it was difficult to endure any more.
But, not yet!
“Un-Limited!”
At that moment, my heartbeat throbbed violently, dokun dokun, and I felt a terrible headache. The taste of blood spread in my mouth, and I felt dizzy.
But, in return for that price, I awakened.
Perhaps because my heart, which pumps blood throughout my body, had been strengthened, my mind was incredibly sharp, and my vision was clearer than ever. I could even perceive a single leaf falling in the distant forest.
And, everything felt like it was in slow motion; all movements seemed slow.
Is this the result of using Un-Limited on my torso and head? It’s a power so immense it makes me feel as if I were a solitary genius.
Right now, I feel like defeating Cornelia might not just be a dream.
Well, that’s probably impossible, though. But it’s a sense of omnipotence so strong it makes me almost believe it.
For now, I can only activate Un-Limited in two places at a time. But if I could activate Un-Limited throughout my entire body at once…?
Would I be able to get even a little closer to Cornelia?
I’m weak. I probably don’t even reach Cornelia’s feet. But I want to help Cornelia when the time comes. As I am now, I can’t even help her. I wouldn’t even be there. That’s why I need to become stronger.
That’s what Un-Limited is for. I’m doing this special training late at night because I want to be in a position where I can help Cornelia.
“Shall I try moving a little…?”
Stepping forward with my right leg, which was so brimming with power it felt like it would burst if touched carelessly, I headed into the forest alone.
◇
Inside the dense forest. It should have been pitch black, with even the moonlight blocked, yet my eyes were projecting the forest’s interior as if through an infrared camera. It seems Un-Limited’s effect has given me night vision. That’s a welcome development.
“GARURURURURU!”
As I continued deeper into the forest, an Ash Wolf appeared before me.
“I’m surrounded…”
Ash Wolves are monsters that act in packs. The one that appeared before me was a decoy, and the real threat was—!
Sensing a faint sound, I threw a backfist with my right arm.
Along with the sensation of the bones in my right arm cracking, peki peki, pain intense enough to make me break out in a cold sweat instantly pierced my brain like lightning.
But this was no time to succumb to pain. I ignored the pain as much as possible and swung my right arm through.
Bakyo!
There was a sensation like hitting a water bag, and as the bones in my fist shattered, the feedback of crushing bone returned to my fist.
Glancing sideways, just as I expected, the Ash Wolf’s face had burst open.
That’s one down.
However, while it was good that I took down the Ash Wolf in one hit, my right arm was crushed in exchange. Not worth it. I need to learn a bit more power control. That last blow was overkill for an Ash Wolf.
“GARURURURURU!”
“GAUGAU!”
“GURURURURU!”
But there are still many Ash Wolves left. They’re perfect for experimentation and adjustment.
“Sorry, but you’ll have to bear with me.”
Perhaps it was the effect of having my whole body Un-Limited, or maybe my sharpened mind had calmly assessed our respective combat strengths, but I couldn’t imagine myself losing in the slightest.
◇
“Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The last remaining Ash Wolf opened its jaws wide and charged at high speed. It was probably the pack leader. Its physique was a size larger than the other Ash Wolves.
Tilting my body’s axis sharply to the right to dodge the Ash Wolf’s foreleg, I pivoted on my left leg and spun rapidly to the left. What I unleashed was a deadly left backfist, powered by the momentum of the spin.
DOBUN!!! Peki peki peki!
What struck my eardrums was a heavy, damp thud, like hitting a water bag, and the dry, continuous sound of bones shattering, which almost sounded satisfying.
“GABA!?”
Letting out a foolish-sounding death cry, the wolf’s trajectory changed, and it flew off to the left. After bouncing off the ground several times and hitting a tree, by the time it finally stopped, the Ash Wolf was already dead.
“Phew… Heal.”
Glancing around, I healed my body with Heal, where tendons were torn and bones remained broken in places. The pain that felt like my whole body was about to break was finally removed, and I let out a sigh.
“Now then, who’s my next opponent?”
I started walking deeper into the forest.