Only I Am A Reader
chapter-438

The other reason that made Leo hold back was none other than the identity that he was trying to set up. After all, showing his powers haphazardly could unnecessarily complicate everything.

'They are here fishing for something.'

Regardless of whether he himself was the 'special' person that the World Reformation Front mentioned or not, Leo didn't want to get recognized or mistaken as so!

To his convenience, someone that looked like a much more proper candidate was next to him. It had only been a few minutes but she was already overpowering the Pyrokinetic Rose.

As such, Leo only needed to show the Role he constructed in his mind so he wouldn't stand out too much.

Many Readers complained about overpowered protagonists hiding their strength. However, it was often the most logical option to do, especially in the confusing world that Leo was just starting to figure out.

'I thought a skilled swordsman with a good sword would do, but…'

Originally, Leo wanted to pretend to have the Role of a Swordsman. Starting by only showing some strength and giving most of the praise to his sword, then gradually showing the growth he achieved by revealing Sword Breath and eventually Sword Qi.

'I have to crank it up a little bit.'

He might have been able to do so if his opponents were newcomers like him, but the attackers were all a generation older. Leo couldn't start with something at a level that low.

'Might as well.'

Hiding among the masses as a low-level scrub might give Leo the carefree life he wanted. However, showing just enough potential to grab some of the World Reservation Council wasn't bad either.

After all, they still held the vault of information that Leo was hungry to consume!

'If I can read enough, I might be able to identify Roles faster.'

Regardless of the situation, Leo still never forgot his true Role. His essence and mind were still that of a Reader!

"Come on! You could have made this much easier for both of us!"

Irritated by Leo's silence, Craig dealt a continuous barrage of baton strikes, but they were all guarded by the White Tiger.

'He either changes the property of the weapon or his arms to make it that heavy.'

After receiving so many strikes, Leo could be said to have already analyzed all that Craig had to offer. It was a worthwhile experiment, but it was time for it to end.

"Phewww…"

Letting out a long breath, Leo finally channeled his Sword Breath into the sword, coating it with a semi-transparent layer of aura. He was only a Grade-6 Peak Sword Master on Earth, but his opponent didn't deserve much more than this.

'Well, maybe a little bit more.'

Injecting a very slight stream of Internal Energy into the White Tiger to activate its Metal Qi attribute, Leo twisted his sword once more.

"Heh, useless-"

Craig was full of confidence in his ability. However, once Leo's sword made contact for the second time, it started cutting through like a heated knife!

"Huh?!"

At the risk of losing his arm, Craig no longer had the time to cast any snarky remarks, but Leo's sword was suddenly met with resistance after cutting through a fourth of the hardened flesh.

'Oh, he can harden it even further?'

Roleplayers were really not to be underestimated. Craig's confidence didn't seem to be just for show.

'Then, what about this?'

Similarly confident in the current sharpness of his sword, Leo didn't spend any more energy, merely initiating the ability of the Sword Breaker that was already within his body.

Tack!

Joining all the momentum and force of his body into his hand, Leo gave Craig a taste of a more advanced version of his ability, allowing the White Tiger to continue gnawing at his arm!

'Not only you can make your sword heavier.'

Split!

With both momentum and sharpness, Craig's arm didn't last long before flying into the air alongside the baton it held, but that was just the start.

'You expect me to stay still just because you promised not to kill me?'

Aside from the unlucky Assassin, no single death or a serious injury had been dealt till now just as one would expect from a fight that looked like it came out of a comic book.

However, Leo had no intention of playing along.

'Then, I will let you keep just your life.'

In Murim, he might have already killed someone like Craig, but on Earth where Leo was still trying to keep some level of human decency while not leaving too bad of an impression on the Council…

Split!

He only decided to take away Craig's other arm, that way, he wouldn't be able to imbue his dangerous petrification ability into any more weapons!

Thud!

"Ughh… ah…"

Barely registering that he had lost both arms within a few instants, Craig collapsed on the ground as tiny drops of blood leaked through his hardened rock-like stumps.

"Ahem. Does anyone need help?"

Swinging the White Tiger to get rid of Craig's blood, Leo turned to scan the chaotic building. The one that looked the most tattered was Alex, but his opponent was in a state that was just as bad.

Most importantly, no harm had befallen the two he was protecting.

Preferably, Leo would have silently picked a target and made a surprise attack. However, he would have to go for the kill then, and he still didn't know what the stance of the World Reservation Council on killing…

"Darion, Craig is done for!"

As the one who had the most leeway while keeping the Council's girl duo in check, Kage was the first to notice how Leo's battle had ended.

"Huh, Just a Swordsman he says… That careless idiot!"

Darion himself wasn't in such good shape as the damage of Damon's Telekinetic Punches was just starting to set in. He truly had a team of useless people this time around!

"This should be enough… Right? …Got it."

Seemingly talking to himself, Darion was exchanging quick words with someone through some sort of communicator. He was already aware that such a style of controlled combat 'testing' was simply unsustainable.

"Kage, take Craig away! Everyone else, retreat! The mission is done!"

And now was exactly the time to leave!