The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-346

Chapter 346 – Ballak (4)

[Underground 11th Floor ‘River of time’]

This place is truly unique. Time flows rapidly for creatures that move quickly, and it slows down for those who move slowly. This law applies generally in the world, but it was particularly pronounced in this floor. Vikir moved with agile speed, and each time, his stats increased.

*Ding!*

[‘Agility’ stat increased by ‘1’…]

[‘Stamina’ stat increased by ‘1’…]

[‘Physical Resistance’ stat increased by ‘1’…]

[‘Magic Resistance’ stat increased by ‘1’…]

[‘Reflexes’ stat increased by ‘1’…]

.

.

With each intense movement, Vikir’s stats were skyrocketing at an incredible speed.

*Whoosh!*

Vikir lightly tilted his head backward, effortlessly dodging the flying arrow. His movements were extremely economical, with not a single motion wasted. His reflexes stat had blossomed, and he was in the midst of growth, enabling such feats.

It was a talent so rare that only a few throughout human history possessed it. Vikir, who was once mediocre, now found himself capable of seizing everything that had been resigned to mere chance or innate talent.

*Stretch…*

His field of vision expanded, then contracted, then expanded again. Time seemed strangely distorted, giving the sensation of living in a different temporal dimension from others. It felt like deliberately moving slowly, even though time was passing several times faster.

‘…Time seems to be flowing several times faster, yet it appears almost frozen. Is this the realm of talent?’

Moving forward, effortlessly dodging arrows that seemed to almost come to a halt before him, was as easy as avoiding stationary rocks or trees. And as time passed, it became easier and easier, thanks to his continually increasing Reflexes stat.

‘This item was originally acquired to enhance the three special stats after enhancing the six main stats, but I never imagined hitting the jackpot in a place like this…’

The floors within the Abyss Tree are random, each with different locations and characteristics, so he never expected to find a place where time was so drastically distorted.

Not even in his wildest dreams.

First of all, once a stat has been raised, it never decreases. The value remains constant whether inside the tower or outside. Of course, if one were to leave the tower, they wouldn’t be able to view their status window, but that’s beside the point.

“If I were to leave the tower… I might actually reach the 8th style!”

The ranks of Baskerville’s Grade 8. It’s a level higher than any officially known sword form in the clan. Even the head of the Baskerville Clan, Hugo, only reached Grade 7 after a lifetime of training.

“…But that’s a story for when I leave.”

To escape the tower, one must focus on the present.

*Thunk! Swirl…*

Vikir grabbed the arm of a charging warrior and twisted it behind him.

*thud…*

With a bone-jarring sound, the Ballak warrior tumbled into a mud pit.

*Splash!*

Warriors impaled on spears occasionally dropped golden candies.

“Seems like these defenders have high levels. Even the dropped items are of high quality.”

Vikir muttered as he picked up the golden candies from the mud pit.

With formidable strength and fluent Ballak language flowing effortlessly, the warriors hesitated to attack recklessly.

Meanwhile, Vikir examined the golden candies in his hand.

“…Should I have just collected regular candies instead of golden ones? If I did, the maximum increase wouldn’t have stopped at 798 but could have been much higher.”

But that would be too short-sighted.

Golden candies increase levels, and that translates into stat increases in percentage terms.

So, they should be saved for ‘crucial moments’ to maximize their effect.

Considering achievements and other circumstances, it was better to save the golden candies as much as possible from now on.

*Thud… thud… thud!*

Vikir turned his head from side to side.

His vision had improved to the point where he could see his reflection in dewdrops hanging from pine needles far away.

It seemed like he had grown a few centimeters taller.

His arms and legs had also lengthened.

As a result of moving faster and more than anyone else, his body had aged a few years in the meantime.

“I might end up reverting to my original age before long.”

Well, that’s not so bad. It’s more familiar than the appearance of a young boy.

And it might be a bit quieter around here.

*Swoosh… thud! Clang!*

Vikir continued to wield his sword.

Like a snake, he sliced through the arrows flying at him and aimed for the archers behind.

The Ballak warriors recoiled in terror, but Vikir’s attacks tore through obstacles like rocks or logs and pursued them relentlessly.

“How can he move like that?! There’s no way!”

“How can a beginner have such power!? We don’t stand a chance against them!”

“Damn it! This is beyond our league! What are those fairy bastards doing!?”

“We, we need the master to come! Otherwise…!”

Even the brave and aggressive Ballak warriors eventually lost their resolve.

*Thud!*

As Vikir grabbed the neck of a warrior attempting to flee and slammed him onto the ground.

*Swirl…*

He twisted his body just before hitting the ground to minimize the impact.

Even so, it was a shock strong enough to render him immobile for a while, but fainting was out of the question.

For a moment, Vikir was a bit surprised.

It wasn’t because the warrior he had just brought down appeared to be the oldest among the group, with grayish hair showing signs of age.

‘This guy, he’s using Baskerville’s techniques?’

Back in the day, Vikir had taught basic techniques to Ballak warriors during his time living among them.

However, as Ballak martial arts were much more advanced than Baskerville’s techniques, skilled warriors didn’t bother learning from Vikir.

“…What happened?”

Vikir scratched his head.

But even amidst his confusion, Vikir’s hands methodically twisted and turned the enemy’s wrist and elbow.

*Thud! Crunch!*

Breaking the arm of the oldest warrior he had just captured, Vikir spoke.

“If you all rush in, you’ll end up like this.”

Seeing the oldest and strongest warrior in such a state, the other warriors had no hope of resisting.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The Ballak warriors remained silent, their mouths shut tight.

They were at a loss. An unexpected presence, unmatched in strength, suddenly appeared in the tower, rendering even the usually aggressive and brave warriors powerless.

Then, there were voices interjecting in the midst of the silence.

“These barbarians look good!”

“I get it. There’s never been an opponent like this before. Even I’m getting a thrill just watching, but how about you guys?”

“But seriously, how did Vikir get so strong? Or was he strong to begin with?”

“Oh, I knew it! You were the one giving off the rum scent on the rooftop during the entrance ceremony! I recognize you now!”

Tudor, Sancho, Piggie, Bianca. These four appeared behind Vikir.

“Oh, look at these boys with their bulging food pouches! Vikir! Don’t stop me! I just want to…!”

“We’ve got it all back. Everything we worked so hard to cultivate and hunt for.”

“Sniff- My tomatoes, radishes, and cabbage! How hard I worked to grow them!”

“Oh! I found some salted pork too! Ah, I risked my life to get salt, even went to that damn flowers habitat…”

But Vikir reached out and blocked Tudor, Sancho, Piggie, and Bianca.

His gaze wasn’t on the recovered food, but elsewhere.

*Twinkle!*

Something shiny in the ear of the warrior he had just captured.

It was clearly an earring.

A glass bead earring with traces of civilization, and Vikir’s greatly improved vision could now read the faded inscription on its surface, which had been worn down by the passage of time.

‘Made in CindiWendy studio’

It was undoubtedly an artifact from CindiWendy, one of the trade items CindiWendy had chosen for the initial trade with Ballak, jewelry for Ballak tribe’s children.

“Why would he be carrying this?”

As Vikir scratched his head in puzzlement.

*Ping!*

An arrow flew straight towards him.

It was a sniper shot with a force and speed that even Vikir couldn’t afford to ignore.

“…!”

Vikir deflected the arrow with the edge of his sword.

A sharp pain shot through his wrist.

As Vikir released the warrior he had captured and stepped back, a lone warrior appeared in the center of the battlefield.

A woman with long hair.

She appeared to be in her early thirties, but her aura was fiercer and more seasoned than someone ten or more years her senior.

She was as formidable as Ballak’s chief, Aquilla, to the point that Vikir was reminded of her.

“…This woman might be a bit challenging.”

For the first time, Vikir felt cold sweat on him.

The woman before him was a formidable opponent, even for Vikir, who had all six main stats enhanced.

She might not be as formidable as the legendary beast (Demonic Dragon) encountered on previous floor, but she was certainly more challenging than Cerberus encountered early on, the bloodsoaked jade flower, and the Majin.

As Vikir tightened his grip on his sword, ready in a state of high tension.

*Thunk!*

Something astonishing happened.

The warrior who seemed to hold the highest rank among them approached Vikir and knelt before him.

“I greet the hero of Ballak.”

This surprised not only Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, and Bianca but all the Ballak warriors, and even Vikir himself.

Vikir gazed silently at the kneeling warrior’s face.

She appeared to be in her middle years, with a powerful strength reminiscent of Aquila.

If Vikir had any connection with such a formidable warrior, he wouldn’t have forgotten it.

“…?”

Vikir pondered hard, feeling like there was something he couldn’t remember.

And then, suddenly.

“…!”

Someone’s face appeared vividly in Vikir’s mind.

Through the veneer of countless experiences and the passage of time, the maturity of a seasoned veteran was peeled away, revealing what lay beneath.

It was the face of a young child.

“…Thank you for helping me big brother.”

It was a memory of an old acquaintance, Ahul.