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Chapter – 05
Showing His True Skill (1)
The guards who had witnessed the entire process from start to finish were utterly stunned.
Shakron’s incredible speed in closing in on Dukal was still within the realm of what they could accept.
What shocked them was something else entirely.
Shakron had neither blocked nor evaded Dukal’s attacks—instead, he had used them as stepping stones.
That meant he had preserved and fully utilized every bit of momentum in his approach.
And that was correct.
Against Dukal, it would already be insufficient to fight at 100% strength; blocking or evading would only be a loss.
In truth, everyone who had faced Dukal thought that way—but no one had ever been able to execute it.
However, Shakron had immediately read Dukal’s intent from the first attack and used it against him.
No matter what titles like “Destroyer” or “Monstrous Killer” he carried, nothing is truly invincible.
Even demon kings, dragons, and gods all die.
Let alone a slightly strong orc—there was no way it could be immortal. Shakron had been confident from the beginning.
Puuuk!
Grrrrk!
From the highest point directly above Dukal’s head, Shakron thrust his sword downward.
There was no need for a battle cry.
No need to release sword energy.
The Blasian Orc’s skeleton was heavily developed in the torso and legs, but the skull was relatively weak.
So simply piercing a single point was enough to break through Dukal’s skull.
The blade, sunk in by at least half a handspan, severed part of Dukal’s life force.
Already losing full control of his body, Dukal staggered from side to side.
“Your head is useless anyway!”
Blasian Orcs valued blood and hide the most.
Skulls were only occasionally taken as decorative items by eccentric nobles, so they had little market value.
So—
Fwoooosh!
Without hesitation, Shakron pulled the sword embedded deep in Dukal’s skull forward.
The orc’s forehead split in two, and Dukal died instantly.
The “Destroyer,” who had taken the lives of dozens of skilled knights and hundreds of guards, had fallen.
And by a single man who had rushed in alone with nothing but a plain sword.
Thud.
Landing lightly on the ground, Shakron showed not a single bead of sweat.
Aside from a few flecks of blood on his body, he looked completely untouched.
Dukal, the troublesome gatekeeper of Blasian Mountain, whose dual blades had stained countless lives with blood, had met his end.
“Shit…”
The one who looked the most pale was the guard whom Shakron had singled out earlier.
His peaceful career as a guard now felt like it was about to fall apart completely.
‘I think I’ve secured a temporary weapon until I obtain the Zervinium Sword.’
Shakron looked satisfied at the two longswords placed side by side.
They were the weapons left behind by the two knights who had died to Dukal.
Each was worth at least 1,000 gold.
Considering that a four-person farming household spent about 2 gold per month on food, it was an enormous value.
Shakron planned to use these swords until he acquired the Zervinium Sword.
Later, he intended to sell them back to the families of their original owners—the deceased knights.
As heirlooms, of course.
And he intended to sell them at full price. Not a trace of pity or charity.
‘Up to 5-star monsters seem manageable. From 6-star onward, it might get a bit difficult.’
From his fight with Dukal, Shakron had formed a rough conclusion.
Just as combat professions like swordsmen are ranked from 1-star to 9-star levels, monsters also have star classifications.
A monster’s star rating roughly corresponds to the level at which it can fight three professionals of the same tier evenly.
In other words, a 5-star monster could typically fight three 5-star knights.
‘Should I visit the Tower of Radiance before going after Gunthar? I already have a ticket.’
A special window only visible to Shakron appeared in his vision.
[Entry Ticket: 1 remaining] [Starting Point: Tower of Radiance, Floor 38, Safe Zone 3]
He had cleared Floor 37 before defeating Villan.
Thus, re-entry would naturally begin from Floor 38.
The single remaining entry ticket had been obtained just now after defeating Dukal.
It was a reward only accessible to Shakron—unknown to others.
To obtain tickets, one had to defeat or subdue stronger opponents.
Therefore, entering and exiting the Tower required careful planning.
[Tower of Radiance – Quest List]
[Reward: 1 Entry Ticket]
Defeat Bultan, the “Mad Butcher,” commander of the Kashnet Ogres.
(…truncated…)
[Reward: 3 Entry Tickets]
Defeat Gunthar, King of the Blasian Orcs.
(…truncated…)
[Reward: 1 Jump Ticket]
Receive instruction in distortion magic from 7th-class mage Anuton and successfully perform distortion.
This was how the system worked.
“Quests” were triggered against beings Shakron would inevitably have to face.
‘Let’s collect the bounty first.’
Whistling casually, Shakron walked toward the guards.
There was a bounty on Dukal’s head.
A substantial one, set by Commander Teneum.
There was also a separate bounty placed by the Souviern Great Territory itself.
Meaning he could collect both.
And since he intended to live without the count’s support, money was essential.
Shakron planned to build his future using bounty money as his starting capital.
The guard who had been singled out by Shakron was trembling uncontrollably.
“Hey.”
“Yes!”
Just being pointed at made his body stiffen.
One mistake, and his head might split like Dukal’s.
This man was no noble playboy—he was a fighter capable of surpassing six-star level!
“What’s your name?”
“Redin.”
A natural shift between formal and informal speech.
Even though he was likely older, this was not the time to count birthdays.
One swing of a sword, and his head would be gone.
“Do you know how to use strength?”
“If you want to be stationed at the northeastern border, you need decent skill and stamina.”
Redin answered carefully but clearly.
He had been the first to step up when Shakron said he would take down Dukal.
Shakron liked him a little.
As a useful “worker,” of course.
“Redin.”
“Yes?”
“I need an errand runner. How about quitting the guard job today?”
“….”
Redin could not ignore this request—no, command.
The man who had split Dukal’s head in a single strike.
“I’ll pay you well if you work under me for six months. How about it? I’ll give you 20 gold in advance.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll pay once I collect the bounty. Deal?”
Gold erased hesitation.
“Deal.”
Thus, Shakron’s first subordinate—no, his first “hand”—was born.
Shortly after, news spread to the count’s household that the notorious Dukal had been killed in a single blow.
The second and third sons were left speechless.
Their father, Count Crasus, showed no expression—but his children knew.
He had been surprised again.
His gaze remained fixed on the annex where Shakron had stayed.
Then a guest arrived.
A man named Voledo, Crasus’s longtime friend and a 7th-class mage.
‘If it’s Voledo, he’ll know.’
Crasus had summoned him for one reason:
To determine whether Shakron had truly touched demonic power.
Even divine blessings could be bypassed in certain ways.
To confirm it, magic was needed.
The greatest battle mage of the Laisen Empire had come.
A man feared by all knights.
He had arrived to uncover the truth behind Shakron’s sudden change.
Meanwhile, when Commander Teneum arrived at the scene, he saw something unbelievable.
All guards stood perfectly still, staring only at Shakron.
It looked more like Shakron was the commander, not him.
‘They say that ghost from the Count Mideos family killed Dukal…?’
That “ghost” referred to Shakron.
Now, he was more terrifying than any ghost.
Teneum began to think—
‘Since we can retrieve Dukal’s twin swords anyway… maybe I can reduce the bounty payout?’
He had only recently funded the bounty with his own money.
It had been a symbolic gesture.
He never expected Dukal to actually be killed.
“Hey, Commander.”
“…”
Shakron immediately noticed him and called out.
And not just that—
“Don’t even think about saving money on the bounty. You’ll be paying both the territory’s and your personal one.”
He went straight to the point.
“What bounty are you talking about?”
Teneum pretended not to know.
But the twin swords were already at Shakron’s waist.
There was no need to argue.
Shakron smiled.
“As expected.”
Then he asked a question that could not be denied.
“Those guards of yours—their lives are what you placed the bounty for, right?”
