CHAPTER 29-FARMING

Shing! Shing!

The sound of flesh being torn apart echoed through the night.

Bang!

Something heavy crashed, like a truck slamming into concrete.

Above the battlefield, five identical figures moved in sync, their presence a blur against the bloodstained sky. Four of them fought with sheer bodily strength, fists crushing skulls, feet caving in ribcages. Their movements were efficient—precise, brutal, and merciless.

But in the center, closest to the Red Gate, the fifth figure stood apart. Flames flickered at his fingertips, casting an ominous glow over his cold, indifferent expression. Unlike the others, his speed was unnatural, a blur beyond human comprehension. With each movement, he dashed through the battlefield, his fists igniting on impact, reducing monsters to charred remains.

From afar, the scene looked chaotic—a lone human surrounded by a monstrous horde. But a closer look revealed the truth.

The monsters weren't hunting him. They were the ones being slaughtered.

Instead of humans being ripped apart, it was the creatures who were falling—gutted, burned, and broken. Instead of humans fleeing in terror, some of the monsters had begun to run.

They could feel it. The overwhelming difference in strength.

But deep within the Red Gate, something stirred.

The remaining boss monsters, who had been lurking inside, watching their subordinates get decimated, finally stepped forward.

Huge, hulking figures emerged first, their veins bulging, wielding giant hammers that could flatten buildings. Among them, a shadowy creature with elongated limbs and daggers the size of a grown man prowled forward. Another robed figure—a lich-like entity—floated silently, its presence radiating death.

They hesitated for a moment, watching the lone human who stood amid a sea of corpses.

"Are you sure about this? That human… he's different from the others."

"We have no choice! If we don't defend this gate, it will collapse, and the Demon Lord will kill us instead!"

"You're right... No matter what, we have to kill him!"

Their voices rumbled in the air, monstrous tongues laced with desperation and fury.

Meanwhile, Maximus continued his massacre. He weaved between attacks, his expression devoid of emotion as he tore through the creatures surrounding him. Yet strangely, despite the blood splattering the ground, his clothes remained untouched.

A faint bluish sheen flickered around his body, a thin layer of energy shielding him from the mess.

"Hmm… this skill is convenient," he muttered, glancing at his system window.

[New Skill Acquired!]

[Mana Outer Skin (E-Rank): A passive skill that consumes MP per second to coat the user's skin in mana, repelling liquids such as blood.]

"An E-Rank skill… but it's surprisingly useful."

Thankfully I buy this after I got enough low Crystal and it only cost 200

His golden eyes flickered toward the corpses littering the battlefield. Piles of monstrous bodies lay in twisted heaps, their blood pooling in sickly shades of green and black.

Nearby, three of his clones continued their relentless assault, breaking bones and crushing throats. The fourth clone, however, had a different task—it moved methodically from body to body, retrieving crystals from the fallen.

A mindless mutant beast charged toward it, unaware.

The clone casually raised a hand.

Puchi!

A single strike.

The monster's head flew off its shoulders, landing unceremoniously with a wet thud.

Maximus, watching from a distance, nodded in approval.

"My physical strength… has reached this level now."

Even a Level 2 Mutant Zombie couldn't withstand a casual attack from him anymore.

BOOM!

A deep, resounding step shook the air.

From within the Red Gate, monstrous figures finally emerged.

Five in total.

One was colossal, its muscles bulging, veins pulsating beneath its thick hide, wielding a hammer as large as a truck. Another had razor-thin legs, its daggers glinting ominously in the dim light. The third, draped in tattered robes, exuded an eerie deathly presence.

Maximus' eyes gleamed coldly.

"So you finally came out."

The bosses growled in response, their eyes burning with rage.

Hsjajsbsjjba!!

Jjsjsjsnsfj!!

Strange, guttural sounds rumbled from their throats—a language Maximus couldn't understand.

"Hmm? What is that sound? Is that their language?"

He pondered for a second before dismissing the thought entirely.

"It doesn't matter."

One of the bosses, the giant hammer-wielding brute, sneered.

"This human is too arrogant!"

"That's because we feared his power earlier! If not for that devouring energy, we would've eaten him already!"

"Enough talking! We kill him NOW!"

The colossal boss lunged, leaping into the air, its massive hammer raised high.

Maximus' golden eyes sharpened.

"What Tier is this thing?"

He activated Scan.

[Tier 3 Boss Monster: Gigantor, the Hammer Tyrant]

A towering, muscle-bound monster with veins bulging across its massive frame. Its thick, stone-like skin makes it incredibly durable, while its beady crimson eyes burn with primal rage. Wielding a colossal warhammer, it moves with slow but devastating force, each step causing the ground to tremble. Despite its brute-like appearance, a cruel intelligence flickers behind its gaze, always seeking to crush its foes with overwhelming might.

"Hmm. Let's see what talent you have."

I killed you and find that out

Maximus said coldly

The monster descended, its hammer aimed directly at him.

And yet…

Maximus remained still.

"Why… does this feel so slow?"

The trajectory of the attack—clear as day.

The openings—obvious.

A strange sensation washed over him, something beyond the raw power he had gained since awakening. It wasn't just instinct—it was something else.

Then—

DING!

[New Trait Awakened!]

[Predator's Sense (A-Rank)]

[Description: A heightened sensory ability that allows the player to detect movement, hostility, and nearby lifeforms with above-average precision. While powerful, it is not infallible and has limitations depending on the enemy's strength and concealment methods.]

Maximus' pupils dilated slightly.

"So that's it…"

The pieces clicked in his mind instantly.

His souls awakening had already boosted his combat awareness, but this—this was different.

He could see the boss's movement. Predict it. Feel its openings.

"Focus."

Above, the boss sneered, mistaking his silence for hesitation.

"Heh… can't even react, huh? Now die!"

But—

Maximus simply let out a cold breath.

CRACK! BOOM!

The ground exploded beneath his feet as he vanished.

The boss' eyes widened in terror.

"Shit!! Move!!"

But his body didn't react in time.

Maximus appeared before him instantly.

The last thing the monster saw—

Was a cold, merciless gaze.

PAKAK!

A knee slammed into its skull.

Before it could even register the pain, Maximus' hand ignited with flames.

WHOOSH!

His legs locked around its neck, keeping it suspended midair.

SIZZLE!

He pressed his burning palm against its eyes—melting them instantly.

The monster screamed.

"Chi… so noisy."

Its mouth opened wide in agony.

Maximus grabbed its jaw, activating Iron Grip, then—

SPLAT!

With a single, brutal pull, the top half of its skull tore away, blood spraying like a fountain.

The remaining bosses froze.

Their eyes trembled in terror.

One of them stammered.

"R-RUN…!!"

Before they could even turn—

BOOM!

Five figures dashed forward, sealing their fate.