Chapter 57: Time to Cheat

Joshua grinned. It seemed that brute strength alone wasn't enough.

Time to cheat, then.

He focused, channeling energy into his shield, reinforcing it with a three-layered protective barrier. Thanks to his increased regeneration, he could maintain both his heightened senses and this defensive technique indefinitely. But he wasn't stopping there.

Shifting his attention to his weapon, after a quick calculation, Joshua willed the same energy shielding to coat the blades of his axe—not for defense this time, but to make them sharper, deadlier. Through his training, he had discovered his Blank attribute's unique ability to manipulate density. He could make his axe heavy or light at will, adjusting its weight in an instant depending on his needs. It was then he realized why the axe had resonated with him so much—the materials used to forge it were the same as his shield, as if it had always been meant for him.

Time for round two.

The Umbra Stalker, now wary of his movements, crouched low, its glowing emerald eyes locked onto him. It didn't attack. Instead, it watched, waiting for him to make the first move.

"If you won't attack, then I'll come to you."

Joshua planted his foot and pushed off the ground, his entire weight propelling him forward. His shield was raised in front, leading the charge like a battering ram.

The Stalker reacted, leaping back with supernatural agility. Then it sidestepped and struck, its elongated claws lashing out like a whip. Joshua barely caught the attack with his shield, the force rattling his arm. He had anticipated this. The Stalker immediately sprang back, aiming to repeat its attack, this time at an angle.

Joshua was ready.

Instead of retreating, he lunged forward, twisting his torso in a sudden shield bash. The maneuver caught the beast off guard, knocking it slightly off balance. Seizing the moment, he borrowed the momentum and swung his axe in a brutal arc to meet the beast's attack mid-air.

SCHLACK!

A sickening sound echoed through the forest as Joshua's empowered strike cleaved through flesh and bone. A severed paw flew through the air, landing a few feet away with a wet thud. The Stalker reared back, its agonized roar piercing the silence of the night.

But Joshua wasn't done.

He surged forward, both hands gripping the axe now, muscles coiled like springs. With a powerful leap, he brought the axe overhead, its massive blade gleaming with the energy coating it. The Stalker barely had time to react, its remaining claws scrambling to defend itself—

Too late.

Joshua's axe came down like a falling star.

THUNK!

The Stalker's head split clean from its body, rolling lifelessly to the ground as its body twitched for a final moment before falling still.

Panting, Joshua planted his foot on the carcass and yanked his axe free, flicking the blood from its blade. He stared at the motionless beast at his feet and let out a breath.

"Fuck you."

—

Joshua trudged through the dense forest, his breath steady despite the massive weight slung over his shoulder. The headless corpse of the Umbra Stalker dangled lifelessly, its sleek black fur still glistening under the dying light of the sun. Blood dripped from its severed neck, staining the earth in his wake. Each step he took felt like a testament to his growth—this was not just a kill, but proof of his strength, his adaptability, and his resolve.

As he neared the village, the towering wooden gates loomed ahead, flanked by two warriors on patrol. Their eyes widened in surprise when they saw him carrying the massive beast, its grotesque form instantly recognizable.

"By the Mother," one of them muttered. "Is that—?"

"An Umbra Stalker," Joshua confirmed with a smirk, shifting the weight of the corpse slightly. "Edible?"

The warriors exchanged glances before one of them let out a chuckle. "Damn, boy. You've been training for what? A week? And you're already bringing back beasts that take full squads to hunt."

Joshua shrugged. "Still alive, aren't I? Now, is the meat safe to eat, or should I just take the core and burn the rest?"

"Best ask the butcher," the other warrior said, nodding toward the chief's house. "He'll know."

Joshua gave them a nod of thanks and continued into the village, the weight of his kill barely slowing his stride. As he passed through the streets, murmurs followed him—whispers of admiration, curiosity, and disbelief. Children ran alongside him, their wide eyes filled with awe. Warriors, young and old, took notice, some nodding in approval, others sizing him up with newfound respect.

When he finally reached the chief's house, he was greeted by an entirely different kind of welcome.

Maydee stood at the entrance, arms crossed, one foot tapping the ground in an ominous rhythm. Her emerald eyes glowed faintly with suppressed energy, her expression unreadable. But the tension in the air was palpable.

Joshua sighed, already bracing himself. He set the corpse down with a heavy thud, wiped the sweat from his brow, and forced a sheepish grin. "Hello, Master."

"You have five breaths to explain why you left the village without permission." Her voice was calm—too calm. A storm waiting to break.

Joshua stood straighter, meeting her gaze. "I needed to hone my skills in real combat, Master. Training with the battleaxe is necessary if I'm to hide my Gift. I want to stand by your side when you leave again, and I can't do that if I don't learn how to fight without relying on my abilities."

For a moment, Maydee was silent, her piercing gaze searching his face for deception, for excuses. Then she sighed and rubbed her temples. "You reckless idiot."

Joshua blinked. "Uh—"

"Do you have any idea what you put me through?!" she snapped, her hands clenched into fists. "I came back, and you were gone! No word, no warning! Do you think I wouldn't notice?! I nearly turned this entire village upside down looking for you!"

Joshua winced. "I, uh… didn't think you'd be back so soon."

"Of course you didn't!" she fumed. "Because you never think!"

Amador's laughter rumbled from inside the house. "Calm down, daughter. The boy's back in one piece. Let him clean up before you murder him."

Maydee exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. What's done is done. Hurry up and wash off the blood. Everyone's waiting inside."

Joshua nodded quickly. "Yes, Master. Just let me drop this off at the butcher first."

"Make it quick."

Joshua didn't waste time. He heaved the corpse over his shoulder once more and carried it to the back of the house, where the village butcher worked. The older man eyed the kill with an appreciative grunt and gestured for him to lay it on the heavy wooden table.

"You've been busy," the butcher remarked, running his knife along the beast's hide. "Core should be near the chest cavity, just behind the ribs. You want it extracted, or should I leave it in?"

"Extract it," Joshua replied. "I want to see how much it's worth."

The butcher nodded, expertly cutting through flesh and bone. Within moments, he held up a core roughly the size of an apple, its dark surface pulsing with energy. "A good haul. This'll fetch a very good price if you sell it." The butcher eyeing the core jealously.

Joshua took the core, feeling the thrum of energy beneath his fingertips. "Thanks. The rest is yours—just let me know if it's edible."

"I'll find out soon enough. Now get going before your master turns you into the next meal."

Chuckling, Joshua quickly washed off the grime and blood at the nearby well before making his way to the chief's hall, his master's ominous impatience looming over him like a shadow.