A Bug In Fate

Alden’s sword flashed through the air as he slashed toward the charging Morkel. The creature rolled past at the last second, forcing him to sidestep before he could recover.

Almost immediately, another Morkel burst out from behind him.

Alden sensed it just in time. He pushed off the ground and leaped into the next row of crops, barely avoiding the crushing impact as the creature rolled past where he had been standing.

He had only just regained his footing when a third attack came from his right.

Clang!

Alden instinctively raised his sword, deflecting the rolling beast before it could slam into his arm. The impact sent a jolt through his wrist, but before he could counterattack, another Morkel rushed in.

This time, however, it didn’t charge.

The creature suddenly expanded its body before releasing a cloud of dark, mist-like foam that exploded outward, swallowing Alden’s vision in an instant.

"What the—"

Startled, Alden immediately threw himself sideways, rolling across the ground before landing several meters away.

Only after creating some distance did he raise his head again, his eyes fixed on the strange black mist slowly drifting above the crops.

"What is that?"

Alden quickly retreated several steps, his eyes fixed on the battlefield ahead.

A few rows of green plants had already been flattened during the brief exchange. Fortunately, the Morkels weren’t particularly large. Each of them was only about the size of a raccoon back on Earth, but their speed more than made up for their small bodies.

"What was that?" Alden asked, still watching the dark mist slowly drift above the crops.

"They’re using their innate ability," one of the elderly farmers explained. "That black mist is used to blind their enemies. If they encounter something stronger than themselves, they’ll also use it to escape."

The two old men exchanged another glance.

Earlier, they had assumed Alden was nothing more than an overconfident rookie who would be chased out of the fields within moments. But after watching him calmly fend off several Morkels at once, they no longer knew what to think.

"...Are you sure you can handle this?" the second old man asked, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "If not, we’ll try to find more adventurers."

Alden smiled faintly and shook his head.

"Don’t worry."

"I’ve dealt with worse—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the crops on both sides suddenly rustled.

Two Morkels burst out at the same time, their bodies curled into tight balls as they rolled toward him with astonishing speed. They tore through the rows like living boulders, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

Alden’s expression sharpened.

He lowered his center of gravity, bringing his sword forward as he calmly waited for the perfect moment.

Just before the two creatures reached him, he pushed off the ground.

His body rose into the air.

With a single downward slash, his blade cut through one of the charging Morkels.

Slash!

Blood splattered across the leaves below as the creature was knocked off course.

A small smile appeared on Alden’s face.

Got one.

But the smile lasted only an instant.

Puff!

Puff!

The bodies of both Morkels suddenly burst open with thick clouds of black mist. The dark foam spread rapidly, swallowing the surrounding area and cutting off Alden’s vision before he could even land.

"...Damn."

For a split second, all he could see was darkness.

Alden searched for a way out of the black mist, but the Morkels gave him no opportunity.

The moment he sensed another presence charging toward him, he immediately pushed off the ground and retreated. A heartbeat later, a brown blur shot past where he had been standing, crushing another row of crops beneath its rolling body.

He clicked his tongue.

They’re not giving me any room to breathe.

Outside the plantation, the gathered villagers watched the battle unfold with growing anxiety.

"At this rate, he’ll die if he keeps running," one of the farmers muttered, unable to hide the worry in his voice.

Several more villagers had gathered after hearing the commotion. The two boys who had guided Alden to the fields now stood among the spectators, watching the battle with nervous expressions.

"I think we should head back to the city and ask the guild for reinforcements," another villager suggested.

A number of people nodded in agreement.

"Alright," a young man stepped forward. "I’ll go."

He had barely taken a step when an elderly farmer suddenly raised his hand.

"Wait."

His eyes remained fixed on the battlefield.

"...Look."

Everyone instinctively turned their attention back toward Alden.

"What the hell..."

"Is he insane?"

"Why is he closing his eyes?"

A female farmer stared in disbelief.

The old man narrowed his eyes.

"Don’t tell me..."

"That kid plans to fight them with his eyes closed."

Silence swept through the crowd.

No one could understand what they were witnessing.

Standing alone in the middle of the plantation, surrounded by drifting black mist and hidden enemies...

Alden slowly closed his eyes.

His grip around the sword tightened.

The world before him disappeared into darkness.

Yet the corners of his lips rose ever so slightly.

Because unlike his eyes...

His Mana Sense could still see everything.

Alden didn’t actually need to rely on his eyesight.

The moment a battle began, he instinctively activated Mana Sense, allowing him to perceive the flow of mana and the presence of every living being around him. Even before the black mist had swallowed the plantation, he had already been tracking every Morkel through it.

Closing his eyes simply eliminated the distraction.

The darkness before him changed nothing.

Within his perception, the battlefield remained just as clear as before. Every presence stood out like a beacon. Some circled cautiously through the rows of crops while others charged toward him without the slightest hesitation.

Alden let out a slow breath.

Mana flowed from his core, through his arm, and into the blade, coating the steel in a thin layer of shimmering energy.

"...Let’s try this."

Almost as if they understood they had been discovered, four Morkels charged at once. The ground trembled beneath their rolling bodies as they came from different directions, hoping to overwhelm him before he could react.

Alden didn’t move.

He stood calmly, waiting.

The instant the first Morkel entered his range, his body exploded into motion.

Instead of retreating, he stepped forward.

Whoosh!

His sword carved a clean arc through the air.

The Morkel charging from the front never had the chance to react. A thin crimson line appeared across its body before it continued rolling for another meter.

Then it split cleanly into two halves.

Without breaking his momentum, Alden twisted his body and rushed toward the second Morkel.

Sensing danger, the creature immediately activated its innate ability.

Puff!

A thick cloud of black mist erupted from its body, rapidly spreading across the surrounding crops.

But this time...

The mist had already lost its purpose.

Alden’s foot shot forward, kicking the Morkel hard enough to knock it onto its side before it could escape.

Thud!

The creature barely touched the ground before his sword descended.

Slash!

The blade sliced cleanly through its body, ending its struggle in a single strike.

The remaining Morkels instinctively slowed.

Something had changed.

The human standing before them...

...was no longer relying on his eyes.

Unbeknownst to Alden, another change was taking place deep within his body.

The Apex Evolution Body continued its silent evolution.

Every exchange, every dodge, and every swing of his sword was unconsciously engraved into his body. His muscles adapted, his footing became steadier, and the flow of mana through his limbs grew smoother with each passing moment.

It wasn’t a dramatic transformation.

It was subtle.

Almost impossible for anyone to notice.

Yet with every passing second, the flaws in his swordsmanship diminished. His movements became cleaner, his timing sharper, and his control over the blade increasingly natural.

Alden himself remained completely unaware.

He was simply fighting.

But every clash refined him.

Every exchange made him a little stronger.

And with each passing moment, his Basic Swordsmanship quietly advanced toward a higher level.

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