"Unity of Corruption failed to affect the Host due to skill: Unshakable Mind."

My advanced sword skills were locked because I didn't have the strength and agility required for the movements of swordsmanship. My Sword Aura was locked because I didn't have the corresponding Soulforce required to activate it.

However, that didn't mean I had forgotten the feeling of how I achieved it.

A blazing energy began pulsating on my right hand holding Shinku no Sabi and flowed into the crimson blade, wrapping around it.

Ding…

"The Host has learned a new skill: Pseudo Sword Aura!

Description: An imitation that can only manifest 10% of true Sword Aura.

Cost: 100 Yang energy per second."

"100 Yang energy!!!???" I gasped. "I need to finish this as soon as possible."

I tightened my grip around the sword as the entire pack leapt at me from all directions.

My whole body rotated, using my foot as a pivot, releasing a circular disc of Yang energy outward.

The destructive disc sliced through everything that came in its way and left violent flames at the points of contact.

In an instant, more than half of the pack was killed without the slightest resistance, their bodies burned to ashes.

"Yin energy +560"

"Th-this is 10%!?" I exclaimed, obviously shocked.

For the next five seconds, my blazing katana clashed with the remaining lesser wolves, chopping them like vegetables.

"Yin energy +440"

Ding…

"Congratulations! You have unlocked Intermediate Sword Technique!"

"It's only you and me now!" I said, cancelling the Sword Aura from the blade.

"Yang energy -800"

On the burning hill of Yang energy, only the Alpha Wolf and I remained, facing each other. After drinking the blood of two hundred wolves and a dozen jackals, Shinku no Sabi's blade finally reached closer to Vajra in terms of sharpness.

Sharp, terrifying claws emerged from the Alpha Wolf's paws as we both bolted toward each other.

Tang!

My blade clashed with its front right paw and slashed right through it, severing the limb.

Ding…

"Crimson Wound is activated!

The target will continuously lose blood."

Ding…

"Blood Tempering is activated.

Shinku no Sabi is absorbing the blood of the target…"

Suddenly, the sword vibrated in my hands as it drank the Alpha Wolf's blood.

"Haha! Are you enjoying the feast?" I chuckled, tightening my grip.

On the other side, the bleeding on the Alpha Wolf's leg had already stopped. The blue corruption on its body pulsated as its limb regenerated.

"So you can also regenerate?"

A pleasant smile appeared on my face as I continued, "Well, that's for the better. Now I can check how sharp this sword can get."

And just like that, my experiment began.

I continuously struck its non-vital points, inflicting numerous wounds across its body. The sharpness of the katana drastically increased and reached the same level as Vajra, but beyond that point, slashing the wolf no longer produced much result.

The blue corruption on its body, which had previously pulsated with bright energy, was now dimming, and its regeneration had significantly slowed.

"There's no point continuing this any further!"

Releasing a howl of fury, the Alpha Wolf leapt at me, and just as it came closer, my sword slashed through its neck, completely beheading it.

Ding…

"Congratulations! You have defeated the Boss Monster: Undead Knight."

"Yin energy +700"

"Maximum limit to absorb Yin energy reached.

Yin energy: 3200/3200"

"The breakthrough will come later. First, I need to leave—"

"Mmmm… Mr. Raj," Jasmine's terrified voice came from behind. "Wh-who are you really?"

I was completely drenched in the blood of wolves and certainly looked no less than a demon.

"J-Jasmine, you're awake!" I stammered, moving toward her.

She immediately retreated a few feet back, her lips shivering and her whole body trembling.

"H-how much did you see?" I asked, worried.

"When I entered, a scary howl echoed through the hill, and many monsters rushed here, so I followed them."

"So you were here from the start," I sighed.

"Pl-please don't kill me because I know your secret!" she blurted, joining her hands. "I'll never tell anyone, so please forgive me this time and don't kill me. I'm too young to die. I don't even have a boyfriend. I've never dated anyone. It's too early for me to die. I'll do anything you want, Master. Please just let—"

"Oy-oy, hold your horses!" I snapped, completely taken aback by her yapping. "Why would I kill you? And why the heck are you calling me Master!?"

"Because I know you aren't an E-Rank, so to make you believe that I won't tell your secret, I decided to serve you as my Master," she murmured fearfully.

Sigh… "You must be watching way too much drama," I said, slapping my forehead.

"Now, how do I take care of this mess?" I sighed inwardly.

After thinking for a couple of seconds, I moved closer to Jasmine, who couldn't step back any further as a tree blocked her path.

"When we were about to return, you were suddenly attacked by a wolf and fell unconscious. I got angry because they injured you and suddenly made a breakthrough."

Her expression slightly changed, so I continued, hoping I was barking up the right tree.

"So I took you out and began attacking these wolves. Surprisingly, after killing some of them, I made another breakthrough, then another. And before I knew it, I had already killed the boss monster."

For a moment, Jasmine said nothing.

Her body stopped trembling, and her head tilted downward.

"Is it really true?" she asked in a low voice.

"Yeah, I really made breakthroughs after entering the gate—"

"No, not that!" she interrupted, her voice louder.

A reddish blush spread across her cheeks as she raised her head.

"Is it true that you got angry because the monster attacked me?"

"Ye-yeah!" I replied, averting my eyes.

"I-I see. W-we should leave before the gate closes," she said, taking quick steps down the hill.

"Shit! What was that last expression of hers!? Why do I suddenly feel two daggers around my neck—one fragrant and the other cold?" I gasped, following behind her.

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