Chapter 24: Dual-Blade Sword Qi! (Please continue reading)

The "Secret Sword Technique" changes the final combat stance depending on the weapon used, but the skill's effects remain constant. As for how to specifically develop it... that was entirely up to Liang Yue’s own ideas. His first attempt was based on the short sword's ability to emit sword energy when swung, so he opted for dual-wielding short swords.

As a "Sword Master" in every sense, switching weapon styles brought no discomfort to Liang Yue.

"Dual-wielding sword energy..."
"This should work, right?"

He looked toward the targets in the distance. There were five "Novice Killer" War Shadows in total. Since this was his first attempt at a brand-new combat style, Liang Yue kept his overall approach conservative. He had no conventional opening routines.

His hands crossed to reach for the hilts at his waist, and the comprehensive boost to his physical strength, brought about by his increased ability scores, made his forward dash incredibly swift. His grayish-brown cloak fluttered as the power accumulated in his legs erupted instantly.

As Liang Yue streaked past the War Shadows, the cross-drawn short swords left their sheaths in a blur. White, materialized sword energy intersected, forming a diagonal cross-slash. The reach of this sword energy was immense.

The War Shadows, relying on combat instinct to raise their weapons as Liang Yue approached, had their bodies severed by the razor-sharp slashes before he even reached them.

[Exp +67]

As Liang Yue’s agile figure passed through the gaps between the shadows, the defenseless creatures shattered, dissolving into black dust. The thumb-sized magic stones and loot hit the ground with a crisp sound.

"This way of fighting..."

Enjoying the purity of battle, Liang Yue, who had come to a steady halt, could hardly conceal the excitement deep in his eyes. The results were proven. The combat style provided by the Sword Master template did not require following the complex mechanics of a game; it could be freely unleashed through imagination.

This was definitely good news. Especially with his updated ability scores and improved overall physical strength, pairing it with the Secret Sword Technique would only enhance his power!

He picked up the loot from the kills. Liang Yue did not linger in the area; the most effective way to level up at the moment was to head to the 7th floor and seek out Killer Ants. By using the monsters' own characteristics to lure the swarms, he could gain massive amounts of experience. In a way, had he completely mastered the rules of the dungeon?

***

Having decided on his next goal, Liang Yue, a man of action, soon reached the 7th floor and stepped out of the stairwell. His exploration yesterday had ended here. At that time, his physical energy was nearing its limit, and after clearing that group of Killer Ants, his condition only allowed him to make a safe return.

Now, with his ability scores fully improved and having not engaged in any strenuous combat, the peak-state Liang Yue was itching for a fight. He craved the kind of training that would push his limits and unlock his potential.

"Based on the scale of the Killer Ant swarms, I can level up every three waves on average. To reach today's target, I need to defeat at least ten waves."

It was certainly a long and monotonous process, but Liang Yue had already prepared himself before choosing this path. Only by exploring the pinnacle of swordsmanship amidst the dull and repetitive training could he carve out his own path!

He began to explore the area. Soon, he found his target: Killer Ants, similar in size to a common gecko but covered in hard, armored shells. They suffered from the common flaw of insects; even though they had eyes, their vision in the dim environment was practically useless, and they relied entirely on their antennae to detect vibrations in the air to hunt prey.

As Liang Yue’s footsteps drew closer, a stray Killer Ant decisively turned, the four hooked claws on its back positioning for a combat stance.

"This is a bit tricky." Liang Yue was referring to the need to control his attack range to avoid killing it outright. He looked at the monster with a calm gaze, holding his short sword loosely in his right hand. The tip of the blade was nearly touching the ground, but with a swift upward flick, a rapid burst of white sword energy was unleashed, tearing a furrow into the floor.

He had adjusted the power to reduce the damage to the ant. As the dust settled, the strike hit the monster squarely, severing the left side of its torso.

"Next..."
"I'd better call for more company."

He did not continue the assault. Instead, Liang Yue sat on the ground, his attention fixed on the surrounding walls. As a hunter, patience was the most important attribute. The wait did not last long; stones began to fall from the wall to his front-left, and the hole in the wall expanded at a visible rate.

Finally, the swarm arrived, responding to their companion's call. Compared to the group he had encountered last night, this one was even larger, but in Liang Yue’s eyes, they were nothing more than mobile experience packs!

"Here they come!"

***

"I think I’ve seen this adventurer somewhere?"

Lili, a supporter with a huge backpack who was counting the spoils of her recent haul, noticed the adventurer standing in the distance. She had developed a habit of hiding in dark corners to observe, avoiding the exploitation of the Soma Familia. However, when her eyes rested on Liang Yue’s highly recognizable face, she quickly recalled where she had seen him.

It was the adventurer she had bumped into on the 6th floor a few days ago, still exploring the dungeon all by himself. For a new adventurer with no profit to be made, Lili had no interest in him. But in front of Liang Yue lay the dismembered Killer Ant.

"This is... what is he trying to do?"

Although she wasn't an adventurer, Lili knew the danger level of Killer Ants. If you couldn't kill them cleanly, they would use a special method to call their companions. Once the swarm arrived, the danger would be maximized!

The situation unfolded exactly as Lili had anticipated; a dense swarm of monsters poured out of the collapsing hole in the distance.

She held pure malice toward all adventurers. Even for Liang Yue, whom she had only met by chance, she felt the same. She had no intention of warning him and simply frowned as she moved to hide.

As if realizing the danger, Liang Yue, not far ahead, slowly rose to his feet.

What caught Lili’s attention was not his next move, but the two silver-gray short swords held in his hands. The intricate patterns on the blades symbolized immense value!

"Hey!"
"Killer Ants call for reinforcements when they're in danger. You can't handle a swarm this large!"

The reason for her warning was simple: she had mentally labeled Liang Yue as a "fat sheep." Despite her hatred for adventurers, she chose to speak up for the sake of profit. If she could get her hands on those two weapons and sell them, she might be able to gather enough money to leave the Soma Familia.

Building a relationship early would also make her future actions easier; this trick worked exceptionally well on new adventurers.

Liang Yue didn't stop upon hearing the warning; instead, he walked toward the swarm—a move that was undoubtedly suicidal. However, the subsequent one-sided slaughter of the Killer Ant swarm left Lili stunned. Even her desire to target adventurers as a source of income wavered.

She had her own criteria for picking targets. She avoided members of powerful familias for fear of retaliation. As for adventurers like Liang Yue, who possessed such overwhelming strength—especially after realizing his motive—Lili’s eyes twitched uncontrollably.

"Using the sheer numbers of a Killer Ant swarm to train in the dungeon?"
"Is this guy a madman... or does he have absolute confidence in his own strength!?"