My combat skills were only classified as beginner level.
Although they are considered strong for someone my age, that was all.
I couldn't defeat it easily, and from the aura it was emitting, it seemed to be ranked D-.
Even though there was only a small rank difference between us, that rank represented an entire level gap.
I tried to calm down, control myself, and regain my composure, and I succeeded thanks to my "calm mind" trait.
A few minutes passed as I planned my attack against the monster in front of me, and after some time I managed to form a solid strategy.
The reason for the success of this plan was the monster's low intelligence.
I slowly stood up from behind the rock and gripped my katana tightly.
I strengthened my resolve as I watched the monster when it noticed me.
The monster looked toward my position calmly and tilted its head slightly.
What happened next sent a chill through my entire body.
The monster's smile widened so much that blood began dripping from its mouth.
"Are… you my food?" the bat-like monster spoke with a wide grin stretched across its face.
"Are you kidding me?" I let out a horrified scream and instinctively recoiled
The monster didn't waste any opportunity. The moment it saw me lose my composure, it rushed toward me.
It swung its large clawed hand, trying to grab me.
"Ding!" I quickly placed my katana in front of my body instinctively, and the monster's claw collided with my blade.
But it was far stronger than me, and the impact pushed me several steps backward.
I lost my balance and was about to fall to the ground.
But the monster didn't give me another chance. It rushed at me again, this time swinging its wing at a terrifying speed.
This sent me flying several meters across the rough cave floor.
I tried to lift my body despite the pain and injuries caused by the direct impact with a D-rank monster.
I tried as fast as I could, ignoring my condition, to defend myself, but the monster was already at the spot where it had pushed me before, looking confused and tilting its head with a finger near its lips.
"Weak."
"Trash."
Those two words ignited rage and hatred inside me, but my "calm mind" trait kept my thoughts steady.
I took a deep breath and tried to regain my position.
I was stupid.
What separates humans from monsters in the lower ranks is mana control.
Unlike humans, who enhance themselves using mana, mindless monsters use it only passively for defense or basic attacks.
I regained my calm and began feeling the mana inside my body, dormant as if waiting for my command.
I wanted it to flow through specific pathways to strengthen my body… and it obeyed, increasing my physical strength.
I wanted it to cover my katana to increase its power… and it obeyed again, forming a purple-red aura around the blade.
I focused my eyes again on the monster that kept watching me constantly.
I was glad it didn't have intelligence.
Those seconds I used to power up could have been the reason for my death.
This time, I didn't wait.
I rushed toward the monster at extreme speed.
I swung my katana sideways, aiming to hit it, but it blocked it.
That was expected.
I quickly reached for my pistol and aimed at its leg, firing a shot.
The monster staggered slightly from the hit, and as it tried to regain balance, I swung my katana toward its arm, aiming to cut it.
But I did not expect—even slightly—that I would fail to hit it.
Mana began appearing on the monster's body where I aimed to cut, while another surge of mana started healing its leg.
My face turned pale as I saw this.
This was no longer an ordinary D-rank monster.
At minimum, this bastard was C-rank.
It had been baiting me. It was far stronger and was toying with me.
It regained balance as I was lost in thought and looked at the katana I had swung.
A red glow filled its eyes with a fierce light.
Then—
"Screeeech!" it unleashed a sonic roar that shattered my eardrums.
I staggered from the unexpected attack, and before I could recover, the monster struck me with a powerful blow that sent me flying into the cave wall.
"Annoying."
"Bug."
"Very annoying."
The monster spoke again as it looked down at me.
I coughed in pain, holding my broken ribs as blood dripped from my mouth and head.
"Damn it… I can't do anything. I'm going to die at this level."
I had forgotten that this world was an illusion.
Although I had fought some F-rank monsters before and had some experience, this was different.
Very different.
My face turned pale as I realized it.
I'm going to die.
I tried to regain control and stand up again, but it didn't work well.
My hands began to tremble slightly as I tried to hold my katana.
But despite the pain, something inside me began to spread.
I could feel my calm returning.
And that reminded me where I was.
I was in a simulated cave.
With that thought, the pain and injuries in my body began to fade.
Even the fear.
I quickly looked around the cave design and found what I needed at the top.
There was a massive stone structure shaped like a blade, large enough to pierce the monster.
I stepped back quietly, and the monster appeared in front of me again, attacking with its claws.
I reinforced my body with all the mana I could, defending against its attack.
And yes, I failed miserably—but I managed to keep my balance this time as I was pushed back.
The monster didn't wait, which was exactly what I wanted.
It appeared in front of me again and swung at me.
This time, I didn't block.
I threw my body into the small gap in its movement and ended up behind it.
The monster hit the cave wall, trapping its arm for a moment.
I quickly swung my katana toward its leg, causing a small wound.
It wasn't enough. I gritted my teeth and kicked its knee with all my strength.
It fell.
My plan was working so far.
I swung my katana again toward its eyes, but it dodged by turning its head away.
I was ready.
I kicked it again, forcing it to remain on one knee.
I was the weaker one.
It was stronger.
Not just slightly—but far stronger.
But I did everything I could.
My body was starting to hurt.
But I endured it.
The wounds didn't disappear, but I ignored them.
The monster flapped its wing and pushed me back again several meters.
But again, that was expected.
I regained my balance and faced it directly.
The monster raised its arm, empowering it with mana, and looked at me while standing despite its injuries.
Its face twisted with rage, becoming almost human-like.
It flapped its wings at full speed and charged, aiming to crush my head.
I moved slightly.
It wasn't enough to avoid the claw completely, but enough to save my head.
However, the wind pressure caused a cut across my face.
The monster rotated its body mid-air and came at me again with a sonic attack that pierced my head.
I tried to dodge, but I couldn't.
Its claw pierced my body.
It pinned me to the wall, its arm going through me.
Blood dripped from my mouth, but I smiled.
I raised my pistol toward the ceiling where the stone blade structure was.
I fired all my remaining bullets.
The stones collapsed toward the monster.
The monster screamed in fear as it tried to pull its arm out of my body.
"Die, you damn bat!" I shouted, my voice piercing its ears.
Its expression turned into pure fear.
The falling stones pierced both of us at terrifying speed.
I swung my katana in a desperate attempt to cut its arm and escape, but I had no strength left.
And my katana had already fallen earlier.
And so, I died with the monster.
The falling stones pierced our bodies.