Whoosh!

It was so sudden…

…and I was caught off guard.

The claw sliced through the air, and in that instant, just as it was about to make contact…

…I moved… somehow.

"What…?" I couldn’t believe it—I actually dodged that attack.

However, the beast was relentless. After missing its first strike, it shot its leg straight for my chest, but again…

…I could see it.

I could see the attack coming.

A flurry of calculations ran through my mind, figuring out how to counter it. In a fraction of a second, I reached a conclusion.

I leaped back… and my body obeyed.

How is this happening?

I couldn’t fathom it. Even for something as simple as a leap, I found myself soaring high into the air. I had to forcefully rotate in midair to manage a proper landing. And I did.

Hm.

It’s as though I’m stronger than my mind can keep up with.

Wait… could it be the upgrade?

Stem.

I thought, but there was no response.

Huh?

Why isn’t it answering?

Damn!

I didn’t have time to think as the creature was already upon me. I quickly ducked as it leaped, airborne, heading straight for me. I shuffled to the side and drew out my katana, gripping it with both hands in front of me.

"Fine… COME! COME AND DIE!" I yelled, then stomped the ground and shot forward in a blur. It was strange… I felt so…

…strange…

…this power…

…it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

I couldn’t feel mana, but I felt this raw, brute strength like never before.

The creature sensed my movement, opening its mouth wide as it screeched.

"KREESHHHHH!"

The sound was so terrible I felt my eyes start to water.

I touched them…

…blood.

Damn it!

I slashed at the creature’s chest, but…

"What the…?"

I missed—no, it was more like it moved in that split second.

I looked left, then right, but couldn’t find it. And then…

Drip!

I looked up, and there it was, descending from the sky like a comet.

BOOM!

I tried to block, but it was too powerful, and the sheer strength behind its attack blasted me backward.

"ARGH!" I cried as I collided with a tree far from where I’d been struck.

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Damn it!

I feel like some ribs just broke.

But there was no time to dwell on injuries.

I looked up, and as expected, the creature was already upon me. I glanced to my left and saw my katana lying on the ground a few feet away.

I stomped the ground and leapt into the air, but the beast did something I would never have expected. It stomped the air to get more leverage so it could reach me.

I had expected it to follow me, though not quite like this. I bounced off a tree, somersaulting out of the way just as the creature reached my former position.

Thwack!

It sliced the tree clean in half.

I fell to the ground on my back, but I stood up instantly, ignoring the biting pain, then rushed for my katana. However…

BOOM!

Good thing I dodged; something cleaved the ground where I’d been about to step. I looked to my right, and there I saw the creature with its arm outstretched.

Oh no.

It slashed again, and even with the distance, I wasn’t foolish enough to stay still.

BOOM!

I jumped out of the way, but I was still caught by its attack as the ground was torn apart by five claw marks. I could feel pain, yet… I couldn’t even tell where it was coming from.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed as my mind finally registered what was happening.

My right hand…

…was sliced off cleanly.

I looked at where the attack had hit and saw my arm, with my spatial ring still on its finger.

"FUCK!" I roared, glaring at the creature as it raised its claw again.

And it slashed.

"HAAAAAAH!" I took a deep breath, steadied myself… and then I rushed toward it.

I could feel it…

…the attack coming…

…the ground cracking as it hurtled in my direction…

…but…

…I kept running.

Running straight toward it.

I couldn’t tell what I was doing.

But…

…I…

…couldn’t stop.

[Unknown ability is reacting]

[User’s emotions are being affected]

[User is advised to calm down]

[User is advised to calm down]

[User is advised to calm down]

I couldn’t see or think clearly.

All I had in mind was one thing, and one thing alone.

[Anger: 63/100]

[Anger: 70/100]

[Anger: 79/100]

[Anger: 83/100]

[Anger: 93/100]

[Unknown ability is affecting all emotions of user]

[It has been discovered that all positive emotions have been suppressed by unknown ability]

[User is experiencing an unknown level of depression]

[Error]

[System cannot intervene]

[All negative emotions have been forcibly increased]

[User is losing control]

[User is being corrupted]

[It has been discovered—]

The attack reached me…

…but all I saw…

…all I felt…

…was rage…

…a rage I had never felt before.

"HeheheHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[Anger has transcended the bar]

[Insanity]