Got a Gallery in the Wild — Chapter 112: Welcome To… (4)

Chapter 112: Welcome To… (4)

If‌ I had to⁠⁠⁠ choose the most‍ difficult enemy among‌‌ all those I had fought bloody‌‍ battles against so‍ far, I would‍‌⁠ undoubtedly choose the⁠‌ saber-toothed tiger.

The‍‌⁠ ferocity inherent to‍ tigers.

Its‌ terrifying size.

And⁠‌ that absurd regenerative⁠ ability.

If⁠‍ I had not‍ received Sloth’s timely‌‍ help back then,⁠ I would have died again and‌⁠ again.

Thanks⁠ to that adversity,‌‌‍ I achieved tremendous‌‍ growth.

If‌ it had not‍‍⁠ been for the⁠‌ saber-toothed tiger, I would never have‌ been able to‌ defeat the Guardian.‍⁠

After‍⁠‍ that, I encountered‌‌ all kinds of⁠ strange creatures, but I was never⁠ defeated.

Even‌‍⁠ when a beast‍ appeared that seemed‌‍ capable of defeating‌ me, I fled‌‌ immediately instead of‍⁠ fighting.

Fwoosh!⁠⁠

HeavenlyDemon’s‌ sword, wrapped in‍ an aura that rippled like flames.‍‍

I stared in shock‍ at the gorilla‍ leader, who was⁠ holding that sword⁠⁠ using only his fingers.

Even‌ though I had‌‌⁠ attacked with all⁠‌ my strength, the‍⁠⁠ gorilla leader had‌‍ caught it with‌‌ complete ease.

If⁠ he had grabbed‍ it with his‍ entire hand, I could still understand⁠ it.

But it was only‌‍ his fingers.

The⁠ physical strength I gained after eating‌‌‌ eel.

The⁠ strength acquired from⁠⁠‍ practicing the internal⁠⁠‌ circulation method.

Even⁠ adding all of‍‍ that together, I had been stopped‌‌ by just three‌‍ fingers.

“Grrgh……”‌‌

And‍‌‍ I could not‌‌ even pull it‌ back.

No‌‌ matter how much⁠ strength I used,‍ the sword did‍ not move even⁠‍ a millimeter.

While⁠⁠ I struggled desperately,⁠ the gorilla leader⁠‍‌ maintained a calm‍ expression.

It was a silent pressure that clearly⁠‌ conveyed just how‌‍ great the difference⁠⁠ between us was.‌

Now‍‌‍ I understood why‌ he had so‌ confidently said he⁠ would take one⁠ of my arms.‍

Tap.

“Uagh!”‍‍

Just⁠⁠‌ as I was‍‍‌ pulling on the⁠ sword with all‍‍ my strength, the⁠⁠ gorilla leader released⁠⁠‍ his grip.

The‌ recoil almost made⁠ me fall over‌⁠ in a humiliating‌‍ manner.

I barely managed to‍‍ regain my balance‌‍ and faced him‍ once more.

The‍ bastard even had‌‍‍ his arms crossed‌⁠ over his enormous⁠‍ chest.

“Bukkeou.”‍‍

I did not have‌‍ time to enter the gallery in‌ a situation like‍ this.

But⁠‍ one thing was‍⁠ certain.

He⁠ was looking down‍⁠⁠ on me.

The⁠‌ moment I realized‍ that, I decided⁠‍⁠ to attack more⁠ cautiously.

“Kyuu!⁠‍ Kyuu!”

Then‌⁠ Wonmo, who had‍‍ remained still until⁠ now, suddenly rushed‌ forward.

It seemed he had‌ classified the gorilla⁠‍ leader as an‍‍ enemy.

Just‌⁠ as I was‌‌ about to tell⁠‌ him to back‍ off, someone intervened‌⁠‍ before I could.‌‍

Tap.⁠

“Kyuu?”⁠

“……”‌‍

It⁠ was Sloth, who‌‍ had gotten off‍ my back at‍‍ some point.

Sloth‌ stepped in front‌ of Wonmo and‌ gestured for him⁠‌ to retreat.

At‍⁠‌ first, Wonmo looked‍‌ confused, but then‍ he turned his head toward me.‍

“Wonmo,‍‍⁠ listen to Sloth.”⁠‌

“Kyuuu……!”

Only⁠ then did he⁠‌ back away.

In fact, Sloth practically pushed him all‌ the way to‍‍ the cave.

After‍ that, Sloth did‍‍ not climb back⁠‌ onto my back‍ and merely observed‌ from a distance.

It would probably be⁠‍‍ easier for him‍ to intervene from‌ there than while‌‍⁠ riding on me.‍‍‍

‘Looks‍ like he understood the situation.’

The‍⁠ gorilla leader’s personal‌ guards also remained‌ still, watching.

It⁠ was a duel‍⁠‍ between the gorilla leader and me.

It‌ seemed that Sloth‍ understood that meaning⁠‍ as well.

Or‍‍‍ perhaps, as always,⁠ he was waiting‌‍ to intervene only‌ if I was‍‌ in danger.

I think I could‌ trust him a little.

I tightened my grip‌ on my sword⁠ and shield while‌ fixing my gaze‌ on the gorilla‍‌ leader.

He‍ remained motionless, arms⁠⁠‍ crossed.

He‌‌ did not even⁠‍ have a bridge‍‌ on his nose,‍⁠ yet he overflowed‌ with confidence.

“Hmph!”‍

Then⁠ I would make‌⁠ him pay the⁠ price for his⁠ overconfidence.

I pushed off with⁠‌ my legs and‍⁠ launched a thrust.⁠⁠

An⁠ attack executed without‍ warning.

And‌ furthermore, it was⁠‍ not a slash⁠ but a thrust.⁠‌

An attack that fully‍ exploited the sharpness‍ characteristic of HeavenlyDemon’s⁠ sword.

If‌ he chose to block it as⁠ before, he would‍ suffer a serious‍ wound.

Whoosh!‍

My‌ sword pierced directly⁠ toward the gorilla‍ leader’s abdomen.

Or⁠ at least, that‌⁠ was how it⁠ appeared.

‘What……?’⁠

But‌ the sensation was⁠ strange.

I was sure I had pierced him,⁠⁠⁠ yet it did‌‌ not feel that⁠ way.

It‌ was like stabbing‍‍ empty air.

The‌ contradiction between what‌‌ I saw and‍ what I felt‌‍ was far too⁠‍ strange.

Shaaa—

Shortly‌ after that thought‍‍ crossed my mind,‌‍ the gorilla leader’s‍⁠ body changed.

It‍‍ distorted like a mirage.

And⁠ then disappeared.

Startled,‌ I hastily withdrew‍‍ my sword and looked around.

‘Where‌‍‍ is he……?’

Shiver!‌‍‌

A chilling sensation ran‌ down the back of my head.‍

I had only been‌⁠ living in the⁠‍ Forest of Four Seasons for two‍‌ weeks, but I had already learned‌‍ something.

Never ignore a bad‍‍⁠ feeling.

Never‍ ignore your instincts.‌

And⁠ this time, I chose to trust‍ them.

Slash!‌

I spun around and‌ unleashed a horizontal‍‍ slash.

The‍ flaming aura surged‌⁠ violently.

“Hm.”⁠⁠

When‌ I looked behind‍⁠ me, I saw‍ the gorilla leader.‌

Unlike‍‍ before, his arms‌‌ were no longer‍⁠ crossed.

It‍‍ seemed he had‌‌ tried to catch⁠ me off guard and failed.

I did not waste‌ the opportunity.

After‍⁠ all, he was⁠⁠⁠ still underestimating me.⁠

“Haaah!”‍

I slashed, thrust, and‍ slashed again and‍⁠ again.

Even⁠‍ the gorilla leader‍‌ seemed surprised by⁠ my momentum.

He‍ did not counterattack.‍‌

He‍‍ only dodged.

Slash!⁠‍‌

Again.‍‍

I was certain I had hit him,‍‍‍ but I felt‌⁠ nothing.

At⁠ the same time,⁠‌ the gorilla leader’s figure once again‌‍⁠ became faint like‍ a mirage.

What⁠‍⁠ kind of technique⁠‌‌ was that?

Could‌⁠ Sloth use something‌‌ like that too?‍

I quickly turned my⁠ body around.

And‌‍‍ without forgetting to⁠ prepare for any⁠‌ possibility, I unleashed⁠ another slash.

Slash!‍⁠⁠

The⁠ gorilla was not⁠ there.

There‌ was only empty‌⁠ air.

And‍‍ at that very‍⁠ moment, I felt‌‍ a sharp pain‌‍ at the back‍‌ of my neck.‌‍‌

He⁠ had caught me.⁠⁠‍

But‍ I could not‌ simply turn around‌‌ again to attack.⁠

Unless‌‍ my waist could‌ rotate three hundred‌‌‍ and sixty degrees, it was impossible.‍⁠‌

So⁠ I chose the‍⁠ second-best option.

‘I’ve⁠‌ got to block‌ it with my‍‌‌ shield!’

I straightened my waist⁠ and raised my⁠‍‍ shield.

Fortunately,‍‍‍ I had made⁠⁠ the right decision.⁠

The‍ gorilla leader’s fist‍⁠ was coming directly‍⁠‍ toward my shield.‌

Just‌ how powerful would‌‍ that fist be?⁠‌

After⁠ all, it belonged‍⁠ to the same⁠ monster that had⁠‍ effortlessly stopped my‌ sword.

I had even considered‍ the possibility of‌ being blown backward‌ and prepared myself⁠‌ to cushion the‌‍ fall.

Tap.‌‍

But⁠ all of those‌‍⁠ concerns turned out⁠‌‌ to be unnecessary.

The‌‍ gorilla leader’s attack was absurdly simple.

I felt no impact⁠‍ on the shield.⁠

Only⁠‌‌ the sensation that‌ something had touched‍‍ it.

The⁠‍ gorilla leader had‍ simply placed his‍‍ fist against my‍ shield.

That‍⁠ was all.

Confused,⁠ I looked up‍⁠‍ into his eyes.‌‌‍

The‌⁠ gorilla leader’s expression‍⁠ remained completely calm.⁠⁠⁠

‘Why?’⁠‌⁠

Before‍‍‌ that doubt could‌ fully settle.

Thump!‌⁠‍

A strange sensation traveled‌‌ through the shield.‍‌

Crack!⁠‌

A sound similar to⁠ a branch snapping⁠ reached my ears.

At‍ the same time,‌‌ the shield began⁠⁠ to lower slowly.‍‍‌ Even though I was holding it‍⁠‍ firmly, it was⁠ falling without any‍‌ strength at all.‍

Confused,⁠‍‌ I looked down‍ at the shield.⁠

And then I understood why it had⁠ dropped.

It‍ wasn’t that it⁠⁠⁠ had moved against‌‍ my will.

Dangle—‌ Dangle—

It‍‌ was that my⁠⁠⁠ arm had broken⁠‌ and could no⁠ longer obey my‍⁠‍ commands.

I stared blankly at⁠ the arm hanging‍ uselessly.

But⁠‍⁠ only for a moment.

The⁠‌ pain that adrenaline‍⁠ had barely managed‌‌ to suppress hit‌ me all at⁠⁠ once.

“Aaaaaaaaargh!!!”‌‍

The⁠‌ pain of a broken bone surpasses⁠‌ all imagination.

Hadn’t‍ I already suffered‍‍ indescribably just yesterday‍ when my ribs‌⁠ were broken?

I even dropped my‌‌ sword while clutching my dangling arm.‌

It⁠‍⁠ felt as if needles were being⁠‌⁠ driven directly into‍ my brain over‍‌ and over again.‌‍

‘H-how?‍⁠ He only placed⁠‌ his fist against‍ the shield…!’

Both‌‍ that mirage-like body‍⁠ that dispersed into‌ thin air and‌‍‌ that attack from‌‍ a moment ago.⁠

Everything‍ was beyond my⁠ comprehension.

The‍ gorilla leader’s abilities‍ completely surpassed my‍ common sense.

“Ghh…‌‍ Haa…”

“……”‌

While⁠⁠ I gritted my teeth to endure‌‍ the pain, the⁠‍ gorilla leader watched‍ me in silence.‍

His expression seemed to‌⁠ ask.

“Are‍ you going to‌⁠ keep going?”

I answered with actions.⁠‍

Swoosh—‍⁠

Picking‍‌ up HeavenlyDemon’s sword⁠‌ from the ground.⁠

One‍‍⁠ arm was broken.⁠

But‌ the other was‍ still intact.

I concentrated all the‍‍‍ mana I had‍ left into the⁠ sword.

Wooooong—‌‍

Had⁠⁠ it instinctively sensed‌ danger?

The⁠‌ aura that had‍‌ previously swayed like‌‌ flames began to⁠‍ condense little by⁠ little.

I couldn’t die here.‍

My⁠‌‍ desire to survive⁠‌‌ pushed my concentration⁠‍ to its limit.⁠⁠

And‍‌ just as that fire-like aura began‍⁠ to take shape.⁠‌

The‍‌⁠ gorilla leader moved.

At⁠ first, it only⁠‍ looked as if⁠ he had bent‍ his knees slightly.⁠

I reacted the moment‍‍ I saw that movement, but.

Whoosh!⁠⁠

The‍ gorilla leader appeared‍ in front of me before I could even process⁠ it.

A speed comparable to⁠⁠ Sloth’s.

Or⁠ perhaps even greater.⁠‍

I slowly raised my eyes to the⁠‌ gorilla leader, who‌‌ stood upright on⁠ two legs.

Had‌ I ever been‌‍‍ overwhelmed like this‌⁠ before?

It‍ was a pressure⁠‌ capable of erasing⁠ even the slightest‌⁠ trace of fighting‌‌⁠ spirit.

Swoosh—‍⁠

The gorilla leader drew his right arm‌ back.

It⁠ did not look‌⁠ like a punch.‍

It‍ was a palm‍‌‍ strike.

A long-range strike.

If‌ I took that‌ attack head-on, I would die.

I had to move.‍

I had to do‌‍‌ something.

But‌‌ perhaps because I had already been‌ completely dominated, my‌‌ legs would not respond.

It‍‌ was similar to‍⁠ when I faced⁠‍ the saber-toothed tiger.⁠

And⁠⁠ at the same‌ time, different.

‘I’m⁠‍ not dying like⁠ this…!’

I struggled desperately.

I even bit my‌ tongue trying to‌ force my body⁠ to move.

Fortunately,‍‍ the effort paid‌⁠ off.

I barely managed to‌ move my legs.‍‍

Now‌ all that remained⁠‌ were my arms.‍

Within‍ that illusion where‌⁠ time seemed to‍‌ move slowly, I tried to move‍‍ them as well.‍‍

Whoooosh!⁠

The‍ problem was that‍⁠‍ this slowed-down instant⁠ applied to the gorilla leader too.

The⁠‍ arm he had‍ drawn back shot‍‍ forward like a bullet.

True⁠‍ to a gorilla, that enormous hand completely filled my field of vision.⁠‍

Just‌⁠ as I resigned⁠‌ myself to death.‌‌

Boom!!!‌

The‌ gorilla leader’s palm‍ brushed past my‍ face.

The‍‍ explosion of air⁠ made my ears‍⁠⁠ ring and sent⁠ my hair whipping‌ wildly.

Craaaash!!!‌

The⁠ ear I still‌‍ had left allowed‌ me to imagine‍‍ what had happened‍⁠‍ behind me.

It wasn’t simply something‍‍ collapsing.

It⁠⁠ was the sound‌ of total destruction.⁠

I prayed that the‌ cave wasn’t directly‍⁠ behind me.

“……”⁠

I remained completely motionless.‍

Only‌ my eyes could⁠ move.

With‌ a trembling gaze,⁠‌‍ I slowly turned my eyes toward‌‍ the gorilla leader.‌

For‍ some reason.

He‌‌ was smiling.

Tap—‌‍⁠

The‌‍⁠ gorilla leader lowered⁠‌⁠ the hand that‌ had passed beside‍ my face.

He‌‌ placed it on‌‌ my shoulder.

Despite⁠ being such a simple gesture, it‌ felt incredibly heavy.⁠

Tap.‍ Tap.

The‍ gorilla leader patted my shoulder.

As⁠‍ if trying to‍‌ reassure me.

It⁠ was true that‍⁠ he had said he would take one of my⁠ arms.

But‌‌ he had never‍ said he would‌‌ take my life.⁠

Then‍‌ he removed his‍ hand from my‍ shoulder and spoke⁠ in the language⁠ of Zhongyuan.

“Wai⁠ wonni.”

Welcome‍‍⁠ to the Forest‌‌ of Four Seasons.‍

“Sinsho.”‍

Novice.

I didn’t know why,⁠⁠⁠ but I felt that was what‌ he meant.

“Jjeoba.”‍

The‌⁠‌ gorilla leader turned‍‌‍ around and gave‍‍ an order to‍ his personal guards.

The‌⁠ guards armed with⁠ spears gave me‍ one last look⁠‍ before following him.⁠

I remained rooted to‍ the spot until⁠‌ the gorilla leader‌ and his group‍‍ had completely disappeared.‌⁠⁠

“…Huu.”‌

Only‌⁠ after they were‌‌‍ gone was I able to exhale.‌‌

I didn’t even pay attention to the‌‍‍ broken arm hanging‌ uselessly at my‌‍ side.

Or‌‌ rather, I couldn’t.⁠⁠

It⁠‍ felt like my‍‌ heart was going⁠ to burst from‌ how hard it‍ was beating.

It‌⁠‍ was as if⁠ someone were crushing my body with‌‍‍ an invisible force.⁠

If‍‍ the saber-toothed tiger‌ represented instinctive fear.‌

The‍⁠ gorilla leader conveyed⁠⁠ something artificial.

‘Who the hell…?’

At‌⁠‌ the same time,‍ I felt immense‌ curiosity toward the⁠⁠ person who had‌‌‌ taught the gorilla‌ leader martial arts.

What‌ kind of master⁠ could turn a gorilla into someone so powerful?

I slowly organized my‍ thoughts and regained‍ my composure.

Right‌‍ now, there was⁠⁠ something more important.

Healing my broken arm.‌

If‍⁠ I left it‍⁠ like this, I could suffer serious‌ aftereffects.

‘Will‌⁠⁠ an elixir heal⁠ this…?’

Just‍ as I was‌⁠ trying to keep⁠ the broken arm⁠ from shifting into‌ a bad position, I turned my‌ head behind me.‌

And‍ froze.

The‌ gorilla leader had‍⁠‌ launched that palm⁠‍ strike right beside⁠ my face.

I had also clearly heard something being destroyed.

I had assumed he⁠ had simply knocked⁠⁠ down a few trees.

But reality far exceeded‌ that expectation.

Because‍ a path had‌‌ appeared.

A place that had⁠ previously been completely⁠ covered by dense‌ trees.

Yet‌⁠ with a single⁠ palm strike from‍ the gorilla leader,‌‌ the trees had‌‍ either collapsed or been uprooted.

An‍⁠⁠ unexpected road had‍ opened up.

And‌ that left my‍‌ mind blank.

‘…Not even Sun Wukong‌ would be able⁠‍‍ to do something‍ like this.’

Though‍ now that I thought about it,⁠‍‌ Sun Wukong was a monkey with‍ a tail, not‌‌⁠ a gorilla.

What‌ did it matter?‍

‘Can‌ I really survive‌⁠⁠ here?’

My‍⁠ resolve had cracked‍ a little.

That‌ much was undeniable.‌‍

Prev Next

What did you think of this chapter?

0 reactions

0 Comments

Cancel reply

There are no comments yet. Be the first!

Reader Settings

Page mode

Timer

Text Indent

Font

Alignment

Font Size

Line Height

Auto scroll

Tap to read

Pin menu

Translate page

Select language to automatically translate chapter content.

Audio & AI Voice

Playback Speed

AI Voice

Chapter 112: Welcome To… (4)

What did you think of this chapter?

0 Comments

Cancel reply

Ads Blocker Detected!!!