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Chapter 59: Shattered Steel

  Tyler’s eyes widened in surprise. Gary, with a speed that defied belief, appeared before him in an instant, his hand extended, dagger aimed for Tyler's side. Tyler instinctively tried to sidestep, but it was too late. Gary's dagger pierced the flesh of Tyler's shoulder with a sickening *thwab

  A groan escaped Tyler's lips as he reacted, swinging his axe in a powerful upward arc aimed at Gary's chest. But Gary, with another impossible burst of speed, smoothly slid back, his feet seemingly gliding across the ground rather than taking steps. Tyler watched, his mind reeling. *He is too fast,* he thought, a chill running down his spine. *Is it because of that skill?*

  Gripping the dagger embedded in his shoulder, Tyler tried to pull it free. The dagger wouldn't budge. He strained, using all his strength, but the dagger remained stubbornly fixed in his flesh. He groaned, the pain intensifying as he slowly, agonizingly, began to pull the weapon free. Gary simply watched, a chilling smile playing on his lips, his nonchalant demeanor somehow more unnerving than any overt threat. Then, with a sudden, almost imperceptible movement, the dagger slipped back into the wound before Tyler could fully remove it. A yelp of pain escaped Tyler's lips as his other hand remained clenched around the dagger's hilt.

  Gary’s attention shifted to Grone, who was locked in a desperate struggle against the erratically flying katana. Grone swung his sword repeatedly, deflecting the blade's attacks.

  The blade came back spinning horizontally, and Gary realized with a frown that his katana's durability was fading; Grone's sword had left faint, almost imperceptible scratches on its surface. Grone, seizing the opportunity, swung his sword in a powerful upward slash, unleashing his slash skill. The invisible blade of wind whistled past the returning katana, missing its target as the weapon spun back into Gary's grasp. He caught it by the hilt, a grim expression settling on his face.

  "Wake the hell up, will ya?" Gary said, his voice sharp, tilting his head to look down at his little brother, who lay sprawled on the ground. His brother coughed, groaning as he pushed himself upright, his face pale. "Seriously, everybody knew you were awake the whole time," Gary said, a hint of exasperation in his tone.

  Steven, pushing himself to his feet, muttered, "Damn it, I was just resting, alright? Did you even *see* what happened?" He let go of his dented shield, letting it clatter to the ground. "This thing is useless," he grumbled. "There's no way this guy is a D-rank. He's a freaking monster. He's a C-rank, at least."

  Grone, breathing heavily, immediately moved to Tyler's side, his sword held ready. He saw Tyler still gripping the dagger embedded in his shoulder. "Looks like you got stabbed in a non-lethal spot," Grone observed. "You'll still be able to fight, right?"

  Tyler grunted, his face grim. "Yeah. This dagger doesn't seem to budge. It must be because of his skill," he said, his voice strained.

  "Yeah," Grone agreed. "It's his sword control skill."

  Bernardo, his face pale, addressed Gary and Steven. "Guys, I don't think I can fight anymore. I'm just going to drag you down..."

  "What the hell are you talking about? Both of you are now just gonna face the old man. I'm just gonna have fun with this grandkid," Gary said, a cruel smile spreading across his face. Tyler's eyes narrowed as a system panel appeared before him: Gary Brunch has used skill: Gap.

  In a blur of motion, Gary reappeared before Tyler, his katana descending in a deadly arc. Tyler reacted instantly, raising his axe to block the blow. Before Grone could react, a shield hurtled through the air, striking him with surprising force. He parried the blow, but the impact staggered him; it felt like the throw had come from someone of equal rank. He saw Bernardo, the man Tyler had warned him about, clutching his side, a look of grim determination on his face.

  Steven, seizing the opportunity, activated his Quick Step

  Grone instantly ripped the blanket away with his right arm, flinging it aside. He was met by the immediate thrust of Steven's sword. Grone sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow, but the sword grazed his leather armor, leaving a shallow cut across his abdomen.

  Grone stepped back, his sword a blur as he met Steven's attack. A clash of steel echoed through the clearing as Grone's blade struck Steven's, sending Steven's sword flying from his grasp. Before Steven could react, Grone swung his sword in a powerful downward strike. A shield materialized in Steven's hand just in time, blocking the blow, but the impact sent Steven stumbling back.

  Grone thought, *Where do these things keep coming from? Does he have a similar ability to Tyler's? It doesn't matter, he's weaker. I can finish him off, but these things are so distracting.*

  Meanwhile, Steven thought, *This old man is pretty tough. He must also be C-rank, but I think I can beat him.*

  Tyler, locked in a fierce exchange with Gary, parried a downward strike with his axe, countering with an upward swing. The clang of steel echoed repeatedly as Gary's katana and Tyler's axe met in a furious dance of blows. Each impact produced a sharp *ting*, a testament to the force of their attacks. Gary swung again, and again, Tyler parrying each blow with precise movements. Then, Gary unleashed a powerful two-handed swing, aiming for Tyler's side. Tyler leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blow. A system panel appeared before him: Weapon has taken too much damage. Durability has drastically decreased.

  Gary, his face contorted in annoyance, shouted, "Why the hell are you just on the defense this whole time? You think this is a sparring match? Do you think I just want to beat you up?" Another system panel appeared before Tyler: Gary has activated skill: Gap.

  Another system panel appeared: Gary Brunch has used skill: Sword Path

  Tyler spun around, but Gary was already there, his foot connecting with Tyler's face in a spinning kick. As Tyler stumbled back, Gary activated *Gap* again, closing the distance instantly. He swung his katana, slicing Tyler's shoulder. Another downward strike followed, and Tyler countered with an upward swing of his axe. But as their weapons met, Tyler's axe shattered, Gary's katana slicing into Tyler's chest.

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  Tyler leaped back, landing on his feet, his breath ragged. Gary chuckled, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down Tyler's spine. The dagger embedded in Tyler's shoulder suddenly twisted, causing a fresh wave of agony. Tyler cried out, clutching the dagger hilt, trying to prevent further injury.

  Seizing the opportunity, Gary closed the distance once more. A lightning-fast right hook slammed into Tyler's jaw, followed by a left hook to the ribs. He grabbed Tyler's head, pulling him close, and hit him with a brutal knee to the face.

  Blood spurted from Tyler's nose as he stumbled backward. Gary, with a roar, unleashed a devastating punch to Tyler's chest, sending him flying several feet before he crashed to the ground.

  "That's what you get for not taking the fight seriously, damn ass," Gary sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You don't get it, do you? You're trying to get *killed* here. It's either me or you."

  He casually slung his katana over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like your old man hasn't taught you well, now has he? It's the only way you can end up this shitty. I mean, just look at him," Gary said, gesturing towards Grone.

  Grone was struggling against Steven. Every time he tried to attack, Steven summoned a shield to block the blow. If Grone managed to create even a momentary opening, a blur of motion would follow—Bernardo, unleashing his *Throw* skill, sending rocks hurtling towards Grone with terrifying speed and accuracy. These weren't simple pebbles; they were projectiles, each imbued with the force of Bernardo's skill, leaving deep gashes in the tree trunks they impacted, the bark splintering and flying like shattered glass. The sheer power behind each throw was evident, a constant, unsettling distraction that kept Grone off balance.

  Gary laughed, a harsh, cruel sound. "Huh, this is totally pathetic. Well, this shit doesn't matter anyway. You're about to die here, just like every stupid hunter that has tried to face me in the monster zones. But don't worry, your death won't be forgotten. The guy we came with talked about your gear, and it's not bad—well, except for that shitty axe. This armor's gonna make a lot of gold."

  Tyler let out a short, harsh laugh, lying on the ground, his gaze fixed on the sky framed by the trees. His chest was bleeding, the dark crimson staining his armor.

  "What the fuck is so funny?" Gary demanded, his voice tight with barely controlled rage.

  "Yeah, I just realized it," Tyler said, a grim smile playing on his lips. "I really *am* acting stupid, aren't I? You're not totally wrong." He groaned, pushing himself slowly to his feet, his movements labored. "It really *is* either you or me. I've just been fighting you as if we're having a sparring match this whole time."

  Gary's temper flared. "What the heck are you saying?"

  "I've been fighting you like you're just trying to beat me up," Tyler explained, his voice low and dangerous. "You're actually trying to *kill* me. Isn't that what you said?"

  "Yeah, so?" Gary challenged, his eyes narrowed.

  "Well," Tyler said, his gaze locking onto Gary's, his expression deadly serious, blood trickling down the corner of his lips. "To me... it seems like I have to fight you this way. I have to fight you... like I'm fighting a monster. I have to kill you."

  Gary stared at Tyler, dumbfounded. A chuckle escaped his lips, quickly escalating into full-blown laughter. "Really, man? You're just figuring this out *now*? You're saying you have to kill me? Now? Look at the state you're in! Did you think you could even try?"

  Tyler muttered under his breath, "Craft Iron Axe." A system panel appeared before him: Crafting... The secular crafting bar filled instantly.

  Crafting successful, the system announced, the message flashing before Tyler's eyes.

  "Looks like I have to put you down," Gary said, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "I was planning on killing the old man first. But it looks like I have to deal with you. And that just makes it more fun now. The old man is going to see you die."

  Gary simultaneously activated his Gap and Sword Path skills, instantly closing the distance between himself and Tyler. Tyler countered with his *Rush* skill, his movements blurring. As Gary swung his katana in a downward strike, Tyler effortlessly sidestepped, his pupils glowing an intense blue.

  Gary's eyes widened in surprise. He reacted instantly, twisting his katana so the blade faced upwards, then sweeping it in a wide arc. But Tyler, with impossible speed, materialized his newly crafted axe, parrying Gary's blow with a resounding clang. The force of the impact sent Gary stumbling back several steps.

  Without hesitation, Tyler ripped the dagger from his shoulder with surprising speed and threw it at Gary. The dagger flew straight towards Gary's face. Gary managed to stop the dagger inches from his forehead, the tip grazing his skin, drawing a bead of blood.

  "*What is going on?*" Gary thought, his mind reeling as the dagger clattered harmlessly to the ground.

  Tyler, seizing the moment, hurled his axe with all his might, the spinning blade a blur of motion heading straight for Gary. Gary swung his katana to intercept the axe, but the axe suddenly glowed blue, disappearing mid-air before his blade met nothing but empty space.

  Tyler vanished, reappearing before Gary in a blur of motion. His right fist, drawn back, coiled like a striking viper. Gary's eyes widened as he perceived the impossible speed—a drastic increase in Tyler's velocity. The fist connected with Gary's ribcage with a sickening crunch. Gary gasped, tasting blood as the blow sent him reeling.

  But Tyler showed no mercy. A right hook slammed into Gary's jaw, followed by another to the gut, then a brutal blow to the nose, another to the abdomen, and a final crushing strike to the chest. A relentless barrage of blows, each landing with bone-jarring impact. Gary could only react to the searing pain, his body a helpless target.

  *What the hell is going on?* Gary thought, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation. *My Gap skill increases my speed. My Sword Path skill easily leads me to the enemy's openings, letting me cut them easily. But this guy is hitting me before I get any chance to react. I can only react to the pain it's causing me. What kind of skill is this?*

  A final, devastating blow to Gary's jaw sent him sprawling, tumbling end over end across the forest floor like a discarded ragdoll.

  Bernardo, poised to throw a rock at Grone, froze, his arm suspended mid-air. His eyes were fixed on Gary's tumbling form, then on Tyler, who stood rigidly in a fighting stance, his fist clenched, the clear implication of his devastating blow unmistakable.

  Steven, too, was momentarily stunned. The sheer power of Tyler's attack, the brutal efficiency with which he had overwhelmed Gary—something he hadn't witnessed in years—left him speechless, his focus shifting from the fight to the shocking display of strength before him.

  Seizing the opportunity, Grone swept his sword upwards, unleashing his Slash skill. The invisible blade of wind sliced through the air. Steven, though he attempted to dodge, was too slow. The wind tore through his hand, severing several fingers. His sword clattered to the ground as a scream ripped from his lips, blood gushing from his mangled hand.

  Bernardo, instinctively recoiling from the scene, let out a cry of his own. In a reflex action, he hurled a rock at Grone with full force. Grone, his head snapping to the side, narrowly avoided the projectile.

  Grone charged, preparing to unleash his Pierce

  Tyler, his gaze fixed on Gary, materialized his axe. With a grim expression, he slid his hand along the blade's sharp edge, cutting his palm and coating the axe with his blood. Gary watched, confused, as Tyler performed this strange ritual. *What is he doing?* he wondered.

  Tyler's gaze snapped to Bernardo, who stared back, his eyes wide with fear. In a blur of motion, Tyler closed the distance, his blood-soaked axe arcing upwards in a brutal strike. The axe sliced through Bernardo's abdomen, tearing upwards through his chest in a single, devastating blow.

  A searing pain ripped through Bernardo's abdomen as he looked up at the sky, blood welling in his mouth, escaping between his clenched teeth. He fell to the ground with a silent thud.

  Tyler turned his gaze to Steven, who clutched his bleeding hand, his face contorted in pain. Grone watched, surprised by the brutal efficiency of Tyler's kill. He saw the serious, almost emotionless expression on Tyler's face, the faint blue glow in his eyes.

  Bernardo groaned, a low, guttural sound. Blood welled in his eyes, and he vomited a small amount of blood, his body trembling slightly. *No, please, not like this,* he thought, his mind racing. *I can't go out like this. I was supposed to pay them back. I can't die here. No, please, no.* But then, his body stilled. He was dead.

  Steven, witnessing his comrade's demise, let out a desperate yell. "Damn it, brother! Use it now! We can't win like this!"

  Gary scoffed. "Shut up, all right? I don't need it." He activated his Gap

  Tyler effortlessly dodged the blow, his movements fluid and precise. As Gary's momentum carried him past, Tyler spun, his axe meeting Gary's katana with a sharp clang. But Tyler's attack was faster, more powerful than Gary anticipated. Gary felt a jolt as his katana cracked slightly. His eyes widened in disbelief.

  Tyler increased the pressure of his attack, the axe biting deeper into Gary's katana. A series of sharp cracks echoed as the blade fractured, finally splitting cleanly in two. Gary leaped back, the axe's edge grazing his chest, leaving a shallow but bleeding wound.

  Instantly, the discarded dagger and the two halves of Gary's broken katana rose into the air, propelled towards Tyler. He reacted with blinding speed, his axe a whirlwind of motion. With a powerful spin, he deflected the dagger and the pieces of the katana, sending them flying harmlessly aside. He then charged at Gary, his axe a deadly extension of his body.

  Grone, seeing his chance, charged at the wounded Steven. Gary, realizing the danger, yelled, "Damn it! White Fang! Come forth!"

  Black smoke erupted between Tyler and Gary, a thick, choking cloud that obscured everything. Tyler, unable to see, leaped back, his senses straining to pierce the darkness. Then, he heard it—a hissing sound, followed by a deafening boom that echoed through the forest. Grone screamed in pain.

  The smoke cleared, revealing a horrifying sight. Grone's body lay sprawled on the ground, having been flung through the air with immense force. Coiled before them, larger than any snake Tyler had ever seen, was a monstrous serpent, its white scales gleaming, its black eyes fixed on its prey. Its forked tongue tasted the air, a chilling prelude to the attack. It was Gary's pet, the White Fang

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