This Humble One, Reincarnation Stream Player Chapter 7

The red-haired youth held a sheet of white paper, and after casting his magecraft, the paper became as hard as steel.

I don't even have Magic Circuits, yet this game can actually bypass the prerequisites?

Thud.

The pain in his shoulder jolted him awake. His muscles tensed, and he instinctively rolled a few times to dissipate the momentum. Yuki pressed one hand against the floor, his face filled with astonishment and excitement.

Even with the limitation of a cooldown, he had instantly obtained something he had pursued for so long in this world. Was the barrier between daily reality and the supernatural really just a thin sheet of window paper?

What is Transcendental Grade? This is it—directly granting a player a rule, not caring at all about one's identity or bloodline as a magus.

Wood shavings fell into the first-floor corridor along with the dust. Yuki blinked repeatedly; at this moment, he couldn't afford to lament how powerful the game was or how lucky he was—or rather, his luck could only be described as average.

Reinforcement Magecraft was not considered a high-level skill in the Type-Moon world, and the fact that it carried an "Entry-level" prefix made it even worse.

"But at least it's a transcendental power." He gritted his teeth slightly, turned around, and ran toward the other end of the corridor. Gripping his long blade, he looked back over his shoulder while trying to familiarize himself with the knowledge he had just acquired.

He still hadn't seen what the enemy was, but after running seven or eight meters, his footsteps suddenly faltered, and he threw himself forcefully against a nearby door.

Bang—Swish—

The wooden door was smashed open, and a giant claw suddenly reached out from within the Crimson Moonlight, grazing Yuki's sleeve. He saw five claws as sharp as blades.

It's that thing!

As a forensic science student, Yuki recognized at a glance that this matched the wounds on the White College Student's chest. Pressing one hand against the wooden floor, he rolled rapidly into the room, backed against the wall, and kicked a wooden crate toward the doorway.

He was dodging and blocking the door simultaneously, but as the sound of the crate colliding with the doorframe echoed, his pupils froze.

The attacker didn't charge in through the main entrance; instead, like a droplet of water, it coalesced on the wall illuminated by the Crimson Moonlight, its nearly four-meter-long body fully revealed to Yuki's eyes.

It clung to the wall like a giant gecko, devoid of skin, its dark red muscles exposed to the air. Its head was even more horrifying.

It looked like a human head swollen from decomposition, with no discernible facial features; the skull had vanished, exposing the red and white brain, while a long, narrow tongue like a lizard's flicked back and forth like a whip.

His breathing stalled, his spine turned cold, and Yuki stared wide-eyed. Beyond the terror brought by its appearance, there was a sense of déjà vu.

A Licker? A Licker from the Resident Evil series?

He was very familiar with this thing, and it wasn't entirely unexpected. If one considered the description of "Living Corpse," the Resident Evil series was indeed one of Yuki's points of reference.

But that wasn't right. Resident Evil was wrapped in the sci-fi shell of the T-Virus; what kind of Licker could pass through walls using moonlight? Wasn't it supposed to be the "friend of the knife"?

He cast science aside. Just as Li Dan had said, common sense was useless in the game, and that apparently included the common sense of a transmigrator like himself.

In that fleeting glance, Yuki didn't come up with a plan, only a burst of angry cursing:

Is this the Gift of the Crimson Moon? What is wrong with this game!

Swish—Bang!

The sound of air being torn accompanied a dull thud. Yuki dove to the side, watching as the wall behind him was slashed with ten deep gouges, the bricks behind the plaster torn apart.

He had never dealt with a Licker in reality, nor did he know if this one had been enhanced, but just as he had cursed before:

If you're going to send something, slow-moving zombies would be terrifying enough. This thing could slaughter everyone except veteran players; the elimination rate is way too high.

But no matter how Yuki protested, the stench of a corpse rushed toward him. It tore the wooden chair he had kicked into shreds in mid-air, and the claws, dyed red by the moonlight, came straight for his face.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

There was nothing in this bedroom that could withstand its destruction. The single bed, the wardrobe, and the wall lamp were instantly shredded. Yuki retreated into a corner, his left hand pressing against the round table nearby.

Forcing himself to ignore the interference of fear, time seemed to slow down in his eyes. No complex theory was needed; it was just like pressing a skill button in a game.

Structure, Trace On, Reinforcement.

Thud—

He kicked the round table out. The Licker lunging at him swung its claws just as before, but this time, there were no wood shavings. It was as if it had struck an iron shield, sending dazzling sparks flying.

It was like punching a hard wall. As the round table slightly deformed, the creature's massive body sank, and several wounds burst open on its thick forearms.

This was a brief moment of recoil. Three silver flashes followed in succession, aimed straight at the exposed brain.

Yuki clearly wouldn't miss this window of attack. He threw the scalpel, his palm already gripping the handle of his blade, his body leaning forward like a tiger pouncing on its prey, the light from the activated Reinforcement Magecraft forming arcs of electricity.

But he didn't lunge out. He stood motionless like a statue, his fingers trembling slightly from the excessive muscle tension. This had nothing to do with hesitation, but rather—

Three scalpels were embedded in the ceiling, vibrating, while the massive monster had vanished without a trace, leaving only a severed index finger on the floor.

Hoo, hoo, hoo.

Aside from his panting and the sound of debris falling, the room was terrifyingly quiet. Yuki maintained his drawing stance. He had seen it clearly just now: before his scalpel could hit, the Licker had raised its hand to swat it away, then quickly merged into the Crimson Moonlight on the floor, exactly like the girl with the blooming head.

It was still here, just waiting for the most opportune moment to hunt.

His eyes darted around, sweeping over the half-severed chandelier and the teetering wall painting. The contact had lasted less than ten seconds, yet this twenty-square-meter bedroom was already in shambles.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Yuki counted the time silently. When he reached "five," he finally rose onto his tiptoes and, maintaining a combat stance, slowly retreated back into the corridor.

Standing in a cramped room to confront a Licker was too foolish. Humans couldn't maintain focus for long, and he hadn't forgotten that he was currently in a "solo" state.

The corridor was spacious, and he was already on the first floor; at least he couldn't be attacked from beneath his feet. He had counted just now—it took the Licker at least one second to merge into the moonlight.

With this retreat, the feeling of being watched diminished significantly, but Yuki didn't dare lower his guard, not until he suddenly whipped his head around a moment later.

BANG—

A long, drawn-out gunshot echoed through the night sky, its volume nearly rivaling that of a cannon blast.

Li Dan?

Yuki immediately pictured the massive revolver holstered at the veteran Player's waist, and the corner of his eye twitched involuntarily. He heard the static of the walkie-talkie in his pocket.

"Attention everyone, the gift from Hint Four has arrived!"

So there was more than one of these things; it seemed the worst-case scenario had come to pass.

Yuki tried his best to remain calm, fighting off the exhaustion that set in as the adrenaline faded. He didn't know if the veteran Players found these monsters easy to deal with, but he knew there was no hope for reinforcements.

What to do? What to do?

Sweat beaded on his forehead as his brain pushed to its limit to analyze the situation.

He was alone and being stalked by a Transcendental Grade monster. Mai Sakurajima seemed to have been scared off, and it was better that she didn't come; in the face of this Licker's terrifying presence, she would be lucky just to move a muscle.

Yuki licked his parched lips, glancing first at the hole in the ceiling, then at the walkie-talkie in his shirt pocket.

"Staying put is a death sentence. No matter what, I have to make contact with the others first."

With his right hand gripping his sword hilt, Yuki bolted toward the stairwell. Windows flashed past him, and his peripheral vision caught the Crimson Moon still shining brilliantly in the sky.

It showed no sign of setting, hanging there in the night sky and bathing the earth in ominous moonlight, as if this Ancient Castle and the Crimson Moon were the only things left in the world.

Damn it, why won't this thing move? Where is the solution to this!

An inexplicable rage welled up from within, accompanied by a strong urge to stop in his tracks and fight the Licker to the death.

What's the point of skulking in the shadows? If you've got guts, come out and fight me one-on-one! Let's see if you kill me, or if I hack you to pieces!

The impulse grew stronger. Yuki felt as if he had entered a strange state; his reason ordered his body to keep moving, while the impulse urged him to stop and, like a man, engage in a passionate exchange of blades with the Licker.

Even knowing something was wrong, he couldn't adjust his mindset. He could only force himself to endure the anger and charge into the stairwell. Because of the floor levels, the moonlight was slightly dimmer here, and then, something even stranger occurred.

The anger vanished in an instant, and reason returned to his mind. At the same time, his peripheral vision caught a dark shadow on the stairs, and his body, tensed to the limit, reacted automatically.

CLANG—

His long sword left its sheath, crossing paths with a crescent-like silver gleam from the other side, but the full-force strike stopped abruptly.

Yuki felt a stinging sensation at his throat. His red eyes trembled slightly, reflecting the scene before him in his pupils.

A steady blade, a snow-white neck, smooth-cut golden hair, and a pair of confused azure eyes.

A girl stood on the stairs with the Crimson Moon hanging high outside the floor-to-ceiling window behind her. The battle-axe in her hand was as steady as a mountain, only the blade was extended, and a sharp "Petal" was pressed against Yuki's neck.

It was Hayasaka Ai.

Hoo, hoo, hoo.

Both of their breathing was heavy, and neither showed much expression. The "infighting" that had occurred in that split second of life and death had sent their heart rates soaring above 160, but unlike normal people, they regained their composure in a mere instant.

So it was her.

Yuki wasn't surprised. Or rather, among the new Players, Hayasaka Ai—the all-around maid painstakingly cultivated by the Shinomiya Group—was the teammate he had wanted most.

Her intelligence, combat prowess, and even acting skills were top-tier among ordinary people. She had fooled both veteran Players, leading them to believe that the strong Black Brother was the most outstanding newcomer.

Of course, if Yuki weren't a transmigrator, he wouldn't have known of Hayasaka Ai's capabilities.

She was truly someone who could play four roles at once and lead geniuses around by the nose. This was different from Mai Sakurajima; this was a personality derivation tailored to the environment.

That killing intent from a moment ago—it seemed she had already entered the zone.

"So that's what 'don't go alone' means. Cognition is interfered with by the moonlight." Yuki broke the silence first. His gaze shifted downward, seeing the "Petal" extending from the axe blade. "You acted well. No worse than that big star."

He was very familiar with this Petal; it was one of the petals from the "blooming head." It seemed he wasn't the only one who had gained something during the novice tutorial.

"You're not bad yourself. I'm curious, which Kendo Club taught you that level of skill? It's easy to draw a blade, but hard to sheath it." Hayasaka Ai lacked the liveliness of the Gal persona she had shown earlier; she was more like her maid form, though with a few extra sharp edges added to her earnest and capable demeanor.

Because of the unexpected incident, both had revealed their trump cards, so there was no need to continue the act.

Yuki didn't speak, nor did he change his posture; he only slowly rolled his eyes upward. Hayasaka Ai didn't look up either, simply licking her lips lightly.

The next moment, both jumped backward simultaneously.

BANG!

A dark shadow slammed into the space between them, sending wood chips flying as it smashed into the floor.

The failed ambush left the Licker somewhat confused. It pulled its giant claws from the floor, swiped away the three cold glints that had passed through the wood chips, and then instantly twisted its head around.

The golden-haired girl remained expressionless. She charged forward with her axe in one hand, and before the Licker could turn around, she swung it down toward its head.

"Don't let its tongue touch you!"

A low growl suddenly reached his ears. Hayasaka Ai, who had been preparing to block with her hand, subconsciously tilted her body. She caught a glimpse of a phantom shadow passing by her face and swung her right hand in a full arc.

Pfft.

The axe bit into the shoulder, erupting in a spray of blood. The Licker let out a low, angry roar and raised its right arm, intending to sweep the girl in half, but at that moment, Yuki appeared beside its body.

He held his sword with both hands, the blade crackling with faint electric arcs.

Trace On, Reinforce--

Slash!

The reinforced blade reached the pinnacle of sharpness and hardness, slicing through muscle and severing bone, sending an arm spinning away from the body. Seizing the opportunity, Hayasaka Ai stepped forward, leveling her axe to strike at the neck.

Swish--

A large swath of muscle was laid open. The Licker instinctively recoiled, then pushed off with its legs to leap onto the wall. Before it could merge into the surface, three Scalpels pinned themselves into its back.

"Damn it, it escaped again." Counting down two seconds, Yuki narrowed his eyes. While remaining on guard, he turned to look at the girl, who was leaning on her knees and catching her breath. "Are you alright? You were a bit reckless just now—weren't you afraid of this monster?"

Hayasaka Ai's counter-charge just now had been even more decisive than his own; she carried the distinct air of a beautiful madwoman.

"I was afraid, but precisely because I was afraid, I had to wear the mask of the brave. Isn't the human creature one that constantly switches between various forms?" She spoke with profound meaning, then flicked her long axe, leaving a trail of blood on the wall. "How did you know there was something wrong with its tongue? I could have split its head open with one axe blow just now."

In truth, Yuki hadn't known. This Licker already possessed magical traits and was certainly different from the original version, but he hadn't dared to gamble.

This wasn't the world of Resident Evil; if they were truly infected with the T-Virus, they would be dead for sure, with no antidote to be found.

Besides, it was no wonder this Hayasaka Ai felt so unfamiliar.

She didn't act like a maid, a girl-next-door, let alone a butler in disguise—it turned out she had manifested yet another form. Should this form be called a Player?

Yuki didn't dwell on the issue of her persona; after all, the stronger Hayasaka Ai was, the better. He nodded his head.

"Intuition. That tongue didn't have much destructive power, yet it was used to attack—there had to be something wrong with it. By the way, why didn't you use those Petals just now?"

"These?" Hayasaka Ai raised her axe, where thin, slender tentacles could be seen coiled around the handle like wire. She hesitated for a moment before answering, "Because using a Chaos Item comes with a price, and I wasn't certain I could kill it in one blow."

A price? A Chaos Item?

Yuki froze for a moment. The beginner's gift he had drawn was a skill, not a Chaos Item, and the name alone sounded dangerous.

But now was not the time to analyze intelligence. Since Hayasaka Ai had also received a beginner's gift, they had a chance.