Heavy Strike Swordsman

Green hefted the gun a couple of times. The more he handled it, the better it felt.

Both were Enchanted Weapons, but this pistol far outclassed the batch of Enchanted Rifles Green had bought from Old One-Eye. If he had to compare them, those rifles were plain gear; this pistol was a dark-gold gem-studded prize.

Of course, a Formal Rank expert would have no use for an Enchanted Pistol like this. At Apprentice Rank, though, it was the kind of weapon many people dreamed of owning.

Green considered it briefly and decided to keep the pistol. He took the leather holster hanging from a toilet stall, fastened it around his waist, and slipped the pistol inside. Then he headed for the restroom door. Just then, footsteps approached from outside and stopped right in front of it.

Green frowned. Getting a pistol worth eight hundred Psychic Energy had made him careless. Otherwise, he would have heard the footsteps long before whoever it was reached the door.

The footsteps stopped outside. After a half-second pause, the person still did not open the door.

Not good. The smell of blood had probably alerted them. Green acted at once, yanking the door open. A burly man stood outside, a flicker of startled ferocity in his eyes. By the time Green saw him, one hand was already reaching for the longsword at his waist.

Heavy Strike Swordsman!

The greatsword at the man's waist was a full palm wide. Green recognized his profession immediately: a Heavy Strike Swordsman, a profession that had long since fallen into decline!

Before the Industrial Revolution, Heavy Strike Swordsmen had dominated the continent for centuries. But firearms had been invented, followed by enchanted firearms. Clinging rigidly to their greatswords, they had failed to adapt as Knights had. It was no wonder history's current had swept them away.

Seeing a Heavy Strike Swordsman in a small city like Landon City made the man practically a rare species.

Unfortunately, Green was no protector of rare species. Heavy Strike Swordsman or Fencing Dancer, all that mattered to him was whether someone was friend or foe.

Before the man could draw his greatsword, a white blur shot toward his face. The Heavy Strike Swordsman hurriedly dodged backward and began to draw. But with a wet pfft, just as the blade slid partway from its sheath, a downward-pointing spike appeared out of thin air, pierced the top of his skull, and burst out between his legs.

Skewered like a candied fruit on a stick, he died on the spot without even managing a scream.

Green had found all kinds of uses for Bone Spikes. With the skill at level six, he could now cast it instantly and decide a man's fate in a heartbeat.

Green was feeling rather pleased with himself when his expression changed. He shifted half a step sideways, narrowly avoiding a fierce slash of Sword Qi.

He's still alive?

Startled, Green looked again. The man who had fired that Sword Qi was the very same unlucky wretch Bone Spikes had just skewered. He had somehow come back to life. His face was deathly pale, and he was panting hard; the attack had clearly taken a heavy toll. Green glanced at the body on the floor. It had become a crude rag doll woven from hemp rope and gray cloth, now badly damaged.

A Substitute Doll. So that's how it was! Green understood. Crude as it was, a Substitute Doll could save someone's life at a critical moment, but doing so came at a steep cost. They were scarce, too. He had not expected this man to have one.

The Heavy Strike Swordsman saw that his surprise attack had been dodged with ease. Despair flashed in his eyes, but he refused to give up. He raised his sword in a shaky guard and opened his mouth to call for his companions nearby.

Yet when he tried to shout, no sound came out. It felt as though something had blocked his throat; even breathing had become difficult.

That white blur was a spirit! The Heavy Strike Swordsman understood: when Evil Ghost Maxim had rushed him, he had already touched his soul. Reacting quickly, the swordsman bit hard into the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood. His mind jolted awake, breaking the Evil Spirit's hold. He gathered all his strength to cry for help and, in one last desperate attack, tried to hurl his greatsword at Green.

But before he could shout or throw the sword, there came another pfft. The Hard-Skin Ghoul's Sharp Claws plunged into his back and pierced his heart.

This time, he had no Substitute Doll to save him. The Heavy Strike Swordsman gave a muffled groan, the light faded from his eyes, and he died where he stood.

Expressionless, Green reached toward the corpse and harvested another burst of Psychic Energy. He dragged the body into the restroom and searched it, but found no other Enchanted Weapons besides the greatsword. That, too, became forty-five points of Psychic Energy.

Less than a minute had passed. Green left the restroom with his wand in one hand and the pistol in the other, then strode openly toward the most crowded part of the building.

Green had come here prepared for a slaughter. The hundred-odd points of Psychic Energy he had gained from killing just a few scumbags had only sharpened his appetite for it.

Originally, he had planned to sneak in and finish the job without anyone knowing. But discovering the Pyramid ruins underground had changed his mind. He wanted to settle things quickly, then go below and see whether the Pyramid still held any Psychic Energy. The Magic Circle around it had been completely destroyed, but the Pyramid itself clearly retained something extraordinary. Otherwise, it could not have interfered with Green's control over the Evil Spirit.

Green suspected the leading members of the Tower of Yin Spirits were inside that Pyramid as well. This was their largest secret base near Landon City. It could not contain only newly initiated Transcendents, without even one Advanced Apprentice on guard.

He had been cautious because he expected Advanced Apprentice Mages or Advanced Apprentice Knights. Since none had appeared, he might as well cut loose rather than waste time.

The lobby of the abandoned office building reeked of alcohol and lust. Tonight's debauched party had reached its height.

Green strode in and passed several people. Not one stopped to question the unfamiliar face. Then a drunken, red-haired man with a thick beard came by, his arm around a bare-breasted woman. Unable to place Green, he frowned and slurred, "Hey, kid! Who brought you? How come I've never seen you before?"

Green chuckled, stopped, and turned to face him. "I'll start with you, then."

The red-haired man's muddled head had yet to catch up. He cursed, "You pig! I asked you a question! Want me to smash your damn head in with one punch?"