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The Armoured Tree's 'roots' zealously shook around as it approached Jin-Woo. He watched the monster as he reverse-gripped the pair of 'Kamish's Wraths'.

'For the time being, just a light little nudge.'

The shortsword in his right hand drew a diagonal line upwards.

Swish-!

Along with a sharp air-splitting noise, something fell to the ground with a thud.

".....M-mm?"

The Armoured Tree looked down. One of the thick branches it used as its arm had been severed cleanly and was rolling around on the floor.

Then, the monster discovered the cut wounds with tree sap oozing out like blood next. Its 'facial expression' became tearful and it shrieked out a screech that kind of sounded like a scream.

"Kuueeehk!!"

The thing was, though, someone's pain could also be someone else's enjoyment, too. After slicing off the concrete pillar-like branch/arm of the Armoured Tree in one hit, Jin-Woo's surprised eyes were now locked onto his shortsword.

'Wowsers.'

He only swung it lightly once, yet the end result was already this amazing. No matter how many times he stabbed with the Demon King's Shortsword, he couldn't properly damage the Armoured Trees. But now, he sliced off the 'arm' of the boss Armoured Tree as if it was made out of tofu?

Should he say it felt terrific in his hand just now?

Buzzzz....

His heart began racing again after sensing the vibration of the ultra-sharp blades, something he hadn't felt for a long time.

[Oh, my king!]

Beru, standing and watching quietly from the far back, urgently called out.

'Don't worry, I know.'

Jin-Woo relaxedly answered before his head shot up.

The Armoured Tree's expression had changed from tearful to hatred in the meantime, its eyes wide open and glaring as it raised its left arm, no, its left branch up high.

It was as if the monster wanted to slam down as hard as it could and squash him to death, but unfortunately, its opponent today was a really bad match-up.

Jin-Woo quickly swung the 'Kamish's Wrath' one more time before the branch moved.

Slice!

"Ku-uuuhuhk!"

Suddenly losing both of its arms, the Armoured Tree looked up into the sky and screeched out.

'Very good.'

Jin-Woo lightly nodded his head.

He was now done with confirming the destructive power of the two shortswords when swung lightly. And now, time to confirm what would happen when they were swung with all his power.

'These things supposedly have excellent compatibility to magical energy because they are made out of a Dragon's bone, right?'

Jin-Woo's right hand began gripping the hilt of the shortsword even harder.

Just a little bit more.

A bit more, a bit harder.

Jin-Woo's eyes narrowed down to a slit. When he focused the magical energy in his entire body to his right hand, the blackish aura subtly billowing around the blade became even more violent until it began to almost go out of control.

To Beru's eyes, it looked as if the aura was utterly distorting the surrounding space.

'How could this be!'

The former ant king unconsciously took a step back before catching himself doing that. Even though he knew that the intent to battle wasn't directed at him, this magical energy was so chill-inducing that it forced him into a retreat.

Beru looked down at both of his trembling hands.

'Oh, my liege....'

Beru had never felt any other emotion beside absolute loyalty for his Sovereign until now, but for the first time ever, he felt sorry for the tree-shaped monster.

Meanwhile, the Armoured Tree had no idea what was in store for itself and simply screeched out in pure rage.

"Kuuuuueeeeeh-!!"

The bloodshot eyes of the tree monster were, of course, locked in the direction of Jin-Woo's face. The Armoured Tree's maw suddenly widened like an entrance to a building.

Just as the b*stard tottered unsteadily and leapt towards Jin-Woo's location in order to swallow him up, he released his magical energy gathered at the tip of the shortsword held in his right hand.

'Go!'

Just like his command given to Beru, with everything it had!

From the tip of his toes, his legs, his waist, his shoulder, and even his wrist – his entire body was used to slash out with all his might.

And the end result was....

'....Uh?!'

The man who swung the shortsword himself realised that something had gone very wrong just then.

'Ehhh?!'

Kagagagagagahk!!

The black aura shooting out from the tip of the blade split into several thick strands, and as if a gigantic, terrifying beast took a swipe with its claws, everything in front of him was swept away in one go.

Jin-Woo's dynamic vision that could split a second into dozens, hundreds of smaller units and detect the change within, clearly caught the moments of the aura utterly ripping the Armoured Tree to shreds.

'Oh, my god!'

The destructive power didn't stop there and continued on forward to leave behind horrifying scars on the wall and the floor of the gymnasium.

"Huh-uh....."

Jin-Woo was rendered completely speechless.

Tumble, drop....

Thud.

Bits and pieces of rubble began falling from the gymnasium's wall, now scarred by what looked like claw marks, and eventually, it couldn't endure the weight and began crumbling at the same time.

Creak, crumble...

Boom!

The gymnasium's wall, reinforced with magic energy in order to facilitate unhindered activities of Hunters, couldn't endure against one single attack and ended up crumbling apart.

Jin-Woo looked at the piled-up debris of the wall as sheer astonishment filled his heart.

"It's supposed to get stronger depending on the wielder, so this is what it can do?!"

The weapon to wield magical energy, crafted from the Dragon's remains. This claim was for real.

"Oh, my king!!"