Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 34 The Treasure in Hell (5)

“Yes. We don’t know when the assembly order will come, so go as quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”

After receiving permission from Sergeant Sun Arin, I left the tent.

The location was behind the instructors’ quarters. That’s why I couldn’t go there for the past five days.

If a trainee went there alone and got caught, not only I but the entire company could be punished.

There was no one there now. Most of the tents were already dismantled.

Only cigarette butts left by the instructors were scattered around.

Just in case, I looked around once more and stepped onto the small hill path.

The slope was gentle, so I could stride up with ease.

And then it appeared.

It was bare ground without a single tree or bush.

But in the middle, there was a protruding stone.

I quickly went over and started digging there.

The field shovel, which was usually just a burden, was useful today as well.

Thud, I dug one shovelful and then another.

Being a non-commissioned officer, I had done this kind of work hundreds of times even after eating my meals.

This level of digging was nothing.

How much did I dig?

The deeply embedded stone came out with a pop.

Something was caught underneath it.

Clang.

It was the sound of hitting metal.

‘This is it.’

It was some kind of metal box.

Since the contents were important, I didn’t care if it got scratched and kept digging until it was completely out.

Finally, the metal box came out.

A kind of relic.

There was a lock on it, but it was rusty and didn’t look very sturdy.

Crack, I hit it a few times with the field shovel, and it broke.

I gulped and opened the metal box.

‘That’s right.’

What was revealed was a small statue in the shape of a hawk.

It was the treasure I had been looking for.

Time was running out.

Putting aside my appreciation, I struck the statue with the edge of my hand.

Among the shattered pieces, something small and bead-like sparkled.

It was a rune.

Without hesitation, I swallowed it.

At the same time, notifications popped up.

《Kiri was a mystical hawk with eyes that could discern the state of the enemy. A knight commander of a kingdom, recognizing its abilities, used Kiri to lead numerous wars to victory. After that…》

The explanation was skipped.

The important thing was the unlocking of the ability.

《Would you like to imprint Kiri’s Eye?》

‘Imprint it.’

《Kiri’s Eye has been imprinted.》

It was the same development as when I had imprinted the story of a knight named Baskal. After that, [Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight] was unlocked, and now, so was Kiri’s Eye.

《The new ability [Kiri’s Eye] has been unlocked.》

《From now on…》

The explanation of the effect continued, but I skipped it and descended the hill.

Quite some time had already passed.

If I dawdled and received a gathering order, it would be a big problem.

Anyway, it was already visible in my field of vision.

Instructors and trainees were wandering around the camp.

Red and blue dots of unknown origin were marked all over their bodies.

It was the effect of [Kiri’s Eye].

*

“3rd Company of the Flying Tiger Battalion, well done enduring the training. It must have been tough for the past five days and four nights, but this arduous experience will serve as good fertilizer for your future growth.”

The battalion commander, who had been like a tiger, was now a warm teacher at the end.

From the beginning, he had only been fulfilling his role as the battalion commander.

If he had let things slide easily, the meaning of the training would have been lost.

“I never want to see you again.”

“Even if you get assigned to another unit, don’t come to the Bihodae.”

The company members didn’t seem too pleased, though.

With the final greeting from the guerrilla commander, all the schedules at the guerrilla training ground were concluded.

Next, a well-built man came up.

It was Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol, the battalion commander.

“Did our company members train well?”

“Yes!!!”

“I can tell just by hearing your voices. Although the battalion commander couldn’t participate with you, he was cheering for our company members from afar…”

The speech continued just like the early morning of the first day.

He always said good things, but hardly anyone listened attentively.

Instead, they sighed.

“Man, he sure talks a lot.”

“He could enter a speech contest.”

It was the inevitable sorrow of the commanders.

That’s why, during my non-commissioned officer days, I would just say what needed to be said and cut it short.

Because I knew firsthand that it could be a torment for the listeners.

“Now, we will begin the return march.”

There is something the company members don’t know. Just like the first day, monsters will appear during the return march.

It’s impossible to predict because the guerrilla commander already gave his final greeting.

Who would have thought he would pull another stunt?

I had a hard time before my return as well.

Not today, though.

So, fully equipped, the long procession followed the path of the first day.

The return march had begun.

“For some reason, the atmosphere feels tense.”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee had a good intuition.

“Isn’t the guerrilla commander up to something again?”

“He just thanked us for our hard work earlier, what could he be up to?”

Sergeant Song Ki-yong replied as if to reassure him.

“`

“And if that were the case, they would have followed along.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Just focus on the march, Gwak Woo-hee.”

“Hmm.”

Corporal Gwak Woo-hee shrugged his shoulders and quietly moved his steps.

Listening to the conversation from the front while holding the flag, my mouth itched.

But if I said something wrong, things would only get more complicated later.

Despite the countless abilities of hunters, there are no such things as prophecies.

Especially not regressions.

Instead, with [intuition], it might be easier to respond to crisis situations-

Rumble!

At that moment, the ground shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

The procession stopped instantly.

Startled company members gripped their weapons.

I also threw down the flag and gripped my sword.

“Monsters!”

A shout erupted all at once.

The green wave from the first day was rushing towards the company members.

Giant gorillas appeared again from behind.

It was the Lerux.

“Crazy, is that guerrilla commander a psycho?”

“I knew it. I had a strange feeling.”

Corporal Gwak Woo-hee’s annoyed voice was met with Sergeant Song Ki-yong’s reflection.

“Woo-hee, when you get discharged, set up a fortune-telling mat.”

“I should.”

The joking lasted only a moment.

A deep voice led the company members.

“All company members, drop your gear and annihilate the enemy!”

“Yes!”

No detailed instructions were needed. The key officers, including the platoon leader, charged at the Lerux, while the soldiers below the squad leader charged at the orcs.

“`

Because the enemy they faced was the same as the first day.

‘This isn’t the end. There’s one more behind.’

For now, they focused on the visible enemies.

Orcs wielding large axes were already within close range.

How many of them are there?

But there are comrades to fight alongside.

And.

There are new abilities gained.

The first change experienced was [Strong Bones].

The orc’s axe strikes no longer felt oppressive.

Blocking those heavy attacks with [Efficient Parrying].

Or deflecting them with [Deflection].

There was no need.

Just, pressed down with strength.

Slaaash!!

The sword held with both hands was brought down vertically.

The axe blade split cleanly, along with the skull beneath it.

The orc’s head was splitting like a watermelon.

The battle ended with that.

The orc died instantly.

The face was drenched in the burst brain matter.

Wiping it off roughly, they searched for the next prey.

Just in time, another one was coming in from the side.

Swooosh!!

The sword, empowered by [Mystic Snake], severed the large hand. The axe was pitifully held in the severed hand.

“Squeeeal!”

The sharp scream hurt the ears. The sword was raised vertically and brought down again like before.

The blade slid smoothly into the muscular, bumpy body. Smoothly, shhh.

Bones and entrails were caught in between, but the power of [Strong Bones] crushed them finely.

“Gak.”

He soon followed his friend and left this world.

Indeed, it is astonishing.

I had already felt a significant change since the fight with Private Kang Sung-jun, but experiencing it directly in battle like this left me somewhat dumbfounded.

Is this power even possible?

“With outstanding combat, all ability stats rapidly increase.”

All ability stats quickly rise.

The blessed abilities even more so.

“Swordsmanship-related abilities react to [Iron-Blooded Knight’s Soul] and gain more proficiency.”

The boiling power continues to surge.

I continued the battle.

“With consecutive attacks, the enemy falls into [Groggy].”

“The enemy’s body loses its balance.”

The orcs knelt before me one by one.

Behind me, more than half a dozen green giants were already sprawled out.

Each one had its head or limbs severed.

“!”

“!”

I felt gazes directed at me from all around.

I thought I heard a deep voice from somewhere. Could it be the battalion commander?

I don’t know, let’s focus on the immediate battle.

Screech!

[Sharp Thrust] combined with [Mystic Snake] pierced the tough belly skin.

The sword passed through the abdomen and came out the back.

As I pulled it out, the intestines followed in a stream.

Another orc was eliminated.

Slash!

When combined with [Sharp Slash], [Mystic Snake] wriggled like it was dancing, cooking the orcs.

At that moment, another notification followed.

“A new ability of [Mystic Snake] is reacting from the current battle.”

A derivative ability of [Mystic Snake].

That meant it would come to me soon.

This guerrilla training was really tough.

But now that it’s over, I’m just grateful.

It has transformed my body and given me numerous combat skills.

Moreover, there’s still one more left.

‘It’s really sparkling.’

Red and blue dots were marked all over the orcs’ bodies. The former were concentrated on the axe, while the latter were on the head and back.

For now, there’s no need to use them.

Just crushing them with force is enough.

But things will be different from now on.

“What are those?”

“New monsters!”

As the orcs’ momentum gradually waned, another dust cloud rose from afar.

A stronger vibration shook the ground.

Even at a glance, they were half a head taller than the orcs.

The important thing was their appearance.

Like goblins, they had a single eye in the center of their forehead.

They held a club studded with spikes.

The company members were flustered.

“Crazy, what is that?”

“It’s a monster I’ve never seen before.”

It was a monster no one had ever seen before. Even the sergeants, who had been through a lot, found it unfamiliar.

That’s because the monster called Karols is a kind of mutant. It’s a mutant that you wouldn’t encounter unless in special circumstances.

It had been summoned and inflated to that size.

“No matter how much of a summoned creature it is, what are we supposed to do if we don’t know how to attack it?”

“I’m definitely going to kill that guerrilla leader.”

Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, each squad leader stepped forward.

“Privates, fall back and only deal with the orcs from now on! Only corporals and above follow me!”

“Yes!”

Even if it’s a monster they’ve never faced before, as long as the squad leaders are there, they can’t lose.

It was cautious to fight.

But I was an exception.

The strategies to attack those goblin-like monsters were clear to my eyes.

It wasn’t just because I had fought them before the regression.

《[Kiri’s Eye] is being applied.》

《Identify the target’s strengths and weaknesses with red and blue dots.》

Red and blue dots appeared on their bodies.

Those were their strengths and weaknesses.

‘I no longer need to look at the monster manual.’

[Kiri’s Eye] doesn’t just show the visible strengths and weaknesses.

It shows everything else as well.

The blue dots on the seemingly intact legs were proof of that.

It felt like solving a problem with the answer sheet open.

I charged without hesitation.

Towards the delicious prey.