Chapter Thirteen: Death!
Page 1/3
In fact, things unfolded almost exactly as Li Xia had anticipated. With Tanjiro’s help, the small boat sold for a decent price, even though neither Murata nor Tanjiro knew what a rifle was. Following Li Xia’s instructions, they sought out the village chief to inquire and explained their need to hunt a bear, successfully fulfilling Li Xia’s commission. Moreover, they obtained some exceptional items.
[M1903 Springfield Rifle]
[Grade: White (Ultimate)]
[Origin: Demon Slayer · Springfield Armory, USA]
[Ammo Capacity: 5 rounds of 7.62mm full-power bullets]
[Damage Strength: 4 (Tier 1)]
[Attack: 10-15]
[Evaluation: Undoubtedly the finest military rifle of this era]
[Note: Usable only in this world]
Besides that, there were several authentic long spears.
[Packaged Spear]
[Grade: White]
[Origin: Demon Slayer · Steelworks Blacksmith Shop, Saitama Prefecture]
[Damage Strength: 2 (Tier 1)]
[Attack: 2-8]
[Evaluation: Barely serviceable long spears]
[Note: Usable only in this world]
Arranged on the ground, these consisted of one M1903 Springfield rifle and six packaged spears. This was everything exchanged for the black canopy boat, the pocket watch, and the golden tooth. Indeed, there were many ways to complete the task, but Li Xia chose the most demanding path—the one with the most bountiful rewards: to confront the fearsome giant bear head-on.
...
“Are you really determined?”
At the same cliff, the two stood on a protruding rock.
“Yes, this is my plan. If I don’t have the courage to fight it, I fear I’ll soon perish at the hands of other monsters.”
Li Xia carried a cloth bag over one shoulder, filled with all the packaged spears. His smile bore a calmness that seemed to transcend life and death.
“Of course, I’m not afraid to die, but I won’t seek death willingly, so I’m counting on Mr. Tanjiro.”
Tanjiro quietly gripped the Springfield rifle, silently nodding after a moment of contemplation.
Li Xia’s plan was simple: to try and kill the giant bear directly, but with a safeguard. If he found himself in a deadly predicament, Tanjiro would use the rifle to attack the bear, buying Li Xia a precious moment to catch his breath.
The plan seemed fantastical and unlikely to succeed, but with Tanjiro now present, it had a chance.
As Li Xia had guessed, Tanjiro, who possessed the Sight of the Transparent World, handled the rifle with astonishing speed. After firing just ten rounds in test shots, he became a marksman who never missed.
Moreover, Tanjiro’s Transparent World allowed him to clearly judge whether Li Xia was in mortal danger and easily identify the bear’s weak points.
Li Xia waved a hand in farewell, shouldered his spears, and walked alone toward the cliff.
“I’m going.”
...
At dusk, as the sun sank low, its golden light draped the hillside like a shimmering veil.
Li Xia stood before a cave, six long spears planted in the grass beside him, casting long shadows.
Page 2/3
The trees seemed ignited by the fiery sunlight, glowing with a bronze hue, shafts of light piercing the foliage like blades striking the earth.
At first came only rustling sounds, then heavy, drum-like footsteps as the colossal beast slowly emerged from the distant thicket.
The giant bear lifted its head, its crimson eyes reflecting the figure standing not far away.
Man and beast faced each other across several dozen meters, with no warning.
The bear charged, claws pounding the ground.
Fast! Unbelievably fast for such a massive creature, the speed was incongruous with its size.
Li Xia pulled a spear from his back with a swift motion and gripped it tightly.
A fire seemed to burn in his deep brown eyes.
“Hssss—” streams of air surged toward his mouth and nose.
Full Concentration — Breathing!
In an instant, his heart seemed to leap, and an invisible force surged from every corner of his body.
Li Xia kicked off violently, pivoted, and twisted his waist, channeling power from his legs along his spine to his arms, then unleashing it like a volcanic eruption.
“Swish, swish”—the spear flew like an arrow released from a bowstring, whistling through the air, a streak of light piercing the charging bear under the sunset glow.
Even this monstrous creature only managed to turn its head aside; the spear plunged deep into its body, blood flowing dark red from the wound.
“Roar—!!”
The bear rose on its hind legs, emitting a pained roar.
Opportunity!
Its breath, heated by rising body temperature, condensed into white mist around its muzzle.
Li Xia’s gaze sharpened; he felt the creature’s movements slowing as if time itself had slackened.
With a fierce shout, he moved his hands in rapid succession, launching three more streaks of light.
A more agonizing, piercing roar erupted from the bear’s mouth.
Its white belly fur was stained with blood as it swung its paws, knocking the spears from its chest and abdomen.
It charged again with a low growl. Li Xia glanced at the prompt below.
[You dealt 5% damage to the man-eating bear. The bear is enraged.]
[You dealt 4% damage to the man-eating bear...]
[...6%, the bear...]
[...3%, the man-eating bear has entered a state of frenzy.]
Li Xia pressed his lips together. Though the four strikes appeared fierce, they barely wounded the beast; it simply had never experienced pain before.
Now the bear was closing in fast, and in the blink of an eye, it was before him, its paw as big as a head raised high, ready to strike.
“Hiss—”
Li Xia exploded with power from his feet, stepping rapidly sideways to dodge. The bear’s wind-churning charge missed wildly.
He spun the spear in his hand; the spearhead glittered coldly in the fading light, arcing swiftly to stab deep into the bear’s leg.
The bear howled in pain. Its massive paw swept horizontally, and Li Xia braced the spear against the ground, using the force to launch himself backwards.
Just as he prepared to thrust the spear again, a sharp pain exploded in his abdomen. Looking down, he saw a savage wound slicing across his belly like a blade, blood dripping down his body.
The bear’s claws had just grazed him.
The health bar in the lower right corner dropped sharply. Li Xia gasped—this was only a scratch.
Yet the bear showed no sign of stopping. It lowered its left paw and raised the right for another blow.
On the cliff, Tanjiro’s expression shifted. He raised the rifle, his dark red eyes focused like never before, finger poised on the trigger.
Before the bear’s paw reached him, a fierce wind blew. Li Xia’s pupils contracted; he held the spear before his chest and leapt backwards again.
“Thud!”
He groaned, flying several meters backward and crashing heavily to the ground, disrupting his breathing rhythm.
[The man-eating bear dealt 21% damage to you. Left arm slightly fractured; distal radius of right arm cracked.]
Swallowing the pain in both arms, Li Xia rolled over and got to his feet. The once sturdy iron spear was now bent, his hand trembling violently, unable to hold the weapon.
Page 3/3
Panting heavily, Li Xia forced himself to calm, re-entering the breathing rhythm, but the bear showed no mercy.
It only wanted to kill the creature that dared to hurt it and devour it whole.
As the bear lunged again, Li Xia took a deep breath, stamped hard on the ground, and leapt sideways.
At the same time, his right hand flipped, and the Colt revolver appeared.
“Bang!”
The crisp gunshot rang out. Li Xia was about to retreat further when the bear suddenly shuddered and halted.
Then it emitted an unprecedentedly agonizing howl.
[You dealt 20% damage to the man-eating bear. It is in immense pain.]
What was happening?
The sudden change stunned Li Xia for a moment, but he quickly reacted, holstering the revolver and scooping up the scattered spears.
“Hiss—”
The pain seemed to vanish instantly; his heart pounded like a drumbeat.
Not enough... not enough... Breathing! Breathing! More breathing.
“Hiss—shh—”
Veins throbbed visibly on his forehead; his vision blurred with a faint blood tint, and the strange ringing echoed again.
I want... more!
“Ha—!”
His heart leapt fiercely. Li Xia pursed his lips, exhaling forcefully—a long white plume like a dragon of smoke poured from his mouth.
The blood tint faded, and the ringing transformed into a rushing sound—the flow of his blood.
Li Xia steadied his spear; the muscles in his calves coiled like compressed springs, then exploded with tension.
The moisture from his breath was swept away, then carried by the rushing air currents from his sprint, howling upward.
From Tanjiro’s vantage point, it looked as if Li Xia had a long white cape trailing from his shoulders, fluttering fiercely in the wind.
The giant bear turned, rearing up once more, about to howl skyward, when a long stream of white smoke roared toward it.
Power seemed boundless at that moment. Li Xia roared, pouring all his strength into the spear.
He thrust it straight into the bear’s chest.
Death!!
“Bang!”
The sun finally set completely, its last rays slowly retreating from the facing figures of man and beast.
Li Xia shuddered twice, releasing the spear, and collapsed backward. His shoulder was nearly severed, the jagged bone shards still steaming, the remaining flesh barely holding the arm.
Blood continuously seeped from his mouth and nose; his gaze was dimming.
“I... won!”
[Notification: Breath of the Sun has been upgraded. Current proficiency: Novice (0%)]
[Notification: You have successfully slain the man-eating bear.]
[Notification: Main quest completed. Return sequence initiated.]
[Returning...]
[Welcome to the Realm of Detachment]
————————————————————————————
1. Vote
2. Recommendation
Page 3/3