Chapter 130: Battle Qi
I made the Gacha!? That guy right in front of me?!
I’d sensed some kind of agenda, sure—but seeing the guy himself appear like this? I couldn’t believe it.
‘I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Lazus.’
The man who called himself Lazus started walking toward the stairs.
‘We’ll talk details later. For now, let’s move forward.’
‘Hey, wait a second!’
I reached out to grab Lazus’s arm—
‘Huh?’
My hand passed right through his body. Couldn’t touch him at all.
‘This isn’t my real body, you see.’
‘You’re…’
‘Come find me where I actually am, and then we’ll talk.’
With that, Lazus descended the stairs. So that’s why I couldn’t鉴定 him—no physical form?
I didn’t hesitate. I followed right after, rushing to the next floor.
I looked around—but no sign of the man.
This floor was made of crystals, just like the one above, shaping rock walls and stone pillars. But different was the open space ahead, a little further in.
It was dome-shaped, big enough to fit a middle school gym.
Bright. Open. Spacious. Lazus stood near the center of the open area, waiting for me.
‘Have you used your Job Board yet?’
I blinked. What was he talking about? Then it hit me—probably the Job Board that appeared after I beat the Black Knight.
The Job Board marked “Legendary Hero” had already been used before coming here. Unlike the others, touching its surface sent a surge of light flooding into my body—powerful, overwhelming.
I checked my stats through鉴定. My job still read plainly “Hero.” Same as always.
Still, I had no idea what had changed. Just… here I am now.
"Was that job board also something you set up?"
'Yeah, that's right.'
"What kind of effect does it have? I couldn’t figure it out at all.'
'Hehehe... you'll see soon enough. That's why I prepared this right here.'
"Here? What’s here?"
I asked, and Lazus just pointed silently at a specific spot. I looked where he pointed—something was buried in the stone wall.
"That's...?"
It’s alive. But not human. Hairier... a monkey?
'If you can beat that "Divine Oracle Beast," then we’ll talk again.'
Lazus said that—and vanished.
Just as I was still stunned, a faint sound came from the wall where the monkey was embedded. I looked, and a small stone fell out.
—In an instant, the rock wall exploded outward, and a crimson monkey burst forth from inside.
The monkey, which had been motionless like a corpse, suddenly came back to life, kicked off the ground, and charged straight at me.
What shocked me was its speed.
It accelerated explosively—before I even registered it, it was already right in front of me.
An aura surrounded its entire body, even its legs. No doubt about it—this was "Qigong Martial Arts." I crossed my arms to block its straight punch, but—
The impact sent me flying backward, my body lifting off the ground.
"Gah!"
This power and speed. Power like a Sprigan, speed like a Chimera!
It kicked off the earth, darting around in every direction. Each step cracked the ground, and "qi" streamed out from its body.
I barely dodged its rapid punches, but even the air it punched sent shockwaves I couldn’t handle.
The force of the wind alone made it impossible to stand straight—my balance wavered, and before I knew it, the monkey monster had already slipped into my grasp.
The monkey monster kicks up, shattering my jaw guard clean through. Spins backward, then strikes a pose—master of Martial Arts, like some ancient fighter.
I can’t help it—I stagger back.
This thing’s got terrifying physical strength. I activate鉴定—
HANUMAN
Beast Race Lv3923
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“Leader…?”
Hanuman stomps down so hard the ground cracks apart, then charges straight at me.
I adjust my stance, keeping distance. Hanuman’s a close-combat specialist. If I keep my range, I’ve got the edge.
Just as I think that—Hanuman suddenly stops.
Distance is safe. I think that—
“Ghah!?!”
My face gets kicked clean off. Hanuman stretches the “qi” around his foot like a whip, slashing through the air.
Then, from farther out, a punch—only the “qi” snakes out like a giant serpent, coiling in for the kill.
I’m barely dodging. Can’t even counter. Is qi used like this?
I draw my sword, swinging up hard—aiming to chop off Hanuman’s arm—but the blade halts mid-swing, blocked by a wall of qi.
This qi’s intensity is insane! Who even *is* this guy?!
Hitting the air? That’s not just a punch—it’s an explosion. An unavoidable attack. I get blown back, but I scramble to my feet.
Must be a qi-based technique. Something even I or Wang couldn’t do. Is this because of “Qigong Martial Arts”? Or does it just… exist?
‘Not bad, huh?’
Suddenly, Lazus appears right beside the fight. He’s like a hologram—no risk, can pop up anywhere.
“Hey! What the hell is this guy?! Why the hell do I have to fight him all of a sudden?! Explain it! Explain it!”
『You’re already late, talking like that.』
“Huh?!”
A kick, stretched like a whip made of qi, sweeps my legs out from under me. “Damn!” I yell, blood rushing to my head.
Qi attacks don’t hit from outside—they strike straight into your insides.
I can’t take more than a few of these.
Thinking that, I ignite my sword with flame, ready to meet him with a magic blade. Hanuman should’ve been airborne—can’t dodge my strike.
I position myself under his landing zone, sword raised, waiting.
No way he can fly, right? Just as I think that—
Hanuman kicks off midair, shifting position. Then kicks again, darting through the sky, moving at blinding speed. Each kick leaves behind sparks like fireflies.
Is that… qi too?! I’m still reeling when a kick, launched at full speed, knocks my sword clean out of my hand.
I’m on the defensive from every direction. My own qi, wrapped around my body, can’t even match Hanuman’s strength.
I thought he was below level 4,000…
『Judging by level alone isn’t smart. You never know what kind of skill or ability someone’s got.』
True. Maybe I got cocky. I focus qi into my right hand.
In a flash—almost as fast as Chimera’s divine speed—Hanuman’s fist is right in front of me.
Dodged the attack by a hair’s breadth with the God's Eye, then slammed the clump of gathered “qi” into Hanuman’s belly with my right hand. My body bent double, blood gushing from my mouth—spurting, spurting...
The fist driven straight into his gut was pulled back—Hanuman was flung all the way to the wall and slammed into the rock face.
The rock face shattered to dust, and Hanuman didn’t so much as twitch.
Haa... Took quite a bit of effort, huh.
Looking at the Leader I’d felled, Lazus spoke, amused.
"Damn, you're strong. The monster you took down was called the 'Beast of Prophecy.'"
"Divine Oracle Beast?"
"Living beings with special abilities—we've cherished them for ages as 'messengers of the gods.'"
"Treasure... all I see is an enemy of humanity."
...Yeah, I guess I’m just a tool for the demon gods now, huh.
Lazus spoke with a melancholy tone, then smiled at me.
"Actually, Hanuman isn’t a true 'oracle beast'—he’s something I made through experimentation, you know?"
"Made it?"
"Fufufu... Let's save that talk for later. Aren't you going to tame me?"
I summon Hanuman as if pushed to do so. Checking the list board—
[Summon]
Divine Entity Vishnu SSS
God Dragon Hydra SSS
Titan, the Stone Giant, SSS
Flame Dragon King Shiva SS
Rakshasa Ravana SS
Beastman Species: Hanuman S
Fairy Species: Spriggan AAA
Beast Species: Chimera AAA
Spirit Species: Phoenix AA
Gigas, the Metallic Giant A
Dragon Species: Flying Dragon B
Metal Giant (Mid-tier) B
Displayed without a hitch.
Come on, let's head to the next floor. This way, come on.
"Whoa... hey, wait a sec"
I hurried after Lazus.