Chapter 14

Hyperregeneration (4)

Crack.

The broken bones mended, the torn skin healed, and new flesh sprouted. It took only a few dozen seconds for my arm, which had been in tatters, to fully regenerate. I clenched my fist and checked my condition. It had indeed recovered perfectly, just as it looked. The same went for the gash on my head and the sprained ankle. My body, which had been battered and bruised just moments ago, had returned to a perfect state as if time had been reversed.

"Damn, this is amazing."

Truly, the ability named Hyperregeneration lived up to its name. A sudden curiosity struck me. With this level of regenerative power, could even severed body parts regenerate?

In the game, Hyperregeneration was just a passive skill that amplified the recovery of health points. I didn't know if it could regenerate severed body parts. However, I couldn't just cut off a part of my body to test it, so for now, it remained a curiosity.

In any case, I had successfully obtained the first mystery. I picked up the luminescent stone with a refreshed feeling and stood up.

"Hmm."

Still, my appearance was a mess. The wounds had healed cleanly, but the dried blood stains remained. I couldn't go outside like this, so I washed off the bloodstains with water from my canteen. The stains on my clothes were a different story, though.

The walls and floor of the shared space were filled with insects, just like the passage I had come through. Looking at them, another thought came to mind.

"......"

I narrowed my eyes and alternated my gaze between the blood on the floor and the insects.

Instant Kill.

The only offensive skill I possessed. According to the skill description, it could instantly kill any target upon contact.

The question that came to mind was this: What exactly did "contact" mean?

Until now, I had assumed it meant physical contact through the body. However, I needed to consider the extent of what constituted "the body."

For example, blood is part of the body. Would a target that came into contact with my blood also be subject to Instant Kill?

'......I definitely need to test this.'

I picked up an insect crawling at my feet and placed it back on the spot where my blood had fallen, then activated Instant Kill.

However, the insect remained alive and well, much to my disappointment. I considered another hypothesis.

Could it be that the blood, having been outside my body for too long, had lost its effect?

"Hmm......"

I found a sharp rock on the floor and picked it up. With the ability to instantly heal broken bones, a cut was no big deal. I pressed the rough edge into my palm, and blood flowed out. The wound quickly regenerated.

I let the blood from my palm drip onto an insect on the floor. Then, I activated Instant Kill again, and to my surprise......

"Huh."

It really died. The insect no longer moved, and even when I poked it with my finger, it remained still. This time, Instant Kill had definitely worked.

To confirm, I tried it a few more times with other insects, and the results were the same. Only then did I realize my hypothesis was correct.

'Not only through skin contact, but also through blood, Instant Kill can be activated.'

However, the blood that had been outside my body for a long time had no effect, suggesting there was a time limit. I didn't know exactly how long that time limit was, but this was a significant discovery.

'I never thought it could be used like this......'

If blood could serve as a medium for Instant Kill, the possibilities were endless.

I decided to conduct more precise experiments when I arrived in Enrock and turned to leave. It was time to go.

***

As I followed the 7th Lord, Ashel glanced at his back, particularly his left arm. The blood-soaked sleeve.

There were no visible wounds, but the stain was concerning.

'......What exactly happened?'

The 7th Lord, who had turned a massive creature, rumored to be a legendary ancient dragon, into a cold corpse in an instant, displayed an overwhelming strength that defied reason.

Yet, what was the nature of that cave, and what had happened inside to leave such an impact on him?

Despite trying to suppress my curiosity, I couldn't help but be drawn to it. The 7th Lord was an enigma.

This mountain expedition had only made it clearer that I couldn't grasp his intentions or actions. The only thing I had learned was a bit about his personality.

From the way he conversed freely with me, his guide, I could tell he didn't care much about status or rank. He also seemed to dislike rough physical activity.

He often stopped to enjoy the scenery, and when we climbed the cliff, he had offered his back for support, though I still couldn't understand his intentions there.

'He's an enigma.'

As we reached the cliff we had climbed earlier, the 7th Lord turned to me.

"Ashel."

"Yes."

"Carry me down."

"......"

I really can't understand him.

Ashel decided not to dwell too much on his eccentricities.

***

The return to the city took much less time than the ascent. Not only was descending faster, but the effect of Hyperregeneration also played a role. It not only enhanced my regenerative abilities but also significantly boosted my stamina, so I didn't tire easily. This unexpected benefit had solved my stamina issues as well.

After returning to the city, Khan received a large reward as promised and reported the giant snake to the mayor.

"There was a giant snake in the northern mountains."

"Ah, yes. We were planning to send an investigation team because of the rumors......"

"Since it's dead, dispose of the body."

"......Yes?"

With no further business, we left Zenix City immediately.

The carriage soon entered the territory of the 7th Lord, Enrock, and passed through several cities, heading quickly for the capital. And......

'Here we are.'

I gazed at the massive city walls that loomed in the distance. They were taller and more imposing than any city I had seen so far, except for the Grand Lord's Castle.

Berkhorn, the capital of the 7th Lord's domain, Enrock. We had finally reached our destination.