In this world, there are several ways to deal with entities.The most common is a firearm-based firefight.The second is an explosive-based attack.There are a few others, but most require one premise: maintaining a certain distance.But what should one do in confined spaces where distance cannot be secured?Before discovering a proper method, players considered close combat itself as a “last resort, unavoidable choice.”After countless trials and errors, that thought was about to become conventional wisdom.In the end, the method was discovered by solo players.Naturally, at the forefront was me, operating under the nickname Kyle Han…“Hm.”The method was surprisingly simple.But there were conditions:A body with decent physical capability.Patience enough to calmly build up.Fortunately, I met both conditions.“The Seventh Defense Force Base…”First, I assessed the most important route.Then calculated the distance I would need to move.Because I had to secure a position immediately upon entry without hesitation.“This spot should be best.”The position I aimed to take was the control room.An environment neither too spacious nor too cramped.Someone observing might think it’s the worst choice.But this was the most ideal terrain.“Let’s go.”I ignored the worried gaze from behind.No words could ease such concern anyway.As I took a step forward, Eli ran up.“…Kyle.”“Yes.”She barely grasped my fingers with her outstretched hand, a fragile hold.Now, she no longer called me Mr. Han, but Kyle.“I trust you.”I gave a small smile and flicked the hair from her face.Best to swallow unnecessary words.Right now, the most important thing was said.“I’ll be back.”The countless stairs ahead.Climbing them, I began warming up.Sweat formed on my cold, stiff hands as I gripped the sword handle.I rotated my shoulders, checking for any stiffness.Then adjusted my stance.Gripping the sword and entering combat stance, the words appeared:[‘Extrasensory Perception’ Activated]My mind cleared, and a calmness settled in.Somewhere, the sound of dripping water formed a rhythm.I reviewed the tens of thousands of movements I had visualized in my mind.All the movements I had endlessly pondered and imagined.Even the auxiliary techniques linked to those movements.Going through that process, my mind became perfectly calm.“Enough.”And then, at some point,the moment I reached the door, there was no hesitation.[Authority Recognition][Master Key Recognition]“Open.”[Opening access door to underground air-defense facility.]Even in the brief moment the door squeaked open, I estimated the number of entities I would immediately face.‘About twenty, for now.’Noise erupted, followed instantly by grotesque screams.Kraaahhh!Grrrkk!An entity with one grotesquely developed arm lumbered forward.‘This should be the final warm-up.’I felt the muscles in my shoulders move.My entire body shook.My lower body planted firmly as if rooted to the ground.At that moment, the charging entity’s body…was sliced in half.“Hoo.”No time for hesitation.I surged forward, shouting reflexively.“Seal—!!”[Sealing access door to underground air-defense facility.]I had to confirm the door fully closed from behind.If an entity escaped, the consequences would be fatal.Once the door closed completely, the spring-loaded momentum in my lower body propelled me forward.[Single Slash Lv.3]Swoosh!The rushing body split the second entity.The commotion caught the attention of other entities inside.I had to move faster.Being surrounded now would be the most dangerous situation.I charged through the flesh barriers.“Huup!”Kraaaahhh!Kaaahhhh!No need to look back.Thanks to my heightened senses, I could “see” without seeing.‘Secure the position as quickly as possible.’Slaying the entities was secondary.Focus on movement.The next barrier formed by flesh was denser.‘Hold off on breaking it.’Then what?Just get over it.Kicking off the left wall, I leapt into the air to cross the barrier.Faster and higher than expected, but not surprising.I had already tested my physical capabilities.Once I crossed the barrier again, the control room came into view.A destination I had to reach, past hundreds of entities lunging to satisfy their hunger.Though distant, it posed no problem.Taat!!Pash!!Dodging flying arms, I lifted my sword.Zero’s blade cut through the entities, opening a path.Perhaps my speed outpaced their swarm.The empty corridor ahead signaled instinctively: now is the best chance.“Kraahh!”With a scream erupting from my throat, I leapt again.A near-maximum jump.If I misstepped, my ankles might break.Upon landing, the control room door was right in front of me…Kwad-d-d-d-deuk!About a dozen entities were inside.It would take mere seconds to slaughter them all.Kieeeek!Sleeng!Frrrkk!Quickly cutting them down, I checked behind.“Enough.”If hundreds of entities charged the control room at once, any onlooker would call it madness.I had willingly put myself in a jar of poison, like a trapped rat.But those questioning this should know:sometimes, entering with limbs at stake is how a path opens.The most ideal method for handling these bastards in close combat.“Huup!”Swiping down, I cut the entities charging the narrow entrance.Their corpses piled up, forming a barrier.The entrance narrowed, allowing only one to squeeze through at a time.“Guillotine starts.”This was a type of close-combat solo play I, Kyle Han, devised: the entity execution system [Guillotine].It was grueling.Pushing through entities and handling them one by one.Too easy to call exhausting.Too brutal to call boring.“Hoo.”[Slightly fatigued.]The debris grew in proportion to my stamina expenditure.As I got used to it, only one thought came to mind:‘So damn many.’The number of entities seemed endless.Had I not used the guillotine technique, I’d have suffered much more.The guillotine’s principle was simple:Designate an entrance.Lure entities in.Block the entrance with corpses, restricting passage.From then on, entities could only enter one by one.Even crawling, I could slice their necks instantly.By now, over half of the entities were already dead.Still, one concern remained: the anxiety growing with time.‘Problematic.’This wasn’t only to clear the interior.I intentionally pushed myself to extremes to encourage growth.Thus, every cut carried extra force.Even so, my movements remained practical and precise.No single needless flourish.Yet, something was lacking.‘All this is only draining my stamina.’I counted the dead.Hundreds of corpses blocked the entrance like a mountain.This shifted the battle location farther back than before.“Time to finish up.”The decreasing number of screams reflected the entities’ situation.I cut down another entity’s neck.Swoosh—!!Advance.‘Damn.’Kieeeek—!!Now leaving was the problem.The corpse-clogged doorway was not easy to pass.“No choice.”Clearing corpses, I could finally breathe outside.I chose a simpler method.“No more squeezing in.”About a hundred left?I tapped the wall blocking the control room.Thud… thud…Concrete wall, barely vibrating.Inside, probably reinforced with metal frames.Could I cut through?“No problem.”I had done this before.Now, with stronger physical capabilities, creating a hole for a person was not difficult.“Just in case.”I adjusted my stance.There was a realm I wanted to attempt.Maintaining distance, I surged at the wall.[Single Slash Lv.3][Thrust Slash Lv.3]The slash deployed just before impact.With increased acceleration and destructive power…Carduk!“Oh.”First attempt, predictably failed.[Slightly fatigued >> fatigued]But I saw potential.Recalling auxiliary skills that could be linked, I tried again.It fit perfectly.Still, linking techniques was tricky.Mistime it, and it was useless.“Focus a little more…”[Single Slash Lv.3]‘Now.’[Thrust Slash Lv.3]Carduk!Not perfect, but close.The deeper groove in the concrete wall proved it.“Hoo.”I ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) lowered my stance further.Targeting the exact point to cut.Trusting the spring in my calves.Sweeek!Another attempt.[Single Slash Lv.3]“Hhh!”[Thrust Slash Lv.3]Kwad-d-d-d-deuk-!!‘Success.’The concrete wall split enough to see outside.The sharp thrill in my hands revealed burst capillaries.Then:Ding![‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ Activated][Auxiliary Skill: Single Slash Lv.3 >> Lv.5][Auxiliary Skill: Thrust Slash Lv.3 >> Lv.4]Skill mastery increased.“Not enough. Not yet.”This wasn’t sufficient.Even if it meant significant growth, I wasn’t ready to be satisfied.“I still want more”Entities visible through the gaps.Unable to enter due to debris, they squeezed through cracks.“Breaking through everything reaches the extreme. Only then can I face my comrades.”Did Eli stay idle while I entered alone?She would have informed Benjamin via radio upon entry.Some might be rushing here in panic.I couldn’t be satisfied with just removing minor obstacles.The smile on my lips grew wider.“One more time.”[Single Slash Lv.5]My body shot forward with explosive speedI hadn’t forgotten the timing.‘Here.’[Thrust Slash Lv.4]Kwad-d-d-d-deuk!This time, a vertical strike.The outer wall carved with an ‘ㄱ’-shaped incision.Ding![‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ Activated]Ding![Hidden Condition Achieved]Ding![+Auxiliary Skill: Breaking Rock with Egg][‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ Effect Activated][Change: Breaking Rock with Egg >> Breaking Rock]Ding![‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ Effect Activated][Change: Breaking Rock >> Cutting Rock]Ding![‘Legendary Swordsmanship Talent’ Effect Activated][Change: Cutting Rock >> Splitting Mountain][+Auxiliary Skill: Splitting Mountain (Lv.1)]“Hoo.”New auxiliary skill registered.The motion drew a line before my eyes.Following that line, I swung Zero downward.No further linked techniques were needed.Kwad-d-d-d-d-deuk-!!!![Splitting Mountain Lv.1]

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