—
The Abyss possessed some highly efficient means of information transmission. This was also a classic setting of the Swarm—the [Unified Will].
It was clear that the “Contact Girl Demon” had relayed the intelligence to the Abyss Swarm. After obtaining the information, the Swarm formulated a tactic specifically targeting Samimi.
Just like now—
They avoided the frontal battlefield, opting instead to flank and ambush.
The Swarm Core no longer acted as a general, but had switched roles to an assassin, specifically targeting her.
—
Looking at the Swarm Core’s appearance, it was truly earth-shattering and terrifying, a complete and utter fusion monster.
Its main body resembled a Tyrannosaurus Rex, yet it was covered in a sturdy insect exoskeleton. Huge insect pincers grew on either side of its dinosaur maw. Its original claws had been replaced by two devastatingly powerful mantis blades. Its tail had transformed into a poisonous scorpion stinger.
It was as if every single “highly aggressive” component had been cobbled together, a design both crude and overwhelmingly oppressive.
This type of Swarm Core had appeared in the original plot as well, possessing its own exclusive name—[Overlord].
Logically, it should have been a monster adept at frontal assault and crushing.
But now—it had become an assassin.
—
It had chosen to appear only after all of Samimi’s guards had left, clearly a result of precise calculation.
‘The Abyss’s intelligence… has leveled up.’ Samimi’s heart sank.
Mass-produced Demons, the Swarm’s early appearance, tactical evolution…
All of this indicated—
The Butterfly Effect was now completely out of control.
‘What exactly did I do to make the Abyss this much stronger…’ She couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
—
However—
Samimi’s gaze gradually grew resolute.
She was no longer panicked.
Because she had just slept.
Her Sanity was fully restored.
During her sleep, she had straightened out her chaotic thoughts and finally found the root of the problem.
—
Why had she been so anxious lately?
Why had her confidence plummeted?
Why had she been acting like someone who had lost their soul?
The answer was simple—
She had lost her own “soul.”
—
Samimi crouched down, retrieved a black longsword from her storage and slung it across her back. Then, she pulled out that piece of lace blindfold from her pocket and gently covered her eyes with it.
“Hah… that feels better.”
In an instant, she felt completely at ease.
Her strength had returned.
—
The so-called “soul” was conviction.
It could be an obsession with a weapon, a love for a character, or a steadfast adherence to a certain playstyle.
The game world was equally cruel.
Version updates, power creep, character obsolescence…
If the character you once deeply loved became useless, would you still keep using her?
If the equipment you painstakingly built became obsolete, would you still persist?
Most people would choose to give up.
But there was always a small minority—
who would persist.
Even if ridiculed, even if discriminated against, they would keep going.
That was the soul.
—
Her teammates all had their own souls.
Katana Soul, Whip Sword Soul, Bomb Soul, Wind Soul, Turtle Soul, Dual Sword Soul…
That’s why they feared nothing.
And herself—
She had wavered because she witnessed a stronger sword technique.
She had scorned her own Slaying Demon Sword for being just a mass-produced blue item, tossing it into a corner.
But that sword—
carried all the battles and glory from her entire journey.
That was her true soul.
—
‘So that’s it… my conviction shattered.’
Samimi smiled self-deprecatingly.
But now—
She had awakened.
‘My soul, is the Demon-Hunting Soul.’
—
HISSSSSS!
The Swarm Overlord let out a piercing shriek and charged forward at high speed!
Mantis blades, dinosaur maw, poisonous tail—a triple attack simultaneously aimed at Samimi!
“Just you?”
Samimi sneered.
The Slaying Demon Sword on her back brought a sense of security. The blindfold shielded her from visual fear. Her mental state was unprecedentedly stable.
—
“[Wall of Thorns]!“
A wall of thorns instantly unfurled.
The Swarm Overlord slammed headfirst into it, as if crashing into a flexible trap. It was tightly entangled by the thorny magic, momentarily unable to move.
“You think any random monster can backstab me?”
Samimi raised her Runic Staff.
“[Magic Enchantment]!“
Countless Magic Slashes surged forth like a tidal wave, frantically whittling away at the enemy’s outer shell.
—
Right at that moment—
The Slaying Demon Sword on her back unsheathed itself!
“[Sacred Rose Phantom Sword: Sword Soul]!“
The entire sword transformed into a deep crimson Magic Flying Sword, shooting through the air!
—
At this moment, Samimi was no longer her past self, reliant on basic spells.
With her vast magic power, she had elevated “basic Skills” to a whole new level.
—
The flying sword struck with pinpoint accuracy!
BOOM—!
It directly pierced through the Swarm Overlord’s skull, pouring corrosive magic into its Core!
Instant kill!
—
The colossal creature crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, devoid of any further life.
Samimi stood in place, the familiar, arrogant curve returning to the corner of her mouth.
“You think some mere Elite monster can backstab me?”
“Dream on.”