Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 544 The Gift of the Dead
As the notification sounded in his ear that the enemy had "died of old age,"...

The man's eyes were about to turn into a pool of liquid and flow into the ground.

In the male's [ritualistic] perception, there is no death.

In some cliché scenarios, the Murlocs have a high probability of making a comeback in the future.

It's like the shroud worn by the deceased, which would instantly turn to ashes the moment it touched the raging fire in the incinerator.

With the blessing of the man, [Grim Reaper in the Mist].

It instantly transformed into a wisp of black mist that dissipated into the air along with the receding fog.

Only then did Fang Yi withdraw the weapon from his hand, which was riddled with gaps and cracks.

[Kiriichimonji - Reforged], whose lifespan is nearing its end.

A little time was freed up.

He gave a brief response to the enemy's last words.

"You're welcome.

"Killing enemies is something I've always been very good at."

Then, the man immediately did not pick up the murloc's weapon, which was known as the "Blade of No Tide".

The Morishiro longsword seemed to have changed because of the other party's death.

He didn't continue to check the spatial notification sounds that kept popping up in his ears like popping beans.

Instead, he simply waved his hand.

It dispersed the fog as if tearing off a curtain.

shrugged.

This announced the outcome of the battle.

"It seems that its strength does not match its arrogant words."

"The only contribution is that it gives us more rest time after battles, free from the effects of [Stress Erosion]."

However, these are the words Fang Yi uttered.

But there was no immediate response.

At this moment, the only response to the man's voice was the increasingly loud one in his ear.

This signifies that the countdown to deep-sea diving has begun again, with the 'water stains' on weapons and limbs deepening beyond the 'sound of the tide'.

The only thing I could hear.

All that remained was the soothing sound of everyone's heartbeats in this desolate 'room'.

[What is this? Stunned?]

The man turned his head away.

He looked at the onlookers with some confusion.
-
He stared intently at the battlefield.

It was like the final moments of stoppage time in a do-or-die match that determined whether the home team would advance.

An elderly man, like a fervent football fan, stared intently at the screen, unwilling to miss a single detail.

Listening to the man's arrogant words.

The enemy, now seen as nothing.

For the first time, I was in a blank, dazed state.

The enemy's death, however, was so swift and easy.

It even feels somewhat unreal.

It's like the majestic mountain that was standing right in front of you just a second ago.

It vanished silently into the ground in the next second, leaving people feeling utterly bewildered.

It took a few seconds.

It wrote the data of "victory in battle" into its brain, which has "extremely high latency".

After reflecting on the man's words in her mind.

The old man was finally free from dementia.
-
His words remained as arrogant as ever, just as they had been when I first met him.

His strength, as always, remains unfathomable and elusive.

And facing that incredibly powerful being, who exerted unparalleled pressure even without making a move.

Like an insurmountable mountain, the enemy stood in his way.

He swung his longsword twice in just a few seconds.

He then killed the other party.

[He forcefully transformed his scorching and unrealistic 'outrageous' statements into 'facts' that were both reasonable and true.]

She looked at the man not far away who was staring at her with a puzzled expression.

Such sentiments naturally arose in the old man's heart.

If one absolutely had to find someone similar to this, [it would be...]

[The only way to find them is among those legendary figures!]

Despite having a very high opinion of men.

But the old man did not show any smile on his face, nor did he utter any words of praise.

The old man simply nodded to the man and made a gesture.

After obtaining permission.

He then took out some herbs and swallowed them, before closing his eyes again.

The battle was not over yet, and the injuries and fatigue accumulated from past battles had not yet fully subsided.

He needs to seize every opportunity to rest and recover.

To avoid holding the team back in the upcoming battles where he is needed.

Based on experience, barring any unforeseen circumstances...

That battle against the [Star Calamity] is highly likely to occur.

He had hunted this monster and acquired certain traits.

They will undoubtedly be the 'main force'.
-
Meanwhile, Miss Kanroji looked at the man with a puzzled expression.

He then pulled his coat tighter, looking quite uncomfortable.

He lowered his head and shrank back.

After using all his strength to control his somewhat 'surging' body.

Only then did the female swordsman dare to raise her head and excitedly raise her fist at the man.

He conveyed his 'simple' thoughts through body language.

However, this time, the eye contact with the man only lasted for two seconds.

Looking at that handsome face in the flickering firelight.

The female swordsman involuntarily swallowed.

Like a thief caught red-handed, she looked away, blushing and clamping her legs together.

[You can't watch this anymore! Watching it again will cause problems.]

Some of the female swordsmen, unable to control themselves, lowered their heads.

Hesitantly assigned himself tasks.

"I think I've grasped the essence of boxing techniques and rhythm."

"I'll try it again."

Then, he quickly 'escaped' to a corner far away from the men and raised his fist.

It allowed me to vent my desires that I had been feeling a bit restless for the time being.
-
Fang Yi looked back.

And the fishmen who vanished without a trace after the fog dissipated.

The young swordsman shook his head, somewhat confused.

"Um, Captain."

After a moment of thought, the swordsman broke the silence first.

He stammered, voicing his doubts. "The battle...it's over just like that?"

The swordsman pointed to the fishing rod that had been thrown into the pond.

His words visibly became 'dry'.

"That sword technique is so powerful that it's unusable."

"The fish-men, described in words, were dealt with just like that?"

Fang Yi simply tilted his head upon hearing the swordsman's incoherent words.

The response was rather bland.

It is dead.

"I have never had the bad habit of reciting 'eulogies' for living enemies."

After a brief pause of one second.

A gentle and standard smile naturally appeared on the man's face.

"Because it's with me."

"【I'm going to kill you】【You're already dead】【You were a decent opponent】" These are the kind of boring 'eulogies' used to respond to the other party's provocations.

"These are words that one is only qualified to utter after killing the other party."

"And I will never let this 'eulogy' and death wait for them too long."
-
The young swordsman looked at the smiling man.

He didn't say anything more.

He simply bowed down in reverence.

He gave his reply with unusual seriousness.

"I will remember your teachings!"

Then, pointing to the neat and uniform stall.

The armor, with its broken blade, was neatly arranged like shops lining both sides of a street.

He tentatively uttered the question.

"Do you need me to clean up the battlefield?"

"There are still quite a few weapons and items belonging to the deceased mercenaries over there; perhaps they can be found there."

However, the swordsman had not finished speaking.

The old man's shoe print was then imprinted on his buttocks.

"If you know that, why don't you hurry up and go?"

“This is your duty!”

Looking at the young swordsman who had been kicked by him and seemed poised to snarl at him.

The old man broke the silence by adopting a very 'innocent' posture.

"You should have already kept the captain's 'teachings' in mind."

The young swordsman was taken aback at first.

Then, he pretended to suddenly realize something.

He ran towards the armor and swords.

Although Fang Yi had no idea what the young swordsman had learned.

But looking at the crowd, it seemed like everyone had something to do.

The man swallowed the instructions and began to examine his spoils.

The gains from this battle cannot be simply described as 'a great harvest'.

Whether it's positive or negative.

The man lowered his head and brought up the control panel.
-
With the complete demise of the enemy.

Fang Yi sensed that the sound of the waves beside him had transcended the realm of 'illusion' and had become increasingly loud.

The 'water stains' that had covered the man's hands and face spread again.

The system also thoughtfully displayed new weakening prompts to itself.

You have completely killed a [Drowning Person].

Your Deep Dive Countdown has changed.

[38% -> 62%]

[Due to the special method of elimination, your [Deep Dive Countdown] progress has been regressed.]

[62% -> 57%]

Affected by the current progress of the deep-sea diving countdown.

While in this dungeon, you will suffer the following negative debuffs:
1. Reaction speed decreases moderately, and perception and judgment abilities decrease.

2. Energy recovery speed is slightly reduced, and the effect of supplies is halved.

[Due to the influence of [Beelzebub's Blessing] and [Siren's Tears], the aforementioned negative effects have been reduced.]

Looking at the notification that I've become weaker.

Sensing his unusually dulled, weakening body.

A slight smile appeared on Fang Yi's face.

I have become weaker.

"But it's also gotten stronger."

After uttering this somewhat contradictory statement to himself, the man began to examine the other notifications that proclaimed his increasing strength.

You have earned the respect of several formidable enemies and received numerous rewards.

The cross-world quest "List of Respects" has been completed.

[The temporary buff triggered by the mission [Gain a fixed skill and have a chance to gain a core ability after defeating an enemy who respects you] has disappeared.]

The effect of the achievement "The Enemy's Respect" has been enhanced.
-
The enemy's respect

Number of times upgraded: 2
Achievement Effect 1:

You'll get more loot more easily after defeating enemies in the mission world.

The rewards you receive after defeating an enemy in battle and gaining their approval.

The probability of obtaining knowledge and technical information that the other party has a high degree of mastery has slightly increased.

Achievement Effect 2:

After killing a reincarnation who has murderous intentions towards you, it will be easier to extract high-value items from his personal space.

After using superior skills to kill the reincarnator who harbors murderous intent towards you.

There is a chance to acquire knowledge about the most valuable skills possessed by the other party.

Achievement Effect 3:

After gaining the enemy's respect and killing the enemy.

There is a chance to obtain knowledge related to the other party's [core competencies].
-
Evaluation:

Death is not the end for the enemy.

The knowledge and power flowing within the bodies of the enemies you slay.

All of these will become the forces that propel you forward.
-
[The drop rate for kills increases, right?]

After making a comment, Fang Yi looked away.

I looked at another notification.

You have defeated a monster that is extremely difficult to kill and belongs to a special type.

The rewards for this kill will be increased.

You have received a [Gift from the Dead]. Open it?

Looking into his personal space, he saw a treasure chest made of bones.

Fang Yi, who had a vague sense of something, opened the treasure chest without hesitation.

Then, he saw the reward he had expected.

(End of this chapter)