Walking with quick strides, I look at the notifications . The advanced skill branching from the skill I most frequently use, . However, contrary to its name, this skill doesn’t have an image of being any way more superior . Far from that, this looks more like a basic skill than—- [No, that’s not right . ] It’s still too early to measure my Abnormal State Skills based on the standard image . At first glance, this skill may look useless . However, this could change depending on how I could use this . My other skills also held power beyond my preconception . This is the “Failure Frame” Abnormal State Skill that has already saved me countless times . There must be somewhere I could use this skill . Find the newest release on novel•fire.net However, my first priority right now is to check if those guys are alright . I rushed towards where Pigimaru and Slei should have been . Thankfully, Pigimaru and Slei are still alive . However, Slei had her transformation released and is quite worn out . Even after releasing her transformation, there’s still her wound on her left hind leg . Bandaging her wound with a piece of cloth, I carry Slei on my shoulder . If it’s in the size of her first form, I could still carry her . Is it thanks to the status correction that she’s lighter than I thought? I don’t know if it’s the effect of the or status correction . ......Well, both of their numbers were the same anyway . Either way, having this status correction is quite beneficial for me . [Paa...... kyuu......] [That’s enough, just relax and rest already . ] Muddy water piling up on the ground . I tread through that muddy ground one step at a time . I was walking in the woods carrying Slei . Pigimaru is taking some rest while he’s coiled around my waist . Is it because he’s exhausted? He isn’t coiled around my waist that tightly . [I’m sorry for unreasonably overworking the two of you . ] The rain that had been violently crashing down on us has already stopped . It’s as if the ending rain overlaps with the end of the battle . The cloudy skies have begun to be dyed in clear reddish color . It seems that the day is about to end . Were Seras and the others still waiting in that cave? ......It’s not like I’m reluctant to walk all night when I’m alone . I’m already used to the darkness . However, considering Slei’s current state, I can’t afford to do anything unreasonable . The sound of water dripping down from a leaf . The sunset finished dying this complex maze-like sea of trees in its color... A drop of water fell from the top of my hair down to my toe . Those toes continued walking forward . The ravages of our massacre continuously plunge into my line of sight . Fallen and broken trees . The ravages of the violent battle telling its story within this silence . The nearby places I pass by as I walk back is brimming with monster corpses . Occasionally, I could hear some groans coming from somewhere . They’re probably some monsters still living even after being poisoned . The ruined path that I’ve been following... I look ahead on this path . [I wonder where my current place right now matches with the map I remembered...] As one would expect, it’s impossible for me to be always aware of my current location even in the middle of a fight . [Well, if I keep following this disastrous path, I should eventually be able to come back . ] Then, Slei began waving her tail . [Hmm? What’s the matter?] Her tail keeps on swinging towards a certain direction . [Should I go that way?] [You...... You could still smell Seras and the others’ scent even in this kind of situation?] An affirming soft cry . Following Slei’s directions, I proceeded further . On the way, Pigimaru asked if I’m alright . “I’m alright”, I replied . [I’m still the Hero-sama whose level exceeds Lv 2000 after all . ] I was a discarded one, though . It’s good that Seras isn’t here right now . If she were here, she would know that my “I’m alright” reply earlier was a lie . [As expected, I never thought that I would defeat that amount of monsters unscathed...... However—] The reason why I survived in that scramble of life . The differences between the strengths of the Human-Faced were quite large . Yes— there weren’t any of them that were as strong as the Soul Eater . That one with the smiling face we met in the ruins we’ve passed by before . Even that one wasn’t as strong as the Soul Eater . If that Soul Eater were considered as just average among the Human-Faced I’ve encountered earlier, I would have already died . [It’s probably because that one is already a veteran in his duty of acting as the lid, preventing the disposed people from coming out... That must mean that guy’s an exceptional one . ] Though I say that, there were some quick-witted monsters among those I’ve fought just now . I’ve known their quick-wittedness with my own body . However, those monsters that were drawn in by that scream...... [Perhaps, those ones which are the most atrocious and clever wouldn’t be drawn in by something like that . ] The Demon Zone is dotted with underground ruins . Human-Faced different from the ones I’ve fought should still be living there, looking at the rampaging monsters aboveground . I can’t discard such a possibility . [It might be dangerous to think that the Soul Eater is the most superior among the Human-Faced......] Absentmindedly walking for a while, I kept moving my feet . I take a deep breath . [................................. . . Well, I already expected this . ] If they were to find a weakened prey, they’d naturally come out . There’s no reason for them to overlook this opportunity . The monsters gathered . However, this could also be interpreted positively . There’s an area where the monsters who deserted earlier carefreely loitered around . And now, they’ve come back . [..................... . ] The strength of these monsters should be fairly well huh... I am now carrying Slei . I’m also quite exhausted . Pushing through this amount of monsters would be quite tough but—- [Well, their number and quality doesn’t matter . In that case...... Status Open . ] I could try my new skill . Its MP consumption is . The consumption of my other skills were just . ......That’s quite a big jump there . However, my remaining amount of MP is more than 60000 . It wouldn’t be a problem even after trying it once . Whatever its effect is, if it’s no good, I could just deal with them with my other standard skills . The excited voice of monsters quivered under the twilight . Slei and Pigimaru tried to take action . “Leave it to me”, or so I said as I stopped them . Now then, I wonder what would happen—– [......... . . ,————-Wha!?] My eyes opened wide . The first thing that caught my eyes was my status display . It decreased at a frightening speed . [What the heck... is this skill? This is as MP-consuming as Pigimaru’s connection technique... No, it could even be worse—–] Suddenly, I noticed it . The decrease rate of my MP is more than I expected . Moreover, while I’m absorbed looking at it—– Arrows and spears were flying towards me from all directions . However, they’re not as skillful as I expected . More particularly those spears that were completely off target . I unsheathe the dagger on my waist . There’s a wide difference if you compare their archery skill to Seras’ . I wouldn’t be killed by arrows . It was at that moment when I finally decided and started moving . Whether it’s the spears... Or the monsters’ movements... Even the beads of water falling from the leaves were slow . Yes, it’s as if everything is subtly—- However, only I...... Only I could move normally . I couldn’t feel any change or discomfort in my movements . Therefore, it’s just me noticing the changes brought by huh . It’s not that slow like that so-called “Slow-motion” . What about Pigimaru and Slei? Calling out to them... They just replied like normal . Their cries didn’t slow down . Is it because they’re quite close to me? If that’s not the case...... There must be a certain meter of radius in which they’re unaffected, or something like that? Or perhaps, both of those could be the answers......? [......I’m going to let go for a few moments, Slei . ] The speed of the approaching monster... I have enough time before it could even approach . I can’t feel any worry about this situation falling into crisis . If that’s the case—- how about I verify it? It’s not possible for me to use this together with its advanced skill huh . Then, next would be... I can’t use any skill together with it . [It could only be used alone huh . Well......] Changing the grip on my dagger, I quickly close the distance with the monster . [Depending on the way I use it, this could be usable in various ways . ] I get ready while walking . I passed by the spear that had slowed down . The word is still quite slow . I finally came before the monster who threw that spear . The monster looks bewildered . Well, it’s no wonder why . [I guess I need to confirm this later huh . ] I walk forward with my left hand sticking forward . Thereupon, when I got closer to a certain distance—- [Gruu......? Gauuuuu—–] The slowness of the monster disappeared . But when I see that it’s going to move normally, I immediately pull away my hand . The monsters were brought back into the world of slowness . (T/N: za warudo) When they’re within a one meter radius around me, their slowness disappears... . So, is that why Pigimaru and Slei weren’t affected? With a step, I quickly come close towards the monster . I slash the monster’s throat with my blade . I could now understand the range where the slowness disappears . And, in this state...... [It’s a lot slower for the enemy to move into defense . ] In other words, it’s easier for me to attack first . With this, it seems to be easy to aim at their vital points . This would be quite frightening for the other party . An attack is drawing near in front of you . However, moving into defense is delayed . I still have other monsters to deal with . There’s still three more monsters . There was bewilderment and fear on the face of these three . When I invoked that skill...... All four of them weren’t in my sight . I was assaulted from the front, left, right and behind me . Yes, the monsters came from “every direction” . So far, the property of my Abnormal State Skills were as follows . “If the target isn’t within sight, the invocation condition couldn’t be met . ” However, this new skill... [Even if the target isn’t within sight, all targets within the skill’s range would be affected......] I see——– “Advanced” skill huh . I begin running my thoughts . I’m in a situation where I couldn’t attack first or had been surprise attacked . At that time, I feel that is when this skill could show its true value . Or perhaps, when I want to escape from the attack range of my opponent . If I were to use it well, I can expect this skill to be active when I need to avoid or block attacks . [I should verify the maximum range of my skill later . Next would be......] Whether an object would still be affected by my skill after I touch it, and if I could move it myself . I feel like—- it sometimes crosses over the one meter radius . However, the speed of her tail didn’t slow down . That means... Is it that a person could still normally move if they’re in contact with me? [Hmm? What’s with these numbers......?] I noticed the additional display next to my MP . The numbers were steadily decreasing . ......Ah, so that’s how it is . [The duration of the skill is until the 5000 MP was fully consumed and it falls down to zero huh...] Then, a certain prediction came into my mind . [......Perhaps, I may be able to see each of the duration of my skills . ] With that thought running on my mind, I quickly dealt with the remaining three monsters . Before long, the numbers 1313 dropped down to 0 . The speed of the world returns . [I still have plenty more MP remaining...... Now then—-] I felt the presence of more monsters . [Should I try it out with them too?] I walk a little closer towards the approaching monster . Verification starts . (T/N: It was stated as cool time in raws, but I think more people would know what this means when I word it as cooldown . ) [Well, so that’s how it is huh . ] Each time you use it, a separator of “5000 MP” is already provided . “That means I couldn’t just use all of my MP for a single use . ” In other words, it’s not possible to continuously use this skill by consuming all of my MP . The consumption of 5000MP for one use . Once you use up the 5000 MP, it will be automatically released just like earlier . [That also means that I couldn’t use the tactics of repeatedly activating and releasing huh . ] There must be some kind of restriction for having such a convenient power . That’s how society works . My Abnormal Status Skills are still too convenient even with that . I look back and start moving forward . [Anyway, I somehow understand the property of —- to some extent . ] I would deal with the rest of the monsters the same as I usually do . [Then, with this......, ——–Hm?] I can feel my legs wobbling . However, I stand firm and pick myself up . ......I can’t step any further soon huh . I finish it off with my dagger . I still can’t use because it’s still in cooldown . However, there’s no problem . Putting strength into my body, I held out my arm just as I always do . [It’s a bit tough fighting with this amount of monsters in this current state but...... I should be able to do it with the skill I’m most familiar with . ] Suddenly, Slei got excited . There’s an unusual one mixed along those monsters’ group . It’s a bit troublesome in my current state . It’s approaching this place at a tremendous speed . ..................... . If it’s possible, I would need to deal with this one first . I turn my arm towards the direction of that thing . Although there were still the other monsters approaching us, this one should be dealt with as soon as possible——- The body of a fractured monster . An arc of blood drawn out in mid-air . [Gururu...... Garururururuuuuuuuuuuuu.........] I lower my raised arm . Is that why Slei was quite excited? ......I should have expected to see her here but... [I’ve finally found you, my lord . ]