The World's Strongest Faker

Display of Talent

This is it! the final stage of the short-run dungeon. Four Lamia stood before him. Their grotesque-looking faces and their black tinted pupils, it was all enough to classify them as a monster.

Ernest readied his swords, he was slightly exhausted from the fight earlier, where he killed numerous lizardmen and carnivorous plants that spit out acid.

It took him a lot of work and the fatigue he had been containing inside was starting to shake its container.

Before fighting it, Ernest prepared himself by checking his body and his stats. 

[User: Ernest Teucher.

Level: 25

Health: 252/300

Mana: 532/700

Title: Goblin Slayer (When facing goblins, attack power will increase 10%)

Strength - 80

Agility - 45

Intellect - 45

Vitality - 30

Dexterity - 30

Unique Skill - Firebolt, Thunder Strike, Essence of Thunder.

Passive skills: Dash, Wake Attack, Aerial Evasion, Courage, Relieve, Auto Block.]

Active Skills: Circle Break, Impact Wave, Triple s***h, Moonlight Splitter. ]

According to the information laid out in his field of vision, he lost 48 health and 168 mana. Maybe the adrenaline rush surging inside his blood vessels made the pain he had incurred from the fight not registered.

Now, it seems like he doesn’t need to use low-grade health and mana potion for this. He only has three of them each.

The buffs cast by Christine are still in effect, how does he know that? Well in the upper right of his field of vision, there is a health and mana bar there, under it, four passive that gradually turns grey in every second. 

Now, ready to fight, Ernest dashed forward. 

The Lamias did the same. 

And then. Ernest swung his sword upward but was repelled by two sets of swords by Lamia. 

It sneered, celebrating that he blocked Ernest’s attack. He was infuriated. 

Dodging blades is not worth celebrating.

The big one, who is the boss, exchanged blows after blows with Ernest. She was releasing a flurry of blades that came in all directions, but Ernest swiftly and neatly dodge it using his agile fleet work with no margin of error.

The reason is that he can see through its attack. In his perspective, everything slowed down to the speed of a snail. Her blades move like a snail, giving Ernest an opportunity to sidestepped it with ease.

Then at every dodge, Ernest launched a counterattack. His sword is long enough to reach her monstrous body. He successfully scratched its skin, blood flowed out from it, painting the glossy white skin red.

 All of it happened in a short amount of time. Ernest landed ten strikes while Lamia landed none.

Lamia's face contorted in pain. It whined from Ernest’s blade. Tormented. She was furious, blood vessels from her veins started to bulge as if starting to explode. 

And at that moment, Ernest was cornered by a series of frantic blows. Her dexterity increased. Every blade was fast enough to form a mirage. Ernest was now having trouble blocking it as it overwhelmed his vision. 

So this is the power of the B-Class dungeon boss huh? 

The three Lamia, who seem to be her personal guards, joined in the onslaught. They fanned out, encircling him, and concentrated their attack.

Ernest swiftly reacted. As the boss delivered her powerful blow, Ernest rode the force of the strike and swiftly leaped backward, widening the distance between them. 

Successfully, he evades his death. If he were one second late, he could die from their all-out attack.

Upon landing, Ernest raised his sword above his head and slammed it down. Creating a linear shockwave that traverses towards the Lamia. Receiving it, they were knocked down.

He knew that he couldn't confront them all at once. The four of them are good at their blade. He can’t simultaneously and instantaneously block and attack. 

Close combat is a no-go, then long-range it is. 

“Firebolt!” 

On his right fist, a crimson arc of fire coiled around his arm like electricity. He brandished his hand and sent out the bolt towards the unguarded and knocked down Lamia. 

An explosion occurred. It was a direct hit to the boss’s head. But it still moves.

“Not enough huh?” 

“Then, Lightning Strike.”

Black clouds formed, lightning struck down and electrified the four Lamia. They let out a scream of anguish as their skin turned to a crisp.

“Moonlight Splitter.”

A beam of light was fired from the gleaming sword and struck the electrocuted Lamia.

His long-range spell is now on cooldown, but it served its purpose. From the looks of their staggering movement, it seemed as though they were weakened.

A burnt skin, sliced limbs, damaged internal organs. The Lamia’s are now at their weakened state.

But after his series of spells, Ernest also staggered from his breath. Maintaining a straight position is now hard for him.

Fatigue: 43/100.

Checking his fatigue, it was below fifty percent. One could say he is exhausted. But both parties didn’t attack. Putting the battle in a short trance.

Christine, who was watching, asked Ernest. 

“Are you okay? I’m going to cast reinvigoration to you now.” 

Christine aimed her both hands at Ernest. 

‘Another buff skill?’ Ernest thought. 

A warm light covered his body, it eases his pain and recedes his exhaustion. 

[Fatigue: 87/100.]

Ernest can feel the strength returning to him. So this is an invigoration spell huh?

Unfortunately, Lamia doesn’t have such skills. So Ernest took advantage of their weakened state. 

Ernest sprinted, but to one’s eyes, it looked like he blinked. His speed returned. And with that, Ernest uses Triple s***h and fluidly and swiftly cuts the boss underling’s head.

This enraged Lamia. Her weakened state turned into a frenzied state. A monster incapable of rational thoughts was now berserk. 

With a swing of her hand, it hurtled three blades. It was fast. But not fast enough. Ernest sidestepped the two and blocked the last blade. Then the Lamia nonchalantly turned her body.

Ernest narrowed his eyes, puzzled at what he saw. It was like an invitation to cut her head behind. 

No! Ernest immediately noticed her intention. Her half-snake body swept around. He jumped to evade it.

“Moonlight splitter!” 

Ten seconds have passed since he threw that skill. His sword gleamed brightly and with that, he slashed three times. The wind roared.

Three crescent-shaped lights descended but it was blocked by her blades. However, the beam of light was powerful. It shattered her three blades which she used to block.

Now that she is unarmed. Ernest went for the kill. This time, Ernest went to the head.

Suddenly. 

It backflipped. 

A Lamia backflipping made Ernest dumbfounded. It evaded his blade. He turned his head back and saw her tail that arched like a parabola. 

The incoming whip of her tail descended with force enough to squashed a human. Ernest sweated a little bit.

For the first time, he was pumped up. It was different from fighting hundreds of goblins or the bout he had with the B-Class assassin class adventurer. This was different. Even in his weaker days, he had never experienced this before. He had never enjoyed fighting monsters, his reactions were only fight-and-flight responses. So this is how it feels to experience a real battle. 

His newfound strength was being tested by a dungeon boss. He smiled in jubilation, his heart roared telling him that he wanted more. His muscles steeled. 

This experience. It was truly remarkable and exhilarating. At last at this point, he forgot about his weak self. 

‘This is the new me!’ He shouted inwardly, declaring it. 

Tightly gripping the hilt of his sword, he cleaved, the sword undulated.

The Boss, Lamia, cried in pain as it saw its tail being chopped down into three. 

Bloods gushed out from the stumped body, if it goes on, it could die from bleeding.

But Ernest didn’t want to prolong its agony and despair. For a boss granting him the greatest stimulation he had in his life, he decided to grant her a swift death.

Ernest sauntered towards the fleeing Lamia with a sword resting on his shoulder while the tip of the blade was dripping blood. A monster being scared to death. Somehow, deep inside, Ernest was amused by its sorrowful feeling.

“Ah...what a pity,” Ernest said unnaturally, his tone and face turned melancholic. “The sound of blood gushing out and scales being rubbed against the ground. Ahh…Oops.”

Carried by emotion, putting him in a trance, Ernest regained his senses. His goal is to give it a merciful death that frees her from sorrow. 

Raising his one leg, he stomped her quivering body. Looking down with a sword upraised. There’s no hesitation, he brought down his heavy arm.

With its last breath, the dungeon boss died. 

Its body turned into a stone, as well as her followers. And then it crumbled into a million pieces, some were drifting away from the wind, while others became one with the ground.

With just a little help from Christine, he finished the dungeon. Even though he did most of the work by himself, still it was a victory.

Ernest, drenched in sweat, reek of blood, looked at Christine with a bright smile. 

“See? I finished it. Your faith and trust were not wasted.” He chuckled. 

‘Wait.’ 

Ernest scrunched his brows. Something is wrong with her bright energetic face. She should be celebrating right? Like jumping in the air with joy. But how come she is not doing that? She is only looking at him straight in the eye.

Was she surprised that a D-rank adventurer killed a B-rank dungeon boss? Well anyone would be surprised but it was unnatural of her.

He remembered his first time seeing her. A bright energetic full of confidence. However, those traits were not being shown. 

Concerned, Ernest asked.

“What’s wrong Christine? You’re making me feel...alone here.” 

Seconds later, a clap sounded. It was not a genuine clap but an ironic one. 

“As expected, It was worth coming with you here.” 

Ernest tilted his head to the side, puzzled. “What do you mean? Why are you sounding different?”

“A D-rank adventurer who defeated the boss with weak buffs has a quick and nimble movement, displayed mastery in the sword, and not to mention magic. I wonder how it is impossible.” Christine stroked her chin.

Ernest felt something was odd, and he was right. 

“What are you insinuating?” 

“I’m insinuating that maybe you were awakened?” 

“Awakened?” 

Ernest heard those words. Recalling his memories, it was when he was hospitalized. Two associates from the Red Dragon told those words to him saying that he had awakened. Although they had him tested and tested negative. 

“That’s right. Even though three months ago I learned about your title as the ‘lowest of the lowest’. There’s no way someone like you can achieve such unprecedented growth.” 

She sounded serious, her charming smooth voice was nowhere to be heard.

“I don’t understand. I was tested negative. If you don’t believe me then take it up with the Red Dragons.”

“Oh? The Red Dragons already visited you? They sure act quickly.” 

“What is this?” Ernest muttered. 

“You know the double dungeon incident?” She changed the topic, “Where did eight adventurers die? You were there right? The occurrence of double dungeons is around 0.000000356% and bosses there are hard to deal with but you were the only one alive. Why is that? Ever since that day, all guilds and higher-ups were all eyes on you.” 

“My memories about that dungeon are not clear. I was wondering why I survived.” Ernest lied. There’s no way he would tell the source of his secret.

Christine narrowed her brows, “Then explain your unprecedented power growth?” 

“I exercised every day. It was effective if you were to ask me.” 

“In one week? I don’t think so. Your body is weak, to begin with.” Christine sighed, “You’re lying aren’t you?” 

“What is it with you all and awakening?” 

“Who knows. It was a rare occasion anyway so when one were to awakened then that person could tip the balance of power.” Christine lowered her body and picked the stone, “I remembered that an awakened person has godly reflexes. Can I test it?” Christine hurled the stone in his hand with enough force to make the air roar. 

Ernest tilted his head to the side, avoiding it. “What the…” 

Ernest was surprised. It was so fast that it even broke the sound barrier. Isn’t she supposed to be in a healer class? 

“So it was true. You were awakened.” 

“I won’t call it awakening.” 

“You’re not lying...you’re a mysterious one, Ernest.” 

“What was that attack about?” Ernest asked, furious. “You could’ve killed me. Why go that far to test me?” 

“Stop whining…” Christine ignored, “Now that I confirmed you’re an awakened one. I’ll give you two choices. One is to join the Mad Lions Guild and the other is your death.”