Gallery 53 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 53 Night Raid (2)

If it was carelessness, then I was careless. If it was complacency, then I was complacent. That was my thought as I faced the golden eyes glowing in the darkness.

The most dangerous time in the forest is night. A night where all light has vanished, and only darkness has descended.

Still, I suffer relatively few penalties from darkness.

I don’t know why, but I could see into the darkness to some extent.

But right now, I couldn't help but resent that ability.

'This is fucking insane. Its size is...!'

A pair of eyes shining menacingly in the darkness.

Because I could fully make out the owner of those eyes.

Overall, it looked like a tiger, but long fangs protruded out of its mouth.

What’s scarier than anything else is its size. The fact that I can see its eyes above the barricade in front of me.

For reference, the barricade the dwarf had gifted me was taller than me.

Just considering the height alone, it was easily over 2 meters in build.

'A quadrupedal beast has higher eye level than me......?'

It's an unbelievable level. That’s why it's in the Forest of Four Seasons.

A wave of despair already washed over me, but an instinct pushed it back.

The instinct to survive. I gripped my sword and shield tightly.

"Grrrrr...!"

As if sensing my fighting spirit, the tiger issued a threat.

It was clearly a simple threat, but my legs trembledand my body stiffened.

It was fortunate that I had mentally prepared myself. If I had run into it unexpectedly, I would have fainted.

"Huu. Huu. Huu."

I intentionally controlled my breathing.

The pressure was so terrifying that breathing would have been difficult if I didn't consciously focus.

Could I really fight and win against that monster? Just looking at it, it seemed much stronger than the mother Owlbear.

'Could it be that the mother Owlbear moved her dwelling because of that guy?'

There's a high probability. If it were just scouting, she wouldn't have brought Round Fluff out.

This guy was essentially no different from a thug. And a thug whose very encounter put your life in danger.

I desperately wanted to run away right then, but I held it in.

‘Running away here would be even more dangerous.’

Round Fluff is still sleeping in the cave, and it's still dark all around, so it will be a long time before the sun rises.

Even if I ran, the fact that it was dangerous didn't change.

'Hoping it retreats is the best option...'

Predatory beasts that primarily hunt are cautious.

Because their energy efficiency is extremely poor, if they get injured and lose their hunting ability, they easily starve to death.

So if they judge something to be dangerous, they often back off. The problem is, the chances of that are terribly slim.

Just compare the size of the tiger in front of me to myself. Even the difference in eye level is at least a whole head.

I'm a literal bite-sized. There is only one thing I can do now.

Shhhhhh—

Raising aura on my sword and shield. Even in the darkness, blue heat haze rose up.

Like a porcupine raising its quills. If you want to hunt me, you'd better be prepared.

Perhaps sensing the unusual energy, the tiger did not recklessly advance and instead paced around outside the barricade.

'I'm really glad I built a barricade.'

If there hadn't been a barricade, the tiger would have come right up to me.

Even if it attacked, having to leap over the barricade gave me more time.

‘Please leave. Please leave. Please leave.’

I prayed over and over in my heart. But the tiger just kept pacing around the barricade.

Cold sweat flowed down my cheek and my hands were drenched in sweat.

Just how much time passed in that state of extreme tension?

“Grrrrrr...!”

The tiger stopped still and then began to slowly back away.

Seeing that, I thought it was retreating and my face brightened, but then I realized something was strange.

'Don't they usually turn their whole body to leave?'

But that giant tiger was only backpedaling.

As if backing away to leap cleanly over the barricade.

"Ah."

Sure enough.

Thud!

"Shit."

The tiger that had backed away charged forward and leaped lightly over the barricade.

A nimble and smooth jump that didn't suit its massive frame.

Now right in front of me, the tiger exuded the overwhelming presence of a ‘mountain king’.

"Keuang!"

The tiger that had come right up to me opened its maw wide and charged.

Was it the pressure the tiger was giving off? Or the sheer fear that I was going to die?

For a moment my breathing stopped and my body wouldn't move. My body didn't feel like my own body.

'Move.'

I must move. But I couldn't.

'Move.'

I commanded endlessly. But my body refused my head's orders.

Before long, a maw that seemed ready to chew up my head in one bite reached right up to my nose.

If this goes on, my head will go into that mouth. And then what?

Could a headless body even move?

Grip!

"Keuk!"

In the illusion of time slowing down, someone yanked my clothes.

As a result, my balance shifted backwards and my body was forced to move.

Kwak!

It happened in an instant. The tiger’s huge jaws bit into empty air.

If it had been even slightly later, it would have chewed my skull instead of empty air.

Thud!

“Urgh!”

I fell on my butt and regained my senses.

Not only that, but I bit my tongue as I fell.

I could feel that sharp sting spread throughout my entire body.

"Kkeoheong!"

The tiger’s roar pierced my eardrums. I hurriedly looked up.

Normally, it would’ve followed up with another attack, but the tiger didn’t. Quite the opposite.

It was shaking its head as if in pain.

It was hard to grasp what on earth was happening, but this was an opportunity.

I hurriedly got up from my spot and got into my stance.

Thanks to that, I could see what was making the tiger in pain.

Slash! Slash!

It was DizSpeed. DizSpeed had clung to the tiger’s face and was slashing it with its claws.

The tiger swung its front paw to somehow tear him off, but who was DizSpeed?

He’s a creature with such excellent dynamic visual acuity and agility that he can even snatch a fired arrow.

Even for a tiger, shaking it off easily would be difficult.

Whoosh!

However, it seems the innate difference in weight class couldn't be overcome.

The tiger shook its head violently, and DizSpeed was flung far away.

Fortunately, the direction he flew was also toward me, so I could catch him without any particular problem.

Even saying I caught him, all I did was adjust my position to make it easier for him to climb onto my back.

'So this little guy pulled me.'

I think I know who grabbed my collar. DizSpeed saved my life.

My gratitude was short-lived as I turned my gaze to the tiger DizSpeed had been clinging to.

There were scratch marks on its face, but they were minor.

'Right. I can't die like this.'

I flicked my tongue. The taste of blood lingered from biting it when I fell.

That taste awakened my body and mind. My body wouldn't freeze again.

"Kkeoheong!"

The tiger, glaring at us, lunged again with its maw wide open.

Until just now I had been busy trembling in fear, but not anymore.

I judged and moved my body as coolly and calmly as possible.

'I can't get bitten. The moment it bites me, I'll be seriously injured at the very least.’

I could tell just by looking at those sharp fangs. Not to mention the overwhelming size difference.

Being gulped down in one bite would take no time at all. It's best to go into this with the mindset that one hit means death.

Kwak!

The tiger’s maw closed and let out a deadly sound.

I barely managed to dodge by moving to the right just before the tiger pounced.

I never forgot SwordMaster-nim’s advice. To never stand still and to always keep my legs moving.

It seemed to work on this tiger just like it did on the giant crab.

Thwang!

“Keukk....!”

But this guy is agile, unlike the giant crab.

The moment I tried to swing my sword, its massive paw came swiping down.

I barely blocked with my shield, but the impact was terrifying.

'I can't forget to breathe. With the feeling of drawing out all my strength.'

While I was thinking, the tiger lunged again.

Because of the size difference, even a casual swipe of its paw was hard for me to handle.

Especially every time it pressed down with its front paw from above to below, I couldn't help but stagger.

Thud!

The one silver lining is that it shows a small opening every time I dodge to the side.

Each time it opened its jaws wide to bite, its movements became exaggerated and create gaps if I could just evade.

Kwak!

"Keoeong!"

"Ah."

Different sounds came from the tiger's mouth and mine.

The tiger let out a roar of pain, and I let out a sigh.

Cutting it with my sword was fine. But I only managed to slice halfway.

The tiger's hide was tougher than I imagined.

'Even with HeavenlyDemon's sword and aura wrapped around it?'

No wonder the mother Owlbear ran away with Round Fluff.

Still, losing over half its foreleg must've weakened it somewhat.

If it swings its paw in that state, it should fall off...

“Kuaaah!”

"?"

But this was strange. It was definitely cut in half, so why was it swinging its front paw?

My confusion was brief as I urgently raised my shield to protect my body.

Kaang!

"Keuk!"

The shock was far stronger than before. My body floated into the air and was thrown backward.

At least I didn't land on my back, thanks to DizSpeed, who was clinging to it and act as a brake.

"Kkeoheooong!"

"Ugh!"

The tiger's attack didn't stop. I barely dodged by rolling my body just before the tiger pounced on top of me.

DizSpeed also escaped with its usual swift movements. There was no follow-up strike.

It seemed torn between which of us to attack first.

During that time, I was able to get up and reorganize.

‘No way! Don't tell me it regenerated?!'

I widened my eyes and glared at the tiger's front paw.

The forepaw that had been sliced halfway was now perfectly restored.

It was the same for the face that DizSpeed had scratched earlier. Everything was clean.

Its durability was already terrifying, but to have regenerative ability on top of that.

No wonder it charged despite the threat. It could just regenerate afterward.

"Fucking hell."

"Kheooong!"

While I muttered under my breath, the tiger opened its jaws wide and charged.

It seemed to have decided to kill me first instead of the hard-to-catch DizSpeed.

Truly a rational judgment. But I had no intention of dying obediently.

'When I get the chance, I'll strike with all my might.'

Not just halfway, I'll sever it completely.

Even with excellent regenerative abilities, it would be difficult to recover from a severe wound like amputations.

If it recovers even from that, well... I'll just have to go all out.

Thung!

The tiger's front paw struck the golden shield hard.

Since I was prepared, I only staggered back slightly without being sent flying.

But blocking once doesn't mean it's over.

The tiger’s way of fighting was persistence itself. It never backed down.

‘There’s a barricade behind me.’

As I defended while backing away, I eventually had no choice but to put my back against the barricade.

The tiger seemed to consider this an opportunity as it raised its front paw high.

The opportunity had come. I watched the front paw strike until the very end.

Right before it hit me, I swiftly dodged to the right.

Kwajijik! Kwajik!

The barricade made of sturdy wood was smashed to pieces.

If I had been hit squarely by that, my head would have been crushed.

But what got crushed wasn't me, it was the barricade.

As the barricade took the hit from the front paw instead, the tiger also had no choice but to hesitate slightly.

"Euryaaaaah!"

I poured all my strength into attacking its front leg, driving HeavenlyDemon's sword infused with mana into it.

Aura not like shimmering heat, but blazing like flames. This should be enough.

Seogok!

"Kkeoheoooong!!"

And the result was excellent. The tiger's right front paw was severed.

With one of the limbs supporting that huge body cut off, the tiger had no choice but to wobble.

"Kraaaaa!"

But the tiger was still standing strong.

Even though its front paw was severed, it maintained its balance and opened its mouth wide at me.

I had let my guard down slightly, so I was late to dodge. Too late to block with my shield.

I instinctively thrust the arm holding the shield forward.

Kkaang!

"Keoheong?!"

The golden shield went into the tiger's maw. The shield got stuck right in its mouth.

The tiger seemed completely flustered, clearly not expecting the shield to get lodged in its mouth.

It tried somehow to spit it out, but since it was properly stuck, it kept opening and closing its mouth repeatedly.

‘Now!’

I let go of the shield and gripped HeavenlyDemon's sword with both hands.

Then I drove the sword straight into the tiger's throat.

Puk!

Even a tiger's tough hide is weak against a thrust.

The tiger let out a pained scream as the sword stabbed into its throat.

But because the golden shield was properly stuck in its mouth, it only made strange sounds.

I took this as an opportunity and forcibly twisted the sword that had dug into his neck.

Chwaaak!

The sword began to slice through the tiger's neck very slowly.

Even though I held it with both hands and not just one.

It seems that with the tiger's powerful regeneration and durability combined, even HeavenlyDemon's sword, filled with aura, was having a hard time cutting through.

"Kkeoeoeong!"

"Aaargh!"

The tiger began to claw at my body with its remaining front paw.

Its sharp claws felt like they were slicing my body like a shredder.

Fortunately, I was able to minimize the damage thanks to the uniform that ChaengguPrincess gifted me.

Nevertheless, I could feel blood flowing freely under my clothes.

It was the pain of the tiger’s claws ripping out chunks of my flesh.

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

Riiip!

I used every last ounce of my strength to move the sword with both hands.

It felt like I was cutting through hide and flesh. It was extremely unpleasant, but survival came first.

Chwaaaak!

Bright red blood burst from its neck like a fountain. The tiger's blood began to drench my body.

Now it was a race against time. Would the tiger finish shredding my body first, or would I cut through its neck first?

With the resolve to completely decapitate the tiger, I held onto the sword until the very end.

Clang!

At that moment, a metallic sound reached my ears. I unknowingly turned my head toward the sound.

It was the golden shield, now crushed to the point of being completely destroyed, having reached the end of its life. The golden shield that was stuck in the tiger's mouth.

That sound meant the tiger had spat out the golden shield.

"Kraaaaa!"

Kwadeudeuk!

And it means the tiger's freed mouth was more than enough to bite me.

I quickly twisted my body.

“Kuaaagh!”

It hurt. Hot and painful as if molten lava had been poured on the wound.

The tiger bit my shoulder. Its long fangs pierced through my body and came out the other side.

At least twisting my body kept it from getting my head.

"Aaaargh! Uwaaargh!"

"Grrrrrrrk...!!"

Instead, my right shoulder was completely ruined. Even the bones must have been shattered.

But I couldn’t give up after coming this far. I refused to let go of the sword until the end.

With my right shoulder ruined, I could only use my left hand, but that's fine. It's not like both my hands were destroyed.

‘Please die. Please…!’

Blood had definitely erupted like a fountain when I cut its neck. Yet this creature struggled to the very end.

Just how much longer do I have to keep this up? I could feel my consciousness fading away.

Just as the strength was about to leave my body completely, something unexpected happened.

Puook!

"Kheoooooooo!!"

The tiger that had been biting my shoulder suddenly lifted its head.

As it did, its sharp fangs tore free from my shoulder.

Wondering what on earth was happening, I looked up.

Puuook! Puk!

DizSpeed.

DizSpeed was poking the tiger’s eye with his sharp claws.

No matter how fierce a tiger is, it has no choice but to go wild when its eyes are stabbed.

With only one front paw left, it couldn’t shake DizSpeed off.

My daze was brief, and I didn’t miss this opportunity.

My left hand was still stubbornly gripping the sword.

'With this one strike...!'

The tiger, having lost a front paw, had long lost its balance.

It was the perfect timing to target the head.

“Uaaaaaah!”

I waited for the moment the tiger tumbled to the ground.

Stabbing precisely toward the space between its brows. This was the best I could aim for.

DizSpeed seemed to sense my intent, leaping away just before I struck.

The tiger was still too busy recovering its injured eye until then.

"Keurung...!"

The tiger’s eye was soon regenerated. The tiger shook its head and came to its senses.

But perhaps because it had lost so much blood earlier, its movements were considerably slower.

This was a golden opportunity for me.

Puook!

HeavenlyDemon’s sword plunged precisely between the tiger’s brows.

Normally, it should have thrashed about, but as I said before, the creature was also exhausted.

Especially having lost too much blood, it couldn't even react.

Chwaaaaak!

I dragged the sword straight up.

Then HeavenlyDemon's sword emerged from the top of its head. The tiger's head portion split in half.

Even a creature with fast regeneration would die if the most importan brain was destroyed.

Shudder, shudder—

The tiger, its brain split in half, trembled violently.

Just in case it could still regenerate, I decided to turn its head into a beehive.

Puuk! Puuk! Puuk!

How many times did I stab its face?

The tiger maintained its balance while staggering even without front paws, then collapsed with a thud!

Its body was so massive that the fall alone made the earth shake.

‘Ah, not yet. Have to confirm the kill....'

This creature had strong regenerative abilities. It could pretend to be dead like this and then revive.

Even in my hazy state, I moved the sword. I had to decapitate it first.

Only by cleanly cutting off the tiger’s head could I feel at ease.

Jwaaaak! Jjeojeok! Jeugeoeok!

While I was doing my best to decapitate the tiger's head.

Thump—

My consciousness ended there.

---

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