Only I Am A Reader

Swish!

Without any more barriers separating them from their target, the Four Heavenly Beasts jumped at their prey once again. Since both tricky and unknown abilities were now gone, all they needed to do was to display their true combat abilities and fight it out to the last breath!

Crackle!

Being forced to its knees one last time, the Devouring Centaur had no option but to rely on its physical capabilities, using its Phoenix claws to fight back. However, unlike the random black flame orbs, Leo and the others possessed the ability to anticipate and evade the attacks this time.

Most importantly, removing the monster's mobility when it had to face four of them made the task of attack and defense borderline impossible. Even if it actually managed to strike one or two down, whoever was left would make sure to return the damage in double!

Neighhhh!

From a certain point of view, it was disheartening to see such a large creature with a pseudo status of a Transcendent True Beast being played around with just like that, but ever since it landed on the Northern Island on its own without actively trying to leave, the Devouring Centaur had long since lost the option to keep its life.

'I'm just harvesting the crop a little bit earlier than scheduled.'

Whether it was Leo or Geochin, they were both humans acting upon their right to defend their home from invaders with the intent to receive the subsequent spoils in mind. Although the author made it so this was convenient for the protagonist to act on, someone would have come to slay the Phoenix's devourer sooner or later as long as it didn't possess a might comparable to that of a Calamity!

Starting with the level of ability that the Poison Dragon possessed, monsters like that had fewer and fewer opponents that could stand up to them. With their unfair physical and magical advantages, facing them individually was a privilege obtainable for a very minuscule number of Martial Artists. Unless someone was ready to sacrifice himself at the right timing, that conversion ratio was unchangeable…

'That's not for me to worry about though.'

Even when being only one step away from achieving Transcendence, Leo didn't go overconfident enough to stand on the stage untouchable to most of the actual cast of the novel. The protagonist himself didn't possess the ability to do so either.

Every single member of the young generation could only be considered a side character in the battle against monsters. Knowing that, however, Leo still strived to grow stronger so that he could deal with what would follow, this was the battle that he had to fight!

Roar!

Just like Devouring Centaur's fire possessed little to no effect on them, Cheon Yong's Fire Phoenix Energy had no effects on the monster. Thankfully, the future Demon Dragon had already started practicing the martial art that earned him his title in the novel, the Red Dragon's Rampage!

Unlike what its name implied, the martial art didn't possess any inclination towards the fire attribute, only focusing on the essence of a dragon's crushing strength. In a sense, it wasn't that different from the White Tiger's Transfigurations, capitalizing on the simple principle of brute force.

"All at once!"

After delivering severe damage to the ligaments of its forearms, disabling its only method of attack, Leo, Yeon, and Sohee all jumped up to the Devouring Centaur's neck under Cheon Yong's lead. Using both his fist and the sword at the same time, Cheon Yong temporarily turned the monster's tough skin into a soft mess!

'The secret lessons weren't for nothing.'

In addition to many other facts that were never explained in the novel, the reason behind the Demon Dragon's eventual rise in strength was revealed to Leo when he found out that the Heavenly Strength Society's Fist Lord had taken a liking to Cheon Yong.

Having been receiving teaching during the small breaks they returned to Mount Heaven at, the one who had been late to the party finally got his turn. As of now, all four seedlings were lucky enough to receive the four pillars' guidance!

Neighhhhh!

Making use of the chance to stab in his Silver Dragon, Leo's Black Dragon Energy raged through the Devouring Centaur's flesh in an attempt to take revenge for his internal burn wound. At the same time, the four swords that rhythmically slashed at the same instant almost made a perfect circle as the monster's head struggled to remain attached to its body.

Swish!

With that much damage delivered, all it took was for Leo to pump in an additional infusion of White Tiger Energy using the inherent trade of his sword for the deed to be done!

[ Plot change confirmed. Epic event occurrence has been detected. ]

[ The Reader's Character has managed to slay a bonus bonanza monster prepared for the Primary Main Character's taking! ]

[ You have received 423 Reading Points! ]

'Eh?'

Leo could already feel the rush that came with splitting the neck of a giant monster like the Devouring Centaur, but the message he received made him both excited and confused. Was his guess regarding reward settlement after the event's conclusion not right after all?

'Or is it…'

This was the wrong time to think about it, but Leo couldn't stop himself after his mind had already started whirling. If he were to compare the two recent events that he triggered, the only difference was that he was physically involved in this one while having only moved around his pieces the last time…

Partially denying his first guess through this experience, trying to indirectly influence the wheels of turn to change was a more risky endeavor that could possibly result in nothing. However, just by being in the very middle of that change, a diversion was bound to take place.

"Ho?"

Seeing him lost in thought after such a glorious moment, Yeon wore a half-understanding expression as she called out to Leo, returning him to an even happier reality than the one in his mind.

'It's time for looting!'