Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 221

Su-ho used the Gi Seung-hwan right away.

[ You have consumed Gi Seung-hwan. ]

[ Absorbing all the skill experience contained within Gi Seung-hwan. ]

[ Please select the skill you wish to enhance. ]

A list of skills appeared in front of his eyes.

From the many available options, Su-ho selected Mana Detection.

And then he kept taking more.

[ The skill experience from Gi Seung-hwan is being absorbed into Mana Detection. ]

[ Absorption complete. ]

[ The skill experience from Gi Seung-hwan is being absorbed into Mana Detection. ]

[ Absorption complete. ]

[ The skill experience from Gi Seung-hwan is being absorbed into Mana Detection. ]

[ Absorption complete. ]

......

Currently, Mana Detection was at A-rank.

Naturally, the goal was to reach S-rank.

And after consuming a few more Gi Seung-hwans—

[ Your understanding of Mana Detection has greatly increased. ]

[ The system is reassessing your innate talent. ]

[ Congratulations! The rank of your advanced skill has been adjusted to S-rank. ]

[ Mana Detection information has been updated with an additional effect. ]

At last, Mana Detection was upgraded to S-rank.

Su-ho immediately checked the skill’s updated info.

[ Mana Detection ]

– Rank: S

Detect external mana using enhanced senses.

The density and range of detectable mana vary depending on skill rank.

At the highest rank, Mana Detection distinguishes finer and broader mana wavelengths through a significantly heightened sensory perception.

Su-ho smiled after reading the skill description.

Just one additional line—but no one understood the power of that line better than he did.

He activated Mana Detection again.

A blue aura coated his eyes, and a world unlike anything he’d seen before unfolded before him.

Previously, he could only see the outer layer of things like Volcanic Bats and Volcanites, but now their interiors were visible.

Specifically, he could now see each entity’s mana emission point and the flow of mana within their bodies.

Seeing the mana emission point.

That was an incredibly important development.

Unless they were born with regenerative physical traits like trolls, most regenerating monsters healed themselves through mana.

In other words, destroy the mana emission point—and they couldn’t regenerate anymore.

Su-ho picked up his Blood Sword again.

Then swung at the Volcanite in front of him.

[ Iron Slash activates. ]

Slash!

The Volcanite’s mana emission point was around the solar plexus.

So he cut through the solar plexus.

The creature’s body split diagonally from the shoulder, collapsing to both sides before disintegrating into the ground.

[ You have defeated an Ashen Volcanite. ]

Striking the emission point killed it in a single blow.

However—

Whoosh!

The Blood Sword still caught fire.

“Hmm.”

Su-ho stared at the flaming blade for a moment.

So that part was unavoidable, huh?

After a brief thought, he unsummoned the flaming sword and conjured a new Blood Sword.

Then slashed at the next creature.

[ Cross Slash activates. ]

Slash!

The sword technique he used was Cross Slash.

And as soon as he checked the Blood Sword after the strike, the corners of his mouth curled up.

Because this time—no flames.

‘Right. The key is not touching it at all.’

Cross Slash was a sword technique that cuts the inside, not the surface, of the target.

Back in the pre-Cataclysm era, such a technique would've been completely impossible—but in the post-Cataclysm world, these surreal sword skills had become real.

After all, any unusual sword techniques beyond basic slashing and stabbing were manifestations of awakened abilities.

Thanks to that, one of the trickiest problems was solved, and Su-ho began swinging his sword without restraint.

[ You have defeated an Ashen Volcanite. ]

[ You have defeated an Ashen Volcanite. ]

[ You have defeated an Ashen Volcanite. ]

[ You have defeated an Ashen Volcanite. ]

......

It was all smooth.

Regenerating Volcanites were taken out in one hit by targeting their mana emission points, and Cross Slash kept the blade from catching fire, meaning no blood loss either.

While he was at it, he used Cloud Slash to take out the Volcanic Bats as well.

Of course, the bats kept reappearing from who-knows-where every time he killed one, but since EXP was still EXP, he kept cutting them down as they came.

And so, he slowly advanced forward.

‘This isn’t too bad.’

The heat was the biggest issue in volcanic Gates.

That’s why fireproof gear was important—but since he had focused exclusively on heat resistance during preparation, environmental factors weren’t much of an issue.

That’s when—

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—

The mountain began to shake.

Su-ho stopped walking and looked around.

“Pwuoooooo!”

A cry rang out from somewhere.

It sounded eerily like an elephant’s trumpet.

And as the cry ended—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Loud bangs echoed one after another.

What the hell?

Did the volcano erupt?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It didn’t take long to realize the source of the explosions.

Whoooosh!

At the sound of rushing wind, Su-ho looked up.

And saw meteors raining down toward him.

It wasn’t a mistake.

As if someone had taken aim, the meteors were falling directly at his position.

“Shit.”

Su-ho started running.

He wanted to slash them apart—but doing that would just light his sword on fire again.

So instead of destroying them, he chose to dodge.

After all, meteors couldn’t be neutralized with Cross Slash.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ground exploded with each meteor crashing behind him.

They weren’t small, either.

Each was at least 150 centimeters wide—and they were falling uncomfortably close to him, as if equipped with homing features.

All Su-ho could do was keep sprinting until they stopped.

Sssssss!

“Dammit!”