When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword

Chapter 21 Black Cat’s Claw

Demons don’t often reveal themselves in public.

They usually lurk in high-risk areas or have hideouts in remote places. And only when they are about to kill someone do they expose their terrifying forms to the public.

Therefore, it’s only natural that Amethyst, who is still only fifteen and relatively inexperienced, has never encountered a demon until now. It’s also understandable that she would be frightened when seeing a demon for the first time.

“Why, why is a demon in a place like this…?”

Amethyst asked in a trembling voice, and the cat-like demon widened its eyes in surprise.

“Hmm? ‘Why am I in a place like this?’ You have no right to complain about where I am. Don’t act like this whole world belongs to humans or something.”

The cat woman shrugged in exasperation.

However, Amethyst did not mean to inquire in that sense. She rephrased her question.

“Well, right now, adventurer exams are taking place in this area. The examiners should have done a survey, and they should still be on high alert. So, why…?”

There’s a demon in this area?

As Amethyst was about to ask this, she suddenly realized. The cat demon had emerged from the inexplicable “disturbance” earlier, as if reverting its previously “invisible” form.

“The ability to become invisible…”

“Nya-ha! As expected, you’ve got quite the intuition. Indeed, there were some guild folks around here, but with the skill of my [Black Cat’s Hooked Claw], infiltrating is a piece of cake, nya!”

Saying this, the cat demon raised its equipped claw as if showing it off.

In that moment, its body began to turn transparent, like the heat haze Amethyst had seen earlier.

There was no mistake. This cat demon possessed the skill to make itself invisible.

Certainly, with this ability, it could easily enter or lurk in the Seven-Colored Forest during the adventurer exam.

It was a truly terrifying ability. However, seeing it materialize when attacking here, Amethyst thought that the invisibility probably only worked when the creature was stationary.

Or perhaps, it could hardly move while the ability was active.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t expose itself willingly in front of them.

Well, even that alone was a sufficiently formidable power.

Upon realizing this fact, as Amethyst felt fear, the cat demon reappeared. Then, it looked around its surroundings as if checking the state of the forest, wearing a creepy smirk.

“By the way, is there some kind of ‘Adventurer Exam’ going on right now, nya? No wonder there are so many suspicious characters around, nya. I just came into this area to find a ‘single demon,’ nya… Well, this is an unexpected harvest, nya.”

“…?”

An unexpected harvest?

Amethyst furrowed her brows in confusion. The cat demon, as if to convey the meaning of those words, deepened its eerie smile and continued.

“In other words, right now, ‘rookie adventurers’ aiming for the adventurer path are gathering here, nya? I don’t think there’s another ‘delicious hunting ground’ as good as this one anywhere else, nya.”

“…!”

A delicious hunting ground…

Amethyst shivered as she understood the meaning. In a sense, the Seven-Colored Forest was currently a ‘treasure trove’ for demons. No, it might be more accurate to say it was a ‘buffet table’ laid out with luxurious dishes.

Promising talents aspiring to become adventurers. If they were killed, the demon would undoubtedly receive great blessings from the evil god.

In simple terms, it meant they could become stronger very easily.

“A-Are you planning to attack the exam participants? Can you really do such a thing…?”

“No, no, nya, not attacking, but ‘killing,’ nya~. Please don’t get it wrong, nya.”

The cat demon sought clarification with a sinister correction.

Not attacking but killing. This wasn’t said as a joke; it was a definite fact.

Demons could receive blessings from the evil god by ‘killing’ humans. Unlike when humans ‘fight’ against demonic beings to receive blessings from gods, demons couldn’t receive blessings unless they killed humans.

And the purpose of demons becoming stronger was straightforward. In the world of demons, the strong stood at the top. The weak were oppressed and became subservient to the strong. That’s why demons sought strength, and they pursued strength by killing humans.

“I attacked you, of course, to kill you, nya. Seeing you injured like that, I thought it would be very easy to kill you, nya. Well, that’s why I’ll have you become nourishment for my artifact, nya.”

The cat demon said so and approached with the black hooked claws at the ready. Amethyst gritted her teeth as she saw the figure, glancing briefly at Spinel and Lapis, who had been trembling in fear and lost for words since earlier.

(At this rate, all three of us will be killed!)

Knowing that pleading for mercy would be in vain, there was no choice but to “escape” from this situation at all costs. However, could she really escape from this demon while protecting the two who had lost their artifacts?

No, that could be asserted as impossible. Judging by appearances, this demon possessed considerable strength. Even if Spinel and Lapis were in perfect condition and the three of them attacked together, it was uncertain whether they could defeat this formidable opponent.

Facing such a demon and trying to escape while protecting the two? It was clearly an impossible task.

(Then, should I become a decoy to let the two escape…?)

No, that too was a risky gamble. The two were currently without artifacts to fight against demonic beings. In this world, leaving the area under these conditions wasn’t going to be easy. There were no signs of other participants nearby, and it seemed difficult to let only the two escape.

The only option left was…

(Then, the only option is to “win” right here!)

In a moment of thought, Amethyst arrived at that conclusion. Here and now, she had to defeat the demon. If she couldn’t, she would be killed. Above all, if she could achieve victory, the performance of her artifact should increase dramatically. It would undoubtedly result in receiving immense blessings from the gods, causing her level to skyrocket. It was a perfect opportunity for a leap forward. Thinking of it as a chance to dispel her fear, Amethyst solidified her determination.

As a precaution, she checked the durability of her artifact.

Name: Purple Lightning Bracelet

Rank: B Level: 15 Attack Power: 0 Blessings: Strength +0, Durability +50, Agility +80, Magic Power +240, Vitality +100

Magic: [Purple Lightning]

Skill: [Electric Charge]

Durability: 50/50

The durability seemed fine. There was no sign of fatigue for now, so concerns about magic power were also unfounded.

(Please, [Purple Lightning Bracelet])

Amethyst gently touched the bracelet on her right wrist and quietly infused it with her will.

… She didn’t like herself for not becoming the first in the blessing ceremony, but that didn’t mean she disliked the bestowed artifact. On the contrary, she was quite fond of its appearance. It was stylish, compact, and, above all, she found it much better than wearing bulky items like swords or shields. Clumsy weapons didn’t suit a girl like her. Therefore, despite being a B-rank, she liked [Purple Lightning Bracelet] and had no doubts about its performance.

Amethyst glared at the demon with eyes filled with determination. She held her right hand forward, aiming at the approaching demon.

“[Purple Lightning]!”

In an instant, the signal for the start of the battle was raised.