Only I Am A Reader

'I will be right back.'

As excited as Leo was to take his planned position, he immediately suppressed all of his living signatures at the moment Yeon clashed with Geochin, announcing the start of the battle!

Although he was now one of the Four Pillars who stood at the very front, no one from the Liberation Army seemed to realize that he had disappeared into the crowd. After all, the Heavenly Strength Society didn't loudly announce its state of affairs like the Grand Families and Great Sects used to do before they were wiped out.

All that the ragtag group of Unrestrained Martial Artists had in mind was to keep all their peers on the other side busy, going for the kill whenever they had the chance to. Someone who didn't make his presence known couldn't catch their interest.

'I need to make a difference before tapping out.'

Despite all of the chances and fortuitous opportunities that he snagged or chanced upon as Baekho, Leo fully understood that he wasn't a protagonist protected by plot armor.

He couldn't just do whatever he desired without fear of the consequences. Yes, Leo was an Unrestrained Martial Artist, possessing the common highest hierarchy of power, but so were all the main fighters in this war!

He couldn't just use some special move to take down ten with him before miraculously coming back to life, nor could he run around the battlefield, one-shotting everyone using some mysteriously lethal object. However…

'I can use the element of surprise to balance the scales!'

Leo's main purpose was still to confront Geochin, but he had to leave that to Yeon for now, she was the most suitable opponent to hold him back without suffering any losses.

As unsatisfactory as it was, Leo had to lurk for the beginning phase, waiting for both the allies and enemies to get used to the tempo of a prolonged battle before picking an easy target that wouldn't be able to respond in time.

Although that would only work out one time, that was all Leo needed, a psychological shock!

'Wait for it…'

While Yeon and Geochin's battle grew intense, Leo exchanged blows with the most normal 1st rate Martial Artist he found using a sword he picked up from the ground.

He didn't linger for long nor did he kill his opponent. Instead, he exchanged 'dance partners' as he moved between his prey, waiting for the right moment!

'Wait for it…'

With the help of face alteration techniques that were easy to use at his current level, Leo made sure he didn't stick out like a sore thumb before finally settling down close to Cheon Chang.

From his observation, there was no better target than three cowards ganging up on the Absolute Spear!

Despite there being three of them, Cheon Chang's ability could be said to have crossed the border of the Unrestrained stage, something that even Leo was surprised with, but that was also why the Liberation Army's Martial Artists gave up on taking him down alone.

They only wanted to hold him down just like Geochin!

With that decision already established, Leo noticed how one amongst them specifically started being careless. He was slightly letting his guard down and acting on his basic battle routine, making him ready to get bashed on the back of his head.

'It's my turn to use that special move!'

Ditching one last opponent, Leo released everything he was holding back as the Silver Dragon appeared in his hand, the Black Dragon was ready to fly!

Without any more delay, Leo unleashed his Internal Energy Telekinesis, doubling up the pressure on the relaxed QingCheng Elder as deathly electricity charged up his spear. Before anyone could react, the monster was already launched!

Bang!

Though not as impactful as Cheon Chang's, a streak of black lightning instantly fell down from the sky, using the Silver Dragon impaled into the poor Elder's neck to conduct shock throughout his whole body, leaving him gasping for breath.

Swish!

All it took Leo to finish things up was to call back his Spear from the man's neck before he collapsed into the ground.

"One down!"

The first casualty was on the Liberation Army's side, and the chance to slowly turn things around had been granted. Though this didn't directly decide the result of this battle, Leo had no plans to butt in any further.

This wasn't just about him, this was first and foremost the Heavenly Strength Society's stand. The tide of the battle wasn't his to change, nor was he capable of doing so. He only did his best to make an impact as a Reader, but now…

"I will take it from here."

It was time for him to handle what he fully acknowledged to be his one and only responsibility, the protagonist!

The very first thing he saw once he set foot into this world was the main quest tasking him with killing the protagonist. This wasn't just a recent development where he decided to do so since he was a threat to his new family, this was already decided upon long ago!

Geochin's past was definitely messed up, but that didn't give him the right to make this much of a scene in response to it. He had to be put down for everyone's sake… Including his very own.

"...Are you sure?"

Yeon and Geochin's battle had momentarily paused thanks to the commotion that Leo had made, but a player switch wasn't instantly concluded either. Although Yeon trusted Leo, a 2v1 sounded like a much better option.

"..."

Leo gazed into Yeon's eyes instead of answering. He couldn't explain everything now, but banding up against a protagonist was the worst decision one could make. Even if he didn't magically power up to a level where he could destroy them both, he would still be able to take them on somehow.

Besides, setting Yeon free of this stalemate and letting her loose on the battlefield would be much more advantageous to the Society!

Swish!

"He is all yours!"