This time, I couldn''t rely on my flames, as it wouldn''t stop still on the ground. I had to wait for the right moment to act. Somehow, I managed to trick her into believing that I was vulnerable, ready to be attacked in a blind spot.


    But just as she approached, I surprised her. With a quick spin, I kicked her into the wall with all my strength. The impact was enough to stun it, and the rest... well, another point for the flames.


    The salamander, although weaker than the three previous opponents, stood out for its cunning. Its ability to disappear before my eyes and its speed of movement in this terrain made it a formidable opponent. However, I eventually deciphered her pattern, which allowed me to detect her even without seeing her.


    But the surprise came when I realized that she was immune to flames. Even with the imbued corrosion, it resisted heat, which would normally be my greatest asset. As it was far away from me, I had to get closer, but it wouldn''t be easy.


    As well as resistance, the salamander had the ability to spit out an extremely hot, acid-like liquid. I discovered this painfully when I was hit in the arm. I expected to feel great pain but, to my surprise, that wasn''t the case. Instead, I felt a kind of immunity... another point for Syphus'' resistance.


    Since she was immune to heat, I had to resort to my newly acquired skill. With a [Void Breath] aimed at a small area, I managed to knock her down and crush her with my feet. Although that last part wasn''t the most pleasant, I was forced to do it. And so, as I did with the crocodile, I did with the others.


    To my surprise, the corrosion had no effect on these creatures. At first, I thought there was nothing more I could do, but once again, Syphus impressed me indirectly.


    When I tried to purify them, even though they weren''t corroded, I realized that I was absorbing something from them. I discovered that, in fact, the gift to purify was more related to an [Absorption]. In short, I can inherit some aspects and abilities from the creatures I face, including their elemental characteristics.


    That made sense. Corrosion, although centered on impurities and destruction, fell into the category of elements. If I had really been purifying something, my healing power would have been activated. But instead, I was using an [Absorption] skill.


    When I absorbed the giant spider, I inherited its webs, more precisely its [Electrified Webs]. In addition, I acquired [Paralysis Resistance], a result of the electricity in the webs, and the ability to create fine, extremely resistant [Silk Threads].


    I took advantage of this ability to make a makeshift cloak. Since I didn''t know how to knit a sweater or shorts, I opted for something simpler. Although my scales already covered me, I felt uncomfortable, so I decided to do something about it. It wasn''t my most perfect work, after all, I was improvising. I used a thin scale from my left arm as a needle.


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    I spent hours creating the fabric, leaving a hole for my arms to pass through. Now, at least, I wasn''t completely naked, although my cloak was nothing fancy. I may have broken a few fashion laws, but that wasn''t my priority at the moment.


    Besides, I inherited talents related to body enhancements. When I did it with the spider, I wasn''t reluctant, but I realized that I could gain extra arms or legs without knowing it. Fortunately, none of this happened, and I breathed a sigh of relief.


    With the mole, I inherited its [Razor Claws]. The tips of my fingers, more specifically my fingernails, became extremely resistant, capable of cutting through boulders with a simple scratch. What''s more, they became retractable and could be lengthened or shortened at will.


    This ability also extended to my feet, which would allow me to crush stones with a simple stomp. The scales on my body also changed, becoming thornier, reinforcing my body armor with [Body Thorns]. However, over-excited, I ended up tearing my cloak in the process and had to stop to fix it, which cost me an hour.


    Even so, sharp claws and electrified webs weren''t enough to stop the salamander. At this point, my cloak was practically destroyed, and the time it would take me to mend it became a secondary concern.


    The salamander had a range of interesting abilities, and I ended up inheriting some of them. One of them was [Ultraviolet Vision], which allows me to see heat sources, which is especially useful in dark environments, as I can now detect the presence of heat with my eyes. However, this vision has its drawbacks: I can only see heat sources, which makes it less useful in certain situations.


    I also inherited its [Camouflage], but unlike it, mine doesn''t last as long. While the salamander could camouflage itself for up to ten minutes, mine only lasts about two, and I''m still visible in some places. Despite this, this ability can be useful, especially in situations where I need to avoid unnecessary conflicts.


    Finally, I inherited his [Acid Spit]. Although I don''t need to go into too much detail, I can say that it was a rather unpleasant experience. Fortunately, the herbs from the cave helped clear the bitter taste from my mouth.


    [Vacuum Breath], [Reinforced Scales], [Electrified Webs], [Silk Thread], [Razor Claws], [Body Thorn], [Ultraviolet Vision], [Camouflage], [Acid Spit] - these are the skills I''ve inherited so far. Before, I complained about the lack of resources, but now I have a range of new skills, while still discovering my own. Syphus was right to tell me to learn for myself; it motivated me to keep going and see what other things I could learn beyond this dark place.


    I kept walking, and little by little, more cracks began to reveal beams of light. I was beginning to believe that I was close to the exit.


    ***


    After a few minutes of walking, I found something surprising: a gate! Without a doubt, this was the exit. Lights shone through its crack, and I knew it wasn''t a trap or a boss room. I was standing in front of something made by human hands, and for someone who had spent almost a month in this dungeon, that was a significant step forward. The gate was large, perhaps ten meters, and its material seemed extremely resistant. I don''t think even my flames could melt it, but who knows, if I use the [Razor Claws], I might be able to clear the way...