《Eternal Wrath(LitRPG, System Apocalypse,)》 Chapter 1: Dungeon Trial ¡°AARGH!!!¡± James screamed as he bashed a goblin¡¯s head with an axe. He let his rage do the talking. He was now in a dog-eat-dog world. Survival was his number one goal. There was nothing more dangerous than a man who had nothing to lose. After the terrible day he¡¯d had today before the transfer, he realized that mutualistic relationships were only a pipe dream. And thus, James went axe-crazy on these deplorable humanoids to vent his frustration. It wasn¡¯t hard on his conscience to eradicate these vermin: they were wearing mementos of human flesh in garish necklaces¨Ceyes, ears, someone¡¯s pendant, hung askew. It was the first time James had fought with his life on the line, and surprisingly, he enjoyed it. These four goblins were only equipped with knives, but for an ordinary office worker, they were tough. They showed no fear even when he smashed one of their heads with an axe. A goblin hurled its knife and lacerated his hand. He ignored the stinging pain on his wrist; adrenaline fueled him as he bashed their head with an overhead swing. Then he bashed it again, and again, even when it was clear it was in a death spasm. ¡°HAHAHA!! DIEE!!! DIEE!!¡± He laughed. He barely recognized his own voice¨Cthe slightly manic tinge, the excitement this brawl brought him. He then charged another goblin with his axe. These green demons were only waist tall, and they only had a knife. The knife is the important part. Even if they only had the physique of a kid, If those knives were to stab him, he would still die like other living beings. Such is the unfairness of a weapon. His only advantage was his weapon: his axe. Even when it was merely a foot long, it still had a greater reach than the crude knives the monster was using. Exhaustion began to creep up on James. He was merely an admin staff in a startup company, and gym day was a thing he¡¯d told himself ¡®I¡¯ll go tomorrow¡¯ far too many months in a row. There were only two goblins left¨Che could finish this. He took a deep breath and gave a furious roar. This act of killing had filled him with excitement! It felt like he had found a new purpose in life. Killing monsters, bashing their head to the floor. Seeing them suffer and die was the revenge he had been longing for. Another goblin tried to charge him with its puny knife and he countered with his axe at its ugly body¨Cit did little to dodge. Once it dropped on the floor, grasping at the wound, he charged. He brought the axe up with one resounding scream, and brought it down with such force that the skull split in half like a watermelon. He then did it again, and again. Blood and viscera are now the office attire for my new career, he thought as he panted, surveying the carnage¨Chis carnage, his own bloody and extraordinary violence. ¡°HAHAHAHA!!¡± He laughed and relished the euphoria at the final goblin¨Cwhat was left of it. The axe that had appeared in his hand when he transferred felt better and better in his hand. It felt like this axe had already become a lifelong partner of his. ¡°James four, goblins, zero!¡± He lay sprawled on the ground, his white shirt was stained with blood, goo, and dirt. But he didn¡¯t care. He was now jobless anyway and he didn¡¯t want to find work. All he wanted was vengeance. But to whom? And why? A message flashed before his eyes¨Csome kind of prompt? It was the same prompt as before, the moment before he was transferred here. [Congratulations! You have won against your first usurpers! The System deems you worthy and will grant you status and unique skills.] [Installing¡­.] He looked at the blue box before him in a daze. It broke the tempo of his feeling of not having¡­anything in his life. Five minutes prior, he had been sitting outside his workplace after getting fired¨Cthen, after a sudden prompt and queries, a flash, and he was teleported here with five goblins to kill. Why did he even bother fighting these monsters anyway? He could have just let go. Let them hack him to pieces. But a drive inside him told him, he still had something in his life to pursue. A goal. [Query: Do you wish for Ultimate power?] ¡°Hm? Are you asking me?¡± [Yes. We are querying you, survivor.] ¡°As opposed to, what, exactly?¡± [As opposed to, say, becoming monster food or being worked to death as a slave.] He straightened up, wiping the blood off his face. This office shirt was going to have to be retired after today. ¡°Not really. I just wanted to survive. Boring jobs are fine. But now, I feel¡­I need something more. Something to prove.¡± He sighed while reminiscing about his days. Nowadays, being average and mediocre is no longer accepted. [Acknowledged. Query: Do you wish for comrades? Are you a team player?] The answer came instantly to him ¡°No. I hate working in a team.¡±. He had enough with his so-called coworker asking for favors and his so-called team working him to the bone while they were having a party with rich clients. He wondered why he answered them honestly. This System sounded like an automated machine, but it felt more human than his boss or coworkers. [Acknowledged. Query: Do you wish to change?] ¡°Yes.¡± He answered quickly and instinctively. It felt like he had an epiphany. The monotonous life was comforting. However, he understood now that people needed to change. They must change. They must adapt and be superior. Those who couldn¡¯t adapt, fell woefully behind. That wasn¡¯t a mistake he was making again. He wanted to change. He wanted to be more adaptable. He wanted to be¡­ something more¡­ something suitable for the world. [Acknowledged. Calculating, Desire to change accepted. You have been granted a unique skill: Chimera] [Chimera: a unique ability to swap your body with other beings to improve yourself. You can swap out any part of your body except the brain. You can also add up to two parts of the body part that don¡¯t exist within your current body.] Then the notification about the status screen appeared before him. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 1 Coins: 100 Stats: STR: 25 Dex: 30Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Magic : 0 Mana : 0 Skills: Unique Skill: ] ¡°This is all just like a game,¡± he muttered. He sat down and inspected the skills¨Cit seemed simple enough, for now. When he looked at the goblin¡¯s corpse beside him, another message spawned. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: -Goblin hand: STR -30% -goblin stomach: iron guts -goblin legs : Dex: -30%] [Goblin¡¯s stomach: A monster-derived stomach that allows you to eat and digest any raw food without cooking. A goblin¡¯s stomach is the only thing that is stronger than humans.] He hovered his hand at the screen. He was conflicted. If the System was to be believed, he would discard his human stomach and replace that with goblin¡¯s. It felt like he was discarding his humanity. How did that even work¨CHe shook his head. It was a useless question. He was teleported here by magic after all. Most everyone he knew would have been murdered by those goblins if they accepted the invitation. However, James saw an opportunity, a chance for him to change. He needed to change. He needed to become stronger, so he could survive. He must become stronger, if not, he will not survive. His experience had proven that. After a deep breath, he tapped yes. At that moment, a light enveloped him, and he could feel his body changing¨Cpinpricks of energy surrounded his body. The goblin¡¯s corpse had disappeared in a swirl of disintegrating black motes. However, he couldn¡¯t feel anything different after the spectacle disappeared. Of course, the stomach was inside his body, after all. Fighting those goblins felt right. Like he was doing great service, if only for himself. It felt like all of his frustration all this time was a lie. He thought he was a passive and introverted person when, in fact, he was a predator. [New Quest!] [Objective: Survive and clear the dungeon.] He scoffed at the message. Survive. That was his motto, until yesterday. Now, he simply wanted to kill. He wanted to vent. He wanted to prove that he was not some pushover. But he was still woefully exhausted. He sat down in the corner, regaining his energy before marching on to the abyss. The dungeon was filled with winding pathways with luminous blue moss that lighted the way. He wondered if this was all a dream or a mental break from being let go. Maybe he¡¯d fallen asleep on the bench outside his office? He glanced down. The blood and pain in his hands was his answer. It was not an illusion. It was too real. Moments later, he found another group of goblins. They were making a camp out in the middle of a large clearing of the dungeon¨Cmoss-draped mushrooms formed an eerie clearing in her. A corpse was being stripped and mutilated by the monsters¨Ca human, he realized grimly, their clothes torn off their body, to be hacked apart. They roasted one of the legs on fire while some of them ate the meat raw. An unsettling realization dawned on him. The corpse could have been him. If he died to the prior group of goblins, his fate would be the same. He would be mutilated and eaten. This was a dog-eat-dog world. If he wanted to survive, he must kill. He counted 5 goblins partying there. However, this group was more adequately armed. One was holding a sword, one a bow, one a shield, and another a spear. One held a staff taller than their body height. That staff didn¡¯t look like it was made for bashing. If he read his status screen correctly, there should be magic in this world¡ªThough his magic was 0. So, that goblin might have been a mage. A dangerous unknown. But these goblins were easily defeated, only if he showed no fear. So he went with what worked before: He charged like a bull. He was a beginner and had no range weapon, so there was only so much he could do. The murder, the possibility of death, excited him. With a roar, he charged. His first target was the goblin with a spear nearby. The green monsters were surprised. They scampered toward their weapons with haste, but he had closed the distance already. They were already in a striking range. ¡°AAAHH!!!¡± he roared. With a single brutal swing, one goblin¡¯s head was split like hitting an egg against a mixing bowl. The sword goblin tried to intercept but James ran the other way and lunged at the bow goblin. In close combat, these ranged attackers were helpless; it was the rule of thumb in games to aim for the healer and ranged unit first, and it went down with a gurgle. Two down, three more to go. Only the shield, sword, and mage goblin were left. The sword goblin closed in on him and swung its sword. He parried the blow, however, its swing had more force than he imagined from such a small monster. It knocked him to the ground. In the corner of his vision, he saw something flash red. Sensing danger, he rolled away with as much agility he could muster and avoided the haphazard fireball flung by the goblin mage. The goblin was stupid. Instead of chasing him, the sword and shield goblin stood there as he sprung up. He smirked at their foolishness. He might have been just a mediocre employee before, but he is still smarter than a goblin, and he worked better under pressure. ¡°DIEE!¡± he lunged at the sword goblin. The goblin blocked the strike, its weapon bouncing from the impact of the axe. He took the opportunity while it was off balance and tackled it to the ground. Then, as he mounted it, he raised his axe over and bashed its sorry head straight on. One coat of blood and viscera isn¡¯t enough for my new dress code¨Cwe¡¯re adding another layer today, he thought with a bit of dark humor. He smirked at the stupid face the goblins were making. Even though they are monsters, they can still feel fear. The goblin mage, looking like it had been winded from its attempt to fry him, was trying to conjure another fireball¨Cthat was his next threat to deal with. He pushed up from the dying goblin and charged at it. However, the shield goblin lunged with its shield, trying to protect its teammate. He blocked it with his hands¨Cthis goblin hadn¡¯t drawn its knife, and he was stronger. Another fireball flashed from the corner of his vision. ¡°Heh¡­¡± he chuckled. He grappled and maneuvered the panicking shield goblin, gripping it with inhuman strength when he saw his opportunity to make use of a case of unfriendly fire. The fireball hit its back with an explosion¨Cnot a powerful one, but he smelled his hair singing. A medium rare steak of goblin¡¯s back was on the menu today. ¡°GIEEK!!¡± The goblin screamed as the flame burned its back. It foolishly dropped its shield and knife it was holding and ran away like a frightened chicken while on fire. ¡°DIEE! STUPID MONSTER!¡± Seeing such an opportune chance, James went on the offensive. He grabbed its body and another skull was split open. When the mage goblin realized all of its vanguard had lost, it tried to flee. James didn¡¯t let it go, he threw the axe he was holding at the green creature. It might be stupid to throw your only weapon, but he is a beginner, and it paid off. The axe embedded itself in The mage¡¯s head. Exhaustion crept in. It was less than before. However, The heat from the campfire was soothing. The flickering of the flame was captivating. That¡¯s when James realized there was a notification on the right corner of his vision. He had leveled up. Back at his work, he would only get messages and emails if he did something wrong, but it was nice that the system did the reverse. He felt like he had gone the right path. [You have leveled up to Level 3! Coins Received: 10 [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: -Goblin hand: STR -30% (Hand slot) -Lesser Mana core: Magic +10, Mana +50, Fire spell (Extra slot) -goblin legs : Dex: -30%(Leg slot)] ¡°Hehehe.¡± he inadvertently giggled. This unique skill was amazing. Even when his magic stat was zero, he could still use magic if he plundered the body part of a mage. With this new skill, he could become anything he wanted. Whether using magic or flying in the sky, he could do it. He just needed to find the right body parts. He picked the mana core without hesitation. [Acknowledged, here are your final stats [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels : 3 Coins: 110 Stats: STR: 35 (up 10) Dex: 32 (up 2) Magic : 0 Mana : 0 Skills: Unique Skill: ] James tilted his head. Even when he had equipped the mana core, the stats didn¡¯t show any change. Nevertheless, he could still feel the power inside him. It was alien, like he was growing a third hand or something. When he focused on it, a small fire, like that of a candle, flickered above before his eye. He didn¡¯t get how these stats worked, but since he got the magic he was promised, he didn¡¯t dwell much on it. He didn¡¯t realize it yet, but the stats augmentation from his unique skill was separate from his normal stats. His stats from the status screen only showed his basic stat from leveling and not from weapons or skills. Exhaustion began to overwhelm him. There was no clock, no sun, and no electricity. The phone in his trousers indicated that he had been here for 6 hours. It was almost midnight. The phone will soon run out of batteries. He sighed once again. He is about to miss his online game daily reward. He chuckled. Why would he bother playing on the computer screen now? He now lived in a game world where there were levels and monsters to kill. He was trapped in this dungeon with no way out. However instead of fear and worry, he felt relieved. Here, he was alone; no coworkers would nag him. ¡°Well, I am fired either way,¡± he muttered as exhaustion finally caught up to him and fell asleep. Christmas was just around the corner. He must be the most miserable person in the world. He lost his job, has no girlfriend, and will be kicked out of his apartment in the new year. Alas, one thing for sure. Killing these monsters brings him excitement. And He will continue to do so now until his body no longer lasts. Little did he know that chaos was about to engulf the world, and he was about to emerge on top. However, by the time it happened, he no longer cared for such things. For his wrath was eternal. Chapter 2: James ¡°James, your performance has been below expectations this month, and thus, we chose to end our partnership with you. We will not prolong our contract. This has been a difficult decision for us. However, we need to prioritize our company¡¯s future. Starting tomorrow, you no longer need to come to work.¡± His boss, whose name James didn¡¯t bother to remember, said to him, While his words were polite, the fact that his eyes went to the papers in his hands speaks a lot about his sincerity. That¡¯s how James got fired from his work. The world does not need average employees. With automation, everyone was expected to surpass others in a battle for survival. There is no such thing as work-life balance. Everyone must be committed. ¡°I am fired?¡± James asked for confirmation. James kinda expected that this would happen eventually. Working in a startup company was a very demanding job and he had no ambition to step on others. Nevertheless, the news was still shocking to him. That¡¯s how the modern-day worked; employees were no longer valued. When an employee was deemed inefficient, they were fired without hesitation. The ruthless company cared not for their employees¡¯ future. He was not the only one. To stimulate growth, every year, the company will let go 1 or 2 of their worst workers and James was the one they picked this year. ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded. He didn¡¯t remember how he got out of that conversation, all that he could remember was that he sat on a bench, staring at the sky in a nearby park. Now that he was fired, he had to go job hunting again. It was a nightmare for him. The uncertainty and the ghosting the job companies do nowadays was beyond cruel. Often, they would not reply to him at all. Often, an AI would reject his letters. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± He muttered to the sky. He thought he would be more anguished, more angry. He thought He would lash out at them violently, but he didn¡¯t. In the end, he just went to a nearby park, staring at the sky like a loser, pondering whether what he had done was worth it. His work for the past five years was in vain. James realized that he was merely a cog in a machine. Something that could be replaced at any moment. He has no worth before this company¡¯s eyes. Rage burned at his heart. However, he was merely a powerless, mediocre office employee. He had no power. All he could do was to endure until the day he died. His rage simmered silently in his heart. [Earth¡¯s Maturity condition fulfilled. System installation in 200 hours. Earth¡¯s trial has begun. Advance warning. Do you wish to enter the system¡¯s introduction trial?] ¡°Eh, what¡¯s happening?¡± James wondered whether he had gone crazy for he saw a blue screen popped before his very eyes. [Response to the query. The world has been considered mature and thus will now undergo a trial. Dungeons will spawn and beasts of mana will spawn. However, Earth¡¯s life forms are not used to mana and systems. System has provided you with a chance. To experience the trial firsthand. To all sentient lifeforms, do you want to enter a trial dungeon?] ¡°What is a trial dungeon?¡± When James looked around him, people were having the same confused expression as him. James then asked the being before him further questions. [Entering a trial dungeon means being transported into dungeons before the trial of the world on Earth created by the system commenced. There, hosts are expected to survive and clear the dungeon. Only then will the host be deemed worthy to survive. Do you wish to enter?] ¡°Really, good. I wanted to get away from here as fast as possible.¡± He answered. He didn¡¯t know why he said that. He just wanted to go far away, away from Earth. He felt like he didn¡¯t belong here. [Yes. Before that, we need to inform you that the System trial may pose a risk to the user¡¯s life. Do you still wish to proceed?] ¡°yes. I have nothing here. If I died there, that¡¯s better. I am already over 30. There won¡¯t be any jobs for me here.¡± James answered firmly. [Query complete. Transfer in progress. You will be transferred to trial dungeon #1204. May you survive the trial, survivor. Work hard and progress.] At that moment, light enveloped him and he was transported to a cave-like dungeon. He was transported to a room with a short axe and five goblins. When they locked eyes, the goblins squeaked and rushed at him. Feeling danger for the first time, James yelled and grabbed the weapon that was given to him. A short axe that was often used by firemen. He didn¡¯t know why the system gave him that weapon, but he will use it. That was James¡¯s life before he fought with these goblins. A few hours later, he woke up startled. He was lucky that there was no goblin to ambush him. He soon stood up and continued exploring the cave. The cave was monotonous. The sparkles and light of the moss on the wall were enchanting and beautiful at first sight, but it soon grew dull. On the winding pathway, he found a goblin. This time, he was alone and merely had a knife with him. He put down the spear and prepared an axe. He wanted to ambush it.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Easy prey.¡± Nevertheless, ambushing another was not as easy as it sounded. This was not a video game. His footsteps were as loud as an elephant in this rocky cave. The goblins noticed him and squeaked. It then changed at him. James had good adaptability. The same opponent won¡¯t work on him twice. He dispatched it with a swing of his axe. Its head drew a beautiful arc and bounced on the cave wall, awarding him with a coin. He didn¡¯t know what the coin in his status screen was for. However, seeing the number go up filled him with a sense of achievement. A howl was soon heard and an emaciated wolf came with another goblin. That goblin earlier was not merely squeaking. It was calling its friend. James observed the wolf. The wolf looked weak as it floundered when it ran. Its eye was out of focus and saliva poured out from its teeth. Even though it looked weak, He was worried. The fang was sharp. ¡°It didn¡¯t have rabies, was it?¡± He muttered. This is another world, and it has its own rules. There wouldn¡¯t be such things as diseases unless it was approved by the system. However, James was still worried. No matter how you looked at that dog, it was clear that it was rabid. James pulled back to take out the spear that he swiped from the goblin corpse he killed before. His axe was securely hung on his belt together with a sword that was also swiped from the goblins. He then took a stance, waiting for the rabid wolf to make the first move. He was an amateur. His only references to using weapons were from games and movies. The wolf howled again. The goblins squeaked like rats as they tried to surround him. Unlike before, when he took them by surprise, this time, both of them were ready. They displayed some sort of coordination. Nevertheless, it was futile, for they were in a cave. No matter how they spaced themselves apart, They couldn¡¯t surround him. Using a spear was much easier than using an axe due to its longer reach. When the rabid wolf lunged, James countered it. The spear penetrated the dog, killing it. However, the spear also snapped. At that moment, the goblin beside it dashed with its knife. James jumped, trying to dodge the nasty green monster that attacked him. There was not enough time to pick the axe on his belt. When the goblin gave chase, James hit the monster with the best falcon punch he could muster. The goblin also managed to get a slash in with its filthy knife. Once he got enough distance, he pulled out the axe and smashed the fuckers head off. He sat down and took a deep breath. Adrenaline really took a toll on his stamina. His heart was beating like crazy. Even with this short fight, he was already short of breath and needed to rest. Thankfully, this is a beginner dungeon aimed at survivors to get accustomed to monsters and systems. He was fortunate just now as he only received a light scratch. If that goblin went for a stab instead of a swing, the result would be different. After another hour of rest, he continued in the dark and dimly lit cave. The cave showed change: the walls were now made with bricks instead of natural stone and the path he could take branched into two. When he went to the left, there was a treasure chest a short distance away. James was elated. This world mimicked a game with an obvious treasure chest laid in the open. He was about to open it but hesitated when he heard sounds coming from the chest. He suddenly remembered that in games, some treasure chests were bugged. This is real, not a game. It wouldn¡¯t be a laughing matter if there were some kind of deadly trap inside. However, the allure of treasure chests couldn¡¯t be underestimated. There might be something he desperately needed inside, like a health potion or magic scrolls. And thus, he tried to open it from a bit further away using a sword. If there was an arrow, it shouldn¡¯t hit him. If it was a poison gas, he could just run. Little did he know that another surprise was waiting for him. ¡°AAH!!!¡± He immediately jumped back as a snake came out from the chest and chased him. Using the sword, he made a wild swing at the snake. It was a lucky hit as the sword cleanly decapitated it. ¡°I found dinner!¡± His stomach has been rumbling for a while now. If the system was to be believed, it should be safe to eat the snake in front of him. When he checked the treasure box, he found Leather armor and a backpack inside. It was perfect. With this armor, the goblin¡¯s knives would bring him trouble no more. After equipping the armor, he smiled. He no longer looked like his former self. He now looked like a bonafide fantasy character. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: -lesser Wolf fang: STR +5 (mouth slot) -Snake fang: STR +3 (mouth slot) -lesser Wolf tail: (extra slot) - lesser wolf ear: (negative trait: deafness)(ear slot)] James inspected what parts could be scavenged from my kill today. The snake was not poisonous. The goblin was worthless and the system no longer recommended its body part unless he asked for it. He chose Wolf Fang. He hesitated, but after another deep breath, he chose it. He had to evolve. He needed to survive. He had abandoned his humanity that day. ¡°Why did I hesitate? I am not particularly handsome¡­¡± James chuckled. A self-mocking laugh to calm himself before tapping the confirmation button. The wolf¡¯s corpse disappeared, and the change was immediate. ¡°Urghh!¡± James groaned as a snout, mimicking that of a wolf, grew from his mouth. He didn¡¯t have a mirror, but he could feel that his mouth was not human. He still had human eyes and a human head. The wolf¡¯s mouth looked like a badly done CGI to his face. ¡°AAHH!!! Ahahahah!¡± He howled. And then, he laughed. He finally changed. His life was no longer monotonous. This skill proved it. Those that couldn¡¯t change, those that couldn¡¯t adapt won¡¯t survive whether it was the old world or new world. Even in the old days, big companies could still fall when they refused to change. The need to change is eternal. It was the law of the world, and James just had the perfect skill for it. His chimera skill was exactly what he needed. With this skill, he now could adapt no matter what changed in his world. That was his new belief. [You have leveled up to Level 4! Coins Received: 10 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 5 Coins: 120 Stats: STR: 40 (up 5) Dex: 33 (up 1) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: ] Chapter 3: Shop There was no firewood. However, with his new mana core, plundered from the goblin shaman, James could make a decent stove. He then cooked the snake he captured. James was no cook. He didn¡¯t know whether he had cooked the snake correctly; a dead cook would probably rise from their grave and scold James if they saw how James had cooked the snake. Nevertheless, hunger was the best spice for any food, for it felt delectable in his new wolf mouth. The dungeons were definitely changing. Unlike the natural cave before when he arrived here, now it felt like he was inside a castle¡¯s corridor. It felt more appropriate to call this place a corridor instead of a cave. James continued his journey. The day was still young. After about an hour, he found another group of goblins. The path was wider now, so the goblins could surround them. This time, there were three goblins and 2 of those Lesser wolves. With his newfound confidence, he dual-wielded his axe and sword. When he smiled, Sharp rows of canine teeth were on full display. The Monsters in the dungeon usually didn¡¯t have any sentience. Whenever they saw an enemy, It was their natural instinct to engage and eliminate them. Like robots, they will try even if their chance of succeeding are zero. That¡¯s what happened in this case. The wolf lunged at James only to be stabbed by the crude bronze sword of the previous goblins. When another goblin charged, its knife couldn¡¯t even penetrate the leather armor James was wearing. James smiled when he saw that the armor he had gotten from the treasure chest was working. After killing the goblin and wolf pair, James took on the offensive and charged toward the remaining goblin and wolves. His armor was scratched in the shoulder due to its fang. With new armor, James could afford to take on more risk. [You have leveled up to Level 5! Coins Received: 10] [Shop has been unlocked!] The result was worth it. A notification popped up, informing him that he had leveled up to level 5. Along with it, the question of James¡¯ remaining stats, the coins was also answered. ¡°What is a shop?¡± James asked while he scanned his surroundings for any more enemies. The system answered his query, a blue screen appeared before his eyes. The question that has been plaguing James¡¯s mind was finally answered. He finally knew how to use the coins in his status screen. [Shop is where you can upgrade your skills and weapons. Upgrading your Axe into War Axe will cost you 100 coins. Will you accept?] ¡°Is that all? Can I buy more things, such as swords, skills, and armor?¡± James was stupefied. He thought he would be able to purchase things like food, clothes, soap, and powerbanks. Powerbanks for his smartphone might be too much to ask for, but the fact that he could only buy upgrades was devastating. It turned out he could only upgrade whatever he had in his belongings. He couldn¡¯t even upgrade the bronze sword he had swiped from goblins. [Advanced Shop will be unlocked at level 10.] ¡°...Alright. I will upgrade my axe.¡± James sighed, knowing the system would not answer him further. James immediately upgraded his axe. Other gamers might criticize him for being stupid, saying things like he should save his coins for future uses. However, James lived in the present. After his dead mother was denied Healthcare by his insurance company and his government stole his savings due to some taxes, He didn¡¯t believe in saving or insurance. After being fired from a supposedly stable job, he no longer believed in the future. So, he decided to use his coins now. He decided to invest in the present. ¡°You only live once.¡± He said. Light enveloped his fireman axe and now, his axe has a longer blade and pikes at the back and the tip. Instead of swinging like a madman, he now could use it for stabbing. The weight also changed. Even though it had more steel and overall an inch longer than his previous axe, it was lighter and more balanced. James felt it could also be used for throwing. James smiled and hung his axe into his belt. He now looked for another monster to test this new axe on. His coins have decreased to 30. James lived in the present. If he had the coins, he would use them. He now has proper weapons. And he made the right choice for his enemies, which will only get harder from now on. At the end of the corridor, a wooden door like that of a backdoor of a fantasy castle stood shut. James was about to open it, but he stopped himself. This world was not a game, but he understood that some game logic might apply here. The door might lead him to some boss monster. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. And so, he cautiously opened the door and took a peek inside. His expectations were betrayed. Even though there was a huge underground castle hall, there was no boss monster but numerous goblins who lounged on the floor. Jail doors strewn here and there, displaying skeletons of humans. James wondered whether those skeletons were real, but the answer came moments later when a scream was heard. ¡°NOO!!!!¡± Another group of goblins squeaked manically as they dragged a bound woman and a corpse of a man. James had read that sort of book. He thought they were going to rape the women. However, that does not seem to be the case here. The woman was still fully clothed, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt that had been dirtied by dirt. She did have bruises here and there. The goblin threw her in a cell and closed the door, then the goblins returned to their comrades who were dining and feasting on the corpse without abandon. None approached the woman to do any lewd things to her. ¡°This is not that kind of game, huh. Full survival mode here.¡± James muttered. A tinge of disappointment was shown on his face. James dreamed of being a knight in shining armor. However, he also knew how harsh the reality was. There were over fifty goblins with ten wolves there. While most of them only had knives, five goblins, which James could only describe as goblin soldiers or knights, were fully armed. They wore helmets, shields, and either swords or spears. All of them were made of leather. Their gear was shabby, so calling them knights might be overestimating things. James instinctively knew those five were at a higher level than the rest of the goblins. He hesitated. In the end, he chose to open the door. He needed to settle his priority. Saving that woman was nigh impossible without alerting this horde, and time was not on his side. If he dilly-dallied, the goblins might go for the woman next. James decided to act. It was a stupid decision, but he found no other choice but to engage the goblins directly. When he opened the door, the partying goblins looked at him. No remarks or jokes came from his mouth. He simply threw down his bag and readied his war axe and the short sword the previous goblin had. He came here not just to survive. He came here to challenge himself, to be better than before. He couldn¡¯t achieve it by just hiding in the corner like a rat. He now had power. He came here to change. His skill allowed him to evolve. That fact gave him courage. ¡°AAAH!!! Come here! Come here and get me!¡± He expelled the fear in his heart and roared. The roar was not merely to taunt the goblins, it was to expel the fear that has been plaguing his heart. His wolf mouth let out a howl that reverberated across the room. The goblins were stunned for a moment, but they began to squeak, laughing in disdain, showing their teeth as if they were mocking him. He agreed, the old him would probably laugh at this idiotic behavior. But, man could do stupid things if he had a purpose. He wanted to change, this time, this new world, he wanted to prevail. He had been given the opportunity, how could he waste it? The monster gleefully leaped at the insolent survivor, ready to serve themselves another corpse. James met them head-on, even when he was alone. These monsters were nothing to the dread of being fired, of being useless that he had experienced. There were no tricks and tactics. It was a pure battle of strength and guts. His new axe feels like. It cut through the green monster like a hot knife through butter. ¡°Two down. More to go.¡± James didn¡¯t bother counting the goblins after hitting ten. One thing he knew, there were a lot of them. And he will kill them all or die trying. Unlike before, this was a wide room. The goblins easily surrounded him. James thought he was strong, and he did get stronger. His stats incrementally increased his strength. Right now, he could lift a goblin with one hand or crush their head with a punch. Right now, whenever he swung his axe, a goblin would die even when they tried to block his strike with their tiny knives. But he was getting overconfident. The string of victories he achieved yesterday had made him blind. His decision was not wrong, he had to get through this room to pass. There was no other way. The system had designed this dungeon floor to be simple. Go through a corridor and fight monsters. However, he should have waited until there were fewer goblins. He thought his leather armor would protect him from goblin knives. But after the tenth kill, a goblin managed to sneak up on him and stabbed him in his unprotected thigh and arm. ¡°ARGH!¡± Pain assaulted him as he dropped to his knees. Using his new mouth, James bit the monster on its shoulder and threw it away, earning him another kill as the green monster¡¯s neck bent in the wrong direction. When pain assaulted him, he finally realized the gravity of his situation. Fear began to creep on him, but he pushed it away. This is nothing. He assured himself. He tried to stand up, adrenaline worked wonders for the pain in his thigh seemed lessened. In the corner of his vision, he saw the locked-up woman using the chance when the goblins were busy with him to sneak out of the jail cell. The goblins were stupid, and this room did not belong to them. They didn¡¯t have the keys for any cells or doors in this dungeon, so the goblins only closed and latched the jail cell doors. The woman managed to sneak out safely and ran upstairs to another door, leaving James alone. The goblins didn¡¯t realize the woman ran away but James did. James thought the woman would at least have the heart to support him. But no, just like normal humans, she prioritized her own life. James was the same before. He didn¡¯t care whether his coworker was fired as long as he survived. His heart broke a little when he knew he was abandoned. Now was not the time for introspection. James knew he was fighting a losing battle and needed to escape, he needed to find a better ground to fight them. This wide room was not ideal, there were too many blindspots where the goblins could surround him. With another swing, another goblin died. These goblins are learning, he thought. The way they surrounded him, the way they taunted him. It speaks of their rudimentary but efficient cooperation against James. Could I make it? James wondered. That¡¯s when the goblin soldiers marched forward. They kicked their fellow goblins aside. James didn¡¯t need to learn the goblin¡¯s language to understand that they were mocking their fellow goblins. Hatred suddenly surged because that green monster reminded him of his boss. Whenever he made a mistake or whenever he was inadequate for the task, these kinds of bosses always reprimanded him. In fact, these goblins were more honest. His boss tried to smoothen things on the surface, but James knew that they mocked him viciously behind his back. Fear that crept up on him was replaced by anger. Anger and wrath at the haughty goblins soldier before him. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 5 Coins: 30 Stats: STR: 43 (up 3) Dex: 33 (up 3) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: ] Chapter 4: Damaged James¡¯ mind cleared. While his wrath for the goblin soldiers grew, he found himself getting calmer as he assessed the situation. This hall had 8 doors on the upper floor and 20 jail cells on the lower. James had to climb those stairs to get to those doors. The goblin soldiers were not like their stupid counterparts, they were wary. Instead of blindly attacking James like those knife-wielding ones, they took a stance. One of them shouted something, and a goblin with a wolf came charging at him. James swiped his axe at the charging lesser goblin. The dog lunged at him from behind and bit his shoulder. Using his new teeth, he bit it back and threw the bloodied wolf corpse away. Even though they had shields, helmets, and swords, these goblins were actually cowards. They took the stance and attacked James the moment his attention was drawn to the wolf. They slashed at him. Luckily, James had leather armor. It was ripped, but it served its purpose well. A sword answered the cowardly goblin. James was aiming for their heart. But the goblin dodged at the last possible moment, so the stab went to their shoulder instead. Adrenaline still subdued the pain in his leg. Seeing the dire circumstances, he searched for an escape route. An epiphany came to him as his eyes caught some protrusions on the second floor. His new axe was a war axe, and its blade was not the only thing it had. It had pikes on the back. With a smirk, James ran to the pillar and leaped. He got stronger, but he was not a superman just yet. His jump reached halfway. For humans, a two-meter jump was enough to win an Olympic. That¡¯s how stats had made James stronger. He went from an ordinary office employee to an Olympic gold medalist in a few days. Still, it fell short. But that¡¯s what the axe is for. Like a pickaxe, James swung his axe to the pillar and pulled himself up. His muscles strain under pressure. He swore in his heart that he would start doing exercise if he managed to get away from this place alive. Power, just this one time, was all that he needed. Heaven answered him. Or more like, the new status did. Status had granted him the power that he needed to survive. He threw away his sword and reached out. When he felt the protrusion in his fingertips, his heart leaped in relief. He hung with his left hand, and, using the axe, he roused himself up to the second floor. James could have run back the way he came from, but the door was closed, and he knew that path would lead him to a dead end, so he took the daring move to jump to the second floor. With a grunt, he climbed to the second floor. He was panting hard. However, time was not something he had now. The green monster screeched, they had lost a fifth of their forces. Moreover, not only did they lose James, but they also lost the woman that they just captured. Feeling enraged, they run after James while squeaking loudly. James ran to the door and opened it in haste. Inside, he was met with another corridor. The dimly lit, damp, and humid dungeon wall was only exciting at first. Now, these decorations brought him dread. The torches that hung in the corner added to the eerie atmosphere. James lay down. He could hear the goblins squeaking behind the door. James was too tired to run, and he had injured his leg. After pondering, He decided to make the last stand here. Here, in the corridor, at least he won¡¯t get surrounded. The door should limit how many goblins could come in at once. ¡°Come here and get me! You fuckers! ¡°James encouraged himself. The door opened and James charged. Like a cornered rat, he manically swung his bloodied axe. He was lost in the sea of bloodshed and adrenaline. All he knew was to swing his axe wherever the green monster and purple dogs were. Blood splattered here and there. When his axe was caught on a wooden shield, he used his new maw and bit the goblin and tore its neck. Goblins were monsters. They did not flee and fought until the end. Like them, James will not pull back. Thanks to the corridor, James only needed to focus on what was in front of him. The horde came like an avalanche that broke upon a solid rock. It was not men against monsters; it was monsters against monsters, for James didn¡¯t fight like humans. He bit, he slashed, he kicked, and he clawed at the goblins. The goblins and the wolves responded in kind. They slashed, they bit, and they clawed at James. After who knows how long, a figure coated in red emerged from piles of over forty goblins and wolves. His arms trembled with exhaustion, blood dripped from his hands, both from his and them. His face was painted with the blood and flesh of his opponents. His back soon slumped on the corridor¡¯s wall. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I won¡­¡± His voice was hoarse, his voice tinged with awe. He had fought with everything he had. He thought he wouldn¡¯t make it, but he did. His leather armor was bitten and scratched everywhere, some parts were ripped off. His arms and legs were worse as blood kept pouring out from knives that were stuck to them. However, he triumphed. ¡°Fuckin boss. He was right. If I push myself, I will eventually prevail¡­¡± James recalled how his boss often scolded him. He said that James didn¡¯t work hard enough, he didn¡¯t take any risks, and he always played it safe. However, James knew that if he worked hard, all the rewards would go to his boss, not him. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t even try. James could feel he was changing for the better. He took some risk, and it paid off. However, the price was too steep. He was bleeding all over. He could feel himself weakening. His vision darkened. ¡°Shit. This world still runs on blood. I am going to die.¡± James cursed. He felt himself weakening. [You have leveled up to Level 7! Coins Received: 50 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 7If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Coins: 80 Stats: STR: 48 (up 5) Dex: 39 (up 6) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: ] [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] James was about to die due to blood loss. However, a thought occurred to him. What if he changed the damaged body part? Thanks to his armor, most of the bleeding came from his arms and legs. ¡°Swap my arms and legs with these goblins,¡± James said. Two corpses of goblins had disintegrated in dark motes of light, and those lights soon gathered on James. James felt his vision darken, but a surge of power soon came to him, and he woke up with a start. [modification succeeded, the damaged body part has been replaced.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 7 Coins: 80 Stats: STR: 48 (up 5) Dex: 39 (up 6) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: ¡°I am¡­ alive¡­?¡± James muttered as he opened his eyes. He felt a bit weak, but he was alive. ¡°Hah¡­¡± he sighed. His feet, his arms, it felt alien. When he pulled it up, he realized that it had shrunk. The green little arm was now attached to what was once his arm. James stood up. His steps were a bit shaky, but he could stand. ¡°Ugh¡­ disgusting.¡± The little arm he was with now was covered in grime. The greenish little arm felt weird because it only had three fingers. However, he was alive. James returned back to the great hall. The reason was to look at the man¡¯s corpse. Regrettably, he could not plunder his limbs. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] The man¡¯s arms and legs were not there. Probably because its limbs were already eaten. However, since the prompt came up, James was now sure he could plunder body parts from normal humans. The dream of becoming someone else was enticing. He could become beautiful, or he could become handsome. He could become anyone. After exploring the hall, James found out it was empty. There were no treasure chests. James decided to continue his journey. He needed to get used to his new hands and feed. It might sound heartless, but James was currently looking for another human corpse to plunder. As he passed the corridor full of corpses, he wondered whether he could play with his skills for a bit. Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: Wolf legs (Dex +20%) ] He switched his legs for wolf legs. He stumbled, and his face immediately kissed the ground. After trying for several minutes, he could stand. But his steps were wobbling. He pondered. Wolf legs should give him a dexterity increase according to what the system said. So, why would walking be incredibly strenuous to him? After another hour of experimenting, he figured out he could walk easier if he crawled. However, running was another matter. He couldn¡¯t coordinate his wolf legs with his goblin hand. Only when he swapped his hands with another wolf¡¯s legs could he run like wolves. As the system notification said, he was much, much faster. ¡°Yeah, I was stupid. Wolves run with four legs. ¡°James smiled sheepishly. He then scratched his head with his paw. After careful consideration, He switched back to the goblin¡¯s legs and arms. Being a wolf might sound cool, and James liked the feeling of running like a wolf. However, wolves could not use weapons. If he switched his arms into that of a wolf¡¯s legs, he wouldn¡¯t be able to use his war axe. ¡°I couldn¡¯t just believe the stats offered by the system¡­ It¡¯s true I can run fast, but only if I also install the legs in my hands slot.¡° James inspected his new limbs. From the human corpse he found, he could also plunder humans. After stuffing his belongings in his bag, along with his smartphone, James started to explore the corridor that had saved his life ¡ª or forced him to fight for his life. Unlike the cave before, the corridors have many doors. Most of them led to empty rooms. James wondered why you would design an empty room in a game world. James thought he would be ambushed with every empty room he opened. Thankfully, there were no monsters that ambushed him¡­yet. When he opened yet another door ¡ªhe had already lost count after the fifth, how many doors he had opened¡ªhe found another treasure chest inside the room. He ran towards it before stopping himself from his own excitement. The last treasure chests had some kind of snake traps. James assumed this treasure chest might be the same. So, he was cautious. However, when he tried to open it, the treasure chest was locked. A keyhole, large and ancient, like it belongs in video games, was placed just below the lid. ¡°Damn it. ¡°James was about to leave, but he stopped. He suddenly remembered that in the apocalypse, people usually raided vending machines and stuff. Staying further apart, with the stance of a pro baseball player, he threw his axe at the chest. His goblin hands and legs slowed him a lot, making the throw awkward, but the axe still homed in on the chest. A flash of purple light suddenly enveloped the chest; his nice war axe was repelled like a pinball. Knowing he couldn¡¯t cheat, he sighed and left the room. He knew he had no chance to break the invisible force field set by the god-like system. James continued exploring the corridor, trying to find the key to the treasure chest. From that point, he counted every empty room he passed. Not two rooms away, a large beetle the size of a wolf he met earlier inhabited the room. The beetle has not noticed him yet. James was not keen on fighting in his currently weakened state. However, as he was about to close the door, he found something shiny in the corner of his vision. There, a black key hung on the wall. James could only sigh. ¡°Of course. You had to do that, didn¡¯t you, system? You had to put a guard dog to guard the keys.¡± He then opened the wooden door and prepared to engage the critter. Chapter 5: Beetle Key The beetle rustled when a creature entered its chamber. It was cozying and nesting, preparing to attract its mate that would never come. However, the weird creature disturbed its sleep. The creature was bizarre, as if several other creatures were sewn into it. It has the legs and arms of a goblin, yet it has the mouth of a wolf. The creature brandished its axe. It ran at a dizzying speed and slammed its axe towards the beetle. Only for the axe to be repelled like a basketball hitting a wall. The beetle suddenly had an unimaginable surge of hatred toward the creature when it saw him. It had registered the creature as an enemy that needed to be vanquished at all costs. Stone beetle was the toughest creature in this dungeon floor. With its hard carapace, no weapons could harm it. It also had a fast charging speed. Some might think that such creatures should not be on the first floor where all beginners gather. However, it has two fatal weaknesses. When charging, it couldn¡¯t turn, and when it was turned upside down, it was essentially helpless. However, this dungeon has a flat floor. It was unlikely to be tipped over. James¡¯ purpose was the key. He gave up attacking it with his axe when he saw that his axe didn¡¯t even scratch its carapace. So, after he dodged its powerful charge, he ran to the wall and stole the key while the beetle struggled to get its head out of the wall. The charge was so powerful that it broke the wooden door and cracked the wall before it. James felt as if a speeding car had gone past him when he dodged the creature. Then, the game of chase began. James was not the sharpest tool in the shed. The corridor was a straight line and was perfect for the beetle to run him over. James ran with all of its might when he heard a clicking sound the beetle made when it dug its leg into the floor. Luckily, even with his inferior limbs, he managed to reach the treasure chest room before the beetle made a kebab out of him with its horn. The beetle went past him like a bull that sought out its matador. Now that he had the key, it was time to open the chest before him. James was about to open the chest. But another epiphany came to him. He was one of the employees who liked to find loopholes in the rule. The beetle was strong. If James could kill it, He might get some useful parts out of it, like its carapace, legs, or horns. He wondered if he could use this unopened treasure chest as a weapon. And so, James prepared his trap. He peeked outside the room only to find that the beetle was coming at him. The beetle was a monster, and their purpose was to kill survivors. It took over five minutes for the beetles to reach the room. James sat on the treasure chest, smirking as if taunting the bug to attack him. Following its instinct, the creature lowered its horned head. Its chitinous shell gleamed against the flickering light of the torches. Its legs scratched the rough cobblestone. Its prized horn was aimed at the hateful creature before it. When it slammed its legs to the cobblestone, it began to charge. Like a rhino, it stampedes toward James. It didn¡¯t know that it was all according to plan. James ducked down behind the treasure chest. He was prepared to dodge in case the beetle destroyed the chest. It was an unnecessary worry. A flash of purple light enveloped the chest, and the beetle was blown away by the purple barrier. Similar to what happened with James¡¯s axe, the beetle was blown away like a ping-pong ball. James was fortunate. After the beetle hit the wall, it bounced back a few times before landing on its back. Its soft underbelly was in full view. James took the chance immediately. He laughed and raised his axe overhead. Due to his new arm, the force diminished, but there was nothing more satisfying than cutting flesh with an axe. The blade dug into the thin carapace. Its mandible clicked in pain and frustration. However, there is nothing it can do. It knew that once it was flipped over, it was finished. Soon, life diminished from its eye, and James got the system message he had been waiting for. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: Beetle horn (extra slot) ] James wondered whether he could coat himself with its carapace. However, that does not seem to be the case for the carapace was not on the list. James wanted that horn but wondered whether it would actually be useful. ¡°System, can I throw away body parts in extra slots?¡± [Affirmative. You can discard any body parts with your Chimera skill. Not just your extra slot.] ¡°Alright! Let us try the beetle horn!¡± Motes of light disintegrated the beetle¡¯s corpse, and a solid 30-centimeter horn arose on James¡¯ forehead. The horn gleamed with black luster. If people saw how James looked like now, the words that could describe him would not be human but demons. ¡°How many coins did I have? What¡¯s the next upgrade?¡± knowing the system will answer, James began to talk with it as a way to fight his loneliness. He was an introvert, so he didn¡¯t talk much to begin with. But without his phone, loneliness began to creep in. [You now have 90 coins. You can upgrade your Beginner Axe mastery level 4 to level 5 for 100 coins, or you can upgrade your War Axe into Lightning War Axe for 500 coins, or you can upgrade your Chimera skill for 1000 coins.]This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°I can upgrade my chimera skill? What does it give me?¡± James was stunned. He didn¡¯t know the shop function could be so useful. [Skill previews are not available. Please purchase the upgrade first.] ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± James was furious. He felt scammed. He never felt so baited. He was an avid gacha gamer. And he always previewed the character he was aiming for. However, the system was not so kind. He had to go through this trial blind. [Would you like to see your stats? y/n] ¡°Not yet. I want to open the chest first.¡± James fit the key in the chest. The key fits the chest like a glove. A satisfying click was heard when James turned the medieval key. Before opening the chest, James took some unnatural position, took some distance and opened it with the tip of his axe. It has become a habit at this point. The first encounter with the snake haunted him every time he saw a chest now. His worry was in vain, for nothing came out of the chest now. Inside was a helmet and a sheathed dagger. Like his leather armor, the helmet was made perfectly for him because there was a hole in the forehead. in fact, James wondered if it was a set. However, the dagger was another thing. [Waterspout dagger: A dagger that was crafted by an ancient water mage. It was made for adventurers to fulfill their greatest need when adventuring, water. When Mana is put into it, it will spout water suitable for drinking. Its use greatly declined when mage adventurers were in decline.] [Leather helmet] [Water pouch] Thanks to the lesser mana core, James had Mana. This dagger was a godsend. He was thirsty. Drinking animal blood sustained him for now, but he realized he wouldn¡¯t last long without actual water. When he directed his Mana into it, water started to trickle, and he drank it with gusto. Like drinking from a straw, he sucked and licked from the tip of knives. However, a few minutes later, he felt exhausted and the water stopped. The system notified him of the cause not even a second later. [Mana depleted.] Although capable of using magic, James only had the mana capacity of a goblin. It had low capacity. However, he had a water pouch now. He could simply wait for his Mana to recover and store the water in his pouch. ¡°My status, please.¡± [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 7 Coins: 90 Stats: STR: 48 Dex: 39 Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: ] He was miffed about the arms and legs. But he had no choice at the time. He continued on his march. The winding corridor ended up back in the hall, where James met the horde of goblins. James sighed at the absurdity of this dungeon design. ¡°Who would design a castle like this¡­¡± James chuckled. James forgot that dungeons are made by the system. They are made not for convenience or functionality of humans, but to test survivors. So, the shape and design will vary, and it will be full of surprises. After carving an X on both doors that James had ventured, he now had 6 more doors. He crossed the path where the goblins had come before since he believed that place would only lead to the survivor¡¯s other starting point. James wondered which path he should continue. He could simply gamble and pick any doors at random. However, his gaze wandered at the door the woman ran off to, he wanted to follow the place where that woman went, but he hesitated. If she was alive, she would definitely attack him. His form now was that of a monster. He decided to open the left door, subconsciously trying to get away from that door. James sighed. That woman did the right thing, but leaving James alone with a horde of goblins left a bitter taste in his mouth. Nevertheless, fate ran another course, for this path ended with another treasure chest guarded by two goblins. ¡°Dead end, huh?¡± James muttered. However, he got a treasure chest! And killing the two goblins netted him another 10 coins. After posing lowly and getting a bit further, he opened the chest. Several coins appeared for a while, and they soon disintegrated into motes of light. [ You have obtained 50 coins.] ¡°Alright. What¡¯s my total coins?¡± [You have 150 coins in total.] ¡°you said before I could upgrade my axe skills, right?¡± [Would you like to upgrade your Beginner Axe mastery to level 5 for 100 coins?] ¡°yes.¡± James nodded. He lived in the present. Axe mastery made him more proficient with the axe. He could feel it. He wanted to upgrade his axe and chimera skill too, but since he didn¡¯t know whether he would get another coins, he decided to spend it now. [ Beginner Axe mastery upgraded to level 5. A new weapon skill is unlocked. Power strike] ¡°What¡¯s a skill?¡± James tilted his head. He knew about skills from gaming, but he didn¡¯t know how it would apply in the real world. [ skills are gained when survivors have gained sufficient levels. For weapon skills, it will be gained when survivors have gained sufficient mastery in the said weapon.] ¡°how do I use these skills?¡± [Simply imagine yourself using the skill. The system will help survivors with skill execution.] James closed his eyes. When he imagined what a power strike shot would be, his axe blazed with blue light. James looked at his axe, astounded. The light soon vanished as if it wasn¡¯t there. The skills will be canceled if James breaks his focus. James took a stance while imagining his new skill. He could feel his skills activating. Power alien to him gathered on his hand. This time, he didn¡¯t let go of his focus. Searching for a target, he aimed his skill at the wall. His arm moved by itself, the light of the skill guided the way. With a booming sound, like a comet, his axe traced the wall. The wall cracked and gave in. A wide gash was left in its wake. James looked at the result of his skill stupefied. ¡°Epic!¡± James snickered. His gait widened when he left the room. He felt like that protagonist who just got a super deadly finisher move. Little did he know that he would get humbled soon. Chapter 6: Boss Room James came out from the dead end and chose the one that was next to it. Sadly, it was empty. He looked at the next room, it was another winding pathway. Corridors just like the one he entered the first time he reached here. However, he was excited. He opened the room one by one, hoping for there to be another treasure chest. As James continued, his steps were light as a feather. The fact that he had grown stronger made him smile. If his face was still a human, he would wonder who he was, for it contracted heavily with his usual attitude. The path branched, and he took the left path. It was the basics of dungeon exploring. If you always choose the left path, you will eventually meet the exit. James suddenly stopped as footsteps whispered in the silent room. The smell of blood filled the air. At the end of the corridor, a colossal stone door opened. Behind the opened door, a throne fit for a king. Several goblin soldiers, the ones that he knew, were there. They were all equipped with a spear and shield. There, A green-skinned monster, similar to a goblin but much, much larger, strolled as if he owned the place. It went out while carrying a corpse. A corpse of a woman that he knew. Her jeans were soiled with blood and piss, probably her own. Her T-shirt was ripped and was painted red from blood. Blood trickled from the wide gash on her chest. James didn¡¯t need to come closer to know that she was dead. Unlike the pitiful goblins, sharp tusks peeked out from the monster¡¯s maw. Leather armor blanketed his green torso, and a rusty axe lay on his one arm. Its spiky shoulder guard made him more menacing than ever, and its gauntlets made clunking noises when it walked through the corridor. James quickly hid in one of the rooms. He was weakened. There is no way he would be able to fight that huge orc-like being. Fortunately, the orc made no attempt to search every single room. It merely disposed of one of its victims in a nearby room and returned to the throne room. ¡°Stupid monster.¡± James made a victory pose in the empty room. The orc wasn¡¯t feeling hungry and stashed the corpse in an adjacent room. It was his chance. The orc probably wouldn¡¯t imagine its corpse would get stolen. After all, all goblins feared it. James quickly went to the adjacent room. And he got more than what he bargained for. Instead of one, five human corpses filled the room. James was elated. But he then scolded himself for thinking so. Five humans have died. Moreover, one of them was equipped with a steel longsword, which proved that this human had leveled up and unlocked the shop function. James thought hard. ¡°System, was that orc strong? Can I take him on?¡± Of course, the system didn¡¯t answer him. [information classified] ¡°What a junk! Well, first thing first. Can I use her body parts?¡± He knew the system might not answer ¡ªif something is too good to be true, it probably is¡ª but it¡¯s worth a try. He has five corpses to plunder. When he looked at the woman, there was something that he wanted to try at all costs. He certainly had played games and wondered if this was possible. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: Human legs Human arms Human stomach ] ¡°Can I change my boobs to that of this woman?¡± James looked at the woman expectantly. He probably should change his face first. However, James often let his instinct take over. [changing¡­] The system seemed to hesitate, but it did anyway. Motes of light enveloped the corpse and himself. This might sound ridiculous, but deep down inside every man, there was a desire to be a gender-bend, and James was no different. He had many anime figurines at home. He wished that one day, with his new skill, he would be able to cosplay as one of the anime characters he liked. He is a simp. ¡°Hmm?¡± The motes of light had disappeared. But his breasts showed no sign of changing. It was still a man¡¯s breast. ¡°Hey, I asked for a woman¡¯s breast. Why didn¡¯t it change?¡± [change successful. Human¡¯s torso installed.] ¡°It didn¡¯t change!¡± James was stupefied. He felt scammed. Those dreams of posing as cosplayers were slashed. The dreams of having those gigantic mounds on his chest had been slashed. Gone! The corpse had also disappeared. [Body modification, not possible at current skill level] ¡°What do you mean?¡± [The base for human specimens in Chimera skill was fixed. You can not change into another human identity with your current chimera level.] ¡°What the fuck! This skill is a scam!¡± James cursed. Of course, the system, being AI, answered him with an AI-like response. [This is not a scam. The system will provide survivors with as much help as it is allowed. Chimera skill allows you to improve yourself with the body parts of others. It didn¡¯t allow you to change your identity.] James sighed at the explanation. Getting angry at the system was no use. He silently switched to other corpses and returned his legs and arms to that of a human. True to the system¡¯s words, it was James¡¯s legs and arms and not other men¡¯s. He recognized the hairy patch on his hand. He knew how large his hand was supposed to be. He then took the dead survivor¡¯s longsword.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. He was supposed to be happy for getting his body back and not some random bozos. But it filled him with grief instead. His dream was slashed, posing as a sexy model, getting a harem as a handsome boy, it was all gone. There were only two choices for him now. Becoming a raging monster or becoming a boring pushover office employee. He would never become popular, he would never become handsome. ¡°Fuck you!¡± He screamed. The cry of agony resounded through the empty corridor. Just like when he was at work, nobody heard his plea, and nobody heard his complaints. The huge stone door opened. A man with a beetle horn and wolf¡¯s maw opened it to challenge the great orc of the first floor. He equipped an axe, just like him, and a longsword at its back. Tears flooded his eyes as he looked at the orc with hatred. It was the first time the orc saw that expression. Most of his victims wore brave expressions before finally realizing the difference in strength. Then they showed fear and terror. However, the orc felt that he was different. Both physically and mentally. The orc stood up from his throne with a flair. Its four goblin soldiers quickly lined up next to him. Then, it roared. The girl that came before this creature pissed her pants and fell stunned with just his roar. However, James was not perturbed. He answered back with a roar of his own. A mix of human and wolf¡¯s howl. With a wave of its hand, it ordered the soldiers to charge, and the goblins answered in kind. They came upon him with a vengeance. James took a stance, he smirked, almost laughing at the stupidity of the orc before him. If he could kill these minions now, the orc won¡¯t get help when he dueled it. James charged his skill. The orc was stupefied and was about to cancel its charge order. His goblin would never win against anyone who had weapon skills. However, it was too late. Even though the goblins wore shields and armor, it was meaningless before something called a weapon skill. James cut three of them with a single horizontal swing. The goblins flew away as blood spurted out from their torso like a hose. After a few twitches, they lay motionless. I am now an official goblin slayer! James thought to himself. He was proud to see his weapon skill take down 3 goblins at once. He wondered whether he could now withstand another goblin horde that almost killed him yesterday. James now feels like a champ, like nothing could beat him. The last soldier wore a stupefied face, only for James to decapitate it with his trusty axe. Within seconds, all of the orc¡¯s guards were slain. Now was the duel between the orc and the chimera. The orc felt confident. He had defeated survivors before. He was confident in his strength. The survivor before it seemed to be the strength type. In a contest of strength, the orc believed no one could match him. Like an amateur, James prepared his skill again, trying to charge at him head-on. The orc was a veteran in combat. If you knew a strong attack was coming, you could either parry or dodge it. The orc did just that, he prepared the same skill, [power strike]. If both used the same skill and clashed with each other, the winner would be based on their stats and the orc was confident in its strength. If both strikes collided, it was confident it would come victorious. James was surprised. He knew the orc was strong, but he didn¡¯t know it had a weapon skill. All the monsters he had faced before had no weapon skills after all. He thought it was the survivors¡¯ privilege. However, his skill was already launched. All he could do was meet the orc head-on. The gleaming war axe and the rusty axe met each other in a resounding boom. A shockwave burst forth from the impact, and the air rippled as James traveled to the corner of the room. James had his first lesson flying with his bare body. He crashed spectacularly into the wall. The wall didn¡¯t make any circular cracks like that in the movies. But it still hurts a lot. James had woefully underestimated the orc¡¯s strength. Again, overconfidence was his nemesis. It needed to be noted that James was not the only one with this problem. The five corpses before him were similar. When humans received power, they tended to test their limits. Many didn¡¯t recover when they eventually bit off more than they could chew. You are a quick learner, James. You can do this. James encouraged himself as he stood back. The orc smiled when it saw his ragged breathing. It did not intend to give him any chance. Like survivors before him, the orc intended to kill him. Then, another skull and trophy will be ripe for the taking. The orc closed in, trying to make mince meat out of James. James parried its strike. However, in a contest of strength, James was losing. However, hands and axes were not the only thing James had. He also had his wolf mouth. When his axe was flown away after a parry, James lunged and bit its arm. It was not clear who was the monster and who was the human because the orc looked more human than James. James bit his biceps, trying to amputate its arm. It felt like he was biting through thick rubber and through his wolf mouth, he could only feel a trickle of blood. There was no gushing of blood that usually filled his mouth when he bit through wolves or goblins. The orc roared in pain as it swung its arm, trying to dislodge the rabid beast that bit it. James felt his teeth rattled, threatening to shake loose from his mouth. Knowing that flailing its arm wouldn¡¯t help loosen the bite, the orc dropped its axe and swiped James with such force that his teeth actually dislodged from his gum. Pain surged from his mouth as he could taste blood pouring out from his gum. However, now is the chance he has been waiting for. James stood up and lunged himself to the orc, unsheathing the sword on his back. With a downward strike, James thought he could separate its head. However, the orc saw the strike. It raised its hand and blocked the strike with its gauntlet. Metal screeched with each other. James thought he could win but his hope was dashed away when the orc steadily gained back its posture. The orc grinned. It had let its guard down, but survived. It swore that it would not let this survivor die peacefully. It would torture him. It would pummel him to the ground, and it would rip his head off with its bare hand. It would relish in the suffering of this one survivor. Victory was close at hand. ¡°RAARGH! ¡ªGHK!¡± The orc roared. Only to be stopped when something hit its neck. James had a horn. A very strong horn from a stone beetle. It was about thirty centimeters long, about the size of a dagger. A very strong and sharp dagger was attached to James¡¯s head. A headbutt from James was akin to stabbing someone with a dagger, and it hit the orcs right in its neck. ¡°ARGHH!!¡± The orc used the last of its remaining strength to swipe James away. Like swiping stubborn leaves from his body, James was sent hurtling through the air. James gagged as his face was having an intimate moment with the carpet in the throne room. Blood still seeped out from his elongated snout. Nevertheless, the damage was already done. Its carotid artery was already cut. Both knew James had won. The orc walked a few steps to James while holding its neck, its rugged hand did little to stop the bleeding that spouted from the wound like a fountain. After a few more steps, the orc dropped to the ground, lying lifeless. Its hateful eye never left James for a moment. James beat the boss on this floor. [You have leveled up to Level 9! Coins Received: 50 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 7 Coins: 90 Stats: STR: 57 (up 9) Dex: 45 (up 6) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] [Floor Cleared. Teleportation portal will be spawned momentarily, please wait.] Then, a portal rose from the ground before the throne room. Chapter 7: Portal ¡°Hehehe.¡± James giggled. He had won. His body was sore all over. The pain in his gum flared intermittently, but he had won. His hands trembled from exhaustion. However, he had won, he had proven himself. And now, he had a boss monster¡¯s body part for the loot. However, his eyes snapped at the portal that spawned. ¡°System. What¡¯s that portal?¡± [Congratulations. You have finished the first floor of trial dungeon 1204. Please step into the portal to advance to the second floor.] ¡°This is just the first floor?¡± James sulked. ¡°How many floors are there?¡± [There are five floors for trial dungeons.] ¡°And this is supposed to be an easy dungeon? Trial means easy, right?¡± [yes. It is recommended that survivors begin clearing dungeons from novice-level dungeons. This trial dungeon is considered a novice level.] ¡°Shit. This is the easiest? I almost died twice on this floor alone! How many survivors are here?¡± [There are no other survivors in trial dungeon 1204. Out of ten survivors that were assigned to trial dungeon 1204, You are the sole survivor] ¡°Damn? I am the only one that survived?¡± [Trial dungeon 1204 will be merged with trial ground 1307 from the second floor upwards.] ¡°Should I go now?¡± It was a stupid question. Again, James was not the sharpest tool in the shed. James would be teleported immediately if he had to go right now, and the system wouldn¡¯t have bothered to create a portal. [You may leave at your own discretion.] ¡°Good.¡± James sighed in relief. He had tons to do. First, he returned back to the corpse room and restored his mouth to that of a human. His wolf mouth was a mess. More than half of its teeth shook loose when he battled the orc. Then, he stood before the orc. [Available body part: ] ¡°is this all?¡± he asked the system. [No. You can swap out heart, liver, lungs, etc. However, we only displayed what might be beneficial to you. Other parts of an orc¡¯s body offer negligible advantages to your current body.] ¡°I see. If I wanted to change my body part, it must be the arms, right?¡± James pondered. James looked at the orc. If he had to choose whether to have its arms or legs, he would choose the arm. They have the same stats, but with the orc¡¯s hand, his swing would become that much stronger. His battle with the orc proved that. He was so easily pushed back with its strength. [Survivors have the freedom to make their own decisions. Will you swap out your human arm with an orc¡¯s arm?] Because James phrased it as a question, the system asked for confirmation. James pondered further, but ultimately, he went for the arm. Orc¡¯s hands were similar to that of a human, only four sizes bigger. However, it was strong. James was beaten black and blue with its power. If he could harness that, he would be unstoppable. The system granted his wish. A green arm replaced his human arm. Unlike the scrawny arm he had before, this arm was ripped. James felt power and confidence flowing to him as he swung his new arm. Whoosh The air split open when James swung his war axe with his new hand. The raw power left a gust of wind. He grinned when he realized he could do more if he used his weapon skill. When he swung the sword with his other arm, the air roared once more. After he was done with his test swing, he approached the portals before stopping himself again. ¡°Hmm, should I go? Wait a minute. There were two more unopened doors, right?¡± James was about to go to the portal when he realized that there were unopened doors here in this castle. James went back. As he initially expected, the throne room led to two paths, one from where he came in before and another from where the woman went back then. After James marked the doors, there were only two doors left. James was itching to test his new arm to some random goblins. However, the room was devoid of monsters. ¡°Well, at least there is a chest here.¡± James sighed.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. [You have obtained 100 coins] ¡°Can I upgrade anything? What¡¯s the option?¡± [No. You would need 500 coins to upgrade your sword to a lightning sword or axe.] ¡°This sword was already upgraded, huh?¡± James muttered at the sword that he plundered from the dead survivor. He then pondered, ¡°hm? What about skills? I paid a hundred for axe level 5, right?¡± [You would need 200 coins to upgrade your Beginner Axe mastery to level 6.] ¡°What the heck? It increased! Do I need 300 to upgrade it to level 7?¡± James was bewildered at the sudden price change. [The coins needed are constant until your Beginner Axe mastery reaches level 10] ¡°Wait. I remembered only paying it once to get to level 5¡­¡± [It is possible to increase weapon mastery with training, fighting, and studying.] ¡°I see.¡± James then swung the longsword several times. After ten minutes of swinging, he actually got a skill. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 7 Coins: 190 Stats: STR: 57 Dex: 45 Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: The longsword was light. Even lighter than the axe. James wondered whether he could treat this sword as a one-handed sword when he fought. His new arm was certainly capable of doing it. James returned to the portal. After some deep breaths, he touched the portal with his hand. It felt like he touched a glass. The golden light that emanated from the portal was mesmerizing. [do you want to go to the second floor?] ¡°Yes!¡± A golden light enveloped him. He felt alone, in a white space. He wondered whether this white space was on the second floor, but apparently, it was not. A notification box floated before him. [transfer in progress. 1%] ¡°You are using magic. Why did you need to make a waiting room for me? Was the world still buffering?¡± James made a joke by himself. He wondered whether he was a game character going through a loading screen. He stopped that thought. It would do him no better here if he thinks like that. He tapped his legs impatiently as the numbers ticked upwards. It was not long by any definition, only about a minute. However, when humans had nothing to do and were placed in a place without stimulation, such as this white room, they tended to get impatient. A flash of light appeared once more, and James felt something pricking on the back of his head. When he turned, the sun shone brightly in the blue sky. Birds chirped as they hun on the branches of the tree. Insects buzzed in the distance. Rabbits hopped away from James and hid in the bushes. One thing for sure, This forest was not on Earth. ¡°Yeah¡­ two suns side by side. Thanks system. You tell me without telling me that this is not the Earth. ¡°James sighed. ¡°I hate camping and forests!¡± James was not an outdoor person. He loved computer games, and even before his transportation, he worked mainly on computers as a staff. ¡°Alright, first things first, I need to find a river. I still have this water knife, but I need food too. Animals usually prowled in the river.¡± James tried to find a river. Once again, he was not the brightest tool in the shed. This is not the Earth but a trial dungeon. Rivers and lakes existed, but there were no ordinary animals here. All were made by the system, and all were hellbent on killing him. After hours of walking, he found what he was looking for, a river. Compared to the water from the knife, the water in the river was refreshing. ¡°AAHH!!¡± James cried out. His voice was lost in the darkness of the forest as a shadow lunged at him from the back. Before he could react, the thing mounted him. Several hairy legs caressed his cheek and slithered to his nape. He could feel something was biting at his helmet. If it was not for his helmet, his head might have several holes in it already. James grabbed the legs and pulled at it. Thanks to his new arm, he grappled the thing and threw it away like a professional judo master. After freeing himself from whatever monster that ambushed him, he grabbed his trusty axe and lunged at the monster. Why does it have to be a spider? James hesitated for a moment, but he threw his disgust out of the window and engaged the spider. Survival first, James! Survival first! Every time he swung his axe, a new green liquid painted his tattered armor. ¡°Shit. Was this a bug floor?¡± James cursed. Apparently, when the spider was as big as a wolf, it was less disgusting and creepy. It was still creepy and disgusting, but less. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] ¡°Nice! I can become Spiderman now!¡± James was elated, but he soon frowned when the system asked him to throw either his lesser mana core or beetle horn. Spider fang was enticing, but the words light paralysis made it less threatening. James assumed it would only give a slight sense of numbness. Since James could only choose one part, he chose spinneret. [Extra slot full. Do you wish to discard the Lesser Mana core, or do you wish to discard the stone beetle¡¯s horn?] James hesitated again. The logical choice would be to throw away the horn. However, this horn had saved him before. Who knows when he might need them again? James continued to ponder. If he threw away the horn and installed the spinneret, he would need to find another beetle horn on this floor if the spinneret was actually useless. The spider ambushed him by jumping, not by using its threads. There must be some reason it didn¡¯t do that. Maybe the thread wasn¡¯t sticky, or maybe it couldn¡¯t shoot out the web. James thought. ¡°Well, experiment is the key to success!¡± James muttered before switching his horn. [Where do you want to install the spinneret?] ¡°ah, the left hand, please. Don¡¯t install it in the butt.¡± James muttered sheepishly. He was thankful that the system reminded him that he could install it anywhere on his body. This spinneret would be totally useless if it was installed in his butt. That was also the main reason the spider didn¡¯t ambush him using the web. Usually, spiders set traps for their prey using the web. However, if it found a prey, it would jump and capture it before injecting it with paralytic poison. James felt sleepy. He cursed himself for not resting on the first floor before jumping to the second floor. On the first floor, he could just find an empty room and rest. However, this place is a jungle. From his first experience being ambushed, he couldn¡¯t just sleep on the ground. He needed to find some kind of cave to rest. However, after several hours of searching high and low, the result was nil. When he climbed one of the tallest trees, he found that the terrain was flat, without any hills or mountains. Then, something catches his eye. A faint wisp of smoke was seen in the distance. ¡°A smoke? System, was another survivor made a camp there?¡± [information classified] ¡°What a useless piece of junk,¡± James sighed. He hopped down from one branch to another. His status prevented him from falling down. If he were still the old James, he would have likely been hugging the tree, petrified and trembling, waiting for firefighters to rescue him with ladders. Not that the old James could even climb a tree, to begin with. So, the scenario was impossible to begin with. James was never confident with his strength and athletic ability. James was a new man now. He could confidently hang from tree branches like a monkey with just one hand. It¡¯s all thanks to his orc arms and stats. James approached the wisp of smoke, unaware that each step brought him closer to danger. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 7 Coins: 195 Stats: STR: 57 Dex: 45 Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: Chapter 8: Monster Village James swept his gaze from left to right, occasionally stopping to check his back. His helmet was securely placed on his head. The dent from the helmet at the back of his head constantly reminded him how dangerous this place was. He had checked his new skill, the spinneret. The spinneret on his left hand didn¡¯t shoot out spider¡¯s silk like those in movies. James didn¡¯t know the specific spider¡¯s spinnerets. Only very few spiders actually shot out webs. James sighed. That was certainly a bummer. Moreover, this spinneret was only sticky at the tip! James didn¡¯t realize the solution to his problem was right in his hands. He certainly was not the brightest tool in the shed. With a spider¡¯s silk, he could simply make himself a home, some kind of protective covering. Instead, he spent hours walking to the campfire he saw in the distance. James is still learning. He was an ordinary office employee, after all. ¡°Was that sunset?¡± James asked. He squinted at the orange glow the sun gave. He wondered whether he was truly in dungeon floors. [This dungeon floor emulated day and night. The change was not merely aesthetic. Some monsters¡¯ behavior will change depending on a specific timeframe.] ¡°It will be nighttime by the time I reach that campfire¡­¡± He sighed at the orange glow and wondered. ¡°Is this truly a dungeon floor? I didn¡¯t see any walls here.¡± [This floor spans about 100 kilometers square. Survivors will be met with an invisible wall if they try to cross beyond the boundary.] ¡°I see.¡± James whistled. He marveled at the intricate design of the system¡¯s creation. His awe was short-lived, for a rustling sound was heard in the bushes. This time, he was alert. He promised himself that he would not be caught by such ambushes ever again. ¡°What a cutie¡­ I missed you already! Little doggie!¡± a familiar wolf was seen coming out from the bushes. Unlike the lower floor, this wolf was healthy. Its sleek fur seemed nice to the touch, and its sharp eyes glistened. It walked with confidence as its maw was shut tight. It didn¡¯t pant nor rage. It didn¡¯t even bark. This was the true form of the emaciated wolf from the lower floor. Again, James found himself surrounded by them. However, he showed no fear, for he already knew the limit of their strength. ¡°Huh?¡± James readied his axe, ready to make himself some quilt made out of wolf¡¯s fur. He wondered if he could use their pelt to fix his leather armor. The wolves surprised him, though. One of the wolves let out a single short howl as if commanding her brethren to forbid something. The rest of the pack looked at their leader, the biggest wolf, with confusion. The leader then walked away to the depths of the wood while her packs followed it while stealing occasional glances toward James. ¡°What the heck?¡± James mumbled. Instead of feeling relief, he was stunned. ¡°They were friendly?¡± Lady¡¯s luck was not in James¡¯ favor. Once again, James was not the sharpest tool in the shed. Those wolves were monsters, created by the system to test survivors. Unlike the wolves on the first floor, where they would charge head-on without hesitation, these healthy wolves employed hunting tactics. James thought they were friendly, he could never be more wrong. As the sun was dimming on the horizon, those wolves began to show their fangs. One by one, they rustled the bushes. Their figure remained hidden, making James wonder how many they were. Then, one of them leaped out from the bushes. However, James was ready for it. ¡°I hate dogs.¡± James roared as his axe smashed a wolf in the head. They fled again. The gleeful mood he had earlier turned into that of dread. He had a premonition that he was hunted, and their retreat was feint. His instinct was spot on. These wolves were stalking him, waiting until he let his guard down. The wolves didn¡¯t have an easy time either. Usually, wolves stalk their prey, and when it flees, they follow it until it is exhausted, and then it will deliver the killing blow. If the prey fought back, the wolves would keep their distance and taunt him, exhausting the prey¡¯s strength. However, James was a monster with higher intelligence than normal animals. He didn¡¯t fall for their taunts. James could kill a wolf with a single strike; the wolves were the ones with disadvantages. And so, the wolves couldn¡¯t get closer. They merely stalked James from afar, waiting until he was asleep before attacking and finishing him for good. ¡°Finally! A treasure chest!¡± James had been wandering in the dark of the night. His steps trudged through the bushes as wolves kept perking up here and there. Finally, he found something familiar. A treasure chest was placed beside a tree.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. [Vambraces] [Gauntlets] Inside the chest lay a pair of vambraces and gauntlets, fit even for his orc¡¯s arm. It complemented James¡¯ leather armor and helmet quite well, making his paper body resistant to most attacks. The noise when the metals were clanking together was refreshing. It filled James with confidence as if he had finally become big and noticeable. The wolf didn¡¯t hide their presence well, or more like, they made their presence known to James. It was as if they were telling James that they watched him, stalking him, hunting him. Such things irritated him. James tried to make small talk with the system to divert his attention. ¡°System, how many survivors are there? I haven¡¯t seen anyone.¡± [information classified. Please clear the floor before querying] The wisp of smoke James had been following grew nearer and nearer. In the dark of the night, the orange glow of the campfire flicked among the trees. James gasped as he hid himself in the bushes, trying to make himself as small as possible. ¡°It was not a campfire. It was a fucking village!¡± James hissed as he observed his surroundings from behind a tree. It was a bit too generous to call what he had seen a village. Four crude houses, all made of roughly cut logs, bunched together around the fire. A faint smell of burning meat danced together with the white smoke. If one thought that this was a chance to ambush them while they were asleep, they were wrong, for two orcs stood guard around the fire. While they were less armored, their rusty spears stood tall. James knew firsthand that despite their lack of armor, their muscle was enough as body armor for it to resist even wolf¡¯s fang. He vividly remembered the strength of the orcs when he clashed with the orc boss on the first floor. The boss monster he faced before also had a rusty weapon, and yet it almost killed James ten times over. As he was crouching in the bushes, planning his next plan. A howl pierced the silent night. The howl jolted the orcs awake. Like a disturbed beehive, the doors were thrown open, and over ten orcs gushed out. James knew from their guttural sound and growled alone that they were pissed beyond reckoning. ¡°What the heck? What are they doing?¡± James whispered He looked toward the source. A wolf stood there, howling like the king of the forest. When they locked eyes, the wolf seemed to smirk at him. At that moment, he knew the wolves intentionally baited the orcs towards him. James was confused. The wolves were the ones who woke the orc. So, won¡¯t the orcs come to them instead? Apparently, no. Every creature that came from the dungeon had an instinctive hatred toward humans. The system made it that way to make them compete, for this is a trial for the world. So, when the wolves came to attack James, the orcs roared. They put aside their previous rivalry to dispatch James. James understood that he was cornered once again with all of the orcs in the front and wolves on his back. ¡°Fucking dog. I will find your home, and I will kill all of your family!¡± James cursed as he unsheathed his sword and dual-wielded it with his axe. The sneaky bastard didn¡¯t attack head-on. Instead, they circled him like the cunning predators they were. They took their time for the longer they dragged on, the better. Their barks were like an alarm clock to the mad orcs. James made a hasty decision. He used his new spider¡¯s silk and entwined it with his axe like a rope. Then, with a burst of energy from his new arm, James hurled the axe at the nearest wolf. It burst its head open with a satisfying crack. Then, using the rope, he pulled the axe back to his hand. A wolf tried to intercept him, only to be cut in two by the sword in his left hand. Before James could finish the dogs, the orcs reached him. A flash of orange light appeared in the corner of his vision. James shuddered, for he knew what it meant. Like the boss monster of the first floor, these orcs were using a weapon skill. James prepared the skill of his own, however he abandoned the idea. The spear skill the orc used is a skill ineffective for orcs who rely on their power. It relies more on speed and dexterity than power. The system had intentionally made orcs on this floor weaker than the first-floor boss monster. James rolled on the ground as four spears left a gust of wind behind him. James readied his axe. Light glowed on his ax, marking the beginning of skill preparation. James was surprised, it usually took more time to prepare his skills, however, by the power of his will and adrenaline, and mostly luck, the skill activated. He felt like he had become one with the axe, knowing when to strike, when to dodge. A beautiful golden arc swept through the gaps of orcs¡¯ defenses. James¡¯s movement was fluid and deliberate. Not only one but three of the orcs fell as their heads drew another red curve to compliment the golden arc left by James¡¯s strike. All stood in silence as the three orcs fell. Even James was stunned at what he had just done. In martial arts, there was a legend where sometimes, you could feel the flow. It was as if the gods themselves guided your every move. Everything felt right. That¡¯s what James felt right now. ¡°AWOO!¡± a howl from the alpha wolf knocked everyone out from their stupor. The orcs realized they still had a battle to win and roared in kind. James had the momentum, he knew he could win. A war axe and a spear had different ranges, and James was at the optimum range, not the orc. James drew his axe overhead and swung at another orc. The orcs tried to defend themselves with their spear, but their wooden shaft was too fragile for James¡¯s strike. Another orc fell, his head was cleaved in two. The cunning wolves, knowing they would lose, let out the familiar short howl again. This time, it was shorter and a bit more urgent. Within moments, they turned tail and went back to the woods, leaving the enraged orcs alone. Orcs were less intelligent. They didn¡¯t know the word retreat, so they continued to fight. James might have lost in a contest of strength before. But with his new orc arms, he had the same strength as them, or even more, thanks to his stats and level-up. Augmented by his status, the 6 orcs felt like the five goblins James faced when he first came to the dungeon. They were no longer boss monsters. They were hard but no longer felt unbeatable. Dawn peeked out from the horizon, James had won and leveled up twice. He trembled from exhaustion, the axe and sword in his hand felt heavy. However, his mouth curved into a grin, then it grew into a giggle, and then it grew stronger until it became a maniacal laugh. For a moment, he didn¡¯t register his exhaustion, for he had triumphed. [You have leveled up to Level 11! Coins Received: 50 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 11 Coins: 245 Stats: STR: 60 ( up 3) Dex: 53 (up 8) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] [ level 10 Reached. Advanced shop unlocked] Chapter 9: Advanced Shop [ level 10 Reached. Advanced shop unlocked] ¡°Oh Yeah, you mentioned this shop a while back on the first floor. What does it do¡± James pondered while biting some meat the orc was having. He didn¡¯t know what kind of meat it was, but he believed it was not poisonous. As long as it was not poisonous, he believed his goblin stomach would handle all the bacteria and germs this meat could possibly have. [Advanced shops could repair your damaged equipment. At level 1, it also sells health potions, hematonic potions, and mana potions.] ¡°Health potions! How much do they cure if you drink them?¡± James stood up from his seat. His voice was tinged with excitement when he heard about the miracle drug of fantasy land. Health potions were a staple in the gaming industry. Almost every kind of game had it. They might rebrand it with other names. However, their functions remain constant. To heal characters¡¯ health. James had half given up when he didn¡¯t get a single vial of these miracle drugs. However, it finally appeared. [Health potions are not drunk. They are poured and rubbed on open wounds. After applying a health potion to the open wound, the wound should be sealed within one minute unless a specific curse was added to the wound.] ¡°Huh? Why are you suddenly getting realistic this late in the game? Why not just drink it and heal up immediately?¡± James sighed. The System ignored him and continued with its explanation. [Hematonic potion can be drunk to restore the lost blood. The effect should work after ten minutes.] ¡°I see. Well, how much does it cost? Don¡¯t hide it for me now. You know it¡¯s not gonna work, give me the list, System.¡± James said with a wry grin. Knowing the System¡¯s tendencies, he was expecting it to be ridiculously expensive. The System obliged and showed him what he could buy. [Advanced shop: ] ¡°Hmm. it is kinda expensive¡­ but affordable,¡± James said. ¡°I will buy one health potion and one hematonic potion.¡± James lived in the present. This is a life-saving medicine that beginners in every game must bring. At least until they got themselves a healing spell. Two vials in a black box appeared before him. One was red, and the other was pink. The System explained that the red bottle is the health potion while the pink ones are the hematonic potion. James put those bottles in his backpack. A howl pierced the orange sky again. James wondered whether the wolves were coming again. However, they no longer mattered, for James would be resting inside a house today. It was shabby, but a house is a house, and James knew how to strengthen it. Before that, he changed his legs with that of an orc. Orc¡¯s legs were bulky, which made them look slow. However, it has more strength and the same capabilities as humans. They were slower not because of their physiology, but because of their stats. The green muscled legs and arms made James¡¯s torso look comically small, as if he was surgically made that way. James wondered if he could fix that. However, the most his skill could do was steal an orc¡¯s skin. When he inquired The System, he got unexpected answers. [Available body part: ]This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°I can plunder these too? Why didn¡¯t you list it before?¡± [Orc¡¯s skin and torso offer no extra benefit compared to humans. However, due to your query, we listed them as available parts for chimera.] ¡°What about the head?¡± [the head offers no particular advantage compared to humans except the tusk. Do you want to change them?] ¡°I can change the torso too?¡± After changing his legs, James felt weird. It was like his limbs were not his. His stride was too far, and his arm lost its dexterity. He could manage for now, but he wondered whether he should change himself completely to that of an orc. He had enough corpses, after all. [yes. You can change your body into that of an orc. It offered no particular benefit.] ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s change them all!¡± James took a deep breath and confirmed his decision to The System. James had finally let go of the last shred of his human appearance. Motes of light gathered on three orc¡¯s corpses. Those motes consumed the corpses before swirling around James like a firefly. His muscles swelled, ripping his damaged armor to pieces, his scrawny body soon turned into a hulking giant of muscle, his skin turned moss green. And finally, two tusks grew on the side of his maw. Even though nothing except the legs should change his stats, he felt big, he felt menacing, and most importantly, he felt powerful. The change was merely cosmetic. However, to James, it increased his confidence. When he looked at his status, he saw the changes in his chimera skills. [Leather armor damaged. Do you wish to repair it for 60 coins?] ¡°Yes,¡± James felt stupid. He lost ten coins just because he forgot to undress himself when changing. Fortunately, The System offered to fix it for him, albeit for a price. The tattered leather armor magically sewn itself back and refitted into James¡¯s body. James was stupefied. That tattered leather armor felt like new and it fit into his new body now. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 11 Coins: 35 Stats: STR: 60 ( up 3) Dex: 53 (up 8) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: After checking the surroundings, James went inside the shabby house the orcs had built. The doors seemed like they would break with a light tap. However, there is nothing that his spider silk couldn¡¯t fix. The dark night gradually gave a gentle azure glow as dawn peeked from the horizon. The black blanket in the sky slowly painted blue. James looked at the sky, a brief worry about work at the office crept up to his head before he kicked it out of the window and stepped on it while laughing at himself. ¡°I am in another world. Why am I thinking about work right now? Besides, I am already fired.¡± James sighed once again. James had reinforced the house with his spider webs from his spinneret. It was not pretty, but it did the work. After closing the door and fixing it with a rope so the wolves couldn¡¯t enter, he climbed up on his self-made hammock and lay down. It didn¡¯t take even ten seconds before drowsiness filled him and he fell into a deep slumber. James dreamt about his goals and his dreams when he was little. He wanted to become a manager and then a branch director. However, that image soon warped into something irregular, twisted, incomprehensible. His dream was when he was in elementary school. His friends at the elementary school stood away from him, and the reason was obvious. James had grown a tusk. His body was green, like that of an orc. It was obvious that they were scared of him. His body grew larger, and when they did sports, he became the champion. He was the best. James knew immediately that this was a dream. In his memory, He was a reclusive kid. People often didn¡¯t notice he existed. He thought grades were everything and tried to study. It needed to be emphasized that he tried. He realized then that he was a mediocre kid. Even when he tried, his rank and score barely passed. At sports, it was even worse. He was a known benchwarmer. He held no interest in it. Even at college, he always barely passed. Never become higher. He thought he would never land a job with his mediocre score. But Lady Luck smiled at him. He landed his dream job of becoming an admin staff member at a startup. Staff jobs were his dream job simply because he thought they were stable jobs. It was not. Nevertheless, he managed to hold on to his work for over five years before he was fired. Then the summoning came. ¡°Reflecting won¡¯t help. Let¡¯s just enjoy the moment.¡± James sighed as he continued to watch his greenself as a kid becoming macho and admired by other students. The green kid continued to become a great bodybuilder. A championship medal was awarded to him. James snickered. He knew it was not because of hard work, but because of status and the orc¡¯s inherent race traits. However, after thinking for a while, he pondered. Why did hard work even matter? All they cared about was the results. Even James himself only cared about the result. James was lacking in this area. He thought by working hard, he would at least survive. However, the result was lacking, and thus he was fired. ¡°Stable job, my ass...¡± Anger dwelled within him. What is wrong with this world? Why was this green kid able to get everything easily while he had to break his back every day so he could receive a minimum wage salary? The green kid soon turned to the orc boss he knew. The way he commanded the goblins was the answer. The orc was simply better. James instinctively used his chimera skill. It should not work on living things. However, this was a dream world. Anything could work. James grew tusks and he became bigger. Now, whenever people saw him, it was not of belittlement but wonder. He had finally become respected, or feared. James understood from the beginning what he must do. He was helpless before, but not anymore. He now had chimera skills, he could become anything that he wanted. Becoming an orc? He simply needs to steal their body. To become a genius, he simply needs to steal geniuses¡¯ brains and put them into his extra slot. He felt like his time had come. Life is like a wheel. Sometimes, you are at the bottom. Sometimes, you are at the top. James had been at the bottom for too long and now it was time for him to rise to the top. He wanted to change. The System granted him his wish. However, nothing is free and his skill requires a price. He must kill, and then, he will change. He will leave old James behind. He will become stronger. He will level up, and he will be greater than ever. Chapter 10: The forest An unfamiliar ceiling, an unfamiliar wall, and an unfamiliar bed. James opened his eyes only to find spider¡¯s silk strewn on the ceiling, walls, and doors. He had a comfortable sleep. A dream that was so vivid minutes ago began to blur his memories. When he woke up, he felt alien. Like he was not in his body. Green hand, green skin, and a tusk. Slowly, memories trickled back to his consciousness. ¡°This is not a dream.¡± James felt relieved. When he clenched his hand, the muscle contracted, showing a bulge like a pro bodybuilder. His back let out a satisfying crack when he got out from his hammock. He stretched, and it let out another satisfying crack. While his body felt alien, it felt right. After scraping the spider web entangling the door, he opened the crude door only to be met with an orange glow of sunrise. James felt bewildered. He just realized that he had been asleep for a full day and night. Taking water from his water pouch, he drank it all in one big gulp. His gaze soon snapped to other houses. When he ransacked the other orc¡¯s housing, two of them were empty. James sighed and expected to find the last shack to be empty as well. When he opened the door, two golden treasure chests lay side by side with a bag filled with meat. His lips curved into a grin as he eagerly skipped over to the chest and flung it open, wondering what treasure might be waiting for him inside. Something clicked from the chest, the air suddenly whistled as an arrow embedded itself in his stomach. It took him moments before he registered what had happened. He clutched the arrow on his belly. Dread filled his face as he finally registered what had happened. ¡°FUCK! I am dead!¡± Orcs are taller than humans. If it was a normal human, it would have hit either the chest or the head. Excitement was gone from James¡¯s face as horror filled him. He jumped back and disrobed himself. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found out he was unharmed. It was all thanks to the leather armor he wore. [Would you like to repair the armor for 10 coins?] ¡°Damn it! It was just repaired yesterday! Thank god it didn¡¯t penetrate the armor. It took years of my life there.!¡± a mixture of frustration, relief, and fury was bubbling inside his heart. He wanted to kick himself, slap himself in the head, and punch himself in the face for being so careless. He experienced it firsthand that chests could contain traps. His first treasure chest contained a snake! He had taken precautions when opening the treasure chest just for this exact moment! And yet, he had grown complacent. If not for the armor he wore, he would have wasted the health potion he just bought yesterday. ¡°Fix the armor!¡± James replied, his voice rising in irritation. It could have been worse. James calmed down and thanked his lady luck. Instead of ten coins, he could have wasted the 100 coins health potion he just bought yesterday, or worse, the arrow could have been coated with poison, and he would die. James sighed as he reprimanded himself for the umpteenth time for the stupidity of his actions. It was just a small hole, but James felt more secure if he had new and shiny armor. He paid the repair fee while complaining and reprimanding himself. [Remaining coins: 25] James grudgingly went back to the shack. This time, he used his longsword and double-checked; no, he quadruple-checked the chest. He poked it with his longsword, trying to spot if anything was amiss. Inside the chest was a crossbow. The very thing that had almost killed him moments ago. Beside it, lay a quiver with two dozen bolts inside. James had been looking for a ranged weapon, and this was it. The sleek and simple design of the bow complemented his axe and sword. Smooth metal railings, polished wooden grip and limb, and a fine silvery string. All of it was complemented with the bolts itself. A simple wooden bolt with a metal tip and feather fletchings. James held the bow in his hand. He felt conflicted about wielding a weapon that almost killed him minutes ago. But a weapon is a weapon. He sorely lacked ranged attacks, and this bow complemented his battle style nicely. The System had intentionally limited the number of range monsters on this floor. It was a calculated choice in the hope that more survivors could survive this trial dungeon. Alas, it knew the number of survivors had fallen off the cliff by the minute due to sudden traps and different monster behavior. Only people who wanted to change or were in the lower strata of society without any hope accepted the agreements after all. Most of them were like James, skillless and mediocre. [Ammo unlocked! You can now buy crossbow bolt ammo at the shop for 50 coins per dozen] ¡°Shit. That¡¯s expensive.¡± James cursed under his breath. Then, a thought struck him. Curiosity got a better hold of him. He queried the System, ¡°System, can I upgrade this crossbow?¡± [Yes. Two upgrade paths are available for a crossbow. You can upgrade it to a longbow for 200 coins, or you can upgrade the crossbow with a scope and longer limb for 300 coins.] ¡°That¡¯s cheaper than the axe, isn¡¯t it?¡± James tilted his head [Enchanted bows will be unlocked after the first upgrades. Further information classified.] His curiosity satisfied, He gazed at another treasure chest beside the golden one. He was no longer as excited as before. He poked it with a sword. After securing an escape route, he put his spider web on top of the chest and opened it from afar. It was as if the world was playing a prank on him, for nothing came out of this chest. This chest was not booby-trapped. A growl of irritation came out of his orc mouth as he inspected the chest. [you have obtained an axe mastery skill scroll. Your axe mastery is now level 7] James just got 200 coins worth of items. A smile didn¡¯t resurface from his mouth, though. His earlier blunder with the booby-trapped chest was still fresh in his mind. He then summoned his stats. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 11 Coins: 25 Stats: STR: 60 Dex: 53If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: After checking that nothing was amiss, he left the house. An expanse of wood painted his gaze. ¡°The System said this floor is 100 km square wide. If I assume it was square-shaped, that means we have 10 kilos to cover. If it was a circle, it would have about a 6-kilometer radius.¡± James calculated in his mind. He didn¡¯t want to wander aimlessly. James might not be the brightest tool in the shed, but he could learn. And even a broken clock was right twice a day. Wandering aimlessly would increase his chance of being ambushed at night. This crude house was shabby, but it was better than nothing. Even through his orc body, the caress of hairy legs that rubbed his cheeks and nape was still vivid. His helmet still had the dents from its fucking teeth. ¡°Thank god it wasn¡¯t a cockroach at that time. Nah, even if a cockroach came, I would kill it. I could do it now.¡± James felt goosebumps just remembering it. James departed toward the woods. A single thin line of thread lay on the ground, released by his spinneret. James hoped that by following this thread later, he would be able to return to this hut. One thing to note, James hated camping. And it didn¡¯t change even when he had become an orc. Even when he tried to walk in a straight line, somehow, he found HIS own thread lying on the dirt, proving that he was going in circles. The wolves didn¡¯t bother him, but they were always present in the corner of his eye. [You have leveled up to Level 12!] [you have unlocked beginner bow mastery level 1] After killing the fifth spider, he finally leveled up along with a new skill. The crossbow was cumbersome. Its tedious reloading made it unsuitable for combat except when James had the initiative. Cumbersome as it was, it delivered results. Three of the five spiders were killed by this crossbow. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] James wondered if the spider fang was worth it. However, the System refused to answer him, so James made a daring test. He let the first spider bite his unprotected leg. Before the poison settled in, he impaled the spider with his sword and hid behind the bushes. His heart was beating fast, and sweat poured out from his forehead. He wondered whether he had done something stupid, but he had to find out whether the spider fang was better than the orc¡¯s tusk. He had to test how weak the poison was. Again, James was not the brightest tool in the shed. What if the poison was permanent? Shit. I should have brought one of those orc¡¯s corpses here. Can I return back after purging my leg? James thought to himself as he felt numbness in his leg. The poison was working, it spread on his legs. ¡°System, do you have an antidote potion?¡± [current shop level does not provide status ailments potion. Please upgrade your advanced shop to level two for 1000 coins.] ¡°Ugh¡­ this is a bad idea.¡± James groaned as the numbness spread to his thigh. He thought weak paralysis meant a simple numbness on the skin, but he couldn¡¯t even move his leg now. Fear began to creep in as he seriously considered amputating his leg. ¡°Weak paralysis, my ass¡­¡± Then, it stopped at the thigh. James exhaled. The fear that crept in lessened as he now knew the limit of the poison. ¡°How long will my legs go numb? Is it permanent?¡± James asked. He expected the System to answer with the usual ¡®this information classified¡¯ BS, but the notification answered him. It even provided the exact time the paralysis will last. [The current status ailment will last for 4 minutes and 40 seconds. Afterward, the poison will slowly recede until full recovery in 1 minute.] ¡°Damn you! You didn¡¯t answer me before!¡± James clenched his teeth. He wouldn¡¯t have to go through this dangerous test if the System had answered his query. [System will not provide answers irrelevant to survivors current condition. Such information is classified until it becomes relevant to survivors¡¯ situation] ¡°Are you telling me that you will withhold information until it happens to me? Until it was too late?¡± James spat. His frustration with The System boiled over. [Such are the rules of the trial dungeons. You will receive even less information in the real dungeons.] ¡°Yeah! Got it! Thanks a lot, fuckers.¡± James sighed. Getting mad at it won¡¯t help him a single bit. Now that he knows he will survive the spider¡¯s fangs, he has calmed down a lot. ¡°Wait a minute. What if the poison was injected into my torso or my head?¡± James began to worry. A cardiac arrest might happen if he was bitten in the wrong spot. He would be dead in that case. [In the case of paralysis poison injected into the torso, numbness will spread throughout your body, causing a loss of sensation. However, motor functions will remain unaffected. In the case of paralysis poison injected into the head, you will experience complete paralysis of your neck, eyes, and mouth. However, no fatal damage such as cardiac arrest will happen.] ¡°Thanks for the answer, System.¡± James thanked the System. He was still annoyed that the System hadn¡¯t answered him before. But he must acknowledge that the System played fair. ¡°I decided that I will install the spider¡¯s fang.¡± James declared. [installing] Motes of light swirled and consumed the spider¡¯s corpse, transferring its power to fuel the chimera skill. The tusk that grew upward in James¡¯ mouth disintegrated, replaced by two black chitinous fangs that curved downward. The new fang gleamed with an ominous sheen, its tip dripped with viscous yellow liquid. James felt an acidic taste in his mouth. The ¡®weak¡¯ paralysis poison is now his. ¡°I can use the poison on the arrow, right?¡± James grinned. The paralysis poison was weak. But it wasn¡¯t that weak. It was potent enough to disable a limb. James had been scheming to use this poison to coat his arrows, axes, and swords. That should disable his enemies with just a scratch. However, his smirk faded when The System dashed his expectations. [yes. But the poison will decompose and lose its effect in two minutes] James sighed. ¡°Of course, why would it be that easy? Of course, there is a drawback. Stupid me.¡± The world never let him have his fun before. Why would they relent now? Still, two minutes was enough. He just needed to do better. He needed to improvise, adapt, and overcome like always. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 12 Coins: 25 Stats: STR: 60 Dex: 58 (up 5) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: Chapter 11: Alpha wolf

[you have obtained 150 coins. Your total coins have now reached 175 coins] [your beginner Sword mastery has reached level 4] James had been venturing into this forest for five days. Spider¡¯s thread spun here and there, crisscrossing the path James had taken. All of the spider¡¯s threads converged in one place. The shabby orc¡¯s village. After being here for almost a week, James had figured out the rough terrain of this place. He had found two treasure chests during his exploration that yielded coins and swordsmanship scrolls. Now, his coins have jumped back to 175 coins. However, after the sixth day, the wolves that had been constantly nagging him suddenly changed their behavior. ¡°I want to upgrade my sword skill to level 5,¡± James said. [100 coins used to upgrade Beginner Sword mastery to level 5. A new weapon skill unlocked. Hurricane] ¡°Now we are talking,¡± James smirked at the new skill. A wolf suddenly jumped at James, and he split its skull. The status screen not only blessed him with power, but it also blessed him with weapon mastery. James wielded his sword like a pro despite having only used it for a few days. Another wolf came closer, not close enough for James to skin its fur. But it was at a perfect range for his new crossbow. He grabbed the loaded crossbow tied using a spider¡¯s web to his waist. With newfound confidence, derived from his new experience, he brought the crossbow to eye level. When the iron sight met the wolf, he pressed the trigger. A familiar click, the same one that almost took his life a week ago, now felt satisfying. The bolt flew with a whoosh and hit one of the wolves. It yelped and fled. Tails tucked between its legs. James cursed as he looked at the bolt that hung on The wolf¡¯s butt. It was not a fatal shot. ¡°Damnit. An arrow was lost.¡± He cursed. It was not a huge loss. He still had 20 more, and in the worst-case scenario, he could pay the system for more ammo. But frustration grew within him. These dogs had been stalking him for almost a week. Suddenly, it struck him like lightning ¡ª the reason why the wolves changed their behaviors. The reason why the wolves attacked him now. It all fell into place. James couldn¡¯t help but giggle. An evil laugh escaped his lips. ¡°Hehehe. I finally found your lair. You are afraid now, aren¡¯t you?¡± James felt like he was winning. It was rare for him to feel this way. It reminded him of when he was playing chess with his father when he was a kid. He realized later that he had gone easy on him. Nevertheless, the exhilarating feeling was real. Of course, this is a trial dungeon. These monsters were created by the system. They had no children. These monsters instinctively protect the boss room. James might be right for the wrong reason. He was right that he went to someplace that was important for the wolves. A massive arena reminiscent of the Colosseum in ancient Rome was placed at the edge of the forest. Ivy clung to the cracks in the arches and pillars. The structure was weathered, but it stood the test of time, as its majesty did not diminish in the slightest. At the entrance, stood a massive gate. Golden carving let out a faint glow as sunset shone upon it. The design seemed to tell James how it had weathered the test of time. However, even though it was forgotten by time itself, its majesty did not wither. The gate was imposing, it stood there as if challenging James to come over. A howl, far louder and more majestic, crackled in the air. Like thunder, it sends James a step backward, wondering what might lay before it. The wolves yelped in surprise before all ran inside. Through a crack in the walls, they slipped in like lizards. An eerie silence, no sounds dared approach the gate. James¡¯s heart raced as he stepped forward. Like the first orc boss, James knew this was a test. James knew the alpha wolf, the boss monster, waited for him inside. James stood before the towering gate. He caressed the iron gate with his orc hand, trying to feel the age and story it once had. After a deep breath, he pressed his hand against the gate. Its cold surface was unyielding even against James¡¯s new strength. James raised another hand and grunted. His muscles strain under immense pressure. The gate groaned as it slowly gave way to the next challenger of the boss monster. Its ancient hinge protesting against the sudden force acting on it. There, at the center of the arena, lay a humongous wolf. ¡°Beautiful,¡± James muttered under his breath. He was awed at the creature before it. Fur, fine as the fluffiest cloud, shimmering under the sunlight with a blue and white glow. A single silvery horn jutted out from its forehead, crackling faintly with an arc of lightning. The wolf was massive, towering like a house, bigger than any wolf James had ever seen. Unlike the orc boss before that exuded raw power, this wolf sat with an air of calm and elegance. Its piercing gaze bore James with intellect, sizing him and wondering whether the new challenger was worth its time. James tightened the grip on his axe. His sword was securely sheathed on his back, and his new weapon, the crossbow, hung tightly on his belt. The wolf stood up, silence permeated the air. No roar of any kind. James approached, his gaze bore focus. Wolves lined up on the corner of the stadium like an audience watching a gladiator duel, they watched silently. James put them in the corner of his mind, reminding himself of the possibility of their ambush. A short bark returned his gaze to the Alpha wolf. Both look at each other. The monster before him should have no feelings, but he somehow understood that this wolf felt insulted. It howled, and the wolves, who spectated the duel, retreated. Some still peeked through the crack of the walls, but James understood. There will be no distraction or ambush. This wolf has pride to protect. It reminded James of a boss who had resigned. A very respectful man. James nodded. After a deep breath to recollect himself, he charged. The wolf was faster. It opened its maw, trying to swallow James whole. James felt his heart racing. He had fought wolves before. Their strength lay in their claws and fangs. The problem with fangs was that they were close to the head. If James could land a hit on its head, he believed he would win.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. James prepared his skill. His skill [power strike] had no equal. It was supposed to cleave anything that stood in his way. It had failed him once with the orc, but that was simply because the orc used the same skill as him. James fought back the fear within his heart. He was willingly transported to this dungeon because he wanted to change. He was willingly transported to this dungeon because he wanted to improve himself. There is no way this wolf is going to stop me! The maw didn¡¯t close in as the wolf leaped into the air. A shadow went past James as his skill crashed the cobblestone, letting out a loud explosion. James was stupefied and took a moment to gather himself. He didn¡¯t think his attack would be dodged. He immediately turned and braced himself for a sneak attack from the back. However, it didn¡¯t happen. The leap was not intentional. The wolf, sensing danger to its life, canceled its attack at the last second and leaped away from danger. It skidded ungracefully on the cobblestone before falling down and reorienting itself. James tilted his head. And it felt infuriated at his insolence. It had unknowingly acknowledged that this man was stronger than itself. It growled as lightning began to gather at its horn. It raised its paw, trying to swipe James out of existence. James drew his sword and prepared a stance. Light gathered on his blade, marking the beginning of his skill [Hurricane]. Like a ballet dancer, James leaped and spun, a trail of light marked the path his blade had taken. Three claws from its left paw clipped away and blood spurted from the wolf¡¯s paw. It was a flesh wound. However, it had lost its claws. Despite its huge body, the wolf knew for sure it would lose in a frontal assault. The wolf took a step back again this time. Weapon skills are vital in dungeons. However, Monsters that couldn¡¯t wield weapons, such as wolves and spiders, couldn¡¯t use them. That made them look like they were weaklings. However, they were not. They had unique skills to complement what they were lacking. The air crackled as the beast gathered its power. James¡¯s skin prickled. He wanted to chase after it. His instinct told him that this was a chance, but he hesitated. He knew from experience the beast was charging its power. However, being passive might cost him his life. James was an amateur. This kind of hesitation usually proved lethal. However, this time, it saved him. A beam shot out from the horn, aiming for James¡¯s life. If James were trying to chase it, he wouldn¡¯t have time to react. His leg tensed up. His stats provided him with the dexterity he didn¡¯t know he had. The blow glanced at his shoulder. The smell of burning meat was in the air. ¡°Ugh¡­ that bastard. It had a laser beam!¡± James looked over his shoulder. The blow penetrated his vambraces and leather armor as if they were nothing, grazing his shoulder. The wound was cauterized and no blood was spilled, but it didn¡¯t make things less painful. James looked at the wolf as he tried to close in the distance. However, the wolf retreated, circling him like a cunning predator. If the enemy was a strong melee fighter, the wolf would take him out from a distance, using its beam attack to finish him. If the enemy was a strong ranged fighter, the wolf would close in the distance with his superb dexterity and take him out with his fangs. This wolf was not just powerful, it was intelligent. Its move was calculated. James still had the crossbow. However, that wolf would surely evade his shot like swatting a fly or dodging a slow-moving feather if he shot at it from this distance. He needed to get closer. Another shot was aimed at James¡¯ heart. This time, he knew it was coming. With a twist, the white beam flew past him. He could smell the air burning from its path. James took out a crossbow bolt from his pocket and bit it. Yellow, viscous liquid oozes out from his fang, seeping into the grain of the wooden bolt. He then loaded it into his crossbow. He only has two minutes. But he must not hurry. The wolf was smarter than the orcs. James was waiting for that chance. That moment after the wolf shot out its lightning beam and retreated. The wolf, ever so confident of its tactic, shoots out another lightning bolt from its horn. James dodged again. This time, the shot grazed his flank. He was too close to dodge it properly. James clenched his teeth as he ran toward the wolf. The wolf smirked as it prepared to run toward the other end of the arena. At that moment, the wolf let out a yelp as a sharp pain shot through its hind legs. It stumbled, and it was the second time the wolf had fallen over in a fight. Its iridescent yellow eye snapped toward the source of its pain only to find a bolt sticking out from its leg. The wolf stood up. It thought that this pain was momentary, just a flesh wound, but it found its leg trembling as if strength had been sapped away from it. The venom was taking hold. James¡¯s lips curved into a grin as he took out another bolt and bit it. An angry guttural growl escaped from its mouth. For the first time, it felt danger to its life. It walked limply toward the other side of the arena. Even when it reached the end, it no longer had time to charge up its attack as James was following behind it. James was now the hunter. And another poisonous bolt was ready. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 11 Coins: 75 Stats: STR: 60 Dex: 53 Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: Chapter 12: Second Portal The wolf was cornered. With its hind leg limped, it was forced into melee combat with James. A cackle of electricity roused from deep within. Electricity coursed through its body. James holstered his crossbow and drew his axe. ¡°Come here, little puppy, let¡¯s get close and personal.¡± James taunted. He gripped his axe tightly. The axe began to glow. Motes of orange light swirled around the blade. The glow grew brighter as his skill was nearing its activation. The wolf snarled in defiance, he lowered its crackling horn and lunged forward. Even when its hind legs were paralyzed, the wolf felt no fear. Even if it loses this fight, it knows that it has fought a worthy foe. A flicker of respect shone from its eye. Their pride and will clashed. The cackling horn clashed with the glowing axe in a thunderous collision. A massive explosion ensued as James flew to the center of the arena. His body bounced and rolled on the cobblestone, like a ragdoll. This reminded him of the clash between him and the orc¡¯s boss. However, this time, James was not losing. When the dust settled, the wolf lay down. Its proud horn was shattered to pieces like broken glass. It let out a whine as blood poured out from the remnants of its horn. Its chest was heaving as strength left its body. Its eyes grew faint. James walked closer, touching and caressing its fluffy fur. The beast soon breathed its last. The system announced the beast¡¯s death and gave him two level-ups for his brave deed. [You have leveled up to Level 14! Coins Received: 50 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 14 Coins: 125 Stats: STR: 67 (up 7) Dex: 61 (up 3) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] James closed his eyes as he mourned the death of the Alpha wolf. After a few deep breaths, he let go of the wolf¡¯s corpse. This is a dog-eat-dog world. He needed its horn if he wanted to continue traversing this dungeon. However, the system didn¡¯t list its horn as a part to plunder. James tilted his head in confusion. ¡°System. Why wasn¡¯t the wolf¡¯s horn listed?¡± James had planned to swap out his lesser mana core with that of wolf¡¯s horn. The absence of the horn in the available body part threw him off the loop. [The horn was destroyed during combat. Thus, it can¡¯t be plundered by Chimera skill. ] ¡°What the heck?¡± James was taken aback. The horn was the most precious thing the wolf had. It could shoot laser beams! James couldn¡¯t believe he had destroyed such valuable body parts.Stolen story; please report. ¡°Ugh¡­ damn it. I didn¡¯t think it would clash my axe with its horn like that¡­¡± [repairing your axe will cost 15 coins] James scanned the ground for his axe, and true to the system¡¯s words, the blade of the axe had chipped. Its pristine edge now has cracks all over it. ¡°Hah.. you are going to charge me for everything, aren¡¯t you? Fine, fine, I will pay.¡± James picked up his belongings and prepared himself for the portal. [You have 110 coins left] ¡°By the way, why was the fur weren¡¯t mentioned when I killed the other wolf? Was this fur simply better?¡± James wondered. The chimera skill said the wolf fur had 5% physical resistance. It wasn¡¯t much. But James accepted every incremental increase. However, James also realized that the skill description wasn¡¯t everything. [the fur on the smaller wolf was not enough to cover your entire body. Thus, it could not be plundered by chimera skill. The fur from Lightning Wolf was indeed superior.] ¡°Alright. I will take it.¡± James nodded. He will take what can be taken. The horn was destroyed. At the very least, he could take its skin. Motes of dark light started to consume the wolf¡¯s flesh. Then, it swirled back to James, and he could feel his skin growing. White and blue hair dotted his body. James suddenly felt hot as fur enveloped its skin. ¡°Hmm¡­ it feels like I am wearing a thick fur jacket,¡± James muttered as he patted his body. He had become furry, but not the furry that was often depicted in mass media, for he lacked the wolf¡¯s ear and snout. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go! The next floor is the third floor, right? Will you merge with other trial dungeons because of the lack of survivors?¡± James took his belongings and headed to the portal. He then touched the portal. At that moment, the system made an astounding announcement to him. [There are four other survivors here beside you. And yes, we will merge this dungeon with another. Confirmation received. Transfer in progress¡­] ¡°Huh? Wait a minute. There are others? Wa¡ª¡± James¡¯s body disappeared in a flash of light. He had given his affirmation, and thus, he was transferred away. Unbeknownst to him, four shadows lurked at the arena. They are the other survivors. Three men with a woman whispered to each other. ¡°The coast is clear. Let¡¯s go! Now is our chance! We are fucked if another boss respawned.¡± The other survivors had just lost their leader against the wolf. They had no idea that James was a human survivor, just like them. All they knew was that he was a powerful, intelligent monster. ¡°Wait, what if that monster catches us. We should wait at least fifteen minutes before entering the same portal.¡± another survivor said. ¡°That thing must have been a wandering boss. It had both ranged and melee attacks. We couldn¡¯t defeat that boss even with six of us working together, and he beat it by himself!¡± ¡°Well, now is our chance. The system said they would merge this server with another. There should be other strong survivors on the next floor. We can team up with them!¡± ¡°Ughh¡­ I hope we don¡¯t get arrogant ones. That Thomas was strong but he is insufferable.¡± After waiting for more than an hour next to the portal, they went in. After a minute that felt like an eternity in the waiting room, The system¡¯s magic finally took hold, and James was finally transferred to the new floor. It was a new terrain; water trickled from the ceiling, and a small stream of clear water coursed through the rocky terrain. ¡°Another cave dungeon? Nice. I hate the sun and the forest.¡± James followed the stream, his steps were steady and excited. James thought the cave would lead to something like a castle. Similar to his experience on the first floor. However, the path branched out and the water grew deeper. The small stream was as deep as his waist. The cave twisted and turned, branching into endless corridors that seemed to explore the very depths of the earth. James always had his spinneret to tell him where he was going. As long as he didn¡¯t wander in the same cave twice, he was confident he could clear this dungeon. At the end of the endless corridors, a shimmering blue lake stood before him. A splash of water occasionally echoed in the dim cave, signaling that something was swimming there. Standing near the lake, two monsters that James could only describe as fishmen, a humanoid with hands and feet but with a fish head and scaly skin, seemed to play with their trident. There was no possible ambush here as every step James made echoed in the cave. The fishmen turned to James at once. They snarled at James for entering their territory. When they walked, a sloshing and flopping sound echoed in the cave. It proved the point that there is no stealth and ambush on this floor. James took out his crossbow and shot one fishmen in the head. The bolt darted toward its eye, taking its left eye out. The fishmen let out a high-pitched, agonized cry. It fell backward, clutching its ruined eye with its scaly hand. He then holstered his crossbow and drew his trusty axe and sword. He didn¡¯t forget to bite his axe, letting a yellow ooze of paralytic poison in his spider fang coated its blade. The other fishmen drew closer. Light grew on their trident. The confident smirk James had a moment before had vanished completely as he understood what the light meant. The fishmen were using weapons skills. James had unconsciously underestimated these fishermen because he took one down with a shot of his arrow. However, when weapon skills come into play, he must stay alert. Unlike the orcs, the fishmen knew how to wield their weapons. They thrust their spear toward James. The cave was too narrow to properly evade, and James had to block the strike with his axe. James was preparing for a counterattack. However, he had underestimated what skills could do. James felt his body knocked a few meters back. The cave was wide, but the path was narrow. He found himself falling into the stream that was now chest-deep. The world was flipped upside down as the cold river permeated his fur. Thankfully, the water was clear. He could see the fishmen eagerly going inside the stream. ¡°Yeah, they were fish!¡± James cursed. James stood up, trying to get to the edge of the stream. The fishmen swam at the stream as easily as¡­ a fish. Knowing it would be futile to outrun the Fishman, James took a deep breath and ducked; the weight of his armor and weapons kept his foot on the ground. He prepared his sword skill. The scaly monster lunged its spear with deadly precision. This time, the stupid monster was the one who underestimated a weapon skill. Even through dense water, the skill activated. The sword carved a beautiful golden arc upwards, the blade connected with the fishman¡¯s trident. James was surprised the trident didn¡¯t relent under the force of a skill. However, like James, who was pushed back by its skill earlier, it was now the fisherman¡¯s turn to fly away. The knock sends air out of the fishmen¡¯s lungs¡­ or gills¡­ or whatever the respiratory system this monster had. It wheezed. Before it could get up, James was already on the pathway, away from the wretched water. The scaly monster squealed. Threatening James with a high-pitched cry. It stood up and readied its spear, and a golden glow emanated from the tip of its spear. James lowered his stance, preparing a weapon skill of his own. His axe let out a golden hue. Two weapons clashed like a crashing meteor. The axe was superior in terms of power, the fishmen¡¯s beloved trident was blown away from its arm. The force of the blow drew it back, and its scaly body was once again knocked down to the ground. James gave chase, and without letting up, he stabbed the fish in the torso. The fish cried out a death throe before its body slumped to the ground, motionless on the rocky surface. ¡°Hah¡­ damn it. I didn¡¯t think I would be this troubled over a mere mob.¡± James sighed as he took another deep breath. The other fishman that was knocked down before had stood up. James slung his crossbow, reloaded it with another bolt, and shot it toward the approaching monster. The bolt shot straight into the monster¡¯s gaping mouth. Its momentum tore through its flesh and penetrated all the way to its back. A gurgle escaped its throat before it joined its comrade in Valhalla. Silence returned to the cavern once again. Only the occasional sound of water dripping from the ceiling or faint splashes from the lake disturbed the quiet scene. James exhaled as he checked his status. He had received another level up after fighting these two Sahuagins. [You have leveled up to Level 15! Coins Received: 20 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 15 Coins: 130 Stats: STR: 70 (up 3) Dex: 64 (up 3) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] Chapter 13: Third Floor

James undressed away from the lake, near the dungeon walls. He was soaked. His fur, drenched in cold water, seemed to sap away at his body heat. He gathered his mana and tried to create a campfire. ¡°Hmm¡­ There are two corpses here. I should take the legs and the lungs¡­¡± James pondered as he examined the fishmen. The System named them Sahuagin. A fish monster that has humanoid features such as legs and arms. His chimera skill could only take one set of body parts at most. The voice seemed obvious. This is a water dungeon. So, getting himself gills that could make him breathe underwater is a must. After a few moments of hesitation, James confirmed with the System. He didn¡¯t forget to butcher one of the corpses, so the skill didn¡¯t take them. He was starving. He then roasted a chunk of their meat on a fire. Motes of light gathered at the corpses. It swirled at the half-butchered corpse and one full corpse before it consumed them and directed its power to James. James felt his power increasing, his ability enhanced. When James looked at his feet, he didn¡¯t find scaly feet like that of a fishmen. It was a webbed foot like that of a platypus. ¡°No scaly feet, huh?¡± [You have designated wolf¡¯s fur in your skin slot. If you would like scales as your skin, please find another corpse to plunder. Chimera skill does not allow two types of parts in the same slot] James took a chunk of the meat and hesitantly bit into it. His hesitation disappeared when he realized that the meat tasted like fish. The light from the flame grew dimmer. His lesser mana core didn¡¯t have much mana and will run out soon. ¡°System, why can¡¯t you upgrade or repair that trident?¡± James asked out of curiosity, he had time to spare, and he was curious. [The System will not register a monster¡¯s weapon or decorations on dungeon floors. They will only register weapons from treasure chests or from other survivors. Survivors may use monster¡¯s weapons at will, but The System will not repair or upgrade them. Moreover, they will not be affected by Survivor¡¯s skills] The thing about not providing repair and upgrade was fine, but not being able to use weapon skills with them was fatal. James had swiped some goblin¡¯s knives earlier on the first floor, and now they sat uselessly in his backpack. James decided to throw them away later. After drinking from his water pouch, he refilled them with his waterspout dagger. He suddenly realized he already had daggers all this time. However, no dagger mastery skill ever came to him. Maybe because he had been using it like a water pitcher. He had never killed monsters with this dagger, after all. After getting his things in order, James wore his armor back and tucked himself in the corner. He found a good hiding spot right behind a rock. It covered him from all angles except the front. After getting comfortable, he decided to let sleep come to him. The sound of trickling water and the splashing painted a good background music to his ears. Inside his dreams, James recalled his previous boss and the CEO of the company over marketing strategy. He remembered when the boss had an argument with the CEO. Instead of the CEO firing the boss, the CEO resigned. He was a respectable man who had prevented James from getting fired. During his two years of career, none of the workers were fired. James couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated and confused. Why did he resign? He couldn¡¯t comprehend why such a man let go of this company. Sure, he didn¡¯t achieve the target the greedy shareholder set on him. But the target was unrealistic to begin with. He could not comprehend why the man chose to resign instead of fighting. The more James dwelled on it, the more he began to resent that CEO¡¯s decision. James secretly looked down on him. He couldn¡¯t comprehend why that man would leave such a position of power and try opening up a new business. Such a risk-taker with no gain. ¡®He was crazy,¡¯ James thought. James followed him on social media, so he knew what happened to that CEO. That CEO had filed for bankruptcy and now worked as a mere government employee. Now, James understood his decision a bit. He recalled when the System had invited him to this hellhole. The situation was not the same for James had nothing left when The System invited him. However, he now understood what that man was trying to do. He tried to challenge himself, trying to improve himself. The difference was that man simply failed. James woke up with a start when he heard footsteps echoing in the cave. It was closer than James thought. The Sahuagin emerged from the lake. Their splashing sound was obscured by trickle and distant splashing that always echoed in the cave. James only realized their presence when they were already on land. They walked in a neat row. They were walking aimlessly, as if they were looking for something. They hung their tridents in the back, showing that they were armed but not alert. James hid in the shadows, trying to mask any sound that escaped from his heart. This was a more elite sahuagin. Their trident was the same, but these four had leather armor, helmets, and leggings. All of them were made of leather, and they looked much thinner than James¡¯s armor. James was confused, but the reason soon became apparent. Heavy armor, such as James¡¯s vambraces and gauntlets, would hinder their movements in the water. It would also make them sink. These elite fishmen wore armor to prove they were stronger. To prove that they could still swim well even with additional weight. James pondered. The element of surprise was on his side now. Should he strike, or should he wait? James had lived a peaceful life before. He had grasped some basic survival skills, but he had yet to have the expertise to make strategic decisions like this. As always, the situation soon made the decision for him. One of the fishmen wandered closer and closer to James¡¯ position. James clenched his fist. Its muscle tightened on the axe¡¯s handle. When the Sahuagin was within striking distance, James activated his skill.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The Sahuagin¡¯s unblinking eye snapped towards James. Before it could raise its trident in defense, an axe already chopped off its head. James quickly went for another Sahuagin, while drawing his sword. Another golden hue lighted up his sword. The piscine creature reacted swiftly, activating a skill of its own, but James was faster. His sword skill, [Hurricane], carved a spinning arc from below to upwards; the skill made James leap. The sheer force of the strike sent the sahuagin flying, its body arcing through the air before crashing into the lake with a splash. A deep gash ran across its torso. Its blood soon mingled with the lake, creating a pink hue on its clear water. Its thin armor was utterly useless against James¡¯s sword skill. The water creature gawked at the scene before rallying themselves and charged. Confidence filled him. The creature prepared another spear skill. James smirked at the monster¡¯s foolishness. ¡°Stupid creature.¡± James prepared to dodge. He learned that a weapon skill forced the user¡¯s body in a predetermined motion when they executed the attack. It often left them wide open after it. If James knew a skill was coming, all he needed to do was evade and counterattack it. He had learned that weapons skills were not blockable. The skill activated. The Sahuagin lunged its body as it intended to make a kebab out of James. Thanks to the dexterity granted by his stats, James could see the golden trajectory. Victory was within his grasp. All he needed to do was sidestep to the left, and then he would serve himself another sashimi out of it with his sword. The decisive moment was upon him. His muscles tensed as he leaped to the side. The golden meteor from its trident passed an inch away from his head. James¡¯s heart raced as he gripped his sword handle tightly. Yet, He was suddenly blown to the left as searing pain shot from his right arm. It was supposed to be his victory. James had anticipated and evaded the strike. However, the spear skill didn¡¯t stop. Instead, the blade curved sharply to its right, and the strike hit home as James was flung away like a ragdoll. An orc¡¯s arm that was holding his trusty axe drew an arc in the air as blood sprayed out from it and onto the cave¡¯s floor. ¡°GAH!!¡± air was knocked out of James¡¯ new lungs as his body slammed against the cave¡¯s walls. ¡°What the fuck happened? This is one heck of a shitty game.¡± James spat, clutching his missing arm as blood poured out from the stump. The pain made his vision blurred for a moment, but he knew he was in a battle. He stood up, gripping his sword with his remaining hand. ¡°What was that skill just now? It didn¡¯t stop after a swing¡­¡± James looked at the Sahuagin in disbelief. The Sahuagin charged at him. Its trident glowed another golden hue. This time, James didn¡¯t dare to dodge it; he quickly dropped his sword and went for the crossbow in his waist. Pain obfuscated his concentration. His hand trembled from pain, and fear was etched into his mind. Even when he was distraught, the arrow still hit the mark. The Sahuagin felt a sharp pain shoot through its legs. It stumbled and crashed head-first into the cave¡¯s floor. The glow on its trident flashed and disappeared, marking the cancellation of the skill. James quickly seized the opportunity. He threw away the crossbow. With the sword on the ground, he slipped the sword inside its body. The sahuagin let out a high-pitched squeal. It then twitched for a moment before laying motionless. Now, there was only one fishman left. The one that took James¡¯s arm. It growled angrily, its sharp threat marked for James¡¯ death. It charged toward him with the ferocity of a shark. Golden light glowed from its trident. It¡¯s going to use a spear skill. James drew his blade low, and a similar golden light burst from his sword. James had no more tricks left. Whatever the new skill this beast was using, he had to meet it head-on. Time seemed to slow down as both entities closed in. James lay his sword low, his sword ready to bisect the fishmen. The fishmen came at him, preparing to skewer him. Two golden lights clashed in a thunderous boom. The sound of metal striking metal rang. They echoed, creating ripples in the water. James was confident in his strength. His leftover orc¡¯s arm had served him well. The Sahuagin was kicked to the ground. The sheer force of the strike dragged its body several meters back to the edge of the lake. James¡¯s gaze snapped to its spear. Its golden glow had faded, marking the end of the skill. He quickly seized the opportunity and stabbed the fish monster in the throat. The Sahuagin tried to fight back. However, without its skill, the trident merely scratched James¡¯s leather armor. [You have leveled up to Level 16! Coins Received: 40 [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 16 Coins: 170 Stats: STR: 73 (up 3) Dex: 66 (up 2) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] Chapter 14 Water Floor It was a common rule of thumb in gaming: The tougher the monster, the greater the reward. This battle was no exception. Just from this fight alone, James had leveled up again. Moreover, all of his weapon mastery had also leveled up. James shoved the system notification at the back of his head. He had more important things to do. The blood that had been gushing out from his right arm needed to be stopped. He ran to his leather bag and grabbed the health potion vial in it. He stumbled on his chubby fingers, almost dropping the damn vial. He was about to drink the vial before remembering that the content needed to be poured into the wound. He felt faint, like he was about to lose consciousness any minute now. White glow emanated from the viscous liquid as it seeped into the wound. The glow faded and left a green stump on his shoulder. ¡°Damn it. Please remind me not to drink the health potion next time.¡± James spat as he exhaled. Strength returned to his body as his vision began to clear. He still felt weak, but he was conscious and safe. [Noted. Health potions are to be smeared into the wound. Hematonic potions are to be drunk. You have lost a lot of blood. The System advises you to drink the hematonic potions now.] ¡°Damn it. This thing cost 100 coins and the hematonic cost fifty. I only got 40 coins from this encounter.¡± James spat again. He rarely cursed before he was transported here, even when he was an anonymous user on the internet. However, he found himself cursed a lot lately. Life and death situations didn¡¯t allow for polite and thoughtful speech. All of his emotions were laid bare. James¡¯s situation where he was the sole survivor and only had an emotionless AI as his conversation partner didn¡¯t help either. He found himself more direct and crude in his language. Surprisingly, he enjoyed it. Nobody nagged him. He had left his PR training and stepped on it with his scaly feet. He always liked honesty more than politeness. Following the System¡¯s advice, he drank the hematonic potion. The strange strawberry flavor slid down his throat, leaving a strange warmth in its wake. James felt a surge of energy bubbling within. He felt invigorated, as if his previous wound and tiredness were a lie. ¡°I need to buy more of these potions. This time, I need to put them closer to my body. This hematonic is better than I thought.¡± James slapped his knee. He took a deep breath before reassessing his situation, ¡°Alright. That monster took out my hand. System, can I use my chimera skill to reattach the arm?¡± [No. Damaged parts cannot be plundered by chimera skill.] ¡°But the arm was cleanly cut off. Can¡¯t you just put them back in?¡± James frowned. He didn¡¯t understand how this chimera skill worked. He had been able to plunder a half-eaten corpse before. [Chimera required a complete and intact body part. In this case, you need a full right arm of an orc to replace the right arm you lost.] The System then displayed an image of an orc, and a red line was drawn several inches above the shoulder into a collarbone. James frowned hard, his frustration was apparent. He had Sahuagin corpses next to him. However, he didn¡¯t want to part with his orc¡¯s hand yet. This hand had helped him so much. If not for this hand, he might lose a skill clash with Sahuagin the next time they fought. The fact that he lost his dominant hand didn¡¯t help his mood either. ¡°Anything could be done with the orc hand that I lost?¡± [You could install its hand, but you need a full arm to use its strength.] ¡°Well, if I changed my right arm into Sahuagin¡¯s arm, can I keep my orc¡¯s left hand?¡± [Yes. Survivors may keep different arms. However, discrepancies when using it might occur due to biomechanical mismatches.] ¡°Yeah, I need to get used to it. Those uncomfortable feelings. Where the arms felt alien because they were taken from different species, right?¡± [Yes.] ¡°No choice then. Change my right arm into sahuagin¡¯s, please.¡± James sighed. He was disappointed. He planned on min-maxing his build as any gamer should. He wanted the strength of an orc, the ability to breathe underwater, and the mobility of Sahuagin. James was not satisfied with Sahuagin¡¯s arm. It felt that it was lacking in strength. When he lifted his trusty axe, it felt as if a rock weighed it down. James could only pray that there were orcs nearby so he could plunder their arm. ¡°How many coins do I have again?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. [you have 170 coins remaining] ¡°Hah¡­. wait, my bow mastery is at level 4, right? Can I upgrade it to level 5?¡± James was about to spend his coins for another health potion and hematonic before he remembered that his bow skill was at level 4. [yes. You can upgrade your bow mastery to level 5. Would you like to upgrade it?] ¡°Yes. and 1 hematonic, please¡­ ¡°Health potions were important, but skills were the more so. Health potions might save you from danger once, but skills can save you multiple times. Stats didn¡¯t rule this new world, skill does. [orders received. 20 coins remaining. Your beginner bow mastery is now level 5. New Skill unlocked: Quickshot] After receiving his orders, he tied the vial on his chest using his spider silk and moved on. He considered going underwater, but he quickly dismissed that thought. Going underwater would only be the last resort. He didn¡¯t know how to fight underwater, and his enemies did. He would be at a disadvantage. He might have their limbs through the chimera, but that didn¡¯t make him one of them. The enemies knew the environment since their birth. Moreover, his armor would weigh him down. He could picture himself swinging his axe sluggishly while his enemies were making a Swiss cheese out of him with their trident. The cave branched again. This time, the path began to narrow. It was only enough for one man to pass. At the end of the path was a pond barely two meters wide. James sighed. He was about to turn back at the apparent dead end before he could see a golden glitter inside the pond. It was a treasure chest. ¡°Of course, there would be a treasure chest inside the pond¡­¡± James somehow knew why the developer of this dungeon put that chest inside this pond. His instinct screamed of traps when he saw the lustrous chest at the depth of the pond. However, after poking around the water with his swords, examining the walls beside the pond. James found nothing ¡ªno traps or hidden monsters. He frowned, and then he finally realized what the System wanted. The System wanted him to play by their rules. This dungeon has water as the main theme. The rivers, lakes, streams, and even the trickle of water from the ceiling told him that this dungeon was the living habitat of aquatic monsters. Of course, the System wanted him to fight underwater. To test his limits. After scanning the surroundings for the third time, he took the plunge. Thanks to the sword, axe, and armor on his body, James sank to the bottom like a rock. His former instinct as a human panicked when he tried to breathe underwater. He calmed down when he found out he could breathe underwater just fine. When he reached the pond¡¯s floor, he realized the pond was wider below the surface than it appeared from above. That seemingly small pond from the top opened up to a wide chamber, bigger than the room above. Several underwater caves branched off in different directions. James scanned his surroundings. After he was sure he had found no enemies, he attached his spider¡¯s web to the chest¡¯s lid and swam back up to the surface. The current dragged on his fur, but thanks to his new webbed feet of sahuagin, he could swim just fine. He underestimated the stats the System gave him. ¡°Gah!¡± He coughed violently, expelling water out of his lungs. He could still breathe, thanks to his new lungs, but the mix of water and air made him gagged. He pulled the web after cleaning his lungs out of water. The tension opened the lid of the chest inside the pond. After that incident with the crossbow, James swore he would never let his guard down ever again. He swore to god. Of course, there was no trap of any kind. The trap never sprung when James was ready for it. It was as if the gods themselves were mocking his effort. [You have obtained 250 coins] ¡°At least I got some money out of this.¡± James spat. Now, there are two choices before him. Should he venture into the caves above, or should he venture out of the underwater caves? The choice was obvious. James left a spider¡¯s web trail and left. Even with his new limb, James found himself struggling to orient himself in the water. He had decided that fighting underwater would be the last choice. He had left his spider¡¯s web trail. He could get back here at any moment. He ventured to another dead end. Like before, there was a small pool in the middle of the room. Like before, the pool led to an underground chamber with multiple caves branched off from it. However, there was no treasure chest at that time. ¡°Come on, stop being stingy¡­¡± James was frustrated with this game¡¯s shitty design. When he looked at his status, His axe mastery had reached level 8. ¡°System. How many coins do I need to get my axe to level 10?¡± [ you currently have 270 coins. You needed 130 coins more to upgrade your beginner axe mastery to level 10. Each upgrade cost 200 coins] ¡°Do I get another weapon skill after reaching level 10?¡± [Information classified.] ¡°Hah¡­¡± James left the dead end. Venturing inside the water grew more enticing with each passing minute. He reminded himself not to be greedy. The potential reward inside the underwater cavern was huge, but so were the risks. ¡°After this cave, I will try the underwater one.¡± James reminded himself. James trudged to yet another dead end with a pond in the middle. This was the fifth dead end he met. He had gotten used to it. As he leaned closer to the pool, intending to investigate the chamber beneath, a gaping maw filled with sharp, pointed teeth lunged at him ¡°ARGH!!¡± James shrieked as the gaping maw almost snapped dangerously close to his head. James clutched his head, thinking it might have gone. A silly laugh came from him when he realized he might have been overreacting. A normal bite from sahuagin might have dented his helmet, but it was not enough to decapitate him. Not even a wolf¡¯s bite was enough to crush this helmet. When it realized it had missed its mark, the monster jumped out from the pond, only for its head to be crushed by James¡¯s axe. ¡°How¡¯s this for a surprise? Motherfuckers!¡± James spat. The surprise didn¡¯t end there as tridents came out from the pond one after another. James leaped backward. Two more sahuagin came out. Monsters created by the System had an instinctive hate toward survivors, so when they realized they couldn¡¯t ambush him inside the water, they leaped out. It was a strategic mistake on the monster¡¯s part. James quickly rectified their mistake with two weapon skills, one from his sword and one from his axe. After he made another sashimi with their body, The System gave him another 30 coins. ¡°There better be a chest down there. Otherwise, I am going to murder every last one of these fuckin monsters!¡± James threatened. Of course, just because James threatened the dungeon doesn¡¯t mean it will give him what he wanted. The chamber below the pond was empty. Devoid of any chest or monsters. [You have leveled up to Level 17! Coins received 30] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 17 Coins: 300 Stats: STR : 75(up2) Dex: 69 (up3) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] Chapter 15 Underwater Caves In the end, James had no choice but to dive underwater. He had explored every nook and cranny of this dungeon on the surface. He might have found out more on the other side of the lake, but his patience grew thin. ¡°Damn it, no chest or monsters¡­¡± James¡¯ mood soured. He camped near the pond where the last treasure chest was located. He had been itching to test his new skill, quick shot. However, he knew that a ranged attack would be ineffective underwater. He put his gauntlet, his crossbow, his axe, his leather armor, and his vambraces inside his leather bag. He had thought this when he was asleep. How should he fight underwater? He knew his armor would be utterly useless against a skill. Moreover, the armor would weigh him down, slowing him down. What can he do against such odds? He had to take the risk. He had to move faster underwater than those Sahuagins. The only way to do that is to set aside everything nonessential. His axe had a shorter reach than his sword, So he also put his axe inside the bag. When he drifted into a slumber, he dreamt of when he got his first ¡ªand only¡ª trophy. It was from a local mathematics championship. He felt proud. Of course, when he thought back now, the tournament was a scam. He needed to pay for joining, limiting the number of participants. Only those rich, lazy kids joined the tournament. So, the chance of him winning was high. Still, at that moment, he felt he was the champion. He felt like if he worked hard, everything would be okay. In reality, the world wasn¡¯t so kind. Those rich kids ended up becoming more successful than him while he was mediocre. He had failed. They took risks and succeeded while he tried to play it safe and be forgotten. His parents already left this world, and James never had a single chance to make them proud. A trickle of water woke James from his sleep. He felt footsteps coming closer. However, when he looked, nothing was there. It was nigh impossible to be stealthy in this cave. That could only mean whatever being the footsteps belonged to had already escaped. James wondered whether it was one of those annoying dogs he met on the previous floor. The dream had calmed him down to a degree. He hesitated, but now he had gathered his resolve. He leaped into the pond, and the weight of the bag dragged him down like an anchor. The underwater cave was not dark; luminescent moss and glowing plants clung to the walls and ceiling, casting an ethereal light like it was inside an aquarium. However, the clear, bright water didn¡¯t ease his worry. It felt unnerving and alien instead, like something could come and kill you at any moment. James shouldered his heavy leather bag on his right while clutching his sword on his left. James ventured into the caves. He hadn¡¯t found anyone so far, but he knew now that there were other survivors here on this floor. That pond was interconnected with all the other chambers James had visited before. However, not all underwater chambers had a pond leading to the surface. In one such chamber, James found a chest. ¡°Finally! A chest! Let it be coins! Or axe mastery scroll!¡± James¡¯ voice was muffled deep in the water. None heard him anyway, so only the thought that mattered. But fate, as always, had said otherwise. There were neither coins nor scrolls inside. Inside the chest, a single glass sphere the size of a ping-pong ball lay. He took it with his webbed hand, examining it. The glass sphere refracted the light inside the cave, creating a halo of rainbow around it. [you have obtained the Eye of Mana. Do you wish to change your right eye with the Eye of Mana?] ¡°What¡¯s the eye of mana?¡± James¡¯ voice was barely audible, muffled through the water. Nevertheless, the system answered. [Eye of Mana: Created by genius alchemy who had no talent for magic. This eye of mana lets the user see mana swirling around the world.] ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s try it.¡± James exclaimed, gripping the glass ball tightly. Light swirled on him. He shut his eyes, fearing something might poke his eye, but It didn¡¯t hurt a single bit. Soon, his right eye was replaced, and James felt something hard on his right eye. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. When he opened his eyes, the world transformed before him. Streams of blue and yellow motes of light seemed to swirl, enveloping the very world before his eye. It then created a flow toward one point that James had instinctively tried to avoid. James grimaced. That place had been on his mind ever since he came underwater. It was the lake in the center of the dungeon. The lake where he first met these fishmen. James had been unconsciously avoiding that place. That place had no cover. If he were to be attacked there, he would be surrounded, outnumbered, and die. ¡°I should leave that place for last. Right now, what¡¯s important is getting experience. I want to beat at least 1 Sahuagin underwater.¡± He let out a long sigh as he resolved himself. This dungeon was too straightforward ¡ªand that made it dangerous. Imagine having a boss monster camping right before your spawn point. James had been camping inside one of the lakes for a while now. After about three cycles of sleep and venturing, James was starting to get worried. Worried that there weren¡¯t any enemies left. If there were no enemies left, he would have to fight the boss monster without any experience fighting In the water. Lady Luck finally smiled upon him as he found what he wanted. At long last, he found the treasure chest he had been looking for. It was guarded by two sahuagins as a bonus. He let go of his bag on the floor and challenged the last mobs on this floor head-on. He intended to get the very last experience out of them. He must focus, he was almost naked, with only fur and a bloodied shirt covering his body. His weapon was only his sword. He left his axes and bows inside his bag, fearing it would weigh him down in the water. The fishmen answered in kind. They snarled and swam towards him. Their movement was fluid and graceful, they floated up and down with seemingly no resistance. James followed them, but he quickly stumbled. His leg moved slower, and he felt the invisible force of water resistance on his body. Unlike on land, the monster didn¡¯t begin their strike with a weapon skill. They flanked him, circling him like wolves on the second floor. James deflected their strikes. Unlike on land, all movements here were slower. At first, James was struggling. He clumsily dodged and parried their trident. Despite the advantage of his status, their trident still found its bark, scratching his torso. Thanks to his fur, the wound was light. James is a quick learner. Something finally clicked on him as the battle continued. Fighting on water was different from fighting on land. James thought the battle would be the same; the difference is that if you are fighting on water, you can fly freely. That couldn¡¯t be more wrong. Humans instinctively have a sense of gravity; they need to know which way is up and which way is down. Underwater battle didn¡¯t need such notions. There is no falling up and down, there is only propulsion by your webbed feet. These sahuagins were not elites. They were even worse than the first Sahuagins James met on this floor. Their movements with the spear were crude. It lacked the decisiveness and killing intent of the elite Sahuagins James met near the lake. James now began to wonder, Are they choosing not to use weapon skill¡­ or can¡¯t they? James made the first initiative. He crouched low, preparing his weapon skills. Light glowed on his sword. This will be the first underwater weapon skill test. However, the skill was deactivated moments later as his posture broke down. He quickly raised his spear to deflect an incoming strike at his head. ¡°Damn it. I can¡¯t get a good posture.¡± James spat. Using a sword skill requires a specific posture. The posture needed to activate the skills has some margin of error, but there is a vague line where the skills could get canceled. James decided to make more daring moves. He decided to lunge at the nearest sahuagin, using his sword to shield himself. The monster jabbed its weapon at him, only to be caught by his sword. Then, James pushed. He pushed the monster hard toward another. Of course, with its friend on the way, it couldn¡¯t attack. James then took a posture for his skill. He had never prepared a skill in this way before. For a moment, he feared his skill wouldn¡¯t activate. Luckily, he could sense the familiar glow his sword began to emit. Without delay, he launched the skill. The blade glowed and swirled as it drew an arc, slashing toward both sahuagin¡¯s torso. Crimson clouds from Sahuagin¡¯s blood covered his vision. The Sahuagins let out a high-pitched cry of pain, their cries trembled inside the water, vibrating on James¡¯s fur, their body recoiling back before dropping and lying motionless on the dungeon floor. ¡°Now for the grand prize! What will it be?¡± James swam to the chest, attaching his spider web to its lid before swimming further away. He had sworn never to open a chest from up close. No matter what comes out of the chest, it will no longer catch him off guard. A crackle burst out from the chest, and sharp spikes shot out from it. The spikes drew a trail of green liquid in the clear water. ¡°YEAH!! Finally! I dodged a deadly trap!¡± James clenched his fist. A trap was triggered, and he was fine. It was a vain victory. Nevertheless, he felt as if all of his cautions, all his paranoia, were finally rewarded. He always felt stupid for opening chests like this. However, now he could finally brag that he had avoided a deadly trap thanks to his wisdom. Reminding himself to be careful, threw a sahuagin¡¯s spear to the chest. The spear flew and hit the chest harmlessly. Using Sahuagin¡¯s corpse as a shield, he approached the chest. He saw a stack of books inside the chest. [you have obtained a leveling book. You have leveled up to Level 20! Coins received 20] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 20 Coins: 320 Stats: STR: 85 (up10) Dex: 76 (up7) Magic : 0 Mana : 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Magic Shop Unlocked] Chapter 16: Magic Shop ¡°Hm? What¡¯s a magic shop? Can I buy magic here? How much does it cost?¡± James asked. The name of the shop seemed obvious. James was more than excited to properly use magic. However, from his experience with the goblin shaman¡¯s magic, he felt it was impractical. It took a long time to cast, and it needed his undivided attention, almost bordering on immobilizing him. James hadn¡¯t used his magic so far except for making a campfire. James was alone in this trial. He thought this magic thingie would be a good addition if he had a vanguard. Since he had no vanguard, he had abandoned the notion of using magic to fight. James chose the boring but practical way to complement his range battle style, his crossbow. [Magic shops sell a variety of magic. However, survivors need to first buy a blank mana core. Mana cores will cost 500 coins. After survivors obtained a mana core, survivors could then specialize their cores with 6 principles of magic. Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, life, and mind. By the way, lightning is included in fire principles, while ice is included in water¡¯s After survivors specialized their magic talent, they could then learn spells from said principles. To learn new spells, they needed to increase their principle¡¯s spell mastery.] ¡°But I already have a mana core. Do I need to buy it too?¡± [Yes. In the unique case of Survivor James, other cores will be stored in an extra slot while a new slot, called the mana slot, will be created.] ¡°Can you learn magic from two principles?¡± [Only by unique skills, special enchantments, or a race¡¯s unique ability could one use magic from two principles of magic. Survivor James¡¯s Chimera skill is the prime example.] ¡°Nice! That means I could learn magic from two principles since I have a mana core for fire, right?¡± [Unfortunately, you can not learn magic other than your main principles. The only magic available from your Lesser Mana Core is the Fireball spell. You may not learn its next tier. However, if you plundered a high-ranking mage¡¯s mana core, you could learn the skills in their mana core. However, you could never advance mana cores from others.] James frowned. He almost forgot. If something feels too good to be true, it probably is. ¡°What magic is inside each principle?¡± [information classified] ¡°Fuck you! Are you telling me that I must go blind in choosing what magic I could learn for the rest of my journey?¡± [That is correct. Or, you could ask others who have chosen those paths.] ¡°There are no other survivors here!¡± James spat out. His voice was blurred by the water around him. He couldn¡¯t hold back his curse. If a system was a physical entity, he swore he would give him a good smack or two. No¡­ make that ten. Not only do you have to pick your magic blind, you also have to pay for it using coins. This game was bugged. James had never played a game so hardcore before. After taking a few deep breaths, James continued his journey. There is only one place left to conquer. The place beneath the lake. Where the boss monster lurked. His steps were cautious. Thanks to his heavy bag, he could walk there. As he was finally out from the narrow underwater cave, he saw it. The place beneath the lake, a dome that sunk into the deepest floor. Its surface was a dark ocean hue, almost unrecognizable from afar. At the base, there was a massive blue gate with white carvings. He got a sense of Deja Vu, another wide arena, he thought. Will he be pitted against some crazy, strong boss like the one on the second floor? Now that he thought about it, the boss on the first floor was also placed inside a wide arena. He was about to approach the gate, but something caught his eye. A piece of meat dangling in the water. It bobbed up and down rhythmically, as if inviting anyone to eat it. He dropped his bag and swam for it, trying to get a closer look. After he got close to it, he saw a piece of meat dangling from a fish hook! Someone was fishing. He followed the fishing line and found 6 people on the surface. James wanted to meet them, but remembering his face and monster body, he turned back. The four survivors from James¡¯ second floor transferred almost a full two hours after James¡¯s. At that time, James had already reached the lake and was well into his own path. Meanwhile, these new arrivals took a different path into the winding and branching route, and they met up with two survivors. A timid girl and an aloof boy.Stolen story; please report. The timid girl seemed to pander and agree to any of the aloof boy¡¯s words, clearly stating the hierarchy they were in. She was the follower, and the boy was the leader. The aloof boy was like a cosplayer. He was a man of few words. His demeanor and clothes looked like they were stolen from a game. A black cape, black pants, and a black shirt with a shoulder guard that looked more decorative than functional. While his outfit was outlandish and obviously mimicked that of a certain anime character, his sword was definitely real. If this was the real world, the four adults might have laughed and pointed him to the nearest anime convention centers. However, now, they are in dungeons that are made to look like a game. Here, in this world, this delusional boy might be stronger and more knowledgeable than they were. ¡°Are you survivors from other servers?¡± the boy asked. The boy asked. His sword was already drawn when they met. ¡°K-kouki-san, that¡¯s a real sword. Pointing it towards real people is rude.¡± The girl said. ¡°This world has no rules. They might as well be bandits. Don¡¯t let your guard down, Kaina.¡± Kouki accepted the invitation immediately after he went home to grab his backpack. After all, he was that kind of boy who had read numerous isekai fiction and dreamt of becoming an overpowered protagonist of the otherworld. And this dungeon trial had provided him that. The journey was full of challenges, but he managed to overcome them. He finally had become what he wanted to be, a swordmaster of fantasy world. Kaina, on the other hand, simply made a wrong choice. She had a fight with her parents and wanted to get away from them for a moment. Despite the warning, she impulsively agreed to System¡¯s invitation. They first met in the first-floor dungeon. Kaina never played any RPG game, but she was smart and humble. A single look and she knew Kouki was more familiar with this kind of environment than her. Moreover, since they were the same age. It was easier for them to communicate. And so, she chose to be his follower. ¡°We are no bandits! We are survivors, too! I am John, from America, California!¡± one of the four survivors said. ¡°We swear! We have never harmed anyone.¡± ¡°America? But you guys were speaking Japanese. Wait, do I speak English to you?¡± Kouki asked. He suspected The System used some kind of magic to translate their thoughts. Their speech pattern sounded native. Not even Kaina, who lived in another region of Japan, could do that. ¡°Yes! You are speaking English.¡± ¡°I see. I shall trust your words for now.¡± Kouki sheathed his sword on his waist. ¡°Don¡¯t block my way.¡± The group journeyed. They searched other parts of the cave different from James¡¯s, their path never crossed. Unlike James, they didn¡¯t take any chances inside the water. Kaina and Kouki sensed that something might be in the water, but they chose not to go there because they didn¡¯t have magic tools to breathe in the water. And so, they spent weeks venturing into the dungeon in vain, searching high and low in other parts James didn¡¯t search. James only cleared the west part of the dungeon. After a long time venturing the dungeon, they finally got what they had been looking for. However, as they were about to begin their adventure in the water, a system chime told them that the floor had been cleared. James let go of his desire to meet humans. He was a monster now. His desire was to fight. He promptly returned to his bag and proceeded into the dome, challenging the floor boss. Just like before, he stood before the gate. Unlike before, the blue gate opened on its own. The stone gate, dyed blue and lined with a white inscription at its border, creaked open. Its hinge groaned as some kind of magical force wrenched it open slowly. Inside, The arena stretched wide, reminiscent of the first-floor boss room. Illuminated by a soft glow from the luminescent moss and otherworldly plant, A massive clam stood shut at the end of the arena when James strolled inside, his steps wary. The clam creaked open, revealing a sahuagin draped with an array of fine jewelry. A necklace made of pearls, bracelets made of gold, earrings made of silver, and the most eye-catching one was the golden staff with a pearl as big as a basketball at the tip. A golden chest sat behind the sahuagin. It lies there as if motivating James to defeat his foe to claim it. Its surface shimmered with a faint glow. James grew excited. He had a prize waiting for him if he cleared the boss. Blue mana gathered and swirled around the pearl. Such an image was vivid thanks to James¡¯s new eyes. James tilted his head, confusion rang on his face. He had been expecting a massive boss monster, an alpha or a king, like the massive wolf that challenged him on the second floor, or an orc that challenged him on the first floor. Instead, the sahuagin before him was¡­ less threatening. This sahuagin was a head shorter than he is. Even other elite sahuagins were at least a head taller. Those monsters exuded a killing intent and decisiveness fit for veteran warriors. This one, in contrast, had a slim, and almost frail appearance. The jewelry and staff adorning it gave it the impression of a priest instead of a warrior. No¡­ calling it a priest was a misnomer. A priestess should be more accurate. The two bulging mammary glands, covered by two clams on its chest, did not escape James¡¯s gaze. ¡°Ah¡­ I see. She is a mage. But can a mage fight alone? if I can get closer¡­¡± James pondered his tactics as the sahuagin priestess stood. Dread filled the air as four more sahuagin swam beside the priestess. Their armor was sleek, but it exuded a masterful craft, outweighing even the previous elite Sahaugin that took James¡¯s arm. James¡¯ confusion at the priestess finally cleared up. ¡°I see. So this is a team battle.¡± James felt a pang on his chest. He was never a team player. For a moment, he regretted himself for not asking the survivors at the surface for help. There were six survivors there. If only he could bring them in, he could have easily cleared this floor. And now, just because of his stupid pride and aversion to social contacts, he was now surrounded 5 to 1 The Sahuagin began to snarl; their trident was at the ready. James dropped his leather bags and raised his longsword, ready to meet their challenge head-on. Just before James could think, the massive stone gate closed behind him. He was now locked in with the sahuagins. James readied himself. He had resolved himself. He came here not just to survive; he came here to change, he feared no death, and He had no intention of backing down. Chapter 17: Sahuagin Priestess James saw mana swirled on the staff, then it spread and gathered around the priestess, creating multiple icicles that aimed James''s life, threatening to make mincemeat out of him. James swiped his sword, using it as a shield. The icicles shattered upon impact. Thanks to his fur, James didn''t receive any injuries. A yellow glow flashed at the corner of his vision, a sign of a spear skill. James quickly held up his sword, trying to use it as a shield. The world was turned upside down as James was blown away by the skill. Like an experienced soccer player making a pass, another sahuagin waited with its skill at the ready. Thanks to his dexterity, James managed to reorient himself before being struck again with their trademarked spear skill. James oriented himself faster this time. He swam to his bag and pulled out his axe. The heavy axe might disrupt his mobility, but he couldn''t just stay still when he was being played like this. Another barrage of icicles came at him. James swung his axe and sword to bash those icicles like a pro baseball player. That priestess was nothing like that goblin shaman. Her spells were quick and precise. If it were not for James''s new mana eye, which could see the mana swirled around the priestess and predict the spell''s trajectory ahead of time, he wouldn''t be able to parry those spells. "Yeah, longer doesn''t always mean better," James smirked. The axe has a wider blade, and since it is shorter than the sword, James can use it to shield himself faster. A golden light flashed in the corner of his vision again. This time, James was ready. He lowered his stance and prepared his sword skill. The blade arced upward, meeting the trident head-on. Thanks to the enhanced strength of his orc arms, James won the battle of strength when their weapon skills collided. The sahuagin was knocked back. If this was on land, they would be knocked to the ground and stunned. Ready for James to finish them with a stab from his sword. However, this was inside water. When they were blown away by weapon skill, they could propel themselves with their webbed feet and regain their posture. James gritted his teeth when one of the Sahuagin he had blown a while back had already swum back and queued up for an attack. Another spell is coming! James'' thought screamed at him when he saw mana swirled around the priestess. James was expecting another icicle. Instead, he saw mana swirling all around the arena. Unlike goblins, who could only use basic fireball spells, the Sahuagin Priestess had more spells to choose from. This time, it used her wide-area spells, such as a whirlpool. Like flushing poop in a toilet, the water in the arena swirled, bringing James and the four Sahuagin with him. "Did she really use her spells on her teammates?" James cursed. His blood ran cold when a white trident came at his flank. The elite fishmen didn''t stumble and wash away in the whirlpool. They swam with the flow, turning it into an advantage. James blocked another spear with his axe. This time, that spear grew a golden light. Like a ping pong ball, James was blown to another fishmen who was ready to stab him in his chest. "Enough with your games!" James forced a skill out of his axe. As long as he keeps a certain posture, the skill will activate. The sahuagin parried his blade and was blown away. With a paddle of their webbed feet, they return back to the fray. James thought his orc body would last him longer than this. His breathing was already ragged, while these monsters didn''t even look like they broke a sweat. It''s impossible to break a sweat in water, but James couldn''t care much about semantics. The whirlpool calmed down. Two white tridents lunged at him. James'' muscles contracted. His axe blocked one aimed at his head while the other blocked the one aimed at his torso. The white trident seemed to go on; either they struck with greater force, or his hand grew exhausted. A sharp pain shot out from his flank as blood seeped out from his fur. James threw those sahuagin back. His gaze snapped at the crimson cloud emanating from his stomach. After he checked his stomach, he sighed in relief. It was just a graze, just a scratch. James realized that he was slowly being cornered. He needed something decisive. However, he had nothing. No trump cards or tricks he could use. Several more icicles came towards him, and James blocked it with his axe. He quickly spun his sword; he had grown used to their tactics. He knew that a spear skill would be shot at his blind spot. James was blown away yet again. His eyes soon caught up with his leather bag. Then, an epiphany came up to him. A crazy idea popped up in his mind. The idea was crazy, but he had no option left. He couldn''t play on their playing field forever. He was slowly getting cornered. He needed to change, to adapt, to overcome. He dashed to his bag and shouldered it. The heavy steel of his equipment kept him aground.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "Come here, you bastard! I''ll show you how land dwellers fight!" James roared. Of course, his roar was heard by no one except himself. But his will was transmitted to the sahuagin either way. The sahuagin descended from above. Its spear glowed faintly with an orange hue, aiming for James'' life. James raised his sword in time, and he used both of his hands to hold it tight. He had made preparations. Using his spider''s web, he attached his axe and sword to his body. The trident came, a shockwave rippled the air, and James was knocked back a few steps. But this was much better than before when he was blown back like a volleyball. His hands trembled. But a firm blazed brighter from his eye. "Got you now, bastard," James smirked. James let go of his sword and gripped his axe with both of his hands. A golden hue emanated from it. He leaped. For the first time, the elite Sahuagin showed fear in its eyes. It raised its spear up high, trying to block the spear. Sahuagin didn''t have the strength of an orc like James. Its stats were also much lower than James''. When James crashed down on him, his axe pushed down its measly defense and embedded its gleaming blade into its head. "One down." James put another spider web on the carcass. The rest of the elite Sahuagin roared in fury as James finally killed one of their teammates. That''s what James had wanted. Their spear glowed golden. They charge like a bull. Fury and rage permeated their very being. James didn''t try to block them with his sword. He might have been able to block one with his sword or axe just like before, but three is impossible. However, James already had a plan. He pulled the strings attached to the corpse of the dead Fishman. It felt like he was hit by a truck with mattresses in front. James was blown back by the momentum. Thanks to the spider web securely attached to the corpse, James maintained his close distance from the fish monsters. A golden glow gathered on his sword as he crouched on the corpse. These elite fishmen soon realized they had fucked up. James leaped, and his sword drew an arc. A deep gash drew on their body. Their armor, though masterfully crafted, did nothing to protect them. James raised his axe and deflected several icicles that were thrown at him. Shards of ice scattered upon impact harmlessly bounced on his fur and melted in the water. The priestess shrieked as its attacks were nullified. Her composure was cracking as she realized her end was near. Now that she had no more guards, it was like a game of tags. She frantically swam, trying to gain distance, and pelted James with her spells, but it proved to be futile. James easily caught up with her. Mages were weak in melee combat. That general stereotype seemed to hold true for this priestess. She could barely swim ten meters before James caught up to her. James plunged his sword, and she didn''t even try ¡ª or couldn''t¡ª to defend herself. The blade slipped smoothly inside her torso. [Floor Cleared. Teleportation portal will be spawned momentarily. Please wait.] [you have leveled up to level 22. You have earned 100 coins] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 22 Coins: 420 Stats: STR: 88 (up 3) Dex: 83 (up7) Magic: 0 Mana: 0 Skills: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] James reeled in disgust when he compared his goblin mana core with Sahuagin''s. He felt like a child who happily accepted defective goods only to know the real thing later in shops when he was an adult. He expected this sahuagin''s core to be somewhat better, but he certainly didn''t expect it to be almost ten times better. "Is this a real core? Do I get this if I purchase it from the magic shop?" [No. Mana cores grew alongside its user, so the sooner Survivors buy their mana core, the better.] "You sure do a hell of a good job persuading people," James muttered. He was in a bind, This mana core was magnitudes better than his previous ones. However, this one was from Water attributes. If he had changed it, James would have lost his campfire. "Can I change my spinneret to this mana core?" [Yes. Do you want to change your spinneret to Mana core?] "No." Although James couldn''t shoot out his spider web like an action movie hero, His spinneret still proved invaluable. Without it, James wouldn''t be able to make ropes anymore. After weighing his option of making a campfire and deadly water attack, James made his decision. "I want this mana core, swap out my lesser mana core." James finally made his decision. James was a monster. Unlike humans who needed fire to cook their food, His goblin stomach could handle raw meat just fine. He didn''t need this defective core that could only cast a campfire for less than an hour. James'' eyes snapped at the golden glow at the corner of his vision. He snapped his sword and axe to her chest, anticipating an attack. His subconsciousness already registered golden light as a weapon skill''s special effects. Of course, there were no other monsters here. The golden light came from the portal that had just spawned by the system. "Change the portal''s light color next time. Or rather, don''t make it glow at all, it''s distracting." James complained. Now that he was about to march into a new zone, he didn''t need to stuff his armor away. He went into his leather bag and equipped all of his armor. James was about to touch the portal and transferred to the new floor. Then, he remembered the golden chest behind the Sahuagin princess, inside the big clam that was her throne. "Shit. Are you trying to make me forget about that chest?" James cursed. That claim was baseless. The system didn''t do such things. James merely went with the flow. When he saw a portal, he instinctively wanted to walk through it, showing his progress. James examined the chest. The chest was fixed and couldn''t be moved. Even when he pulled with all of his strength, it wouldn''t budge. However, he couldn''t open the chest with his string either; it was at the very back of the clam throne. James grew more and more wary as this chest seemed to be made so the traps inside would surely hit its opener. Then, a light bulb lit up on James'' mind. He used his new mana core and made an ice shield. Then, he also made a chisel. The chisel was then inserted into the gaps on the treasure chest. Using the string, he opened it from further away. A huge block of ice was ready to absorb whatever might come his way. James'' paranoia was in vain once again. No traps were inside that box. When he peered inside, bunches of coins lay around [You have obtained 1000 coins] Chapter 18: Third Portal ¡°1000 coins! That¡¯s a lot!¡± James felt like he had dollar signs on his eyes. Now that he thought about it, usually in video games, after a boss fight, players were usually given rewards. However, James hadn¡¯t received any. [Would you like to upgrade your skills or weapons?] ¡°Wait a minute! System! Did I miss any treasure chests in the previous boss rooms?¡± [Treasure Chest Locations are classified.] ¡°It has already passed! Don¡¯t be so secretive! It¡¯s not like I can go back and retrieve them, right? Wait. I can¡¯t, right?¡± James asked. Treasure chests are extremely crucial for survivors. James realized the fact after his third treasure chest. They provided skills, weapons, and even money to upgrade their skills. That was also the reason The System didn¡¯t disclose their locations even when they knew survivors couldn¡¯t return to the previous floor. [Survivors may not return to the previous dungeon floor. Regardless, information about treasure chest locations is classified.] ¡°Ugh¡­ Damn it. What did I miss? If every boss monster gave 1000 coins¡­ no. even if they gave only half of it¡­¡± James was distraught. He was sure he checked every corner of the first-floor boss room. However, he was not sure about the second floor with the wolf boss monster. It was like he missed a 1 million dollar chance. [Will you upgrade?] The System¡¯s notifications came to him again. James clapped his furry cheek. ¡°Alright, no use dawdling on it. Let¡¯s face the future! System, you said mana core grew when I leveled up, right? You said the sooner I buy it, the better.¡± [That is correct. At first, your original mana core will have 500 mana and 30 magic in it. However, as you level up, it will grow with you, increasing your mana and magic. However, since you have plundered a mana core from the sahuagin princess, your total mana and magic will be enhanced by it.] ¡°Alright! Buy the mana core, then.¡± James felt he was scammed, forced to buy this magic core stuff. However, if he wanted his magic to grow, he had to buy mana core. Otherwise, he could only rely on stagnant magic from plundered mana cores. [Mana core bought! Please choose your principle and pay an additional 200 coins for its beginner magic.] ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t trust you! What a scammer!¡± James shouted. [Survivors can choose to delay choosing and paying the principle magic. The mana core will still grow normally as survivors level up. In the special case of Survivor James, you can still utilize your mana core since it will connect to the water mana core from the sahuagin priestess.] ¡°No. I have the coins. I wanna choose now. How many principles were there again?¡± [There are 6 principles. Water, fire, earth, wind, life, and mind] ¡°Did you have a rough explanation of what each principle does?¡± [Information classified. We are not allowed to disclose any information about any principle of magic. Please inquire with fellow survivors who had the Mana core that you wanted.] ¡°Ugh¡­ what to choose. Water is out of the question. Although it was merely from a goblin, I knew what fire does. Should I pick the safe path of fire¡­ or should I pick risky ones of mind magic.¡± James pondered. ¡°Alright. I will choose mind magic!¡± James made a decision. He put his hopes in mind magic. The main reason he chose mind magic was so he could read other people¡¯s minds. He wished he could understand people. If he could, he hoped he might be able to fit more into society by knowing their needs and prejudices. He didn¡¯t wish for more combat ability. He could use the current sahuagin¡¯s priestess core for that. If an enemy with stronger magic appeared, he could plunder from them after he beat them. He had chosen his battle style. He had crossbows, swords, and an axe. He didn¡¯t need further combat ability. He needed something to smooth his relationship with others. [Second confirmation required. Survivor James. Are you sure you will choose Principle of Mind magic? You can not change your choice later.]Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Yes.¡± [Please say, ¡°Survivor James chose Principle of Mind Magic. He was not under any influence and made the decision in full awareness of the consequences. He also understands that he will not be able to change it later.¡±] ¡°Why such formalities all of a sudden?¡± James was suddenly weirded out. [The System needs clear clarification because you will not be able to change it under any circumstances later.] ¡°I can still plunder other mana cores, right?¡± [Yes. But you may not change your main core. For other survivors, most of them will not be able to access other magic other than their principle.] ¡°Alright. Good that you take this seriously. I, Survivor James, choose Principle of Mind magic. I was not under any influence and made the decision in full awareness of the consequences. I also understand that I will not be able to change my principle in the future.¡± [Confirmation done. 200 coins subtracted. Welcome to the Principle of Mind magic. The principle of Mind Magic focuses on tampering with others¡¯ sense of reality. This magic is separated into six stages. The first stage is to tamper with other¡¯s minds and memories. The second stage is to tamper with their senses directly. Further stages are classified until you meet the magic and mana requirements to unlock them.] ¡°Alright! Show me my stats.¡± [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 22 Coins: 720 Stats: STR: 88 Dex: 83 Magic: 30 Mana: 500 Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: A new section about his magic has opened. James queried the System on how to use the magic he just learned. [Survivors only need to think about the magic, and it will activate on its own. Please experiment with them for the System does not provide an in-depth tutorial about its usage.] ¡°Alright. I will try. Now. I still have 720 coins remaining, right?¡± [That is correct. Will you make further upgrades to your skills? Will you upgrade your weapons? Or will you buy more potions?] ¡°If my axe was to be upgraded, it would become a lightning war axe, right? What if I upgrade my sword?¡± [That is correct. In case you choose to upgrade your sword, it will become a lightning longsword. However, you can change your enchantment later after this first enchantment. At a cost, of course.] ¡°How much?¡± [to change an enchantment in your weapons, it will cost you 300 coins] James rolled his eyes at the expensive price tags. Before he made another decision, he asked about his weapon skills. More specifically, his axe mastery. ¡°What would happen if I upgraded my axe mastery to level 10? I can do that, right?¡± [Yes. You can upgrade your Beginner Axe mastery to level 10 with 400 coins. As for what happened next, that information is classified.] ¡°Well. I shall upgrade my axe mastery then.¡± James made his decision. He assumed he would acquire new weapon skills when mastery reached level 10. To James, weapon skills are more important than the weapon itself. After all, he had experienced it firsthand. He remembered the orc boss was able to beat him with his rusty axe. That wasn¡¯t to say weapons didn¡¯t matter. James had seen weapons break under the strain of battle, and he understood their importance. But he believed the reverse to be equally true: as long as his weapon held together, his Skill with it would carry him to victory. Since he could only choose one, he chose weapon skills. [Confirmed. 400 coins were deducted. Your Beginner Axe mastery is now level 10. Beginner Axe mastery has evolved into Novice Axe Mastery level 1. New Skill gained V-Slash] ¡°I hope it was worth it.¡± James muttered, ¡°How many coins do I have now?¡± [You have 320 coins remaining] ¡°Can I upgrade anything else?¡± [you can upgrade either your bow mastery or Sword mastery for 200 coins. Or, you could buy a health potion] ¡°I will buy a health potion then.¡± [Done. You have 220 coins remaining.] ¡°Alright, I have nothing left to do. Let¡¯s go to the next floor and get out of this hellhole.¡± James shouldered his bags, which had become much lighter. He closed his eyes when he touched the portal, knowing that a blinding white light would flash his eyes. ¡°What will happen to other survivors?¡± James asked The System when he waited inside the dull white room [Marker to the portal will be made available to all surviving survivors. It is up to their discretion when to enter the portal.] ¡°I see.¡± James looked at his hand. Fur grew from his hands; one of them was webbed, while the other was muscled. He then rubbed his face. The same furry and rough texture was felt. A foul smell came to his nostrils as he touched his face. A bitter, acidic taste from his chitinous fang dropped intermittently to his tongue. ¡°Am I human?¡± James muttered. As the white light poured out again, he swore in his heart that he wouldn¡¯t abandon his feelings, his heart. Searing heat caressed James¡¯ fur as bubbling, molten lava strewn across the dark cave. Narrow paths among the lava stretched and twisted. Islands of black rocks sometimes floated in the river of searing heat James scanned the surroundings, preparing for an unexpected surprise. ¡°Well, Lava floor, huh. Should have guessed. After water, comes the fire.¡± James muttered. After a long time underwater, his foot finally pressed properly on the ground. The weight of armor, axe, swords, bows, and his bag fully pressed on him. The rock beneath his feet felt warm, like the floor of hot springs. James walked on the winding pathways; the cave was tall and wide. However, the pathway was narrow. Like other dungeons before him, except the second floor, this floor offered an intricate maze of caves. The ground suddenly shook. A deep rumble rattled the wall as loose rocks fell into the magma below. However, some rocks that were supposed to fall didn¡¯t. They floated, attached to each other, Rocks joined together, forming limbs, torso, and head. It stood tall, almost at four meters height, The monstrosity swam closer to James. ¡°Well, that¡¯s new.¡± James looked at what could only be described as a golem. Its joints were made with lava, and it had heads and limbs but no eyes, fingers, or ears. It lacked the finer detail of life, just like an unfinished statue that moved. ¡°Alright! Let us test our new skills!¡± James readied his crossbow. It began to glow golden as he aimed his Skill [Quickshot]. He was ready to engage the new monstrosity of this dungeon floor. And he had just the perfect tool to engage it. Chapter 19: Lava Golem ¡°Quickshot!¡± Golden motes of light gathered on the crossbow bolt. Like a lightning strike, the arrow struck true to the golem¡¯s head. James thought it wouldn¡¯t pierce the golem¡¯s head. However, once again, he was shown how powerful weapon skills were. The arrow embedded itself more than two inches deep into its forehead, snapping its head backward. ¡°What the¡­¡± Even when an arrow had already cracked its forehead, the golem was merely pushed back a step. Its head slowly returned as it continued to waddle through the lava. Golems do not feel pain, so unlike other monsters, golems will continue to march and fight until it is destroyed. James finally feels the dread of the fourth floor. ¡°Mind flay!¡± James tried to use his spells. Mind flay was supposed to make the user feel pain and immobilize him, however, golems do not feel pain. So, his spells were practically useless on this floor. ¡°Damn it, System! The spell I bought for 700 coins was totally useless!¡± James said [Mind magic only works on living entities. The enemy before you is considered a golem, and thus, such spells will not work against it.] The System kindly explained. However, to James, he felt scammed hard. ¡°Damnit!¡± James cursed as he tried to make some distance. The golem walked sluggishly, and then the three-meter-tall monster raised its hand overhead and slammed it to the ground. Fortunately, it was slow. With James¡¯s enhanced stats, he leaped back as the rock monster slapped its arm to the ground. James thought he had dodged it. However, a splash of lava splashed into his unprotected legs, and fire quickly spread from it. ¡°Fuck! Where is my water pouch?¡± James hopped around like a squirrel and hastily poured his water pouch onto his legs. James was not the sharpest tool in the shed. He had forgotten that he had water magic, deprived of the sahuagin princess. Only after he doused himself with his water pouch did he realize that he should fight fire with water. ¡°Fuck it. I am so stupid.¡± Realizing water might be its weakness, James searched within. Inside him, he found another source of power. This time, it was not purple, but blue. He soon dipped his hands into it. Ice shards gathered around him, forming multiple spears. He then launched it toward the hateful golem. White cloud surged, enveloping the golem like a blanket. James prepared another ice missile. As the dust cleared, he found the golems still. Its heavy body was petrified as the lava hardened. James breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had won. His hope was soon dashed as cracks began to form on the petrified body. n the golem. Like a chick that broke free from its egg, the golem shattered the hardened shell on its body. Lava slithered around the joints of its body. ¡°It wasn¡¯t dead! How do I beat this thing?¡± James prepared another batch of ice spears. When he shot it toward the fearless monster, it was soon enveloped in white steam once again. Again, cracks formed around the joints as the golem broke free and chased James with renewed vigor. [Information classified.] ¡°Damn it. You pick this time to be an asshole!¡± James cursed as he shot out another ice spear. This time, he also reloaded his crossbow. The golem shook the hardened lava once again. James loaded his crossbow and prepared his skill. ¡°Quickshot!¡± a golden bolt flew out from his bow and aimed at golems chest. James thought it would only embed itself like the previous ones. He had prepared himself for a war of attrition, running away and casting his magic. However, this time, The arrow pierced through its body and hit a blue ball inside. The golem shattered like a glass when an arrow pierced it. James didn¡¯t know it, but what he had done to the golem was a phenomenon known as thermal shock. When materials like stone or glass are exposed to rapid cycles of heating and cooling, the internal stress weakens their structure, making them brittle and prone to cracking. That¡¯s why James¡¯s arrow managed to pierce through its hard body. ¡°Whew, finally over.¡± [Congratulations. You have beaten a lava golem for the first time. You have leveled up to level 23. You have earned 20 coins.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 23 Coins: 240 Stats: STR: 90 (up 2) Dex: 85 (up 2) Magic: 32 (up 2)This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Mana: 520 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: James saw that his magic and mana steadily increased. Nevertheless, he grumbled. ¡°Ugh¡­ that magic I bought for 700 coins was totally useless.¡± James sighed. ¡°I haven¡¯t even tested my new skill yet. Were all the monsters here like that?¡± [Information classified] ¡°Don¡¯t reply if you are not going to answer anything!¡± James hissed at the unhelpful System. [Noted. We will not reply unless asked.] ¡°Alright. What can I plunder from this golem?¡± [You could plunder a golem¡¯s core. However, since you destroyed its core during combat, there was nothing you could plunder.] James didn¡¯t think he could plunder anything from the golem. Since it was not alive. But the System said he could. ¡°Hm¡­ but how can I destroy it without damaging the core?¡± [Information Classified] James decided to ignore the unhelpful system notification as he continued with his explorations. The winding path opened up to a huge lava lake. James looked at it and felt a sense of Deja Vu. The scene reminded him of the water floor, except the water was replaced by a bubbling pool of magma. ¡°AARGH!!¡± James screamed as he lunged to the side, clutching his back. A sudden searing hit caressed his unprotected nape as the smell of burning fur touched his nostrils. Something hot had attacked him. Blue magic soon swirled from his mana core as Water gushed out from above him and doused him right on the face. Despite his usual idiotic moments, James knew what had to be done in desperate moments. The water sizzled, and a steaming vapor burst out from James¡¯ body as it cooled down the searing pain in his back. James turned sharply, his weapon at the ready, as his eyes locked onto the source of the attack. A lizard came from the magma pool. Its black scales glowed faintly with an ember-like hue as it crawled into the ground. The giant lizard, the size of a Komodo dragon, soon opened its maw. Molten lava spew out from its mouth, hurling toward James, ready to make a barbecue out of him. A block of ice emerged before James as he defended himself using his new water magic. He thanked the gods for his decision to switch the fire core from the goblins with the water core from sahuagin. It proved to be the correct decision. Water magic was vital in this area. ¡°Fuck you! That¡¯s 150 coins worth of potions!!¡± James cursed as he saw the bag that had burned and ripped. Pink and red liquid oozed out of it, signaling that the potions were destroyed. ¡°System! That thing is a living being, right? Can my mind magic handle it?¡± [Affirmative. Your mind magic will work against it. However, please note that this kind of information will not be available except in trial dungeons.] ¡°Mind Flay!¡± Purple mana swirled on James¡¯ hand and flew toward the beast. Mana should be invisible. However, thanks to James¡¯ new eyes, he could see purple mana swirling around him. No magic will escape this eye. Thanks to the eye of mana, James had essentially become a mage killer. Unfortunately, this floor had no mages to fight. The lizard was about to spew another molten magma before it choked itself and rolled to the ground in pain; it quickly vomited lava on the ground as it rolled around in pain. James had cast his new magic. [mind flay] will cause extreme pain or discomfort to the user, making them immobilized for a few minutes or seconds. James took the chance as the lizard shook its head, trying to dispel the discomfort that suddenly assaulted it. ¡°Take this! [V-slash].¡± golden glow, brighter than it usually was, shone from James¡¯ axe. It drew a straight line, aiming at the lizard¡¯s head. The lizard reeled its head to the left. James widened his eyes, surprised at its agility. However, a smirk grew on his face. The axe didn¡¯t stop. It made a 270 turn as it aimed for the lizard¡¯s neck. The axe went past its head in a beautiful golden comet. Another arc was drawn by the lizard¡¯s head as it separated from its body. [Congratulations. You have beaten a lava Komodo for the first time. You have leveled up to level 24. You have earned 20 coins.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 24 Coins: 260 Stats: STR: 92 (up 2) Dex: 88 (up 3) Magic: 35 (up 3) Mana: 540 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Available body part: ] James was leveling rapidly. Monsters from higher floors gave out more and more exp. However, James was not exactly pleased with the level-up. This komodo might be weak. However, it swam in lava. The entire dungeon has lava everywhere. He literally fought on their home turf. Like Sahuagin on the water floor, James assumed monsters on this floor would use their territorial advantage. ¡°No Komodo¡¯s skin or something to resist the fire?¡± [If you find a larger Komodo, chimera might be able to plunder its skin. However, we suggest you do not swim in the lava. Komodo scales will not protect your eyes, mouth, and ears. Moreover, its scale will not protect your leather armor, helmet, and your bows.] ¡°So, there is no dome or arena inside that lava?¡± [No. While the boss location remains classified, We can inform survivors that there is nothing inside the lava. It is out of the testing zone.] James then dragged the corpse into the middle of the path. There is no corner inside this dungeon. Unlike before, the narrow paths were always in the middle of the cave. James then realized that unless he had eyes on his back, he would always have a blindspot on this floor. The burns from his back reminded him once again that these lizards were sneaky. Thanks to his armor and backpack, he didn¡¯t turn into a barbecue when that lizard first attacked. However, it cost him over a hundred coins. There will not be a second chance. James is a quick learner. Instead of buying these potions beforehand and risking them getting destroyed, he should save 150 coins and buy them only when he needs them. The item arrived almost instantly anyway. That lizard made a foolish move by crawling to the ground instead of sniping from the lava. However, will there be a next time? James pondered hard how to cover his blind spot as he traveled the dungeon. Chapter 20: Platforming James decided to ignore Komodo¡¯s nail and fire sack. Komodo nails were simple nails, not unlike wolf¡¯s claws. James thought of using it. However, he had enough weapons already. Sword on his left arm and axe on his right. No matter how good these claws might seem, they were inferior compared to weapon skills. James might need them if he fought barehanded. But he decided against it. The nails will get in the way of him gripping his weapons. Komodo¡¯s fire sack was useless, too. To properly use it, the user had to first store molten magma inside. That means James had to transform his mouth into Komodo¡¯s mouth, losing his spider fang and weak paralysis. Moreover, the fire sack will occupy an extra slot. James needed to throw away either his spinneret or mana core if he wanted to install the sack. Throwing away a ropemaker and intermediate water magic for something that can only be used on this floor and is mostly ineffective against local monsters was a no-brainer move. ¡°Fuck! I knew they would come out!¡± James spit a curse when his path ended. His magic has grown drastically compared to when he was using goblin¡¯s core. Now, he was able to constantly use his magic to summon an ice armor. The ice armor was merely a half-done dome, similar to that of a turtle shell on his back. It was crude but functional. When it lets out a hissing sound, James will know that he was attacked from the back. James didn¡¯t need to use it on the front, for his eyes were still at 20/20. Despite his love for computers, James still had keen eyesight. It was one of the few good traits he had. And the shield on his back let out a hissing sound, just as he anticipated. Two salamanders encroached on him from the back. They thought they had James cornered, and they were right. What they were wrong, though, was James was the natural enemy of these komodos. James only had flowing lava and several floating stepping stones for hopping. No path exists to the left and to the right. But they were simple monsters, guided by instinct. They thought James would run forward, hopping the stepping stone like a frightened rabbit. James used his mind flay to immobilize the two lizards. He then summoned an ice shield before himself to shield him from the incoming lava spit. He then charged forward as several ice spears gathered. A golden arc shot through one lizard, then curved radically to the right and cleaved another. ¡°yeah! Two birds with one stone, baby!¡± James cheered. ¡°I see now how that sahuagin managed to curve its strike like that. It was using a higher level of skill. That one probably had novice mastery in spear as well.¡± James rubbed his sahuagin arm. He had lost his right arm due to Sahuagin¡¯s unexpected spear skill. After upgrading his axe mastery to level 10, he finally realized how that sahuagin managed to curve its skill like that. James might not be the brightest person in the world, but he is a quick learner. When he realized that sahuagin could somehow bend their spear skill, he no longer dodged their skill to the side. He always blocked them with his axe or parried them with his own skill. He now knew how the sahuagin did that as he now owned similar power with his axe. ¡°Hmm?¡± James was waiting for something, but it didn¡¯t happen. ¡°No level-ups?¡± [the experience points earned are not enough for level-ups.] ¡°Well. Time to make the jump, then. Damn, platforming in a hyper-realistic game feels so weird,¡± James looked at the lava lake before him. He had played games before, but due to his ten-year-old laptops, he had not played games with the latest graphics. Thanks to his stats, his body soared through the hot molten lava below. He then swiftly jumped to the next one, and then the next one before finally arriving at the other side. The small rock floating on the lava wobbled slightly under his weight, but his movements were fluid and precise, again thanks to his dexterity stats. ¡°Ouch! Ouch! Hot!!¡± James chirped as he hopped like a kangaroo. Using his ever-reliable water magic, he doused his slightly burned feet. James could have doused the rock beforehand, cooling it down. However, he didn¡¯t do that. That was the right choice, though; the rock that was floating on the lava was merely 30 centimeters wide, not much larger than a floor tile. If he slipped, he would suffer a more serious burn than merely his foot.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Finally, no more lava!¡± James smiled as he ventured into the cave. His excitement didn¡¯t last long. Unlike the previous dungeon floor, where light always glowed on the dungeon¡¯s wall, the caves here were completely dark. James had slipped and fell on his face when his foot stubbed on a stair. James was not the sharpest tool in the shed; however, he could learn. James proved quite adept when the situation demanded it. After falling on his face for the third time inside the dark cave, he realized that his right eye could see mana. He then used his magic to gather mana in the air. He didn¡¯t create any spells, merely gathering mana and expelling it from his body. Blue mana swirled around him, bouncing on the floor, creating a gentle ripple. He could see them. Each bounce of the mana expelled from his body showed him the boundary of the caves. ¡°I am glad I bought that magic core. How would one navigate a cave like this without mana eyes?¡± James muttered as he continued exploring the dark cave. [by using a torch¡­] ¡°...¡± The system answered. Its answer was short, brief, and concise, and the three dots on the notification screen before him seemed to mock James for his foolishness. ¡°Wait a minute. How did you make a torch anyway? There was no wood on the third floor! Are you expecting me to carry wood all the way from the second floor?¡± James defended himself. He was not foolish. Merely had different resources. That¡¯s what he believed. Torches could be made from other materials, such as spears from sahuagin or even a long stone or his longsword. If one knew how, they could wrap some clothes on the tip of the stick and then use fats and oil harvested from monsters to make impromptu torches. However, James was an ordinary office worker. He didn¡¯t have such expertise. Regardless, he had ways to deal with it. As long as it worked, it¡¯s fine. No need to fix anything that wasn¡¯t broken. James wandered through the spiraling staircase. Blue mana emanated from him, rippling through the walls. He almost heard the sound of falling water as he watched his mana hop on the wall playfully. Then, the path branched. Of course, James chose the left path, and it answered him beautifully. Even in a world without color, James knew that his mana had hit a treasure chest. Such a perfect square with a perfect cylinder as a lid couldn¡¯t be mistaken for anything else but a treasure chest. James opened the chest using his spider¡¯s web from further back. He was cautious. Nothing seemed amiss after he opened it. He whistled as he approached it without abandon. ¡°AARGH!¡± James was about to reach inside the chest, only to find a shadow wiggled inside. Had James used a torch or other source of light, that shadow snake would lunge out from the chest and attack whoever intruded on their homes. Blue mana rippled across its body. Thanks to James¡¯s mana sense, he didn¡¯t need any light. That¡¯s why the snake was unperturbed and merely slithered on the surface of the treasure. James stabbed it with his longsword, and the creature let out a shrill. An axe then met its head, ending its life. ¡°Fucking snake scared me to death!¡± James spat on it. ¡°That was the fucking third time!¡± It was the third time James felt he had fallen into a treasure chest¡¯s trap. The first was when a snake leaped out from the chest, the second was when an arrow struck him, and the third was now, when a snake slithered inside. To be fair, James didn¡¯t fall for the third chest¡¯s trap. The snake didn¡¯t notice it was him in the first place, and he even gave a preemptive blow. So far, a chest¡¯s trap always hits the moment it is opened. James had never considered the possibility of a delayed activation trap lurking inside like this. The idea sent a chill down his spine. ¡°I was not careful enough. And this thing was fucking poisonous too.¡± James muttered as he inspected the corpse. [Available body part: ] ¡°What¡¯s a life leeching poison?¡± [Life-leeching poison attacked the blood of a life creature, weakening its vitality. If the creature manages to resist the poison, it will recover after a set amount of time.] ¡°If not?¡± [They will die.] ¡°How strong is this poison? Can I withstand it?¡± [Information classified.] ¡°Do I have to inject myself with its poison before you tell me?¡± [No. If a user installs the fang, the information pertaining to its strength will be unlocked. However, the system cannot provide guarantees regarding its effectiveness against enemies you have not yet encountered or are encountering for the first time.] James sighed, rubbing his temple. He has to weigh whether this will be an upgrade or downgrade compared to the weak paralysis fang he has now. However, it was not a simple upgrade like intermediate paralysis poison. It was a completely new poison. Since it had intermediate in its name, James assumed it was powerful. ¡°but it¡¯s a gamble,¡± he muttered. [Correct,] ¡°Alright. I will bite. Let¡¯s change my paralysis fang with this life-leeching fang.¡± James decided to take the risk. [installing] Motes of light gathered from my hand and to the snake. In this dark room, those lights were as bright as the stars in the sky, illuminating the dark room. For the first time, James saw color. Lines of red, blue, yellow, and green flowed on the walls of the caves. Sediments of unknown rock. Colorful. Yet no one would ever see it in this cave, for darkness like that of Vantablack permeated the room as soon as the body part installation was done. Unlike the acidic taste of paralysis poison, James could feel some kind of cloying sweetness when he licked his new fang. ¡°Alright. So, how does this poison work?¡± James asked. [Similar to Paralysis poison, this poison will only work for two minutes when exposed. When the poison came inside a creature¡¯s body, it would slowly corrode its strength and kill it. The poison will kill an orc in two minutes, a sahuagin in one, and a komodo in seven.] ¡°Hm? You said the poison could be resisted?¡± [You currently haven¡¯t met a live monster that could resist the poison except for shadow snakes, which are completely immune to intermediate life-leeching poison.] ¡°Yes! I hit the jackpot!¡± With this poison, His arrow had just gotten a lot stronger. With just a graze, he could kill any creature if he waited long enough. [By the way, at least a drop of poison needed to enter the body. A graze will not do. Paralysis poison worked the same way.] ¡°Hm? What if I put two drops? Or three drops?¡± [You will merely reset the timer. The timer for intermediate life-leeching poison is 10 minutes. If a creature can survive past that, it will recover gradually within the next three minutes. Similar to weak paralysis that only lasted 5 minutes no matter how much poison entered the body.] So, to kill stronger monsters, I need to apply the poison at different times, not all at once?¡± [That is correct.] ¡°I see. How game-like.¡± James muttered. In this world, the effectiveness of poison wasn¡¯t about dosage or concentration; it was about timing. As long as more than a drop of poison enters the body, the poison will activate fully. However, additional doses will not increase its lethality. For his previous paralysis poison for example, applying two drops at the same time wouldn¡¯t extend the paralysis effect. If he wanted to extend it, he needed to stagger the application. James sighed, scratching the back of his head. ¡°So much for science¡ªWell, new worlds, new laws¡­ now, time for the treasure chest!¡± Chapter 21: Survivors [Leather greaves] [Leather boots] [ You have a complete set of leather armor] ¡°Hm? What does a full set do?¡± [Equipping a full set of armor will confer additional stats and sometimes skill. For leather armor, you will obtain a +10 to your dexterity.] The armor was light, like it had become part of James¡¯ body. But that was it. James didn¡¯t feel like he suddenly got a superpower or the like. After checking that he had nothing left, he continued into the dark path. James¡¯ new mana core provided immense power. However, no matter how big of a tank he had, he could still run out of mana. After more than four hours of expelling mana, James finally ran out of it. However, he got something out of it. [New Skill unlocked: Mana sonar] ¡°How long should I rest to recover my mana?¡± James asked as he dropped down and sat on the corner of an empty room. Mana sonar was incredibly inefficient in mana cost. James regretted that he had thrown away the goblin¡¯s core a little bit. A fire would do him better here. [You would need about 2 hours to recover your mana to full] James was tired, but he wasn¡¯t sleepy. He merely chewed on some lizard¡¯s meat he had gathered earlier while remembering his past. Being alone in a death game made him reflect on a lot of things. James was attentive but passive. He remembered when his coworkers had been fired before him, he knew the boss was the one at fault. That boss swindled the company¡¯s money and tried to put the blame on the poor worker, but James didn¡¯t lift a finger for fear that he would be next on the chopping block. The next year, James was the one that was fired. James now regretted it. He should do something that day. However, the old James would never. He was afraid to be jobless. He didn¡¯t have the courage to do what¡¯s right. ¡°That boss must have been rich now. It doesn¡¯t matter whether that boss was fired. He would be able to live the rest of his life with that swindled money. I should be more like him¡­¡± James thought. However, James couldn¡¯t be so heartless. He realized he was a hypocrite. He turned. A Blind eye to those who needed his help. [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 24 Coins: 270 Stats: STR: 92 (up 2) Dex: 88 (up 3) Magic: 35 (up 3) Mana: 540 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Equipment: James woke up a few moments later and continued his journey. The cave ended up in another pool of lava, with its trademarked winding narrow path in the middle of flaming hell. Thanks to his new boots, James¡¯ legs no longer felt hot, like they were burning. However, sweat continued to pour out of his furry body, making it feel gross. The fur that he thought had been protecting him on the third floor turned out to be a hindrance. The path narrowed, and James sighed as he went to another dark cave. Thankfully, this path was straightforward. A red light at the end of the tunnel revealed a clearing full of lava pools again. James walked toward the light, ready for anything. James already knew that there were other survivors here, however, he didn¡¯t know who they were. He didn¡¯t trust them, He didn¡¯t want to meet with them, and he didn¡¯t care about them. Fate, however, says otherwise. Kouki was a boy in his puberty. Games were his livelihood, and thus, when he got invited to a dungeon trial, he accepted it with glee. He quickly carried his survival backpack and marched on to the trial. The trial was hellish. Unlike James, who was transferred alone, Kouki was transferred with a group; most of them looked like a group of bandits or yakuza except Kaina. Seeing the supplies Kouki had, they decided to steal them. But Kouki managed to recover it from their corpse after they died an unfortunate death by Goblin Lord. After killing his first goblin, Kouki received his first status. He was given a unique skill, swordmaster. He then went on a killing spree, not unlike James on the first floor. Kouki understood that there were very important resources later on the second and third floors. And that is exp points. Monsters were scarce. They won¡¯t spawn back, and once they are killed, the exp goes to the killer. On the third floor, they met up with another bunch of survivors; all of them were weak, below level 10. He thought he would have his chance on the third floor, but his levels were stunted at 19. Just as he was about to face the third-floor bosses, the notification said another survivor had cleared it. That means this survivor went solo and beat the boss by himself, just like him on the second floor. Kouki realized he had lost a massive amount of exp. The third floor was a floor of lava. Kouki desperately killed Golems by slashing it with his sword skill. After exposing its core, a final stab punched it through. Leveling Kouki to level 20. Unlike James, who diversified his skills, Kouki put everything into his sword skill. So, his sword mastery was novice level 9. He didn¡¯t save coins for magic. ¡°System, can we transfer coins between survivors?¡± [No. You need a unique skill for that.] ¡°Kouki! Let me kill a monster, please!¡± ¡°Yeah! We want some action, too. We can¡¯t just leave everything to you, boss.¡± ¡°Yeah. If you can parry one of its strikes, no¡­ that¡¯s too dangerous. Try to stab it from behind. You might kill it.¡± Kouki said. He honestly didn¡¯t think they could do it. They were too low-level for that. Kouki was troubled. He couldn¡¯t afford to spare the kill for these low-ranking members, but making Kaina a mage for his party was enticing. Kouki wanted to go solo, but being a hero was his dream. He wanted to be acknowledged, So he couldn¡¯t let them die. ¡°But they are scary. Immobilize one for me, Kouki!¡± ¡°Nah, impossible. I barely beat them, either. Just look at this cloak of night against that golem. It was burned and full of holes. I think I have some burns on my back, too. Gonna have you rubbed my back with health potion later.¡± ¡°Ugh! Kouki is an idiot!!¡± Kaina whined, She then marched ahead. Her voice echoed through the wide floor dungeon. Kaina pouted. Kouki had been acting like her mother lately, always telling her what to do. She wanted to be free and do as she liked. She knew it was dangerous, but she didn¡¯t want to be useless. So, she went ahead. It was just a few meters. She thought it would be safe. However, as she approached a cave, a monster came out of it. Leather armor encased its bulky body like seasoned warriors of ancient times. Gauntlets, vambraces, helmets, and even boots and greaves completely covered this monster. He was unlike any monster Kouki had ever seen. A mismatched arm stretched from his shoulder. One was obviously bigger, while the other hand was smaller. One has to wonder why it has such mismatched arms and legs. However, Kouki¡¯s heart leaped when he realized that the monster had a two-handed longsword on his bigger left arm and a war axe on his smaller right arm. Kouki instinctively knew that this monster was strong. It probably was the boss of this dungeon. ¡°WATCH OUT!¡± Kouki leaped as he drew his sword. He didn¡¯t think Kaina would make it. The monster was too close, and he had his weapon at the ready. Kaina was only level one. Any monster here could kill her. The memory of losing many of his comrades on the second floor haunted him. Kaina was no warrior; she was just a normal high schooler girl. Kouki was supposed to protect her. Will he fail again? Such thoughts haunted him. Fortunately, the monster seemed as surprised as he was. Kouki immediately launched into the offensive. The monster turned his gaze to Kouki, and in a split-second decision, he knew Kouki was the biggest threat. ¡°Sharp thrust!¡± Kouki shouted. He didn¡¯t need to say a skill name to activate it. However, saying it helped him focus. While others might mock him for being stupid, his unique skill, sword master, could change the posture and the sword skill he used as long as the number of hits didn¡¯t change. As usual, Kouki began with a lunge. The monster responded in kind, his left hand lowered, signaling for a sword skill [hurricane.] Kouki understood that a skill clash was about to happen. Skill clashes rarely happened on the lower floor. However, Kouki had experienced it when facing Sahuagin on the third floor. In that instance, Kouki understood that the monster before him had known about skill clashes. A thunderous explosion rang out as shockwaves spread out from the clash. Of course, Kouki was flown back. James had outleveled him. Moreover, James had used his orc¡¯s arm for the skill clash. James expected Kouki to fall to the ground after the skill clash. However, he didn¡¯t. James suddenly remembered how he was pushed back and forth underwater. He thought this man who attacked him had also grown accustomed to skill clashes and could keep his balance even when he lost a skill clash. Another golden glow grew from Kouki¡¯s sword. ¡°Avalanche!¡± he screamed as he made another lunge. James responded with his new skill, [V-slash]. Two meteors clashed, ¡°You are finished!¡± Kouki grinned. [Avalanche] was a two-strike hit. Moreover, since Kouki knew he would lose in power, he angled his sword upward. The axe and the sword clashed; as Kouki had expected, the axe slid his sword upwards. The two combatants passed on each other. Cold sweat poured out of James¡¯ furry skin as he realized this was a double strike. Please make it! I have to be faster! James thought as his axe drew a v line after it slid upward, approaching Kouki¡¯s neck. He has a two hit skill too? Kouki heard his heart leap as the axe drew a v-line toward his neck. Time seemed to stand still, and Kouki realized the monster had the upper hand. If he wanted to stay alive, he had to risk another skill clash. The golden glow that was aimed at James¡¯ body was forcefully turned, and the axe was met head-on. The golden glow fizzled but was still active. The posture was barely safe to continue. However, it was not enough. After another flash of exchange that seemed to last for an eternity, another explosion and shock wave rang, sending Kouki flying. That was fuckin dangerous. James thought. He let his instinct take over and chased after the boy. James couldn¡¯t let the boy live. If he did, the boy would surely kill him. James knew he had almost lost that exchange. The only thing that made that skill clash his win and not mutual death was the boy had less guts than him. The boy barreled down on the floor. His body was thrown and bounced like a ragdoll. ¡°Kouki!!¡± Kaina, who was pushed aside earlier, together with the three stooges (one had died on the third floor), screamed. James leaped. His axe skill, [powerstrike], was ready. Kouki saw his life flash before his eyes as the golden axe came barreling down on him. Instinctively, Kouki shielded himself with his sword. Bad move! James snickered. This is a lava zone, not an aquarium, like on the third floor. As long as James could push him back toward the lava, he would win. The golden meteor clashed with Kouki¡¯s black sword with another deafening clash. Kouki¡¯s legs buckled under the pressure. James¡¯ axe was too strong, and he was flown away. The clash reminded James of the first skill clash he had with an orc boss on the first floor. James smirked as he saw Kouki fly toward the lava. ¡°Kouki!!!¡± Chapter 22: Golem Am I going to die? The world seemed to slow down as Kouki glided through the air. The monster smirked at his downfall. Kouki had nothing left. He still had one sword skill left, but it was impossible to activate it in the air. Kouki knew he had lost, and he would die. The world stood for the strong. The weak shall perish or be enslaved. That¡¯s what Kouki believed. He wanted to prove he was one of the heroes, a prodigy born to help people. Nevertheless, he was a mediocre student in school. The old world didn¡¯t need him. He couldn¡¯t make any waves. He wasn¡¯t rich. He was smart, but he wasn¡¯t the smartest. Merely ranked fourth in his school class. Kouki realized that unless you were the very best, unless you achieved the best 1%, you wouldn¡¯t succeed. Kouki tried to become that 1%, but he realized he had failed. He couldn¡¯t become a hero. He couldn¡¯t save Kaina, John, Matra, and Denver. Kouki soon plunged into the lava beneath. First of all, humans do not sink into lava. They float above it even when the molten lava is hot and liquid. It was too dense for humans to penetrate through. The same thing applies to Kouki; his body drops on the lava as if a ball has been dropped onto a pillow. Nevertheless, one thing about action movies was right. Lava is hot. Kouki¡¯s cloak ignited as soon as it touched the lava. ¡°AAGHH!!¡± Kouki screamed as he rolled on the lava. Despite the enormous heat and pain, Kouki still had some reasonings left within his brain. He rolled to the nearest path, away from the lava. With great luck, Kouki managed to land himself on the pathway. He further rolled left and back to extinguish the flame on his body. However, Kouki would need more than luck to escape James. James dashed to where Kouki was. With his axe at the ready, he raised it overhead, ready to decapitate Kouki, who lay helpless on the ground, coughing and panting. Kouki had lost his sword during the clash. There was nothing he could do against the incoming axe. All he could do was stare as the white blade inched closer to his face. ¡°KOUKI!!!¡± a shadow soon stepped before him. Kaina, who was miraculously close to Kouki, stepped in, trying to protect him. Kaina was a level one survivor, she had no chance to even distract James with her pitiful stats. However, she owed her life to him. They got into this situation because of her anyway. The only thing she could do was to sacrifice herself and hopefully create a chase for Kouki to run away. ¡°What have I done?¡± James stopped his axe just an inch away from her face. He suddenly realized what he was about to do. He was about to kill a person. Kaina finally opened her eyes when she heard James¡¯ voice. The two gazed at each other for a moment before a piercing shout broke the silence. ¡°Get away from Boss Kouki!!¡± the three stooges charged in with their spears from the back. James snapped his gaze towards them as they charged forward. However, he was too late. They had already stabbed their spears at him. ¡°UAA!!¡± James roared as he swiped the spears clinging to his leather armor. Thanks to his leather armor, stats, and furr, James was unharmed. These stooges¡¯ stats were too low to harm him anymore. ¡°HIEEK!!¡± two of the stooges ran away, leaving the third trembling. However, he didn¡¯t run. He dropped to the ground, and water began leaking from his crotch. ¡°M-m-monster! Get away!!¡± James looked at his surroundings; the girl looked at him, frightened, and the man was even more pitiful; he cried and pissed his pants. The boy was coughing and no longer conscious. Guilt surged within James, and he did what he usually did. He ran away. Picking his belongings, he leaped and went another way. He didn¡¯t offer a glance toward the girl and the boy and ventured back to the darkness of the cave. Changes were not eternally good. James had changed. He decided to change. Thanks to his decision, James had survived. However, when something changes, they inevitably lose something. James realized that his change finally had a negative effect on him. ¡°I am still human. It¡¯s their fault for attacking me first! If they didn¡¯t attack me, I would have left them alone!¡± James muttered, trying to defend himself. However, he knew he was lying to himself. Kouki was already helpless after he fell to the lava. James could run away or leave them on their own device. Yet, James approached him and intended to finish himself. If not for the girl who bravely came forward and knocked James back to his senses, James was sure he would kill him. He lay down after running for a few minutes. James took another breath as he reassessed his situation.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°System, will that boy live?¡± [Status of other survivors are classified. However, we can tell you that the chance of him surviving is high.] ¡°He fell into a lava, and the burn on his skin seemed pretty bad¡­¡± [Health potion could cure outside wounds such as burns and lacerations in minutes. If survivors had enough coins to buy a health potion, such wounds would be negligible.] ¡°Thank you¡­ For telling me.¡± James said his praise to the system from the bottom of his heart. It was as if a huge guilt and burden were released from his shoulder. At least he knew Kuki would survive. An hour later, James continued his walk. He then ventured into a colosseum. Unlike the Colosseum on the second floor, there was no ivy or greenery. The cement walls stood tall, and arches were built on it. James instinctively knew that this was the boss room. Two stone statues, each stood as tall as James. They were placed on a pedestal beside the gate. Their features expressed masterful craftsmanship. Unlike the crude golem from earlier times, James could feel that this stone statue might come alive at any moment. Each statue held a stone sword that stabbed the ground. Its armor was definite, carved from the same stone as the statue itself. James looked up in awe. However, his admiration didn¡¯t last long as the statue cracked. Lines began to form on the pedestal as the statue creaked, its head turned toward James. ¡°Yeah. I saw that from miles away. Thankfully, this one didn¡¯t seem to be made from lava.¡± James sighed as he drew his sword and axe. ¡°No time to mope around. I must continue. All past mistakes are in the past. I know what I must do. I must kill this monster and level up!!¡± James reassured himself as the stone statues jumped down from their pedestal. Their longswords were at the ready. James took the first strike. Using his axe skill [Powerstrike], he lunged at the left golem. Intending to finish this fight in a single skill. The golems looked slow. Unlike lava golem, it didn¡¯t spew any lava. It was the perfect chance. ¡°Sorry. But you are finished!¡± James smirked. His axe glowed and made a humming sound. The blade flew toward the left golem. The golem raised its sword, but it didn¡¯t use any weapon skills. James thought victory was at hand, for it was impossible for anyone to fully defend against a skill. Once the golem was pushed back, James continued with his sword skill, aiming at its head. The unthinkable happened. Weapon skills, the very thing that managed to tear down castle walls, were blocked. James¡¯ axe collided with the golem¡¯s sword in a satisfying boom. However, after the dust settled, he found that the golem didn¡¯t move an inch. James¡¯ confidence in the power of sword skills was shattered in that instant. ¡°Impossible,¡± James muttered. The golden glow didn¡¯t fade. However, it didn¡¯t move farther. In fact, James was the one who was pushed back. James¡¯ axe was pushed back, and once the golden light of his axe skill fizzled out, James was blown away. The stone statue approached James. They were slow, but James suddenly felt cornered. James had been subconsciously relying on weapon skills. James believed that sword skill can only be blocked or deflected only by sword skills. However, The golems were able to block it as if they were blocking normal sword swings. James was suddenly disoriented. Of course, unlike Kouki, weapon skills were not James¡¯ only weapon. He quickly reverted back to spells. Ice lances launched one after another toward the golem. However, it proved to be ineffective. The lances shattered upon impact. Unlike with Lava Golem, it didn¡¯t slow them in the slightest. The right golem charged. James rolled to the left, dodging its overhead sword. The stone swords looked menacing. However, James realized that they were slower even compared to sahuagins spears. They were just a tiny bit faster than the lava golem. Moreover, they didn¡¯t have wide-area attacks. James regained his confidence. He now knows what to do. Thanks to his stats, he could jump 2 meters without any problem. Dodging a horizontal slash from the golem was easier than he thought. Golden glow started enveloping his sword. This time, James aimed for the legs. The golden meteor went through the leg like a knife through bread. Without a leg, the golem fell down. James immediately activated his axe skill and smashed its head open. The golden core in its head shattered, ending the life of the right golem. ¡°Shit. this one has a core on its head¡­¡± James cursed. He wanted to see whether he could install a core to himself and what effect it had. That¡¯s why he tried to avoid attacking its torso, but this golem had its core on the head instead. The left golem came lunging on him. Looking at the lava lake surrounding the stadium, James suddenly had a bright idea. He made a huge ice block on the ground and jumped on it. The golem charged at him like a bull. As soon as it stepped on the ice block, it slipped. Like some beginners who fell during ice skating, the golem slid down the huge block of ice and into the pouring hot lava. James didn¡¯t slip because he froze his own foot on the ice block. The left golem was heavy; it sank into the lava-like humans to a quicksand. It tried to resist, but ultimately went under. James recalled a live-action robot movie that fell to a smelter. It behaved like that golem. ¡°So, do I get a level up?¡± James asked The System haughtily. However, the system didn¡¯t answer. [System assistance during combat is prohibited.] ¡°Hm? But the fight is over.¡± James suddenly felt goosebumps rising from his shoulder. When he glanced at the place where the golem had sunk, a hand suddenly floated, grabbing the corner of the land James was standing on. ¡°Should have known lava couldn¡¯t kill stones,¡± James said as water mana gathered around him. He didn¡¯t wait until the golem pulled itself before dousing it with gallons of water. Water vapor burst out from the golem and the lava around him. James continued pouring water on it, eventually solidifying the lava around the golem. The golem didn¡¯t stand still, knowing James was close. It tried to swing its arm, but due to the thermal shock it received earlier, the arm shattered when moving. ¡°This is a chance. Carefully¡­¡± James swung his axe at the golem. Due to the thermal shock, the golem was paralyzed. James took the chance and swung his axe on its neck. Even without skill, the axe still shattered the golem. Its golden core flew and dropped to the ground. [Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 25! You have earned 40 coins] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 25 Coins: 310 Stats: STR: 94 (up 2) Dex: 91 (up 3) Magic: 38 (up 3) Mana: 560 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] Chapter 23 Boss ¡°Yes!! I finally got the core!¡± James made a triumphant dance as he brought the core before the gate. As he placed the core before him, he queried The System. James knew the System loved to hide things from him. However, it is not a liar. James already inspected ¡°So, with this core, i will be immune to poison?¡± James expected some kind of roundabout answer or the usual ¡®information classified until you install¡¯ but it gave out a clear answer from the beginning. [yes. Only strong poison will affect you.] ¡°I see. Heart slot, huh? What¡¯s this negative trait?¡± [operating a golem core requires mana and magic. Since it has become your heart, it would require constant maintenance.] ¡°I understand about that. But what is this about repairable¡­ Why is it a negative trait?¡± James looked closely. Magic was useful, but he felt he had too much now. He wouldn¡¯t mind trading his heart with this golem core. [If your golem core were to be damaged, you would need to pay coins to fix it. Similar to damaged armor and weapons] ¡°And that is a negative trait?¡± [We consider that a negative trait compared to a human heart. If a human¡¯s heart were damaged, say, by an arrow¡ªyou could simply pour a health potion on it to heal. However, you can¡¯t do that with a golem core. If your golem core were damaged, you would need to pay a shop for repairs, and it couldn¡¯t be done during combat.] ¡°What the¡­¡± James widened his eyes. He never thought about hearts being repaired. With his old understanding, if someone were to be shot in the heart, they would die 3 or five minutes later for sure. However the System just announced to him that as long as he had health potions, he would be healthy again in one or two minutes. ¡°Wait¡­ I can¡¯t use the Shop when I am in combat?¡± James vaguely remembered the System mentioning that. ¡°That¡¯s news to me.¡± Bringing potions before combat risked them being destroyed. However, saving coins to buy potions or upgrading weapons during the battle was prohibited. James suddenly found himself second-guessing his every choice. [Shop couldn¡¯t be used during combat. That includes buying potions, upgrading and repairing weapons, and upgrading skills. Such things must be done before or after combat.] ¡°Shit! That complicates things. How many coins do I have again?¡± [you have 310 coins remaining.] ¡°Well, I have nothing to upgrade¡­ so let¡¯s skip that. Potions are going to get destroyed anyway,¡± James suddenly found an urge to buy potions, however his potions were destroyed before. He didn¡¯t think the potion would last during combat. If only he had a backliner, he could ask them to hold on to the potions while he fights. ¡°Let¡¯s change¡­¡± James found himself stopping as he held onto the fist-sized blue ball. Changing the heart. He had promised to keep his heart, to keep his feelings. He wanted to evolve so he could survive and thrive. But was abandoning his humanity ever the right choice?¡± [Will you change your heart into Golem Core?] ¡°Will I lose my reasoning or become a mindless machine if I install this heart?¡± [No. All human feelings, emotions, and memory are stored inside the brain. Chimera skills do not allow that part to be changed. Your memory, reasoning, and feelings won¡¯t be affected in the slightest.] ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s change it.¡± James sighed. He must become better. Only strong people have the luxury to care about morals. Only rich people have the luxury of caring for and making donations to others. If James refused the power before him, he would forever stay weak. That¡¯s like putting a cart before the horse. James had decided that he wanted to change. [Installing¡­] Dark motes of light gathered before the core. It consumed the core and swirled on James¡¯ hand before it went directly to his heart. James felt his heart was consumed. Flame burning within his heart. He groaned as he felt his body was on fire. The burning pain spread from his chest to his hands, to his legs, and to his head. It enveloped all of his very being.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°ARGHH!!¡± James screamed. The pain surged and was suddenly gone, as if it never happened. [Installation complete.] ¡°That was more painful than I expected.¡± [Some kind of biomechanical dizziness might occur. However, the effect would be temporary] ¡°No need to tell me.¡± James groaned as he felt his mind swirl. The System didn¡¯t lie. The vertigo didn¡¯t last long. James took several deep breaths before inspecting the gate that stood tall before him. The gate lit up, the inscription on the edge shone as it floated. the inscription, glazed with golden motes of light turned to english. [The trial is coming to an end. Go forth, Gladiators.] Some kind of meaningless encouragement was written on the floating text. James scoffed at it, remembering how his boss used to say such things as¡¯ Be brave¡¯ or ¡®Stay positive!¡¯. But when things turned south, he was the first to ditch them. James pushed the door, this time, the door smoothly opened. James scanned the surroundings. The colosseum felt like it was an assimilation of the second floor¡¯s colosseum and the third floor¡¯s dome. This arena didn¡¯t have an audience seat. Contrary to what appeared on the outside, the arena was half dome. Bubbling hot lava filled the other half. James walked as he admired the scenery. Then, his eye caught sight of not just one but two treasure chests in the corner of the room. James was about to approach it. But he stopped himself when the earth trembled as the lava bubbled up menacingly. A fin, much thinner than a shark¡¯s and looked like it was made from bat¡¯s wings with several bony structures, emerged from the pool of lava far away. Then, a lava komodo, similar to the komodos he had faced before ,but much, much larger appeared. It towered a good ten meters above James. The monster looked at James as if he was a puny cockroach, ready to be stepped on. James looked at the lizard in a daze. ¡°Well, this is not my first time fighting a gigantic monster. Let¡¯s see how this lizard compares to the wolf.¡± As soon as James said that, a wave of Lava spewed from Komodo¡¯s mouth. It covered the entirety of James¡¯ vision. However, James was ready. A dome of ice soon emerged and protected him from the fiery lava spewed by the giant Komodo. James raised his eyebrows when he saw the ice crack. But it already did its duty. The Komodo stopped its lava attack. ¡°My magic had slowed down, and it was getting more tiresome than usual¡­¡± James pondered whether the golem core was worth it. It was not a huge amount by any means. But noticeable. James bit the wooden arrow from his crossbow bolt. Purple liquid started to seep into the bolt. James had never tested this poison to any monsters and was curious about its effect. Golden glow emanated from his crossbow as he aimed for the lizard. The lizard was huge, James didn¡¯t need any sort of aiming to hit it. The lizard let out a shrill cry as the golden meteor went straight inside it. The cowardly lizard went right inside the lava at the first sign it was attacked. James shrugged his shoulders at the lizard. James was this boss¡¯s Natural predator. If it was other survivors, they would need to cover themselves with other magic or tower shields to shield against its wide area attack. However, James had perfect magic against it. Earth Principle works, too, but Ice was definitely the best. Then, there is the troublesome trait the boss had. Similar to the wolf on the second floor, it fled and sniped from a safe distance once it was harmed. Ordinary arrows and even spells would not have any effect once it was under lava. However, James had his poison ready. ¡°This was even easier than the wolves¡­¡± James started to yawn as the Komodo emerged from a distance and spit out lava. James immediately covered himself with an ice block. Then, as soon as the lava stopped spewing from its mouth, James shot his arrow at it. Komodo¡¯s scales were more resistant to physical attack than James¡¯s fur. Only his bow skill could penetrate it. However, James had all the time in the world. Like rhythm games, he shot his skills and blocked lava with his magic in concert. ¡°System¡­ the poison isn¡¯t working!¡± James complained as he shot the Komodo for the third time. It had been more than fifteen minutes, and the Komodo didn¡¯t show any signs of weakening. [Information classified.] ¡°What the hell. I regret switching them now.¡± James sighed. However, the poison was working. The komodo was simply too big for the poison to take it out in one round. James felt he had applied tons of poison to it. However, dosage doesn¡¯t matter. The poison will damage the Komodo in a steady manner no matter how many dosages are applied to it. After an hour of shooting the lizard whenever it came out, it emerged once again. James was already aiming his crossbow at it. But the lizard didn¡¯t show any signs of wanting to spew its lava to him. It merely floated with its belly up. James tilted his head, but before he could ask any question, the System had already answered him. [Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 27! You have earned 40 coins] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 27 Coins: 350 Stats: STR: 100 (up 6) Dex: 95 (up 4) Magic: 44 (up 6) Mana: 600 (up 40) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: ¡°Hmm? Why can¡¯t I plunder the Komodo¡¯s corpse?¡± James waited expectantly for the System to tell him what part he could plunder. However, the notifications never came. [You need to be at least within 10 meters from the corpse for chimera skill to work.] ¡°This skill is less useful than I thought.¡± James pondered. After pondering for a while, James had an idea. He made a rope with his spider silk, and then, with a crossbow bolt, he tied one end to the string and shot it toward the corpse. After the arrow stuck to the corpse, he pulled the string like a fisherman fishing a whale. The corpse glided easily on the lava pool. It soon stopped as it ran aground. James finally realized how huge his catch was. The komodo only looked as small as the wolf because it was prone. However, this creature¡¯s width was more than three alpha wolves long. About two or three school busses long. The notification James had been waiting for finally appeared. [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] ¡°Wow, it¡¯s scale was better than I thought¡­¡± James looked at his haul. It was a no-brainer to install the scales. Now, his gaze switched to the two chests that stood at the corner of the dome. Chapter 24: Last Portal [installing] Dark motes of light soon integrate the huge corpse of the komodo to itself. Then, the light swirled around James. His skin transformed. His fur was shed and dark scales covered his skin. James had stayed further from humanity. Nevertheless, James resolved himself for the change. He didn¡¯t want the status quo any longer. He wanted to change and power. He wanted to fit into this world. He rubbed his own body, feeling the itch in some parts of his new scales. After getting the hang of his new scales, it was time for the treasure chest. As always, James opened the lid from far away using his spider web, wary of another trap that might cleverly be hidden inside. Of course, no traps sprung up. Inside the chest lay an iron arm. Its feature was like humans, except it was fully clad in iron. [Golem arm of Valhalla: Made by an ancient mage who desires eternal life. He thought he would be granted eternal life by replacing all of his organs with that of a golem. Regardless, nothing could replace his brain, and once he passed away, his golem parts were scattered across the world. STR+30%, Physical Resistance +30%, negative trait: Repairable, Mana -200] [Congratulations, you have obtained a golem arm. Would you like to install it?] ¡°Ugh.. another mana penalty. But the stats were ridiculous, ¡°James pondered. He might look like he was pondering, but deep down, he already made a decision. [installing] The change was immediate. James was amazed. He could still sense his right arm even though it was supposed to be all iron. James grasped with his new hand. He then opened and closed his new limb. It felt natural, as if his old hand had returned. When he held on to his trusty axe, it felt so much lighter, as if it were made of plastic in his new hand. ¡°Now, the other chest!¡± James walked away after he attached his spider silk to the chest. The chest opened quietly. No traps were sprung. Inside the chest was a disgusting mask made of flesh and a mirror. James asked The System, and it confirmed that it was just an ordinary mirror. The mirror reflected a scaly beast, like that of a fantasy monster¡¯s lizardman. Dark scales covered his head, and all of his hair fell out. A fang jutted out from his molar when James opened his mouth. [mask of identity: Made by a researcher whose face was ruined in a fire. The mask will show your true face without blemish.] James tried on the mask, the fleshy bits of the mask soon enveloped his head. After a while, James inspected the mirror. ¡°My face¡­¡± James muttered. Tears inadvertently leaked out from his face. The mask perfectly replicated his face. James realized. In his pursuit of power, he might have forgotten something important. His humanity. The mirror and the mask reminded him of that. ¡°System. Repair my backpack, please.¡± James decided to throw away the water pouch. As long as he kept his water core and daggers, he would never need to worry about water. [10 coins deducted. Your leather bag has now been repaired.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 27 Coins: 340 Stats: STR: 100 Dex: 95 Magic: 44 Mana: 600 Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: James stuffed the mask and the mirror on his backpack and gazed at the golden portal that had been there for a while. After a few short breaths he approached the portal. ¡°This is the last floor, right?¡± [Yes. If you clear this floor, you and the rest of the survivors will clear the Dungeon trial. Everyone will be transferred back to Earth at the same coordinates as you transferred before. If the place is not available, you will be transferred to the nearest coordinate. Goodluck Survivor James] ¡°Thank you.¡± James smiled. He first thought The system as some emotionless AI. However, he somehow could sense emotions from it lately. He could feel that The System was cheering him on. It wanted James to clear the trial. James gathered his resolve before the portal. ¡°After this, I will be back on earth.¡± He chanted before putting his hand before the golden glow. [Do you wish to go to the fifth floor? You may not return to the previous floor. y/n] ¡°Yes!¡± James was pulled into the portal. The familiar white room soon followed with the same notification that he had to wait. James sat down. He no longer viewed this white room as dull but comfortable. He felt he could relax in this room. Alas, he was not allowed to be in this room for he was transported to the next floor. An expanse of mountain with a clear single path to the peak stretched before his eyes. James grabbed his crossbow, ready to shoot anything that moves. But not even birds came. The mountains he was on was so tall that clouds gathered below him it was a spectacular view. James looked around as he went into the path. There were no winding roads. Only a single path lay before him. At the peak, an angel dropped from the sky and landed several meters away from him. Its white wing belied its dark armor. James wondered how that angel could fly with such heavy armor. From the top of his head, to the tip of its toes, metal armor padded his body. A black shield and sword were on his hands. James looked at him in awe. James was dressed like a beginner in MMORPG while this angel looked like a premium player who played 30 hours a day for 3 years straight. The Angel held the sword uptight. A golden glow shone on the perimeter of the circular plate James stood on. Then, the circular plate floated to the sky. James was taken aback. Panic suddenly surged as he realized he had nowhere to run. However, when he looked at the black-armored angel, he understood. This is a duel. ¡°Alright. Let us begin!¡± James rushed in with his axe. The angel followed suit. He charged with his shield. James¡¯ axe glowed golden as he unleashed his axe skill, weapon strike. His eyes widened when he saw the round shield similarly glowed golden. Both skills clashed. Thanks to James¡¯ new arm, the angel was pushed back. While it lost the skill clash, it counterattacked sooner with its sword. James barely parried it as he jumped back from the exchange. ¡°Shields have weapon skills too?¡± James cursed. He thought only weapons had mastery skills. Moreover, James realized that shields had a massive advantage over other skills. Even when it lost the skill exchange, it kept the angel¡¯s posture stable, making counterattacks easier. James lunged at the angel. This time, he unleashed a stab toward him. The winged monster easily shielded himself from his strike, but James had a plan. His experience might be short, but he was resourceful. He slammed the angel with his shoulder. But the angel didn¡¯t relent. ¡°Just die already!¡± A golden glow gathered on James¡¯ sword. With an upward slash, James leaped as the blade arched upwards. It traced a line on the angel¡¯s armor, knocking it back. James winced. He thought none could beat a sword skill. However, he had been proven wrong again. Although multiple cracks formed around the armor, it clearly held against James¡¯ sword skill. A golden glow roused from his sword. The armored wing monster was getting impatient. James smirked and met the skill head-on. The axe and the sword collided as a shockwave blew away all the dust on the circular plate. The battle of the two gladiators was at its peak. James clenched his teeth as this particular clash reminded him about Kouki. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate!¡± James slashed, and his axe suddenly turned back due to his own skill, aiming at the winged beast¡¯s head. Similarly, the angel also curved his own slash. The sword turned and aimed at James¡¯ torso. Both didn¡¯t hesitate. James thought they would die a mutual death. Just by the slightest margin, his skill clashed with the angel¡¯s armor first. An explosion resounded in the sky-high arena as the winged knight were blown away. ¡°I won?¡± Adrenaline covered his pain for a moment, but James gradually felt pain on his flank. Further observation revealed that the angel had torn through his leather armor and slit open the side of his stomach. It even went through his new scales. The wound wasn¡¯t fatal, but James shuddered. If he was late by even a fraction of a second, he would have lost his bottom half. ¡°Shit! Angel my ass. Demons were more suitable.¡± James cursed as he looked at the angel. The armor had cracked and slowly peeled off from its body. A black eye with a yellow iris glared at James. The angel shook his body, peeling off the remainder of its armor. Purple skin covered its ripped abs. The angel discarded his helmet. The purple skin, long ears, and lidless eyes on his head made him look like a demon from hell. The angel¡­ no. The demons growled as he looked at James with hatred. James readied his axe. However, contrary to James¡¯ expectations, the demon flew away. ¡°Huh?¡± James was stunned for a few moments before grabbing his crossbow. He had no time to bite on its bolt. Golden glow gathered on the crossbow, and the meteor soon chased after the beast. The demon veered off to its right, and the golden meteor missed its mark. ¡°Now what¡­¡± James looked at the boss, puzzled. The circular plate he stood on soon shone. Multiple cracks emerged from it as rocks floated in the sky. ¡°What the heck?¡± James took flight. The circular metal cracked, and piece by piece, it fell to the ground. James didn¡¯t realize, but he had flown over a thousand meters from the ground. Even with his enhanced status, James was sure he would die if he fell from this height. Luckily, this is a trial dungeon, The System did not give an unbeatable trial. Rocks, the size of a suitcase floated from the ground, marking a path forward. James was a gamer, he knew what he should do. If this was a game, he would jump to that floating platform without hesitation. However, this is real life. James hesitated. ¡°Damn it. I should trust my gamer instinct for now!¡± James took a leap of faith and hopped on the rock platform. The platform cracked, but James already took on the next leap. Like playing a platformer game, he hopped from one platform to the next. The path seemed to extend indefinitely. But it soon ended on a cliff. A statue of an angel clad in armor stood there while the demon kneel before it. James hopped on to the wide half circular plate. He looked at the angel and mocked him. ¡°Hmm? How narcissistic can you be for worshiping your own statue?¡± James looked at the statue. He then smirked as the statue resembled him. However, the inside was completely rotten. He was reminded once again. Many people were like this angel. They appeared courageous, honorable, and cool on the outside. However, when he peered inside, he could only find a rotten heart. Looking at the angel brought him that sort of feeling. ¡°HARRGH!! !@$^#)@!¡± The angel roared as indescribable language spewed out from his mouth. James didn¡¯t need to understand him to know that he was cursing him. The demon roared, displaying the serrated teeth. He growled and readied his shield and sword. This time, he didn¡¯t wear them like an honored knight from before. This time, he wore it with the intention of killing James. James nodded. With a similar howl, James roared at the demons. The two monsters then clashed once again. This time, no one backed down. Chapter 25: New Earth The demon howled. James had seen many creatures howled before. However, this time, echoes of mana came with it. The wind began to blow so hard that James instinctively shielded himself with his new arm. Something clanked against his metal arm and axe as his leather armor began to rip bit by bit. ¡°What the¡­ Was that magic?¡± James muttered as he saw the damage his armor received. The creature followed his howl with a lunge. Golden light shone from his sword. James followed with his axe. His [Powerstrike] sent the demon flying. James followed with a thrust of his sword, which grazed his shoulder before he managed to parry it with his shield. Axe was parried with a shield. Longsword was parried with a sword. James and the demons dueled with all of their might. James felt his core blazed as he felt the heat from his soul. He was fighting with his life on the line, similar to the demon before him. The demon was an angel that fell and was cursed by the gods. He dreamt of one day surpassing the gods. He gathered his own worshipper, collecting their faith. But the gods noticed. As punishment, the land shook. His faithful believer was incinerated by fires from heaven and now, all that remained was his statue. Instead of repenting, he became his own worshipper, clinging to the pride he once had. He stood on the circular plate, reminiscing the days where he had all the glory as his statue remained untouched by the gods.. James had the upper hand. Thanks to his orc and golem arm, he pushed the demon back with every strike, forcing him into defense. ¡°Die!!¡± an axe lunged toward his face. James smirked as victory was within his grasp. However, the demons suddenly zipped away to the back. Letting James¡¯ axe crack the floor. ¡°Damnit, using your wings is cheating!¡± James cursed. But the demon didn¡¯t care. He flew away As his lips curved, showing his white fangs. Swirls of green mana soon gathered on his sword. Blades made of wind mana soon homed into James. ¡°Damnit!¡± James put up his ice barrier, but it soon shattered. Like a frightened rabbit, he leaped away. Thanks to his mana eyes, he could see where those wind blades would land. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet, you thrash!¡± James bit a crossbow bolt as he mustered his magic. Ice spears flew toward the demons. The demons easily swatted it away with his shield and sword. However, there is something that he couldn¡¯t block. Mind magic went past through his shield and hit him directly in the brain. ¡°GRYAA!¡± A shrill scream echoed. Mind magic did not cause any damage. It wasn¡¯t effective against golem, but it was particularly fatal against flying enemies, for it disrupted their flight capabilities. The demon didn¡¯t fall, but he swayed around, trying to shake off the uncomfortable pain that assaulted him. James took that exact moment to launch a fatal strike. Golden glow, shot through the sky as it homed into the demon. A brief moment of confusion was all James needed to deliver a fatal blow. When he saw the golden comet approaching him, he raised his shield instinctively. Even though the shield was made of metal, the crossbow bolt still penetrated through it. All thanks to the power of the skill. Nevertheless, it didn¡¯t penetrate all the way through. James cursed as he saw his arrow stuck halfway through his wound iron shield. But the angel waisted a scream. The bolt hit his arm. The new poison soon entered his system. The winged monster soon fell into panic. With his weakened state, he could not hope to win against the desecrator of his shrine. However, he couldn¡¯t fly endlessly either. James would shoot him again. He was proficient in both melee and ranged battle. He wanted to flee, but his life¡¯s work¡ªhis shrine¡ªwas here. He couldn¡¯t leave it alone. That beast would surely destroy it. And true to his thoughts. James walked nearer to the statue. The angel rushed in with his sword and shield. He would not let anyone desecrate him. His pride was the only thing he had left after the purge by the gods. James was ready. Golden glow shone from both the demon¡¯s sword and James¡¯ axe. As the two skills collided, a shockwave spread out in the arena. The plate trembled as both monsters were unrelenting in their faith. For the second time, James saw his skill stopped. James and the angel had similar strengths. James had more, but the lunge and determination the demon had managed to close in the gap. Two golden meteors ground at each other. James feared for the worst when he saw fine lines spread out from the blade of his axe. Luck was on his side, for his axe held on. James managed to finish his slash before his axe shattered.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The demon was pushed back, and James was ready with his sword skill. He tried to defend himself with his shield, but it was futile; James was too close. Another golden meteor shot up from below. James leaped upward as his longsword carved a path on the demon¡¯s body. The winged monster was blown back and crashed into his own statue. The weathered stone crumbled, rock and debris buried the demon as he breathed his last. [Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 30! You have earned 100 coins] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: male Levels: 30 Coins: 450 Stats: STR: 108 (up 8) Dex: 102 (up 7) Magic: 53 (up 9) Mana: 660 (up 60) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? y/n] [Available body part: ] [You have completed the trial dungeon. Congratulations. You and three other survivors have triumphed. A reward of 1600 coins will be split among the remaining survivors. You have earned 400 coins. Further rewards called the cloak of the dark night will be given to all survivors.] [A golden orb will be summoned nearby. Please touch the orb if you wish to exit the trial dungeon. All survivors will be teleported back to Earth as soon as you touch the orb.] A golden orb spawned beside James. James winced when he saw the system notifications about the rewards. Even though he did all the work, why would that boy and his harem get the same reward? It reminded him of his boss, who was praised and got a promotion because of James¡¯ and his coworker¡¯s work. James ignored those notifications. He couldn¡¯t change how the system worked, so he could only look forward to the fallen angel¡¯s corpse. The fallen angel had a wind mana core. A brief glance showed that this mana core was slightly superior to his ice mana core. However, the spell it had was rather lackluster. While the name was lackluster, James had seen how it worked firsthand. The wind gust spell was mediocre. It would not work unless he had the wing. To obtain the wing, he had to abandon either his spinneret or mana core. However, the windblade was something else. James wondered if he could use it on his sword and axe. That would offer a decent advantage over his enemies compared to the ice spears he currently had. As James was still pondering his decision, a system notification popped up. [Survivor Kaina has touched the orb. All survivors will be transported to the white room and returned back to Earth momentarily. Trial dungeons number 1204, 1307, and 1195 have been successfully cleared.] ¡°Huh? What do you mean transported? I am not finished yet!!¡± White light enveloped James, leaving the fallen angel¡¯s corpse behind. As always, His indecision caused the others to make the decision for him. Luckily, the system acknowledged his leather bag and transferred it with him. Inside the white room, James met Kouki, Kaina, and John. James didn¡¯t know them yet. However, he couldn¡¯t hold out his anger and frustration. Not only did they take coins from him, but they also took his chance to plunder that angel¡¯s mana core. ¡°What the fuck are you doing? I was still deciding what to plunder from that corpse!¡± James shouted. ¡°Hieek!¡± The girl jumped and took cover behind the boy. The boy grabbed his sword, but he didn¡¯t unsheathe it. After a while, the boy dropped to the ground and kowtowed. ¡°I am sorry for attacking you!¡± Seeing the boy do a dogeza, the girl and the man followed suit. ¡°I am sorry, too. I thought you were monsters.¡± James was still fuming, but his anger wasn¡¯t strong enough to make him want to kill them. He took several deep breaths before trying to regain his calm. He noticed his leather bag and decided to put on the mask inside it. His scaly head of an orc soon reverted back to the boring office employee. James caressed his face. It was weird seeing the muscular and tall body of a scaly orc but a normal head of a human. A black cloak soon enveloped him. [Cloak of Dark Night: Cloak made by researchers in preparation to travel in a scorching desert. Whether you are inside a desert, on top of a mountain, or snowy region, the cloak will keep you comfortable unless it is damaged] ¡°Alright. I think I look somewhat normal now. Yes. I am a survivor. My name is James. As for your previous attack, I have decided to forgive you. I also apologized in return for the injuries I had caused. I didn¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t stop at that time. I suppose you have bought a health potion to cure that wound?¡± ¡°Yes. I am healthy now. It sure was painful, though. I thought I would die for sure once I fell into that lava,¡± Kouki stood up and offered his hand for a shake. James¡¯ golem arm shook his hand. He, once again, was reminded that he had changed. ¡°Hmm? I thought there were 5 people who attacked me. Where are they?¡± ¡°Matra and Denver died because of a monster attack after they tried to run away from you. A lizard at them.¡± Kouki gave a sad look before shaking his head. ¡°Ah, I am Kouki, by the way.¡± ¡°I am Kaina. Thank you for clearing the floor for us. I couldn¡¯t wait to go home.¡± ¡°I am John. Once again, thank you for saving us. I am sorry. I saw you on the second floor. I thought you were a monster.¡± John kowtowed alongside Kouki before the group stood up. [Transfer complete. You will be returned to your world in a moment] ¡°See you.¡± James waved. a soft smile formed on his lips. It was something that couldn¡¯t be done using his monster form. James was thankful to the system for giving him his old face back. White light gathered around James, Kouki, Kaina, and John. Soon, James returned back to the park. ¡°So many people¡­¡± James was taken aback. The park he was in now was filled with tents, hundreds of them. He thought he was transferred to a different place, but the disgusting white building from his old workplace was still within view. Hiding his body, he soon walked to his apartment. He usually rode a bus, but since he had no money, he had to walk. ¡°Excuse me, what date is today?¡± James asked. ¡°It¡¯s February fifteenth.¡± The man looked at James and left. The new information left him agape. James had been inside the dungeon for 2 months! The landlord would throw away all of his goods if he didn¡¯t pay his rent for more than three months. ¡°Damn it. My computer and spare cell phone were there. My wallet, too. At least, let me save my family¡¯s photo.¡± James dashed through with his sahuagin foot. James began to run toward his apartment, unaware of what had transpired on Earth. Thanks to his new stats, James could run faster than a car. However, no matter how fast he went, it was already too late. Chapter 26: New World James dashed through the building. All streets were full of people and housed more tents. James wondered where all the cars had gone and why these streets were full of people. However, his house came first. He surmised that these people had become homeless due to system trials upon this world. Thanks to his new stats, even the four-kilometer bus ride seemed close, like a walk in the park. James saw people sleeping in tents all over the streets. James looked over at his apartment door. The five-year-old Christmas decoration that he had used on the door was gone. James put his keys inside the doorknob and turned it. However, it wouldn¡¯t budge. James only had a single key to his apartment, so there was no way he could have gotten the wrong key. A rustle came from inside the door¡ªsomething that was supposed to be impossible for James, who lived alone. The door soon opened, revealing a man James didn¡¯t know. James could only be left agape at the situation. ¡°Excuse me, may I know who you are? This room is occupied. I and three other families live here,¡± the unknown man answered. ¡°The limit was supposed to be three months! How could he sell my room to others without consulting me?¡± James muttered in disbelief. He then looked at the man. ¡°Umm¡­ I am sorry, but I am the previous resident here¡­¡± ¡°Previous resident? Landlord Franklin said the previous tenant didn¡¯t pay rent. Look, I don¡¯t know what your problem is. Everyone has been through shit right now. This room is full. I suggest you find another room or go and sleep on the street like most people are.¡± ¡°No! What about my things? My photo, my degree, my laptop! How am I supposed to find work without that?¡± James was not the sharpest tool in the shed as panic ran through his head. He had been planning to move out from this room and probably find cheaper rent somewhere in the suburbs when he was trapped in the dungeon. However, fate ran another course. Nothing had ever gone according to James¡¯ plan. ¡°This room was empty when we moved in. I didn¡¯t touch your stuff. Please ask Franklin about that. I need to figure out my shit too. The whole world has gone through shit. Half of all the people in the world suddenly became homeless¡ªnot just you, my man. But I lost my job too. Only that prick landlord, Franklin, got all the luck. He got triple the rent,¡± the unknown man sighed. After patting James on the shoulder, he closed the door. James could only stare at the door in a daze. His soul had left him. After a few minutes of staring at the door, his gaze turned to the building next to it¡ªto where his former landlord lived. James found his steps were light and his heart calm. However, an ember of fury lit up inside. With every step closer to Franklin¡¯s house, the ember burned brighter and brighter until it raged deep inside his heart. His fist inadvertently pounded the door to Franklin¡¯s home. He only stopped when he saw cracks forming around the door. His new stats came with dexterity, so he should have been able to control his power without any problem. Yet, he still damaged the door. ¡°What¡¯s with that racket? All of our rooms are full!¡± The greedy landlord swung the door open as he brought a shotgun with him, only to find James towering over him. However, just because James was taller didn¡¯t mean he would back down. He said, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Where are my things? The contract said I should still have one month of leeway. I haven¡¯t even gotten my eviction notice yet!¡± James tried to contain his fury, but his rising tone proved that he had failed. ¡°Huh? What things? Of course, I threw them away. No pay, no room. Get lost! Don¡¯t you know how many thugs I had to chase out today? Besides, I doubt you could even pay for your room with your staff salary. The rent has increased since the new year.¡± The bald, half-naked man shooed James away. The fact that he knew about James being a staff member proved that he remembered James. ¡°I see. So you threw away my things. Even though I was never late to pay for the last ten years, you dare just toss me away!¡± James swung his golem arm at the door. The door shattered like it was made of candy. The black cloak James wore swayed at his sudden movement.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± Franklin¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the scales attached to James¡¯ left arm. He inadvertently raised his shotgun and pulled the trigger. An explosion rang from the gun barrel, and a clunking sound from a falling cartridge soon followed. Silence suddenly filled the room as James felt a pricking pain in his body. James looked at his leather armor. He saw a new hole that was filled by a flattened bullet. James glared at Franklin. The realization that Franklin was ready to kill him surged at once. ¡°You dare!?¡± James roared. He then raised his hand overhead and swiped the gun from the bald man. The helpless old man could only run inside, but it was futile¡ªthere was nowhere to escape. ¡°M-m-monster!¡± he shrieked as Franklin¡¯s wife and son came into view. James grinned as he saw the fear on his face. His heart leaped in joy as he saw his nemesis suffer. Finally, the debt was due. This evil man would pay for all the suffering he had caused others. ¡°Aarrgh!¡± Franklin¡¯s cries echoed through the building. James had stepped on his leg, and it let out a satisfying crack. James smiled at the realization of how easy it was for him to avenge his grudge. He was no longer a pushover. He was now the new tyrant. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t kill me. You can take anything you want. I have money.¡± Franklin started to cry for real as he held his broken leg. ¡°Begging for mercy? Do you think I want your filthy money?¡± James smirked as he hung Franklin on his arm like one grabbing a piece of cloth. James¡¯s stats allowed him to lift Franklin with just one arm, and he didn¡¯t even need to try. With just a light grasp, Franklin¡¯s arm let out another crack as another scream rang through the house. ¡°Monster! Release my daddy!¡± The ten-year-old boy threw kitchen utensils at James. ¡°Monster? No¡­ this is the monster!¡± James stepped on the bald man¡¯s back, and it let out another crack. This time, no scream was heard. Franklin let out a grunt as blood seeped from his mouth. Soon, his life was reaped away. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± Two policemen came to the scene of the murder. Seeing the humongous James stepping on a bleeding man with his scaly feet sent them reaching for their guns. ¡°Hostile alien!¡± Several gunshots rang from their pistols, pricking James like BB pellets to a person. ¡°Get lost!¡± Ice spears formed around James and flew, aiming above their heads. The shock of actually killing a person still weighed heavily on James. So, he missed his shot subconsciously. ¡°Uwaa!¡± The two policemen leaped out of the room and hastily called for backup. James¡¯ bad habit peeked out again. He hesitated. He gazed upon the lifeless body and the crying mother and son. Like before, he chose the most obvious thing to do. He escaped. He leaped out from the fourth-floor balcony of the ten-story building and landed on his sahuagin feet. The black asphalt cracked as his feet slammed the ground. Sirens from policemen began blaring as the backup from the fleeing officers earlier reached them. The blue officers used a nearby concrete fence as a shield as they pointed their guns at James. The siren came from one of the policemen, not cars, as they were unusable right now. James glared at them, again with hesitation. His subconsciousness as a human feared the gun even though he had proven that they were ineffective against him. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want to kill them, so James had a staring contest with the cops for a while before he decided to move. The cops reacted with gunshots. The bullet felt like a BB gun on his head. However, its power was enough to damage the mask James wore, reverting its magical power. The face James wore turned into a fleshy mask as a hole poked through the mask on the side of his forehead. [Mask damaged. Would you like to repair your axe, leather armor, and mask for 50 coins?] ¡°Later.¡± James put the mask in his bag and started running outside. Thanks to the crowded street, James, who was as fast as a speeding car, could evade police chases easily. James didn¡¯t have a plan. He didn¡¯t know where he had run off to. All he knew was that he had to get away from them¡ªbut where? James stopped as he saw a translucent wall before the cemetery. The wall was clearly not from this world. It was definitely made by the system. When he touched it, a system notification appeared. [Dungeon name: cf1590 Dungeon level: Medium Survivors: 0/10 Would you like to enter? Y/N] ¡°System. What is this?¡± James wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed. He realized that. That¡¯s why he never hesitated to ask, and the system answered him dutifully. [The world has undergone a trial. Numerous dungeons have spread around the city, blocking paths or blocking homes. It¡¯s up to you to clear the dungeons and free the world.] James wondered as memories from before he was summoned began to resurface. He remembered that the world would undergo a trial. And the dungeon trial that had almost killed him over and over was at a novice level. ¡°I see. The trial was to take houses, hospitals, and other facilities and turn them into dungeons. Then, you made the survivors fight inside the dungeon to free it.¡± James nodded. He then pulled his hand away from the translucent wall. He was grateful the system asked for confirmation before sending him in willy-nilly. [Roughly correct. But we didn¡¯t turn those facilities into dungeons. The dungeon inside the wall might be completely different from its outside appearance.] ¡°I see. This is the perfect place to hide. But I won¡¯t enter a medium-level dungeon. Find me a novice-level dungeon.¡± [Information classified. Please find such a dungeon yourself.] ¡°That¡¯s the first time on Earth you¡¯ve said ¡®information classified.¡¯ Heh.¡± James smirked. However, time was running short. Helicopters started flooding James¡¯ position with their floodlights as the missile boxes opened below them, aiming at him. James dashed as he ran into another building. Two sidewinder missiles shot out with a burst of flame. Explosions rang behind James as heat seared his leather armor. Two machine guns zeroed in on him. They started spitting out bullets. The ground lit up like fireworks. Many hit James right on the legs and torso. However, it was still too weak to kill him. It was merely a flesh wound. James continued to run before he rammed himself into another invisible wall. [Dungeon name: cf1902 Dungeon level: Novice Survivors: 0/5 Would you like to enter? Y/N] ¡°Yes!¡± White light flashed from the wall as James was sucked into a familiar white room. Chapter 27: New Beginning Chapter 27: New Beginning The white room soon turned into an endless corridor of abandoned buildings. However, none of the scenery entered James¡¯ eyes as he thought about what had happened today. He had killed a man, then cops chased him all over the street. They brought guns and even missiles from a helicopter to chase him down. ¡°I am screwed. I am no longer accepted by them,¡± James said. After the adrenaline and rage he felt against Franklin wore off, the stinging pain from his back started to bother him. ¡°System, how many coins do I have?¡± [You currently have 450 coins remaining.] ¡°All right, how much do I need to fix my weapon again?¡± [You would need 60 coins to fix your leather armor, war axe, and your mask.] ¡°All right. Do it.¡± James nodded. He took a few deep breaths before the pulsating pain surged in again. [Reparation complete.] ¡°Do I need a health potion for my back?¡° James didn¡¯t expect the system to answer him for that question. However, the system actually answered. Moreover, it answered extensively. [The bleeding has stopped. You do not need any health potion for survival needs. However, slight discomfort and pain might persist until two days later; using health potions now will remove the discomfort and the pain in ten minutes.] ¡°No need then. That thing costs 100 bucks,¡± James muttered. As if on cue, squeaking noises resounded in the dimly lit corridors. He turned to find a humongous rat glaring at him. Its red eyes were menacing. However, James, who had faced countless monsters, including the alpha wolf, didn¡¯t even spare it another glance. ¡°What do you want? I am busy. Get lost,¡± James snarled. The rat was a monster. It didn¡¯t care about James¡¯s feelings. An enormous hatred surged within the rat when their eyes met. It charged, baring its two pairs of incisors at James, ready to gnaw at his neck. ¡°I said I am busy! Asshole!¡± James held its snout with his iron arm. The razor-sharp teeth were inches away from his face. He then slammed its snouty face into the wall. The wall cracked under James¡¯s rage and power. As the bloody rat breathed its last, a notification appeared before James. [Available body part: Giant rat''s fur (skin slot) Giant rat''s tail (extra slot) Giant rat''s incisors (STR +10%) (mouth slot)] [You have earned 5 coins. Your remaining coins are now 405 coins.] James kicked the body aside. As he was about to throw the corpse away, his stomach growled. After another curse, he drew his Waterspout Dagger and skinned the rat, taking its meat and heart. Only after he skinned the rat and took out its heart did he raise a question. ¡°System, can I use Chimera to take its meat out?¡± [Your current Chimera level is too low for that. The current level only allows you to improve yourself. It cannot be used to butcher animals for their parts.] The system didn¡¯t explain further. James was aware that further questions would give him the usual ¡°information classified¡± response from the system. So, he could only grudgingly skin and split apart its corpse. Thankfully, he had everything he needed¡ªfrom an axe, a longsword, and a dagger. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. James had never cut meat from an animal before, so his work was rough. But with a rat the size of a cow, even its legs were enough to last James for two days. After washing himself and the meat with water from his dagger, James continued his journey. ¡°Hmm¡­ 1000 coins¡­ that¡¯s going to be tough for a novice dungeon, isn¡¯t it?¡± [Information classified] ¡°I missed that remark already!¡± James chuckled. He then pondered in the corridors. Unlike the medieval look the trial dungeon had, these alleyways looked like they were from the modern era. ¡°How many floors does this dungeon have?¡± [This dungeon has 10 floors in total.] ¡°What? That¡¯s double from the previous!¡± [That is correct.] ¡°Is this really a novice dungeon?¡± [This dungeon is classified as a novice-level dungeon. Its exact difficulty compared to trial dungeons is classified information.] James shuddered at the system. He was getting good at catching where the system might lie. And this time, he sensed it was lying. James walked about, his steps getting heavier as his footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. Squeaking sounds sometimes mixed in with the echo, adding to the eerie atmosphere of an abandoned building. Footsteps, unlike James¡¯s, were heard. However, since they echoed, James didn¡¯t know how far the enemy was. One thing was for sure¡ªthose footsteps didn¡¯t sound like they came from rats. The flickering light bulbs revealed a shadow at the end of the corridor. James held his axe at the ready. The shadow revealed a bipedal monster. The beast squeaked, its grey fur dirty as some kind of scraped leather armor adorned it. It wielded a sword in its left hand. ¡°So, this is a rat floor? First an actual rat, and now a ratman?¡± James muttered. As if James had insulted its mother, the ratman charged with its sword. James drew his axe and kept his sword on his back. He thought he would kill it with a single swing, only to be surprised moments later when its sword began shining golden. ¡°What the fu¡­¡± James leaped to the side, only to realize moments later that this corridor was too narrow for any meaningful evasion. James cursed as he made the mistake he had sworn not to make¡ªparrying a weapon skill without one. James braced himself for the impact as his axe clashed with the beast monster¡¯s sword. James knew weapon skills would hit hard; he didn¡¯t fight against it. Learning from Kouki, who slid his sword against James when they fought on the fifth floor, James tried to do the same. However, James wasn¡¯t as proficient as him, and he used an axe, not a sword. The axe slid out from his arm as James and the rat monster passed each other. James realized that he had taken one huge gamble with this maneuver. If the beast had used a two-hit strike instead of one, James would be finished. Thankfully, James won this gamble. The golden sword didn¡¯t curve or chase after James. James reached out for his sword on his back. The ratman turned around only to find a blade entering its throat. James¡¯s stats were much higher than the ratman¡¯s¡ªit had lost the moment James survived the sword skill. James didn¡¯t stop. He grabbed his dagger with his golem arm and stabbed the furry beast right in the eye. It soon breathed its last as life faded from its eyes. [Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 31! You have earned 10 coins and an unknown key.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 31 Coins: 415] Stats: STR: 110 (up 2) DEX: 105 (up 3) Magic: 56 (up 3) Mana: 680 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? Y/N] [Available body parts: James breathed a sigh, knowing the beast had died for sure. His heart almost leaped out of his ribcage when the ratman used a sword skill. He hadn¡¯t expected a sword skill to be used by mobs on the first floor of a novice-level dungeon. The beast parts were useless. However, the key was another matter entirely. ¡°System, it says ¡®unknown key.¡¯¡± The system didn¡¯t answer with the usual ¡®information classified¡¯ phrase. However, it answered with something similar. [It means it can unlock something.] ¡°And that something is classified?¡± [That is correct.] ¡°At least you tried.¡± James shrugged as he stuffed the key inside his bag. James was exhausted. He had been through a lot today and didn''t feel like exploring the labyrinth. So, he found a corner to hide in and slept. Thanks to the narrow corridor and the echoing footsteps, he should notice if there were any enemies nearby. James wondered whether time inside the labyrinth was slower than in the outside world. It truly didn¡¯t feel like two months had passed in that dungeon. Yet, it had. ¡°Am I going to live here for the rest of my life?¡± James pondered. The world had turned against him. He had changed so much that the only thing that could describe him was monster. He wondered whether it was all worth it. ¡°Maybe I should just level up and kill them all,¡± James whispered to himself. James recalled that bullets were no longer effective against him. The bullets from a machine gun could still wound him, but none of them were fatal wounds. If James leveled up just a bit more, could he face off even against tanks? The answer was yes. James knew it was possible, but he hesitated. As he drifted into the dream world, the memory of his mother resurfaced. His mother lay on her deathbed due to cancer. It was possible to cure it. However, due to the insurance company rejecting her plea, she died. Her words still rang in his head even today. ¡°Please be kind to others. Death is not the end. Live with hope, and you will have a future.¡± James had betrayed her words. He had tormented a man before his family and killed him in front of his son. Their horrified faces were imprinted on James¡¯ memory. He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to forget them. ¡°Am I a monster?¡± Chapter 28: Rats James woke up as stinging pain assaulted his back when he rolled over. The bleeding had indeed stopped, but the scabbing remained. James wondered if this was how snakes and lizards healed. It was no different from humans. Even worse, James already felt some itching on his back. James shouldered his bag and equipped his axe and longsword in his hands as he marched into the endless corridor. After venturing through the hallway mindlessly, he found a plastic door on the side. James stared at the door. Now that he had calmed down, silly questions like how he should open this door crept into his mind. Should he put his sword down on the ground and open it? Or should he put his sword on his back and open it? Or should he hold both weapons and open it? In the end, he chose to lean his sword against the wall and open the door. It was empty. James sighed and put the sword back on his back. ¡°Damnit, I am too cautious. An axe should be enough. As long as I am wary of weapon skills, it should be enough,¡± James said as he chuckled. At the end of the corridor was an office workspace. James didn¡¯t feel like he was venturing into a dungeon. The scenery reminded him of when he checked into the office even though it was supposed to be a holiday. What was different, though, were the rats. Small rats scurried along the building floor. As soon as they heard James¡¯ footsteps, they all scattered, squeezing into cracks they had made at the corners of the walls. James began looking for treasure boxes in the office space. He had almost given up before he saw a golden treasure chest hidden beside a sofa in the corner. The chest couldn¡¯t be moved, but the sofa could. However, a keyhole blocked his way to the treasure chest. James frowned. He hadn¡¯t found another locked chest since the first floor. ¡°Ugh¡­ I have to remember the path here again,¡± James muttered. The unknown key that he had gotten yesterday didn¡¯t fit the massive keyhole. After scavenging the office floor, opening every desk, and flipping every chair and sofa, he grudgingly left the room. ¡°At least we¡¯re not going blind anymore,¡± James smirked as his eyes landed on a silver plaque with the word ¡°TOILET¡± printed on it. James entered the alley leading to the toilet. The flickering lamp on the ceiling would make a perfect horror movie scene. It might as well be genuine, for this was a dungeon where monsters gathered. James tilted his head as he found the toilet spotless. Clean porcelain floors, dotted with blue waves like that of the sea, and white ceramics lining the walls like a horizon. Even though this dungeon was infested with rats, both humongous and small, James chuckled, realizing its bathroom was even cleaner than his old workplace¡¯s toilets. ¡°AARGGH!!¡± James shrieked as a shadow leaped out from the cabinet. James caught it with his orc hand as a pair of nasty, brown, smelly incisors were thrust toward his face. A rat the size of a dog lunged at him, scratching and biting his orc arm. ¡°Shit!¡± James chopped its head off with his axe. Brown goo splattered from its neck onto James¡¯ skin. A sudden, burning pain assaulted his hand. [Corrosion afflicted] ¡°System! What should I do with it?¡± James panicked as he saw part of his hand start to melt. He looked around, searching for another surprise before materializing water with his water magic, trying to wash it off. [The most effective method is to pour a health potion over it. The corrosion effect will last for two minutes regardless of how much water you wash it with. Since this corrosion effect will not be fatal, we would advise against buying health potions.] ¡°Wasn¡¯t I supposed to be immune to poison?¡± James cursed as the burning pain didn¡¯t recede even after he tried to rub it. [Corrosion effect is not included in the poison category.]If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Will I lose my hand?¡± [If you were afflicted by Corrosion for an extended amount of time, yes, you could lose your limb. To counter that, you should use health potions. This Corrosion is not strong enough to take your hand.] Trusting that the system would not lie, James sat down as he gritted his teeth. The corpse of the rat beast still leaked green blood as white smoke started to decompose its body. ¡°Ugh¡­ why isn¡¯t Chimera activated?¡± James asked, ¡°I am sure this is less than 5 meters¡­¡± [The body of Corats has been damaged by its own blood corrosion. No parts could be harvested.] ¡°Fuck! A running acid bomb!¡± James gasped as pain started to recede from his hand. He hated it when the system was right. As another minute passed, the pain had receded completely. He tried to grasp with his fingers¡ªhis hand worked just fine without pain. He sighed as his strong and scaly orc left hand was now disfigured. ¡°Will this impede the scale¡¯s effectiveness?¡± [The physical resistance on the disfigured hand has been reduced by 5%. To remedy this, you must drink a hematonic potion, and the scales will slowly regrow in five days. Would you like to drink a hematonic potion?] ¡°Forget it.¡± James sighed. Using his ice magic, he formed a shield in front of him before opening the bathroom stalls. James might not have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but he learned. This time, his caution bore fruit. The same rat, this time much fatter, leaped out from the toilet stalls. It bounced off the ice shield. James then skewered it with ice spears, and it literally exploded. Green goo spread everywhere as noxious fumes assaulted James¡¯s nostrils. ¡°Ugh¡­ this gas is not poisonous, right?¡± [The gas is safe to inhale. However, the green liquid will cause level 4 corrosion affliction for five minutes.] ¡°What was the corrosion level for the previous ones?¡± [The corrosion affliction for Corats is level 2.] ¡°Ugh. This one is double that one.¡± James winced and thanked the heavens for his cautious attitude. [The levels are not incremental increases. They are exponential. The corrosion effect for Boomrats is four times that of Corats.] ¡°Damn. That¡¯s lethal.¡± [If it sprayed on your head or torso, then yes, it might be lethal unless you bought two health potions. If it sprayed on your legs or hands, you might lose them. However, for Survivor James, if you use Chimera after being sprayed, the corrosion effect will be gone on the discarded body part.] James glanced at the system. He didn¡¯t think it would be so helpful. ¡°Thanks. Didn¡¯t think you would tell me that one.¡± After five minutes of waiting outside the bathroom stalls, he checked the remaining stalls and found a small treasure chest, the size of a palm, hidden behind the closet. [Congratulations. You have found 300 coins. Your total coins are now 715 coins. Would you like to upgrade your weapon?] ¡°What does a lightning enchantment look like?¡± [Information classified.] ¡°Figures. I¡¯m going to save my coins. I want to upgrade my Chimera skill,¡± James said. He didn¡¯t know whether the upgraded Chimera skill would do him any good¡ªit was all a gamble anyway. James looked at the brown sludge inside the bathroom and wondered. ¡°System, may I know how I can kill them safely and what organs I could plunder from these walking bombs?¡± [You can plunder their liver and blood system. As for how to kill them safely, that¡¯s classified information.] ¡°I see. Thank you anyway.¡± James was starting to get the hang of where the system drew the boundary. Just like when he faced the golem, the system answered that he could plunder its heart. James wanted that liver and blood. He knew they would be good organs to plunder. ¡°All right. Bathroom is done. Time to sleep!¡± James yawned as he lined up two sofas across from each other and cut off their armrests with his sword and axe. His body had gotten larger¡ªa single sofa was no longer enough for his bulky body. Now that James had nowhere to go, no place to call home, he wanted to explore this dungeon at a more leisurely pace. He didn¡¯t forget to entwine several chairs with spiderweb. He didn¡¯t have spider sense, but if someone were to disrupt these webs, it should knock some chairs over and wake him up. The next morning arrived, and James yawned. After having his breakfast¡ªa hearty set of rat legs¡ªhe soon ventured down other pathways. James chuckled as he saw thin white threads spreading from his left hand. This reminded him of his adventure in the trial dungeon on the second floor. The pathway he took this time led him to a door. However, unlike other cheap or luxurious doors made by burgeoning conglomerates, this door was made of solid steel. The round door was painted red as steel covered the entire wall. A little keyhole, fit for the unknown key, lay on its side. It felt like a bunker door. Yet somehow, it was locked only with a single key. it evoked a sense of uncanny valley within James. It felt off¡ªsomehow. James stared at the door. His experience in dungeon trials told him that this room was the place where the boss monster lived. However, this place was not a dungeon trial¡ªthere could be treasure inside. James had faced many boss monsters, and yet this one still gave him dread. His instinct told him not to open this door under any circumstances. ¡°Why am I chickening out now? If there is a boss, I will kill it and get massive EXP. If not, there is bound to be treasure inside. Sooner or later, I must open this door,¡± James said. He inserted the unknown key into the bunker door. The lock clicked open. James was about to open the bunker door, only for a sonic boom to blast through it, sending it flying outside. A screech, louder than James had ever heard, soon followed. James peeked inside the safe room, only to regret it moments later. An abomination. Rats scurried into a black hole. Hundreds of red eyes glared at James for disrupting their sleep. An amalgamation of rats fused into one single being. Rats were its cells, its organs, its very being. When it fused, it created a hive mind. It was one being, yet at the same time, it was many. Legion of Rats. Chapter 29: Interlude Four months after James¡¯s escape, news of survivors enduring the dungeon trial began circulating. Those who accepted the invitation were mostly outcasts in society¡ªcriminals in prison, those with huge debts, those who joined terrorist groups, and those who lived in war zones. They had received power. They were more ruthless than James. Unlike James, they didn¡¯t care about people¡¯s lives. Instead, they relished tormenting others. Thankfully, not many actually survived the dungeon trials. No matter what kind of training they had before, it couldn¡¯t prepare them for what was to come. Moreover, unlike James, normal bullets and weaponry could still injure them. Thankfully, not all survivors who escaped the hell known as dungeon trials were like that. Dungeon trials were easier if you cooperated with others, and not all survivors were evil. Similar to Kouki, there were those among the outcasts who wished to become heroes or help others. Since their power could no longer be ignored, governments began promoting them instead. The trial of the world was too sudden¡ªdungeons began popping up around the world. They took the land and transported the residents to the remaining areas. Many facilities, such as power plants, water supplies, and even hospitals, became inaccessible. Thankfully, even when those facilities were disabled, the pipes were still pumping water, and the electricity was still being produced. The system remained silent to those who didn¡¯t take the trials. However, it explained everything quite extensively to survivors like Kouki. So, the UN formed a Survivor Organization. Andrew, the leader of the survivors who managed to pass the dungeon trial without casualties, created The Guild. ¡°So, you are saying that he is a survivor? And he is a good man?¡± Andrew asked Kaina and Kouki. Kouki, who had become the Guild Representative of Japan, saw the news about how a monster had breached the dungeon and was terrorizing the populace of California. Seeing the picture sent Kouki into shock. ¡°Yes. He helped us clear the dungeon trial,¡± Kaina said. Kouki, Kaina, Andrew, Zwen, and John had gathered inside the Guild office in America. Zwen wasn¡¯t a survivor¡ªhe was the representative from the UN assigned to monitor the survivors¡¯ activities. ¡°Well¡­ not exactly. More like he cleared the trial on his own¡­¡± John answered. ¡°That doesn¡¯t prove that he is a nice guy,¡± Zwen scoffed. ¡°But the fact that he cleared a dungeon trial on his own proves that he is something. If possible, we should recruit him into our ranks,¡± Andrew said. ¡°He killed a man!¡± Zwen objected. ¡°Many of us in The Guild have killed a person in the dungeon,¡± Andrew answered. He almost rolled his eyes at Zwen¡¯s idealistic view. Millions, if not hundreds of millions, had killed each other during the trial of the world. And it was not just survivors¡ªnormal people brought out their guns, swords, or knives to loot the remaining food and water from malls and shopping districts. ¡°Killing in the dungeon is one thing, but he killed a helpless man inside his house. This is going to be bad for the press. The news has already aired,¡± Zwen frowned. He no longer criticized James¡¯ deed but rather the public perception. James was famous due to his monstrous appearance. ¡°Kouki, as the one who met James directly, what is his power? Why does he have that form?¡± Andrew asked. ¡°Um¡­ I am not sure.¡± ¡°I think he can plunder something from monsters. He was angry when I pressed the golden ball before he did something to the monsters.¡± ¡°So, can I assume this is not his final form? In that case, this will be simple.¡± Andrew grinned. Zwen sighed and nodded. He agreed with Andrew¡¯s assessment. However, a few moments later, his eyes widened as if he had realized something. ¡°Well, that can be arranged. This is a monster, and James is one of us. However, is he truly a good guy? Well, he didn¡¯t kill any of the cops, that¡¯s for sure. But why did he kill a man?¡± ¡°Kouki? Can you explain how you met this guy?¡± Andrew glanced at Kouki. ¡°Yes, we met in the dungeon, on the fourth floor. Thinking he was a monster, I attacked him.¡± ¡°You attacked him? Did he take Kaina hostage?¡± Andrew thought hard.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The Guild was new; however, there was a ranking system for it. All rankings were based on levels, so it was not absolute. Kouki was in the top ten among one hundred guild members. That didn¡¯t mean Kouki was one of the top ten strongest in the world. Not all survivors joined The Guild. Some preferred to form their own guilds, while others went rogue. Private guilds still cooperated with The Guild, but they kept their power and levels a secret. Meanwhile, rogue guilds were akin to terrorist groups and warlords. Nevertheless, Andrew knew Kouki was strong. Hence, he questioned him. ¡°Yes. I attacked him and was beaten. I thought he was about to kill Kaina. But I was wrong,¡± Kouki recalled the fight. ¡°How did he fight? I don¡¯t think anyone could beat you in close combat,¡± Andrew frowned. After the guild had formed, he had planned to ask Kouki to join his party to raid the next dungeon. ¡°Using weapon skills. He used an axe and a longsword.¡± ¡°Ah, but he had a crossbow too. So, I don¡¯t think he was lacking in the range department,¡± Kaina added. ¡°We must add him to our group. There are fewer than ten people who have killed a floor boss on their own without any cooperation. Prepare to welcome him and do not antagonize him. His strength will be our greatest asset in reclaiming our Earth.¡± ¡°Was he that strong?¡± Zwen asked. ¡°Yes, defeating the last floor boss is an enormous feat. Moreover, doing it alone is another level entirely. Zwen¡­ what should we do? Should we continue with the Reconquest Project, or should we go for this James?¡± Andrew asked. If what Kouki said was true, he would like to ask James to join his party to clear the dungeon. Andrew wasn¡¯t much of a gamer. But even with his rudimentary knowledge, he knew that a medium-level dungeon would be a challenge. Dungeon trials had limited monsters. Kouki¡¯s level was not that far from Andrew¡¯s¡ªonly three or four levels apart. Even though Andrew had killed all the floor bosses, he had shared all the EXP with his teammates. Kouki, who hadn¡¯t even cleared all the floors, managed to close the gap because he monopolized the EXP from monsters. James, who had killed five floor bosses on his own, would most likely eclipse Andrew in levels. ¡°The Reconquest Project must take priority. Some nuclear reactors were taken by the dungeon. If no one pressed the SCRAM button, we would be screwed if it went into meltdown! We couldn¡¯t even build a sarcophagus like Chernobyl if it exploded!¡± Zwen slammed the table. The gravity of the situation was made clear. Nobody knew the state of those reactors. However, since electricity kept being produced, it was safe to assume that the reactors were still active. There were hundreds of such reactors in the world. Thanks to the quick-witted operators who pressed the SCRAM button before being teleported, over a hundred reactors were safely turned off before the world trial. But four reactors failed to be shut down. Kouki winced. He wanted to help James, but he too had been recruited to reconquer one of those dungeons. Among the four reactors that had been taken, two were classified as novice, one as medium, and the other as hard. To be honest, Andrew didn¡¯t think this problem was a big deal. Modern reactors had automatic safety designs to turn such things off on their own. But they were right to be worried. Nobody knew how the software would react if left alone like that. ¡°I understand,¡± Andrew said. ¡°I will go. But someone must remain outside of that dungeon. We must try to recruit James to our cause. Can I leave it to you, Kaina?¡± ¡°Yes. I am just level one, after all.¡± ¡°Well, we better get ready for this. My team will try to conquer this medium dungeon while Kouki will try to conquer this novice one.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we try them all?¡± Zwen asked. ¡°There are barely 300 survivors here. The dungeon trial was supposed to be at Novice level. I don¡¯t think we should be too greedy, Zwen.¡± ¡°But¡­.¡± ¡°If I clear the Medium dungeon, we will try the Hard one. But if you find any volunteers, I shall not hold you back. Just don¡¯t take those twenty members¡ªthey are too valuable to lose.¡± Andrew sent a file from his tablet to Zwen. ¡°I will ask around for anyone willing.¡± ¡°Good. That concludes our meeting. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Yes. We have inquiries from all over the world about this reclamation project. The surveying survivor said that Team India in dungeon TZ103R has decreased by two. Should we send additional members?¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Andrew sighed. Normal people couldn¡¯t look at dungeon information¡ªonly survivors could. The number of members decreasing could only mean one thing: some of them had died. ¡°That¡¯s ten survivors dead in that dungeon alone. If we manage to clear this one, we have to increase the number of survivors.¡± ¡°Eh? We can do that?¡± Kaina was surprised. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet. I plan on bringing high-leveled survivors and several normal people who have received training. If they manage to kill a monster there, they should receive the system,¡± Andrew said. ¡°Oh yeah, Kouki, get ready for your first expedition next week. Here is your assignment,¡± Zwen said. ¡°We shall arrange the flight and hotels. Of course, you will receive VVIP treatment.¡± ¡°Of course! I am ready to serve.¡± Kouki was all smiles when he heard Zwen speak politely to him. His dream might have fallen short of being the best, but he was still recognized as Japan¡¯s hero. ¡°As for Kaina, we shall also send accommodations to California. Thanks to your survivor status, language should not be a problem. However, since you are just level one, I ask that you be wary. That place is currently a hot zone due to many people being displaced. A lot of refugees have to sleep on the streets.¡± ¡°Yeah, be careful, Kaina. Similar to Tokyo, major cities and towns are hit the hardest. And since you are just level one, your physique is only slightly better than a normal person¡¯s,¡± Kouki nodded. ¡°I will. Etto¡­ I wonder if I should just chase after him¡­ Just sleeping and waiting there seems unproductive.¡± ¡°Absolutely not. You have learned some spear techniques, but with only two months of training¡ª¡± ¡°If you wish to chase after them, bring local soldiers or other survivors.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kouki turned to Andrew, who interrupted him. ¡°If you wish to chase after James, please bring soldiers or other survivors. Don¡¯t go alone,¡± Andrew said. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°She will have to fight those monsters sooner or later,¡± Andrew answered. Kouki¡¯s toxic chivalry reared its ugly head, but Andrew¡¯s reasoning made sense. Moreover, Kouki was not Kaina¡¯s mother. He then nodded. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right. Don¡¯t go there alone.¡± ¡°Alright. I think that¡¯s all for the meeting. Let us prepare for the real dungeon raid.¡± With that, the Reconquest Project officially began. Chapter 30: Legion of Rats James brought out his crossbow. Like a meteor, golden light drew a straight line toward the dark abomination. Like a star sinking into the abyss, the light was eaten by the mass of darkness incarnate. Squeaking sounds echoed as the beast charged toward James. James took flight. The corridor was narrow, so there was no room to dodge. A bulbous rat was spat from the abomination. James deflected the rat bomb with an ice shield. The rat exploded and corroded the shield, turning it back into water as white smoke rose from the remains of the green goo. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± James cursed. When he finally reached the office room, he turned around to find the rat legion crashing into nearby furniture. ¡°This is a Novice dungeon. Show no fear!¡± James tried to convince himself. Like most modern people, he hated rats, bugs, and cockroaches. Seeing the abomination before him raised goosebumps on his scaly skin. Nevertheless, James steeled himself. Golden light gathered on his axe. Leaping into the darkness, the golden light cleaved right through it. Not stopping, the golden light curved back, forming a V-shape. The skill [V-Slash] bisected the abomination into three pieces. Red and green blood mixed as the amalgamation of rats scattered. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± James shuddered as the rats scurried to the other corner of the room and formed another body. They were many, but they were also one. What James had done was merely kill ten, maybe twenty rats. There were still thousands more to kill. Another bulbous, fat rat was thrown in James¡¯ direction. Instinctively, James shielded himself with an ice shield. He then leaped toward the darkness with his trusty axe. Another skill struck the monster right in its body¡ªyet it did nothing. Similar to before, the rats dispersed and formed another abomination in different places. A green blob of tumorous rats was thrown again in James¡¯ direction. Again, James shielded himself with his ice shield. The exchange of blows continued, but James didn¡¯t feel like he was winning. Scratches began to appear as the rats bit and chewed through his armor and into his scales. Moreover, his axe was also deformed due to corrosion. James felt cornered. He didn¡¯t think his axe would last more than three more blows. He had already hit the abomination in several different places, trying to find the brain or core. However, there was no such thing. James began to take a more defensive position as he assessed the situation. Green goo splattered on the floor here and there, spreading corrosion. It didn¡¯t last forever, as it turned earthen brown after several minutes, signaling the corrosion effect had stopped. ¡°I need that lightning axe!¡± [Shop cannot be used during combat.] The system cruelly responded. James clenched his teeth as he observed his surroundings and noticed that the amalgamation evaded the green goo on the floor. An idea popped into James¡¯ mind as he threw down his axe. He still had a sword on his back, but he didn¡¯t think it would last longer than his axe. Using his spinneret, he spun a crude net and held it between his hands. As the tumorous rat was thrown at him, he caught it with a water shield. Then, he dropped the fat rat into his makeshift net and threw it at the abomination. Green goo splattered on the dark mass. The effect was immediate. A wail like nothing before bellowed from the abomination. At first, James thought nothing had changed, as the rats spread and formed another abomination like usual. But he soon realized he was wrong. The next abomination was clearly smaller. James smirked¡ªnow he knew what to do. Another bomb rat was thrown at him. Thanks to James¡¯ increased stats, he formed a water ball between his hands, preventing the bomb rat from exploding. Like a pro basketball player, he then threw the bomb rat back at the abomination. The beast might have been strong, it might have been scary¡ªbut it was certainly not smart.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The bomb hit it square on the stomach, spreading green corrosive liquid everywhere. The abomination screeched again for the umpteenth time. James smirked. But the beast had not played all of its cards yet. It could do more than just throw bombs at James. This time, it formed a claw. James wondered how it was possible, but nothing was impossible in the dungeon. Rats gathered at the newly formed hand and hardened, forming white claws. The rat incarnate then formed a mouth, then legs. Its form was more defined. James, who had faced countless monsters, found its form less menacing than before. If only its red little eyes didn¡¯t dot everywhere around its body, its form would be no different than the previous furry James. The new beast charged, and its claw was met with James¡¯s sword. James deflected its strike and slashed. For the first time, James wielded the longsword as he was supposed to¡ªwith both hands. The strike was powerful, but James felt like he was attacking air. There was no resistance or substance to the beast before him. Knowing it would lose in melee combat, the beast fled all the way to the back. It knelt and opened its mouth. The gaping maw stretched to an impossible degree, growing as wide as James himself. James thought he was going to be swallowed, but with such clumsy movement, he believed he could dodge it. The beast howled. A sonic boom assaulted James¡¯s eardrums. James felt the wind blast against him, his feet lifting off the floor as he was thrown back by the force of the howl. The glass table and furniture shattered from the impact. James felt the world spinning¡ªhe almost vomited his lunch as nausea washed over him. Sensing danger, he formed a thick ice shield around him. It cracked. Before it shattered, James rolled on the ground. The beast had stabbed its claws into the floor where James had been. James shook off his nausea and refocused his attention on the beast before him. A golden glow gathered on his sword as he slashed upward, drawing an arc toward the beast. The beast didn¡¯t bleed as James once again slashed at thin air. James was cornered. The rat legion no longer threw bombs at him, and James didn¡¯t have any wide-area attacks to damage it. Or did he? ¡°Now or never.¡± James made a gamble. Using his water magic, he summoned a flood of water from his hand. Water soon filled the enclosed space, drenching both him and the rat monster. ¡°Ice magic! Freeze!¡± James was over 30, but the heat of the fantasy battle he was in now brought out dark memories within him. He cast out his hand into the water, and ice shards spread from it and into the abomination. His eye caught the blue mana swirling from his hand into the beast. Soon, the beast was frozen solid. [Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 32! You have earned 50 coins.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 32 Coins: 765 Stats: STR: 112 (up 2) DEX: 108 (up 3) Magic: 59 (up 3) Mana: 700 (up 20) Skills: Novice Axe Mastery Level 2 (Powerstrike, V-Slash) Beginner Sword Mastery Level 7 (Hurricane) (up 1) Beginner Bow Mastery Level 7 (Quickshot) Magic: Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts: ¡°Rat union?¡± James smirked at the system¡¯s naming sense. However, who was James to judge someone else¡¯s naming sense? James dismissed the naming sense and looked at the Chimera parts. Having a corrosive body like a certain movie about aliens certainly intrigued him. However, was it useful? ¡°System. What do you know about this corrosive effect? If the rat was immune, why was it hurt by its own bomb rat?¡± James asked the system. [The liver is the place where the bomb rat stores its corrosive substance. The organ alone is immune to corrosion; however, the rest of the body is not.] ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­ Why was the rat not immune to its own poison? My skin is immune to fire, right?¡± James tilted his head. He remembered that Chimera couldn¡¯t plunder the organ because it was too damaged. [Your dragon scales protect your skin from heat. However, they don¡¯t protect your internal organs from heat. Your internal organs will be safe merely because the heat doesn¡¯t pass through your skin. The liver and the tumor work similarly. The liver produces the corrosion, but not all of their body parts are resistant to it.] ¡°Ugh¡­ if I changed my liver¡­¡± [The tumor could be placed anywhere, but once it explodes or detaches from the body, that body part will not regenerate.] ¡°That¡¯s basically useless!¡± [That is correct!] James winced at the snappy remark from the system. He could only sigh as he put away the ice statue in the corner of the room. [The teleportation portal to the second floor has been opened in the boss chamber. You may enter at your own discretion.] ¡°Thank you! Please fix the damn golden sphere next time,¡± James answered sarcastically. The wind mana core from the angel that he had missed because someone else triggered the golden ball still hovered in his mind even now. Nevertheless, it was not his problem now. He scanned the once-luxurious office space. It was destroyed now, but there was nothing James couldn¡¯t fix with his spinneret. After fixing the sofa, James lounged on it. James was not in a rush. Regardless, there was no TV, laptop, or even phone signal. James soon got restless and ventured into another room, looking for the chest¡¯s key that stood unscratched beside the now-melting ice statue. Chapter 31: Second Floor [Would you like to repair your axe for 15 coins?] The system prompted James when he picked up his axe. The axe was chipped and deformed in several places due to the acid from the monstrous rat. Of course, James agreed. He now had 750 coins left. ¡°Ugh¡­ should I upgrade this axe instead? That battle would have gone so much easier if I had a lightning weapon.¡± Nevertheless, he wanted that Chimera upgrade. He didn¡¯t know what the upgrade would entail, but there should be an extra slot added to it. James had felt the limitation of the current Chimera. But for that, he needed another 300 coins, and he suspected the chest in the office room had them. James scoured the entire floor. He almost gave up on finding the key, only to discover it on the corpse of a Ratman. The three Ratmen were about the same strength as the unarmored Sahuagin on the third floor, but since swords were shorter than spears, James had an easier time if he executed a preemptive attack with his longsword. [You have obtained a treasure key x1.] ¡°It didn¡¯t show in the dungeon trials.¡± James tilted his head. [We have decided to incorporate keys into the system. That way, you may repair them with the shop in case they are damaged.] ¡°I see.¡± James was surprised. That statement just now told him that the system could change. Before returning to the chest, James ventured into the room where he had killed the three vermin. Another office space¡ªthis time, several cubicles lined the corners. Again, James felt a sense of incongruity. The uncanny valley was hard to ignore. A usual office space like this would have rows upon rows of cubicles, but this room only had four or five cubicles spaced randomly. Moreover, there was a huge space in the middle, where the three vermin with swords had gathered. It didn¡¯t make sense. The system shouldn¡¯t have used cheap plastic cubicles¡ªthey should have used luxurious ones like before if space was not an issue. James decided to ignore it. This space was made by the system. It was not geared toward functionality or aesthetics. The system merely didn¡¯t know how an office space should look¡ªlike a beginner in architecture or an AI-generated office space. After flipping every desk, chair, and cubicle, James returned to the luxurious office room and faced the chest. He inserted the key. After a twist, the chest sprang open. A shadow leaped out from inside the chest, aiming at James¡¯s face. James reacted. He reflexively put his right hand before his face and slapped the shadow with his golem arm. It felt like he was slapping a wet ball of fur. A hissing sound and the familiar white vapor assaulted his nostrils. James dreaded what had just happened to him. ¡°Fuck! I am dead!¡± James jumped away as he formed an ice shield around him. Scanning his surroundings, he found the accursed rat standing up and charging at him. Using his ice spear, he skewered it to bits. The ball of fur sizzled and soon died. James looked at it, then turned his attention to his golem arm. [Your Golem Arm of Valhalla has been afflicted by Corrosion Level 3. It would require 100 coins to fully repair it.] ¡°Fuck!¡± James cursed. He had planned to open it from afar with his spiderweb as usual, but he never thought the chest could spring open by itself once he unlocked it. Thankfully, the rat hadn¡¯t exploded in his face. He didn¡¯t know why, but he silently thanked Lady Luck that he hadn¡¯t been afflicted with Corrosion Level 4 on his head. The previous words from the system reminded him that he might die if the corrosive liquid touched his face. [After further analysis, repairing your arm is not critical to its primary motor function. If you choose not to repair it, you can still hold weapons, but your strength and dexterity while using it will be decreased by 40%.]This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. After prodding the chest from afar by hovering an iceball over and inside it, James inspected the chest. A green mechanical ball had spewed green liquid inside. By the time James inspected the chest, the green mechanical ball had already stopped pouring liquid. It was an ingenious trap. If anyone opened the chest, the corrosive liquid would bathe the Corat with corrosion. The Corat would then jump out, spreading the corrosive liquid everywhere before dying from it. [Congratulations. You have obtained the Sphere of Fethusiane.] [Sphere of Fethusiane: A magical sphere made to spew corrosive liquid. The liquid was often used by mages of old as a way to make fertilizer by decomposing unwanted materials. The green goo would soon turn brown, and then it could be used as fertilizer.] ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t want any fertilizer. But I sure welcome an additional weapon.¡± James sighed. After querying the system, James figured out how to use it. First, one must fill the ball with mana, then, by pressing the button, it would start spewing Level 3 corrosive liquid. There was a safety lock to prevent unwanted discharge. However, James pondered how to use this ball as a weapon. Unlike poison, he couldn¡¯t coat his arrows with this liquid¡ªit would eat through them. James thought about making a ball and throwing it at the enemy like a water balloon, but he couldn¡¯t find a corrosion-resistant bag anywhere. As always, the world had never gone easy on him. But James always endured. After paying the 100 coins to repair his hand, James ventured into the boss room and saw the golden teleportation gate within it. Since there was nothing else he could do on this floor, he departed. White light enveloped him as he was transported into the waiting room. James sat down in the corner, looking at the loading screen. It was oddly fun for him now to see the loading bar fill up. ¡°Krieek!¡± ¡°Fuck!¡± James cursed as he was transported into a room filled with over twenty Ratmen. He rolled as they leaped at him. Using his trusty axe, he parried one of the rat swordsmen. Reaching for the sword on his back, he unsheathed it and cleaved its head. James roared as adrenaline surged through him. He swung and swung as the Ratmen came after him. A golden glow shone on his longsword as he bisected a Ratman with an upward slash. Seeing that these mobs couldn¡¯t beat James, they scurried back on their own as three Ratmen, equipped with nicer armor, weapons, and shields, stepped forward. One dual-wielded daggers, while another wielded a sword and shield. Their figures reminded James of those goblins back on the first floor of the trial dungeon. If the old James had fought them, he might have lost his life. But James was different now. He had weapons, scales, armor, and levels. ¡°Argh!¡± James screamed as the vermin with daggers stabbed him in the back. [Paralyze poison nullified.] James was busy with the vermin in front. He overpowered them, but the other sword-wielding vermin took his attention as they charged toward him. Numerous ice spears gathered above James, and he aimed them at the dagger-wielding rat. James thought he would hit it since it had no shield, but the rat nimbly parried the spears with its daggers. Golden glow gathered on the sword-wielding rat. James parried the attack with his longsword. Thanks to his superior strength, the sword slid along his longsword as James cleaved one of the rat¡¯s heads with his axe. James activated his axe skill, [Power Strike]. This time, he put more oomph into it. The axe was raised overhead and swung toward the shielded rat. The axe embedded itself into the shield. It didn¡¯t stop. James¡¯ golem arm empowered the skill further, and his axe continued its arc toward the rat¡¯s shoulder. The shield soon shattered as the axe continued its path, unimpeded. Another golden glow emanated from the rat¡¯s dagger. James held his sword firm. The dagger drew an arc toward James¡¯s sword as he braced himself. James decided to challenge the power of weapon skills. Weapon skills were powerful, but not unbeatable. James remembered that with sufficient strength, one could stop a weapon skill. He did just that. He was pushed back but kept his posture firm. He could see the dagger skill stop mere inches away from his head, caught within the sword blade and its handle guard. The golden glow flickered from the dagger as its momentum dissipated. The blades of both the dagger and sword chipped from the impact. However, they didn¡¯t break. James started to gain the upper hand. As he pushed back, the golden glow from the rat¡¯s dagger dimmed. Then it let out its final flicker as James felt the enormous pressure of the weapon skill dissipate. James relaunched his own axe skill. The axe glowed golden. Through its trembling eyes, James knew the rat realized it would die. Nevertheless, by pure instinct, the rat held both of its daggers upward, trying to block James¡¯s axe. It was futile. The axe cleaved through the daggers and into its torso. [Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 33. You have earned 150 coins.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 33 Coins: 800 Stats: STR: 115 (up 3) DEX: 111 (up 3) Magic: 62 (up 3) Mana: 720 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: [Do you wish to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts: [Would you like to repair your sword for 2 coins?] James sighed. He had beaten a weapon skill with his own strength. But it certainly came at a cost. After inspecting his weapon, he denied those options. He felt his sword was still good enough. Moreover, he really wanted that Chimera upgrade. Right now, his gaze turned toward where the mob Ratmen had fled. He had monsters to kill and levels to gain on this new floor. Chapter 32: Ratmen ¡°Chest! Where are you!¡± James muttered to himself as he impatiently looked high and low for a treasure chest. He was so close to reaching 1,000 coins. The horde that escaped earlier went north of the cave James had entered, but the path branched. James chose the other path while attaching his spider thread there to mark which path he had ventured. James regretted going through the portal. The luxurious office space from the first floor had turned into a dingy cave, dark and damp. James renewed his determination to clear this floor as soon as possible. But first, he wanted to find a chest. Soon, he was greeted by two Ratmen who were guarding a chest at the end of the corridor. James prepared his axe as the Ratmen prepared their shields and spears. A golden glow shimmered on one of the Ratman¡¯s spears. James¡¯ heart leaped as he dodged the incoming golden meteor to the side. He had overreacted. Anticipating the spear to curve toward him like that Sahuagin elite warrior¡¯s attack, he braced his axe beside the spear. James glanced at the other Rat soldier. These soldiers weren¡¯t like the ones before. They were a bit more unorganized¡ªlike children waiting for their turn. The rat stood there, squeaking. James smirked. Thinking this would be an easy win, he launched his own axe skill. The rat shielded itself with its wooden shield. James grinned, thinking his axe would crush that measly shield. His grin disappeared when he saw the shield glow golden. James was confident in his strength. Just like when he was fighting Kouki or the angel, he thought he could overpower his enemy if their skills clashed. But he was wrong . His axe bounced like a pinball as soon as the strike connected. The vermin soldier squeaked in glee. Its turn had come, and it charged with its own skill. James spun his body sideways. If not for his improved stats, that golden meteor might have penetrated his flank, inflicting a fatal wound. Such an acrobatic maneuver came at a cost. James slipped and fell on his shoulder. The vermin didn¡¯t let the chance slip past them. After the one who unleashed a skill pulled back, the other took its place and launched another skill. James gripped his crossbow. With a twang, the bolt flew without any skill backing it. It stabbed right into the eye of the approaching vermin. The golden glow flickered out as the vermin squeaked in pain. It dropped to the ground, letting go of its shield and spear as it clutched its eye. Looking at it reminded James of the first Sahuagin he had met. James stood up while the other Rat Spearman was still occupied. Now that he had seen what they could do, he was no longer afraid. ¡°Damn, that shield skill has screwed me twice now.¡± James cursed as he launched himself toward the soldier. The soldier tried to charge with its spear, but without skills, James had nothing to fear. He swiped the spear aside with his orc hand and aimed his axe at its head. The rat squeaked as it shielded itself. Like before, James¡¯s axe was thrown back. However, this time, he was ready. He unsheathed his sword from his back and plunged its blade into the vermin¡¯s neck.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. James was surprised as the vermin moved its shield toward the blade. This time, his sword embedded itself into the shield. It didn¡¯t bounce like his axe, and no golden glow flashed on the shield. James kicked the Ratman in its unprotected flank, freeing his sword as the shield splintered into two pieces. The Rat soldier fell to the ground. An axe was swung at its neck. It raised the other half of the shield, but without skills, it was useless. The axe went through and cleaved its neck. It died without letting out another squeak, for James had aimed directly at its throat. James panted. Fatigue began to build up as the prolonged battle took a toll on him. However, before he could rest, he had to finish off the other Ratman. The Ratman stood up, but without an eye, James easily diverted its spear and cleaved its neck. ¡°What the heck? That was harder than I thought. That rat¡¯s shield skill must have been better than even the fallen angel¡¯s!¡± James sighed as his body began to cool down. Now that he had finished off these rats, it was time for the chest. After nudging it from afar, James opened it using his spider thread from a distance. Of course, as if mocking him, the chest didn¡¯t react¡ªthere were no traps inside. After peering inside, James cursed, for it didn¡¯t contain the coins he desperately sought. [Congratulations, you have obtained two weapon skill scrolls. What skill would you like to upgrade?] ¡°I can upgrade any skill I want?¡± James pondered. He had gotten a skill scroll before, but it upgraded a specific skill. [Yes, that is correct. This skill scroll lets you choose what skill you want to upgrade, instead of a random upgrade like the previous skill scroll.] ¡°So, either a bow, sword, or axe. The most obvious choice is the axe, but damn¡­¡± James winced as he looked at his status. He had Novice Axe Mastery Level 2, Beginner Sword Mastery Level 7, and Beginner Bow Mastery Level 7. No matter what skill he chose, he wouldn¡¯t get a new skill unless he paid a sum to the system. ¡°System, how much do I have to pay for one level of axe mastery?¡± [You would need 400 coins to upgrade your axe mastery for each level until you reach Level 5. Then, you would need 800 coins per level until you reach Level 10.] ¡°Shit! That¡¯s half of my money! I want that Chimera skill!¡± James cursed. After thinking for a while, he sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it for now. I¡¯ll use it if either one of my skills gains a level.¡± [This particular skill scroll must be used once found. If not used within two hours of its discovery, it will disappear.] ¡°What?¡± James glanced at the system notification before him. He never thought the system would screw him like this. If only he had thought about it for a moment¡ªeven though skill scrolls had a physical appearance when he opened the chest, the system had quickly taken them inside. [The scroll must be used immediately upon discovery. If there are any choices, survivors are given a maximum of two hours to decide.] ¡°Fuck you!¡± James banged his axe against the blue system notification. His axe flew past the ethereal blue box. James sat down, trying to calm himself. He was forced to choose. Once again, the world was never on James¡¯ side. James chose his axe skill half-heartedly. It was a logical decision. The higher the skill, the harder it was to level up. After seeing that his Axe Mastery had indeed gone up to Level 4, he pondered whether to waste 400 coins to upgrade his axe skill further. This time, he chose not to upgrade it. He didn¡¯t know what Level 5 Axe Mastery would grant him, but he needed that Chimera skill upgraded. He needed more extra slots from the monsters he killed. James retraced his steps and went to the other cave. This time, a lone treasure chest sat there, waiting to be opened. Of course, James didn¡¯t open it immediately. From afar, he nudged it with his ice magic. As soon as the ice touched it, the chest sprang open. Arrows coated with green goo flew from it toward the cave ceiling. ¡°I knew it!¡± James hissed. A smirk grew on his face as he saw the arrows stuck to the ceiling. After checking that there were no more surprises, James inspected the chest. [Congratulations! You have found an EXP scroll. You have leveled up two times to Level 35.] [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 35 Coins: 800 Stats: STR: 123 (up 8) DEX: 114 (up 3) Magic: 68 (up 6) Mana: 760 (up 40) Skills: Novice Axe Mastery Level 4 (Powerstrike, V-Slash) (up 2) Beginner Sword Mastery Level 7 (Hurricane) Beginner Bow Mastery Level 7 (Quickshot) Magic: Mind Flay Mana Sonar Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: ¡°Shit! Where are the coins?¡± James said impatiently. He had just gotten an enormous amount of EXP, but it didn¡¯t console him in the slightest. After looking at the chest, he found three bulbous metal arrows inside. Each had a hollow space at its tip. As James wondered how to use them, the system kindly provided an answer. [Congratulations, you have obtained Pocket Arrows. The arrows will be added to your shop. You can purchase them for 100 coins per dozen.] ¡°That¡¯s double the price of normal arrows! What do they do?¡± [Pocket Arrows can store liquid inside. Whether it is poison or corrosive liquid, the arrows will be resistant to it.] ¡°Great! Now I can use my poison arrows properly. It can hold corrosive liquid too, right?¡± [The poison and corrosive liquid produced by your fang and Sphere of Fethusiane will only last for a few minutes even inside a Pocket Arrow. It is not recommended to use Pocket Arrows without specialized poison or corrosive liquid.] James sighed. He had been disappointed too many times today to feel like cursing anymore. He merely picked up the metal bolts and walked away, looking dejected. The winding cave had one path left. James didn¡¯t know what surprise awaited him at the end, but he was ready. No matter what came at him, he was ready to face it. Chapter 33: Rat King The damp air crept up to his scales. The squeaking sound echoed through the cave, marking where the Ratmen had gathered. With his trusty axe at the ready, James marched on. Soon, he found a clearing. This time, no gates, no inscription, no bunker. Just a clearing, like an arena where the Ratmen and a much bigger Ratman gathered. As if it was not clear enough, a golden crown adorned the huge Ratman¡¯s head. Just like James, the Rat King brought a war axe in its hand. Once James had entered, it stood up, facing him. James was ready for the boss fight. However, he certainly wasn¡¯t ready if the boss had 10 underlings that surrounded him. James thought the mobs would watch, just like when he fought that Alpha Wolf. They didn¡¯t. The Rat Slaves picked up clothes or ropes and made an impromptu sling with them. Some equipped crude bows to join the fray. James tried to shield himself with his axe, but some stones inevitably hit him. It hurt less than he thought, but it was distracting. Moreover, the occasional arrow that was shot at him really put him on edge. James shot a Rat Slave with his crossbow, ignoring the Rat King, who marched with his war axe toward him. Only after shooting another one with his poisoned bolt did James decide to engage the Rat King. Both axes glowed golden as they unleashed their axe skills. A thunderous explosion rang through the arena as both axes clashed. James¡¯s overwhelming strength pushed the Rat King back several steps. Without delay, James drew his sword and launched a thrust. However, the Rat King also drew its sword and parried him. James was stupefied. Even when the Rat King had fallen over, James didn¡¯t take advantage of it. The Rat King used the same battle style as him. A thought flashed in his mind. Was this deliberate by the system, or was it simply a coincidence? ¡°Damn, I want that sword. Is it a katana?¡± James grinned with envy. The correct term would be Odachi, a long sword from Japan. It was much longer than a katana. An arrow stabbed through his leather armor as James admired the Rat King¡¯s sword. It sent a sharp pain to his shoulder. However, with his scales and armor, such arrows from low-level Ratmen and crude bows didn¡¯t pose a threat to him. James refocused his attention on the Rat King. He bit another wooden arrow bolt, filling its wooden crevices with his life-leeching poison. This rat used the same technique as him. Pushing it back with all this distraction would prove to be difficult. James planned to use his poison and deliver a fatal strike once its attention was elsewhere. James wasn¡¯t the brightest tool in the shed. He forgot that he had magic. No. He actually remembered, but he thought ice magic would prove futile against this Rat King. Even though he had purchased his Mana Core and Mind Magic for 700 coins, it was left unused, like his engineering degrees. And so, the battle restarted. This time, James was the one who leaped at the Rat King. Axe and sword at the ready, he started with a thrust, which was deflected with its axe. The King countered with its Odachi, which was deflected by James¡¯s axe. James formed multiple icicles and launched them toward the mob who harassed him. But since most of his attention was on the King, all of them missed. The vermin let out a golden glow on its sword. James prepared his own sword skill. Even though it was supposed to be the same sword skill, James pondered. It had a different stance activation. ¡°Were weapon skills different for each wielder?¡± James muttered. However, all spear skills that he saw from Sahuagin and Orcs were similar. The axe skill that the Orc Boss and the vermin before him used was similar too. The Rat King lunged with its sword. A golden flash came toward him like a meteor, and it was met with an upward slash from James. Both sword skills clashed in a resounding boom. Weapon skills had a margin of error in their activation. But they had limits in their posture. For example, the sword skill Hurricane could only make an upward slash. It was similar with his axe skill too. His axe skill could only make a swing from the right side. James could change the direction and posture, but he couldn¡¯t activate his sword skill with a downward slash, and he couldn¡¯t activate Powerstrike from the left side. James widened his eyes because, this time, he was the one losing. The Rat King overpowered his left orc arm. He wasn¡¯t thrown away like during the Orc Boss battle, but he was pushed back several steps. The King let out another skill with its axe next, and James barely followed. As both skills collided, the vermin was the one who was pushed back. James finally understood where the vermin¡¯s power lay. James¡¯ left orc hand and right golem hand offered different stat bonuses. That meant this Rat King¡¯s hands were better than James¡¯ orc hand. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°I will be taking those hands!¡± James muttered. There was no time to load the bolt and launch it at it. So, he took a more direct approach. He lunged at it with his axe. James threw his sword at it. Throwing your weapon was considered a stupid move, but in the heat of the moment, it could distract your enemy. It took all it had to deflect that sword with its ¨­dachi. Then James stabbed his bolt right into its shoulder. It roared in pain and used all of its strength to push him away. The slaves that had merely watched from the sidelines, throwing stones and arrows, suddenly came toward James with renewed vigor. If the boss lost, they would be next. Such a message was transmitted to them from the king, erasing their cowardly nature. These slaves were now a death squad, capable of making a suicide attack. James didn¡¯t fear such mobs. He summoned icicles and launched them toward the vermin. They might have dodged it before, but since they were closer, they were bound to get hit. James¡¯ magic made a shish kebab out of them. With a single tug of his spider web, the sword that was on the ground flew back to James¡¯ left arm. The Rat King stood beside its soldiers. No. It stood beside its children. It couldn¡¯t be helped that their children organized themselves based on skills. However, the fact that it was their father made the children brave. Together, they made a desperate charge toward James. James didn¡¯t know of their bond, nor did he care. This world revolved around survival. No matter the reason, James had to kill them or he himself would perish. Such was the cruel world James had been thrust into. And so, James launched his axe skill. A clash of resolve soon sparked between the Rat King¡¯s axe and James¡¯s. Both roared with vengeance and determination. This time, through sheer will, the Rat King actually held on with his skill. But that determination was mistaken. James thrust his sword. The Rat King thrust its. The vermin thought James would try to deflect its sword, but it was evident that James was a maniac. He didn¡¯t try to defend himself. James¡¯ thrust stabbed into its torso while its sword embedded itself deep into his shoulder. James was a beast. Opening his maw, James bit into its arm. Poison didn¡¯t increase its lethality even with more doses in this world. So, James pulled out immediately and dealt with the approaching rat slaves who messed around with him. The poison slowly worked through the Rat King, sapping its strength. Even when wounded, adrenaline fueled James to keep going. A golden glow shone from his axe as he approached the king. The few slaves tried to cover their king, but they were useless against the power of the skill. The Rat King¡¯s vision blurred. It was unsteady on its feet. Its hands were heavy as the poison and wounds weakened it further. It couldn¡¯t muster the strength to launch a skill. All it could do was raise its axe overhead, trying to block the incoming golden meteor. It knew it was futile, as the golden meteor blew through its axe like a piece of glass. The meteor caved into its shoulder, ending its life. [Congratulations! You have leveled up two times to level 36. You have earned 100 coins.] [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 36 Coins: 800 Stats: STR: 125 (up 2) DEX: 117 (up 3) Magic: 71 (up 3) Mana: 780 (up 20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: [Available Body Parts:] [Would you like to buy health potions for 100 coins?] James finished off the remaining rat slaves and plopped down as the wound on his shoulder kept bleeding. Before he could ask, the system had already offered him what he needed. ¡°Buy it.¡± James undressed himself. He let out a silent curse as his leather armor was full of holes from the arrows of the rat slaves. A black box soon teleported right before him, carrying the bottle filled with red liquid. [Reminder: Health potions are to be smeared on the wounds.] James chuckled as he gave his thanks to the system for reminding him. He remembered that he had asked the system to remind him in the future. [You have lost a substantial amount of blood. It is not life-threatening. However, we recommend you buy a hematonic potion if you wish to fight with your full strength in the near future.] ¡°No. I am not in a hurry,¡± James said. The number of coins he had really ticked him off. It was 900 coins, but since he needed the health potion, the coins dropped back to 800. Nevertheless, the time for choosing his reward soon came. ¡°What should I choose?¡± James muttered. At first, the Rat King¡¯s arm seemed obvious. But so did the feet. He was getting tired of Sahuagin¡¯s feet. They felt a bit sluggish. ¡°Ugh¡­ the arm or the feet. If I choose the feet, I get two for the price of one. If I choose the arm, I would only get a marginal increase in my arm power. But what if the next stage is in water?¡± James muttered. His Sahuagin feet were indeed normal, just like human feet. But they worked wonders when James was underwater. James could only stare at the Rat King¡¯s corpse, ignoring the portal that had spawned beside it. Chapter 34: Third Floor ¡°Ugh¡­ I chose the Rat King¡¯s feet.¡± James finally made up his mind. He was hesitant. Increasing his arm power was important to him. The fact started to dawn on him how important stats were in weapon skill clashes. However, having better feet was crucial to him now. With better feet, he could dodge better, he could keep his posture better, and he might even escape if the battle didn¡¯t go according to his plan. If he was forced into yet another underwater battle, he could only pray he would be able to loot their corpses to replace these feet. He believed the system wouldn¡¯t suddenly put him underwater. The system might be cruel, but all of this was a test for humanity. He believed the system wouldn¡¯t put survivors in an unwinnable condition. James might be able to breathe underwater thanks to his Sahuagin¡¯s lungs, but how would a normal survivor breathe underwater? Dark motes of light swirled at the Rat King¡¯s corpse. His Chimera skill consumed the entirety of its corpse and transferred its power to James. James felt his height grow. He was unsteady and fell flat on his face at the sudden growth spurt. The scaly and small feet were now replaced by more muscular and longer feet. It took a while before James could get used to them. James had grown to a bit more than 2 meters. There was a mirror in his leather bag. He took it and peered into it. In the mirror, the face of a monster was still there. Of course, James didn¡¯t know why he even wanted to look at it. He hadn¡¯t used his Chimera skill to take a skin or head. But every time James changed, he wondered whether he changed for the better or worse. He consoled himself. Unlike the previous world, this world had stats now. His stats had increased, and that must mean he changed for the better. Of course, James didn¡¯t go into the portal. He had the whole room to check. As expected, he didn¡¯t find anything. This room was devoid of any coins or supplies that he sought. Grumbling, James decided to leap into the portal. After the usual white room, sunlight shone from the sky onto his scaly skin. James thought the sun was fake, but the warmth that he felt on his scales was undeniably real. James took a deep breath as he enjoyed the view. A vast expanse of green sprawled before his eyes. The verdant green of a savanna lay before him. James was teleported onto a cliff. A mountain was behind him, while a savanna lay before him. Brown deer grazed on the savanna. James winced as he noticed a white deer, larger than the rest of the pack, standing guard. What made him wince was its mouth. Unlike normal deer, this deer had a mouth like that of a wolf. Serrated teeth filled its maw as two pairs of fangs jutted out from it. Its antlers were like glass¡ªtranslucent and reflecting rainbows. ¡°This sure is a crazy world.¡± James sighed. A bit away from where the deer grazed, he saw a pack of tigers. Yup, a pack of tigers, not cheetahs. James almost ridiculed the system for putting the wrong animals inside a savanna. The most obvious difference was that tigers had black stripes while cheetahs had black dots on their fur. Tigers were also more muscular, while cheetahs were slimmer. James stopped looking at the uncanny valley the savanna had before him and focused on his immediate survival. His food and water supply were fine since he had butchered those mice on the previous floor. However, he needed shelter. This savanna and its lonely mountain offered little protection. Unlike the savanna below, the mountain was barren. If James could see those animals, they were bound to be able to see him. His scales might disguise him among the nearby rocks, but his leather armor, sword, and axe stood out like a sore thumb. Instead of climbing down and facing the field boss before him, James decided to climb up the mountain, trying to find himself shelter. As he ventured up the mountain, one stray tiger crossed his path. Thinking it was the same as the wolves from the dungeon trial, James equipped his war axe lazily, trying to engage it. Again, James¡¯s overconfidence proved that he was not the sharpest tool in the shed. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. James was about to cleave the tiger in two when he saw it approach. However, the tiger stopped a few meters away from him and opened its maw wide. Flames gushed out from its jaws, engulfing James and trying to fry him like a barbecue. ¡°Ouch! Damn it! My leather bag and armor!¡± James cursed as he threw his leather bag away. James struck gold. Thanks to his Komodo scales, James was invulnerable to the tiger¡¯s flame attack. However, despite his invulnerability, the scales didn¡¯t cover his eyes. The heat stung his eyes. As the flames settled down, a golden meteor flashed and went through its throat, exiting from the back of the tiger¡¯s head, ending its life swiftly. It was a quick battle, and James won it easily. But he cursed the heavens. ¡°Fucking tigers! Now my armor and bags are ruined!¡± As if adding salt to injury, the system told him that his crossbow was also damaged. On top of that, it also mentioned how many coins James had earned. [Congratulations. You have earned 10 coins. Would you like to fix your leather armor, bag, and crossbow for 150 coins?] ¡°Shit! What can I steal from this beast!¡± James cursed. However, his disappointment was gone in an instant as he saw what organs he could plunder from the tiger. [Available Body Parts:] Flaming Tiger¡¯s Legs (DEX +40%) (Leg Slot) Flaming Tiger¡¯s Fire Lung (Fire Breathing Skill) (Negative Trait: Mana -100, Magic -10) (Lung Slot) ¡°It¡¯s a lung slot? Not an extra slot?¡± James raised an eyebrow. That was an extremely good offer. His lungs right now allowed him to breathe underwater. But since there was no water in sight, they were basically useless. If he could change them into lungs that could breathe fire like a dragon, that would be awesome. [That is correct. However, you may install them in your extra slot if you wish. But as your extra slot is full, you must discard either your Water Mana Core or Spinneret.] ¡°Hell no. Let¡¯s change it now!¡± James said. [Installing¡­ Installation complete. Here are your stats.] [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 36 Coins: 800 Stats: STR: 125 DEX: 117 Magic: 71 Mana: 780 Skills: Magic: Unique Skill: Chimera: Equipment: James continued his search for shelter. In the end, he found a place. It was not ideal. However, James found two rocks side by side. If he used his spider thread, he should be able to enclose himself. After fixing his new home, the sun finally set. In the silent night, through the cracks of rocks, James gazed at the starry sky. James slept as he pondered how to conquer this floor tomorrow. Sometime in the future, Andrew gathered his fellow teammates before a nuclear reactor complex for the last briefing. ¡°Brothers and sisters, we have gathered here before the Onagawa Nuclear Reactor. The operator failed to press the SCRAM button before the world trial began. And so, this reactor remains active without a single personnel in it. We don¡¯t know what lurks beyond, but we must deactivate this nuclear reactor, or a meltdown like what happened in Chernobyl might come to pass. ¡°This reactor is medium difficulty, right? Are you sure we are prepared? To be honest, I don¡¯t buy the system¡¯s words. They said the difficulty in the dungeon trial was the same as a novice dungeon, but no one could confirm the truth. We already lost men in the novice dungeon.¡± one member said. ¡°Moreover, what good is fixing this one going to do for us? We still have another reactor in the hard zone.¡± Another member whined. ¡°Nevertheless, we must try. If we succeed in this one, we will tackle the hard one next. Kouki already went for the novice one,¡± Andrew said. He was an ambitious man. Just like Kouki, he too wanted to be a hero, admired by all. However, he was more mature; his purpose was firm as he genuinely wanted to help people. ¡°Come on, are you chickening out now? Kouki already got dibs on that nuclear reactor. Want to queue there instead?¡± another member smirked. ¡°Ah, yes. I shall speak about the queue.¡± Andrew¡¯s face suddenly turned grim. ¡°Do not send reinforcements immediately after the number goes down. You must wait at least two hours before sending the next batch.¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°As a precaution. If we bite off more than we can chew, you will know. That means Sora¡¯s suspicion is correct. The dungeon trial is much easier than a novice dungeon,¡± Andrew said. ¡°If the number goes down to three in that span of two hours, that means this dungeon is hopeless for our current level. You must level up in the novice dungeon first.¡± The members and Andrew looked at the PowerPoint slide. There, a replica of what was written by the system was displayed. [Dungeon name: jp2402 Dungeon level: medium Survivor: 0/10 Would you like to enter? y/n] The dungeon could only be filled with ten survivors. If the number decreased, that meant they died and new survivors could be sent in. There was no progress bar, no floor count on this information. Andrew had to challenge it blind. He could only hope he could win this. He wanted to matter. He wanted to save people. He was ready to sacrifice his life for the greater good of mankind. ¡°I see¡­ Are you sure you¡¯re okay with that, Andrew?¡± ¡°We have finished a dungeon trial. If not us, who else could tackle these dungeons and reclaim our Earth?¡± Andrew asked back. ¡°We are with you, boss! All ten of us shall prevail! And these twenty survivors behind me are also ready to sacrifice their lives for humanity!¡± Dune gave a military salute to Andrew. ¡°Please watch Kouki¡¯s dungeon too. Send backup if the number decreases. He has the highest chance of success, after all,¡± Andrew smiled. ¡°Yes, boss!¡± ¡°Alright! Let us march!¡± Andrew folded his map. All supplies, weapons, and guns were prepared for him. None knew that these supplies were useless to them, for they did not realize that dungeons forbade such things. None knew what the dungeon might hold for them. Chapter 35: Interlude Some time had passed since that meeting. Kaina finally reached California, where James had gone into a dungeon. Together with over ten fully equipped soldiers and a high-ranking diplomat, Kaina observed the dungeon. ¡°Are you sure he was last seen here?¡± the diplomat asked the soldier. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. According to the testimony from our soldiers, that monster disappeared right here.¡± A soldier pointed out. The soldier pressed on the invisible wall where James had gone into. A blue box message was displayed before them: [A dungeon lay before you. Would you like to enter?] That was all the message they could see. However, when Kaina pressed her hand on the same invisible wall, a different message was displayed. [Dungeon name: cf1902 Dungeon level: novice Survivor: 1/5 Would you like to enter? y/n] ¡°It can only hold five people¡­ And one has already entered,¡± Kaina muttered. Now, it was clear to them that James had gone into this dungeon. ¡°So, are we going?¡± the local soldiers asked. Kaina planned on venturing into the dungeon with fellow survivors; she had brought a level 10 survivor with her. But since she could only bring four more people, she hesitated. She was just level 1, and all survivors over level 20 had either gone to support Kouki and Andrew or gone rogue. Kaina stared at the invisible wall. Behind it lay an abandoned building. It was an old apartment complex, with parks and fences. With these soldiers, Kaina didn¡¯t think they would be able to face a floor boss. However, they didn¡¯t have to face a floor boss. All they needed to do was rendezvous with James and provide him with support. But did he even need support? Kaina had offended him once when she touched that golden ball of light. James was stronger than Kouki. He had faced multiple floor bosses. Kaina feared that what she did was unnecessary meddling. However, she couldn¡¯t outright refuse them. They had brought tanks, guns, rocket launchers, Kevlar vests, and even grenades. James was a high-leveled survivor, but it was proven that even he could be wounded by conventional weapons. If conventional weaponry was effective on James, it should be effective against mobs inside dungeons too. That¡¯s what Andrew and Kouki surmised. ¡°We might be there for a long time. Do we have food and water?¡± Kaina asked. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s in the truck,¡± the diplomat said. ¡°So, are you ready? I suggest we bring in you and three Navy SEAL members. They are the best of the best.¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t bring civilians¡­ This should be left to the military¡­¡± a general who accompanied the diplomat voiced his concern. ¡°Normally, that¡¯s true. But we need a guide. Kaina has been to a trial dungeon and survived there. She might not contribute much in combat, but we need her knowledge. Moreover, the survivor who went here has been attacked by our military.¡± ¡°I see. So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± the general asked. ¡°We planned to bring a team of seven people with an expert negotiator and Kaina, right? But I see that is no longer an option.¡± "The plan needed to be changed drastically. Since we could only bring four people, we could either leave the negotiation entirely to Kaina and bring three soldiers, or we could bring two soldiers and a negotiator with Kaina. Kaina, what do you think?" The diplomat looked at her. The fact that Kaina had to talk to James sent shivers up her spine. "Um¡­ I think we would need a negotiator. Hopefully, one that could apologize properly¡­" Kaina muttered. She might be a survivor, but Kaina was merely a high school girl. The diplomat sighed. The world had changed. Survivors were seen as either superheroes or supervillains. He himself had seen Kouki manage to block bullets with his sword, just like in action movies. Nevertheless, Kaina was only a level 1 survivor. "Maybe we should send John instead." "Um¡­ I think Kaina will be better. She is a girl, and James personally stopped his axe from killing Kouki because of her. I had stabbed him in the stomach with my spear, after all. He probably wants to kill me. I will come as support, though," John, a level 10 survivor, answered. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Alright. So be it. Are you guys ready?" "Yes, sir!" soldiers saluted. They shouldered their heavy backpacks filled with ammo, MREs, and water bottles as if carrying school bags. Kaina knew that those bags weighed about 40 kilos. Even she had trouble carrying them despite being a survivor. She touched the invisible barrier and said yes to its query. White light flashed. Kaina, along with three other people, was enveloped within its light and transferred into the dungeon. "My guns are gone!" Andre, one of the soldiers who joined Kaina, exclaimed. "Our supplies are gone too! Only water remains," Sanders said. Kaina quickly checked her belongings. Just as the soldiers said, all of her supplies had disappeared during the transfer. They didn''t know that the system forbade bringing any unregistered weapons into the dungeon. Moreover, it had strict standards. Their MREs had combustible oil inside. The system forbade that too. Their expensive Kevlar vests, guns, and even knives were left outside the dungeon. The system didn''t leave them to their own devices. The negotiator, who was also in the army, was given a dagger. Sanders was given a short sword, while Andre was given a leather shield. Kaina, unfortunately, hadn''t brought her spear. She cursed herself for her own stupidity. She thought guns would suffice. Now, she was unarmed in a wasteland with nothing to defend herself. Moreover, her guards had also lost all of their weapons. "We had a rough start. Let us tally our losses." Sanders, the impromptu squad leader, gathered the rest of the team. "I lost almost everything, but somehow, there is a sword I don''t remember bringing." "We lost practically everything. All of our food except bread and cookies. All of our ammunition and spare weapons. All our tools¡ªnight vision goggles, radars, mines, grenades. Even our Kevlar vests. All that we have left is water," Andre reported. "I have a shield, though." "Same," Anderson, the negotiator, reported. "A dagger for me." "Same. But I didn¡¯t get any weapons," Kaina nodded down. She now realized that she had screwed up. Now she had to face the dungeon with nothing but her clothes. "Well, at least we still have weapons. Never thought that CQC lessons we were taught back in the academy would be so helpful now," Sanders sighed. They were transported not to a savanna, but an office floor. Seeing the modern look of this office made Kaina question herself. "Is this the dungeon?" [Correct. You are now in dungeon cf1902.] Sanders and the others weren¡¯t certified survivors yet. The system didn¡¯t answer them. ¡°Damn, you guys were fighting those kinds of things?¡± Andre pointed toward the corpse of the abomination rat James had killed. He had frozen it, and while the corpse had decomposed a bit, it still retained its original shape. ¡°James did. He is very strong. Do not antagonize him,¡± Kaina answered. ¡°Noted.¡± Anderson nodded. A squeaking sound was heard, and it sent shivers down Kaina¡¯s neck. Any sound not made by her team could only mean one thing¡ªenemies. In contrast to what James and Kouki thought, dungeons respawned their monsters. The only thing was that they respawned only when there were no survivors on that floor. A rat, as large as Kaina, stood at the entrance. Its sharp incisors threatened to cut the newcomers to shreds. The group stared blankly at the impossible scene for a second before Sanders barked an order. ¡°Stop gawking and take formations! Enemy sighted!¡± ¡°That rat is fucking huge!¡± Andre, with his shield, took the front. CQC techniques taught in military academies only worked against humans. They were never used against monsters as large as the rat before them. The rat charged. Kaina leaped away from the battle and hid in the corner, behind some sofas with white threads dangling from them. Without weapons, she was useless. Even with weapons, she hadn¡¯t had experience with live combat yet. Kouki had monopolized all the kills in the trial dungeons, leaving her with nothing. Anderson flanked the enemy from behind. They might be new to this kind of enemy, but they had to persevere. He lunged at the rat from the back while its attention was on Andre. His dagger stabbed deeply into its back. ¡°Aghh!!¡± Andre screamed in pain as the two incisors stabbed into his shield. Anderson¡¯s daggers drew blood from the rat, but its huge body made such damage insignificant. Sanders charged in with his sword. Even though he was supposed to be proficient in close combat, his inexperience against monsters proved fatal. If he had gone for a stab instead of a slash, he would have been victorious. Nevertheless, his CQC training often favored slashes as they weakened the opponent and limited openings. The rat survived. It kept gnawing on the shield, eventually snapping it in half as Andre¡¯s arm became the next target. ¡°AAGH!! Help!¡± Sharp pain shot through his wrist as the incisors gnawed at it. ¡°Die, you bastard! Die!!¡± Sanders abandoned his useless CQC training and slashed at the rat wildly. The rat squealed in pain as it felt its flank being torn open. Finally recognizing Sanders¡¯ effort, it threw Andre onto the sofas where Kaina hid and aimed for him. As it lunged forward, Sanders finally did something right. He thrust his short sword into its mouth. The blade penetrated deep into its brain, killing it instantly as its incisors drew blood from his hand. ¡°Die! Die!¡± Anderson, thinking the rat was still alive, kept stabbing his puny dagger into its back. ¡°He is dead, Anderson. I think he is dead.¡± Sanders panted as he felt the weight of the rat pressing on his body. Its snout almost went for a kiss on his mouth. Sanders winced in disgust as the smell of sewage assaulted his nostrils. Then, a blue box appeared before the three soldiers. [Congratulations! You have won against your first usurpers! The System deems you worthy and will grant you status and unique skills. Congratulations on becoming survivors without undergoing a dungeon trial.] ¡°What the heck¡­¡± Sanders, Anderson, and Andre winced. And with that, the three soldiers finally got their first status after answering the system¡¯s queries. Soon, they would get their unique skills and level up. But it would still take them a long time to catch up to James. As to what unique skills they possessed, only time would tell. Chapter 36: Open World ¡°That¡¯s the boss, right?¡± Hiro gazed at the savanna before him, looking directly at the huge carnivorous-looking deer with rainbow crystals as its antlers. [Yes, that is correct. That is a boss monster. If you defeat it, you may proceed to the next floor.] ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to answer that.¡± James raised an eyebrow when he heard the system give an honest answer. That happened rarely. James knew the system was constantly changing, so he wondered whether it would open up or hide more classified information in the future. If that were the case, then that meant there was a sentient being operating the system. ¡°What level is it? Can I take it on?¡± [That information is classified.] ¡°Figures.¡± James blew fire on his rat meat for breakfast. He could eat meat raw with no problem thanks to his goblin stomach, but roasting the meat brought out its flavor more. And he felt his humanity returning when he did so. There was a lot of grass around, but he didn¡¯t want to cause a bushfire, so he went about it just like he had previously. ¡°I am a dragon now!¡± James roared as fire blew out from his mouth. He could increase or decrease the intensity of the flame by how hard he expelled air from his lungs. Of course, his lungs were reinforced by mana. He wouldn''t blow fire if he didn¡¯t want to. [Dragonkin have different types of scales. Some have either cycloid or placoid scales, unlike you, who have keeled scales.] ¡°It was just a figure of speech! Don¡¯t mind it too much!¡± James shrugged off the system. Another tiger came in as he pondered the blue sky and the vast expanse of the savanna. James quickly threw his damaged leather bag aside and faced it. ¡°Fire breathing technique! Fire breath!¡± James couldn¡¯t help but shout out his delusion. The tigers could spit fire. However, they were not resistant to it. The tiger yelped as James¡¯s fire reached it. James quickly followed up with a crossbow bolt to its body. The golden meteor pierced through, killing it. Using his dagger, James carved out its meat and threw away his slightly rotten rat meat. Afterward, he washed it off with his water magic. The tiger meat was much more delicious than rat meat. It was firm, and as he tore through it, the meat juice flowed out. The thin fat on its leg meat gave a subtle flavor. James gazed at the savanna from the mountain. The reason he didn''t go there immediately was due to how the monsters in the savanna often formed groups. James was confident he could deal with mobs like ratmen or goblins, no matter how many there were. But these tigers and deer were clearly above them. ¡°Those antlers definitely have skills embedded in them.¡± Nevertheless, James couldn''t do anything by just staring at them. He had to act. So, he began with the tiger group. James thought he had an advantage over them. The tigers had a fire-breathing attack, and James¡¯s scales were resistant to it. However, James knew that his scales were not perfect. The tigers could still wound him with their fangs and claws. His leather armor was useless against the tigers'' flaming breath. James decided to descend the mountain. As if designed by the gods above, the path split into two¡ªeast leading to the savanna where the tigers roamed, and west leading to the savanna where the deer resided. James chose the east. Slinging up his damaged leather bag, he climbed down the mountain path. As expected, the tigers spotted him from a mile away. They stood up from their resting spots on the rocks and began approaching. The knee-deep savanna grass did little to conceal their figures. James realized they were much taller than he had thought, reaching up to his chest. Throwing his leather bag into a corner, James prepared his crossbow. The wood on the handle and arms of the crossbow had chipped and blackened from the fire breath of the previous tiger, but it still functioned. James aimed at the nearest tiger. Before it came within his optimal range, the tigers turned away, keeping their distance. ¡°Are they smarter than they look?¡± James swept his gaze across the savanna. Their behavior reminded him of the wolves from the second floor of the dungeon trial. He shot at one of the tigers, but at such a distance, it effortlessly evaded the bolt. James was wrong¡ªthey weren¡¯t stalking him. They were waiting for their leader to arrive before flanking him. James brandished his axe and sword. The Tiger King stood three heads taller than the rest, with massive fangs jutting nearly a meter from its maw. James dubbed it the Tiger King. James roared and took the initiative, breathing fire at the towering beast. Flames spewed from his mouth, bathing the Tiger King in an inferno. He didn¡¯t stop there¡ªJames spread his flames around, lighting the surrounding savanna grass on fire. The tigers that had tried to surround him fled in terror¡ªall except the king. ¡°Damn. I want that fur,¡± James muttered as he saw the king¡¯s coat blazing. However, the Tiger King didn¡¯t look to be in pain. The flames danced across its fur as if they originated from within. The king roared, retaliating with a fiery breath of its own. James¡¯s scales were immune to fire, but his eyes were not. He instinctively covered them as he withstood the baptism of flames. Seeing that fire was ineffective, James conjured and hurled ice spears at the Tiger King. Despite its massive size, the beast was incredibly agile. It leaped like a cheetah from rock to rock, dodging the frozen projectiles with ease. Flames ignited with every step it took. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A golden glow enveloped James¡¯s axe. With a lunge, a golden meteor shot toward the Tiger King. Animals shouldn¡¯t be able to use weapon skills. As long as James could close in and unleash a weapon skill, he believed he could win. How wrong he was. The Tiger King caught the axe between its fangs. Though the sheer force of the skill sent it flying backward, the beast landed on its feet in the blink of an eye¡ªlike a true feline. It immediately launched itself at James again. James swung his sword, aiming to strike mid-air. This time, the Tiger King didn¡¯t try to block. Instead, its claws tore through James¡¯s flank as they passed each other. James felt a sharp pain in his flank. Blood gushed from his stomach as the beast¡¯s claws tore past it. James'' sword struck its back, carving a deep gash. Both beasts roared. A golden glow shone from James¡¯ axe, but the beast was faster. It grappled James to the ground, its claws digging deep into his shoulder. The meteor-like light flickered and faded as James lost the posture necessary to activate his skill. The beast¡¯s maw opened wide, its two massive fangs threatening to sink into James¡¯ shoulder. Instinct drove it to lunge¡ªbut the Tiger King wasn¡¯t the only one with fangs. James had his own. He may have lost the initiative, but in the contest of strength, he was winning. James sank his teeth into its throat as ice began to spread across his skin, creeping onto the beast¡¯s flaming fur. Fire and ice clashed. White vapor engulfed both combatants as they grappled for dominance. As the mist cleared, a single shadow stood firm. James was victorious. His body was riddled with wounds, but he had triumphed. The Waterspout Dagger in his hand, once unused in battle, was now drenched in the Tiger King¡¯s blood. James had finally used it for its intended purpose¡ªto kill his enemy. With a decisive thrust, he stabbed the dagger into the beast¡¯s carotid artery. The Tiger King struggled, clawing frantically at James, lacerating his flesh. But the fatal wound had already been dealt. [Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 37!] [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 37 Coins: 800 Stats: STR: 127 (¡ü2) DEX: 120 (¡ü3) MAGIC: 74 (¡ü3) MANA: 800 (¡ü20) Skills: Magic: Unique Skill - Chimera: Equipment: James received his level-up notification, but his Chimera Skill did not activate. He quickly realized the reason. The ten tigers that had fled earlier had returned¡ªbraving the flames of the savanna. Their singed fur smoldered from the fire, but their rage burned even hotter. They had come for vengeance. Recklessly, they charged straight at James. ¡°ARGHH! Come here, you pussycat!¡± James roared as he forcefully stopped the bleeding by freezing the wound. He then picked up his axe and sword from the ground. The spiderweb that had tied them to his body had burned to a crisp. ¡°DIE!¡± James spat out fire from his mouth, turning another tiger into a sizzling barbecue with his new breath attack. Ducking down, a golden glow shone on his sword. As the tigers charged at him, he spun around while leaping. The golden meteor traced an arc upward and around his body, sending four of them flying. Blood gushed as his longsword tore through their fur. Four dead. Six more to go. James spewed another burst of fire breath. One advantage his fire breath had over his ice magic was its activation speed. It wasn¡¯t much, but he definitely felt that his ice spells had slowed down¡ªfrom one second to three seconds lately. He had figured out the reason. Thanks to his golem heart, golem arm, and now his new lungs, his magic stat had been steadily decreasing. It didn¡¯t appear on his status window, but he could definitely feel it. James raged on. The tigers did everything they could, but with their flames being ineffective against his Komodo scales, they only had their fangs and claws left. Unlike the Tiger King, their fangs couldn¡¯t even hold up against James'' normal slashing attacks. One by one, they all fell. James lay sprawled on the burned savanna. He was out of breath, and his body ached all over from the lacerations inflicted by those beasts. If there was one thing positive about his transformation, it was his guts. James was no longer a pushover. Even when surrounded by tigers as big as himself, he showed no fear and faced them all. Rain soon poured from the sky, dousing the flames that had burned part of the savanna. As he considered buying health potions, his Chimera Skill finally appeared, signaling that he was no longer in combat. The skill also displayed the Tiger King¡¯s fur. [Available Body Parts:] [You have obtained 200 coins.] Chapter 37: Chimera 2 ¡°Hm? Where are the lungs?¡± James scanned the body parts listed by his Chimera skill. The lungs were nowhere to be found. [The lungs of the Flaming Tiger Lord are the same as those of the other tigers. We took the liberty of hiding them from you.] ¡°They¡¯re the same? It looked like it had a stronger fire-breathing attack,¡± James muttered. Nevertheless, that was not his main concern right now. His body was battered and held together by sheer willpower. ¡°That¡¯s for later. Should I buy health potions?¡± James asked. He now had 1,000 coins, enough to upgrade his Chimera skill. [We suggest that Survivor James take the Flaming Tiger Lord¡¯s Fur. Using Chimera to acquire the Flaming Tiger Lord¡¯s Fur will instantly heal all lacerations on your body. However, if you choose a different body part, we recommend either using health potions to treat the lacerations on your scales or resting for a full week to allow them to heal naturally.] ¡°Ah! I almost forgot about that. Hurry, then. Take the fur!¡± James exclaimed. He had forgotten that he had swapped out his original arms and legs for goblin limbs because his own were bloodied all over. Dark motes of light consumed the beast and then transferred to James. His scales soon molted as black-striped fur grew from his skin. It was different from that of the alpha wolf¡ªit was a bit thinner, but it had skills. James felt his fur draining his mana, and heat gathered around it. James flicked his fingers. As he channeled mana into them, flames ignited along his arm, cloaking it in fiery fire. ¡°Neat!¡± James smirked. He then plopped down and leaned on one of the tiger corpses. The Chimera skill might have cured his wounds, but it didn¡¯t restore his lost blood. As the sun began to set, James regretted changing his fur a bit. ¡°Ugh. This skill might look cool, but how am I going to use it?¡± Unless he was grappling or hugging his enemy, the skill felt useless. The Komodo dragon¡¯s scales had offered more physical resistance than this fur. Without them, James might have suffered more deadly lacerations from the tiger¡¯s claws and fangs. Moreover, he suffered additional mana and magic penalties. After resting for a bit, James finally looked at his coins. ¡°I can upgrade my Chimera skill, right?¡± [That is correct. You can also upgrade your Advanced Shop to Level 2 for 1,000 coins. You could also purchase another magic skill from your Mind Principle.] ¡°Huh?¡± James had been set on upgrading his Chimera skill, but the new option made him hesitate. As always, he was indecisive. This trait remained even after he had turned into a monster. ¡°Oh yeah, I almost forgot about mind magic. How much does it cost, and what magic will I get?¡± [The next upgrade to your Mind Magic will cost 500 coins. However, the specific magic you will obtain is classified.] ¡°I see. Well, I kinda expected you to say that. I should use this magic more often. It creates phantom pain, right? Can I use it on myself?¡± [You may use it on yourself. However, the System will not be responsible for any damage incurred.] ¡°It will only create temporary pain, right?¡± James asked to make sure. [Yes. The pain will be temporary. It will not create lasting damage.] James tried his Mind Flay. First, he shot out his magic. Then, he curved the magic into himself. Suddenly, pain shot up all around his body. It was as if hundreds of hot knives were making thin slices across his flesh. ¡°ARGH!!¡± James groaned as he fell to the ground, writhing. He felt so stupid for even offering himself as a guinea pig for his own magic. ¡°When will it stop?¡± [The magic will continue for approximately 3 minutes.] ¡°Fuck!¡± James cursed as the pain changed. This time, he felt as if his insides were being put through a blender. James inadvertently vomited his lunch as the agony assaulted him. The System had said it would incapacitate enemies by causing them pain. He thought it would only distract them with a sudden sharp sting in the back or something. He never expected the magic to inflict unbearable torment like this for a full three minutes. After another three minutes of groaning and bashing his head against the ground in agony, the pain suddenly vanished¡ªlike it had never been there in the first place. James gasped, drenched in sweat. ¡°Shit, I am never doing that again.¡± [By the way, you may purchase a Dispel spell. It will dispel any magic from the same principle for 300 coins flat. This price will not increase.] ¡°I can use Dispel to remove any magic from the Mind Principle?¡± James asked. [As long as the tier is the same. You may not dispel magic if your opponent has a higher-tier spell.] ¡°I see. Skip that, please.¡± James groaned. As always, the world was harsh. The Dispel skill wouldn¡¯t make him invulnerable to mind magic¡ªit would only work on lower-tier spells. He decided to put magic on the back burner for now. It had potential, sure, but he¡¯d focus on it once he had more coins to experiment with different spells. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. [Understood. So, will you upgrade your Chimera skill, or will you upgrade your Advanced Shop?] ¡°What does Shop Level 2 have to offer?¡± James asked. For a brief second, he felt stupid for even asking¡ªthis kind of information was usually classified. However, to his surprise, the System actually answered. [The second level of the Advanced Shop offers a High Potion. This potion can regenerate a lost limb. It also offers potions for status ailments. The three potions available for sale are Life-Leeching Potion, Paralysis Potion, and Corrosive Potion.] ¡°I see. But I don¡¯t have a normal body, right? If I lost my Orc Hands and used a High Potion, what would happen?¡± [In the unique case of Survivor James, if you lose more than 30% of a modified limb, you will regenerate your original human hand. Note: Golem Hands cannot be healed with High Potions as they are repairable through shop functions.] ¡°Well, that¡¯s a no. I¡¯m already immune to poisons, and these hands are good as they are. Let¡¯s upgrade my Chimera skill.¡± James was about to dismiss the Shop Level 2 upgrade when the last line from the System snapped his gaze back to the screen. [The Advanced Shop Level 2 also offers the ability to buy unneeded monster parts.] ¡°What?¡± [We will buy the full corpses of the tigers you have defeated for a set price.] ¡°How much will these tigers be worth if I sell them to the System?¡± James asked. But the System dashed his hopes yet again. [That information is classified.] ¡°Fuck you! You tell me all that and choose this exact moment to keep it a secret?¡± James roared. He couldn¡¯t contain his irritation at the System for playing him like this. The blue box from the System seemed to respond smugly. [That is correct.] ¡°You know what? I¡¯m not going to play your game. Just get me that Chimera skill upgrade.¡± James sighed. [Your Chimera skill is now Level 2. Here is your updated Status.] Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 37 Coins: 0 Stats: Skills: Magic: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2 (¡ü1): Equipment: ¡°So, what does Chimera Level 2 do?¡± James asked. His status screen had indicated an upgrade, but it offered no immediate insight into the benefits. [Chimera Level 2 offers two additional extra slots. Additionally, you may dismantle a body part without installing it.] ¡°Hm? What does that mean?¡± [For example, if you choose to extract a tiger¡¯s legs, the Chimera Skill will remove them and place them before you. You then have two options: consume them or store them as a spare in case you lose your own legs in battle. However, there is a limitation when it comes to living creatures. The extracted body parts will begin to decompose within three days. If they are not used within that time frame, they will become unusable, and the Chimera Skill will no longer be able to integrate them into your body.] The system¡¯s explanation made James pause. He suddenly recalled asking if his Chimera Skill could be used to skin animals and harvest their meat. Now, it seemed he wouldn¡¯t have to butcher them manually anymore. A useful ability¡ªbut not one critical for his survival. His gaze flicked back to his Coins: 0. A sinking dread settled in his chest. If he got wounded, he wouldn¡¯t be able to afford a health potion. He had no safety net. No second chances. James clenched his fists. He couldn¡¯t afford recklessness in the next battle. As if the world had sensed his vulnerability, fate delivered a new threat. The White Stag emerged from the dark. It wasn¡¯t alone. A herd of brown deer followed, their numbers thick and their presence unsettling. James had no idea what skills they possessed. His body was weary, his equipment in shambles. A direct fight was not an option. He turned and fled into the night. Luck was on his side. The deer didn¡¯t pursue him. Instead, the White Stag approached the corpses of the fallen tigers. Its crystal antlers pulsed with a radiant glow, and something miraculous happened¡ªthe burned savanna came back to life. James watched, wide-eyed, as grass sprouted from the blackened earth. The wasteland transformed into a lush, green meadow, vibrant and full of life. James took a cautious step back, pressing himself behind a tree. He was certain the stag would leave soon. He was wrong. The White Stag lifted its head and let out a deep bellow. Its luminous eyes locked onto James. A chilling realization struck him¡ªDungeon monsters always hunt survivors Chapter 38: Field Boss ¡°Shit!¡± James cursed. The deer formed a formation as they trotted toward James. The deer bellowed once more, its crystal antlers shone in the setting sun. Through his mana eyes, James could see a green glow swirling around it, enveloping two deer that charged at him. James almost plopped his eyes open when the deer¡¯s head transformed into a battering ram. Its horns changed shape as bones grew out from them, forming a wall with multiple spikes. With haste, James breathed fire on it. In addition, he formed multiple ice spears as he braced for the impact. The fire breath engulfed the deer. However, it proved futile. The charging deer kept going. James did well under pressure. He formed ice steps with his ice magic and leaped above the charging deer. He then cast his mind magic on the deer as a golden glow gathered on his axe. However, the deer didn¡¯t stop. They didn¡¯t look like they were in pain as they charged past him, faster than his axe skill could catch. ¡°What the¡­¡± James muttered in disbelief. Mind magic inflicted enormous pain on any living animal. It was not something one could just shrug off. James had no time to stare at the scene before him as two more brown deer charged at him. This time, they didn¡¯t turn into a battering ram, but their whole bodies opened up, revealing gaping maws with many teeth scattered across them. James formed an ice pillar below his leg, propelling him upward. The beasts, only knowing the flat savanna, didn¡¯t have the concept of three-dimensional maneuvering. James fired off ice spears one after another at the leaping brown deer. ¡°Got them!¡± James smirked as his spears stabbed the two brown deer and pinned them to the ground. However, their bodies changed again. Like sentient slime, their flesh separated from the ice spears that were pinning them. James blew fire on them, but the charred flesh fell off their bodies as if they were molting. Soon, pink flesh and brown fur replaced what was lost. ¡°What is wrong with these deer?¡± James cursed as he made another ice pillar to leap away from the charging deer. Knowing it was futile to deal with these brown deer, James turned his attention to the white stag. A golden glow shone from his crossbow. The yellow meteor flashed toward the white stag, only for another brown deer to leap before it and take the brunt of the attack. Like before, the brown deer molted its flesh and regrew it anew. ¡°I see. So, that¡¯s your game.¡± James nodded in understanding. He finally knew what game these deer were playing. These brown deer were somehow linked to the white stag¡¯s antlers, like a puppet and puppet master. Those antlers controlled the brown deer, and James couldn¡¯t kill them without killing the white stag first. James ran toward the white stag. The stag bellowed once more, and all the deer dashed toward it. James cursed as he couldn¡¯t outrun the brown deer, even with his new feet. ¡°I should consider having four legs next time,¡± James muttered as he made another jump with an ice pillar. The brown deer gathered beside the white stag. Then, it fused into one. It grew to be as big as the white stag. The pair stood side by side. ¡°You guys aren¡¯t suited for each other!¡± James scoffed at the pair of white and brown deer. As if taking his insult to heart, the fused deer rushed at him. Its form changed into that of a bear with a huge maw. ¡°ARGHH!¡± James spewed flames as he roared. Red flames doused the huge bear, cooking it alive. Afterwards, James doused the flames with his ice magic. It had no effect. Even with charred flesh, the ever-changing beast lunged. James made another pillar below his feet. This time, he aimed much higher. The stupid beast fell for the same trick again; they had no way to counter James¡¯ tactics. As he passed it, James fired ice arrows and mind magic at it. Dirt flew from the ground, deflecting the ice arrows that came toward the stag. However, mind magic couldn¡¯t be seen or deflected by physical means. It continued on its path to the white stag, hitting it squarely in the face. The beast bellowed harder as it fell to the ground. James glanced at the brown deer, which also collapsed. As he expected, both deer were actually a single entity. With the brown deer out of commission, James charged at the white stag. His anger and fury gathered in the golden glow of his axe. A slash carved a deep gash into its flank. The deer bellowed once more as its horns emitted a rainbow glow. ¡°DIE!¡± James followed up with another slash from his longsword. Blood spurted out like a fountain. Grass sprouted from the ground, binding James. However, he had the perfect counter to this skill. Using his fire cloak ability, James burned away all the roots that tried to bind him. Like a fiery demon from hell, James continued. ¡°It¡¯s regenerating. Is this deer immortal?¡± James cursed as he was forced to disengage when the brown deer finally shook off its mental assault and lunged at him, trying to defend its mate. Within seconds, all the damage James had done to the white stag had regenerated. None of the wounds, blood, or viscera were visible, as if time had reversed before James attacked it. The white stag bared its wolf-like mouth, showing its sharp teeth as it growled. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Are you a deer or a wolf? Not like I can say anything about it since I¡¯m a chimera¡­¡± James muttered as the white stag snarled, showing its fangs and sharp canines. Its antlers grew radiant with rainbow colors. James fired off his Mind Flay ability, coupled with several ice arrows, at the white stag. Like before, the brown deer stepped before the white stag and took the brunt of the attack. James chuckled at how simple-minded these creatures were. His Mind Flay magic curved around, aiming at the white stag from its blind spot. The white stag was stunned once again, and James dashed forward, flanking it. Again, he unleashed his axe and sword skills upon its body, gouging a massive gash into its flesh. Again, the crystal antlers shone as its body regenerated faster than James could harm it. ¡°Ugh¡­ should I just do it? I¡¯m getting tired¡­¡± James was unsteady on his feet. He was exhausted. He had taken on the Flame Tiger before dealing with the deer, all without any breaks. James knew what had to be done, but he hesitated. ¡°I want those antlers¡­ but my life comes first,¡± James said. He cursed his luck. He knew the antlers were powerful. However, somehow, the system made it so he couldn¡¯t kill the stag without destroying them. James couldn¡¯t use his Chimera ability on a destroyed body part. Just like on the second floor of the trial dungeon, he hadn¡¯t been able to plunder that alpha wolf¡¯s horn since he had destroyed it. ¡°Fuck it! Bring it on! Your days are numbered!¡± James roared as flames engulfed the white stag once more. The brown stag recovered quicker this time. James saw the world flicker as his exhaustion reached its limit. However, he persevered. James cast another Mind Flay and fired ice spears. As soon as they struck the stag, he sprinted toward it. ¡°Die!¡± A golden glow shone from his axe. James leaped, guiding the golden meteor to the stag¡¯s antlers. As the hit connected, the precious antlers shattered like glass. This time, the white stag roared in pain. The brown deer melted into the ground, its flesh decaying as the magic that sustained its existence was severed. Reeling from the pain, the stag saw its life flash before its eyes. Its duty, its purpose of keeping the savanna safe, had now come to an end. James let out another golden glow from his sword. This time, he aimed at its neck, slicing its carotid artery. Without its antlers, the beast had no way to regenerate. Accepting its fate, it stopped resisting as James continued to hack at its neck, severing it from its body. The gargantuan stag, as big as a two-story bus, finally fell, and James gained another level up. [Congratulations. You have leveled up to Level 38. You have earned 100 coins.] Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 38 Coins: 100 Stats: Skills: Magic: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] Available Body Parts: ¡°Shit! No antlers!¡± James cursed. He felt like crying. However, the battle was now over. [Chimera couldn¡¯t plunder a destroyed body part.] ¡°I know! I¡¯m just venting!¡± James plopped down. Exhaustion surged through him as his consciousness flickered. Using his magic, he washed himself and took a sip of fresh water. The sun had set long ago, and stars dotted the sky. The two crescent moons adorned the night, like the centerpiece of a crown jewel. ¡°Ugh¡­ I have to find shelter¡­¡± James muttered. But exhaustion had truly caught up to him. He had lost a decent amount of blood fighting the tiger. Then, he had to deal with its underlings. And shortly after, he had fought the white stag. ¡°As expected. I hate wandering bosses,¡± James muttered as he fell unconscious. He collapsed onto the soft fur of the bloodied white stag and drifted off to dreamland. As the moons watched over him, a golden portal silently spawned several meters away, signaling that James had cleared the level. One might think this was the perfect moment to ambush him. However, the creatures of the savanna knew better than to mess with someone who had defeated their boss. James was merely asleep, not critically injured. The few stray tigers and normal stags could only watch him from afar. Despite the hatred the system had instilled in them, their survival instincts won out. James slept safe and sound until the next morning arrived. Chapter 39: Fourth Floor ¡°I fell asleep!¡± James woke up with a start as the sun shone into his eyes. The realization that he had fallen asleep in the middle of a dungeon without cover sent him reeling. He immediately looked to his left and right but found nobody. ¡°Shit. That was dangerous,¡± James muttered under his breath. He still felt groggy, but he persevered. ¡°System, how many coins do I have today?¡± [You have 100 coins remaining.] ¡°Well, no upgrades then,¡± James muttered. He then looked at the corpse of the white stag. ¡°Can I have the meat?¡± [You may choose a body part. Will you choose torso meat without skin?] ¡°Yes,¡± James nodded. He couldn¡¯t plunder anything useful from the deer since he had destroyed its antlers. Soon, meat lined up before him¡ªa delicious pile of red meat stacked like a mountain. James stuffed all of it into his backpack. ¡°How many coins do I need to repair my equipment?¡± The golden portal beside the deer¡¯s corpse didn¡¯t escape James¡¯ notice, but he didn¡¯t want to go there naked. [You would need 150 coins to repair your leather armor, crossbow, leather bag, and Cloak of Dark Night.] ¡°I don¡¯t have enough coins for that, right? Crossbow first.¡± [That would require 50 coins.] ¡°Do it. Next is the leather bag.¡± [That would require 20 coins.] ¡°The cloak?¡± [That would require 20 coins.] ¡°Done.¡± All in all, James was left with 10 coins. The reason he decided to put off repairing his leather armor was simple¡ªit would just end up breaking again if he used his fire cloak ability. He could limit the fire output to just his hands, but he decided to push that problem for later. For now, he would make do with his boots, vambraces, and gauntlets. ¡°Ugh. These are rickety too,¡± James muttered as he examined his gauntlets. The damage was extensive, proof of how hard he had fought. As James walked closer to the golden gate, he stopped and pondered. Something felt missing. Something important, yet he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. ¡°Hm¡­ Something seems to be missing on this floor. Something that should be here but isn¡¯t,¡± James muttered. A light bulb soon lit up in his head. ¡°Oh yeah! Fuck! I haven¡¯t found a single treasure chest here!¡± [Treasure chest locations are classified information.] ¡°I know. I¡¯m going to wander around until I find them!¡± James said as he slung his leather bag over his shoulder. James ventured through the vast savanna, but he couldn¡¯t find anything. The open world provided little cover, making the search quicker than expected. However, that didn¡¯t console him in the slightest. No matter how hard he looked, he couldn¡¯t find the chest. ¡°Is it in that mountain?¡± James stared at the only possible location¡ªthe lone mountain that stood behind him. After another hour of searching the savanna, he returned to the golden portal empty-handed. James retraced his steps toward the mountain. The arduous climb took him until sunset before he finally reached the top. There, he climbed even higher until he found a cave¡ªor rather, a pit. It didn¡¯t look like a typical cave entrance. It was a narrow hole, barely large enough for him to squeeze through. Nevertheless, James¡¯s gamer instinct told him this was where the chest lay. Using his spider web, James rappelled down the narrow pit. At the bottom, the cave opened up. It was still narrow, but just enough for him to pass while crouching. By focusing his fire cloak ability on just his hands, James lit up the dark cave. Unlike the previous dungeon, this cave was completely pitch black. ¡°Fuck!¡± James cursed as he felt a lizard bite his skin. The small critter quickly scurried away. He felt his finger go numb for a second before a blue notification box appeared before him. [Poison nullified.] ¡°I¡¯m not going to change my mind anytime soon,¡± James muttered. He was a solo player, and he knew how dangerous it would be if he fell unconscious due to paralysis or poison. Having a golem core that granted poison immunity was a godsend. Using his spinneret once again, James traversed the cave. ¡°Shit! DIE! You ass!¡± A flock of lizards bore down on him. James activated his fire cloak ability. In addition, he unleashed his fire breath for an extra push, frying them all in a fiery blaze. ¡°Finally! A chest!¡± James sighed in relief. However, as he approached, a sense of dread crept up his spine. The cave was narrow. If something flew his way, there would be no escape. His gamer instinct screamed that this chest was trapped. James looked back. The cave was a straight line. However, he was resourceful. He formed a thick ice shield in front of him. Learning from his previous experiences, he nudged the chest from afar. The chest sprang open at once, releasing a thick purple smoke that quickly filled the room. ¡°Shit!¡± James quickly enclosed the cave with his ice shield, trapping the purple smoke within. ¡°What poison is that?¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. [Information is classified. Please inhale or touch some of the gas before asking.] ¡°That gas is right in front of my eyes! Are you telling me the information is classified until I actually experience it?¡± [Yes. That is correct.] ¡°Fuck you. I¡¯m not doing it!¡± James cursed. After sealing the cave tight, he waited a few meters away with bated breath. This world had its own laws. On Earth, poisonous gas wouldn¡¯t dissipate in a sealed room. However, in this world, every poison had a time limit once it met open air. James could only pray the smoke would vanish. James had come to understand this world. True to his belief, the purple smoke dissipated after ten minutes. A part of him was curious about what poison it was, but he wasn¡¯t about to risk his body to find out¡ªeven if the golem core supposedly protected him from all poison. ¡°Is the information still classified?¡± James dispelled his shield and carefully approached the chest. [Yes. The information about the purple fog is classified until Survivor James is hit by it.] ¡°Hah¡­ whatever.¡± James sighed. He now looked inside the chest and widened his eyes at what he saw. ¡°A gun!¡± James was surprised to find a handgun with a polished wooden grip. The elongated barrel made it closer to a rifle than a typical handgun. Beside the gun lay three .45 caliber rounds. [Congratulations. You have obtained a Thompson Center Contender. A .45 caliber round has been added to the shop function. It costs 10 coins per round.] ¡°What? That¡¯s a ripoff!¡± James muttered as he looked at the price. [On a side note, firearms will receive no assistance from weapon skills. There is no mastery of firearms in the skill tree either. However, by increasing your dexterity, your aim will be more accurate.] The exhilaration James had felt earlier vanished all at once. After securing the gun and fashioning a makeshift holster with his spinneret, he ventured deeper into the cave. The passage opened up again, revealing a small clearing. This time, he didn¡¯t find just one, but two more chests, side by side. ¡°Damn system. They put all the chests on this floor here!¡± James cursed. Using the same method as before, he nudged one chest with his ice magic. This time, the chest didn¡¯t react. James then opened it from a safe distance using his spider web. If there was one thing James was more grateful for than his golem heart, it was his spinneret. The ability to create ropes was a massive advantage. He wondered why fire was considered more essential than ropes. Peering into the chest, his heart leaped with joy at the sight of silver coins. [Congratulations! You have found 300 coins!] ¡°Alright! Next chest!¡± James eagerly moved to the second one. Taking extra precautions, he sealed the cave entrance shut with his ice magic. Then, using his spinneret, he carefully nudged the chest open. An explosion rang out from inside. ¡°Yeah!¡± James clenched his fist in victory. His heart soared as he watched the sprung trap hit nothing but empty space. His unique way of opening chests certainly raised an eyebrow, but that was precisely why it was so difficult for traps to hit him. [Congratulations. You have obtained a frag grenade! A frag grenade has been added to your shop. It can be purchased for 50 coins per item.] ¡°Are we really using modern weapons now?¡± James muttered. He wondered how effective these guns and grenades were. This gun looked obsolete, and bullets had done nothing to him when those policemen had shot at him before. Moreover, the ammo was ridiculously expensive. Seeing no more chests in the cave, James felt satisfied. He climbed out and headed for the portal. By now, the sky had turned dark. The twin red and blue moons shone brightly, reminding James that he was in another world. He had acclimatized to this world faster than anyone else. In truth, he felt more at home here than in his old world. The golden portal glowed before him. But before stepping in, he decided to rest once more. He had slept safely here the night before, so he assumed it would be fine again. However, while the tigers and deer feared him, they were also hungry. And the white stag meat inside James¡¯ leather bag was tempting enough for them to take their chances. ¡°Fuck!¡± James jolted awake as fire engulfed him in his sleep. Thanks to his new fur, he was immune to the flames. However, his leather bag wasn¡¯t as fortunate¡ªit was once again damaged. James was not the sharpest tool in the shed, but his decision to rest on this floor wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. It was safer to sleep here, where he had the advantage over familiar enemies, rather than in an unknown area. Nevertheless, he had to pay for his carelessness. With a scowl, James retaliated, firing Mind Flay magic coupled with ice spears at the incoming beasts, swiftly dispatching them. [Would you like to pay 70 coins to repair your leather armor and leather bag?] The system prompted him. He accepted the repair while grumbling. Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 38 Coins: 240 Stats: Skills: Magic: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: His drowsiness vanished with the baptism of fire. With nothing else to do, he donned all of his armor and cloak before stepping through the gate. The white world briefly flashed before his eyes, giving him a few seconds of briefing before transporting him onto a beach, where a vast lake stretched endlessly before him. ¡°Shit! A water stage! I already threw away my Sahuagin lungs!¡± James cursed the heavens as he took in the scene before him. This time, he knew he was at a disadvantage. Chapter 40: Beach Episode James gazed at the vast lake surrounding an island in the distance. Multiple shark fins slicing through the water discouraged him from even attempting to dip his foot in. Nevertheless, he was in no hurry. Turning away, James walked inland¡ªonly to be met with an invisible wall about 200 meters from the beach. ¡°What is this?¡± James knocked on the unseen barrier. [It is the border of the dungeon floor. Survivors may not go past this boundary.] ¡°Do I have to go into the water?¡± [That information is classified.] ¡°That means yes.¡± James sighed. Just like the floor below, this one was an open world. The terrain was fully visible except for the island in the middle of the lake, where a dense forest obscured his view. With no other option, James dipped his toes into the water. As before, he left everything except his weapons on the ground, each one tethered to him with spider threads. His wet fur felt heavy as the water seeped in. Undeterred, James waded deeper until he was fully submerged. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a shark!¡± James exclaimed. A swordfish with a literal, metallic rapier for a nose shot toward him. James braced himself, gripping his axe tightly before parrying the fish¡¯s thrust. He countered with his sword, but the attack barely left a scratch. Another swordfish appeared on his flank, this time with a golden glow shining from the tip of its sword-like nose. ¡°It can use a weapon skill!¡± Although James had lost his Sahuagin feet and lungs, his experience from the dungeon trial¡¯s water floor proved invaluable. He parried the sword skill, letting the knockback push him backward. His movements were rough, but they mimicked the techniques he had learned from fighting Sahuagin elite soldiers. Thanks to his stats, James could hold his breath much longer than most humans. However, without Sahuagin lungs, he was forced to resurface every five minutes, robbing him of the chance to properly counter the fish. ¡°Hah¡­¡± James took several deep breaths before diving again, resuming his parries against the swordfish. Unlike Kouki, who invested all his points into swords, James had diversified his skills. Since weapons weren¡¯t proving effective, he decided to rely on magic instead. James considered creating whirlpools or launching ice spears, just like the Sahuagin priestess he had fought before. However, these were fish. A simple whirlpool wouldn¡¯t disorient them, and given their speed, there was no way ice spears would hit them. Instead, he gathered Mind Magic in his left hand and Water Magic in his right. He cast Mind Flay on both fish. They immediately halted their charge, thrashing wildly in agony. The spell inflicted enormous pain, forcing them into erratic, unpredictable movements¡ªtoo unpredictable for James to risk approaching. Following up with his water magic, he created a strong current and blasted the fish onto the beach. Now that he was on solid ground, the fight became much easier. The swordfish flailed helplessly, completely out of their element. James swiftly ended their struggle with his axe and sword, turning them into sashimi with a few powerful swings. [You have obtained 20 coins.] [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts:] *cough cough James coughed out the water that had slipped into his lungs. He inspected his new options and frowned at the body parts. ¡°What is this Waterbound Respiration?¡± [It means that these lungs do not allow you to breathe outside of water.] ¡°Damn. It¡¯s worse than the Sahuagin¡¯s lungs, isn¡¯t it?¡± James frowned. [That is correct. Sahuagin lungs are amphibious, allowing respiration both on land and underwater. In contrast, these gills can only function underwater.] James hesitated. Even if he had the option to gain Sahuagin lungs again, he wasn¡¯t ready to part with his Flaming Tiger¡¯s Fire Lung just yet. The ability to breathe fire might prove invaluable in future floors. ¡°Well, let¡¯s eat first!¡± James wasn¡¯t in a hurry to clear the dungeon floor, so he decided to set up camp and butcher one of the fish for a meal. Using his Waterspout Dagger, he sliced through the fish meat and popped a piece into his mouth. The fresh meat exploded with flavor. ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll ever find vegetables or fruit in this place. The meat is delicious, but I¡¯m getting tired of eating only this.¡± James muttered, stuffing himself with raw fish and cooked deer meat. ¡°I should have slept here instead of on the third floor.¡± James sighed. The sun was warm, and the palm trees provided excellent shade. After weaving a hammock with his spider web, he lay down and dozed off. By the time he woke up, the blue full moon had risen in the sky. ¡°Hm? What¡¯s that?¡± James muttered, noticing three moving rocks in the distance. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest when he realized those "rocks" were munching on his precious meat. They weren¡¯t rocks at all¡ªthey were crabs. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Get off!¡± Fire spewed from his mouth, lighting up the dark night. The crabs turned toward James. Their bodies resembled boulders, their uneven gray shells rough and coarse. Each had a massive right claw, with a much smaller left one. James always slept with his weapons attached. A golden glow shone from his crossbow, and the yellow light shot straight toward the nearest crab. CRACK! The golden light flashed¡ªbut instead of piercing through, the bolt shattered on impact. James leaped, his axe ready. A golden glow sparked as he swung down in a straight arc toward the crab. But then¡ª BANG! The moment his glowing axe struck the crab¡¯s shell, it bounced off, sending James flying backward. ¡°Shit. This game is crazy! Why can¡¯t I get an easy opponent for once!?¡± James cursed. The crabs were slow, but they were tough. As James took a closer look, he noticed something¡ªtheir underbellies were smooth. That gave him an idea. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± James formed an ice platform beneath the crabs. As soon as they scuttled over it, he tilted one end up and lowered the other, flipping the crabs onto their backs. ¡°Let¡¯s see you block this.¡± He swung his axe down onto the first crab¡¯s exposed belly. CRUNCH! The axe buried deep into its torso, the impact echoing satisfyingly through the night. Using the same technique, James flipped over the remaining crabs one by one and hacked them apart. Soon, he had three dead crabs on the menu. [Congratulations. You have leveled up to level 39. You have obtained 30 coins.] [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts:] ¡°Can I take the shell?¡± James asked as he examined it. The shell had repelled his weapon skills with ease. He wanted to add such an incredible defensive measure to his arsenal. However, the system refused. [Calculating¡­.] He thought the system would reject him outright, but it seemed to reconsider his request. A new list soon formed. James raised an eyebrow at such behavior. Did the system not expect him to want the shell? [Available Body Parts:] ¡°Ah¡­ it¡¯s an extra slot.¡± James cursed under his breath. He was about to refuse, but then he remembered that he had leveled up his Chimera skill to Level 2. This provided him with two more extra slots. ¡°Wait a minute. You said I can put anything in the extra slot, right? Can I put the fish¡¯s gills in the extra slot? If so, what would happen?¡± [In that case, Survivor James could use his normal lungs on land and switch to the gills underwater, granting him the ability to breathe in both environments simultaneously.] ¡°Excellent! I knew upgrading Chimera was the right choice!¡± James exclaimed in glee. [However, Survivor James must specify where the new gills will be installed. If they are damaged during combat, Survivor James will lose the ability.] ¡°Well, that¡¯s a given, I guess.¡± James nodded. ¡°Alright! The gills will be on my stomach!¡± [Installing¡­] Dark motes of light consumed the fish James hadn¡¯t eaten from earlier that afternoon. Soon, the light gathered on his flank, forming gills on his stomach. James immediately felt himself suffocating. Realizing he couldn¡¯t breathe through the gills on land, he quickly switched his respiratory system back to his normal lungs. ¡°Alright. I still have one more extra slot. Could you explain how to install the Rock Crab Shell?¡± James asked eagerly. An unused extra slot was a wasted extra slot, after all. [Chimera will create a round shield using the Rock Crab Shell, attaching it to the specified body part. For example, if Survivor James installs it on his arm, the shield will attach to his forearm. If placed on his back, it will act as back armor. We recommend installing it on your left arm or back. Chimera cannot modify your Golem Arm, so installing it on your right arm is not possible.] ¡°I see. How big will the shield be?¡± James was intrigued by the idea of installing it on his arm. However, if the shield was too big, it would reduce his mobility and might even prevent him from using his sword properly. If it was too small, it wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. [Survivor James may adjust the diameter of the shield from 30 centimeters up to 1 meter.] ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re getting more generous ever since we first met.¡± James smiled. His praise wasn¡¯t entirely genuine¡ªonly about 30% of it was honest¡ªbut he was thankful nonetheless. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m thinking 40 centimeters on my arm.¡± Once again, dark motes swirled and consumed one of the crabs, integrating its power into James. As he had specified, a round shield formed on his left arm. Its surface was rough and rocky, just like a crab¡¯s shell. However, its underside was smooth¡ªthere was no handle. The shield had fused directly with his vambraces, embedding itself into his arm. James stared in wonder as the system calibrated everything to fit his new physique. He knocked against the shield¡ªit felt solid. However, the system¡¯s wording made him frown. 90% Physical Resistance¡ªDid that mean the shield could still be damaged or destroyed? Yet, it had deflected his axe skill like it was nothing. In the end, James decided to shelve the concern for later. He then opened his status screen. After gaining another level, a new set of gills, and a shield, his final status screen now looked like this: [Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 39 Coins: 290 Stats: Skills: Magic: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 41: Underwater ¡°As expected. I can¡¯t fight underwater without being able to breathe in it,¡± James muttered the next morning as he dived into the lake. Now that he was comfortable underwater, he could finally admire the scenery. His normal eye was obscured by the water, but his Mana Eyes allowed him to see everything clearly. The lake was full of life. Corals, weeds, and other aquatic plants were scattered along the lake floor, creating a mystical atmosphere. Several fish swam around. One resembled a tuna, while another swordfish glided beside it. A real shark lurked nearby as well. However, despite the delicious tuna and swordfish beside it, the shark showed no hostility toward them. As James locked eyes with the shark, the entire group suddenly turned toward him. The swordfish lunged first, its snout glowing gold at the tip. James braced himself, eager to test his new shield. The instant the sword struck, James felt a sharp prick on his arm¡ªthe nerves in his arm were connected to the shield. He was pushed back, but the shield held better than expected. Since he was accustomed to fighting underwater, he quickly regained his posture as the shark came at him. James then attempted something crazy. Using all his strength, he blew fire inside the water. Steam erupted, engulfing the approaching shark and disorienting it. James¡¯s sword glowed gold as he lunged. The tuna swam forward, charging through the steam. James swung upward, creating a streak of golden light through the water. Fresh blood poured out from the tuna as it swam away with the shark. Despite its wound, the tuna had higher vitality than the shark. Even with a gash from the longsword, it still moved with ease. James knew he couldn¡¯t outswim these creatures. He also knew monsters didn¡¯t know the meaning of retreat. Anticipating another lunge, he scanned his surroundings for the swordfish. The shield was more helpful than he had thought. As the swordfish lunged, the rough surface of his shield caught its sword, preventing it from sliding off. James swung his sword, leaving a small scratch on the swordfish¡¯s blue scales. The decisive factor came when James cast Mind Flay on the shark, rendering it immobile, before cleaving into it with his axe. With the shark dead, the tuna was next. It had fought hard to defend its comrade, but its vitality had limits. Unlike the deer, it lacked regenerative magic. The agile swordfish was last. By trapping its sword in an ice block, James cut through its flank, finally ending the battle. Afterward, James hauled the three fish to shore. Using Chimera wasted too much meat. It was fine for rats, but wasting such high-quality tuna and swordfish felt like a crime. The new Chimera skill wasn¡¯t completely useless to him, though. It allowed him to extract the claw and leg meat from the crabs with precision. After three more hours of fish preparation, James wrapped the meat in spider silk and froze it with the rest of his food supply. ¡°Alright! Time to go to the island. I¡¯ll bet my ass the boss is there. What kind of boss will it be?¡± James slung his backpack and dived into the lake again. The backpack was bursting at the seams even though James had thrown away all of the organs and even some of the meat. James wandered for a bit on the lake¡¯s floor, trying to find a chest. However, he found none. So, he continued on to the other beach inside the island. ¡°Hm¡­ what kind of boss was here? The forest in the middle of a lake seemed out of place.¡± James muttered while wandering the forest. Suddenly, a pink shadow lashed out from the tree. ¡°Fuck!¡± That was all James could say before the pink tentacle got him. The pink tentacle was sticky to the touch. Its feelers gripped James like a vice and sent him flying. Like a speeding car, James flew toward a gaping mouth in the distance. James lit up his Fire Cloak ability, and the pink flesh that gripped him released its hold all at once. However, the momentum kept him going as James formed an intimate moment with a tree next to the monster. [Paralysis Poison Nullified] ¡°What the hell¡­¡± James groaned as he braced himself with his shield and axe. Scanning around, he saw the monster fleeing. It was just a glimpse, but the monster looked like an enormous tree frog. James widened his eyes when he saw the frog disappear before his very eyes. When James squinted his eyes, he could vaguely see something moving in the bushes. ¡°I want that skin,¡± James muttered as he chased the frog. But the frog was fast, and its camouflage was impressive. James was no environmentalist. Knowing his enemy was hiding inside the forest, he burned down the forest to expose the frog. Like a dragon, he spewed flames left and right and lit the bushes on fire. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Other survivors might have trouble with this frog¡¯s stealthy nature. But not James. James was adaptable. He didn¡¯t wish to be the very best. He wished to survive. He believed the world didn¡¯t care who became number one. They only cared about who was left standing. James saw with his own eyes engineers getting fired left and right even though their GPA was at 3.5. Smoke rose from the forest as it obscured his vision. Unknown to James, the frog had trouble seeing him too. The flame maniac continued burning down the forest. The frog took a daring leap. If she let this survivor be, not only would she lose her home, but she would also lose her eggs. And so, she braved the fire and thrust her tongue once again. This method had let her survive these many years. Using her sticky tongue, which could extend more than twenty meters, she often fished for nearby fish in front of the island. The frog felt a burning pain as her tongue wrapped around the flaming survivor. However, she persisted. She had given up on eating this survivor. All she could do was throw him around, hoping that James would die as he crashed into a nearby rock or tree. Of course, he didn¡¯t die that easily. James cut off the tongue with his sword once he got used to being thrown around. The frog stared at him from a distance. James gasped for air as he was getting bruised here and there. If there was one thing James had above others now, it was his guts. The frog tried to run away, attempting to hide and perform another ambush. But James didn¡¯t let it this time. He quickly raised his crossbow and shot at its back. The frog¡¯s stealth wasn¡¯t canceled, but with an arrow sticking out of its back, James knew exactly where it had run off to. James chased after it. His new legs provided him with incredible strength, and he didn¡¯t tire. As he leaped from one tree to another, he followed the frog¡¯s every movement. Knowing its days were numbered, the frog turned around, baring its fangs at James as it made a desperate attack with its tongue. The tongue was fast, but since it came from the front, James could see it coming and swiped it away with his sword. As a golden glow shone from James¡¯ axe, the frog could only pray that he wouldn¡¯t find her eggs. The golden meteor smashed into the frog¡¯s head with a satisfying crunch. [Congratulations. You have leveled up to level 40! You have obtained 100 coins! A class specialization has opened. Would you like to choose a class?] James plopped down, ignoring the blue box notifications. His body ached all over. This was the first time he had been hit with a blunt weapon, swung around, and slammed into the ground. ¡°Never mind about that. Should I buy health potions, or should I buy hematonic potions?¡± James sighed as dizziness took over. Pain flared up from all over his body as the adrenaline from the battle began to fade. [For your bruises, concussions, and cracked bones, a hematonic potion would work best. However, you would still need to rest for at least five hours.] ¡°Then buy it.¡± James groaned before letting out another curse. ¡°Novice dungeon, my ass.¡± After drinking the pink potion that came inside a black box, James felt his body rejuvenate. The pain faded, and energy surged through him. He sat down with a relieved sigh, knowing the worst had passed. As proof, a golden portal spawned several meters away, signaling that he had cleared the floor. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s take a look at what we have,¡± James said. First was his level up. As always, it improved his stats. Since he had magic, it also increased his magic stats. Next was the frog¡¯s body. [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available body parts:] ¡°Huh? I didn¡¯t get its tongue?¡± James asked as he inspected his Chimera skill. [Chimera skill couldn¡¯t plunder a damaged body part.] ¡°Hm¡­ I want this skin, but I still want to keep my fur¡­ Can I install it into an extra slot?¡± [We would advise against it. If you want to use the camouflage ability, the skin needs to be on the outer layer. We could layer the skin on top of your fur, but in that case, whenever you activate your Fire Cloak ability, the skin will be damaged. In the unique case of Survivor James, your golem hand will not be camouflaged, as the Chimera skill cannot place the skin over your golem arm. Moreover, Survivor James would need to be naked for the camouflage to make you invisible. It cannot camouflage your armor or weapons.] ¡°I see. Then it is useless.¡± James sighed as he dumped the tree frog¡¯s remains. His arm stuck out like a sore thumb. He wanted to be stealthy and ambush his enemy, but doing it without weapons was pointless. And so, this was James¡¯ status screen after defeating the tree frog. James then remembered that the system had mentioned a new function¡ªsomething about a Class System. Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 40 Coins: 390 Stats: Skills: Magic: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 42: Class ¡°So, what is this class about?¡± James leaned on the golden portal while resting. He was now level 40. He had certainly come a long way. ¡°Am I halfway to max level?¡± [Maximum levels are classified information. Classes offer bonus stats. Depending on how you fight, they will also provide specific stat bonuses. For example, a Swordsman class grants you +30% stats when using a sword and -15% stats when using another type of weapon. Sometimes, it might even offer a skill.] ¡°Huh? There¡¯s a demerit?¡± James frowned. [Yes. That is correct.] ¡°Can I change my class?¡± [Survivors may change their class once every day, but they may not change their class during combat. Classes also have their own level, further augmenting your stats when equipped.] ¡°I see. What class options do I have?¡± [The default class is Attacker. It offers a 10% bonus to all stats¡ªan all-rounder type. Here are the other classes available for Survivor James: Swordsman: +30% stats when using swords and -15% stats when using other weapons. If dual-wielding different weapons, both receive the penalty. For every level of the Swordsman class, a bonus of STR +1 and DEX +2 will be added. Axeman: +30% stats when using axes and -15% stats when using other weapons. If dual-wielding different weapons, both receive the penalty. For every level of the Axeman class, a bonus of STR +2 and DEX +1 will be added. Sniper: +30% stats when using ranged weapons and -15% stats when using other weapons. If dual-wielding different weapons, both receive the penalty. For every level of the Sniper class, a bonus of DEX +3 will be added. Sorcerer: +30% stats when using Magic and -15% stats when using other weapons. For every level of the Sorcerer class, a bonus of MAGIC +3 and MANA +20 will be added. Attacker: +10% stats when attacking with weapons. The stat increase only applies when attacking and is nullified when defending. For every level of the Attacker class, a bonus of STR +1 and DEX +1 will be added. Defender: +10% stats when defending with weapons. The stat increase only applies when defending and is nullified when attacking. For every level of the Defender class, a bonus of STR +1 and DEX +1 will be added.] ¡°That¡¯s all? No unique or rare classes for me? I worked pretty hard in these dungeons.¡± James sighed. He was disappointed. He had hoped for some incredibly rare classes. However, all the options given to him seemed basic. He thought he might get something like Berserker, Rampager, or Lone Wolf¡ªbut no such class was offered to him. [Yes. That is correct. These are all the available classes for Survivor James. Unique or uncommon classes are classified information.] ¡°I see.¡± James raised an eyebrow. Now he knew such special classes existed. But now, he was in a conundrum. The obvious choice would be attacker. But axeman was also enticing. A 30% increase is huge compared to a 10% increase. However, if he chose that, he couldn¡¯t dual-wield anymore. If only he could find another axe, the answer would be easy. ¡°I can choose other classes later, right? I will choose the attacker class for now.¡± James added. [Yes. Survivors may change classes once a day. Class levels for specific classes will be retained even if they change classes.] ¡°Alright.¡± [Attacker Class has been chosen.] With nothing else to do, James scoured the area. He had yet to find a treasure chest, and he refused to go to the next floor without finding at least one chest. He had a weird belief that every floor had at least one treasure chest, and he must find it. Unlike in normal video games, where most treasure chests were filled with common items or trash, treasure chests in the dungeons were extremely valuable. Even the chests that were filled with coins or exp scrolls were valuable to him. There were many things he could do with 300 coins that were common inside treasure chests. As James ventured into the forest, he happened upon a nest. Dry branches surrounded the nest as three egg-like jewels hid in the center. The jewels were red, blue, and green. ¡°What are these things?¡± James held one egg in his hand. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. [These are Fishing Frog¡¯s eggs. They are often turned into jewelry due to their pretty nature.] ¡°Any other use?¡± [They might be used in potion-making tools. However, Survivor James lacks the necessary tools to perform such an activity.] ¡°Well, it¡¯s useless then.¡± James left the tree eggs behind and went on his merry way. He now behaved like an animal; gold or money did not interest him. At the center of the island, there was a pond. James chuckled at the fact that there was an island in the middle of a lake and a pond inside the island. Nevertheless, he peered inside the pond and found a golden treasure chest inside. James was about to jump right at it, only to scold himself for being careless. First, he had to scan his surroundings for traps. He peered inside the pond, only to choke himself. He thought he was amphibious and couldn¡¯t drown. Apparently, that was not the case. Since the location of his gills and lungs was different, James could drown if the gills on his stomach were on the ground while his nose was underwater. After holding his breath, James peered inside the pond again. Nothing seemed amiss. As usual, James opened the chest with his spider webs from afar. The chest opened without any incident. More silver coins flowed out from the chest and soon disappeared in motes of light. [Congratulations. You have obtained 500 Coins!] ¡°Alright!¡± James pumped his fist after seeing the number. It was 500 coins! Now James could upgrade a lot of his skills. ¡°How many coins do I have? And what can I upgrade?¡± [There are many upgrades available. For weapon mastery, you may upgrade your axe mastery to level five for 400 coins. You may also upgrade your sword or bow mastery for 200 coins per level, or your dagger mastery for 100 coins per level. For magic, you may advance your Mind Magic to rank 2 for 500 coins. For weapons, you may upgrade your axe, swords, and daggers for 500 coins to enchant them with lightning attributes. You may also upgrade your crossbow to include a scope and a stronger arm for 300 coins. As for guns, you may upgrade your Thompson Center Contender into a Winchester rifle with a scope for 300 coins.] ¡°Hmm. There are a lot of options,¡± James muttered. ¡°What upgrade can I do after turning my gun into a Winchester?¡± [That information is classified.] ¡°Figures. Can I upgrade my Chimera skill?¡± [You would need 10,000 coins to upgrade your Chimera skill to level 3.] ¡°Alright. I¡¯m not even gonna try. That stuff is clearly not for my current level.¡± The price was way over the top for James to afford right now. He now knew for sure that he would be stuck with Chimera level 2 for a very long time. ¡°I will upgrade my magic.¡± James decided. Magic was expensive, but it hadn¡¯t betrayed him so far. Mind Magic was especially useful against living enemies. [Your Mind Principle has been upgraded to Rank 2. You have gained a new magic: Senses Alteration.] ¡°What does it do?¡± [Mind Flay only inflicts pain. However, Senses Alteration can manipulate multiple senses, including but not limited to hallucinations, blindness, numbness, deafness, and the senses of taste and smell.] ¡°Wow. That sounds powerful.¡± [However, you are limited to altering two senses per enemy at a time. To achieve this, you must hit your target with the magic twice. This limit can be increased according to your Mind Principle rank. The effect lasts for 30 seconds before dissipating.] ¡°I should have expected there to be drawbacks.¡± James sighed. James had no problems with mana before, but he could imagine how others who took the same path might struggle with mana consumption. Moreover, despite having two mana cores, he could sense his limits. ¡°I¡¯m starting to have trouble casting magic despite having two mana cores¡­¡± James complained. ¡°I hope I meet some easy but powerful mages soon.¡± After completing his purchase, James walked back to the portal. He then had a hearty dinner consisting of meat, apples, and bananas picked from the forest before settling into his self-made hammock. As he admired the blue moon, he checked his status screen. His new class had its own tab. James wondered why the system had set it up that way before recalling that players could have multiple classes. Satisfied with his upgraded status, he dozed off, a steak made of deer meat still in his mouth. Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 40 Coins: 390 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: The next morning, he departed to the next floor without hesitation. Unbeknownst to him, at the same time he touched the golden gate, a white light appeared some distance away, at the other side of the lake. Three ragged men and a girl came out from it. The girl had equipped a nice spear found in a chest that had respawned when James was away. Kaina, Sanders, Andre, and Anderson had finally caught up to James. Chapter 43: Fifth Floor Meeting "Why am I not surprised? Deserts," James groaned as a vast sea of sand lay before him. It stretched beyond the horizon, with some stone structures resembling Stonehenge in the distance. James quickly wore his cloak. The heat that stung him immediately dissipated, replaced by cool, comfortable air that blew on his fur. "I should have lived on the fourth floor¡­" James muttered. "There was a forest. If I could build some wooden cabins, it would be perfect." Of course, James didn''t mean it. He may not have wished to return to Earth after what happened to him, but he believed that conquering dungeons was his sole reason for living. By conquering dungeons, he would get stronger. He would become more adaptable, more suited for this world. James chuckled as he saw shark fins in the distance. His smile soon faded when four of them seemed to be eyeing him. "Land sharks are coming!!" James prepared his axe and swords while holding himself back from laughing at his own pun. James frowned for a while as he couldn''t figure out how to attack the sharks. Nevertheless, he had experience with this kind of enemy back on the third floor. He made a pedestal from ice, raising himself higher while waiting for the land sharks to jump at him. A golden glow shone from his axe. The four sharks tried to surround him. One was coming from the front while the others swam to his flanks. James locked his eyes on the one closest to him. As expected, the shark leaped at him. It bared its serrated teeth as its maw opened wide, trying to swallow James whole. James was surprised since the shark was larger than he had expected. Its maw was big enough to swallow him whole. James did not fear. He swung his axe at the approaching maw. His axe met the shark''s scales and carved a deep gash into them. The power of a weapon skill was not to be underestimated. The shark was blown away after meeting James''s axe. Blood gushed out from its wound. It was injured but didn''t die. It swam away in the sand. James wondered how these creatures could even swim in the sand. Using another weapon skill in his left hand, he faced two more sharks that tried to flank him from the side. His sword drew a diagonal arc, slashing both sharks swiftly. Again, the sharks were blown back. James finally felt the limitation of his weapon. "I need to upgrade my weapons," James frowned. He had thought he didn''t need to upgrade them. As long as his weapons held, he believed he would be able to fight against any enemy. But the fact that he couldn''t finish his opponent in one hit¡ªdespite striking them squarely on the head with a weapon skill, something he had been able to do before¡ªmade him rethink his decision. The war of attrition began. The sharks weren''t overly difficult opponents. They were simply annoying to James. They might be dangerous to those who didn''t have Earth or ice magic to make platforms, but to James, they were one-trick ponies. He had plenty of experience dealing with these kinds of enemies, like the Komodo boss monster in the trial dungeons. James bit his crossbow bolt. He cursed¡ªthis was the last wooden bolt he had. Crossbow bolts could be reused, but he couldn''t help it if they were destroyed or lost. After seeping his poison into the bolt, he aimed his crossbow at one of the sharks. ¡°Ugh¡­ stop zigzagging¡­¡± James complained. A golden meteor then shot out from his crossbow, penetrating one of the shark''s fins. It might have been a superficial wound, but as long as the poison seeped in, James didn''t care. As expected, the poison worked. James saw the poisoned shark slow down compared to the others. He activated his axe skill again as another shark surged toward him. Once more, he crushed his enemies. Three hours later, James finally killed all of the sharks. Surprisingly, he got a level-up for his trouble. [Congratulations. You have leveled up to Level 41! Your class, Attacker, has leveled up to Level 5. You have obtained 120 coins!] James held back his complaint when he saw how many coins he had earned from this encounter. Battling the sharks was tiring, but it was worth it. These sharks have given out the most coins for mob enemies so far. As for their body parts. [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts:] "These guys'' names were really ''Land Sharks''? That''s hilarious! The ear sounds awesome," James muttered. He knew better than to rush into accepting it. "Are you sure there are no drawbacks?" [We advise Survivor James to install only one ear instead of both. Survivors may experience unpleasant reactions due to the noise emitted by their heart. Turning off both ears will also create a deafening silence, possibly leading to an uncomfortable experience.] Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "I see. Good advice. Do it." James nodded. The system rarely gave advice, and when it did, he knew better than to ignore it. If they said it might make him uncomfortable, it wouldn''t be at the level of an Orc''s body or hand to him. It would be like the constant nagging of noisy neighbors. James could picture the hell that awaited him if he ignored the advice. Ten meters might not be much, but it would help him detect possible ambushes. That''s why James picked it without hesitation. "I didn''t know that sharks had echolocation¡­" James muttered at the skill name. Sharks do not have echolocation in the truest sense, but they can hear low-frequency sounds. And if the distance was less than 10 meters, even humans could measure distance with their ears in such a short range. James continued venturing through the desert. Thanks to the cloak, he was comfortable even in the middle of the scorching heat. However, he needed a place to rest. He couldn''t possibly relax knowing the enemies here could swim underground. "Do they use magic to swim underground?" James asked. [They do not use any magic principles. However, their scales allow them to dig underground, similar to moles or worms.] James raised an eyebrow. This world had its own rules, and he had accepted that. He wanted the ability to hide underground, but he was unwilling to part with his flaming fur just yet. It had saved him during the frog incident. "Hmm¡­ but their scales sound intriguing. Can I swim underground too?" [You may only swim inside sand or soft soil. The skill cannot penetrate rocks, and you will slow down considerably upon hitting harder soil. Moreover, Survivor James may not be able to breathe underground.] "But they can?" James countered. [They cannot breathe underground. They breathe through the top of their heads and fins. During a dive, these land sharks hold their breath.] "I see." James lost interest at once. He wouldn''t be able to see underground, and he could only dive for a short amount of time. He would suffocate if he used that fur. "HELP! Save us!" a familiar voice cried out for help. James tilted his head when he heard it. It was as if he had heard that voice somewhere before. "Stop shouting! You''ll attract more of those monsters!" another man responded. "Arghh! They''re chasing us!" James saw three dots on the horizon. Kaina and two other men were running with all their might as a land shark and another unidentified monster chased after them. This monster was underground, like the land sharks. However, what appeared on the surface was a long tail fashioned like a halberd. "Shit! Another monster!" the men cursed. "James! Is that you?" Kaina shouted. She didn''t hesitate. She ran toward James with all her strength. As she reached him, she cried, "Help us!" After making sure these humans would not do him any harm, James turned his attention toward the new enemies. Suddenly, a bright idea flashed in his mind. He fired his Mind Flay and Sense-Altering Spell toward the fish and the scorpion. James now knew they were blind, so if he disabled their ears, they would be immobilized. The shark jumped out from the sand and flailed helplessly when James''s magic hit it. James leaped forward and slammed his axe into its soft underbelly. His axe skill crushed its innards, killing it instantly. Afterward, James prepared his mind combo magic for the scorpion. Like the shark, it resurfaced and flailed. Despite his immunity to poison, James didn''t want to risk it. He decided to try his new gun. An explosion rang out from his Thompson Contender. The .45 caliber bullet entered its mouth and exited through its back. However, it didn''t kill it. Only after James bashed it three times with his axe and sword did the scorpion finally die. [Congratulations! Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 7. You have received 60 coins.] "That''s 10 coins per round¡­ It did have enough firepower to pierce the enemy, but it didn''t kill them," James muttered. Ignoring the three humans behind him, James decided to check his status. He didn''t receive a level-up, but he did earn 60 coins for his trouble. Name: James Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 41 Coins: 570 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts:] James glanced through his status and Chimera skill, but Kaina decided to interrupt him at that moment. "Umm¡­ You are James, right?" Kaina asked. It felt like ages since James had been called by his name, so he inevitably turned. However, he remained wary. The two men with her seemed to be with the military. "Yes. What do you want? I believe there are other dungeons in the world. Why did you come here? Are you here to chase me?" James scowled. Kaina had started the conversation in a terrible way. She stared down at the ground in defeat. Chapter 44: Guild Kaina suddenly kowtowed and begged, ¡°Please, help us!¡± Seeing her like that threw James for a loop. He wasn¡¯t from Japan and had never seen anyone beg him like this before. James was a pushover¡ªhe had bowed his head to anyone, including his former boss. However, he had never been the one being begged. The new sensation sent his hatred out the window. ¡°What help?¡± James raised an eyebrow. He assumed they would ask him to escort them out of the dungeon. But if that were the case, why were they here to begin with? Kaina didn¡¯t answer him directly. Instead, she turned her gaze toward one of the military officials. ¡°Greetings. My name is Anderson. I am a diplomat from the Guild. Are you Survivor James?¡± one of the military men stepped forward and introduced himself. James relaxed and frowned at the same time. This kind of guy was the one he hated the most. His words were sweet, but his mind was devious¡ªalways trying to take advantage of people like James. He had fallen for this type several times in the past, including that damn insurance guy. ¡°What do you want? If you want to get out of this dungeon, challenge the boss or wait until I get there. The monsters won¡¯t suddenly attack you if you¡¯re hidden. Why are you guys here anyway? Girl, you returned to Earth safe and sound, didn¡¯t you?¡± James shrugged off the salaryman and went on his way. But Anderson called after him. ¡°Wait a minute, Mr. James! What we wanted to talk about isn¡¯t about getting out of the dungeon.¡± Anderson reached for James¡¯s arm, but the moment his hand touched the fur, he recoiled. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Ahem. We would like to extend an invitation to Survivor James to join our Guild.¡± ¡°Guild? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The Guild is where Survivors gather. Together, we can reclaim our Earth from the System.¡± ¡°Why would I want to do that?¡± James said. ¡°Huh? Um¡­ why are you here in the dungeon if not because you want to free our Earth from the System?¡± Anderson was flabbergasted. He thought Survivors were supposed to be the new heroes of this world. James¡¯s answer threw him for a loop. ¡°Um¡­ James. Did you actually kill a person?¡± Kaina raised her hand and asked fearfully. Her question stabbed deep into James¡¯s conscience. He had almost forgotten about Frank. But Kaina¡¯s question brought his face back to the surface. The horror in Frank¡¯s eyes had elated him. It had made James happy. Seeing James¡¯s beastly smile sent a shudder through the group. One of them instinctively raised their sword. Even Anderson inadvertently grabbed his dagger before forcing himself to release it. ¡°Yes. I killed him. That monster. That thief. He stole all of my things when I wasn¡¯t looking. Do you know what he did after I asked him? He shot me! Right in the stomach! However, I was not that weak. Thanks to the System, even bullets couldn¡¯t harm me. Do you know what I did after that? I kicked him and stepped on him like the trash he was!¡± James roared. Anderson made a victory pose in his mind. He had thought it was over when Kaina asked the forbidden question. However, he was grateful to her now for provoking James into providing precious information. The negotiation couldn¡¯t move forward if James didn¡¯t talk. First, Anderson needed to know what James wanted. At first, he had assumed James sought recognition or glory. But he had been wrong. James no longer cared for such things. However, from Kaina¡¯s conversation with him, Anderson could surmise what James did want. ¡°Well, if you join the Guild, Mr. James, you need not care for such trivial matters. I read a bit about Mr. Frank. He was indeed quite an asshole. The new government has declared all land to be government-owned, so what Frank did was certainly wrong. ¡°If you join the Guild, not only will we provide lodging, but we will also try to search for your lost belongings.¡± James didn¡¯t bite. He knew from experience that if something was too good to be true, it probably was. ¡°What do you want? Why are you being so accommodating?¡± Anderson stayed silent. This was the moment he couldn¡¯t lie. And so, he looked James in the eye and answered, ¡°You might not know about this, considering your short stay on Earth after the dungeon trial. Do you know about the System Trial that took over half of the world?¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Half?¡± ¡°Yes. Dungeons like this one have sprawled across the world, creating a System Trial. The only way to take back our Earth is to conquer the dungeons.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So, Survivors around the world formed groups to conquer these dungeons. They named them guilds.¡± Anderson mixed a little lie there. The Survivors were hardly monolithic. The Guild was merely the largest group of Survivors. ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯m not joining. I don¡¯t trust you!¡± James packed his things and walked away. Anderson was left in a daze. James turned back and warned the group, ¡°Try to get in my way, and I will kill you!¡± ¡°At least let me accompany you!¡± Kaina said. Anderson was flabbergasted. He hadn¡¯t expected to fail. No. I haven¡¯t failed yet. Just like Kaina said, we have time until we clear this dungeon. By then, we should be able to get closer. If James is a good man, he will help. I need his strength. At the very least, I need to make sure he stays away from rogue guilds. James looked at the girl and the two men, frowning. He didn¡¯t fancy showing his battle style to anyone. But his human heart ached for company. This was the first time he had talked to fellow humans for so long. In the end, James let them come. James didn¡¯t think he was antisocial. But apparently, he had become just that in the few months he had spent alone in the dungeon. He didn¡¯t reply to Kaina or Anderson. He didn¡¯t even ask for the names of the other soldiers with them. ¡°Monsters,¡± James muttered as he saw yet another golem in the distance. He prepared his axe and swords to engage it, but Kaina interrupted him. ¡°Let us deal with this. I want to show you my strength!¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll stay and watch nearby¡­¡± James decided to let them do their own thing. ¡°Finally. I¡¯m getting tired of monsters,¡± Sanders sighed as he prepared his sword against the incoming golem. James almost rolled his eyes when he heard them mumbling. Among all dungeon monsters, humanoid creatures were the most dangerous due to their ability to use weapon skills. ¡°Be careful. They have hands. That means they can use sword skills,¡± James warned as the scimitar-wielding sand golem approached. Them being golems also meant he couldn¡¯t affect them with his mind magic or poison. This would be settled in a battle of sword skills. Sanders engaged the golem while Kaina and Anderson tried to flank it from the sides. ¡°Buy a crossbow bolt,¡± James whispered. [A dozen crossbow bolts cost 50 coins. Will you buy them?] ¡°Yes.¡± The bolts teleported near his feet, and James loaded one into his crossbow. James didn¡¯t think they would be able to win against this monster. Once the enemy unleashed its sword skill, one of them would die unless James shot first. ¡°Kaina!¡± Sanders shouted. ¡°On it!¡± Kaina activated her spear skill and charged at the enemy. James widened his eyes as her spear struck the golem. However, due to Kaina¡¯s low level and stats, she only managed to inflict a meager amount of damage. But it was enough to stagger the enemy and cancel its skill. Anderson charged in with his dagger skill. After a single slash, he turned around. ¡°That¡¯s two clean hits,¡± James muttered. If he were the one attacking, he would have made sure to destroy the golem with a single sword skill. But since Anderson, Kaina, and Sanders were only Level 7, this was the best damage they could do. Nevertheless, James was finally reminded that his way was not the only way a battle could conclude. Kaina, Sanders, and Anderson were low level, and their strikes lacked power. However, they could overwhelm the enemy. They surrounded the golem. When it turned to Kaina, Sanders and Anderson charged in with their weapons, drawing its attention. When it then charged at Sanders, Kaina and Anderson attacked from behind. ¡°Kaina and Sanders are the vital ones,¡± James muttered as he examined their battle tactics. Anderson¡¯s dagger skill couldn¡¯t stagger the enemy. However, Kaina and Sanders¡¯ weapon skills could. When the enemy activated its sword skill, Kaina or Sanders were tasked with interrupting it. After about two hours of back-and-forth combat, the golem cracked and finally crumbled. James winced when he didn¡¯t receive the usual notification about how many coins he had earned. However, his Chimera skill functioned just fine. [Would you like to Modify Your body? Y/N] [Available Body Part:] The core was no different from his existing Golem Core. James decided to ignore it and instead congratulated the trio. ¡°Alright! I leveled up!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Me three!¡± They cheered and high-fived each other. Then, the group turned to James. Kaina, who had finally defeated an opponent on her own, looked smug as she turned her face to James. ¡°So, how was our performance?¡± ¡°Better than I thought. I didn¡¯t think you could beat it on your own.¡± James honestly praised their performance. He had thought they wouldn¡¯t make it because of their low stats, but they had actually pulled it off. They deserved his honest praise. ¡°Let¡¯s continue. I suspect the boss is that way.¡± James checked his status one last time before venturing toward the Stonehenge, where the boss monster likely awaited. While he was impressed that they had managed to defeat the golem, a boss monster was another matter entirely. This time, James would not fight alone. However, could he fight alongside them? Could he trust his back to them? That question haunted him as he inched closer to the monument. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 41 Coins: 520 (¡ý50) Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 45: Team ¡°Watch out. Another golem. There are two of them this time!¡± Sanders remarked as two golems were sighted in the distance. ¡°We will handle one while Mr. James holds off the other.¡± ¡°No need. System, can you upgrade my war axe?¡± James muttered while equipping his war axe and longsword. He hadn¡¯t entered combat yet, so the system still responded to him. [Your war axe has been successfully upgraded into a lightning war axe.] His war axe evolved into a size bigger as lightning coated its blade. James felt a newfound strength as his new war axe felt heavier. He charged in without hesitation. The golems finally saw James, and they responded in kind. They charged in with a roar as they raised their swords. ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t charge on your own!¡± Sanders warned James, but his words fell on deaf ears. James was a different man. He would not listen to or obey another human ever again. This time, he would make his own choices. A golden comet shone from both the golems¡¯ swords and James¡¯s new lightning axe. As both comets collided, an explosion rang out, and sand was blown away by the impact. These golems were weaker than the one James had met on the third floor months ago. They had lost the skill clash and stumbled. James didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. Another golden comet shone from his longsword and flew upward. The golden path struck the golem from its flank and continued to its shoulder. James felt satisfaction rise within him as he saw the golem fly away from the impact and lay motionless on the sand. Another golem charged in. A golden glow shone from its sword. James was ready¡ªhe raised his crab shield and braced for impact. However, the impact never came as Kaina stabbed it with her spear skill from the side. The golem stumbled, and its sword skill inevitably failed. An axe skill came again from James¡¯s axe and hit the stumbled sand golem. The skill flew into the golem¡¯s head and shattered its body on impact. There was no need to question the system about whether the golem was dead or alive. [Congratulations. You have earned 30 coins. Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 8.] James raised an eyebrow at the prize money. ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s fewer than I thought. How many coins is this golem worth?¡± [An ordinary sand golem will give you 20 coins each. The prize will be split among survivors who participated in combat.] James frowned when he realized that Kaina had stolen 10 coins with that unnecessary spear skill. He glared at her. However, the girl in question didn¡¯t seem to feel guilty. She even puffed her chest proudly. Seeing such behavior, James could only sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± ¡°Come on. It was easier, right? You shouldn¡¯t shield yourself when an enemy uses a weapon skill. It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Kaina answered. Her words came from experience. Her teammate, Andre, survived the first floor. After leveling up some more and unlocking the shop function, he fixed his shield. However, he died when a rat soldier used its sword skill against him. Moreover, Kouki also advised against it. She had watched how he fought ever since the first floor. He said that monsters¡¯ stats are higher, so she should strive to deflect or redirect their weapon skills. His skills and behavior didn¡¯t contradict those words. So, she thought that tanking weapon skills without skills was ill-advised. Kouki also advised against skill clashes too. James didn¡¯t bother to argue back. He knew and believed he could withstand that sword skill. That swordfish on the previous floor could use a sword skill, and he had withstood it. As long as he kept his posture stable, he should be safe. But what Kaina said was correct. If his level were lower, he might have agreed with Kaina. But now, he had the strength to repel a sword skill. He continued forward. ¡°That was easier than I thought. Why am I having such a hard time against the shark¡­¡± James muttered as he ignored the trio of men and women behind him. James thought humanoid enemies were superior due to weapon skills. However, he was wrong. To compensate, monsters usually had better stats or special skills. James approached the Stonehenge, thinking the boss was there. ¡°I should have seen that coming,¡± James muttered as the sand trembled in the distance. Like waves encountered at sea, something swam toward him. Something huge was coming at him. The waves of sand then burst out, revealing a humongous snake the size of a train. James winced when he saw the snake had arms and was holding a spear. Along with it, four other human-sized snakes emerged. ¡°We should run! We are outnumbered!¡± Sanders made the decision. James was about to ask them whether they could hold off the small fry by themselves, but from Sanders¡¯s suggestion, he figured out the answer. ¡°Then run. I am fighting them!¡± James scoffed at them. Stolen story; please report. James bit down on one crossbow bolt. His crossbow and gun were ready to shoot with a normal bolt. A golden glow shone from his crossbow as he raised it, aiming for one of the snakes charging at him. The smaller snakes rushed in with their boss. James grinned as they all made a beeline for him. A golden meteor shot through one of them, striking its head and killing it instantly. The power of the skill enhanced the crossbow¡¯s power immensely. James ran to the side and loaded his crossbow with a poisoned bolt. As the enemy neared, a golden meteor struck the boss right on the shoulder. The boss shrieked as it staggered due to the poison. James was not one to save his ammo. He drew his gun and shot another smaller snake right in the head. A pop blew its head off, killing it. ¡°This gun is actually good,¡± James muttered. The mobs on this floor were usually worth 20 coins each. A bullet cost 10 coins per piece, so James netted a 10-coin surplus. It was expensive, but the guns were worth it. ¡°I need to kill at least one more before the boss comes to me,¡± James muttered. He readied his axe. However, a moment of hesitation came over him. A spear skill usually came with a thrust, and a thrust was difficult to dodge or parry with an axe. He had a shield now, so he had another option besides using his sword to parry the blow. A golden comet shot toward him, and he shielded himself with his shield. A sharp pain shot through his wrist, and James was pushed back several meters due to the impact. However, he held on. A small amount of blood dripped from the shield, but James wasn¡¯t such a crybaby that he would care about a light scratch. He smirked as his plan had actually worked. ¡°Now for payback!¡± A golden comet shone from his sword and bisected the small snakeman from its flank to its shoulder. The huge snakeman finally reached James with an angry roar. Its massive size allowed it to endure James¡¯s poison. A golden glow shone from its massive spear. This time, James wasn¡¯t confident enough to tank its spear skill with his shield. He activated his two-hit axe skill, V-Slash. ¡°That¡¯s not my way,¡± James muttered as he recalled how Kaina and the others dealt with monsters. James relied more on his guts. The two comets met each other and exploded in a satisfying boom. Surprisingly, both beasts held on. This proved that James¡¯s stats, enhanced by his golem arm, were close to the beast¡¯s. Their weapons slid against each other as both completed their strikes. The two beasts then clashed again as their weapons curved. James had anticipated this and met the strike head-on with his axe. Two comets shone and met again. The shockwave from the collision sent sand and dust into the air. James immediately used his echolocation ability. The world turned monochrome as he saw the snake slither across the sand. The sound it created was perfect for James¡¯ echolocation ability. The snake seemed to have a similar ability to James¡¯ echolocation as it tried to stab him through the dust. James didn¡¯t see any golden glow, so he knew it was just a normal strike. He parried it with his sword while biting another bolt. The blow was heavier than James had expected. He cursed as he stumbled on the unsteady sand. James readied his axe again, preparing for another skill clash. But the strike never came. The snake roared in pain as Kaina flanked it and used her weapon skill to stab it. Sanders and Anderson could be seen in the distance, baiting the last snake mob. ¡°I didn¡¯t need your help! Just go and help the other guy!¡± James roared as the boss snake looked at her with hatred. James immediately loaded his crossbow with the bolt from his mouth as Kaina desperately ran away from the monster. Another golden glow stabbed into its back, delivering another dose of poison. The boss snake immediately turned back to James and prepared its skill. James met it head-on with another skill of his own. This time, James was ready. As the two skills collided, both of them curved and clashed once more. This time, James managed to push the snake back slightly. Thanks to the poison, it had weakened. Another golden glow shone from his sword. With an upward slash, James leaped at the snake, delivering a decisive blow. Blood gushed from its flank as the snake was thrown back due to his skill. But James didn¡¯t relent¡ªthe enemy was still alive. With his new lightning axe, James charged in. ¡°You are finished!¡± James exclaimed as he prepared his war axe. The golden glow of his new war axe was coated with a blue streak from his lightning enchantment. The snake stumbled¡ªdespite its enormous size, it couldn¡¯t do anything against the incoming strike. It raised its spear in desperation, but James knew better. His axe broke through the spear like a twig, and the golden meteor embedded itself deep into its head. The snake creature let out a cry before falling motionless on the ground. James knew the battle was not over yet. He looked around and found the three idiots still fumbling with the last mob. James loaded another arrow into his crossbow and used his crossbow skill on it, ending its life. The system then gave out a notification. [Congratulations. You have received 100 coins. Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 10.] [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts:] ¡°Hmm? Why am I not leveling up?¡± James muttered. ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s only 100 coins?¡± [Survivor James received assistance from Survivor Kaina. As a result, the EXP and coins were split.] ¡°But she barely did anything!¡± James was outraged at the new information. The three idiots were still far away, so they didn¡¯t hear him complaining. [It was registered as assistance. If survivors face an enemy with assistance, the EXP and coins will be split.] ¡°Fuck you!¡± James roared. It was then that Kaina arrived. ¡°We won! Look, the golden portal has spawned! Let¡¯s go! We¡¯ve cleared this floor! Yay!¡± ¡°Wait a minute, girl. I have something to talk to you about.¡± James glared at Kaina. Kaina didn¡¯t know what she had done wrong, but from the look on James¡¯s face, she knew she had fucked up. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 41 Coins: 150 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 46: Trap Detection ¡°Listen here, girl. When I say I don''t need help, I mean it. I don¡¯t want you to help me. Understand?¡± James raised his voice at the girl. ¡°But we are in this together. We should all help each other!¡± Kaina answered. She didn''t know that EXP and coins were split among all participants. Kouki knew but had hidden the information from her. He wanted to be a hero, so if he divulged the real reason, it would only make him look like a selfish person. James was not like that anymore. Seeing that Kaina and the two military men seemed to agree with her, James decided to tell them the truth. ¡°Listen. You are weak. If you meddle, it decreases my EXP and coins. Understand? I don¡¯t mind if you tag along at a distance. You may even take on a mob on your own. However, you may not meddle with the monsters I fight! Understand?¡± ¡°Eh? Is that true?¡± Kaina asked, dumbfounded. ¡°If you ask the system, it will answer. You may not know this, but coins are precious! They can be used to upgrade your skills, weapons, and even buy health potions. So, with your meddling, I get fewer coins and find it harder to level up. If you understand, then don¡¯t meddle,¡± James scolded her. He then left. James had not been this harsh before. However, he had changed. When he was fired from his job, he swore never to indulge others anymore. He swore that he would say what he wanted and push away anything that inconvenienced him. He had become more selfish, but he was no longer a pushover. Kaina lowered her head. She whispered a faint but clear ¡°sorry¡± that reached James¡¯s ears. James didn¡¯t console her and walked away. ¡°Um¡­ Wait, aren¡¯t you going into the portal?¡± Sanders asked as he watched James walk past the portal and into the Stonehenge. ¡°I am looking for a chest! Or other monsters!¡± James scoffed. His annoyance got the better of him due to their earlier mishaps. He often leveled up after defeating a boss monster, but this time, he didn¡¯t. That annoyed him to no end. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Kaina said again. The Stonehenge in the desert was wider than it had appeared in the distance. James was curious. At the center of the Stonehenge was clearly an arena. Yet, why had the boss monster come to him? In the corner of the arena, there were stairs leading underground. Ever wary, James stepped in while Kaina, Sanders, and Anderson followed him. Torches lit the dungeon-like structure. The brick walls and floors were neatly layered throughout the dungeon. Sand was piled up in the corners. The structure seemed to resemble something from ancient Egypt. However, there were no pyramids anywhere James looked. He could only sigh at such disparity. ¡°Look! There are three chests there!¡± Kaina pointed toward one end of the room. James was bewildered. He had never seen three treasure chests in one room before. Kaina hopped toward them, but James stopped her. Using his usual tactics, he launched ice spears at the chests. Chests were impervious to attacks. However, attacking them might trigger traps. Seeing that the attacks did nothing to the chests, James walked closer¡ªnot from the front, but from the side, as usual. Then, as usual, he attached his spiderweb to one of the chests. There were no arrows or poison gas inside. ¡°Were there more chests because there were more members? Or was it simply because we are in a real dungeon?¡± James muttered. Of course, he had no proof of this assumption. He couldn¡¯t decide whether the system encouraged cooperation or not. On one hand, they could easily defeat enemies even when underleveled thanks to their cooperation. On the other hand, the EXP and coins were divided. If more members meant more chests, then the system clearly encouraged cooperation. James pondered whether he should start being more cooperative. ¡°Hey, you guys. What levels are you right now?¡± James asked. ¡°Hm? I am level 13,¡± Kaina answered without hesitation. James raised an eyebrow at how quickly she answered. He couldn¡¯t find it in himself to hate Kaina for her honesty. However, seeing her irritated him because she reminded him of his old self. The other guys hesitated a bit before revealing their answers. ¡°We are level ten. Why do you ask?¡± Anderson, the handsome military guy, answered. ¡°Nothing. Stay back, I am going to open it.¡± ¡°Why are you so cautious with it¡­¡± Sanders asked. ¡°Sometimes, there are traps within the chest. Opening it from a distance prevents it from harming anybody.¡± ¡°I see. What an ingenious idea. There were no traps inside, though,¡± Sanders answered. James scoffed at him. He didn¡¯t realize that Sanders¡¯ confidence came not from experience. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. Just because you have never seen a booby-trapped treasure chest doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist. Some of the traps are deadly.¡± ¡°Um¡­ no. That¡¯s not what I meant. My unique skill lets me see traps. And the skill says there are no traps here,¡± Sanders answered. However, James didn¡¯t trust him. ¡°Well, I am going to open one. If you are so sure of yourself, you may open the rest,¡± James challenged him. He decided not to rely on anyone else, and he wouldn¡¯t suddenly break his principle. What Sanders said was true. The chest opened without incident. James frowned at how ridiculous his unique skill was. [Congratulations! You have obtained 4 flashbangs. A flashbang grenade has been added to your shop. You can buy it for 50 coins apiece.] This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Ohh! A grenade! This dungeon is surprisingly modern, huh? Did you find your gun in chests too?¡± Sanders exclaimed. However, James frowned. He was not happy with the reward. He already had his mind magic skill to incapacitate enemies. So, these expensive grenades were useless to him. Carrying one grenade just in case, he threw the rest of the grenades to them. ¡°Here. I just need one. Didn¡¯t think I would use them anyway. I have other means to battle the enemies. I don¡¯t need these.¡± ¡°Really? Thanks! You¡¯re nicer than I thought!¡± Sanders chuckled. ¡°Oh, I can buy this in the shop too? I didn¡¯t know the shop could be upgraded like this. I thought it could only buy health and hematonic potions.¡± ¡°So, we can open the rest of the chests, right?¡± Kaina walked closer to the remaining chests. James winced. However, he was too proud to take back his own words and let her open the rest of the chests. ¡°Ugh¡­ coins¡­¡± Kaina frowned. ¡°I need weapons¡­ or armor.¡± ¡°Ah, EXP scroll for me,¡± Anderson said. ¡°Shit!¡± James cursed as they got exactly what he wanted. ¡°Hm? What¡¯s wrong? Enemies?¡± Sanders and the rest raised their weapons, anticipating an attack. But James dismissed them. ¡°Nothing!¡± James left the chamber without hiding his annoyance. The group could only tilt their heads at James¡¯ erratic behavior. James came out from the underground room together with the three survivors. He wondered whether he should cajole them or ignore them. The sun had set, and cold air blew on his fur as he walked away from the monument and back toward the golden portal. A golden arrow, courtesy of the system, pointed him toward the portal. ¡°Wait! There is a trap there!¡± Sanders shouted. James tilted his head. He had been walking this path when he came to the Stonehenge, so how could there be a trap here? Sanders wasn¡¯t lying. James felt something moving underground thanks to his echolocation ability. A monster that resembled a beetle emerged from the sand. Its massive pincers homed in on James, threatening to split him in two right at the torso. James leaped closer as he swung his axe upward. There was no time for a skill, but the force of his strike was enough to knock the beast away. The massive pincers that had been aimed at him bit nothing but air. James followed with a thrust as he drew his sword from his back. The longsword slid easily into the beast¡¯s stomach as red blood spurted out from its guts. The massive bug cried out its last breath before dying. [Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 42. You have earned 20 coins. Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 11.] James felt his heart leap out of his chest for a second there. It was so sudden. If he hadn¡¯t stopped, he might have lost his legs or, worse, died. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Sanders came in and sighed in relief when he saw that James was unharmed. ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re at a much higher level than me. My warning must have been unnecessary.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. Thanks for the warning,¡± James muttered. This was not the first stealth opponent he had faced. The frog on the previous floor had done the same. However, that frog relied on paralysis and the binding of its tongue. James realized he needed more detection skills to avoid traps and ambushes like this. He recognized gaps in his defense. His echolocation skill hadn¡¯t detected the beetle because it hadn¡¯t moved. Only at the very last minute did he realize he was being ambushed. Unfortunately, the sand beetle that ambushed him didn¡¯t have any useful parts [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Parts:] Its scales were worse than the crab¡¯s, so James ignored them from the beginning. However, its pincers might be useful. He could swap out his gills for the pincers. But the question was, where should he place them? ¡°No. If there are any more water floors, I¡¯d be screwed without the gills,¡± James muttered and decided to abandon the corpse. Finally getting the level-up he wanted, James checked his stats. His new class had leveled up significantly, shooting up to Level 12. ¡°Alright! You guys are not so useless after all. Let¡¯s head on to the next floor.¡± James smiled. His new level-up had certainly improved his mood. He could feel himself getting stronger. With renewed determination, James walked to the portal. This time, his heart slightly cared for his new companions. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 42 Coins: 170 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 47: Sixth Floor The usual white room was now filled with three other people, so James was no longer alone. This white room, which always felt silent to him, was now filled with chatter from Kaina, Anderson, and Sanders. ¡°Wow! We finished the boss without any casualties!¡± Kaina pumped her fist. ¡°Awesome. So this is how dungeons are usually cleared. I heard from Andrew. We are finally one of the clearers!¡± Sanders high-fived his teammates. ¡°Andrew always told us about the importance of teamwork, but James is certainly something, being able to clear a floor on his own.¡± Anderson nodded. ¡°If I may ask, what level are you now, Mr. James?¡± ¡°Hm? I am somewhere near level 40.¡± James lied. Of course, he wasn''t good at it. Anderson caught on that he was trying to obfuscate his level. That wasn''t his concern. His concern was how James would use his newfound power. If he were to go rogue, the guild would need to dispatch a high-level team to suppress him. Bullets no longer worked on James, after all. ¡°I see. That''s a relief. I am glad to meet such a high-level survivor like you. We need people like you to clear dungeons. Will you continue going solo, clearing the dungeon on your own?¡± Anderson nodded. ¡°... Maybe¡­¡± James turned away, but then he turned back to Anderson. Part of him grew curious about this guild thing. While living in the jungle and dungeons like this was an option for him, he didn''t want to live like this forever. James asked, ¡°So, this guild of yours¡ªwhat¡¯s their responsibility? Will I get paid if I join?¡± Anderson blinked. He thought he had screwed up with how he spoke to James and didn¡¯t want to meddle with him anymore. ¡°Of course, you will get paid.¡± Anderson smiled. ¡°As for your responsibility, survivors need to clear dungeons!¡± James was intrigued. If clearing dungeons was all that was required of him, then that would be like heaven for him. He could treat clearing dungeons like an extended business trip and then go back and relax. But that depended on how much money he would earn. From how Anderson praised him, James thought he was at a pretty high level compared to other survivors. That meant he should get paid more. "Was it paid based on how many dungeons you could clear? I don''t think I can clear more than four in a year¡­" James whispered to himself. He had managed to clear dungeon trials in three months. If this dungeon was the same, he assumed four dungeons would be the most he could clear in a year. Seeing James frown, Anderson added, "Of course! You don''t have to clear it on your own! We survivors shall work together to finish it!" James immediately lost interest when he heard he had to go with other people. Again, Anderson had screwed up. "Never mind," James sighed. "Huh?" Again, Anderson was flabbergasted. He wondered whether he had screwed up somehow. But before he could ask further, the loading screen was filled, and white light engulfed the room. When the light faded, James saw water¡ªan endless sea stretching as far as the eye could see. "Hm? Where are we?" Kaina went to the fence and admired the ocean. They were standing on the deck of a cruise ship, near the aft side, at the back of the ship. "Forget it, dungeons are mysterious. Sometimes we''re not even on Earth. Look, there are two suns here." James pointed toward the sky. Not only were there two suns, but they also seemed to set in different directions. One was in front of James, while the other was to his right. "We shall call the front of the ship¡ªthe bow¡ªthe north side, alright? Where are we headed anyway?" Anderson asked. "We are heading nowhere. This ship is the dungeon. The boss is somewhere inside this ship," James answered. "Yay! A luxurious cruise ship! We can have proper beds and even a shower!" Kaina skipped along the pool on the deck. As she went down the stairs, she entered one of the ship¡¯s cabins. She had been on a passenger cruise before, and it was a blast. This ship was bigger and more luxurious, so her expectations were high. Of course, her expectations soon plummeted faster than a falling rock. No matter how luxurious the cruise ship was, it didn''t matter if there were no entertainers. Nevertheless, the cabin was like a hotel room¡ªcomplete with beds and even bathrooms, which the soldiers didn¡¯t mind. "Well, at least there are beds." Sanders shrugged. "Let''s eat! Anderson, if you would." Kaina plopped herself onto a sofa inside the room. James was about to offer his supply of tuna and deer meat, but he was surprised as a black box magically appeared before Anderson. Tempura, ramen, and stir-fried vegetables were placed neatly inside Styrofoam boxes. It was just like packed food from restaurants. "What''s that? I didn''t know shops offered food," James asked, pointing toward the boxes. "Ah, this is my unique skill, Enhanced Logistics. I can buy food and water from shops," Anderson answered. "We would have starved without him. All of you have such useful skills. I¡¯m jealous," Kaina said as she took her portion and ate. "Would you like some?" Anderson asked, but James shook his head and prepared his own food. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Relying on him now meant wasting his supply of deer meat and fish, and James didn¡¯t like wasting food. Moreover, using coins to buy food when he had an abundant amount felt like a crime. He definitely didn¡¯t want to owe Anderson a single coin. "No. Thank you." James opened his leather bag. Thanks to his water magic and Firefur, he could boil water midair and cook his deer meat. He then put the stew in an ice bowl. Afterward, he also charred his fish atop his longsword. Fresh sashimi was delicious, but he had grown tired of it after a while. "Was that magic? Awesome! Is that your unique skill?" "No, it is not a unique skill. You can unlock magic once you level up to level 20," James answered. However, Kaina tilted her head after seeing James use both fire and water at the same time. "Hm? But Kouki said we could only choose one type of magic. How can you use two types of magic?" "That''s a trade secret." James smirked. In fact, he could use three types of magic: mind magic as his core, water magic from that Sahuagin princess, and fire magic from his lungs and fur. James usually ate his food with his hands, but since others were watching, he decided to be more civilized and made bowls and spoons from ice. "Alright, let''s take turns keeping watch¡­" Sanders said. "Ehh, there¡¯s nothing here. We just need to block the door, right?" Kaina, who didn¡¯t want to join the night watch, complained. "This is a dungeon. Monsters might come at you while you''re sleeping. Just because we¡¯re in a hotel room doesn¡¯t mean we can lower our guard," Anderson said. Afterward, James decided to find a place in the corner to sleep. He was about to fix the door using his spiderwebs, but since the group offered to take night watch shifts, he didn¡¯t do it and slept with his weapon instead. The door was still within ten meters of his location. His echolocation skill should alert him if something approached. The trio didn¡¯t assign any roles to James, as they assumed he didn¡¯t want to be included in their party. They were also unsure whether James would appreciate being ordered around. James was the most experienced person in the dungeon. According to common sense and advice from Andrew and Kouki, they should listen to his orders. However, James never gave them any. As expected, dungeons were dangerous places. James woke up when his echolocation picked up something moving in the middle of the night. "Hm? What¡¯s wrong, Mr. James?" Sanders, who had taken the worst night watch shift¡ªthe middle one¡ªasked. They had decided the shift order would be Kaina, Sanders, and Anderson. "I heard something. Probably an enemy." James reached for his weapons and inched closer to the door. He didn¡¯t wait. James opened the door and peeked into the corridor. There, an octopus man with ragged clothes and a cutlass approached. "Enemy sighted! Everyone, to arms!" Sanders shouted, warning everyone. James leaped in before Sanders could even warn others. A golden glow shone from his sword. Golden sparks flew when his sword scratched the wall. James thought victory was at hand, as there was no way it could dodge his strike. However, it did. The octopus jumped back by more than five meters. Using its tentacle, it latched onto the railings of the corridor, propelling itself further backward. The golden meteor hit the wall and bounced back with another golden spark, coupled with a familiar purple flash. James recoiled, losing his balance and slipping down to the floor. He expected to leave a gash on the ship¡¯s wall, just like in the dungeon trial. However, the walls were an indestructible object. The tentacle man seemed to grin. It didn¡¯t have a mouth, but it realized that James had screwed up. A golden glow shone from its cutlass, and it leaped with the same speed as when it had fled from James¡¯s strike earlier. "Heh," James smirked. The octopus had fallen right into his feint. James roared, and fire blew out from his mouth, hitting the octopus right in the face. The golden meteor that was coming at James¡¯s head flashed and disappeared as the octopus flailed on the ground. It died soon after James roasted it on high flame, cooking it into fried octopus. [Congratulations! You have obtained 30 coins! Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 12!] "Are you okay?" Sanders came to James as Anderson and Kaina rushed out of the room. "It''s finished already? I guess we set up the night watch for nothing." Kaina, a normal middle school girl, yawned. She had brought her spear, but she couldn''t help feeling that their night watch was useless. James sensed his enemies sooner than Sanders. Moreover, he also defeated them faster before the group could rally themselves. "Don''t be like that. We can''t let James handle everything," Anderson tried to placate her. His words were laced with his intention to raise their value, showing their willingness to cooperate. Of course, such words went over James''s head. He ignored them and went to the corpse. "What does the Chimera say?" James queried the system. They showed the parts he could plunder immediately. [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Part:] "I see. So it still had a trump card that it hadn''t used during its battle with me," James muttered. He found another use for his Chimera skill. Unlike Kaina¡¯s team, James¡¯s battles against mobs were quick. A single clean hit with a skill often ended the fight. Since James often went solo, a single mistake could cost him his life. So, this information was precious to him. "Hmm? Is that all? What about the tentacle that it used to dodge my attacks?" [Chimera couldn''t plunder a damaged body part.] "I see. But could you list its parts?" [Apart from the name, Chimera couldn''t provide information about the damaged body part. The damaged body part you mentioned is the Mollusk Pirate Mob¡¯s arm tentacle.] "Arm? Could it use weapon skills with that?" James was interested. A third arm that could stretch like that was extremely useful. [Information classified. Please find an undamaged body part for the Chimera to analyze.] "Alright." "Um¡­ James? Are you talking with the system?" Anderson probed. He didn''t hear him talking, but he heard whispers coming from James''s mouth. "Huh? Oh yeah. This guy had an ink sac. Next time, be careful. It didn''t use it during my battle, but the system said it had such moves," James warned them. "How did you¡­?" "Don''t ask questions about my skills," James said as he returned to the room. However, he was no longer sleepy, so he decided to explore the cruise ship. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 42 Coins: 200 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 48: Luxurious Danger ¡°Wait. We should travel only when the sun rises,¡± Anderson said. Such words not only came from his training and common sense but also when he looked at his companions. They were tired. However, James didn¡¯t care about such things. He believed in his instincts. ¡°Then you can stay behind and sleep. Don¡¯t forget to block the door,¡± James shrugged. He felt this was the time to strike. He had had enough of following people''s orders. From now on, he would follow his own intuition. Of course, the group didn¡¯t want to stay behind. Grumbling, they prepared themselves to follow James. As he ventured onto the deck inside the ship, his ears picked up another movement behind the door. A nice map of the ship was laid out on the wall. Looking at it, he found out that he was currently on the 14th deck, just a deck below the topmost one. According to the map, beyond the door was a hall that extended to more than three decks. As James stared at the map, the door opened, revealing another humanoid octopus. This time, the octopus wore better clothes. A white shirt coupled with black trousers, a black vest, and a pirate hat adorned him. The slime the octopus exuded ruined the nice shirt it had. James, who had lived in dungeons for so long, couldn''t care less about physical appearance. However, Kaina, who followed behind, was visibly disgusted at the wriggling tentacles the octopus man had. The corridor was narrow. Learning from his previous mistake, James sheathed his sword and decided to only use his axe. The bipedal tentacle monster grinned as it shot its tentacle toward James. James was about to slash it apart, but he remembered that Chimera couldn¡¯t take damaged body parts. So, he formed ice spears while his left hand grappled the slimy tentacle. ¡°Shit!¡± James cursed as he couldn''t grip the tentacle properly. However, he knew the reverse wasn''t true. The tentacle slithered onto his shield and held it tight. James could feel that the tentacle was pulling him. James was confident in his strength. Even with his dominant hand, he was supported by his levels and new class. The tentacle man widened his eyes. His usual tactics of disrupting the enemy''s posture and striking him afterward were not working. Just from this exchange alone, it knew it wouldn''t win even in a sword fight. However, this was not a mere mob. He was a real pirate. Apart from his tentacles and cutlasses, he had two other trump cards: his ink and his gun. Since James didn''t budge when he pulled him, he decided to use his ink. He didn''t spray his ink with his mouth; instead, using another tentacle that functioned like a hose inside his mouth, he slithered it out and spurted black ichor at James¡¯s face. James knew an ink attack would come and shielded his face with an ice shield, like wearing safety goggles. The method he used against the corrosive rats worked again. However, he didn''t expect a gun to come into play. A gunshot rang out as a flash of a round bullet homed in on James. James raised his shield. The crab shell was part of James¡¯ body, so even though the bullet didn¡¯t penetrate it, he could still feel pain shoot through it. Nevertheless, the shield held on. The 90% physical resistance was no joke. It wasn''t as powerful as the original, but James was glad to have it. Now, it was James¡¯ turn to shine. He leaped forward while raising his axe overhead. He roared as his axe embedded itself in the pirate¡¯s head. Blue blood spurted from it, bathing James in a pungent odor. [Congratulations! You have obtained 30 coins! Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 13!] Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Part:] ¡°Yes!¡± James pumped his fist when he found out that he could grab its tentacle. However, the ink spray made him tilt his head. ¡°System, why does this octopus have two skills of the same name?¡± [The mollusk pirates shot their ink through a hose called the funnel or siphon. The organ worked in pairs. Thus, to use the ink sac efficiently, Survivor James also needed the siphon.] ¡°I see. Well, forget it. I don¡¯t want it anyway.¡± James shrugged. Now, it was the tentacle arm. He wanted it. However, his extra slots were full. The spinneret and her water magic core were a definite no. That left him with his shield and his gills. ¡°System, does this octopus have gills or lungs?¡± [Yes. The mollusk pirates have lungs. However, since Survivor James already has lungs of his own, we decided to exclude that from the list.] ¡°Can its lungs breathe in water like sahuagins? Why don¡¯t you tell me? I can free my extra slot.¡± The system¡¯s answers threw James out of the loop. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. [No. Its lungs cannot breathe in water. And thus, it can drown.] ¡°What the heck.¡± James widened his eyes at the absurd information. However, he knew better than to question the system. James reminded himself that this was another world. The rules were different, and he must prepare if the creatures here behaved differently than on Earth. Back on topic, James further asked the system about the tentacle arm that he was so interested in. Since the tentacle had ¡®arm¡¯ in its name, he thought he could use weapon skills with it. However, the answer that came to him made him disappointed. [Survivor James couldn¡¯t use weapon skills when using the tentacle arm. However, you could grab nearby objects up to 3 meters away.] ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bummer." James also noticed that the Chimera somehow nerfed the parts that it plundered from the corpses. Nevertheless, human arms were usually 50¨C60 cm long. However, this tentacle could reach up to 3 meters. It was still short compared to the frog, but James still wanted it. After deep thought, James decided to cast out his gills for the tentacle arm. James wanted that tentacle arm. Ever since he saw it, he thought he could use it to grab his crossbow, grenade, or pistols. In addition, he could use this tentacle to grab the weapons that he dropped on the ground. James certainly could use the extra hand. [Where would you like to place your Mollusk Pirate¡¯s Arm Tentacle?] ¡°On the back, please. It can extend or bend in whichever direction, right?¡± [Yes.] Dark motes of light swirled around the octopus and started to consume it. ¡°Hey! The corpse is disappearing!¡± Sanders exclaimed. James suddenly realized that he was not alone anymore. He then calmed them down with a hand gesture. ¡°It¡¯s my skill. Don¡¯t worry. My skills can plunder monsters'' parts and make them my own,¡± James said. He decided to trust them. Well, not fully. As long as he kept secret what parts he stole from the enemies, he would still have trump cards if worse came to worst. ¡°A tail is coming out from your back!¡± Kaina yelped. ¡°Tail?¡± James imagined a tentacle growing out from his back. Instead of a tentacle, a furry tail came out. Chimera used the skin of his Firefur for the tentacle, making it have the appearance of a tail instead of the slimy mollusk. However, it was more elastic than a normal tail; it could wiggle, extend, and even contract itself. After confirming that his new tail worked as expected, James opened the door to the hall. He was at the top deck, on a gallery leading to the huge hall of the luxurious cruise ship. There, a familiar crab that James had seen on the fourth floor was standing together with another octopus man. The bipedal octopus growled as it pointed its cutlass at him. Using its tentacle, it latched onto the railings and leaped toward Anderson. James frowned as the bipedal mollusk aimed at the three stooges instead of him. A golden glow shone from Kaina¡¯s spear as she charged toward the octopus man. Despite their low level, Kaina, Anderson, and Sanders had undergone training and received advice from Kouki and Andrew. Kaina had personally seen how Kouki fought off monsters and even bosses. The octopus was thrown back to the first floor. James frowned as he saw the bipedal monster rise up like it was unharmed. Sanders and Anderson came in and unleashed their weapon skills at the tentacle that was gripping the fence. A purple light flashed when Sanders missed the tentacle by a slight margin and hit the fence instead. The beast roared. James equipped his crossbow while throwing his axe to the back. The new tail he had was already put to good use. Not only did it make grabbing his crossbow quicker, but it could also put the axe he dropped properly on his back. ¡°Watch out! That guy has a gun!¡± Anderson warned, and the group jumped for cover, but James didn¡¯t. He was not one to chicken out and run before the enemy. The octopus reached out for its gun. However, the golden comet blew off its face before it could get a shot off. James was faster with his crossbow. [Congratulations! You have obtained 30 coins! Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 14!] ¡°Thanks.¡± Anderson stood up and brushed off his clothes. ¡°That was an impeccable performance.¡± ¡°You just lacked guts. And get more weapons,¡± James chuckled. ¡°I will keep that in mind. Hm¡­ on that note, after we deal with the crab, may I take his gun?¡± Anderson pointed at the pirate¡¯s gun. He didn¡¯t expect James to agree, but he did. ¡°Alright. As long as you don¡¯t use it on me, I don''t mind.¡± James went for the stairs to meet the crab. He had dealt with this kind of crab before. ¡°Of course! What are you saying?¡± Anderson said, feeling offended. James never liked him, and his words felt like they were laced with insincerity and lies to him. ¡°It was just a joke.¡± Sanders elbowed him. He then followed him to the stairs. ¡°Anything you need?¡± ¡®Nah. I have met this kind of enemy on the fourth floor. You just need to flip him over and crush it from the belly. Did you guys miss this one?¡± ¡°We also met them. But since they were slow, we chose to avoid them. They also didn¡¯t chase us,¡± Sanders said while following behind James like a duckling. As usual, James used his ice magic to lift one side of the crab. He thought about using his axe to give the final push to flip it over, but a thought flashed through his mind. He decided to give his new tail a go. Three meters seemed short, but it was still longer than either his sword or axe. He didn¡¯t put much faith in it since the system told him that it had a STR penalty, but it worked wonders. A golden glow shone from his axe and crashed into the crab¡¯s belly, ending its life. [Congratulations! You have obtained 20 coins! Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 15!] ¡°So, anyone want crab meat?¡± James grinned as he faced the team. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 42 Coins: 280 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 49: Kraken James opened the door to the topmost deck on the bow. There, a chest lay at the center of a helipad platform, while the group was admiring the crab and pillaging the monster¡¯s gun. "Sometimes they are hidden, and sometimes they are laid out in the open," James muttered as he strolled toward the chest. "Wait!" Sanders ran up to him. "That one is trapped. Don¡¯t open it." James blinked at him. Then he blinked again before finally asking, "So¡­ can you disarm the trap?" "No. That¡¯s why we should leave it alone," Sanders answered. James rolled his eyes at such an answer. "I am opening it from afar. Thanks for telling me." James nudged the chest from a distance with his ice spears. Since it showed no reaction, he came closer and attached his spiderweb to it. After opening it from afar, three poisoned arrows spat out from inside the chest. Of course, they hit nothing but air. "There is only one bullet. We¡¯ve got to make it count," Sanders said as he handed Anderson the gun. James overheard them since they had gathered behind him. "But you''re the better shooter." "I have my sword. I am a vanguard," Sanders said. James turned to him and offered his bullet. "Does this bullet fit inside that gun?" "Huh? But you only have one bullet left, right?" "I am going to take it back. I was just wondering¡ªif I give you this bullet, will it appear in your shop?" James said as he gave the bullet to Anderson. The group could now buy the flashbang grenade that James had handed them before. The system should treat this bullet the same. "Hey! The system really gives the option to purchase the bullet! It will cost 10 coins apiece? This is going to be tough. I am low on coins because I need to purchase food. The caliber is a match. Did they use this .45 caliber for all guns on this floor?" Anderson said. ¡°Hand it to me and Kaina. We have spare coins,¡± Sanders said, and Anderson nodded. He then handed the bullet to the other member before giving it back to James. ¡°I will note it down. Um¡­ did you know why your bullet could be purchased from the shop while the other bullet couldn¡¯t?¡± Anderson asked. ¡°If the bullet came from the treasure chest, it can be registered in the shop. That¡¯s why chests are so important,¡± James answered. He then shrugged. ¡°You owe me.¡± ¡°...Of course. We are extremely grateful for your help.¡± ¡°Help me on the other side, okay?¡± James said as he walked toward the chest. [Congratulations, you have obtained a skill scroll. Which skill would you like to upgrade?] ¡°Yes!¡± James pumped his fist. ¡°My axe skill!¡± [Your Axe Mastery skill has been upgraded to Novice Axe Mastery Level 5. New skill learned: Boomerang.] ¡°Boomerang?¡± [The axe can return to your hand if you throw it using the weapon skill. However, it is not a sure thing. If there are obstacles in the way or if it is lodged inside the enemy, the axe will not return.] ¡°I see.¡± James tried his new skill. A golden glow shone on his axe as he threw it. The axe seemed to have a mind of its own as it flew out from his hand, spinning like a boomerang. The axe then curved and returned to James¡¯ hand. ¡°Hmm¡­ about twenty meters,¡± James muttered, measuring the distance of his throw. It was a lot shorter than he thought, but this one is a skill. The power was different. As James was admiring the new skill he got, the ship suddenly shook. The massive cruise ship trembled, sending everyone to the ground. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°The ship is hit!¡± Anderson, who had experience as a marine, rushed to the fence. ¡°Damn it! We are fucked. The ship is taking in water.¡± ¡°What?¡± James was horrified and rushed to the fence just like Anderson, and true to what he said, the hull of the ship was slowly sinking. James thought the whole ship was protected by the system. The purple flash that protected chests was also on the ship as well. It shouldn¡¯t sink no matter if you hit it with missiles or torpedoes. Moreover, he thought the whole dungeon was the ship. If the ship was sinking, did that mean the dungeon would be destroyed? ¡°We have to find a lifeboat!¡± Anderson exclaimed. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have thrown away the gill!¡± James cursed inwardly. ¡°Let¡¯s find the lifeboats. We should have about three to four hours before the ship completely sinks.¡± Anderson looked at the hull of the ship once more before scrambling for the lifeboats. There were no holes on the side of the hull, but it was evident that the ship was sinking. ¡°No! We should defeat the boss and get out of here!¡± James raised his voice as the group scrambled for the said lifeboats. His voice halted the group. Modern lifeboats were compact, and thus, their placement was not immediately clear to the naked eye. ¡°What?¡± Anderson said, flabbergasted. He couldn¡¯t believe how much of a battle maniac James had become. To think they should go for the boss even though the ship was about to sink. ¡°We should defeat the boss. If we defeat the boss, we can escape by using the golden portal,¡± James answered. Realization dawned upon them when they understood what James meant. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I see. You are right! Let¡¯s go find the boss,¡± Kaina hopped in. ¡°I think it would be faster to search for the lifeboat. The battle with the boss might be risky as well,¡± Anderson complained, but Sanders answered him before James could. ¡°We need to fight the boss either way. Rather than fighting it on a lifeboat, I would rather fight it on a ship. Besides, this is an alien ship. There is no guarantee that it has lifeboats.¡± ¡°I see. That makes sense.¡± Anderson sighed. This decision was not to his liking; it was akin to assaulting the enemy base because they were cornered, but it made sense. The group ran toward the middle deck through the plaza. Due to the ship rocking earlier, the place was a mess, as glasses, tables, and ornaments had fallen and were scattered on the floor. ¡°What the fuck is that?!¡± Sanders stopped in his tracks as a pink slithering tentacle came upon them from one end of the corridor. ¡°Octopus tentacle¡­ and it looks more delicious than the humanoid ones. I guess the boss is the one looking for us," James said, deadpan. ¡°We shall make takoyaki out of them.¡± Kaina prepared her spear. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡± Anderson sighed at their jokes while preparing his dagger. James handed him his Waterspout Dagger before facing the boss. ¡°Here. I think this dagger is better than what you are using. You can dual wield it with your other one. You are borrowing it, understand? Don¡¯t lose it,¡± James said. He didn''t like seeing something used improperly, and he had been using that dagger as a water pitcher ever since he got it. Seeing the shiny dagger finally put to good use made him feel at ease. ¡°T-thanks!¡± Anderson said. Golden lightning crackled from his axe as James leaped at the tentacle waiting for him. Of course, Kaina and the others waited at the back. A single swipe from it could kill them due to their low stats. A single slash was all it took to bisect the writhing tentacle. The cruise ship trembled. Its hull groaned as the tentacle before the group retreated. A monstrous howl soon erupted from beneath the deck as if the ship itself roared in pain. James grinned as he jogged through the corridor, following the retreating tentacle. ¡°Ugh¡­ shit¡­¡± James cursed as the corridor was cut off midway after an intersection. It didn¡¯t take long for James to find the boss monster. However, it had destroyed most of the decks, leaving a large area for itself in the center of the ship. James gazed at the monstrous cephalopod. It was at least twenty meters tall. Its many arms spread out across the mall. ¡°Where is the takoyaki? Ah¡­ never mind¡­¡± Kaina finally caught up to James but halted as she saw the octopus. She had never seen a live octopus before and was disgusted by how it looked. James wondered whether she really meant the food or if there was some other nuance from her language. But he ignored her. Kaina might be bright and cheerful, but she wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed either. ¡°Damn¡­ how are we going to defeat it?¡± Sanders asked. James didn¡¯t answer. He dropped to another deck, then to another, then to another before finally reaching the deck where the octopus lay. He was afraid; however, he remembered. If he ran now, he would be back to his old self. He would be back to the old pushover James. James promised that from now on, he would do things his own way. The octopus had seen him. Its eye glared down at the humanoid furry beast that approached it. The king of the sea prepared its tentacle against the flaming tiger. James drew his longsword. This wide room finally provided him with the space to use it. The giant octopus whipped its tentacles toward James, only to be met with a golden flash from James''s sword. The kraken roared as it flanked James from the side, but it retreated again as spikes made of ice sprouted on the floor behind James. ¡°That¡¯s cheating!¡± James cursed as he saw the tentacle he had just cut grow back. Krakens have high resilience. They can grow back their tentacles in a matter of minutes. Golden sparks with lightning flashed from his axe and hit another tentacle that came after James. The giant octopus reeled back as it saw all of its attacks were ineffective against James. Apart from its regenerative power, flammable ink, and stats, it had no other means of attack. It could spew out its ink, but it knew James was fireproof after seeing him light himself on fire. Water gushed out from the floor like a fountain. The hull groaned as it took in more and more water inside the deck. This enemy was easy, but James realized that he had a time limit. Even though it was huge, its body could squeeze inside the corridor, leaving James and the trio behind. James blinked at the scene. He had never expected a boss monster to flee from him like that. Sure, there was that frog before, but it didn¡¯t run¡ªmerely hid, trying to ambush him. But this one fled like its life depended on it. ¡°Wait! Come back here!¡± James rushed toward the corridor where the creature had gone. Panic was in his voice because water kept coming from the ground and windows. James realized it was a race against the clock. The true enemy on this floor was not the octopus¡ªit was time. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 42 Coins: 280 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 50: Seventh Floor ¡°Come back here!¡± James chased after the fleeing octopus. Of course, it didn¡¯t slow down as it slithered through the narrow corridor. ¡°Was this common? I never heard Andrew talk about a fleeing boss monster.¡± Sanders nudged Kaina. ¡°No. I have never seen a monster flee from Kouki either, even though he pretty much fought alone in the trial dungeon.¡± The trio sprinted toward James. ¡°Stop talking! He is leaving us behind!¡± Anderson interrupted them as he ran with all his might. He realized that if James were ever separated from them, their lives would be in danger. Not only was the ship sinking, but the monsters were also getting progressively harder. ¡°Come on! You are a fucking floor boss! Why the fuck are you running!?¡± James cursed. A golden glow shone from his axe. Lightning engulfed it as it flew out from his hand, chasing the fleeing monster. The axe embedded itself in its fleshy body as blue blood seeped out from it. It pulled the axe out with its arm, but it didn¡¯t drop it. It roared before taking the axe with it. ¡°Damn it! It¡¯s smart!¡± James cursed again as he bit a wooden bolt and prepared his crossbow. Instead of removing the axe and dropping or throwing it, the octopus held the axe with one of its tentacles. It knew that if it dropped the axe, James could use his skill again to harm it. The cruise ship was large, but no matter how large it was, there was an end to it. The octopus ran through the winding corridor from the middle deck to the upper aft. It was about to leap out from the deck into the ocean below, but a purple translucent wall blocked its way. ¡°Hah¡­ Hah¡­ Something blocked its escape!¡± Kaina panted as she reached the upper deck with the other two soldiers. James was already next to the giant octopus. He grinned maliciously. ¡°Hm¡­ I see. The system blocked your way, huh? I guess it¡¯s time for you to get the short end of the stick. Only one of us shall leave this ship alive. Either you or me!¡± The ship rocked again. This time, the ship was tilting toward the bow. James stabbed his sword into the deck, steadying himself while the octopus held the fence firmly. The beast roared as it used its remaining tentacle against him. James lit himself on fire as he froze his feet to the ground to hold himself steady. He then drew his sword and parried the tentacles that came after him. James cursed as he imagined the octopus grinning while holding his lightning axe with one of its tentacles. The new skill worked against him this time. Nevertheless, James was a jack of all trades. He had his poison on top of his weapon skills. While holding his sword and parrying the incoming tentacle with his right hand, he loaded the poisoned bolt into his crossbow, held by his tentacle. A golden meteor flew through the cephalopod; its soft and muscular body prevented the arrow from going in too deep. Blue blood splattered again from its wound. But the arrow had already wounded it. The life-leeching poison had seeped in and inflicted continuous damage on the kraken. James bit another bolt and loaded it into his crossbow. He cursed again as he realized this might turn into a long battle. Using his right hand, he deflected the tentacles that were coming at him. Thanks to the new arm, he could now dual wield his sword and crossbow, as his new tail could handle the reloading process. Moreover, his flaming tail could ward off some of the tentacle attacks. The flaming tail looked like a red whip parrying pink flesh that came after him. ¡°We must help him,¡± Kaina said. ¡°He is struggling!¡± ¡°I would love to, but James didn¡¯t want us helping him, remember? Besides, how can we help him? That octopus is stronger than any of us. A single whip from it might send us flying, or worse, kill us. Moreover, we can¡¯t even stand because the ship is tilting,¡± Sanders answered. He then looked at Anderson, who had a gun. ¡°Do you think you can hit it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Its head is between the eyes, not that huge lobe at the top. Understand?¡± Sanders said. He had seen people cutting up octopuses at meat markets as a child before. ¡°Yes. I know.¡± Anderson nodded as he drew his gun and sheathed his daggers. He only had one shot at this, and he didn¡¯t want to waste it. Nevertheless, his shot was not necessary as the kraken died soon after James put his third poison bolt into its right eye. It sent it into a roar. Seeing the chance, he froze the ground, creating a rough surface on it while running toward it. Then, he used his sword skill. The golden arc sliced through the octopus. Blood gushed from the wound. Seeing it was not enough, he grabbed his hand grenade and inserted it into the gash he had made using his new tail. Moments later, the grenade exploded, sending blue blood and meat all over the place. The explosion was fatal as it hit right between the eyes. [Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 43. Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 16. You have obtained 100 coins.] ¡°Nice!¡± James grinned. ¡°Any upgrade?¡± [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Part:] ¡°Hmm¡­ well, I will take the tentacle," James said after spending about a minute analyzing the body parts. It was an easy decision. The ink sac might be useful, but he already had his flaming fur. The siphon was useful too, but he was already going to the next floor. James didn¡¯t want to part with his shield yet, so he took the tentacle arm. It was a direct upgrade¡ªhe didn¡¯t have to think about it. Dark motes of light consumed the octopus. Before it finished consuming the beast, the ship rocked again. James started to panic as the golden portal had not appeared yet. ¡°System, where is the portal?¡± James asked. Fear crept up within him. ¡°Was this giant octopus not the boss?¡± [The portal to the next floor will appear on the bridge. This floor is unstable; only the bridge will still have air once this ship sinks.] ¡°Shit! What about us?¡± James began to run before his Chimera skill finished consuming the octopus. He didn¡¯t forget to pick up his lightning axe that slid conveniently toward him. [Survivors are encouraged to make a run for the portal immediately. The ship will fully sink in ten minutes.] Seeing the blue box made by the system, the trio went ahead of him and ran toward the bridge. The massive cruise ship was sinking; the waves from the ocean splashed on the top deck as the abyss below continued to suck in the metal behemoth. A crack was heard from the ship as one of the sealed compartments on the lower deck was breached by water pressure. The compartment door on the lower deck was breached, letting in more water. On the bright side, the ship had leveled out, but on the other hand, the water had risen, reaching even the topmost deck. Thanks to the blue arrow in their vision, James and the team didn¡¯t lose their way. However, they had to swim their way toward the door. After climbing a set of stairs indicated by the arrow, they found themselves in the control room. Through the glass panes, they could see the dark ocean beyond. A school of fish swam around, creating an enigmatic view. A golden glow from the portal lit the room. ¡°Well, here it is.¡± James sighed. ¡°Well, it didn¡¯t go exactly according to plan, but we made it. Want to sleep here first before going?¡± ¡°That was crazy! I totally feel like we are in a Hollywood movie!¡± Sanders jumped in excitement. ¡°Boss! Please give me some small fry mobs! I want to be useful! Teach me!¡± ¡°Learn on your own. If you want to ask, ask the system first.¡± James plopped down as he examined his equipment. His armor was dented all over. It might be useless against weapon skills, but it had proven itself against normal attacks such as that octopus. His body ached all over due to the lashing from that kraken. A nice nap before going to the next floor would be great, but the atmosphere here was unsettling. As the ship was sinking, he could feel the boat rocking back and forth, making him nauseous. ¡°What floor is the next one? I see. You can¡¯t tell me, huh? Why?¡± Kaina muttered to herself. From her words, James assumed she was talking to the system. Thanks to his improved stats, he could feel the pain lessen somewhat. While not as good as the kraken, James¡¯s stats improved his metabolism, making him heal faster than normal humans. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go.¡± James stood up after dozing for several minutes. The group followed him soon after to the waiting room. ¡°Ugh¡­ we still have three floors to go? This is endless.¡± Kaina complained. ¡°Well, this dungeon exploring is certainly hard. That¡¯s why we need to work together to clear it.¡± Anderson nodded. James ignored the peanut gallery as he stared at the loading screen. Soon, the loading screen filled up, and they were transported to a mountain range. A blue sun shone in the sky, casting an eternal orange glow across it. James suddenly felt a chill on his spine as the cool wind blew over him. He quickly unloaded his cloak and wore it over his armor. He scanned the surroundings¡ªthere was nothing. Not even a single strand of grass lived in this barren wasteland. James sighed as he saw the snowy mountaintop in the distance. Eternal storms gathered around it. That was all he needed to see before knowing his next destination. His gamer instinct told him the boss was in that place. Without any further ado, he ventured into the new floor dungeon while carrying three new baggage behind him: Kaina, Sanders, and Anderson. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 43 Coins: 380 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 51: Mountain Range The path on the seventh floor of this dungeon reminded James of the last floor in the dungeon trials. It was a rocky mountain full of cliffs. Sometimes, the path was narrow; sometimes, it opened up. ¡°Careful, it¡¯s over if you fall,¡± Anderson warned Kaina, who was frolicking near the cliff. After two hours of walking, the storm that James saw in the distance earlier showed no signs of subsiding. That assured him that¡¯s where he needed to go. That¡¯s where the boss monster was. Then, a monster landed in front of them. The winged creature was small, like a child. It held a spear in its hand. The word imp perfectly described the monster. After it landed, it flapped its wings and floated. James wondered how it could do that with wings that barely spanned a meter. Nevertheless, this was not Earth¡ªit had its own laws. ¡°First monster!¡± Kaina said. ¡°Let us handle this! We want to get exp too!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Alright. This one is yours. I''ll stand guard and help if you guys are in trouble. Don¡¯t let your guard down. Just because it¡¯s small doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s weak. It has a spear and a hand¡ªthat means it can use a weapon skill,¡± James said as he pulled back while giving advice. The trio engaged the new monster, and it flew away, leaving them speechless. James quickly drew his crossbow, anticipating its maneuver. ¡°It fled?¡± Sanders said. ¡°There is no way that¡¯s true, idiot!¡± James retorted while aiming his crossbow. Even though it looked like it fled, James knew it hadn¡¯t. If it had really fled, it would bring more trouble down the line. He had experienced this firsthand with the wolf on the second floor in the dungeon trial and the kraken. As he expected, the imp did not flee, which was fortunate. The imp turned back from the sky and homed in on the group. A golden glow emanated from its spear as it rushed toward Kaina. ¡°Watch out!¡± Sanders countered with his sword. A golden glow also emanated from his blade. The two weapons clashed. However, since Sanders had lower stats, he was thrown away and flopped to the ground. His effort was not in vain, as the spear thrust from the imp had been diverted to the left. Kaina thrust with her spear. However, without a weapon skill, it was a futile attempt. Her stats were too low to even graze the monster. James intervened as he realized that Kaina and the others were struggling. A golden glow emanated from his crossbow as he shot the imp. He aimed for its torso, but the imp was fast, so his bolt hit its shoulder instead. Nevertheless, he had achieved what he wanted. The imp fell to the ground, wounded but not dead. Anderson jumped in with his dagger. Using his weapon skill, the dagger stabbed its neck, ending its life. ¡°Ugh¡­ we are so useless,¡± Kaina moaned. The group all leveled up, but they knew they survived this battle because of James. He casually pulled the bolt from the imp¡¯s shoulder, storing it back in his handmade quiver from his spiderweb after using his water magic to clean it up. ¡°If we level up, we should get stronger. I also need to get more weapons too.¡± James glanced at Anderson. The pistol that he stole from the tentacle man was still there. James wondered whether that meant the gun was properly registered by the system. However, when he asked, the system refused. The gun couldn¡¯t be repaired using the shop. ¡°Thank you. That was indeed a bit dangerous.¡± Anderson nodded. ¡°Keep your guard up. Next time, hit them once and then flee. I will handle the rest,¡± James said. He now intended to share exp with the group. They were now at level 15. If they hit at least level 20 or 30, then they would be more useful to him later. Doing so would cut James¡¯ exp, but he had to learn how to cooperate sooner or later. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Anderson saluted. Other imps soon came into sight. This time, three of them approached the group. ¡°Remember, give them one hit, then retreat. If their weapon skill hits you, you might die,¡± James warned once again. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± A golden glow shone from James'' axe as he prepared his skill. The first hellspawn chose to be his first guinea pig. James¡¯ axe clashed with the imp¡¯s spear. The clash resulted in a resounding boom as it sent the child demon flying over twenty meters to the ground. Such a win in a skill clash reminded James of his first clash against the orc boss. ¡°Hurry!¡± Kaina leaped with her spear and activated her skill. A golden glow shone from her spear skill. Before the imp could regain its footing, Kaina struck. The imp was sent flying again as Sanders and Anderson chased after it. They soon pummeled it with their sword skills and killed it. ¡°I told them to hit once and retreat, not to kill it with skill,¡± James sighed. But it worked either way. No matter how much one contributed, the exp should be split equally among anyone hitting the enemy. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. James looked at the two imps. A golden glow shone on his axe as he threw it toward the imp that decided to chase after the group. The golden meteor chased after the imp, bisecting its body before returning to James. James caught it with his tail after he drew his sword. The last imp decided to engage James. However, James had already drawn his sword. He sent this imp flying with his skill, much like the first one. ¡°After it!¡± The three stooges chased after the fallen imp like dogs that had been thrown a bone. Like a bully, Kaina and the rest of the team soon surrounded the imp and unleashed their skills one after another, killing it. James whistled, and the system soon answered. [Congratulations. You have received 20 coins.] ¡°Hmm? There is nothing to plunder?¡± James asked. [There is nothing particularly worthy for Chimera to plunder. Would you like to see them regardless?] ¡°Yes.¡± James nodded. He didn¡¯t like others making decisions for him. James had decided that this time, he wouldn¡¯t be a pushover. He wanted to make decisions. [Would you like to modify your body? Y/N] [Available Body Part:] ¡°I can¡¯t fly using its wings?¡± [No. Its wings are too small for human use. Depending on your body mass, you may get up to 50% at most.] ¡°Am I fat?¡± James was shocked to hear that a normal human would get 50%, while he only got 10%. However, no one answered him. As James continued his journey, he soon met a cliff that separated him from the eternal storm that was his goal. Now that he was closer, he could also see a castle in the distance. The castle looked like something out of a fantasy. ¡°Um¡­ James, there is no way forward,¡± Anderson said. ¡°Why are we heading toward that suspicious castle? Was that Neuschwanstein Castle or was it Hohenzollern Castle? But the number of spires does not match¡­ The color is off too¡­¡± Anderson muttered. Unlike James, Anderson had led a successful life before, so he had traveled to many famous places during his vacations. ¡°Will vampires come out from the castle?¡± Kaina asked. ¡°Let¡¯s stay here for a while. If anything does come out from it, it¡¯s better to fight it in the open.¡± James took a hundred steps back and sat down. The sun was about to set, and he didn¡¯t like venturing in the dark. ¡°Ugh¡­ I didn''t get to plunder the octopus¡¯s carcasses.¡± James muttered as he rummaged through his leather bag. There were still several kilograms of meat¡ªenough for several days. But he was running it close. ¡°I can buy food. Moreover, we got money from the monsters. There is no need to worry about food supplies! We are friends! We help each other!¡± Anderson exclaimed. This was his chance to promote his worth, and he took it. James sighed while looking absolutely disgusted. The word friend was often said by his boss so much that, right now, whenever he heard that word, he felt suspicious instead. ¡°Listen here. I thought better of you. Was that military uniform just a decoration? Did you buy your rank?¡± James said dismissively. ¡°NO! I am in the Marines! I graduated from there with the best scores!¡± Anderson answered. He felt offended by James¡¯ rude words. James usually didn¡¯t like confrontation, but he had changed. He decided to be frank about it. [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 43 Coins: 400 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: Chapter 52: Purple Moon The sun began to set as James ate his dinner. As he prepared himself for bed, the purple moon began to rise. When the purple light shone on the group, a system message flashed before them. [Very weak Life Drain activated. Survivors are advised to take shelter. As long as survivors are in direct contact with the moonlight, the drain will be activated, draining their strength and eventually killing them. Time until unconsciousness: 2 hours. Time until death: 4 hours.] ¡°That¡¯s new,¡± James muttered. He felt his body ever so slightly sluggish when the moon shone upon him. He quickly grabbed his luggage, intending to flee to a nearby rock and take shelter before Kaina warned them. ¡°Something is coming!¡± Kaina, who was on the first night shift duty, exclaimed. James looked at the flying imps that had been harassing them earlier. Their black bodies emitted a purple glow. James readied his crossbow. A golden glow fought off the darkness of the purple moon. It penetrated the imp, leaving a hole in its torso. James breathed a sigh of relief when he knew his skills still worked. The imp was still killable. Kaina turned toward the group in a daze, wondering why they were in such a hurry. Anderson quickly came to her aid and enveloped her inside his cloak. Using the cloak as if they were ponchos and umbrellas, the three amateurs shouted to James. ¡°James! We need to take cover!¡± ¡°Then find one! I will follow you after killing these bitches!¡± James loaded another arrow and put one in its mouth, injecting it with poison. James was getting overconfident. Since he could kill the imp, he thought it was merely immune to the moonlight. The imp got closer, and through its mouth, purple flames came forth. James was slow to react. He thought he was safe since he had fire immunity. But once he saw the flame had an unusual color, he leaped to one side. A part of his lower torso was hit by the flame. A system message denoting that he had a status debuff was shown. [You were hit by an astral flame. Your magic will be decreased by 20, and mana will be decreased by 100 for every second you were hit apart from the initial hit. The effect continues indefinitely under the Astral Moon and will be removed after an hour when not under the moonlight. You will be rendered unconscious if your mana and magic reach 0.] ¡°Fuck!¡± James fired his crossbow, killing another imp. He then drew his axe and used his Boomerang skill to kill the last imp that was preparing another one of its breath attacks. When he looked back, he found them not too far away¡ªless than a hundred meters beside a cliff and a rock. They chose to stay there and weather the storm. By extending James¡¯ cloak between the rock and the cliff, they managed to block the moonlight, turning his cloak into both a roof and a door. As soon as its light no longer reached them, their complexion improved. James ran toward them and inserted himself. His massive body made the small space even more cramped. The pitch-black darkness strangely felt comforting to James. He could feel his powers returning. [Time until Astral Flame dissipates: 59 minutes.] ¡°This thing is getting crazier and crazier by the second. What if we are attacked in this state? We can last only for half an hour,¡± Anderson complained. He was sluggish and panicked. ¡°This is a special floor. That means we shouldn''t go out at night,¡± Kaina said calmly. She then recalled her experience in the dungeon trial. ¡°The third floor of the dungeon trials I conquered with Kouki was similar. We needed to battle inside water. To do that, we scoured the dungeon to find a Water Breathing earring. I suspect this floor is similar. We need to find some kind of device to nullify the moonlight or avoid fighting after sunset altogether.¡± ¡°If we are attacked, then I will handle them. I can last for two hours out there,¡± James said. He frowned. Why were they given a shorter time than him? Was it because James had a higher level? ¡°So, there were Water Breathing earrings inside that floor, huh? I didn''t know,¡± James muttered. James wondered how ordinary survivors would tackle that floor without Chimera skills. Apparently, the system didn''t give them impossible tasks. As the group rested, a rumble from beneath the mountain sent tremors in their wake. An enormous rock floated from the chasm, bridging the two cliffs that had blocked James'' travel earlier. James cursed as he saw the bridge. The distance between the two cliffs was about 300 meters. James could cross it in under a minute. However, what about the others? Unlike James, they only had 30 minutes under the moonlight due to their lower stats. ¡°Look at those floating stones. I am going to get across. You should follow behind," James rallied his comrades. Again, Anderson protested. ¡°That''s too reckless. What if there are enemies? The floating stones might not even be stable?¡± ¡°This is the only way to get to the boss. You may stay here if you wish. You can take the cloak, but I will need your clothes in return.¡± ¡°Can we wait until sunrise?¡± ¡°I think those floating rocks will sink again into the cliff once the moonlight is gone. James is right. We need to take this opportunity to cross. Once we cross the cliff, we can take shelter until sunrise,¡± Sanders nodded. Knowing that James was on their side, he had gotten braver. Moreover, the journey to the otherworldly adventure excited him. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°But what about Kaina?¡± ¡°Ah, I am fine. I will come. I am the same level as you guys,¡± Kaina said confidently. James took a good look at her. She didn''t seem out of breath and was calm. ¡°I will join too,¡± Sanders chimed in. ¡°Alright. But we are going to be weaker there. Please help us if things get dangerous.¡± ¡°I never considered you a fighting force to begin with. Let''s go.¡± James scoffed. His only worry was whether these guys could run to the end of the cliff. If there were monsters, James would handle them. ¡°Let''s go!¡± James gave the signal. At once, Sanders took down the makeshift tent from the cloak, and the group ran toward the floating bridge. James stood at the first jump. He still had his tail if the rock couldn''t hold his weight. ¡°Alright! It''s safe! Make sure to pick a bigger rock. The small rock may not sustain your weight,¡± James warned the trio. Kaina immediately followed James as she hopped onto the first stone. As they continued their platforming game, a swarm of imps came from the other side of the mountain. Over thirty of those imps brandished their spears as they flew toward James. ¡°Shit! I knew this would happen!¡± Anderson cursed. James did not panic. This was not the first time he went against a horde. Moreover, although his magic had weakened, it was not gone. He could use his fire breath or water magic against them. ¡°Eat this!¡± James blew hard, and fire spewed out from his mouth, burning the imps before they could release their own version of fire breath. The imps turned tail, but James then threw his axe using his skill. This time, the golden boomerang bisected three imps before returning to James¡¯s tail. As if forgetting that the trio existed, the imps all flew toward James. James had done so much damage that he had become their primary target. A golden meteor flashed and killed another imp. In haste, James loaded his poisoned bolt and shot it toward another. ¡°Two down! These guys are easier than I thought,¡± James muttered. He was halfway across the bridge, and his team was keeping up with him. The imps decided to fire their breaths early. The purple flame stopped James in his tracks before fading away into nothingness. Another imp also blew its flame further away. At first, James thought they were blind or misjudged their distance. But realization soon came to him¡ªthese imps were buying time. The longer they stayed here, the worse it would get. A golden bolt hit an imp on its wing. The hellspawn fell into the abyss, but that was a mere drop in a bucket. There were over twenty imps remaining. ¡°System! What if they get hurt by the flame?¡± James asked the system. James knew they didn¡¯t have mana since they hadn¡¯t bought a core yet. The system answered briefly. [In the case of manaless survivors, they will be rendered unconscious immediately.] ¡°Ptch! Follow me! Absolutely don''t get hit by the flame!¡± James cursed. He threw his axe, but the imps were too far away and dodged the lightning boomerang with ease. James resolved himself to take the risk. He made the leap onto the next platform, ignoring the flame spat by the imp. As he landed on the stone, ice spears formed around him. James cursed as it took him more than ten seconds to form these spears, but he launched them. The imp dodged, but James ignored them and continued running toward his end goal¡ªthe other side of the bridge. The astral flame did nothing to him. Thanks to his mana core and the plundered mana core, he had magic to spare. ¡°Take cover!¡± James shouted toward the group. Unlike him, they had a shorter time. The imps had finally remembered that James was not alone, but James and the group had reached the other side. James smirked as victory was close at hand. He had more than an hour. That was enough to clear these mobs and find shelter. ¡°On it,¡± Sanders replied. Just like before, they took space between two rocks and made a makeshift shelter while James handled the approaching imps. Half an hour later, James returned to the tent, feeling exhausted. [Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 44. You have obtained 200 coins. Your Attacker class has leveled up to Level 17.] [Name: James] Age: 35 Sex: Male Level: 44 Coins: 600 Stats: Skills: Magic: Class: Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2: Equipment: